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

Where the blind can see through computers

SUCCESS STORIES

IT Whiz? Why not?

Julius Charles Serrano

Julius is the youngest of four kids and the only blind person in the family. He graduated from a four- year computer science course at STI College Recto, the very first totally blind computer science graduate in the Philippines.

At STI, he won Best in System Analysis and design in 2002 and Best programmer Award in 2004. At his graduation, he was given the Manuel Villar Excellence Award for his academic achievements.

Later, Julius was the only Filipino invited to Hamburg, Germany by the developers of a screen reader software, in a training for programmers in South East Asia who will customize the software for various commercially available applications. In 2006, Julius led the four-man Philippine team to participate in a three-week training in Thailand on the production of “talking books”, and was the only one who qualified for advanced training in talking book production. He has spearheaded the first Talking Book production training in the Philippines alongside Japanese and Thai co-trainers. In 2006, Julius was again part of the technology and leadership training in Malaysia and Japan. In 2007, Julius and Lourdes Borgonia, ATRIEV’s training Instructor, were the Philippine participants to an intensive scripting workshop in Ho Chi Minh City Vietnam.

Not only is Julius a techno buff but he is also a fan of music—from standards to rock to alternative genre. He enjoys playing the guitar and keyboard while singing his favorite tunes.

After working as a full-time writer for an online magazine, he now works as a part-time writer for a content provider owned and managed by Marx Vergel Melencio, another ATRIEV graduate. Julius enjoys his current work arrangement because it allows him to spearhead specialized training programs for ATRIEV and at the same time, participate in advance courses in web accessibility and other IT-related programs. Julius also looks forward to a more challenging career in captioning. Challenging, trendy, innovative are the words that can match Julius Charles Serrano.

Seeing Through the Eyes of My Blind Child

Ma. Sheila Lynne Naputo and Mrs. Yolanda Naputo

Eight-year-old Sheila opens a Word document that contains mathematical problem. She then opens the calculator program and starts computing. When the answer is displayed, she copies it, switches back to the word document and pastes the answer. This seemingly simple task becomes a feat because Sheila is totally blind.

Ma. Sheila Lynne Naputo and her mother, Yolanda were participants in the Pioneering project of Atriev with Parent Advocates of Visually Impaired Children (PAVIC) , Bagong Henerasyon Foundation headed by Councilor Bernadette Herrera-Dy of the Quezon City Council, and the Commission on Information Communications Technology (CICT).

“When I participated in ATRIEV’s preliminary training for parents early this year,” Mrs. Naputo begins, “We were prohibited to use the mouse and relied on the computer keyboard instead.” “The realization came to me when our ATRIEV instructor blindfolded me and asked me to type and edit my work by listening solely to the screen reader.” That singular experience heightened her determination to assist her daughter’s learning in any and every way possible. Though born with cataract, Shiela, her daughter, has just become totally blind a year ago. Her surgery when she was only seven months old restored her partial vision that allowed her to distinguish colors and read letters using a magnifier up to age seven. Complications due to glaucoma led to the deterioration of her eyesight. “We are somehow prepared,” Mrs. Naputo, relates, “we knew she already had difficulty reading and when she became totally blind and learned to read Braille, she improved greatly on her class performance.”

Now, Shiela together with the other participants knows how to turn on and off the computer on her own, type simple letters for her relatives and read children’s stories. “When the training started, the parents were giving instructions to their kids,” Tony Llanes, ATRIEV veteran instructor begins. “they would normally argue,” he continues. Ten days after, the tables are turned, the kids are now the ones giving instruction to their parents. he ends with a laugh.

I want to be a teacher someday,” says Shiela with much conviction. “I want to be like teacher Tony who teaches us how to use computers,” she emphasizes. “My only dream is to see Shiela finish her studies and lead an independent life,” Mrs. Naputo explains. “ “For parents of blind children, they should have enough trust in their kids’ abilities,” Llanes begins. “Sometimes, our kids will make mistakes but its okay even if they will learn the hard way. What’s important is that even though they’re blind, they will have the courage to explore and discover,” he ends.

Painting Colors in the Lives of Others

Mariecell Fornis

God will never give us a trial more than what we could handle.

It was on February 16, 2002 when my family met a vehicular accident. We were on our way home after picking up my younger sister from her JS Prom when my father tried to avoid a road construction that has no warning device and lost control. That was the cause of my loss of sight.

By that time, I was a graduating student in college under the degree course of BS Computer Technology and it was about 40 days before graduation. The university has decided to give my diploma because I already have completed my thesis and met all my requirements before the accident happened.

My father and I were brought to the hospital. He had a fractured leg and went through a major operation. He used crutches for almost six months. I, on the other hand, stayed on my hospital bed for almost four months. There were bandages all over my body and I had many stitches on my head. they put a tube on my neck to help me breathe. For four months I didn’t take any solid food. I couldn’t speak because they’ve put braces on my teeth to support it. I could only communicate with people through writing or by sign language. The doctors said that they couldn’t save my eyes because it may cause infection that would eventually cost my life. It would be better to lose my sight than to lose my life.

While still in the hospital my friends, professors, relatives, neighbors and the rest of my family were there to give me enormous support. They never left me. They all made me feel so special and that gave me an assurance that I wasn’t alone. Also, I’ve met new friends and until now they are here for me. I thank God because I came to know them through my situation. They all helped me on my financial, emotional, physical and spiritual struggles.

Because of my eagerness to move on with my life despite of my situation, as soon as my fractured legs were healed and I was out of the hospital, I went to Davao School for the Blind. I studied Braille while having seven reconstructive surgeries on my jaws. When I have already learned how to read and write Braille, I was referred to the Rotary Foundation Computer Skills Training Center to pursue my studies on computer. I was able to make use of all my knowledge about computer from my previous course. Then the Rotary introduced me to UCCP Social Concern Office for mobility orientation. Right now, I can manage to walk by myself using my cane. I also went to the Resources for the Blind, Inc. for further studies on computer.

In 2006, I took the 6-month computer literacy course in ATRIEV. Away from my family for the first time, I tried my best to brave the city life in Manila. One thing I won't forget with ATRIEV is when I celebrated my 25th birthday because ATRIEV made it so special. I enjoyed my stay in ATRIEV because of the friendship of my classmates and most especially my mentor, Lourdes Borgonia.

I completed my ATRIEV training and I was awarded the “U21 Global Student of the Year for 2006”. I was given an MP3 recorder by U21 Global as a graduation gift. After graduation, I was given transcription work by ATRIEV. At present, I am the main transcriptionist for ATRIEV’s account with the Philippine Olympic Committee. Even now I’m back in Davao, I still continue to receive transcription work where I earn even when I’m at home.

Now I know that even though I’m already blind I can still do things normal people do. It is only my eyes that are gone. I feel so blessed and thankful that God put me into this situation because through my disability I’ve come to know special people and new friends. And I have received opportunities and gained achievements that I never had when I was still sighted.

I believe that even in this seeming darkness, life is beautiful. Although I may never see the colors of the world again, I could paint colors in the lives of others. As long as there is life, as long as there is hope, the battle is not yet over for me and for blind people like us.

Asia has its First Totally Blind Medical Transcriptionist
Perseverance Does It

By Carol Catacutan

Blind due to a gunshot wound to the head, Michael Borgonia, a former government physician from Balamban Cebu, signed last Friday, June 24, 2005, a one-year contract with TTSI or Total Transcription Solutions Inc. to be the first totally blind medical transcriptionist not only in the Philippines but in Asia.

Borgonia, 37, qualified for the home medical transcriptionist requirement of TTSI after almost a year of training at Project ATTRAC or the Adaptive Technology Training Resource and Access Center program of ATRIEV or Adaptive Technology For Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired, a non-government organization whose core program is to give computer training to blind and visually impaired persons. Project ATTRAC is implemented in partnership with Overbrook/Nippon Network on Educational Technology (ON-NET), Christian Blind Mission (CBM), STI Foundation on Leadership in Information Technology and Education (STI-FLITE) and the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (TESDA).

Total Transcription Solutions Inc. (TTSI) is one of the country's leading medical transcription companies that provides offshore medical transcription services to hospitals, clinics, group and individual practices. Myla Rose Mundo-Reyes, TTSI's Managing Director admits that initially, they were apprehensive in dealing with visually impaired persons. "But when we saw the screen reader software, and we noted that the only impairment was the eyesight, it gave us a sense of hope," Reyes explains. TTSI was the first medical transcription company that has considered blind persons as on-the-job trainees.

"When I came to ATRIEV in July 2004, I only have one advantage that qualified me for the training and that is my medical background," Borgonia recalls. The basic training lasted for five months, which is comprised of computer LITERACY, English grammar and medical terminology and listening/transcription skills. Transcription is the translation of recorded audio dictations into electronic format. The training is tedious," Carol Catacutan, ATRIEV'S totally blind Training Director, explains, "aside from the five-month basic training, the on- The-job training is indefinite."

Also crucial in the training is the interface of the screen reader program with that of the software used by the transcription company. A screen reader program allows a blind person to manipulate the computer through a vocal response. Michael had to memorize all the key commands including editing commands in order to meet TTSI's stringent qualification requirements.

Surviving the Trauma

In March 2001, on his way out from Balamban District hospital-where he has served as a government physician for more than seven years--Michael was intentionally shot in the head by a hired gunman. He was given immediate attention in the district hospital but was immediately rushed to Cebu Doctors Hospital where the bullet was removed. After the shot, I was still conscious but my sight blacked-out instantly. I knew that I'll live but I also knew that my sight is already gone." Michael recounts. "At that time, I was just praying for his life." Malou, Michael's wife recalls. "Hindi ko iniisip na ma-blind siya." She continues.

After three weeks, Michael was brought to Manila for another surgery in an attempt to save his eyesight. "As a medical doctor myself, I knew right then and there that I had lost my sight permanently." Michael narrates. "When the doctors told me to pray for a miracle, you can read between the lines," Malou relates. "Sa akin, ang hirap isipin ang nangyari pero wala naman akong magawa. So I just have to accept it." She continues trying to fight back her tears. "Wala na akong magagawa. Iyon na. Kahit ano pa ang gawin ko, kahit pa maparusahan ang gumawa noon, hindi na naman maibabalik pa." Michael admits in resignation.

His life suddenly made a 360-degree turn-around. For three whole months after the shooting incident, Michael experienced sleepless nights or even waking up in the middle of sleep. Being the father of four primary school-aged boys, Michael's blindness meant loss of income. "At that time we were at the stage na maayos na ang buhay namin tapos biglang naputol. I was afraid financially." Malou confesses. His parents and two younger siblings, however, assured his family of financial support. For three long years, Michael just stayed at home sleeping, watching TV, and practically doing nothing.

Starting Over Again

In 2004, Michael saw the interview of Lourdes Borgonia, now ATRIEV's Associate Instructor, in a television news program. "I got interested in the idea that blind people can use computers plus the fact that Lourdes and I have the same family name," Michael explains.

Going to Manila for the training was a major decision for the family. "I was supportive of his training in Manila," Malou begins, "I really wanted him to go because I wanted Michael to do something with his time. To get back his self confidence." She continues. But Michael was the one who was reluctant to go to Manila. "He was saying,"Ano daw ang gagawin niya sa Manila? Traffic daw sa Manila? Sino daw ang magiging guide niya? wala daw siyang alam sa Manila?" "siya ang takot." Malou describes. Malou and Michael's family kept on urging him to go. After much prodding, Michael agreed. In Manila, Jr, Michael's youngest brother, took care of him.

Facing the Challenge

When I was still sighted, I had no interest in computers," Michael confesses. In less than a year, however, Michael has reached the minimum speed requirement of 45 words per minute. All he needed was to meet TTSI's accuracy standards. .

The first on-the-job training was held at the ATRIEV Training Center in STI College Cubao. ATRIEV provided eight visually impaired trainees with the computer units, screen reader software as well as electronic medical references. TTSI provided practice voice files to the trainees with an expressed agreement with all concerned of utmost confidentiality. The OJT lasted for eight weeks and Michael got the highest accuracy scores. He, however, still did not meet the 98% accuracy requirement of TTSI.

"We thought that it's possible for blind people to really do transcription because of the technology," Reyes explains. "But we also knew that it's not going to be an easy task." She goes on. "As you know, medical transcription is more than just a secretarial job and it really takes an intelligent person to do transcription." She concludes.

One More Chance

From May 24, 2005 to June 17, 2005, only the top two ATRIEV trainees were given the last chance by TTSI to make it to their standards. "Carol's persistence paid off," says Reyes. "She really kept on asking for more chances for her students and when we saw that some of them showed promise, we gave them another chance." She continues.

"For me, the biggest challenge was how to communicate and feedback to the trainees." Lorena "Ena" Llanda, TTSI Account Manager says. "Michael started with a 93% accuracy increasing steadily every week with 96% on his fourth week," she goes on. "After the fourth week, we decided to stop giving him practice files and deliberate on Michael's work," Marj Muli-Paz, TTSI's Operations Manager explains. "After the deliberations, we decided to offer Michael a one-year contract as a home medical transcriptionist." Paz continues.

"I was in tears when I read Ms. Marj's e-mail about the good news," Catacutan recalls. "I have lost potential medical transcriptionists due to financial reasons and Michael was the only one left," she confesses. "There was a time during the OJT when Michael called me up and he said he wanted to go home," Malou reveals. "I was also losing hope because I was not sure where my training was going to," Michael admits. "But I told him to stay on and finish the training," Malou narrates. "Whether he makes it or not, at least he completed the training and did not give up." She says.

"When Michael told me about the good news, I was not at all surprised because I was already expecting it. I knew he would make it." Malou says with confidence. "Michael should be proud of himself," Reyes begins." "What I would like to highlight is that we didn't look at Mike's limits. Because at the end of the day, TTSI's main goal is to survive as a profitable MT service organization. Our evaluation was based on his ability to meet our requirements. The standards are the same as what we expect from the rest of the able-bodied persons." Reyes points out. "He proved himself worthy to be a medical transcriptionist and he will serve as an inspiration to others." Paz adds.

A New Beginning

As Michael Borgonia flies back home to Cebu to be reunited wit his family, he now carries with him a new hope and renewed confidence that he can still is productive. He did not only earn the distinction of becoming the first blind medical transcriptionist in Asia but of a man who has overcome trauma and pain and still turn out to be the best that he can be.

Krissy's World

By Ann Corvera
The Philippine STAR 09/19/2005

Early this year, an executive of a computer school for the blind was crossing her fingers, wishing that one of their female graduates could break into the mainstream job market. And in April, it happened, and last Wednesday, NetWorks got the chance to talk to this young achiever, whom Carol Catacutan, training director of ATRIEV, or Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired, described as "the first blind person to qualify and work in a corporate environment."

That corporate environment is TeleTech, a global provider of business process outsourcing and customer management solutions, where Criselda "Krissy" Bisda works as a recruitment associate.

Krissy signed an employment contract with TeleTech on April 15, "a milestone in call center history," as Carol, herself an ATRIEV graduate, put it.

"I feel very happy about it because not too many get that chance. I was able to reach my short-term goals that is, to work and it's related to the course I took up," Krissy recalled in fluent English to NetWorks in an interview at their office in Robinson's Plaza in Novaliches, Quezon City.

Krissy, a towering 21-year-old at 5'7", graduated with a degree in psychology at the Philippine Women's University in Manila. "I chose psychology because I like studying people and I am curious about human behavior and to try and understand it."

Krissy's condition never stopped her from pursuing her dream of practicing her degree in the so-called real world. Her perseverance, coupled with her smarts and confidence, led ATRIEV to make her a candidate for employment at Teletech.

Krissy, who was diagnosed with a progressive degeneration of the retina called retinitis pigmentosa at age three, was one of five pre-screened visually impaired applicants recommended by ATRIEV to TeleTech.

It was TeleTech vice president and general manager Craig Reines who identified the recruitment associate position that may be fit for the blind.

"We should not be limited by the screen reader software. There's a host of other jobs that a blind person may be able to do that may not require the software interface," Reines explains as a screen reader software that allows blind people to manipulate the computer through a vocal response unfortunately did not interface with the call center's proprietary software.

Having graduated from ATRIEV where she took up a basic computer literacy program under the Adaptive Technology for Training, Resource and Access Center last year, Krissy was well-versed with the popular software called JAWS, or job access with speech, which ATRIEV uses as a text-to-speech voice synthesizer application and screen reader program.

"ATRIEV honed my skills in computers and I became productive with JAWS," Krissy said. "It (JAWS) reads everything. It has a lot of features like telling us the color of the texts and the background. I can use it in Excel, use it for chat, to join fora and I don't have to use a mouse. There is a lot of software for the blind although JAWS is the popular one," Krissy said. "JAWS though would be enough for the type of work that I'm doing."

As a recruitment associate, Krissy explained, she interviews applicants in the initial stages involving the assessment of their communication and behavioral skills.

Another software, though not specifically for the blind, but friendly to the visually impaired is the Avaya softphone," Krissy said. "It acts like a receiver of the phone and we use it for phone screening. It is installed in a computer and it is connected to a hard phone," she said, explaining that part of the hiring process at TeleTech is for her to conduct phone interviews.

"One of the interviews is pre-recorded wherein TeleTech has a language assessment line and the applicant's voice is recorded, assessed and graded," she said.

Krissy's present status was borne out of productive meetings between TeleTech and ATRIEV, through its chairman Peter Wallace who introduced Carol and ATRIEV founding chairman Tony Llanes to Reines. And it is through ATRIEV that Wallace actively campaigns for the employment of qualified visually impaired persons among multinational companies.

Driven To Succeed

Despite the demands of the job amid the stiff jostling of applicants to get into the call center industry, Krissy keeps her composure and doesn't mind working long hours.

She noted that a huge amount of patience is required for what she does as she encounters all types of people every day.

"A lot (of people) don't follow instructions or are impatient," she amusedly explained. "Usually, I don't take it negatively. It's really part of our job because we are exposed to people. In this job, you need to be strong and not too emotional. The key being I enjoy what I do."

Her motivation in spite of the obstacles of her condition, she said, comes from "internal and external factors."

"My family inspires me as well as (I inspire) myself," said Krissy, the eldest of three siblings, who went through eye surgery when she was diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa that saved her sight until she gradually lost it upon reaching elementary grades.

In college, Krissy continued to be an achiever as she won writing contests and quiz bees. Even in sports, Krissy excelled, and swimming became her favorite. Krissy was twice awarded the title Female Swimmer of the Year by the Resources of the Blind Inc. during summer camps in 1991 and 2001, Carol wrote of Krissy. She also won first prize in swimming competitions organized by the Philippine Blind Sports Association.

In 2002, Krissy participated in a leadership seminar for the blind in Jahor Baru, Malaysia. "They made us understand that even when you are blind, you could be a leader not just to blind people but in any sector really."

"With my condition, I have to be inspired by myself, by my goal that I want to reach. You have to go out of your way to find opportunities for yourself. I earned a degree in college and what would I do with that if I don't seek out these opportunities?" Krissy said.

One of the external factors that inspired her, she said, was her fulfilling experience at ATRIEV where she also volunteered to spearhead its personal development program. In her article on Krissy, Carol said she coordinated seminars and workshops on improving self-esteem for people with disabilities (PWDs) and for parents of PWDs or who themselves are visually impaired.

"I became more assertive with my stay at ATRIEV and learned how things are like when you are working when I became a part of the counseling group," Krissy fondly recalled.

In whatever she does, Krissy wants to be successful. Notwithstanding her blindness, she truly stands tall, more than literally, among both persons with disabilities and the so-called regular people.

"I promised to myself that no matter what happens I would find work in whatever type of environment. I don't want to be idle because I know I can do more in spite of my condition. If I would mind my condition, I won't move ahead and develop myself," she said. - With Carol Catacutan (training director of ATRIEV, or Adaptive Technology for Rehabilitation, Integration and Empowerment of the Visually Impaired).