She, too, would like to have a dog, experience life outside of her home, access the Internet, and learn to cook on her own. She seeks advice from her mentor and, sometimes, gets more than she bargains for. There is no degree in mentoring. We support Maria to be the best mentor she can be. Recently, for example, we sent her to American Samoa to build her confidence that she can be a teacher of children with blindness.
Technology serves to level the playing field.
It is the equalizer. For instance, without his augmentative communication device, Dr. Stephen Hawking would not be a paradigm-shattering physicist. Our projects are rich with technology, employing laptop computers equipped with voice synthesizers, head controllers, alternative keyboards and switches. Kawika writes poems with switches and Morse Code. Maria maintains her journal on a Braille Lite.