LINC is happy to welcome two new volunteers to the team. June Kasecamp, and her faithful companion and
dog guide, Dorothy. June comes to LINC with a wealth of knowledge in the field of Assistive Technology for
persons who are blind and visually impaired. Presently, June works as a service provider for students who are
visually impaired at the Catonsville Branch of the Community College of Baltimore and has been there for
the past six years. She has two AA degrees from Catonsville, one in Secondary Education and one in
Psychology. June is a member of the alumni club of the Maryland School for the Blind, which she attended
from K-12, and a member of the American Council for the Blind.
June talks about the obstacles that college students who are blind face and also talks about the many
tools that are now available to them that did not exist in days of yore. She believes that in order for
students who are blind to be prepared for college, they should have some knowledge of how to use a computer
and how to access the Internet.
ěI just donít know how we did it without computers,î she said. ěThe Internet is such a valuable resource
for information and it so accessible. Before we were so reliant on readers and they often would filter the
information that we used. Now the decisions on what information to use are in our hands.î
"The most important factor, even more so than accessible computer technology, is the willingness to
learn and work hard,î June said. ěThe barriers to college students who are blind are often the attitudes of
instructors and administrators about the studentsí capabilities. The people at the top need to learn what
services are available and be willing to provide these services to their blind students.î
ěToday, going to school means living in a visual environment. It really does not have to be that way,î
she added. ěCollege administrators, across the board, need to be committed to change that perspective to
accommodate students with visual disabilities.î
June came to LINC last year to learn additional computer applications. She began working with Fred
Carter, LINCís Vision Technology Specialist, to learn Microsoft Access and Excel using JAWS, a screen
reader that reads what is on the screen to a blind computer user. Together they forged ahead in these
two applications, and now provide assistance to other LINC members. June's connections with the blind
community have allowed LINC to better meet their needs, especially in regard to technology access.
LINC staff are not only delighted to add June to the team, but are equally delighted to welcome
Dorothy. ěDorothy is an official seeing eye dog. She was trained in Morristown, NJ at The Seeing Eye,
an Ivy League dog training facility," June says with a smile. LINC staff has requested June to keep
Dorothy ěout of harnessî more often than not while at the center, allowing staff members and consumers
to interact with her on a regular basis.
This summer, June was a guest speaker at LINCís computer arts camp, talking to the children about what
it is like to be blind, about Dorothy and how she helps her each day. She talked about her crocheting
hobby and gave each camper a starter pack.
Working at LINC provides June with a change of pace from her job at the college, and allows Fred more
time to work with LINC members. June will also be providing assistance to LINC consumers on a one-on-one
basis. Look for June at LINC this fall, every other Thursday and every other Friday.