ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, July 11, 1996 TAG: 9607110038
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
It's a cliche to say that a computer can open a whole new world for its owner but, in the case of rising Dublin Middle School eighth-grade student Stephanie Corvin, it's true.
You see, it's a special computer. And it took special efforts by a lot of people for her to get it.
Stephanie, 14, is a victim of cerebral palsy, which affects both her legs and her right hand. She has use of her left hand only.
"She's a very independent young lady," said Kathy Roseberry, special education teacher at the school. "Writing was so hard. She just labored over her writing, and she had so many wonderful things she wanted to say."
The school equipped one of its computers with a special keyboard for the physically handicapped. The keys are larger than the regular kind, and in alphabetical order across the keyboard rather than traditional typewriter sequence. That makes them easier to punch with one hand. Some have special features, such as one that prevents a key from repeating itself across the screen if it is held down longer than usual.
Stephanie would come to school early each day for training on the keyboard. It occurred to Roseberry that Stephanie could accomplish even more if she had a computer with the specialized keyboard at home, where she could work with it anytime.
"We've been working on this little deal since about February," Roseberry said. The special keyboard cost $405, which came from Project FACT, made up of the Virginia Tech Department of Family and Child Development, Southwest Virginia Transition Center for Disabilities at Virginia Tech, New River Valley Early Intervention Council, the Parent Resource Center and the Virginia Tech Resource and Referral Service.
Dave Bell, Pulaski County's visiting teacher, found a computer available for $950. Roseberry first approached Sue Ervine, president of the Fairlawn-Radford Ruritan Club, who took the project under her arm like a football player running for a touchdown.
Ervine's Ruritan Club could not raise the entire amount, so she approached Janet Nelson, president of the Ruritan National Club, and Elden Horton, president of the Dublin club. Ron Underwood, president of the Dublin Lions Club, and a local church, which did not want to be identified, added their part. With all these organizations working on it, the necessary money was raised and the computer delivered this month.
Stephanie, of course, already knows how to handle it. "It's pretty bad when a 14-year-old has to teach you about a computer," said Cathy Corvin, her mother.
Roseberry said the computer also helps Stephanie with math as well as writing. "She's going to be able to put on paper now all those things she's been wanting to tell us," Roseberry said. "She has the ability to go on beyond high school."
LENGTH: Medium: 62 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: PAUL DELLINGER Staff Stephanie Corvin (right) with herby CNBteacher, Kathy Roseberry, has big plans for her new computer.