This
month, I have talked to Maryrose about her experience with
EmpowerTech. In my opinion, Maryrose is a pleasant student who is always
working hard and is very helpful to Ms. Rickell and myself. I was happy to
learn that her experience here has been positive. Through EmpowerTech, she’s
been able to use computer skills in Microsoft word, excel and power point to do
well in her college courses. It is her dream to become a Nurse one day and work
with children. She is very passionate about this career and this just
demonstrates one of her greatest attributes which is to help people.
Furthermore, through EmpowerTech, Maryrose is attaining valuable skills for her
future career. She is the President of the Trade Student Assistant Program.
Through this position, she is able to help others maintain the lab clean and makes
sure all assignments are returned to the lesson plan table. She also talked to
me about how she likes to help set up and decorate the break room for special
events. Through her story, I have come to learn why Maryrose is happy to be at
EmpowerTech. Before she becomes a nurse, she needs to develop the skills that
will help her do her job well. Here at EmpowerTech, Maryrose has the liberty to
learn valuable skills. She has not only gained computer and leadership skills,
she has also developed social skills at Empowertech. She met her best friend
Dominique here and has been her friend for about a year now. In addition, she also
has participated in the Special Olympics since last year. She has been a part
of the Track and field and bowling challenges. Maryrose is an exceptional
student with big dreams. There is not a day she is absent. I can account that
she is always here with a great attitude and a willingness to learn. Thus, she
demonstrates determination and ambition for the future as she expresses, “We
are here to assist in any way to make our experience at EmpowerTech a success.”
Friday, April 24, 2015
Monday, April 20, 2015
EmpowerTech CEO JoanElaine Anderson and Board President Go Tech Free for 48 Hours
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Joan Anderson
(818)-665-8001
EMPOWERTECH EXECUTIVES TAKING THE “TECH-FREE WEEKEND
CHALLENGE”
The Ultimate Reality
Show: 48 Hours… No Phone… No Internet… No Car—IN L.A.!
April __, 2015—LOS
ANGELES: EmpowerTech Executive Director Joan Anderson and current EmpowerTech
Board Chair and former student of the Blind Program Keith Breaux will attempt
to navigate a series of trips and tasks throughout Los Angeles over the course
of an entire weekend, without using any technology whatsoever. The weekend challenge, which will raise money
for EmpowerTech’s program offerings, will be streamed live online, making it
the ultimate reality show.
Joan Anderson stated, “The idea behind the Tech Free Weekend Challenge is
to demonstrate to the world how much we take technology for granted, and to
give people a small taste of what it is like to live with a disability that
prevents you from using everyday technology like driving a car or surfing the
web. When I first shared this idea with
our students, I told them that I wanted to walk a mile in their shoes. They
responded, “Oh, you’re going to be walking a lot farther than a mile!”
The weekend’s itinerary and series of challenges will be drawn up by
EmpowerTech students who, through the use of Assistive Technology at the
EmpowerTech facility in Los Angeles, overcome obstacles presented by their
disabilities every day. Examples of
activities could include: going parasailing in Marina Del Rey, visiting the
Getty, or shopping at Ralph’s. Joan and
Keith will be followed by camera operators who will film their exploits in 8-10
hour shifts.
Keith Breax commented, “I’m certainly not looking forward to a weekend
without my IPhone, but if this weekend challenge can raise awareness of the
difficulties that persons living with disabilities like myself a blind man,
face every day—and raise awareness of EmpowerTech and its programs—then it will
be worth it. But still, no Assistive
Technology? All weekend? Seriously?”
Beginning May 22th at 1:00 pm, Keith and Joan will check
into a Hotel in Westchester and hand over all of their technology devices,
including car keys. They will then be
presented with their weekend itinerary and the cameras will start to roll.
As part of the Tech Free Weekend challenge, donors will make cash
pledges to EmpowerTech, contingent upon Joan and Keith successfully completing
the challenge.
###
EmpowerTech uses modern Assistive
Technology to help persons with disabilities obtain the skills and the
confidence to perform important technology-related tasks that many take for
granted, such as accessing and using the Internet and creating and reading
documents. From programs for blind/low-vision adults to classes for disabled
children, EmpowerTech uses state of the art Assistive Technology to help
disabled persons experience the freedom and fulfillment of self-sufficiency. To learn more about EmpowerTech’s many, many
success stories, please visit: http://www.empowertech.org.
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