Jim Barry

Jim Barry - Recently appointed to The President's Committee for Employment of People with Disabilities, Jim is an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and author of articles on applying assistive technology.

The author of numerous articles on applying Assistive Technology and, in an ex-officio capacity, represents Bell Atlantic as the head of the adaptive communications technology group.He is active at Bell Atlantic in expanding the scope of telecommunications services.

He is a board member of several organizations including the National Multiple Sclerosis Society Southern New York Chapter and two NY State boards for the advancement of people with disabilities.Jim was active in the development of the ADA legislation testifying at congressional subcommittee hearings and subsequently invited to the White House for the bill signing ceremonies in July 1990.

He began career with NYNEX in 1985 developing market rationales for introducing advanced technologies to benefit people with functional limitations.In 1988 began to formalize basic communications needs into demographic characteristics requiring action.He is the founder and President of the DSO of NYNEX and was named Employee of the Year for Westchester County in 1991.

The truth is that "the innovations and applications of AT are good for people with disabilities as well as for the population at large, because products and services are, through universal design, easier to use," stated advocate and user of assistive technology (AT) Jim Barry, adaptive communication technology officer for community affairs for Verizon (formerly Bell Atlantic).

Large Demand, Lesser Supply

On the "demand" side, the overall unemployment rate is standing at about 4 percent-a factor that analysts believe is stifling economic growth.Due to this country's current status of almost full employment, good careers are going wanting.A crying need exists in the adaptive environment for skilled technology workers.

The truth is that the innovations and applications of AT are good for people with disabilities as well as for the population at large , because products and services are , through universal design , easier to use , stated advocate and user of assistive technology ( AT ) Jim Barry , adaptive communication technology officer for community affairs for Verizon ( formerly Bell Atlantic ).

Large Demand , Lesser Supply

On the demand side , the overall unemployment rate is standing at about 4 percent-a factor that analysts believe is stifling economic growth.Due to this country's current status of almost full employment , good careers are going wanting.A crying need exists in the adaptive environment for skilled technology workers.

JAMES M. BARRYDIRECTOR ADAPTIVE COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGYCONSUMER AFFAIRSBELL ATLANTIC

THE TECHNOLOGY THAT CORPORATE AMERICA UTILIZES TO FACILITATE THE EXCHANGE OF DATA BETWEEN REMOTE CONFERENCE MEETING SIGHTS IS FINDING AN APPLICATION IN ACADEMIA.DISTANCE LEARNING FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AS AN EXPANDING APPLICATION OF THE SCHOOL SYSTEM, IS REALIZING THE BENEFIT OF THIS TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER.

AS AN EXAMPLE, QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE, BAYSIDE, QUEENS, NEW YORK HAS BEEN A LEADER IN THE INCLUSION OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES INTO THE PROFILE OF THE STUDENT POPULATION.THE "HOMEBOUND PROJECT" IS ATTEMPTING TO MEET THE UN-MEET NEED FOR HIGHER EDUCATION BY A PERSON WITH A DISABILITY UNABLE TO TRAVEL TO THE CLASSROOM.TECHNOLOGY IS BRINGING THE CLASSROOM TO THE STUDENT'S HOME ON THE BELL ATLANTIC INFRASTRUCTURE OR TELEPHONE LINES.

THIS NOT A NEW ENDEAVOR FOR THIS SCHOOL, QUEENSBOROUGH COMMUNITY COLLEGE HAS BEEN PROVIDING DISTANCE LEARNING FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES FOR A QUARTER OF A CENTURY.THE BASIC TOOL OVER MOST OF THOSE YEARS HAS BEEN THE SPEAKER TELEPHONE.

STUDENTS WHO NEED TO TAKE CLASSES FROM HOME ARE ENROLLED IN REGULARLY SCHEDULES CLASSES ON CAMPUS.THOSE CLASSES ARE SCHEDULED TO MEET IN ROOMS THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH SPEAKER TELEPHONES.AT THE BEGINNING OF EACH CLASS THE INSTRUCTOR PLACES A CALL TO THE HOMEBOUND STUDENT.THE STUDENT HEARS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE CLASSROOM AND CAN ASK QUESTIONS AND INTERACT WITH THE CLASS.

THIS REMAINS THE FUNDAMENTAL FORM OF DISTANCE LEARNING THAT IS USED.IT IS POSSIBLE TO HAVE SEVERAL STUDENTS CONFERENCES ON ONE TELEPHONES.THAT IS NOT FAVORED.OPTIUMLY, IT IS ADVANTAGEOUS TO SCHEDULE MORE THAN ONE HOMEBOUND STUDENT TO A CLAS.FOR SOME CLASSES AND CLUB ACTIVITIES THE SCHOOL HAS USED CONFERENCE CALLING.THIS ALLOWS THE EQUIPMENT TO SERVE A GROUP OF HOMEBOUND STUDENTS ON LINE AT THE SAME TIME.

THE NEXT BIG ADVANCE IN THE APPLICATION OF TECHNOLOGY HAS BEEN THE USE OF THE PERSONAL COMPUTER.IN THE EARLY DAYS, FEW STUDENTS HAD AND USED COMPUTERS.AS COMUPTERS CAME INTO GENERAL USE, THE STAFF BEGAN ENCOURAGING STUDENTS TO GET COMPUTERS.THE SCHOOL LENT COMPUTERS TO STUDENTS WHO DID NOT YET HAVE THEIR OWN.THE STAFF HAS ENCOURAGED STUDENTS TO SEEK FORMAL EVALUATIONS SO THAT THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEMS CAN BE OPTIMALLY CONFIGURED FOR THEIR PARTICULAR DISABILITY - RELATED NEEDS.

SEVERAL YEARS AGO SOME OF THE STUDENTS WHO WERE TAKING COMPUTER LABS LEARMED OF VIRTUAL COMPITERING, AND WERE ABLE TO USE PC ANYWHERE.THEY WERE ABLE TO TAKE OVER A COMPUTER IN THE LAB AND USE IT AS IF THEY WERE PHYSICALLY PRESENT.

THE NEXT TECHNOLOGICAL BREAKTHROUGH WAS FACSIMILE.IN THE EARLY YEARS WRITTEN MATERIALS HAD TO DEPEND ON REGULAR MAIL.IT WAS OFTEN SEVERAL DAYS BEFORE MATERIALS AND ASSIGNMENTS COULD TRAVEL BETWEEN INSTRUCTORS AND TEACHERS.NOW MOST OF THE HOMEBOUND STUDENTS HAVE FAX CAPABILITY.

IN 1996, THE SCHOOL INSTALLED A SOFTBOARD FROM MICROFIELD TECHNOLOGIES.THE INSTRUCTOR WRITES ON A WHITEBOARD WITH A MARKER.LASER SCANNERS RECORD WHAT IS WRITTEN AS A BITMAP.USING A SIMULTANEOUS-VOICE -AND -DATA MODEM THE STUDENTS ARE ABLE TO HEAR WHAT IS HAPPENING IN CLASS AND SEE WHAT IS WRITTEN ON THE BOARD.SOFTBOARD ALSO HAS THE CAPACITY TO RECORD AN ENTIRE CLASS AND SAVE IT IN A FILE THAT DOES NOT OCCUPY A LOT OF HARD DISK SPACE.IN 1997 THE SCGOOL ADDED THE TELEWRITER BY OPTEL.THIS SYSTEM USES A TABLET, WHICH ALLOWS A TUTOR TO WRITE TO A STUDENT IN REAL TIME.THE STUDENTIS ABLE TO VIEW THE MATERAL AND ALLOWS THE STUDENT TO WRITE BACK.SO FAR, THE MAJOR USE OF THIS SYSTEM HAS BEEN FOR ONE-ON-ONE TUTORING OF STUDENTS.THIS SEMESTER, THEY HAVE BEGUN USING THIS SYSTEM IN A CLASSROOM USING A PROJECTION MONITOR THAT CAN BE SEEN BY THE ENTIRE CLASS AS WELL AS THE STUDENT AT HOME.THIS SYSTEM HAS THE CAPACITY TO WORK AS A "SLIDE SHOW" WITH VISUALS PREPARED IN ADVANCE.

IN THE BEGINNING OF 1998 THE SCHOOL STARTED USING A VIDEO CONFERENCING SYSTEM FROM U.S. ROBOTICS WHICH ALLOWS A STUDENT AT HOME TO SEE AND BE SEEN IN CHEMISTRY LECTURES AND LABS.

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Technology - Jim Barry, Bell Atlantic

James Barry, M.B.A.

Who is Jim Barry?Jim Barry is an advocate for the rights of people with disabilities and author of numerous articles on applying assistive technology.He is a businessman working for Verizon to expand the scope of telecommunication to customers and external stakeholders.Writer of a monthly column, the ADA Training Corner, for Assistive Technology News.Jim pens topics that deal with ADA issues focusing on the compelling need for up-to-date training with information age technology.Jim is a member of the President's Committee on the Employment of People with Disabilities.He also serves on the board of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Southern New York Chapter, and on two NY State boards for the advancement of people with disabilities.Jim was named 2001 employee of the year by CAREERS & the DisABLED magazine.Active in the development of the ADA legislation, Jim testified at Congressional subcommittee hearings and was subsequently invited to the White House for the bill signing ceremonies in July 1990.He is the Founder and President of the DSO of NYNEX, and was named Employee of the Year for Westchester County in 1991.Jim began a career with NYNEX in 1985 developing market rationales for introducing advanced technologies to benefit people with functional limitations.In 1988, he began to formalize basic communications needs into demographic characteristics requiring action.In an ex-officio capacity, he represents Verizon (formerly Bell Atlantic) as the head of the adaptive communications technology group at public events.Jim is currently pursuing an MS in Telecommunication at Pace University in New York and holds an MBA in Finance from St. John's University and a BA in Sociology from St. Francis College.Prior to joining NYNEX, Jim was President and Founder of Guardian HealthCare Products Inc., Director of Marketing at Murray Electronics and Product Manager at Pfizer.

Jim Barry

Verizon