Monarch is Making a Difference: Kristina Vannoy’s Story
Monarch is continuing to change the game for students who are blind or low vision. Part of the Monarch Student Pilot Project (MSPP), Kristina Vannoy and her student Drew has had the chance to use Monarch throughout his junior year of high school. As someone with a self-proclaimed “engineer’s brain,” Monarch has fanned the flame Drew has for learning.
Drew had his vision until age eleven. After a series of surgeries that were meant to save his vision, Drew was left blind before the age of twelve. Having grown up with his vision, Drew still thinks visually, so he values getting a chance to tactilely access images or other concepts. Before Monarch, it would sometimes take weeks for Drew to get his hands on a graphic for a math class or map for a social studies class. Monarch is able to create graphics with Wing-It or pull it from the Tactile Graphic Image Library within seconds.
As Drew continues his education, Monarch has evened the playing field, making it possible for him to take challenging classes like trigonometry and chemistry. Before Monarch, the assistive technology Drew had access to wasn’t tactile. For example, Vannoy explains how a touch screen tablet with a screen reader can allow for interactive exploration or learning, but it will not have any sort of tactile variation for the user. With Monarch, Drew is able to touch the braille and tactile graphics while also using a screen reader. This allows him to use all of the senses available to him to maximize his learning experience.
Drew’s excitement for Monarch is matched with excitement for more innovation within assistive technology as a whole. Drew and Vannoy both love the way Monarch brings twenty-first century technology to students who are blind or low vision. In a digital world, Monarch allows blind or low vision students like Drew to be able to use a computer that has fully integrated tactile graphics and a multi-line braille display.
Drew is grateful for all Monarch does now, but also excited for what is yet to come. Monarch has sparked a desire in Drew to keep innovating as he anticipates other pieces of new technology that will help level the playing field between blind or low vision students and their peers. His “engineer’s mind” is already spinning about what could be included in the next Monarch update or finding new ways of utilizing Monarch outside of the classroom.
Vannoy’s excitement surrounding Monarch looks a little different than Drew’s but is just as deep. The ability to set up different profiles on Monarch allows for individualization between students who will all have different needs. Vannoy is grateful for its versatility and the way Monarch encourages braille literacy by being easier to use than single line refreshable braille displays.
After graduating high school, Drew wants to obtain a four-year degree that will aid him in his goal of becoming a high school history teacher or college history professor. His passion for education goes beyond his own as he wants to help others as well. Drew is proud to be a part of the MSPP, saying “We are laying the groundwork for what’s to come.” Vannoy feels the same, noting that Monarch is truly a “game changer” when it comes to education for those who are blind or low vision.
Are you interested in learning more about Monarch and ways the MSPP has impacted students? Check out the links below!