Making The Transition

PAGE TWO
Gary Hauck receives a Dana and the confidence to obtain a new job and manage daily activities.
PAGE THREE
New NCBVI technologies are now listed Online at www.at4all.com.
PAGE FOUR
Matt Baker takes another look at adaptive technology.

Visit Us Online

www.nde.state.ne.us/ATP

Check out ATP services, resources, office locations, staff and newsletters.

www.nde.state.ne.us/ATP/childfind.asp

Individual rights, resources, and referrals on child development and special education for children from birth (or date of diagnosis) to age 21.

www.at4all.com

A free online service to list and find equipment in Nebraska that is available for loan, sale, demonstration or give away.

www.housing.ne.gov

A free online service to find rental housing and services in Nebraska.

The clock was ticking. For Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Counseling Specialist Lisa Mitchell and Assistive Technology Partnership (ATP) Technology Specialist Jeff Krutz, it was just minutes before training. For Lauren Brown, it was one day before departing for her first day of college.
The anticipation, energy and teamwork were noticeable in the Norfolk VR meeting room as final preparations were made. Lisa set up laptops, printers, voice recorders, portable mice and CD drives. Jeff prepared to teach Lauren how to use her brand new equipment. Lauren quietly entered the room.
Lauren was diagnosed with Juvenile Anklosing Spondylitis (JAS) the summer before her freshman year of high school.
According to the Ankylosing Spondylitis Foundation, JAS can occur in about 1 in 1,000 children. JAS usually begins in the preteen or teen years, and its cause is unknown. Painful inflammation of the ligaments and tendons are the most common symptoms of JAS, but some people with JAS, including Lauren, also develop inflammation of the inner eye causing acute eye redness, pain and sensitivity to sunlight.
During high school, Lauren missed many days of school due to

Jeff Krutz walks Lauren Brown through the steps involved in Creating a Voice Profile For Dragon Naturally Speaking.

medications and JAS. In order to reduce the glare on textbook pages, Lauren put acetone paper over the text as she read. In addition, she would listen to her books on cassette, and she would utilize a Victor Reader,* a portable device much like a CD player, which reads digital audio books out loud.
Lauren first met with Judy Wehrle from the Norfolk VR office at the end of her sophomore year in high school to begin a process that would help Lauren transition from high school into the post-secondary education environment.
By Lauren’s senior year in high school, Lisa, also from the Norfolk VR office, began working with Judy and Lauren to look at Lauren’s interests and abilities. Since Lauren spent time as a volunteer in a LIFE classroom as well

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