Media Advisory for EmpowerTech's FUNdraiser

MEDIA ADVISORY


WHAT: REALITY TV STARS & LOCAL BUSINESS LEADERS TEAM UP TO RAISE FUNDS FOR WESTCHESTER-BASED NON-PROFIT, EMPOWER-TECH

WHEN: Wednesday March 13, 2013
5:00 p.m.—9:00 p.m.

WHERE: Melody Bar and Grill
9132 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310)-670-1194/ http://www.barmelodylax.com/

EVENT: An extended happy hour to raise funds for EmpowerTech, a Westchester-based non-profit that provides computer training to persons living with disabilities. 100% of customer tips will be donated to EmpowerTech; the public is welcome and encouraged to attend.

WHO: Juliannah Richmond & Kimberli Russell—stars of the hit reality series, “Basketball Wives,” will join local community business leaders as “guest bartenders.”

FOR MORE Joan Anderson, Executive Director-- EmpowerTech
INFORMATION: (818) -665-8001/ janderson@empowertech.org

About Empowrtech:

Founded in 1986 as the “Computer Access Center”, EmpowerTech today uses modern Assistive Technology to help persons with disability obtain the skills and the confidence to perform important computing tasks that many take for granted such as accessing and using the Internet and creating and reading documents.

To learn more about EmpowerTech and to view some of its many, many success stories, please visit: http://www.empowertech.org/success.html.

EmpowerTech is having a FUNdraiser at Melody Bar & Grill!

Melody Bar and Grill is featuring the first annual Celebrity Bartending Event from 5pm to 9pm on Wednesday March 13. During that time, all tips from drinks poured by volunteer celebrity bartenders, 100% of tips collected go directly to support EmpowerTech’s programs.

Where: Melody Bar and Grill 
9132 S. Sepulveda Blvd Westchester, CA (4 minutes from LAX)

When: Wednesday March 13^th 5pm-9pm. We will work in shifts.

Why: Because you all are fun and it’s for a good cause!!!
 

·        Drinks will be poured by volunteer celebrity bartenders

o   Celebrity bartenders include: Juliannah Richmond (actress), Kimberli Russell (Basketball Wives), Barry Van Dyke, Karen Dial, Jim Kennedy, Dr. Kevin Walsh, Chamberlain Duru, and MORE!

·        100% of their collected tips will be used to support  EmpowerTech programs

"Just the Way You Are"

By now, a good majority of radio listeners have heard the song, "Just the Way You Are," by Bruno Mars. What I can almost guarantee is that these same radio listeners have not heard the version of the song by Matty B. Matty B gives this song a sweet twist by dedicating the song to his sister with special needs. Here is a link to the video where Matty B raps sweet lyrics such as "when you smile, the whole world stops and stares for awhile because girl, you're amazing just the way you are."

http://www.wimp.com/dedicatessong/

Matty B ends the video by telling its viewers, "if you have anybody in your life that's special, make sure you tell them." A great way to end a great video. So please, follow Matty B's words and tell the special person in your life just how much they mean to you. And, if your conscious pleads you, make a donation to EmpowerTech and enable them to empower many more special people.

Donate to EmpowerTech here:
https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/EmpowerTech/OnlineDonation.html

Visit Matty B here:
facebook.com/MattyBraps

EmpowerTech Celebrity Bartender FUNdraiser!

Hi all.

Everyone has thought it would be fun bartending for their family and friends behind a real bar before. Now you can make your dream come true! Your family, friends, co-workers, people in your organization and even yourself can work with the finest Bartenders in Westchester! I am going to put you and/or people from your organization behind the bar at Melody Bar and Grill to pour the finest drinks to members of your team and the bar patrons. 100% of the tips go directly to support EmpowerTech’s programs. What I will need from all of you other than bartending, is to make sure you bring people that you know in for the FUNdraiser. The larger the crowd, the more cocktails to be poured the bigger the tips! I will follow up this email with a flyer for you all to send out to your contact lists.

Where: Melody Bar and Grill
9132 S. Sepulveda Blvd Westchester, CA

When: Wednesday March 13^th 5pm-9pm. We will work in shifts.

Why: Because you all are fun and it’s for a good cause!!!

 

***If any of you know any actors or athletes, can you ask if they would like to help out a good cause?

Hiring People with Disabilities

A few months ago, we made a blog post about National Disability Employment Awareness Month. In the post, we discussed the topic of hiring people with disabilities. Many people have misconceptions when it comes to hiring someone with a disability. There is a myth that "Persons with disabilities can’t keep up with other workers." The reality is that it has been conclusively shown that, on average, people with a disability are more loyal, dependable, and productive than their non-disabled colleagues - and that they work more safely. 98% of people with a disability rate average or better in work safety. Employers also often cite "the cost of accommodations as a barrier to hiring persons with disabilities." This has been established as a myth because the vast majority of persons with disabilities, who are currently employed, require no special workplace accommodations whatsoever.

In fact, a recent article by the Chicago Tribune discussed how many companies such as AMC and the investment firm, TIAA-CREF, are agressively hiring people with disabilities. Walgreens is another example of a company that is adament about hiring workers with disabilities. Walgreens opened a distribution center in Anderson, South Carolina, and currently more than 40% of its employees there are people with disabilities who are paid and treated the same as their non-disabled coworkers. More than 100 Fortune 500 companies have toured the distribution center to learn more about the program. It is refreshing to see so many companies including people with disabilities into their workforce.

For the full articles used, please visit:

www.ftmeade.army.mil/pages/eeo/dis_myths.pdf
http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2012-12-10/business/ct-biz-1210-work-advice-huppke-20121210_1_disabilities-walgreen-distribution-centers

Visit our website to find more information on our T.R.A.D.E. program which helps students increase their employability:

http://empowertech.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=101&Itemid=105

Video-Games for People with Disabilities

At EmpowerTech, we teach people with many different disabilities how to use technology, including computers. One may ask, how does someone that is blind or with low-vision use a computer without being able to see the screen? Using technology such as JAWS, a computer software with a speech synthesizer, students are able to use the computer to do numerous tasks such as use Microsoft Word or send an email, without needing to see the screen. Tasks such as accessing the web without using the screen may seem daunting to us, but our students make it look easy with their unwavering determination. Another question that may arise is "how does someone that has a disability use entertainment like video-games?" This blog post will address how people with different types of disabilities can use video-games.

Blind Gamers:

To some, entertainment like video-games are considered a necessity. Without accessibility, blind gamers may play 2-dimensional games, like Street Fighter, and memorize how long it takes to get their character from one side of the screen or what it sounds like to use a "spinning flying kick." But, today's 3D technology and games are difficult for a blind gamer to use with those techniques. Because of this, Munawar Bijani, an avid video-gamer, developed the world’s first combat flight simulator for the blind. Bijani, a blind gamer, created the game now called “Three-D Velocity” to take entertainment for the blind to the next level. The game is now regarded as one of the best “audio games” on the market today and has been downloaded over 11,000 times.

Color Blind Gamers: 

Although not every gaming company can create fully accessible audio versions of their games for the blind, companies can create versions of their games that are accessible for color blind users. Sometimes, colorful video games are difficult for color blind gamers to use. Statistics show that 1 in 12 men and 1 in 250 women have a form of color blindness, making the disability widespread enough for gaming companies to consider inclusive gaming. James Herndon offers inclusive tips from Equal Entry:

"1.   Make sure that the colors you use do not convey important information. 

2.   Exaggerate the difference between foreground and background colors. 

3.   Don’t use colors with a similar lightness, no matter how much they differ in saturation. 

4.   Lighten the lighter colors and darken the darker ones."

Gamers with Other Disabilities:

Those strategies will work to make accessible games for color blind users, but what about people with other disabilities? The not-for-profit organization, AbleGamers, works to ensure the inclusion of gamers with all disabilities. This year, AbleGamers honored FIFA 13 with the Accessible Mainstream Game of the Year Award. The prize was given for the PC version of the game, for being “the first high-end mainstream sports game to allow users to control the entire game with only a mouse.” AbleGamers cited that FIFA 13 is a valid product for one-handed gamers or those with muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and multiple sclerosis. Organizations such as AbleGamers and EmpowerTech show that having a disability does not necessarily mean not accessing technology such as computers or video-games. For more information on the articles used in this blog post, please see below.

Resources:

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/12/16/videogames-for-the-blind.html

http://www.bpcprograms.com/games/three-d-velocity 

http://g3ict.org/resource_center/newsletter/news/p/id_398

http://www.policymic.com/articles/21924/fifa-13-awarded-most-accessible-game-for-disabled-gamers

"Like" Us on Facebook!

"Like" our Facebook profile for informing posts!

http://www.facebook.com/EmpowerTechLA 

Proven Abilities

You can never understand a person's full abilities until you give them a chance to prove themselves. At EmpowerTech, we strive to help give our students the opportunites to succeed through the use of technology. In our TRADE Program, students use Word Documents, Excel, and PowerPoint Presentations.

Here is a Word Document done by one of our outstanding EmpowerTech students:

To help us continue empowering people with disabilities, please visit our website to donate or volunteer:http://empowertech.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=section&layout=blog&id=8&Itemid=65

Advocacy for People with Disabilities: A Worldwide Issue

When discussing disability rights, we tend to group ourselves into a bubble based on location. We say things like "if only we had these rights here, things would be different." The problem with this is that the issue of giving rights to people with disabilities is a worldwide topic. It is refreshing to hear about people around the world advocating for disability rights.

I recently came upon an article in which young disabled people in Britain campaigned for their rights. The main issues they addressed pertained to recommendations to improve traveling and employment, two large issues that people with disabilities in the United States face. At EmpowerTech, we strive to help improve problems people with disabilities face by giving them the upperhand when it comes to being independent in the workplace and in everyday life through the use of technology.

For the full article, please visit:http://www.channel4.com/news/young-disabled-people-campaigning-to-life-live-to-the-full

For information about EmpowerTech, please visit:http://empowertech.org/

Visit Us During Open Access!

Volunteer Opportunities at EmpowerTech!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Are YOU Interested in Making a Difference in the Life of Someone with Disabilities?

EMPOWERTECH is Los Angeles County's only non-profit organization devoted to bringing the latest in assistive technology to children and adults living with disabilities.

We are looking for people of all ages with:
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office Applications
• A teaching background or experience helping people with disabilities (not required but always a plus!)
• A great attitude!

If you can help, please visit us at: http://empowertech.org
Or give us a call at: (310) 338-1597

EmpowerTech
9100 S. Sepulveda Suite 204
Los Angeles, CA 90045

Quote of the Day

Quote of the Day:
“Congress acknowledged that society's accumulated myths and fears about disability and disease are as handicapping as are the physical limitations that flow from actual impairment.” -- William J. Brennan, Jr.
Take a moment to reflect on any thoughts or beliefs that you might have about disability and disease. Could any of them be accumulated myths and fears? If so, please take time to correct them and encourage others to do so as well. Have a great Tuesday everyone!

-EmpowerTech
http://empowertech.org/

EmpowerTech Student William's Story

      My life has been dramatically changed as a result of my training here at EmpowerTech. I used to wonder if training would work for me. I can truly say now without a shadow of a doubt that it has. There were many days when a good solution would be to just get up and walk out the class. It wasn’t mine to do, but if it was my equipment, I would have thrown the monitor and tower up against the wall and that would have been an easy solution. But along came Judy and Chris. They would encourage me to “hang on.” Now I can run Windows with complete confidence. I have also learned programs such as Talking Typing Teacher, Outlook, Zoom Tech, and how to navigate the internet. More has to be learned, but the windows are now opening to allow me the possibility to explore other horizons.
Here is my story:

      I have some severe hearing and vision issues that I have lived with since November 2005. I have only one functioning ear and one semi-functioning eye. After many years of adjusting to these disabilities, there came a time when I felt that I needed to return to life and the working world. At that time, I approached Vocational Rehab to assist me in the possibility of doing this, and they sent me to EmpowerTech in December 2011. This is where the power of EmpowerTech came into play. Working on a computer before I was stricken with these disabilities was a breeze in my life. Even then, my only use of computers was for the usage of a computer program for music only as I was a recording engineer for about 18 years. I didn’t even use computers for e-mails, only the music program itself.
      Upon arriving, it didn’t take me long to see what was happening here. I was greeted by Judy who made me feel quite at home here as she gave me a tour of the facility. With the vision I have, I was able to “see” two impressive class labs. On entering class for the first day, I was introduced to the other students, people who continue to be iconic in my life. They gave me hope that I could do this too. They shared the success about what they had learned here at EmpowerTech. This showed me what I could look forward to.
      The instructors Judy and Chris are great. Judy was a think tank, and wanted to work as hard as she could to insure at all times that students find a solution. It was apparent that she was skilled at what she was doing, and she was always friendly to the students. Her relentless pursuit to stay in front of the monitor to get a solution is inspiring. Then there is Chris. I nicknamed him early on as Bill Gates Jr. Sitting with Chris is truly a learning experience. He works really well in group training and has an amazing way of multi-tasking. He makes sure all of the students understand the concept behind what we are doing.
      Next, there is Keith, a former student and current Board President. He shared with me that whatever I wanted to accomplish was possible here. Unlike Judy and Chris, he can’t get up and see the monitor. So, he has an amazing way to see the monitor and keys based off his experience. One of many amazing things about him is that, as being blind himself, he can ask the students if they need something, and he usually has access to it. If it is not in the class, he either downloads it or, in most cases, brings it from home. What makes him shine is that he constantly brings in new products that the students can use either in the class, at home, or on the go. EmpowerTech’s volunteer, Cameron, also provides a wealth of experience and knowhow. He has an amazing way of making each student feel at home. He moves around the class at will and can help students at any given moment.
      Approaching my 1 year at EmpowerTech, it all feels like it was worth it. I, as well as many other students here, am now running on auto pilot with complete confidence in the Windows world. Now I can bring my laptop into class having graduated from the tower and work in complete confidence. I am looking forward to stepping into some Recording Studios and watch my comrades’ mouths drop with what the power of what the PC world has to offer. All do in part to what the talented staff here at EmpowerTech have provided. In closing, I would like to tell you something I learned around the second week upon attending classes here. My heroes are my fellow students that are blind and told me, “What I see, just might get in the way!”

Thank you William for your story! We hope it will inspire others to give EmpowerTech a chance and enroll. If you want to donate to help EmpowerTech continue changing lives, please visit:

https://app.etapestry.com/hosted/EmpowerTech/OnlineDonation.html

EmpowerTech Students and the Shuttle

Hello Friends,

I know that we all love Fridays…especially this past Friday. It was not an ordinary TGIF by any means here at the center nor for miles around. The youngest space shuttle in the fleet, that logged 123 million miles was at a standstill, well parked actually in the parking lot close to ours. Eric Larsen, our TRADE director decided to change up the day’s lesson plan and have the students use the internet to find “fun facts” about the Shuttle (hence how I know some of details). Once their searches were complete they used the information to create word documents or flyers using pictures or graphs.

One very inspired student, Patrick (scene below in glasses) decided to create a press release. These are his words: “The streets around LAX were full of traffic today. Seeing the space shuttle up close and in person during its trip through Los Angeles was quite the experience. After all, it’s the only orbiter to be paraded through the city en route to its final resting place at the California Science Center. NASA’s shuttle program has come to an end, but a fitting end”.

Here at EmpowerTech we don’t often take our students on a field trip, in fact in our 27 years this was probably our 3rd one. As we all know this wasn’t your run of the mill field trip this was history and our students were able to witness the making of it. They don’t often show emotions, rarely if ever do they verbalize excitement or awe. But on Friday, October 12 as they stood in front of the shuttle Endeavor to capture their place in history through a picture they smiled.

My sincerest thank you to HB Drollinger, the shuttle was parked on one of their properties.

http://empowertech.org/

People with Disabilites and Voting

According to the article titled, "People with Disabilities and Voting," by experts Kay Schriner and Douglas Kruse, "more than 20,000 polling places across the nation are inaccessible, depriving people with disabilities of their fundamental right to vote."

EmpowerTech is helping people with disabilites get this right to vote back. That is why starting today, we here at EmpowerTech will be helping people with disabilities register to vote online.

Come visit us today, Wednesday, September 26 and every Wednesday until October 10 from 3:30-6:00 PM. (Please note that this is during our Free Open Access Lab).

EmpowerTech
9100 S. Sepulveda Suite 204
Los Angeles, CA 90045
(310) 338-1597

http://www.accessiblesociety.org/topics/voting/

Online Voter Registration At EmpowerTech

Yesterday I had the opportunity to chat awhile with one of our new students; I’ll call Willie, while he was waiting for his ride. Willie’s a 23 year old young man with Down Syndrome, with a smile that could light up the night sky and a sense of humanity that would make Mother Teresa proud. He told me he has 3 GOALS (notice the caps here) that he’s going to accomplish this year.

1. Graduate high school.
2. Graduate his TRADE program or “Eric’s Class” he so gently corrected me several times.
3. Vote!

This last goal was said with a sense of awe and determination like he and he alone was going to change the world on November 6. I think that many of us forget that voting is a privilege; I must tell you he reminded me of this yesterday. He knew not only whom he wanted for president but he also knew his local and state officials he was choosing to represent him. Now if this doesn’t impress you maybe this will; Willie also told me how he was going to vote on many of the Propositions that are on the ballot this year. He stated his reasons briefly but cogently with a nod a smile and the occasional fist pump. At one point he leaned closer to me, he was going to share a secret; “not everyone is going to vote that’s sad”. I am seldom at a loss for words, I’m also one to applaud other’s whenever applicable, but this time without trepidation I gave him a hug. He was right, that’s sad.

Many of us want to see change in the world and many of us, like Willie, are excited to vote in this year’s election. It’s true that a lot of people with disabilities vote but there countless people living with a disability that aren’t registered to vote. I for one along with several of our partners, want to change that.

It’s our privilege to announce that starting today Wednesday, September 26, between 3:30 and 6:00 and every Wednesday until October 10; we here at EmpowerTech will be helping people with disabilities register to vote online. (Please note that this is during our Free Open Access Lab).

Yes, we can change the world.

For more information please contact me at the number listed below.

***If you have a large group (30 or more) please let us know in advance so we can set up more stations

Register to Vote

Register to vote at EmpowerTech every Wednesday between 3:30 and 6:00 until October 22, 2012

Letter from Student

I received this letter from one of our blind/low-vision students on September 22; just a few short days after our Ribbon Cutting Ceremony. The reason why I'm sharing this with you all is simple; this is one of the first letters he has written since losing his sight. He sent this letter as an attachment via email, something most of us take for granted and can do almost without thinking. But for him it was a great challenge but as you can read he did it! I'm so very proud of him and his commitment to continue breaking down the barriers and opening the doors in his path.

September 22, 2011

Dear JoanElaine,

When I first began at EmpowerTech I thought of the school like any other educational program. Quickly did I realize at the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony that was not the case. When you were speaking at the event, it hit me like a train the amount of the energy and effort it took you and your staff in putting this whole program together. Thank you for inviting me to the Ribbon Cutting Ceremony, and the positive experience you create at the school.

I will continue working hard.


Sincerely,
A. L.

Message from the new Director of Development, Lisa Gaynor

I wanted to take a brief moment of your time to introduce myself to all of you.
I’m Lisa Gaynor a long time community member of both Westchester and Santa Monica. I am so pleased to let you all know that I am now the new senior development director of EmpowerTech. I know that I have some big shoes to fill following behind Ally Walker, but I do want to assure you all that I have the background and the resources to do a fantastic job not only for EmpowerTech’s students but for the organization as a whole.

For the past 5 years I have been an independent grant writer primarily working with nonprofits in the LA County area. It is through my expertise that Common Ground received one of their largest grants to date. I am a mother of 3 children all of whom graduated Santa Monica High School and both of my son’s are recent graduates of LMU (class of 2008 and 2010).

I want to let you in on the true reason that I made my decision to join EmpowerTech, and that is I had an uncle with a disability. He was diagnosed with polio in 1938 at 20 months old. We all seem to forget that back then this was a death sentence but due to perseverance by my grandmother he became an invaluable member of the community. He was an extremely talented artist, but the only job that he could get was working in an electronics firm as an assistant.

His dream was to design sports car models similar to “Hot Wheels”. I can only wonder what his life would have been like if EmpowerTech and assistive technology was around back then. His struggles and disenfranchisement from the community may not have happened had he had a computer and the necessary training. The first time I walked through EmpowerTech’s doors I remembered all the stories my uncle told me of his childhood and the taunts other kids bestowed upon him. I don’t ever want that to happen to anyone that comes to EmpowerTech. I want to give them the tools that allow them to achieve unprecedented levels of independence, self-confidence and fulfillment. I am honored to be a part of EmpowerTech’s team and to the memory of my uncle and those that will come behind him, I promise all of you I will do my job and do it well

EmpowerTech Finds a New Home

EMPOWERTECH UPGRADES LOS ANGELES COUNTY’S ONLY ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY CENTER WITH MOVE TO NEW FACILITY

Non-Profit In Need of Donated Office Furniture & Equipment for New Location

MAY __,2011: LOS ANGELES— EmpowerTech, a Los Angeles-based non-profit organization that provides computer training to persons with physical and developmental disabilities, announced that is moving on June 30, 2011 to a new, larger facility located at 9100 S. Sepulveda Boulevard in the Westchester section of Los Angeles.

Unlike EmpowerTech’s current space, which features an open configuration, the new center will have private offices and training rooms that will allow the agency’s Assistive Technology Specialists to work privately and in smaller groups with students.

Joan Anderson, EmpowerTech Executive Director commented “It will be enormously challenging and expensive to move an entire high tech facility without interrupting service to our students, but at the end of the day, this will be a major improvement for EmpowerTech. To make this happen though, we need additional financial support to pay for the move. It is our hope that we can rely on the community to help us preserve this invaluable resource by making contributions to help offset our relocation costs.”

EmpowerTech was recently given a notice to vacate by June 30, 2011 after its current landlord leased the building to a new tenant. Assistance was immediately provided by the H.B. Drollinger Co., Westchester’s largest property management firm, which located and arranged for the new facility at 9100 S. Sepulveda Boulevard.

Karen Dial, President of H.B. Drollinger Co. stated, “When we learned about the tough spot in which EmpowerTech had been placed, we felt we had to get involved. Our company has been part of the Westchester community for decades and we feel an obligation to look out for our neighbors—especially for a neighbor like EmpowerTech which has done so much for our local community. We are pleased that we were able to come through for this incredible organization.”

In addition to financial assistance with the upcoming move, EmpowerTech is seeking donations of office furniture and equipment . Anyone interested in making a donation is asked to contact Joan Anderson at (310)-338-1597/ janderson@empowrtech.org.