GDUI 2020 Convention Program

Saturday, July 4

7:00 PM to 8:30 PM – Go Behind the Scenes with Disney’s Pick of the Litter

Join the Audio Description Project and Guide Dog Users Inc. for this interesting program featuring ACB’s Advocacy and Outreach Specialist Claire Stanley who was profiled in two episodes of “Pick of the Litter”. 

We will be listening to Episode 3: Training Begins After returning to Guide Dogs for the Blind, the dogs begin formal training; and Episode 5: Meet Your Match

The dogs in advanced training take their final exams in the hopes of being matched with clients. Claire will answer questions and tell us some behind-the-scene stories of what it was like filming the episodes.

Co-sponsored by GDUI and audio Description Committee

Monday, July 6:

1:30PM – 2:45PM

The 20/20 Visions from the Guide Dogs Schools

3:00PM – 4:15PM

Sit, Stay, Listen…

Presenter: Lukas Franck, The Seeing Eye, Morristown, NJ

Lukas will discuss clicker training, how he evolved in to it, how well he responds to a clicker, and how he uses it in training!

Tuesday, July 7:

1:30PM – 2:45PM

Hidden Treasures

Presenters:

Steve Famiglietti, Blind Services Vocational Manager, and Adam Kosakowski, Assistive Technology Specialist

NEAT Center at Oak Hill, Hartford Connecticut

During this presentation participants will learn some tips and tricks to help them in using different pieces of software on various hardware platforms.  For instance, we will demonstrate both the built in screen reader and screen magnifier, found in Windows 10 and go over a few of the best features of these items.  We will also highlight some of our favorite settings and items to customize to make using your device a better experience. 

We will be focusing on the following devices and software: Windows 10, Apple devices and Android devices.  

Some of the topics will include:

  • Customization of Voiceover on an iPhone or iPad
  • Changing visual settings on an iPhone.
  • Customizing Windows 10 for a better experience while using your screen reader. Simple tricks to make reading items easier with the JAWS screen reader.
  • Tips and tricks for Android users.

Co-sponsored by GDUI and ACBS

3:00PM – 4:15PM:

“Harnessing Her Power at the Iditarod!”

Presenter: Katie Mehrtens, The Right Spot Pet Massage, Illinois

From vision loss due to diabetic retinopathy to obtaining a guide dog, from early childhood special education instructor to massage therapist to the Iditarod, Katie Mehrtens’ life is filled with struggles and successes and a determination to succeed.