Brittany Southworth
TSVI
Provo, UT
I have 2 academic braille students, one is in 3rd grade and the other is in 7th. I have 4 students with multiple disabilities, as well as a few others two of which is learning braille as a secondary reading medium.
I am excited to learn what the Monarch is capable of doing in terms of tactile graphics and braille literacy. Several of my students are quite excited about the Monarch!
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Hi Everyone! My name is Liz Phillips and I am the Braillist at the Talking Books and Braille Center at the San Francisco Public Library. In addition to Brailling all of our departmental publications, I provide our patrons with one-on-one tech support on adaptive technology and basic computer help as well as facilitate peer-to-peer learning opportunities and tech related library programming. I also teach patrons how to use Voiceover, JAWS, the Brailliant BI 40x, NLS eReader and BrailleNote Touch+. I was fortunate to be able to get my hands on the Monarch at last yearās CSUN Assistive Technology Conference and am excited about the ways in which this multi-line Braille and tactile graphics display will open up whole new possibilities for everyone in the blind and visually impaired community. I canāt wait for the introduction of the eBRF format and the opportunity to introduce our patrons to the world of tactile graphics. I wish I had access to a device like that while putting myself through college and graduate school! . Iām looking forward to meeting all of you at the conference!
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Jill Hackman
Teacher of the Visually Impaired
Macon-Piatt Special Education-Decatur Illinois
I serve students ages 3-22. They have a variety of needs. I have one braille student and the rest have low vision.
I am excited to have access to tactile graphics without hours of prep worl. I look forward to seeing the Monarch in action.
Please introduce yourself here.
Matthew Brown
Teacher of the Visually Impaired/Orientation and Mobility Specialist
Tampa, Florida
I am a lead teacher of students with visual impairments and orientation and mobility specialist at a school in Hillsborough county serving students with both low vision and who are braille readers. All of my students are either learning or accessing braille (fully contracted or uncontracted) and use tactile graphics/are learning how to use them.
I am excited to finally being able to provide tactile moments in a quicker format in my math push-in/other push-in classes which provide an ability to my students to understand material while the teacher is still providing instruction - and not having to create in the moment (which takes up a lot of time when they go off topic or donāt follow the notes they provide you for the day). This will ensure students have access right in the moment and will allow for a more seamless academic experience.
Thanks!!!
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Katharine Wilson, I am a TVI/O&M Specialist in Southern Maryland.
I work with students that are ages 3-21. I am excited to learn everything, but expecially how it can help my students be more independant in their learning.
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Hello,
My name is Macala Armstrong. I am a rehabilitation instructor for the blind at the Oregon Commission For The Blind. I mostly serve visually impaired adults who are going to school, trying to keep their job or get back into the workforce. I am super excited to learn all about tactile graphics and refreshable braille displays. I am relatively new to tactile graphics in general, and eager to learn more on how this can serve my clients. I myself am a braille user I am blind with RP.
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I am Erin Zobell.
I am certified to be a teacher to of blind students in Maryland, though I current for work am a special education teacher in Southern Maryland.
I do a number of educational opportunities with the National Federation of the Blind and plan to use the knowledge I gain from the Monarch training to help build the use of the Monarch into activities the NFB does.
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Daniel Gillen
Braille Music Specialist
The Filomen M. DāAgostino Music School, New York, NY
I am mainly a transcriber and proofreader of braille music materials, both for students at the community music school I work for along with several external clients from around the country. These students are of all ages, though Iāve mostly ubeen working with individuals from middle- and high-school age through college and adult students. My role at the school is expanding to include some teaching. Most recently Iāve been training a few people who can contribute to the growth of our transcription department, as well as planning for group classes in music appreciation and other relevant topics.
From the Monarch training, I am hoping to learn how such a device can be of help to students in the specialized area of braille music literacy. I will also investigate the viability of including dynamic tactile graphics in music education. Nevertheless, I envision that the Monarch can streamline the process of transcribing and proofreading complex music scores, something that could assist my current work.
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Hello! My name is Camilla Gholson and I am the Lead TVI for Onslow County Schools in North Carolina. Our county provides services to students K-12 who have a range of visual impairments. We provide technical support to general education and special education teachers to assist them with accommodating the visual needs of their students. We also provide braille instruction and instruction in the use of assistive technologies (both low tech and high tech). I am very excited to learn how to incorporate the tactile graphics and multi-line refreshable braille into one device.
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Hey Miriam,
Camilla Gholson here from Onslow County. North Carolina will have at least 2 other teachers at the conference in Orlando! One of us is from WCPPS!
Camilla
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Hey Katherine,
Riseā and I say Hello! Will you be in Orlando?
Camilla
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Hi! My Name is Lia Noel and I work with Kimberly Paglia at the Midwestern Intermediate UNIT IV. I am a TVI, COMS and work in a large public school district just north of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I work with a variety of students with different abilities from 3-21. As many of you have said, I also love my job. I am excited to learn more about the Monarch. I want to see my students become all that they want to be and sharing with them the tools that will make their dreams a reality is a key component.
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Iām signed up for Chicago. I am not sure who else will be attending then and am waiting to hear the dates. Looking forward to meeting a few of you 
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That is great! We were smart to sign up for sunny and warm Orlando, Florida!
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Hello from Maryland. How are you two doing? I will be going to the training in Maryland.
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Hi everyone! Iām very excited to attend the Monarch training next week at ATIA.
Iām Amanda Thompson and am a TVI/COMS/CATIS/ATP and serve in the role of Director of Remote Services and Assistive Technology for Allied Instructional Services. I live in Virginia, but complete assessments for teams and provide services in 5 states on the east coast. I also support TVIs and VI-AT instructors in the 14 states AIS provides services in. We have approximately 50-60 remote TVIs and VI-AT specialists providing services.
My students are almost exclusively braille readers, from age 2 (adorable little twins!!!) up to high school age. I canāt wait to learn more about the Monarch so I can be inspired to bring the tool back to my students and improve their access to all the things!
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I have students I see in NC! It will be nice to meet other NC TVIs in person, as I am remote
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Hello everyone,
My name is Andrew Flatres; I am the Braille Product Manager at HumanWare. Iām thrilled to share that Iām actively involved in the collaborative development of the Monarch alongside our partners at APH. Whether you have questions, suggestions, or need assistance with troubleshooting Monarch-related matters, Iām here to help. Residing in the United Kingdom, my responses might come your way even during the late night or early morning hours. Iām eager to engage in discussions about Monarch and look forward to hearing from you all.
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My name is Greg Gerhart from Pennsylvania TVI/COMS and currently work as an educational consultant for the Pennsylvania Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN). PaTTAN is part of the Pennsylvania Bureau of Special Education and provides professional development, conferences, accessible materials, short term loans of assistive technology, and more for Pennsylvania educators.
I am looking forward to the Monarch training in Orlando! Very interested in learning more about the new ebrf format and integration with the TGIL for students to have refreshable tactile graphic opportunities.
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Hello. My name is Tim Knight. I am a TVI-COMS and AT Specialist in Pennsylvania. I have been in the field of visual impairments for 25 years. I work for the PA Training and Technical Assistance Network (PaTTAN) as an educational consultant. The mission of PaTTAN is to support the efforts and initiatives of the Bureau of Special Education of PA, and to build the capacity of local educational agencies to serve students who receive special education services. I am assigned to the BVI, AT, Deafblind, and Secondary Transition initiatives. I am looking forward to the Monarch training and seeing everyone at ATIA.
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