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ARoPability
WizKidz in conjunction with the Human Automation Systems Lab (HuManS) at Georgia Tech will identify means for increasing the computing pipeline by tapping into nontraditional populations. The National Science Foundation funded investigation will target middle and high school students in order to engage during the critical years and will leverage support from the Center for the Visually Impaired, the National Federation of the Blind, and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite.
The major outcomes of this project will be:
Alternative programming tools and model that leverage technologies in computing and transforms them into accessible modules for students with visual or physical impairments nation wide .
Robotic Institutes at the Center for the Visually Impaired and with the National Federation of the Blind for evaluation of the modules to assess ability to engage students with visual impairments.
Robotic Institutes in conjunction with Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta for evaluation of the modules to assess ability to engage students with physical impairments.
Teacher training kits and documentation to provide teachers with modules that can be used for incorporating students with disabilities in the classroom environment.
Center for the Visually Impaired
2011 STARS Summer Camp
June 27- July 8, 2011
Atlanta, GA
LEGO Education Executive Visits STARS Camp on July 7, 2011
Andy Bell, Director of Innovation and Alliances at LEGO Education North America dropped in on our Center for the Visually Impaired summer camp where participants are using the LEGO NXT Robotic system to engage in building and computing activities. Our distiguished guest had the opportunity to participate in games and activities as he shared future plans for the LEGO NXT Robotic System.
 
National Federation of the Blind
Youth Slam 2011
July 17-23, 2011
Towson University
Towson, MD
This five-day academy will engage and inspire the next generation of blind youth to consider careers falsely believed to be impossible for the blind and bring a unified voice to the next generation of blind professionals. While staying on a college campus, students will be mentored by blind role models during fun and challenging activities meant to build confidence and increase science literacy. Activities will take place with help from instructional supporters such as institutions and corporations working in STEM-related fields. The NFB Youth Slam will culminate with an exciting closing event in our nation’s capital.
Colorado Center for the Blind
Robotics and Programming Workshop
April 8, 2011
Littleton, CO
20 High school students from the Colorado Center for the Blind participated in a robotic and programming workshop in conjunction with faculty and students from the Georgia Institute of Technology and WizKidz Science and Technology Centers that introduced the students to STEM using LEGO NXT Robotics. Each participating student was visually impaired, some completely blind, however ALL student teams wore blind folds as they successfully built robotic vehicles, participated in a Robo-Sumo challenge and were introduced to programming as they used PC's to write their own programs that commanded the robots to successfully complete a maze during the maze challenge. Many students walked away with prizes as their robots successfully completed challenges beating out the competition.
The Colorado Center for the Blind is a world-renowned training center located at the foot of the Rocky Mountains in Littleton, Colorado, about 13 miles south of Denver. Since its establishment in 1988, the Colorado Center has provided innovative teaching techniques and philosophy that continues to have Far-reaching effects on the lives of blind people, taking them to new heights of independence. Sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the Colorado Center training techniques and teaching methods are based on the positive philosophy of the NFB which states that, "with proper training and opportunity, blind people can compete on terms of equality with their sighted peers".
Center for the Visually Impaired/ STARS Summer Camp 2010
Childrens Healthcare of Atlanta at Scottish Rite/ BRAIN Camp 2010
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