[optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
- From: JBliss Judy <judy@xxxxxxxxxx>
- To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 11 Jan 2009 11:12:49 -0800
Dear Pam,
Yes! how could I forget Stickneys? I started in '76 at Telesensory, so I
missed you, I believe. Kay Miller went on to International Sales/Marketing and
Gayle Bruegler became the training manager. I helped her do the teacher's
newsletter, "The Repeater Cable" and wrote manuals for the Game Center and
other products. Then Jackie Wheeler became training Manager and I followed her
as Training Manager.
What a wonderful story about Kay's encouragement! She was that way, and knew
that lots of students kind of hit the wall after the first week and just needed
to try to relax. I enjoyed the social activities with the students, so we
could all relax. I may have worked with you on the teacher's training, but I do
forget things as the years go by. Richard has done a great service, keeping the
Optacons going for these many years (as well as the other guys who are doing
repairs).
Great to hear from you!
Judy Adams
----- Original Message ---------------
Subject: [optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
From: "Pam Drake" <pamdrake@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 9 Jan 2009 19:49:23 -0800
To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>The restaurant was named Stickney's. I used to enjoy their fried onion
>rings.
>
>What a time that was! I was there in late 1975, one of four students
>sent in that class from the Social Security Administration. Best thing
>I ever got from that job aside from the paycheck of course, and the
>retirement funds which I withdrew when I left, using the money to buy my
>own Optacon in 1979. I still have that one, though it needs work. I
>have managed to acquire two more over the past few years.
>
>I don't remember you, Judy, and it could be that you were gone by the
>time I got there. I haven't followed this thread fully, but have saved
>the messages for future reading.
>
>The director of training at the time was a very nice lady by the name of
>Kay or Cay Miller. She was so patient with me.
>
>My learning curve was pretty steep the first week, and I had family
>friends in the Palo Alto/Mountain View area. I had been out to dinner a
>few nights, and when she asked to come by my room I was sure she was
>going to tell me I wasn't making it and it was time to pack up for home.
>
>
>Well, nothing could have been further from the truth. Cay gave me an
>assignment for that weekend. Anything! I said. I really wanted to
>learn this machine. Her assignment was to plug the Optacon in on Friday
>afternoon, which advice was given before we understood the nature of
>NiCad batteries, go to San Francisco as planned with the other three
>students who had planned this along with me, and not to touch the
>machine till Monday morning. I had been ready to forego the trip; but
>she told me I was trying too hard, putting far too much pressure on
>myself.
>
>On Sunday night I could hardly wait to get back to the Optacon, and for
>the next week my progress absolutely soared! What a great trip!
>
>I went back in 1981 and got the teacher's certificate; in fact, one of
>the Optacons I now own belonged to a friend whom I trained under
>contract with her employer. While I'm on that subject, the other
>belonged to a friend whom I hadn't seen for many years, who had it in
>the back of his closet and gave it to me for nothing more than a gift
>box of mixed nuts, which was all I could get him to accept. I had all
>my Optacons worked on by Richard Oehm, and was lucky enough to have
>gotten the two additional ones from people I knew, so I knew they had
>been at least stored properly, if not used.
>
>My! What memories!
>
>Pam Drake
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>[mailto:optacon-l-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of JBliss Judy
>Sent: Wednesday, January 07, 2009 9:45 AM
>To: optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
>Subject: [optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
>
>Dear Don,
>
>Well, my memory isn't what it used to be, but your name is familiar too.
>Did you come to training with a dog? Early training was done at a local
>hotel on El Camino Real whose name slips my memory (it was a name
>familiar to a local restaurant nearer University Avenue in Palo
>Alto...The Flamingo??)...it had an all-night restaurant, and and an
>outside pool near the restaurant. And there was a small footbridge that
>connected the rooms in one area of the hotel (that wrapper around the
>restaurant), that you had to cross the parking lot, and then you were at
>the restaurant. I remember doing mobility around the footbridge and
>pool was a hassle and once one of the guide dogs fell in one evening
>after training, slipping under the fabric or soft plastic cover over the
>pool one winter, as I recall, but got out OK.
>
>Do you remember the names of the other students when you were training?
>What work did you go into after Optacon training? Are you still using
>the Optacon to supplement other access tools?
>
>Thanks for your response, and for keeping in touch.
>
>Judy
>
>----- Original Message ---------------
>
>Subject: [optacon-l] Re: hello from former Optacon teacher Judy Adams
> From: "don bishop" <w6smb@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
> Date: Mon, 5 Jan 2009 14:12:05 -0800
> To: <optacon-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>
>>Hi Judy,
>>
>>Your name is vary familiar and I'm sure we crossed paths at tsi at some
>
>>point as I got my first Optacon in 1972 and received training in Palo
>>Alto (or was it Mountainview). Training was at a hotel, the name of
>>which escapes me after all these years.
>>
>>Anyway, welcome to the list.
>>
>>Don Bishop
>>
>>
>
>
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