Disabled Students Among Scheduled Jumpers
February __, 2010—LOS ANGELES: EmpowerTech announced today that a team of jumpers will participate in the non-profit organization’s skydiving fundraiser, “Sky’s the Limit” on April 24, 2010 in Lake Elsninore, CA. EmpowerTech’s Director of Blind and Low Vision Services, Tom Lange, who is blind, will also make the jump and is planning to broadcast the experience on Twitter.
Only a limited number of spots remain for the jump. Individuals interested in jumping or in learning more about EmpowerTech, the only assistive technology center in Los Angeles that provides computer training to persons with physical and developmental disabilities, can visit www.empowertech.org.
The event, which is open to the public, requires individual jumpers to recruit friends, relatives, and colleagues to sponsor a jump by pledging money to support EmpowerTech. The minimum total pledge per jumper is $1,000 ($750 for students and persons with disabilities).
“Sky’s the Limit” begins with a first jump at 7:30 A.M. at Lake Elsinore Skydive in Lake Elsinore, CA, followed by 20 jumpers per hour throughout the day. All jumps will be “tandem” jumps with professionals from Lake Elsinore Skydive. On the ground there will be live entertainment, kids’ activities, food and fun for the whole family.
Anderson stated, “We are so excited about Tom Lange’s decision to jump. He is an inspiration to us all and living proof that you can do ANYTHING with the right attitude and proper support. I am directing all of my fundraising efforts to sponsor Tom’s jump and I encourage the public to consider sponsoring a jumper, as well.“
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Free On-line Banking Training at EmpowerTech
OPEN ACCESS TRAINING SESSION (OATS)
Featuring: Online Banking Using JAWS for WINDOWS
Date and time: December 23, 2009
Are you nervous about giving assistants, friends, family members or relatives access to your checkbook and financial statements? Have you been ripped off? Would you like to be able to manage your financial affairs independently and privately? Nobody else but you needs to know about and participate in your financial business. Take charge!
For years, using their computers and an Internet connection, blind and visually-impaired people have managed their financial affairs independently and privately from the comfort and convenience of their homes and offices, and you can, too. Come to the next in a series of Open Access Training Sessions at EmpowerTech, to be held on December 23, 2009 from 3:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. Using online banking facilities at chase.com , we'll show you how to register, view account activity, add and update payees, pay bills and view payment history.
Featuring: Online Banking Using JAWS for WINDOWS
Date and time: December 23, 2009
Are you nervous about giving assistants, friends, family members or relatives access to your checkbook and financial statements? Have you been ripped off? Would you like to be able to manage your financial affairs independently and privately? Nobody else but you needs to know about and participate in your financial business. Take charge!
For years, using their computers and an Internet connection, blind and visually-impaired people have managed their financial affairs independently and privately from the comfort and convenience of their homes and offices, and you can, too. Come to the next in a series of Open Access Training Sessions at EmpowerTech, to be held on December 23, 2009 from 3:30 p.m. until 5 p.m. Using online banking facilities at chase.com , we'll show you how to register, view account activity, add and update payees, pay bills and view payment history.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Annual Appeal!
On behalf of the EmpowerTech Board of Directors, staff and our students, we wish you a Happy Holiday Season.
2009 has proven to be a trying year for most, including us here at EmpowerTech. We were faced with cutbacks across the all areas of giving and most importantly a decline in our fees for service. The good news is we were and are filled to capacity in all of our classrooms and receiving multiple program inquiries each day. Despite these obstacles, EmpowerTech once again triumphed. The start of our new fiscal year has brought positive energy and exciting gains in both our programs and our community foundation partnerships.
We would like to ask for your support to make it even more exciting and secure for our students. Just ask:
Mitch, a student who began in our Pre-school program and eventually moved into our TRADE program who is now working as a data entry clerk for the Los Angeles Mayor or
Devon, who has limited speech and motor skills and is able to communicate with his sister 2000 miles away via email by visiting our offices each week for FREE Open Access, his only opportunity to use the computer each week or
Sara, a blind and low vision student who has furthered her independence by learning Online Banking and is no longer reliant on others to access her personal financial information.
EmpowerTech programs are thriving and providing services to more people than ever. This year alone, over 2,400 people benefited from EmpowerTech services. We have an exciting children’s program that is designed to help children improve their overall school performance, a growing TRADE program teaching job and life skills to adult students, a free community Open Access Program has served over 300 individuals in 2009 and our Blind and Low Vision program currently has a waiting list of interested students. We have the staff, the tools, and the students, NOW WE NEED YOU!
Your support of EmpowerTech is critical to help us maintain our current programs and offer new programs. We couldn’t make a difference in LA without your support.
DONATE NOW
2009 has proven to be a trying year for most, including us here at EmpowerTech. We were faced with cutbacks across the all areas of giving and most importantly a decline in our fees for service. The good news is we were and are filled to capacity in all of our classrooms and receiving multiple program inquiries each day. Despite these obstacles, EmpowerTech once again triumphed. The start of our new fiscal year has brought positive energy and exciting gains in both our programs and our community foundation partnerships.
We would like to ask for your support to make it even more exciting and secure for our students. Just ask:
Mitch, a student who began in our Pre-school program and eventually moved into our TRADE program who is now working as a data entry clerk for the Los Angeles Mayor or
Devon, who has limited speech and motor skills and is able to communicate with his sister 2000 miles away via email by visiting our offices each week for FREE Open Access, his only opportunity to use the computer each week or
Sara, a blind and low vision student who has furthered her independence by learning Online Banking and is no longer reliant on others to access her personal financial information.
EmpowerTech programs are thriving and providing services to more people than ever. This year alone, over 2,400 people benefited from EmpowerTech services. We have an exciting children’s program that is designed to help children improve their overall school performance, a growing TRADE program teaching job and life skills to adult students, a free community Open Access Program has served over 300 individuals in 2009 and our Blind and Low Vision program currently has a waiting list of interested students. We have the staff, the tools, and the students, NOW WE NEED YOU!
Your support of EmpowerTech is critical to help us maintain our current programs and offer new programs. We couldn’t make a difference in LA without your support.
DONATE NOW
Monday, October 5, 2009
How we have impacted the future of our students
This is from one of our TRADE student's mothers...
“You guys really deserve so much credit in regard to his maturing and growth, social skills and articulation. Before attending the TRADE program he was reclusive and didn’t want to communicate with others. I’m so thankful. He has so much respect for you. When someone shows Vernon how to do something on the computer, he says, ‘Eric said to do it this way.’ That’s all he’s been able to talk about. I’m thankful.”
“You guys really deserve so much credit in regard to his maturing and growth, social skills and articulation. Before attending the TRADE program he was reclusive and didn’t want to communicate with others. I’m so thankful. He has so much respect for you. When someone shows Vernon how to do something on the computer, he says, ‘Eric said to do it this way.’ That’s all he’s been able to talk about. I’m thankful.”
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sarah's Story
I think for most of us that are reading this message there are things that we take for granted: every day things; opening mail and reading it and paying bills with checks or through our on-line banking accounts. For most of the students here at EmpowerTech these things are done with assistance usually by another person. The following story will anger and appall you but I promise it has a very good ending.
The main character of this story is Sarah (not her real name for privacy purposes). Sarah is one of our recent Blind/Low-Vision program graduates, she is extremely independent and even more so after completing the program.
There were still a few things that she did need help with, primarily opening of her bills and then writing the checks. She did have a hired assistant who would come in a few hours a week to help her with this. Sarah and her got along very well and a trust began to form. For several months, a few hours a week, the assistant helped Sarah with her finances. Then one day by sheer luck, Sarah called her bank to check her balance. She was overdrawn and the check that the assistant wrote for her rent was going to bounce.
Very upset and beside herself she called Tom Lange, EmpowerTech's Blind/Low-Vision Director. Tom immediately calmed her down and helped her navigate along with her bank's assistance, the source of the overdraft, a check was forged by the assistant. The bank acknowledged the problem and replaced the funds.
A few days later and through a series of phone calls, Tom taught her how to use on-line banking.
You see there are things you and I take for granted; opening our mail, paying bills and on-line banking. But now because of EmpowerTech and Tom's help our Blind/Low-Vision students are all being taught and taking advantage of on-line banking even furthering their independence.
The main character of this story is Sarah (not her real name for privacy purposes). Sarah is one of our recent Blind/Low-Vision program graduates, she is extremely independent and even more so after completing the program.
There were still a few things that she did need help with, primarily opening of her bills and then writing the checks. She did have a hired assistant who would come in a few hours a week to help her with this. Sarah and her got along very well and a trust began to form. For several months, a few hours a week, the assistant helped Sarah with her finances. Then one day by sheer luck, Sarah called her bank to check her balance. She was overdrawn and the check that the assistant wrote for her rent was going to bounce.
Very upset and beside herself she called Tom Lange, EmpowerTech's Blind/Low-Vision Director. Tom immediately calmed her down and helped her navigate along with her bank's assistance, the source of the overdraft, a check was forged by the assistant. The bank acknowledged the problem and replaced the funds.
A few days later and through a series of phone calls, Tom taught her how to use on-line banking.
You see there are things you and I take for granted; opening our mail, paying bills and on-line banking. But now because of EmpowerTech and Tom's help our Blind/Low-Vision students are all being taught and taking advantage of on-line banking even furthering their independence.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Student Comment about our TRADE Program
In each quarterly TRADE progress report is a section for students to provide input. Some of the student comments are quite moving - such as the one in the report I am currently writing. The student is Christine - the tiny woman we often undoubtedly hear squealing with excitement when she experiences a success.
I think the class is fantastic. I'd love to continue as long as it takes me. As long as I will have my computer I will still come to class on Tuesdays. It will make me very smart!
I think the class is fantastic. I'd love to continue as long as it takes me. As long as I will have my computer I will still come to class on Tuesdays. It will make me very smart!
Monday, July 27, 2009
1000 Empowering Moments
EmpowerTech launches emergency fundraising campaign
We are calling this campaign 1000 Empowering Moments. Our goal is for 1000 people to give $100. We are looking to raise $100,000. These "Empowering" Moments are in addition to our daily Empowering Moments we get to witness in person. Devon, who has MS, and has been coming to EmpowerTech since he was a teenager, was diagnosed with MS a degenerative disease, that has slowly taken away all of his motor skills. For Devon having access to a computer and Head Mouse each Wednesday during our Open Access Lab is the only opportunity he has to send emails to his sister 3000 miles away. Please help us keep our doors open donate now
We are calling this campaign 1000 Empowering Moments. Our goal is for 1000 people to give $100. We are looking to raise $100,000. These "Empowering" Moments are in addition to our daily Empowering Moments we get to witness in person. Devon, who has MS, and has been coming to EmpowerTech since he was a teenager, was diagnosed with MS a degenerative disease, that has slowly taken away all of his motor skills. For Devon having access to a computer and Head Mouse each Wednesday during our Open Access Lab is the only opportunity he has to send emails to his sister 3000 miles away. Please help us keep our doors open donate now
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