The conference was hosted by the CT Tech Act Project & ATECH (a CTTAP AT Partner), with sponsorships from the Council on Developmental Disabilities, the Bureau of Rehabilitation Services (BRS), the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and more.
On May 6 and 7, the CT Tech Act Project and ATECH combined our individual conferences into a 2-day conference focused on AT for independent living and remote monitoring on Day 1, and AT for college, work and independent living on Day 2.
We had over 250 attendees each day; 25 exhibitors showcasing a variety of technology, AT and services; and 30 presentations over the two days from experts in Connecticut and beyond. Sessions focused on built-in accessibility features, smart technology for the home, 3D printing, virtual reality, and we even had a 
ep from Apple Accessibility. Our keynote speakers, Curtis Hill and Todd Stabelfeldt, were amazing! They motivated us all, providing the energy and setting the stage for why Assistive Technology is such an integral part of an individual’s independence and success!
Enjoy our conference photos on the CT Tech Act Project page on Facebook.
We had a great turnout for the recent Virtual Reality In-person Demo with Bo Zamfir from SCSU, Center for Educational & Assistive Technology & Matt Berkowitz from FloreoVR. It was wonderful to have so many of our community AT Partners together. The participation, energy, questions and feedback were amazing!
Virtual Reality is a great way to provide immersive experiences, whether it’s for younger, neurodivergent individuals or teenagers and adults learning training skills, pre-vocational services, or job readiness. The CT Tech Act Project and SCSU/CEAT will work together to have multiple VR headsets along with the FloreoVR and another virtual reality software program called BodySwap available for CT Tech Act Project AT Partner agencies to borrow and use with their students and adults with disabilities, providing greater access to this cutting-edge technology.
We also plan to work with our AT partners who have 3D printers to create several adaptive cuffs to allow users with varying abilities be able to hold and utilize the controllers.
If you are an individual who is interested in trying a virtual reality headset contact an AT Partner agency near you.
Oak Hill lost our dear friend and colleague Steve Famiglietti in November of 2022. Steve was a member of our Oak Hill family for over twenty years, pioneering new, innovative services within the Eleanor Brooks Blindness Support Center. Under Steve’s leadership, the Eleanor Brooks Center helped scores of blind and low-vision individuals in Connecticut live full, joyful lives. We remember Steve as ever the patient teacher and trusted advocate for those in need. An avid storm chaser and lover of cuckoo clocks, we also remember Steve’s courage and undeniable zest for life.
On June 26th, 2024, members of the Oak Hill Community, Steve’s friends and family, and so many of the individuals he touched came together to celebrate his wonderful life and impact. Our friends at the National Federation of the Blind CT, Maryanne Melley and Mary Silverberg dedicated a beautiful bench in Steve’s honor. It will provide comfort and respite to visitors to Oak Hill’s campus for years to come.
To honor Steve and the incalculable impact he made on Oak Hill, we are proud to announce the establishment of the The Steve Famiglietti Memorial Fund. This fund will expand opportunities for blind and low-vision individuals in Connecticut to receive the enrichment and assistive technology services they need to reach the highest degree of independence. Thanks to the incredible generosity of the E. Matilda Ziegler Foundation, Steve’s impact will live on. Representatives from the foundation Cynthia Ziegler Brighton, Marcia Cleary, and Stephen Deltatto attended to dedicate a very generous gift in Steve’s memory. Please join us in expressing our heartfelt gratitude to the E. Matilda Zeigler Foundation for their commitment to building a more equitable world for blind and low-vision individuals!
To learn more about our blind service offerings at Oak Hill, or to make a gift in Steve’s memory, please contact Lucy McMillan, Chief Development Officer, at lmcmillan@gileadcs.org.
Reprinted with permission from the NEAT Center at Oak Hill, Summer 2024 Newsletter.
In the rapidly evolving world of digital publishing, one Connecticut-based company is making waves with its innovative approach to ebook accessibility. Keith Snyder, founder of Typeflow (typeflownyc.com), is on a mission to revolutionize how we think about and create accessible digital content.
Typeflow, which produces print books and ebooks for publishers ranging from indie presses to industry giants like Scholastic Books, has recently joined forces with Acme Books (acmebooks.ca), a Canadian ebook company led by renowned accessibility expert Laura Brady. This collaboration has already yielded impressive results, including an EPUB/DAISY pilot project for a major equitable digital access organization.
Snyder and his team aren’t content with the status quo. They’ve developed new accessibility features for their clients’ ebooks, pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in digital publishing. However, Typeflow’s ambitions extend beyond mere technical innovations.
Drawing inspiration from the “Buffalo” bike project by World Bicycle Relief, Snyder sees a parallel between creating durable, accessible transportation and developing truly user-friendly ebooks. He emphasizes the importance of bringing together diverse stakeholders:
“We have opinions – good and bad – about how accessibility requirements are progressing in the US, Canada, and the European Union,” Snyder states. He’s particularly keen to address the tendency of some publishers to aim for minimum certification rather than focusing on user experience.
Typeflow is actively seeking to connect with ebook accessibility advocates in Connecticut. Whether you’re a legislator interested in expert input on ebook accessibility legislation, an EPUB or DAISY user willing to share your experiences, or a fellow professional in the field, or a nonprofit who would like to partner with Typeflow, Snyder invites you to join the conversation.
By fostering a community that includes users, advocates, legislators, and industry professionals, Typeflow aims to create ebooks that are not just accessible, but truly serve their users’ needs.
To learn more or get involved, visit typeflownyc.com or reach out to Keith Snyder directly at keith@typeflownyc.com.
