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35 Industrial Way,
Suite 150
Rochester, NH 03867 |
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(603)
330-3533 |
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(603) 335-5282 |
| Toll Free: |
(866) 621-8877 |
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Press Releases |
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Rochester firm lauded for helping blind use computers
By JOHN NOLAN Rochester Times Newspaper
ROCHESTER — Declaring last week to be Assistive Technology
Week in New Hampshire, Gov. John Lynch praised the work of a Rochester
company, Smart Assistive Technologies, calling it a leader in the
field of technology training for the blind.
"People with disabilities, including blindness or impaired
vision, have a great deal to offer to our communities, to our economy
and to our state," said Lynch. "As a small business offering
valuable services to the New Hampshire community, Smart Assistive
Technologies has made a positive impact on the lives of many."
One such beneficiary is Patricia Slosser of Gonic. Slosser, who
is blind, attends McIntosh College where she is studying to be a
massage therapist.
"They have made going to college easier than ever. Now I have
access to printed material that the blind never had before. I am
able to work by e-mail, submit tests and quizzes, take notes and
have access to them for study," said Slosser. "I could
never have done this without a Notetaker. It has a braille and speech
readout and e-mail and Web capabilities."
Slosser, age 42, was hooked up with Smart Assistive Technologies,
and owner Lori Smart, through Vocational Rehabilitation Services
in Portsmouth. Smart has been contracted to service Slosser's technology
needs, and in the future Slosser hopes to be able to use JAWS, cutting
edge computer technology that stands for Job Access With Speech.
Slosser would like to be able to complete her college course in
18 months, which is only three months longer than a sighted person
would normally take. She has three children.
"I can look after them with my eyes closed," joked Slosser,
adding that she is very glad that they can see her going to college
with a disability.
"I would never have done it without Smart Assistive Technologies,"
she said.
Smart, a Strafford County native, founded her company in 1996, and
learned about assistive technologies from Freedom Scientific, based
in St. Petersburg, Fla. Soon they were asking her to provide workshops
on technology training for the blind, and, commuting to Florida
twice a month, she trained people from across the U.S. and other
countries. She wrote the original curriculum.
All federal and state websites and electronic information must now
be screen reader compatible, although not all are as of yet.
"All states are scurrying to be compliant, and not all school
systems are yet compliant, but under Section 508 they should be,"
said Smart, whose company can help them get up to date.
Lynch has placed Smart on the Access and Technology Subcommittee
of his Commission on Disabilities.
"My niche is individualized high-tech training. It is a time-consuming
process, but you can't mass-produce these services," said Smart,
who works with school systems to assess the needs of students and
employees with disabilities; as well as conducting training sessions.
Her company and the need for services has grown over the years,
and recently, she and her husband Dave — SAT's other full-time
employee — recently moved from their home office to a more
central and spacious location above Citizens Bank, in Rochester's
downtown.
At this location, they can train up to 10 people at a time, each
with their individual work station. It is also a place where people
with disabilities can come to examine, purchase and be trained on
the latest blind and low vision computer and technology products.
"There is a critical shortage of TVIs (teachers of the visually
impaired)," said Lori Smart, who can call on five contractors
as needed.
She also notes that America is increasingly in the grip of a degenerative
eye disease called macular degeneration, which especially afflicts
those over 55, and more people than cataracts and glaucoma combined.
In New Hampshire, alone, it is estimated that 30,000 people of all
ages are affected by degenerative eye conditions. Hence the need
for vision-enhancing equipment and trainers.
The company can be reached at 1 (866) 621-8877.
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Technology for vision-impaired
Rochester-based Smart Assistive Technologies, which teaches and
sells technology to help the blind and those with low vision, had
a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the company expansion.
In front, from left, are: Donna Anders, Chamber Board Chair Tom
Moody, Occupational Therapist Laurie McIntosh, SAT Marketing Director
Dave Smart, owner Lori Smart, Dorothy Smart, Shirley Roy and Chamber
President Laura Ring. In back are: Vice President of Freedom Scientific
Mike Daley, Chamber members Robert and Doris Gates, Mayor John Larochelle,
City Councilor Ray Lundborn, Deputy Mayor Elaine Lauterborn, Economic
Development Manager Karen Pollard and Judy Murch of Citizens Bank.
Smart Assistive Technologies is located in Rochester, NH. Call 1-866-621-8877.
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