Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired

(ATRIEV)

Where the blind can see through computers

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The blind--teaching the Blind

ABOUT ATRIEV

STRIVING TO ACHIEVE THROUGH
A T R I E V

...WHERE THE BLIND CAN SEE THROUGH COMPUTERS...



Who or what is ATRIEV?

Established in 1994 by a group of blind computer enthusiast, ATRIEV is the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration, and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired, a computer school for the blind that facilitates access by visually impaired persons to post-secondary education, mainstream employment, and similar opportunities especially with the use of adaptive technology.

Adaptive or access technology refers to the range of specialized equipment, hardware and software applications, which are designed or modified to meet the special needs of individuals with visual impairment. Examples of access devices are voice synthesizers and screen access programs which provide text-to-speech output.

In 1999, ATRIEV pioneered and institutionalized a computer literacy program for the blind through Project ATTRAC or the Adaptive Technology for Training, Resource and Access Center. The project was designed to carry out training programs to prepare blind Metro Manila residents in the use of computers either for post-secondary education or for mainstream employment. In 2004, ATRIEV started training programs for trainers of visually impaired persons which include special education teachers, rehabilitation workers, university IT instructors and parents of blind children. In 2007, ATRIEV expanded its program to include college students from the provinces from as far north as the Mountain province to as far south as Cotabato.

To date, ATRIEV has directly trained over 350 blind and visually impaired adults ages 18 to 60. More than 100 blind grade school kids have also been introduced to the wonders of information technology through ATRIEV’s training programs for children. Over 200 special education teachers, rehabilitation workers, university instructors and parents of blind children have also benefited from the trainers’ training programs of ATRIEV. As a result of these trainers’ training, more than 500 visually impaired children and adults from the provinces have also received basic computer literacy instruction.

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OUR VISION

Our vision is to be the leader in Information Communications Technology (ICT) education producing socially-responsible, technically-competent and employable blind and visually impaired persons through a network of committed government organizations (GOs) and non-government organization (NGOs) in a barrier free society.

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OUR MISSION

Our Mission is to Use and promote assistive technology to facilitate the rehabilitation, integration, and empowerment of the visually impaired sector.

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MAIN THRUSTS

  1. Skills development program through computer literacy training and related specialized training programs for visually impaired persons and for professionals dealing with visual impairment
  2. Job placement through employers’ education/sensitization and job matching
  3. Technical assistance to persons with visual impairment for equal access to Information Technology through the use of adaptive hardware/software
  4. Provision of adaptive technology through a systematic partnership with educational institutions, local government units and specialized interest groups
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MAJOR MILESTONES AND ACHIEVEMENTS

  1. Held two major conference workshops on information technology for the visually impaired (1996 and 2002);
  2. Assisted in the conduct of computer-based government examinations for blind examinees (civil service examination in 1999, Technical Education & Skills Development Authority’s scholarship examinations since 2001) and TESDA Assessment Exam for blind trainers in 2008;
  3. Received TESDA’s Kabalikat Award for Institutions in 2001;
  4. Technical consultant in the conduct of computer skills competitions for the visually impaired from 2002 to 2005;
  5. Appointed by IBM Philippines as national coordinator for its Web Adaptation Technology (WAT) software roll-out project;
  6. Appointed by World Bank Office Manila as consultant in its “Accessible Information for Disabled Persons Project” for all the Knowledge for Development Centers (KDCs) nationwide;
  7. Received the “Disabled-Friendly Website Recognition” award conferred by the Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT) in 2005;
  8. Received the top award in the 2006 ADOC competition conferred by the APEC Digital Opportunity Center led by Chinese Taipei for “Bridging the Digital Divide” category;
  9. Awarded as the grand prize winner of the Samsung Digital Hope competition in 2006;
  10. Trained and hired Lourdes Borgonia, the first totally blind CICT awarded Webmaster in the Philippines;
  11. Trained Dr. Michael Borgonia, the first totally blind medical transcriptionist in Asia;
  12. Trained and Assisted in the employment of Ma. Criselda Bisda, the first blind recruitment specialist in TeleTech, the leader in customer management solutions;
  13. Trained and assisted in the employment of Josefina Olorocisimo, the first totally blind research and recruitment associate in Kapient Philippines, a recruitment company;
  14. Trained Julius Charles Serrano, the first totally blind screen reader scripting specialist and digital talking book software production specialist in the Philippines;
  15. Trained Alona Bateg, the first totally blind female medical transcriptionist in the Philippines who has no medical background;
  16. Awarded by the Philippine Center For Entrepreneurship for the achievement of ATRIEV’s President, Antonio Llanes Jr., as the “Go Negosyo Most Inspiring PWDs” in 2007;

One of the keys to ATRIEV’s success is its keen sense of collaboration. ATRIEV has established strong partnerships with government agencies, non-government organizations and private business enterprise in carrying out its mission. Below is a list of ATRIEV’s growing partners:

  1. Overbrook-Nippon Network on Educational Technology (ON-NET)
  2. Christoffel BlindenMission/Christian Blind Mission (CBM)
  3. Technical Education and Skills Development authority (TESDA)
  4. Commission on Information and Communications Technology (CICT)
  5. National Council for the Welfare of Disabled Persons (NCWDP)
  6. Department of Education/Special Education Division
  7. APEC Digital Opportunity Center (ADOC)
  8. World Bank Office Manila/Knowledge for Development Center (KDC)
  9. IBM Philippines and IBM-Daksh
  10. TeleTech Customer Management Care Philippines
  11. Liliane Foundation Philippines
  12. Asia Pacific College (APC)
  13. Rotary Club of Paco
  14. AMA Computer Learning Center
  15. Kapient Philippines
  16. The Wallace Business forum
  17. Power Speak Philippines
  18. Bluepoint foundation Institute
  19. Philippine Web Accessibility Group
  20. Office of Councilor Bernadette Herrera-Dy of Quezon City
  21. Bagong Henerasyon Foundation/E-Care Center
  22. Parent Advocates for Visually Impaired Children (PAVIC)
  23. Resources for the Blind
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People Behind ATRIEV

ATRIEV is proud of its dedicated sttaff that ensures its effective and efficient day-to-day operations. Team ATRIEV is composed of the following:

Visit the Team ATRIEV section for more information about the people behind ATRIEV.

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ATRIEV's Board of Trustees

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