Matt’s EDIS 231 Blog

Joni and Friends is a Christian organization that shares the story of Jesus Christ with people who have disabilities. The organization not only has an impact in the United States, but across the world.  Joni and Friends was founded by Joni Eareckson Tada, who is a quadriplegic.

One of the outreach programs Joni’s organization conducts is “Wheels for the World.” According to the World Health Organization, there is a need for 20-30 million wheelchairs across the world. To help solve this problem, Joni and Friends collects used wheelchairs and restores them to like-new conditions. By the end of this year, the organization is anticipating to have delivered 52,342 wheelchairs to people in 102 countries.

Not only does Joni and Friends seek out people who have little to no mobility, they help train people with disabilities to use their gifts/talents and serve others by sharing the Gospel of Christ in local churches.

Aside from being an ambassador for Jesus Christ, Joni also works on behalf of all disabled people across the country. For three and a half years, she served on the National Council on Disability. Additionally, Joni prepares a daily radio broadcast that is featured on radio stations across the country…including right here in Northwest Ohio on WPOS, 102.3 FM.

I am including a link to the organization’s web site and a video link that features Joni talking about Joni and Friends.

Web Site:

http://www.joniandfriends.org/index.php

Video:

http://www.joniandfriends.org/welcome_video.html

In my educational technology class last semester, my class learned how to manipulate a computer’s settings to help a student with a sight or hearing impairment better use the computer. Some of the things we learned about were how to make the computer screen flash when an error occurred rather than the traditional buzzer/warning sound in order to help students with hearing loss. Additionally, we learned about voice activated software and how to magnify a computer screen in order to aid students with vision problems.

However, I have never given much though to accessibility software outside of the classroom…which brings me to the point of this post. This summer, when I was buying tickets for an Indians game online through Ticketmaster, I noticed accessibility software being used in everyday life. To buy tickets, one must enter a coded word to prevent hackers from disabling the system. However, the word provided is disguised and rather hard to read—even for people with good eyesight.

Therefore, I wondered what people with poor vision would do if they wished to buy tickets. My question was quickly answered, when I looked to the side of the page and noticed there was an audio option for visually impaired customers, which allows them to listen to a series of numbers—rather than read and type the word. People with vision problems can simply listen to the numbers and then enter them on the page in order to continue with their purchase.

I am including a link to the software provider’s website, that shows a picture of the security system and explains the system provides an option for those who are visually impaired.

http://recaptcha.net/