Scheduled at 9:00 am in Denver 4-6 on Thursday, November 14.
#40216Speaker(s)
- Douglas Gerry, National Director of Software Sales for Vispero, Vispero/Freedom Scientific
- Leon McNaught, Director, Digital Accessibility and Equity, California State University
- Joseph McDaniel, Western Regional Director, Vispero/Freedom Scientific
Session Details
- Length of Session: 1-hr
- Format: Lecture
- Expertise Level: Intermediate
- Type of session: General Conference
Summary
Please come learn how the Freedom Scientific Annual Academic license can offer your school access to all our software on every PC for any purpose at any time for every person. We will be joined by Leon McNaught the Director of Digital Accessibility and Equity for the California State University (CSU) system. They have recently deployed the Academic license systemwide and he will share with you why CSU wanted to be sure and provide wide access to all of the CSU vision impaired community.
Abstract
Freedom Scientific Academic Software License What it is: The Academic License is a school-wide annual license of Fusion that allows you to install it on every PC for use by anyone for any purpose. Fusion contains both JAWS for blindness and ZoomText for low vision and can launch independently or together. We provide your organization with a license file placed into a specific directory for easy deployment. Organization Benefits • School-wide on all school-owned PCs—there are no limitations to concurrent use • Annual cost predicts and simplifies budgeting • Self-identifying as being vision impaired by staff, faculty, and students is not necessary—software is available for use by anyone • Not a concurrent-use license, so there is no need to count heads • Sponsor program* benefits included for personal use IT Administrator Benefits • IT has full control over the deployment and management of updates • No need to manage a license server • Manual activation is not required • Reduces support variables as all PCs are on the same version *The Freedom Scientific Sponsor Program entitles all students, faculty, and staff with an active school email address to receive free Home Annual Licenses for their personally owned equipment, giving access to software for home use
Keypoints
- The Freedom Scientific Academic Software License can be installed on any computer for anyone campus wide.
- IT Dept. has full control of the Academic License deployment with no need to manage a license server.
- This License entitles all students, faculty and staff to receive access even on their home computers.
Disability Areas
Vision
Topic Areas
Assistive Technology, Uncategorized
Speaker Bio(s)
Douglas Gerry
Douglas Gerry is the National Director of Software Sales for Vispero.
Douglas has spent more than 20 years working in the assistive technology industry. He made a change of career from owning a restaurant in San Francisco after losing much of his sight in the mid-90s. It was at this time that Douglas was first exposed to the power of Assistive technology, specifically JAWS. He got his first start with ALVA, a braille display manufacturer as a regional sales manager. He has since been a sales director for a video magnifier manufacturer, and the general manager for an assistive technology distributor in California. Douglas credits assistive technology for much of his own personal and professional success. Over the years he has seen how assistive technology opens doors and fosters independence for many who are blind or vision impaired. Today Douglas is proud to be part of the Vispero team where he continues to use Assistive technology to reach his own professional goals and by doing so he hopes to make a difference for others.
Leon McNaught
Leon McNaught is the Director of Digital Accessibility and Equity for the California State University (CSU) system. Primarily, this work involves oversight of the Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI), a CSU system-wide Capability Maturity Model framework to improve digital accessibility among the 23-campus CSU system. ATI focuses on three priority areas: web, instructional materials, and procurement. Leon’s previous work involved ATI implementation at the campus level since 2004, most recently at Cal State LA and, prior, at CSU San Bernardino.
Leon’s other work includes accessibility consulting, and he is the Chair of the board of Blindness Support Services in Riverside, CA, a 2024 California Nonprofit of the Year recipient. Leon has worked in the field of assistive technology and accessibility in higher education for over two decades, which provides a breadth of experience in an ever-changing field.
Joseph McDaniel
Joseph McDaniel started in the Technology Industry in 1993 with Xerox Corporation. He started working at Freedom Scientific in 2010. He is the Western Regional Director for Vispero which includes such Brands as Freedom Scientific Software and Hardware, Enhanced Vision Hardware and Optelec Low Vision products. Joseph oversees all Vispero business in the Western Region of the United States and he manages the Distribution Channel. Joseph enjoys helping people that are blind or have low vision. He received his B.S. in Finance from California State University Long Beach, School of Business. He received an MBA from the University of Redlands School of Business.