Award-winning Writer Joins Optelec's Blindness Division

Deborah Kendrick joins Optelec USA, launching monthly e-newsletter for growing blindness division.

Chelmsford, MA (PRWEB) September 3, 2004 -- Larry Lewis, vice president of Optelec USA's newly created blindness products division, has added yet another gem to the crown which will serve as a dynamic team to promote exciting new products to the blindness community.

Deborah Kendrick, well-known as a writer, trainer, and speaker in the disability arena has joined Optelec USA as a communications consultant. Known to many in the blindness field as a pioneer who organized technology conferences for blind consumers in the early 1980s, Kendrick launched the award-winning technology quarterly, TACTIC, which enjoyed worldwide readership from 1985-1999 and garnered numerous technical writing awards from mainstream journalism organizations. TACTIC was acquired by the American Foundation for the Blind in 1999 to facilitate the beginning of AccessWorld where Kendrick continues to serve as senior features editor.

Beyond the blindness field, Kendrick's award-winning column on disability issues has been syndicated in various newspapers around the country including the Cincinnati Enquirer, Columbus Dispatch, and San Francisco Chronicle. She has received the highest awards given for print journalism by the National Easter Seal Society, Society for Professional Journalists, Ohio Advocates for Mental Health, Society for Technical Communications, and numerous other organizations. She has also served as an educator of blind children and adolescents, blind adults in rehabilitation settings, and graduate level students seeking certification to teach visually impaired students.

Kendrick will be launching a monthly e-newsletter for Optelec's blindness division, as well as working on a number of other special projects.

"Deborah Kendrick sees our industry from a multi-faceted perspective," commented Larry Lewis. "She understands the needs of blind and visually impaired children and adults and is a truly gifted writer as well."

Kendrick herself is exuberant about the newly formed relationship. "This is going to be a perfect job," she said. "I'll be working with wonderful people and introducing some of the most exciting products to enter the blindness field in quite some time. Larry is very committed to Braille literacy and has a deep respect for blind consumers. Optelec is taking us where we need to be -- toward mobile products that can interface with mainstream technology. I can't wait to get started!"

If you would like to subscribe to Optelec's e-newsletter, which will commence publication later this month, contact Marie Roy at MarieR@Optelec.com.

If you have content requests or suggestions, send them to Deborah Kendrick at DeborahK@optelec.com.

About Optelec
Founded in 1985, Optelec is recognized worldwide as a provider of innovative solutions for the blind and visually impaired. The company's flagship ClearView line, magnifies text and photos to over 50 times, bringing life back into focus for those living with low vision, caused by such conditions as macular degeneration. The Braille Voyager series provides Braille users with complete control of their laptop or desktop computer from a Braille display. The user-friendly Voyager guarantees to Braille users portable access for active participation in the mainstream, global information community.

For more information, please visit www.optelec.com or call 800-828-1056.
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