With life-changing condition, Williamsburg native looks to technology for sight - Williamsburg Yorktown Daily

Veronica Lewis, an information technology student at George Mason University, has a blog advocating for students with disabilities. (Evan Cantwell/Creative Services/George Mason University)

Veronica Lewis was three years old when she was diagnosed with a life-changing condition.

Chiari Malformation is a structural defect of the skull and the brain. In Lewis’s case, it contributed to her poor eyesight. Now, 17 years after her initial diagnosis of vision impairment, Lewis is studying information technology at George Mason University with the dream of making technology more accessible to the disabled.

Her goal inspired the Redmond, Washington-based technology giant Microsoft to create a video featuring Lewis about assistive technology and their products.

“Technology doesn’t just make things easier, it makes things possible,” Lewis, a long-time Williamsburg resident, said.

She said her greatest hope is that in coming years electronic technology will enable people with disabilities like blindness to have the same educational opportunities “as their sighted peers.”

Assistive technology is a term to describe any device or technology that makes life easier for people with disabilities.

One example of a basic assistive technology with a major impact is curb ramps on sidewalks. Another assistive technology is the zoom or magnifying option used on many internet browsers.

Software tools like the zoom function allow Lewis to be able to read her homework assignments and write papers, but only at a comfortable 24 point font.

“I have a lot of software loaded onto all my devices that allow me to be able to access classroom materials just like my sighted peers,” Lewis said before adding, “without my teachers having to really think about the accommodations either.”

According to Lewis, assistive technology allows people with disabilities to live and learn on a level playing field.

“I still feel like we have a long way to go with creating accessible classroom spaces,” she said. “Especially in Hampton roads.”

Lewis, a Williamsburg native, has a life-changing condition that contributes to her low vision. (Evan Cantwell/Creative Services/George Mason University)

Lewis cited a lack of accommodation from a minority of her teachers at both area school divisions in Williamsburg-James City County and York County.

“I would have teachers look at me and not know how to handle my case,” Lewis said. “They didn’t have a lot of resources…so I can’t say this is all their fault. That’s OK because I was able to find ways to include myself in the classroom.”

Accessibility to a quality education is of such importance to Lewis, she decided to study information technology to create new products and services to help disabled students live normal lives.

“I don’t want to have a guidance counselor tell a student ‘I’m sorry you can’t take this class, the teacher doesn’t do vision impairment,’” Lewis said. “More and more students are being identified as having little vision or similar conditions. We can’t just tell them ‘sorry, you don’t have equal opportunities for your education.’”

Creating more accessible classrooms is a tide that raises all ships, according to Lewis. Accommodations such as enlarging text or images on tests helped every student in her class.

Lewis graduated from Tabb High School in 2015 and is now in her junior year at George Mason University. (Evan Cantwell/Creative Services/George Mason University)

“I had a teacher who enlarged maps for everyone for a test, and he noticed everyone’s grades went up by 15 points. Students found it easier to read. It doesn’t take much to do a large print on something.”

Even small situational accommodations can make life easier for everyone, according to Lewis.

“It’s not just people with disabilities who need these things,” Lewis said.

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