LATEST UPDATES

PCSO Sponsors Blind Persons for Computer Training
ATRIEV Chairman Gets Fresh Mandate as Manila Councilor
Computer Training for the Blind on-going
Thank you
New Set of ATRIEV Board of Trustees
On-The-Job Trainees, Needed
Donate Now
Outsourced Transcription Work
Messages from ATRIEV's Partners
ATRIEV on YouTube

WELCOME TO ATRIEV

"ATRIEV Computer School for the Blind has given light to those who lack the gift of sight through the power of technology."

Did you know that blind persons can encode using the computer? Send and read email? Surf the Net? And even read and type text messages? In short, they can now do what you can, in different ways, and with the help of specialized software and adaptive technology through...

ATRIEV COMPUTER SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND

The only school for the blind in the Philippines that specializes in computer access and information technology. With the use of adaptive technology, blind and sight impaired persons can now gain access to post-secondary education, mainstream employment, and similar opportunities.

Adaptive technology includes screen reader software that provides every stroke of the keyboard and click of the mouse with a vocal response. This allows the blind person to have confidence in word processing, e-mail and even Web surfing, knowing that whatever is on the screen will be spoken aloud for instant feedback.

To date, ATRIEV has directly and indirectly trained and empowered over 400 young blind adults who have gone on to higher education, who have become transcriptionists, computer instructors, web content writers, human resource personnel, researchers, entrepreneurs etc.

PCSO Sponsors Blind Persons for Computer Training

17 May 2010

The Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO) recently donated Php50,000.00 to ATRIEV Computer School for the Blind for the sponsorship of five blind students for computer training.

Jean Mary Avenilla, a 15-year-old high school student at Quirino High School was hand-picked by ATRIEV to be one of the recipients of the PCSO sponsorship. A real survivor, Jean Mary was born six months premature. His parents, Jeanson, a clerk and Magen, a banana cue vendor, thought that Jean won’t survive. She had to stay in an incubator for 3 months to complete the 9-month full term. As the eldest of three kids, her parents did everything to Keep Jean alive. Few months after she was brought out of the incubator and out of the hospital, her parents noticed her blind eyes. Despite Jean’s blindness, her parents made sure that Jean attended school.

In 2009, the TV program of GMA 7 “Wish Ko Lang” requested ATRIEV to provide computer training sponsorship for Jean Mary. “Wish Ko Lang” chose to grant Jean Mary’s wish not just because she’s blind but because she’s a blind girl whose singing prowess can match the divas of today. Jean’s singing voice reverberates at every corner of the stage and her sheer power can fill a whole stadium.

Through the donation of PCSO, Jean enrolled in the PC Operations with Access Technology Course of ATRIEV from April 12 to May 21, 2010. The youngest among the 11 students, Jean was never intimidated by her peers. She always gives her best at every exam, every presentation and every recitation there is. A true fighter, Jean Mary can now use her computer skills to reach her dreams.

Thanks to PCSO for giving Jean Mary Avenilla and other blind persons the opportunity to make themselves better through technology.

For other PCSO sponsored students please click

Divina Zambales
Herminia Malimban

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ATRIEV Chairman Gets Fresh Mandate as Manila Councilor

17 May 2010

Newly elected ATRIEV Chairman, the honorable Bernardito C. Ang obtains a fresh mandate from the voters of the 3rd District of Manila in the 2010 automated elections as their newly elected councilor.

Councilor Bernie Ang has earlier completed three terms as District 3 Manila councilor and then acted as the Secretary to Vice Mayor, Isko Moreno, from 2007 to 2009.

Earlier this year, on February 20, 2010, at a General Assembly held by the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV), Councilor Bernie also overwhelmingly won as Chairman and President of ATRIEV, the only computer school for the blind in the Philippines. Councilor Bernie Ang has been helping ATRIEV since its backyard days by way of direct sponsorship of its students, spearheading the conduct of the 2nd ICT conference for the visually impaired in 2002 and the establishment of a PWD Help Line. Councilor Bernie has a soft spot for persons with disabilities because he, himself, is a polio victim.

Congratulations to Councilor Bernie ang for a well-deserved win in the city of Manila. Your ATRIEV family is proud of you.

COMPUTER TRAINING FOR THE BLIND ON-GOING

20 April 2010

ATRIEV is the only school for the blind in the Philippines that specializes in computer access and information technology. Blind persons can access computer-based information through the use of a screen reader software. The software provides every stroke of a key and click of the mouse with a vocal response allowing instant feedback.

From April 12 to May 21, 2010, ATRIEV will conduct the PC Operations with Access Technology course for blind and low vision high school and college students, and professionals. For six weeks, the students will be immersed in the basics of productivity software, presentation skills and values formation. The students come from Baguio, Ilocos Norte and Sur, Quirino and Quezon Provinces of Northern Luzon and Cavite and Batangas of southern Luzon. These promising and dedicated students are counting on your generosity for the sponsorship of their tuition fees and dormitory fees during their stay in Metro Manila.

Here are short descriptions of the students in need of your support:

1. SARAH JOYCE OCAMPO

Sarah, as she is fondly called, is the eldest of two daughters of Enrique, a finishing carpenter, and Susan, an OFW. Sarah was born blind due to problems during her mother’s pregnancy. Despite the lack of sight, Sarah led a fruitful life having won singing competitions and garnering academic and non-academic awards at the Philippine National School for the Blind. Sarah enrolled in ATRIEV’s PC Operations course in preparation for college. While still training in ATRIEV, Sarah took and passed the entrance examination at Informatics College, Diliman on May 7, 2010. Sarah is now a scholar of Informatics taking up programming making her the second blind scholar of ATRIEV in the said college. Sarah continues to complete her PC Operations training in ATRIEV through the generosity of Dr. Janina Alejandro Bucu. Sarah is so blessed to have a dedicated pediatrician and family friend in the person of Dr. Bucu. Dr. Bucu paid for Sarah’s Php20,000.00 tuition fee in PC Operations so that she will be well equipped for her college education. Special thanks to Dr. Janina Bucu. May others follow her act of generosity and kindness.

2. DIVINA ZAMBALES (PCSO Sponsor)

Divina is a 27-year-old student of Santa Catalina College taking up Religious Education. Divina became totally blind at age 10 due to brain tumor. Her father is jobless while her mother runs her small sari-sari store. Divina’s education and care is through the kindness of Handicapped Center Lourdes, a home for indigent and differently-abled persons like her. An incoming third year student, Divina wants to learn how to use computers to aid her in her studies. Divina dreams of being a teacher someday. Divina was chosen by ATRIEV to be one of the sponsored trainees of the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office (PCSO). PCSO shouldered 50% of the tuition fee amounting to Php10,000.00. Divina appeals for your support to fill in the other 50% (Php10,000.00) of the tuition fee for the PC Operations training. Let us help her realize her dream. Donate now.

3. RAYMOND REYES

Raymond is a 41-year-old BS Mathematics graduate of the University of Santo tomas. He has worked in the insurance industry for 20 years and has held several supervisory and managerial positions. In 2007, Raymond’s promising career was cut short due to Ethambutol toxicity that led to his gradual loss of sight. At present, Raymond is dependent on his wife for their livelihood. Raymond knows that despite of his limited vision, he can still do more and earn a decent wage if he only has the necessary skills. He is currently enrolled in ATRIEV’s PC Operations course this summer and then move on to ATRIEV’s job specific training. Raymond needs your support for his Php20,000.00 tuition fee for the PC Operations training. Raymond is optimistic that with the right skills and attitude, he can help his wife provide a bright future for their one and only daughter. Donate now.

4. HERMINIA MALIMBAN (PCSO Sponsor)

A licensed dentist, Herminia, 42, comes from a family of blind and visually impaired persons. Her late Father, Feliciano, was also blind. Her two brothers are both blind while her only sister has functional low vision. Herminia is now suffering from severe low vision that prevented her from continuing to practice her profession. The Malimban family suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, a hereditary and progressive eye disease. Despite her situation, Herminia wants to continue living her life. She wants to take up ATRIEV’s PC Operations course so that she can start to earn. With her degree in dentistry, she can be trained as a medical transcriptionist. ATRIEV wants to give a chance to Herminia by choosing her as one of the sponsored trainees of PCSO or the Philippine Charity Sweepstakes Office. PCSO provided for 50% of the tuition fee so that Herminia can attend the PC Operations with Access Technology course in ATRIEV. Herminia only needs to raise Php10,000.00 to fully pay the tuition fee. Let’s help Herminia become a productive individual again. Donate now.

5. NORILYN REJANO

Norilyn is one of ATRIEV’s low vision students from Lucena City, Quezon. Her father is a farmer while her mother works as a household help. Because she is really eager to attend the PC Operations class of ATRIEV, she sought the help of Lucena City Mayor, Ramon Y. Talaga, Jr. Mayor Talaga provided Php5,000.00 for her dormitory fee and meals. Unfortunately, the amount is not enough for the Php20,000.00 tuition fee for the 6-week course. Norilyn is seeking your help. With your assistance, her training in ATRIEV will prepare her for college. Donate now and give Norilyn a bright future.

6. MARY ROSE JHELEN APOSTOL

Jhelen is one of the eight children of Edgardo, a plumber, and Helen, a homemaker. Born with cataract, Jhelen still managed to attend school and has excelled in her studies. She believes that computer training will help her in school work. Despite meager means, this 17-year-old low vision girl from Lucena City went to Mayor Ramon Y. Talaga Jr.’s office for assistance. The good mayor of Lucena City provided her with Php5,000.00 to finance her dormitory fee and transportation cost from Lucena to Manila. Jhelen needs Php20,000.00 as tuition fee for the 6-week PC Operations training in ATRIEV. Please help her reach her dream of becoming a call center agent. Any amount will be valuable. Donate now.

7. ELIZA LORICA

Eliza’s blindness is due to a foiled abortion by her mother, Elsie. Elsie confesses that she was sorry for her indiscretion, she, however, accepted and embraced Eliza’s disability and has become the best supporting and understanding mother one could ever have. Eliza attended regular school in Vigan, Ilocos sur. She graduated with an outstanding student award in elementary. Hon. Ronald Singson, a Board member of Vigan, supported her dormitory fee for the training. Though her siblings are employed, both have their own families. Eliza seeks sponsorship for the Php20,000.00 tuition fee for the PC Operations training in ATRIEV. Please help her reach her goal of becoming a computer programmer someday. Any amount will contribute to the cost. Donate now.

8. JASMIN AMBIONG

At age 20, Jasmin is an incoming 4th year high school student. For girls her age, she should have been an incoming 4th year college student. Jasmin became totally blind since she was 9 months old due to plastoma. Her blindness caused the delay in her studies. When her family found the right school for her, they wasted no time in providing Jasmin with all the support she deserves. When she was enrolled in 1st year high school, Jasmin was demoted to the last section because of her blindness. This discriminatory act did not discourage her. She, instead, did her best and the following year, she was promoted to the star section. She enrolled in ATRIEV’s PC Operations course because her high school teachers can’t believe that blind people can use computers. She wants to be a living proof of the contrary. Please help Jasmin become a living example of blind yet computer literate person. Help her pay for the Php20,000.00 tuition fee to cover her PC Operations training. Any amount will be very much appreciated. Donate now.

9. NIKKI FELIZARTE

This bubbly, chubby and low vision girl is a native of Palawan. After completing her primary and secondary education in Palawan, Nikki decided to move to Pandacan, Manila and enrolled at the Philippine Christian University taking up BS in Elementary Education. Away from her family, Nikki stays with her aunt and has learned to become independent. Nikki has had basic computer training but decided to enroll in ATRIEV’s PC Operations course to enhance her competitiveness in her collegiate studies. Nikki is partly supported by her aunt but her tuition fee of Php20,000.00 cannot be shouldered by her relatives. She is appealing for your support. Any amount will greatly contribute to the cost of her education. Donate now.

Not everyone is given the opportunity to help others, so it is a privilege to extend a hand and change another person’s life for the better.

Thank You

20 April 2010

To all the former members of the Board of Trustees, our former members of the ATRIEV staff, and to all those who have served ATRIEV in more ways than one, we would like to thank you for your contribution to the organization. Though you are no longer actively and directly involved with the organization, we know that you are one with ATRIEV in uplifting the lives of the blind in the Philippines.

We would like to express our sincerest gratitude to our former Board of Trustees who has served the organization up to January 2010 namely:

Mr. Augusto C. Lagman
Mr. Joaquin Quintos IV
Mr. Thomas Ng
Mr. Jose Fernando B. Camus
Ms. Christine H. Matriano
Mr. Craig H. Reines
Ms. Sahlee C. Camposano
Mr. James Donovan
Mr. Monico V. Jacob

We also acknowledge the unparalleled contribution of our Chairman Emeritus, Mr. Peter L. Wallace, who has unselfishly shared his time and his heart with the Filipino blind for eight years. To Mr. Wallace, our deepest thanks to you, to your wife Ms. Estee, to your son, Struan and most especially to your very dependable Executive assistant, Ms. Hazel Parial. You will always be a part of ATRIEV and the blind Filipino whose lives you have touched.

To the former members of the ATRIEV staff who have moved on to other careers or to other countries, we thank you for your service to the organization namely:

Cesario R. Beltran
Alex M. Edu
Noel C. Briones
Francis Junio
Abigail C. Delmo
Maureen Gadi de la Cruz
Emma Gregorio
Lalaine Balona
Mary Rozelle Balangue
Marlyn M. Lazarte
Anita F. Villafuerte
Emily P. Pimentel

For all the precious time you have shared with ATRIEV, our utmost appreciation.

NEW SET OF ATRIEV BOARD OF TRUSTEES

10 March 2010

Dear partners and friends in the disability development industry:

Kindly be informed that ATRIEV has recently conducted an election of new members of the Board of Trustees pursuant to the provisions of the organization’s Constitution and By-Laws in order to serve better the members of the organization. The Election of the new members of the Board of Trustees was made in a special meeting of the General Assembly called for the said purpose on February 20, 2010 at the Session Hall of the City Council of Manila. New elected members of the board are as follows:

Councilor Bernardito Ang, Chairman/President;
Ms. Evelyn Caja, Corporate Secretary;
Mr. Romeo Sayson II, Treasurer;
Mr. Rodrigo Raña, Trustee; and
Ms. Rhea Althea Guntalilib, Trustee.

In my capacity as the duly elected Chairman of the Board and pursuant to the mandate of the members of the organization, I am obliged to pursue for the best interest of the entire membership of the organization to continue our partnership and all contracts which are mutually beneficial.

We hope that you will continue your commitment with us as we will continue our commitment to you.

Also, we would like to inform you that Ms. Emily Pimentel (former Executive Chief Officer) and Marlyn Lazarte (former Administrative Assistant) are no longer connected with ATRIEV.

Thank you.

Hon. Bernardito C. Ang
ATRIEV Chairman

OUTSOURCED TRANSCRIPTION WORK

If you need print or digital copies of your medical dictations, conference recordings or business meetings, let ATRIEV do the job for you. ATRIEV is an NGO that has done transcription work for media fora, en banc meetings of government agencies and private businesses since 2002. Please click SERVICES for more details.

MESSAGES FROM ATRIEV'S PARTNERS

From Michael Davies

(Former CBM Regional Representative, South East Asia and Pacific Region)

CBM -- which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, is happy to have made a small contribution towards getting ATRIEV up and running, and helping to meet some of the essential operational and training costs. ATRIEV is a very good example of a not-for-profit programme combining good governance, good management and good income-generation, in support of the challenging task of enabling visually impaired people to develop marketable skills, and get work.

One hundred years ago, the German Pastor Ernst Christoffel started CBM's work when he opened schools for blind children in West Asia. From these small beginnings, CBM has grown to be a major international agency working with local partners to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities in over one hundred countries, using a twin-track strategy of technical and financial support for service delivery, together with advocacy for the right of all people with disabilities to be included in all aspects of life and work.

Thanks again to ATRIEV for its tremendous work, and for helping CBM to commemorate its centennial. As CBM's strapline proclaims - "Together, we can do more!"

Michael Davies OBE

From European IT Service Center

(excerpt from the message of Mr. Dominick Sabado, Executive Director of the European IT Service Center to ATRIEV's benefit concert 2008)

We congratulate the Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV) for its dedication to empower persons with disabilities and to provide them career opportunities through training in information technology (IT).

We are convinced that the sector of Information Technology in its widest interpretation has become one of the sunrise sectors for the Philippines.

The IT sector has grown substantially in recent years, but the full potential of the Philippines as a hub for IT and IT-enabled services has still to be developed. The challenges to be addressed by both government and the private sector in a public -- private partnership range from effective marketing of the skills available in the country to creating the manpower resource to be able to catch the available business opportunities in all regions of the world.

ATRIEV is evidence that persons with disabilities can contribute and play a role in the growing IT industry. We share its vision of changing the lives of the blind through the use of computers.

Dominic E. Sabado
Executive Director

DONATE NOW...

Would you like to help blind persons go to computer training at ATRIEV? You can donate any amount and it will go to tuition fees, transportation, board and lodging, and related expenses.

You can deposit your donation to the following ATRIEV bank accounts

ATRIEV Bank Accounts Details:
Banco De Oro	Cubao - Gen. Araneta Branch

Account Name:	Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV)
Account Type:	Dollar Savings Account
Account Number:	397-0033777
Account Name:	Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired (ATRIEV)
Account Type:	Current Account
Account Number:	397-8004546

You can send you donations through the following Remittance Company

Turbo Cash
Cash Express

ATRIEV on YouTube

Check out ATRIEV's New YouTube Channel at http://www.youtube.com/user/ATRIEV.