Perspectives in Assistive Technology
Title: Perspectives of Stanford Students with a Disability
Speaker: Edan Alexander Armas, Kartik Sawhney, Dan Berschinski, Jacob Gowan, and others
When: Tuesday, January 19, 2016
Time: 4:30pm-5:50pm
Location: Classroom 110 in the Thornton Center
Abstract:
In this panel discussion, several Stanford students with disabilities will discuss their disabilities, academic goals, the assistive technology they use to be successful students, and the challenges they have faced.
Bio:
Edan Armas:
"Coming from a boring suburban town in Illinois, I'm so stoked to be able to be here at Stanford in order to pursue my interests and send palm tree-ridden postcards to my jealous siblings. I've worn hearing aids since second grade, but for most of my teenage life, they were hidden under the warm embrace of my enormous Afro. The ladies loved it. However, now short-haired and a little more mature, my hearing aids are a great source of pride for me, and I hope to one day participate in helping make hearing aid in general become more affordable and accessible to people of all socioeconomic backgrounds. Stanford is the place to be, and I'm ready to walk the path that this beautiful school is constantly in the process of making for me."
Kartik Sawhney:
"I am a junior at Stanford University, majoring in Computer Science with a focus on Artificial Intelligence and Human Computer Interaction. I feel strongly about universal access to virtual resources, and have been involved in several accessibility and assistive technology projects with non-profits and tech giants including IBM Research India, Microsoft Research India, Xavier's Resource Center for the Visually Challenged, among others. At the same time, I'm intrigued by the immense potential of artificial intelligence, and hope to further develop my knowledge and skills in the field." Kartik's Virtual Space
Dan Berschinski:
Dan Berschinski grew up in Peachtree City, Georgia. In 2007 he graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point, with a commission in the infantry. Upon graduation from West Point, Dan served as a rifle platoon leader with the 5th Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division based out of Fort Lewis in Washington State. In the summer of 2009, then Lieutenant Berschinski and his men deployed to Afghanistan's violent Arghandab River Valley. On August 18th, First Lieutenant Berschinski was severely wounded while leading his platoon on a dismounted patrol. He triggered an improvised explosive device, which instantly severed both of his legs above the knees, broke his jaw, and shattered his left arm.
After being medically evacuated out of Afghanistan, Dan underwent four months of inpatient surgeries and hospitalization at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. He then spent the next three years undergoing daily physical therapy and prosthetic limb training. He has since become the military's first above-the-knee and hip-disarticulation amputee to walk on a daily basis. While in therapy, Captain Berschinski served as a certified peer visitor, frequently visiting and counseling other wounded service-members and their families. He has also been an advocate for improved bomb-blast protective equipment for troops currently in combat, as well as an advocate for patient care and improved rehabilitation practices at Walter Reed.
After medically retiring from the Army, Dan moved to Washington, DC. While in the Capital, he founded Two-Six Industries, a plastic product distribution company. He also became a board member of the Amputee Coalition, America's leading non-profit amputee awareness organization, as well as a board member of the West Point Society of DC.
Dan currently resides in California, where he is pursuing a Master of Business Administration degree at Stanford University.
Zina Jawadi:
Zina is a freshman at Stanford University and the Vice President of the Hearing Loss Association of America, California State Association (HLAA-CA), an affiliate of the Hearing Loss Association of America, the largest nonprofit representing people with hearing loss in the US. She also founded the Disability Awareness Program at her high school, The Harker School and previously researched and created a video about teaching techniques for mainstreamed students with hearing loss.
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For more information, please visit http://web.stanford.edu/class/engr110/schedule.html
