Integrating Non-Visual Access Into A Library’s Gaming Experience

From TechSource Gaming Symposium

Presenter: Larry Lewis, Jr. (Flying-Blind, LLC)

Description: In this session, the presenter will outline the current difficulties faced by libraries seeking to include persons who are vision impaired in their electronic gaming efforts. The presenter will showcase some exciting technologies that make it possible for vision impaired students and adults to partake in a variety of educational and recreational games using the appropriate modifications to a PC. These solutions can also be accessed by sighted friends, classmates, and family members offering to all an inclusive, rewarding experience within one’s school or public libraries. The presenter will conclude by offering suggestions as to how to best implement these solutions within specific library environments.

About the Presenter: Congenitally blind from cataracts that developed into a juvenile form of glaucoma, Lewis was fortunate to have been mainstreamed into the public school system. As a result of the excellent instruction that he received as a child, he is a fluent Braille reader and writer and a strong advocate for Braille literacy for students who cannot affectively access large print.

These acquired Braille reading and writing skills allowed him to attain a comprehensive formal education. A Master of Arts in English has imparted to him the necessity for both written and verbal skill-sets. A Master of Science in Special Education (Blind Rehabilitation) has broadened his once myopic perspective of persons who are blind and visually impaired as well as persons who have secondary disabilities that may or may not be associated with their visual impairment.

He has an extensive background in assessing, training, and recommending adaptive technology solutions for persons who require adaptive speech and/or Braille solutions. He also has done some career exploration with people transitioning from their educational experiences into the job market.

He has been employed in both product management and sales management capacities for leading manufacturers in the adaptive technology industry serving the needs of both domestic and international markets. Two years ago, he founded Flying Blind which is his own company who provides consulting, training, and reselling services to institutions in need of customized adaptive technology solutions.

Intended audiences:

• Pretty much any librarian

at

• Academic libraries
• Public libraries
• School libraries

You are here: Main Page > 2008 Sessions > Integrating Non-Visual Access Into A Library’s Gaming Experience