Amy Salmon never lost sight of her goals. Although blind as a result of a degenerative disease, she continues to pursue a dynamic career that has evolved from strong roots in the communication field to her current entrepreneurial role as technology consultant and educator in providing computer training and accessibility for the blind and visually impaired.

Building on the specialized public relations strengths she established during her career – including four years with The Rodgers Group working on accounts such as IBM and the Alzheimer’s Association – Amy served as director of communications at The Chicago Lighthouse before joining the Catholic Guild for the Blind in 1999.

In her educational role at the Guild, Amy headed numerous programs aimed at helping the organization fulfill its mission to serve the needs of children and adults who are blind or visually impaired. In addition to teaching courses on computers, adaptive technologies and Internet access, Amy orchestrated seminars integrating educational, recreational and social opportunities.

With the birth of son Andrew in August 2001, Amy left her position at the Guild to devote her attention to parenting and completing a master’s degree (MSEd) focused on special education rehab teaching for the blind. In tandem with new motherhood, Amy eventually launched a consulting business, ComputAbility Today, an assistive technology training company providing education for blind and visually-impaired adults, children and seniors.

With the help of husband Pat, as well as the advice of blind friends who have raised children of their own, Amy had the support in place to take on the challenges at hand. With the happy addition of daughter Madelyn in 2004, the family has since expanded. So has the scope of Amy’s business.

What started as providing hands-on training in applications and adaptive technologies has evolved into an exciting new arena of consultation that will have an impact on new products and systems developed for those with low vision.

As part of her work, Amy is a regular contributor to AccessWorld®, an e-magazine available through the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). In addition to product reviews and assessments related to low vision technology, she has written a practical series that guides users through the ropes of customizing existing computers and software to improve accessibility without additional investment. She has authored instructional articles that address using and adapting technologies for the web.

Amy’s work with the AFB also extends to the organization’s consulting division, AccessWorld® Solutions. She has reviewed the 80-page web site of a mobile communications leader to provide feedback on accessibility. She is helping developers of leading software applications address accessibility issues before new products are brought to market. Other projects include consulting with an intercity passenger rail service provider to evaluate if electronic kiosks for ticketing and information are accessible to low vision, blind and mobility-impaired users.

The need for products providing low vision accessibility will only accelerate with an aging population of Baby Boomers. As an example, Amy points out that for those with diabetes and vision loss, only one talking glucometer serves the market. In a world where access to technologies can be hampered by something as basic as small print, Amy’s input frequently is focused on practical solutions. “It’s often a matter of simple engineering, not necessarily redevelopment of an entire product,” she says.

As more mainstream businesses, product manufacturers and service providers realize the need to offer technologies without barriers to the blind and vision-impaired, Amy Salmon is poised at the forefront to help steer forward-thinking companies with ComputAbility Today. “It’s satisfying,” says Amy. “I have an opportunity to impact changes in products and make a difference in what’s coming out in the market.”

For more information about ComputAbility Today, contact Amy Salmon at 630-303-2396 or kasalmon@comcast.net.

To read about the latest information on assistive technology and visual impairment, visit AccessWorld® at www.afb.org/aw/main.asp

Soon, making your web site accessible to the visually impaired may not only be the right thing to do, but the legal thing to do. Pending lawsuits threaten to compel web sites to provide universal access, possibly mandated through an extension of the Americans with Disabilities Act. A good resource for those interested in changing their web site is "Web Accessibility for People with Disabilities," a book by Mike Paciello. Paciello's book answers questions like:

• How can I provide highly graphic and visual content to the blind?
• How will people with physical disabilities access Internet kiosks?
• What will the deaf do when faced with voice output and audio-based multimedia?
• How will individuals who cannot speak interact with an information kiosk that's built on a voice-recognition platform?

Adaptive technology links

Window-Eyes
http://www.gwmicro.com

RGL friend, IABCer and communicator Dawn Gray has launched her talents on a creative trajectory. In addition to having held a variety of writing and producing posts with Cable News Network, NBC Chicago, United Press International and major public relations firms, in 1991 she founded MOMents, INC., an entrepreneurial venture producing newsletters, radio shows and videos for working parents. Most recently, Dawn has proven herself an innovative producer, marketer and creator of media projects.

Dawn currently is steering production on Stray Dogs, an independent Southern Gothic film adapted from the award-winning play by Julie Jensen. As producer, Dawn is readying for a September 2000 shoot - which involves orchestrating a myriad of production details ranging from casting to recruitment of investor partners.

The project, scheduled for release in early 2001, will film with a cast of five main characters and a budget of $600,000. Written for the screen by Catherine Crouch, Stray Dogs is set in 1958 and centers on a mother's choice between devotion to her sons and unborn baby or saving her troubled marriage.

Among the production's strategies for success, with few locations and special effects the film can be shot with a lower budget than most. Not dependent upon a major theatrical success, distribution is targeted to domestic video and television, as well as foreign sales. The goal is to deliver to investors a solid financial profit even under conservative minimum income forecasts.

With the worldwide market for independent films estimated to be at $3 billion, Stray Dogs will make the transition to screen within an international niche that continues to enjoy dramatic growth ­ both creatively and financially. For producer Dawn Gray, it's an exciting step along a rewarding path that has spanned from communication to the arts.