Who+we+are....

**__about the members of this wiki:__**
It is a magnificent time to be involved with this technology!!
 * Sharon Day:** I am a Speech/Language Pathologist by profession. I have been working with Assistive Technology since the early 1990's part time in Monroe County until 1999 when I became a full time Assistive Technology Specialist. Presently, I share my time doing Assistive Technology and oversee and work with our DHH and VI students in Monroe County Schools. My passion is leveling the playing field for all students with disabilities so that they might be able to function as independently as their peers. I am credentialed through RESNA; Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology of North America as well as being licensed and certified as an SLP and hold my CCC's in Speech/Language Pathology. My passion over the past four years has been in the remarkable accessibility features and apps that the IOS platform has provided! I have not seen such positive changes in our students with disabilities as I have with this technology. It is surely a GAME CHANGER! With over 1 million apps in the IOS market place now, there is no reason our students cannot be successful. Diana Deacon and I most recently presented at ATIA in Orlando; 1/14 on IOS accessibility options for low incidence populations!

====**Diana Deacon**:the Vision Educations Specialist and Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist for Outreach Services for the Blind/Visually Impaired & Deaf/Hard of Hearing (OSBD), which is housed at the Florida School for the Deaf and Blind. I work with small and rural districts across the State of Florida to provide support to teacher who work with students who are blind and visually impaired along with O&M assessments, Functional Vision Assessments and Learning Media Assessments, now added to my many hats assistive technology.==== ====I recently had the opportunity to present with Sharon Day, Judy Peacock and Carmelina Hollingsworth at ATIA. Judy, Carmelina and I will be presenting at CSUN in March on Universal Design for Learning for VI and DHH Students: Does It Look Different?====

====**Paula Brannon** I work at the Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind in St. Augustine. I have worked in the dormitory program, recreation department, and classroom. I am certified (and many will agree, certifiable) in Elementary Ed, SLD (ESE), and VI. I am also a certified Access Technology Institute Trainer. I currently serve as the Assistive Technology Resource Teacher for Pre-K- to post grad students. Not only do I teach Assistive Technology skills, I also teach our Internet Safety Courses. I represent the school as a LATS in Region 2. I act as a resource for staff, students, parents, and the community. My goal is "Self - Advocacy" for all! You may not get what you want when you want it, but I am certainly going to teach you the skill to stand up for yourself and ask for it!==== ====I am Visually Impaired myself, my husband is totally blind and a graduate of FSDB, while my son has perfect vision! We can't wait for him to get his drivers license in 2 years! So I am often biased in the fact that Visually Impaired individuals can do what ever they want to do - okay, except drive! I get that! But, I will try to find a way for every student to reach their potential. If I don't know an answer I will research it. No question too small! I am very happy to join in with Diana to create an atmosphere of professionalism, caring, and friendship. No judgement here!!! Thank you Diana for creating such an awesome place we can collaborate and call home.====

====**Lisa Henderson.** I am the TVI for Walton County, a small rural district in the Florida panhandle. I do several jobs for the district. Not only am I the TVI for the county but I am also a Hospital/homebound teacher, a gifted teacher, and I work, in the evenings, for Walton Virtual School, the district franchise of FLVS. Needless to say, I stay very busy! I have been working for the district for the past seven years. Before this, I worked as a CRA (Certified Retinal Angiographer) for about seven years for a very busy retinal practice in Tallahassee. I am certified in VI, Math (6-12), Biology (6-12), ESE (K-12), and have the gifted endorsement. As for my family, my pride and joy is my cat, Allie, whom I credit with making sure that I don't oversleep past 4 a.m.!!!====

====**Lois Sanders**. I am a TVI/O&M in Highlands County - small district in central Florida. I am the only TVI in the distrcit. I have been teaching visually impaired for 30 years ... .28 in Florida. In addition to teaching full time for the district, I occasionally work with blind babies and some elderly after school and in the summer through Division of Blind Services. I got my BS in Elem Ed/Visual Disabilities from Northern Illinois University and a MS in O&M from NIU also. I have been married to my wonderful husband for 26 years. We have 2 sons - one that graduated from FSU and the other is presently attending FSU. I hope to learn a lot through this wiki!!!====

====**Leanne Grillot.** I work for the Florida Department of Education, Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services. My mission as program specialist is to provide technical assistance and support to school districts and parents with the regard to students who are visually impaired, deaf/hard-of-hearing, and dual sensory impaired. By maintaining regular contact with district personnel who coordinate services for these students, I help these student achieve academic success across the curriculum. By assisting with discretionary projects, bill analysis, communication with parents and other stakeholders, and rule development, I strive to help the State of Florida provide exemplary service to students who are visually impaired, deaf/hard-of-hearing, and dual sensory impaired. My additional duty here at the Bureau is liaison for assistive technology. I have been a teacher of the visually impaired and an orientation and mobility instructor since 1992. I have worked in New York, California, and Florida; taught students in over 100 schools and well over 500 classrooms (that's what itinerant does for you); and I am excited to be working for the Department of Education. I have been married for 15 years, have 3 'bonus' daughters, 2 sons, 2 grandsons, and 2 granddaughters. My youngest son has an IEP so I have sat on the other side of the table for the last seven years.====