TORONTO – "I had a wife, four kids and a mortgage," says Dr. Stephen Timmer when asked what inspired him to create his own software designed specifically for people with disabilities. "I didn’t have a choice.
"I lost my ability to see, but I didn’t lose my ability to learn," says the co-founder of Premier Assistive Technology, in a press release from VoicePrint Canada. Since losing his sight to macular degeneration, Timmer and his company have created such software as: a hands-free dictionary, a "talking" word processor and a text-to-audio converter.
Timmer is among VoicePrint’s line-up of guests for a tribute to National Access Awareness Week (May 27 to June 2). Listen in to hear some remarkable personal stories plus how innovation is increasing accessibility.
Consider this encouraging trend: "One of the more notable changes in the use of technology," says Brad Lachowich, regional supervisor, client services for the CNIB, “is the marked increase in the amount of self-referrals people are making to the CNIB. Where in the past, doctors may have made referrals to the CNIB, potential clients are becoming more independent.
"People are becoming more Internet savvy and there’s more information available to people," Lachowich adds in the release. "As a result, I am finding a lot of people are coming to the CNIB directly on their own."
The new "devices" associated with liberation technology, explains Timmer, allows him to be seen as equal to any non-disabled person. "People tell me I don’t act blind. I can be in an [work] interview and I can look someone in the eye and say "yes" I can read. It’s irrelevant how I read.
"I don’t have to disclose my disability. But unfortunately the way things are, or have been, the only way I could get help is to disclose my disability. Unfortunately, individuals impose their own impression of what I can and can’t do. My goal here is [to not] have to disclose my disability. I have [an assistive device] – what I need – in my pocket, then I get evaluated as an equal and not someone who has a disability."
VoicePrint’s special National Access Awareness Week program line-up includes:
* Monday, May 28 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern: Interview with Paul Loba and Brad Lachowich of the CNIB
* Tuesday, May 29 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern: Interview with Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) chair Adam Giambrone on the accessibility of public transit.
* Thursday, May 31 at 12:00 p.m. Eastern: Interview with Dr. Steve Timmer of Premier Assistive Technology
* Friday, June 1 at 6:00 p.m. Eastern: A second (follow-up) interview with Dr. Steve Timmer of Premier Assistive Technology
* Saturday, June 2 at 3:00 p.m. Eastern: Interview with Laurie McArthur of the Adaptive Technology Resource Centre
