Event Summary
Full STEAM ahead!
An accomplished panel of professionals who are blind, DeafBlind, or have vision loss discuss their career journey in science, technology, engineering, arts, or mathematics (STEAM). They’ll also share the supportive, inclusive policies and practices that benefit employees and employers alike.
This webinar is inspired by National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM), which was created by the Office of Disability Employment Policy through the Department of Labor.
Event Details
When: Wednesday, October 9, 2024, 2-3:30pm EST (Webinar & Q&A)
Cost: FREE for all!
Who can benefit?
- Counselors and Leaders of State Vocational and Blind Services
- Community Service Programs/Agencies
- Employers and Businesses
- Individuals who are blind, DeafBlind, have vision loss or other disabilities
- Individuals from not-for-profit organizations and foundations
- College and university employees
Panelists
Sara Coleman
Dr. Sara Coleman is the owner of SB Coleman Consulting LLC and is Deafblind with Usher Syndrome. Sara’s interest in science began with a chemistry set which led to a 32-year career in the high school science classroom. As a woman transitioning into blindness the next act began with blindness skills training (Cane Travel, Braille, Technology, Home Management, and Wood Shop) at the Iowa Department of the Blind and then further training in DeafBlindness skills (ASL, Vocational Support, Technology, and Haptics) at Helen Keller National Center in New York. Currently, Sara is working to promote broader participation in STEM for underrepresented populations, especially those with sensory disabilities in the areas of advocacy, accessibility, and equity. In 2017, she completed her doctorate and through her dissertation work “A Case Study on the Life Trajectories of Women with Sensory and Mobility Disabilities in STEM Careers” is now working to support individuals, especially during periods of educational transition, to accomplish success in their chosen field.
In 2023, Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds appointed Sara to the Iowa Commission for the Blind where she currently serves as chair, and she serves on the STEM Equity Committee for the state of Iowa. Her commitment to supporting the community of individuals who are Blind/Low Vision or DeafBlind has intensified as and the Helen Keller National Center advisory board.
Aaron Graham
Aaron Graham is a software engineer living in Long Island City, New York. He has Usher Syndrome type 3A resulting in mild hearing loss, mild central vision loss, severe peripheral vision loss, and severe night vision loss. He received his bachelor’s degree in computer engineering with a minor in education studies from University of California, San Diego. In addition to two internships in college, he has worked as a Python developer for seven years at companies ranging from banks to startups. He’s most recently worked on developing backend APIs (Application Programming Interfaces), which allow for non-engineering colleagues to easily access internal data without having to write any code. His favorite part of the job is writing unit tests, which ensures that the code logic is behaving as expected. He loves using his creative energy to think about out-of-the-box use cases when testing out code. He’s excited to continue down this path as a backend developer!
Chancey Fleet
Chancey Fleet is a Brooklyn-based, Blind tech educator and activist. She’s the Assistive Technology Coordinator at the New York Public Library. She curates accessible technology education programs, collaborates across the NYPL system to improve equity of access, and coordinates a diverse team of staff and volunteers who provide one-to-one tech coaching and group workshops, free of charge and open to all. Through a 2017 NYPL Innovation grant, she founded and maintains the Dimensions Project, a free open lab for the exploration and creation of accessible images, models, and data representations through tactile graphics, 3d models and nonvisual approaches to coding, CAD and “visual” arts. Chancey was recognized as a 2017 Library Journal Mover and Shaker and a 2022 David Prize finalist.
Joe DiNero
Assistant Program Director of Assistive Technology Services – Hellen Keller Services for the Blind
In his work at Helen Keller Services, Joe teaches people who are blind or visually impaired how to use assistive technology to aid them in becoming more independent. In Joe’s work with his students, he provides them with the user-skills necessary to be successful in the future as a visually impaired person, whether they are pursuing higher education or participating in the workforce. Joe also applies his technical background in his work for UsableNet as Head Digital Accessibility Tester. Joe holds a Trusted Tester Certification issued by The Department of Homeland Security Office of Accessible Systems & Technology (OAST).
Accessibility Statement
Helen Keller Services (HKS) aims to be inclusive and accessible to all individuals, especially the target audience for this webinar series: professionals who work with DeafBlind, low vision, and blind individuals. All HKS trainings include ASL and Spoken English interpretation, captions, audio descriptions and transcripts. We understand the importance of accommodating diverse needs and ensuring equal opportunities for learning. If you require alternative accommodations, please contact us a month prior to the training event at pld@hknc.org. We look forward to welcoming you to our training program and ensuring an enriching experience for all participants.