L.A.B. Project

Introduction
This project began in 2005 when Gina Gavett was able to help coordinate the donation of new low vision and no vision equipment to the Paradise branch of the Butte County Library. The equipment, which includes a Merlin CCTV, Supernova Screen Reader, and a Patriot Voice, was donated to the Paradise branch of the Butte County Library by the Paradise Business & Professional Lions Club, the Paradise Host Lions Club, and the Friends of the library. The donation of the equipment was considered to be phase one of this two phased project. The second phase of the project was to have volunteers trained so that they could be available to assist library patrons who wished to use the equipment.

Statement of need
It is estimated that about 10 million people in America have either a visual impairment or are blind (American Foundation for the Blind, n.d.). The equipment to aid these individuals with low vision or no vision can be expensive. Due to the cost many people are unable to afford this equipment. The equipment when provided such as a Merlin (CCTV), Supernova screen reader, and Patriot Voice, can be difficult to learn to use. The Merlin (CCTV) is a closed circuit television, which allows a person to place something on the tray, or hold it in their hand, and increase the size of the text or image for easier viewing. The object can be increased 4 to 50X its original size (NanoPac, n.d.) The Supernova screen reader is a screen reader as well as a magnifier, which is used on a computer. It uses a synthesized voice to read the screen. The magnifier is able to increase the size up to 32 times larger (Supernova reader magnifier,n.d) The Patriot Voice is able to scan reading material such as books, or magazines. It then uses a synthesized voice to read the material a loud (Magnifying America, n.d.).

Description of the intervention
The intervention was to make the equipment at the Paradise branch of the Butte County Library staffed by volunteers who are trained on how to use the equipment. The goal is for two hours every Friday of the month people can come into the library and receive training from the trained volunteers. The volunteers will be scheduled to work for two hours on two Fridays of each month.

Evaluation of the intervention
Three volunteers were trained to use the machines. April 21, 2006 was the first day of Visually Impaired Person’s Day or V.I.P. Days. The publication of the V.I.P. Days had three parts. The first part was a flyer printed in the Friends of the Library newsletter, which will be coming out in June. The second part is a flyer used as a press release for the Paradise Post on April 16, 2006. The third part was a bookmarker that was printed and handed out during meetings by Liz Stewart the librarian of the Paradise Library will attend. I made a flyer to use for both the newsletter and the press release and faxed the press release to the Paradise Post.

Reflections
A barrier that I encountered while working on this project was commitment by volunteers. I contacted four women who had shown interest in being volunteers for the project and set up an appointment to meet them. Throughout the various meeting times some volunteers were unable to keep the time commitment due to family emergencies, or illness while other volunteers simply did not show up. This was my first time working with volunteers and I learned the obstacles as well as tasks necessary for working with volunteers. I learned that although people make a commitment it is sometimes necessary to motivate them as well as make them feel that they are an important part of the project. A supervisor of mine told me that I cannot control people and their choices were theirs to make.

I learned the importance of good communication. I encountered barriers in speaking to people regarding the project as well as the different aspects of it. I believe that if I was able to restructure questions I would have been able to get the appropriate feedback. I also learned that while I felt that email was the easiest way of communicating with people, phone calls were more successful. When I made phone calls I would generally be able to get an immediate response to my questions as well as rephrasing questions so that I was able to obtain the answers I needed.

Recommendations
My action plan was clear and concise which made it easier for me to follow every step and not become overwhelmed with my project. I was able to refer to my action plan to make sure that I had already completed tasks; as well as to look forward to see what tasks I still needed to complete. I also recommend using assertive communication to state your points clearly. If you are unable to get a direct answer to your question find a way to ask the question differently. Working on small parts of the project is less stressful then trying to complete large tasks at one time. As soon as one task or objective is finished move on. If it becomes difficult to complete a task or objective try to work on another aspect of the project and come back to that objective at another point in time, do not let it hold up your project.

Refrences
American Foundation for the Blind, Statistics and Sources for Professionals. (n.d.) Retrieved February 28, 2006, from
http://www.afb.org/section.asp?SectionID=15&DocumentID=1367

Magnifying America. (n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2006, from
http://magnifyingstore.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=61

NanoPac, Inc .(n.d.) Retrieved February 28, 2006, from
http://www.nanopac.com/Merlin%20Color.htm

Supernova Reader Magnifier.(n.d.). Retrieved February 28, 2006, from
http://www.synapseadaptive.com/dolphin/supernova.htm