On Saturday, July 6, I took part in a pilot project and a
product demonstration with a group of people at Ryerson University. Most of the
participants, including myself, are tech-savvy and also seeking greater access
to employment.
Terrence Ho, a business analyst with Bombardier Aerospace,
started the Equal Grounds Training Project in response to the lack of
employment opportunities offered to me and others living with disabilities. His
passion to help others has largely stemmed from volunteering at a young age.
The day’s workshop began with some getting-to-know-you
exercises, followed by role-playing and one-on-one discussions on personal
skills and interests transferable to a professional environment.
After the workshop, we all took turns testing a demo of the
EyeWriter. This is an eye-tracking computer program for people who are
paralyzed or have difficulty using a mouse or keyboard. The software program
was originally created for graffiti artist Tony ‘TEMPT’ Quan, who lives with
ALS (aka Lou Gehrig’s disease). EyeWriter uses inexpensive cameras and vision
software to track a person’s eye movements. The latest version of EyeWriter
(3.0) continues to be in the early trial stages.
The day concluded with a dinner and a discussion on the next
steps for the Equal Grounds Training Project. A follow-up workshop is planned
for August 10 and 11.
Long-term goals are for us to host and take part in a TEDx
conference next year, and to further develop the EyeWriter or other assistive-related
technology.
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