The 5th National Deafblind Conference 7-10 April 2000 'The Link' - Breaking through the Isolation of Deafblindness The Project - Meryle Trentini Following a submission to the National Office of the Information Economy (NOIE), The Deaf Blind Association was successful in receiving an AccessAbility grant in September,1998. The grant was to establish, over a two year period, a Computer and Internet Access training program, with appropriate adaptive technology, for 10-15 people with deafblindness in Victoria, subsequently named 'The Link'. The aims are to assist people use on-line communication services and to establish a train-the-trainer program. Trainees learn basic keyboard and word processing skills to access email, the internet and world wide web (www). In addition they are supported in developing their skills as volunteer trainers to ensure the continuance of the program beyond the period of the grant. Included in these aims is establishing benchmarks for computer training programs in this area and developing the program as a model of best practice. A further submission resulted in an additional grant in 1999. This AccessAbility grant, now administered by the Federal Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts (DCITA), is making possible a National extension/networking of The Link program and offering training at The Link to interstate participants -10 people with deafblindnessand their support persons and 7 TAFE trainers, over a two year period. Establishing The Link Environment. The Link is based in Ross House, a wonderful facility in central Melbourne shared by many community groups. As participants in the program are either deafblind or have significant combined, but differing, degrees of vision and hearing loss, selection and preparation of this venue involved consideration of many factors. These included ensuring:- * ease of access to the building * accessibility to public transport, both trains and trams * braille numbering of lifts and floors * tactile and low vision aids * filtered lighting * dark coloured backgrounds * colour contrast furniture * ergonomic chairs * reduced background noise * absence of window glare Equipment - hardware and software The Link has what's called a peer to peer network with 5 pentium computers with Windows 98, which access the internet via a hub system and 56K modem. All are linked to a printer and scanner. The computer set-ups have 3 types of screen, 2 types of keyboard, 2 types of 'mouse' and 3 different chair styles. Adaptive technology includes 2, 40 cell Alva Braille terminals which enable people to read the screen in braille; a braille embosser for print-outs of documents in braille; CCTV for enlarged viewing of documents pre scanning; Superprint TTY (telephone typewriter) connected to a visual alert for the phone, and Audioline Big Button telephone. Unfortunately a Telebraille III was unable to be purchased as they are no longer being made. Software includes, Omnipage, JAWS with a speech synthesiser which talks to those with limited hearing; and Zoomtext, a screen enhancement programme which allows the screen to be read by those with limited vision. Expertise The Deaf-Blind Association provides additional staff support through funding 2 part-time positions - Michelle Stevens, Link Support Worker and Christine Raboteg, Community Development Worker to ensure participants are properly supported at The Link. Communication - significant support is required to enable effective communication and interaction. Participants range of communication needs include:- * Auslan - Australian sign language * visual field signing - within confined body area relevant to useful vision * tactile signing - hand-over-hand * deafblind fingerspelling - using palm and fingers of persons hand * oral * large print - black texta on white Orientation and Mobility - The initial provision of sighted guiding and support for familiarisation with both the general location and The Link is essential. Many participants are now confident and independent in accessing the facility and attend when desired for training or on drop-in days. Participants have also contributed to improved access for other users of Ross House by suggesting improvements such as conveniently located braille signs near lift doors on all floors and in highlighting a safety issue with a new water urn in the kitchen area. Individual Needs - Customised program Trainer - Training is provided two days per week and as evident from the communication, orientation and mobility and technical issues requires a person with specialist skills. We have been fortunate to have the services of an excellent consultant trainer, Claire Tellefson, who provides training for both current Link and interstate participants. Technical skills - Volunteer trainers are undertaking many aspects of supporting the network, however, the availability of appropriate and reliable technical knowledge and support to successfully integrate the range of technology, both hardware and software remains an ongoing challenge. In conclusion - This project really started from scratch and we are constantly learning new things. Our experience to date has reinforced the need for customised programs to meet the individual needs of participants. This means addressing not only adaptive technology requirements but also screen colours, font size preference, and sequencing of training modules. The Link is proving to be a unique and wonderful opportunity to reduce the isolation of deafblindness and we are very excited about the extension of this opportunity beyond Victoria. Experiencing The Link - Michelle Stevens My role at The Link To provide the highest level support for trainees and volunteer support people so they can get the best use out of the computers and Internet at The Link. Our aim is to make sure that everyone who attends The Link gains the best possible knowledge in access to the Internet and PC technology. Everyone has opportunities to gain knowledge to meet their own individual needs of the Internet and computer technology. Support given doesn't only involve staff members at The Link, deafblind volunteers are encouraged to help other deafblind volunteers, trainees and staff. Peer support, friendship, learning and caring is the main essence of The Link. Having a friendly warm atmosphere, is encouraged at all times. Supporting Each Other Working and sharing information together, has taught everyone such a lot about the wonderful world of the super Information Highways of the world. Speaking with volunteers about any programs they have come across, or something they have read or learnt is fantastic for everyone. The degree of support given varies from person to person. It doesn't matter how little or how much information they have, everyone can share. Normally people can drop-in three days of the week. It is vital we provide support for volunteers and trainees, so they can get the best types of information available. This may be done by sitting down on a one on one basis, helping people search through the Internet and researching help files. Assistance is given when people maybe experiencing problems with the computer system, or if they are not sure how to perform a task or how to access a program. Usually sitting down, showing someone how to do a task, or how to access information correctly sorts out any problems straight away. Our trainer will assess how much help and support a person may require and adapt the program to suit individual needs. It is up to the trainer and participant what type of support they feel is appropriate. And as said earlier these skills learnt during training are enhanced through our drop-in sessions. A typical day at The Link: 1 Checking and making repairs if necessary to the computers 2 Trouble shooting any problems people maybe having 3 Reinstalling programs when necessary 4 Communicating with visitors 5 Helping with signing classes at The Link 6 Helping to solve any problems accessing the Internet at The Link, or even at their home 7 Listening to ideas and answering any question 8 Making sure everyone has tea, coffee, milk available for the day - very important 9 Coordinating other volunteer support to assist any participants dropping-in 10 Answering the TTY 11 Making sure The Link is a safe, clean and fun environment. Breaking through the Isolation of Deafblindness: We have had up to eight deafblind people talking with other people from over seas on a program known as Net Meeting. This is a program that allows you to talk from computer to computer, similar to talking on the TTY. You can use this program internally, or through the Internet. The Link is a wonderful venue for deafblind people to drop-in and catch up on the latest news and views with deafblind culture. We all love to have a chat in the rest area, sitting down, talking, asking questions. This is one of the major breakthroughs for people who need opportunities for interaction with others, and the community at large. Surfing the Internet We all need to have these opportunities to share, enhance our culture and learn how to access information through the millions of web sites throughout the world. Looking up information through the world wide web is a great breakthrough for deafblind people. Searching through the newspapers, looking up telephone numbers, looking up tonight's television, trying new file transfer protocols, making friends through Email, various Listservs and to chat with people all over the world with the same disability is something that is so very special for everyone of us. Talking with deafblind friends overseas is still amazing. We can catch up within seconds. I have been guilty of running my home internet account through the roof, because of getting carried away with chat programmes! So you need to be careful too. Intranet Home page Over the past year we have put together an Intranet home page that can be read by everyone who visits The Link. Every computer in The Link network can access this and input from volunteers, trainees and staff is encouraged at all times. Tuition is given in designing the home page, how to add information and in surfing The Links Home page. As people became more confident in using, designing and adding links to this page it could be uploaded to the internet and made possible our launch onto the World Wide Web. Social Interaction The Link is an important meeting place where we have sense of belonging and which we call our own. Teaching vision and hearing impaired volunteers and trainees to communicate through Auslan sign classes is great. To see six people in the lunchroom sitting, talking, asking questions and interacting is wonderful. The Link enables deafblind people to gain confidence to communicate with each other and the hearing world. Major achievments * Setting up and opening of The Link 1998 * Open day with Members of the General Public visiting Ross House * Filming for Channel nine Community anouncement for The Deaf-Blind Association * International Visitors from Sweden,and Macau, including Stig Ohlson, President of World Federation of the Deafblind * Article published in The Age newspaper * 1999 AccessAbility grant to provide some training nationwide. What does computer technology mean to us? We have this fantastic opportunity to have a major footing in the world of technology. From here, we can only but improve our confidence in gaining independence through the computer world of cyber-space. It is working. Because for many of us communication is always a major problem, breaking the barriers between the hearing world and deafblind culture is so important and computers make this possible. The Link will help us in Australia , to keep abreast of what is happening throughout the world. Where to from here? To have our own newsgroup at the Link. To maintain The Link on line for everyone to see. To have The Link as a major voice in information and technology for people who are deafblind throughout Australia. The Link simply means that now "There is no turning back.". Meryle Trentini Michelle Stevens Community Services Manager Link Support Worker m.trentini@dba.asn.au dbalink@netspace.net.au The Deaf-Blind Association, Victoria December 1999