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.
No comments:
Post a Comment