Computer Idea for the Blind Lost in ‘Space’
A blind physicist who wants to advance a Braille system for computers had his grant request rejected by the Education Department because his typewritten application wasn’t double-spaced.
“I’m blind. I couldn’t tell it was single-spaced,” said John Gardner, an Oregon State University professor and expert in new information technologies for the disabled.
Gardner said his assistant mistakenly typed the application single-spaced and in a font smaller than the department prefers.
“It is absurd I would be punished because of this minor technicality,” he said by phone from Corvallis, Ore.
Gardner complained to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), who has asked Education Secretary Richard W. Riley to reverse the decision. Education Department spokeswoman Julie Green said Riley would have no immediate comment.
Gardner invented DotsPlus, a software program for printing tactile graphics for the visually impaired. He asked the Education Department for $300,000 for a two-year study he says could revolutionize access to math, science, graphs and maps.
Ann Queen, an Education Department team leader handling grants and contracts, notified Gardner on Sept. 29 that the secretary was required to reject “without consideration or evaluation any application that does not meet the criteria.”
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