FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Carroll Center for the Blind Partners with VFO to Provide Free Assistive Technology Software
(St. Petersburg, Florida - April 19, 2018)
The Carroll Center for the Blind announced a partnership with VFO to give individuals who are blind or visually impaired free access to assistive technology to advance their careers, education and independent living.
The VFO-distributed speech technology programs, such as JAWS®, ZoomText® and Fusion®, will be freely licensed for three months to Carroll Center students who have completed computer and technology courses. The cost of these software programs can sometimes be out of the reach of individuals who, because of their visual impairment, may have limited income.
“With this support from VFO, our students will be able to apply their skills in real-world settings once they return home,” said Dina Rosenbaum, Chief Program Officer for the Carroll Center for the Blind. “Students will be able to apply for jobs and further their ability to secure employment, while utilizing the most advanced screen-reading and magnification software in the workplace.”
The Carroll Center provides computer instruction to hundreds of individuals each year to learn the skills to access technology with little or no sight. This requires the use of specialty software that is distributed by VFO.
“We are proud to partner with the Carroll Center for the Blind and we are committed to providing individuals with the tools necessary for success with initiatives and partnerships such as this one,” said Eric Damery, Vice President of Software Product Management for VFO. “We are passionate about empowering independence and proud to develop products that level the playing field for all job-seekers.”
