Sr. Rehabilitation Engineer

Posted on: 2006-06-14

Section 504/508 Accessibility Consultant CAREER SUMMARY • Advocate and Educate in providing technical support and guidance on assistive devices and assistive technologies; • Experience of Section 508 standards for web accessibility; • Experience in administering, conducting and evaluating computer assessments; • Experience in assistive technology functionality in various technology from Aids for Daily Living, Augmentative Communication, Computer Applications, Environmental Controls Systems, Home/Worksite Modifications, Sensory Vision Aids, Wheelchair/Mobility Aids, and Vehicle Modifications, to Web Accessibility and Recreation and Section 508 standards; • Strong track record of taking leadership of the usability aspects in employment resource center’s development; • Articulate and effective communicator and trainer. Comfortable and experienced with people with disabilities and culturally diverse environments; • Knowledge of international Accessibility requirements; EXPERIENCE Department of Veterans Affairs Central Office, Section 508 Testing and Training Center 05/05-present Section 508 Consultant, MILVETS • Participate in meetings with diverse Federal Government, Program Managers and Commercial audiences regarding Section 508 Requirements; • Organized the distribution and reconfiguration of various displays or disseminated information for marketing packages; • Create advertising campaigns targeting VA employees and veterans with disabilities, increasing center’s exposure to Section 508; • Create short video clips of Section 508 Testing and Training Center information for conferences (through Camtasia); • Organize the distribution and subscriptions of the Section 508 Info Listserv; • Assisted in various Handbooks, Directives and Guidebooks ensuring Section 508 relevance; • Organize Content Material for the Veterans Affairs Accessibility Webpage; • Research up-to-date assistive technology products for information and referral as well as purchasing; • Promote Section 508 and assistive technology through trainings, presentations and briefings University Legal Services- Assistive Technology Program for the District of Columbia, Consultant for Disability and Business Technical Assistance Center (DBTAC) 11/05-present DBTAC Consultant • Participate in conference calls with diverse Professionals in the Disability Field regarding Section 508 in the school systems; • Create Section 504 and 508 trainings for the K-12 schools systems; • Research up-to-date assistive technology products for information and referral as well as purchasing; • Use automated Section 508 testing tool- Web Accessibility Toolbar with similar AccMonitor and Watchfire reports Learning Independence through Computers (LINC) 2/05-5/05 • Conducted Microsoft, Internet and Email courses with 10-12 students of 6th-8th grade students with learning disabilities. Prepared course materials, conducted troubleshooting on various computer hardware and software related issues; • Maintain the computer labs organization and operational computers outside the classroom for assessments; • Wrote computer system procedure specifications and user manuals; • Consulted with clients to determine and meet their needs concerning assistive technology and computer accommodations; • Resolve and troubleshoot adaptive software/hardware, including hands-on usability expertise; West Virginia University Center of Excellence in Disabilities 7/03-12/04 West Virginia Assistive Technology Systems (WVATS) Graduate Assistant • Exceptional capacity to multitask: manage full time graduate student while completing priorities with ease from grant specifics; • Conducted train-the-trainer workshops on assistive technology and funding sources; • Kept up-to-date with changes in technology through continuing education, training and conferences; • Consulted with clients of all ages and all disabilities to determine and meet their needs concerning assistive technology and computer accommodations; • Answered Information and Referral Hotline; • Organized the distribution and subscriptions of 20-25 different ListServs; • Design and Develop training or informative packages for dissemination for Section 508 Testing and Training Center and Section 504 awareness; SteppingStones 6/02-7/03 Northern Resource Center Coordinator, (West Virginia Assistive Technology Systems) • Provided training, demonstrations, presentations and attended exhibits raising awareness of assistive technology (AT); • Conducted basic skill computer classes with 6-10 students of all ages and disabilities. Prepared course materials, conducted troubleshooting on various computer hardware, software and small network related issues; • Maintained the computer labs organization and operational computers including partitioning and installation of software and hardware after reformatting; • Organized AT loan library, toll-free information hotline and coordination and support for the WVATS Tech Teams; EDUCATION BA Psychology; West Virginia University; 2002 MA Technology Education; West Virginia University; 2004 • Designed a “Transitioning for Students from High School to “Life” workshop • Redesigned a course workshop to be taught via web. Adaptive Hardware Smart Board, Touch Screen, Various accessible Keyboards (EX: LX Big Keys, Gesture Mini Keyboard), various accessible Mice (EX: Trackball, CruiseCat, Joysticks), various accessible Head Mice (EX: Tracker 2000, TrackIR Smart-Nav), Various Adaptors (EX: Switch Interfaces) PC Software (Accessible) Kurzweil 1000 and 3000, JAWS, WYNN, CoWriter 4000, Dragon Naturally Speaking, QPointer Voice, RJ Cooper ONSCREEN Keyboard, Zoom Text, MAGic, Gus! Pocket Communicator, The Exploring Early Vocabulary Series, The Talking Stories, Tiger’s Tale, Simple Sentence Structure Sterling, Nouns and Sounds, TalkTime with Tucker, Smart-Nav EG and AT package, SofType, REACH Interface, REACH Scan Plus, Discover Screen, ScreenDoors 2000, MagicCursor 2000, ClickIt, SoothSayer Word, Inspiration, Kidspiration, UKanDu Interactive Reading Series, Simon Sounds It Out, Adjectives and Opposites, Language Activities of Daily Living Series, The Creature Games, Creature Chorus Sterling Edition, The Early Emerging Rules Series, Reader Rabbit Interactive Reading Journey, Show me Spelling, Show me Math, MathPad Plus, Access to Math, Big: Calc, Press To Play Series, KidPix, Monkey’s Jumping on the Bed, Old Mac Donald’s Farm, Switch Basics, Writing with Symbols, Board Maker and Speaking Dynamically Pro, and Intellitools, (Programs) Camtasia (videos upon request), Microsoft Office Suite, WordPerfect Office Suite, Lindows (Linux/Windows base), PaintShop Pro, Wimba, ListServ Manager and WebCT Vista PUBLICATIONS West Virginia Assistive Technology Systems (WVATS) Newsletter PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS Member of RESNA- Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology Society of North America