Karen McCall, M.Ed.
I took a Quantum Leap into computers in the 1980's. I started with some minor programming, moved into Desktop Publishing and design work and along the way, kept my hand in education through computer training for adults and children. In the past eight years I have incorporated adaptive technology into my teaching and training. I am a specialist in adaptive technology for people who are blind or visually disabled; and accessibility and usability issues in distributed or distance education.
Karen McCall, M.Ed., is the Technical Director of Karlen Communications. Karlen Communications provides educational and workplace accommodations for people with disabilities, technical writing, consulting on digital document accessibility and usability and hands-on training on adaptive technology. Karen has over 10 years experience in eLearning and education, adaptive technology assessment and training, and digital environment and information accessibility.
Keynote Speaker
Karen has been the keynote speaker for two conferences on distance education. The topics included "The Accessibility of eLearning" and "Instructional Designers: Keepers of the Past or Agents of Change."
Drawing on her experience as a student, instructor, instructional designer and Instructional Design manager for Ryerson University's Distance Education Unit as well as her experience trying to navigate eLearning environments using adaptive technology, these keynotes provided a unique perspective on inclusive eLearning potential. they also offered some thought provoking ideas related to how we are trying to confine eLearning to the traditional classroom instead of letting students choose their learning style based on the concept being presented, their physical environment at any given time or their access to any number of portable devices at any point in time. Karen promotes student choice in modality of learning and eLearning as a device independent activity. A foundation of accessibility and usability of eLearning environments and content will inspire this evolution.
Published Books
Karen is a published author and among her works are the following titles:
- The Box Came Today...Now What Do I Do? : A Resource for CCTV Assessment and Training
ISBN 0-9738246-0-3 - Accessible and Useable PDF Documents : Techniques for Document Authors
ISBN 0-9738246-1-1 - Create Daisy Books with eClipseWriter
ISBN 0-9738246-2-X - Reading Daisy Books with eClipseReader
ISBN 0-9738246-3-8 - Screen Reading and Voice Recognition
ISBN 0-9738246-4-6 - Using Microsoft OneNote
ISBN 0-9738246-5-4 - Introduction to Tablet Technology
ISBN 0-9738246-6 - Microsoft Outlook 2003 with JAWS
ISBN 0-9738246-7-0 - Microsoft Word 2003 with JAWS: Introduction
ISBN 0-9738246-8-9 - Microsoft Word 2003 with JAWS: Intermediate
ISBN 0-9738246-9-7 - Microsoft Word 2003 with JAWS: Advanced
ISBN 0-9738370-0-4 - Microsoft Internet Explorer with JAWS
ISBN 0-9738370-1-2 - Firefox with JAWS
ISBN 0-9738370-2-0 - Microsoft Outlook 2003 with Window-Eyes
0-9738370-3-9 - Microsoft Word 2003 with Window-Eyes - Introduction
0-9738370-4-7 - Microsoft Word 2003 with Window-Eyes - Intermediate
0-9738370-5-5 - Microsoft Word 2003 with Window-Eyes - Advanced
0-9738370-6-3 - Microsoft Internet Explorer from the Keyboard
0-9738370-7-1 - Mizilla Firefox from the Keyboard
0-9738370-8-x
Working Relationships
- Criterion 508 Solutions: Consulting in web accessibility, PDF accessibility and usability, as well as course reviews.
- EASI [Equal Access to Software and Information] : Facilitates web based seminars on PDF accessibility, overview of DAISY authoring tools and eClipseWriter DAISY authoring tool.
- HumanWare [Toronto Office] : VisuSchool workshops on JAWS, Window-Eyes, eClipseWriter, PDF accessibility, and Duxbury Braille Translation software.[note that as of April 1, this site is under redesign and may not be accessible to those using adaptive technology.]
Other Stuff!
Karen has provided workshops for academic institutions on using tablet technology for people with disabilities, using Microsoft OneNote 2003 for students and note takers, the implications of the Alberta government interpretive bulletin on duty to accommodate and a "what the Alberta interpretive bulletin means to you" session.
Among other work experience in Karen's portfolio is Instructional Design Manager for Ryerson University's Distance Education Unit, designer and instructor for the Mohawk College “Introduction to JAWS” course which was part of a certificate program., developing and teaching a master's level course in technology for APSEA/Mount St. Vincent's University [Atlantic Provinces Special Education Authority], technical writer on the Freedom Scientific PAC Mate PDA for people who are blind or visually disabled, the writer and voice of the JAWS and Excel 2000, JAWS and Excel XP, and JAWS and WordPerfect 10 tutorials for Freedom Scientific. Her latest tutorial work is as the voice of the Maestro tutorials for HumanWare. She is also on the Ontario Ministry of Health's Assistive Devices Program Standing Committee on Sensory Aids.
Organization Participation
- Member, PDF/UA working group [PDF Universal Access]
- Member, eText in Higher Education working group.
- Member, Ontario Ministry of Health Sensory Aids Standing Committee, Assistive Devices Branch
- Past Member, Working Group to the Standing Committee - User Support
- Past member, AER [Association of Educators and Rehabilitation Teachers of the Blind and Visually Impaired]
- Past member, CADE [Canadian Association for Distance Education]
- Past Member, Ryerson University's Strategic Planning Committee for the Liberated Learning Project
- Past Member, planning committee for Adaptive Technology diploma program at Georgian College
- Past Member, Adaptech Advisory Board [Dawson College, Concordia]
- Past Member, Task Force on Distributed Learning at Sheridan College [1998-2000]
Copyright
This site was created by Karen McCall using Adobe/Macromedia Dreamweaver 8. It was last updated April 2008. Copyright by Karen McCall and Karlen Communications.