Apps and smartphones are becoming important tools to track and manage personal health, but millions of disabled Americans still face significant obstacles accessing that technology. iTriage wants to eliminate that barrier, so the Aetna-owned company has partnered with the Blind Institute of Technology (BIT) to have visually impaired engineers work with developers to make forthcoming versions of iTriage and an Aetna app for members that are designed with disabled access in mind.
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Blind Institute of Technology aims to solve jobless ‘epidemic’
A calculated “bug hunt” is underway at iTriage in downtown Denver.
With laptops and tablets on a desk, contract employees Antonio Rozier and Amelia Dickerson scan through the backbone of a health symptom and information website and mobile app, using screen readers that convert text to Braille or speech to determine how well they work with assistive technology for the vision-impaired.
Can’t find all the tech people you need? The Blind Institute of Technology can help
Mike Hess is the founder and Executive Director of the Blind Institute of Technology, a Colorado-based nonprofit transitioning to be a national outfit, whose goal is to find tech roles for the chronically underemployed visually impaired community. Hess, who runs the organization with 40+ volunteers, including eight C-level executives on his board of directors, recently outlined his goals for Network World Editor in Chief John Dix.
Blind people make great employees, and Lakewood’s Mike Hess can prove it
After 17 years working in the IT sector, Mike Hess decided that a six-figure salary wasn’t nearly as important as leaving a legacy and making a difference.
“I knew I wanted to do more…and I thought how can I get other sight-impaired people into technology?” Hess said.