ATN officially became an entity in 1987. We began as a small organization dedicated to developing technical solutions to help adults with visual impairments use traditional computer programs. In 1991, we formalized our program; making it several months of in-class training with a work placement at the end to help students obtain current job experience.

Our program uses special hardware and software known as access devices. They allow people who cannot read a regular computer screen to get information either by enlarging the screen's output or by turning it into synthesized speech.

In 1994, we expanded our mandate to include adults with learning disabilities. This began as a pilot project to test the theory that the same tools that helped people with visual impairments could also be utilized to assist those with learning disabilities. It was such a resounding success that we continued to offer our training to this very under-served group.

This past year our mandate was further expanded to include people with any disability, provided they could not be better served elsewhere.

Success Story

Over the years we have had many success stories—in fact, everyone who completes our program is successful, but there are always those who stand out, and who you never forget. Here is one such story.

Mark is a young Mennonite man who was a student in our first program. After spending his first twenty years working on the family farm, he lost his vision very suddenly. No longer able to do most of the things he had always done, he needed to find a new direction for his life. Before joining us, Mark had spent little time in the city and still less confined in doors all day. Though it took a lot of convincing, we were able to persuade him to give ATN's computer training program a try.

In the beginning, he was frightened and nervous, finding such a radical change in his lifestyle almost too much to bear. Though he talked about quitting a few times, he stuck it out—and by the end of the program the change in him was incredible! After twenty-five weeks, this painfully shy, withdrawn young man had become an enthusiastic pupil, bursting with self-confidence. He arrived 45 minutes early each morning, told bad jokes at every opportunity and used his computer and access software with ease.

Within one year of leaving our program he had his own apartment and was enrolled in a Computer Science Diploma Program which he successfully completed.

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