Visually Impaired Students and Parents to Participate in Technology Olympics

WACO, TEXAS—With braillewriters ready, laptops open, and pencils sharpened, visually impaired (VI) students will engage in special competition and fellowship at the Seventh Annual Region 12 Technology Olympics. The Honorable City of Waco Mayor Linda Ethridge will begin the ceremonies by proclaiming it Technology Olympics Day. This year’s theme is “The Greatest Show on Earth” and will take place from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m., Thursday, March 4 at ESC Region 12, 2101 W. Loop 340 in Waco.

Technology, especially assistive technology demonstrated at this event, plays an important role in making print medium accessible for these students. The technological advances each year allows students to overcome the obstacles they face from visual impairment. Contestants will demonstrate their knowledge of the equipment such as using closed circuit televisions, scanners, and dictation devices, while earning recognition for their work.

“Participants have the opportunity to meet others using assistive technology and make new friends, which is so important because they are often the only child with visual impairments at their school,” said Tina Herzberg, education specialist at ESC Region 12.

“Assistive technology allows students to be themselves and perform tasks like any other student and that is important to the success of every child,” said Judy Hicks, director of Special Education Services at ESC Region 12.

Competition activities will include students taking tests and using adaptive devices, such as a computer or a Braillewriter, to complete various tasks. Participants will not compete against each other, but rather against themselves. The event will also include a creative writing event, which gives students an open-ended opportunity to demonstrate their individual strengths without having to worry about making mistakes. Winning contestants will receive trophies and medals at the awards ceremony.

A new event this year will be Adaptive Skills Training for parents. Parents and guardians will participate in a simulation experience that imitates various visual impairments, which can help them understand their child’s daily living skills. This training will cover daily skills, such as house work, personal grooming and pet grooming.

The event is free and open to pre-registered participants only. Nearly 50 students, kindergarten through 12th grade from the following districts will participate: Axtell, Belton, Chilton, China Spring, Corsicana, Coolidge, Crawford, Gatesville, Groesbeck, Hillsboro, Hubbard, Kerens, Killeen, Kopperl, La Vega, Marlin, McGregor, Mexia, Midway, Temple, Troy, Waco, West and Whitney ISD.

On-site photo and interview opportunities are available with attendees only with on-site parental or guardian permission. Event staff will also be available to the media. Please check in at registration upon arrival.

The event is co-sponsored by the ESC Region 12 and the Texas Commission for the Blind. As in-kind sponsors, HEB will provide refreshments and snacks for the students and the Waco Founder’s Lions Club will supply trophies and medals, which they have done for the past four years. The students will also enjoy lunch provided by the Lions Club.

Below is a schedule of the day’s events. For more information, contact Tina Herzberg at ESC Region 12 at 254/297.1152 or therzberg@esc12.net, or Rita Finlay at the Texas Commission for the Blind at 254/753.1552.

REGION 12 TECHNOLOGY OLYMPICS
Tentative Schedule—March 4, 2004

9:00-9:45 Registration & Set-up for First Competition
9:30 Technology Olympics Proclamation by Mayor Linda Ethridge
9:45-10:45 First Competition & Parent Simulation Experience
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-11:10 Set-up for Second Competition
11:10-12:10 Second Competition
12:10-1:00 Lunch
1:00-2:30 Awards Ceremony

About ESC Region 12
One of 20 centers throughout Texas, ESC Region 12 assists 78 independent school districts and 11 charter schools in attaining the Texas Education Agency’s goals and objectives. Based in Waco, with offices in Copperas Cove, Corsicana, Goldthwaite, Hillsboro, and Teague, the ESC Region 12’s service area includes Bell, Bosque, Coryell, Falls, Freestone, Hamilton, Hill, Lampasas, Limestone, Mills, McLennan and Navarro counties.

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