Android Apps for Accessibility

1. Android Apps for Accessibility By: Mohnish S.

2. Definitions Community of Need (CON): A person, place, group, animal, or object that must have something, but cannot get on its own. Community of Response (COR): A person or group of people who nurture the CON's needs and/or empowers them to meet its own needs. Empower: To enable (someone) to do something.

3. About the CON (paragraph) My Community of Need, amputees and others with disabilities, have lost something that people use everyday. They have lost their limbs due to an accident, disease, or birth defect. According to Rosenberg (2011), about 2 million Americans live with limb loss. Everyday, leg amputees have trouble walking around or “rolling” around with a substitute. And arm amputees have trouble picking things up, opening things, etc. Their prosthetic limbs are low quality, and research is needed to create better ones. One thing they need is high quality prosthetic limbs. But they need more than just that; amputees need inexpensive bionic limbs. Most insurance companies do not provide for prosthetic limbs. So the amputees not only suffer from physical crisis, but they also suffer from financial crisis. Most prosthetic limbs cost about $10,000 - $50,000 (Walking Tall Charities, 2012). The truth is that high-tech prosthetics exist, but due to the high costs as well as the insurance companies’ lack of support, patients have no choice but to digress from the high-techs and stick with lower-tech, less effective prosthetic limbs (Walking Tall Charities, 2012). Apart from the physical pain/trouble and financial troubles, some amputees are made fun of or no longer treated like a “normal” individual of their same age. They need support from others so that they do not also face emotional and/or mental stress. According to the book “Disabled People” (1989), attending a “mainstream” school can help many disabled children feel like they are normal and no different than the person sitting next to them. Amputees need that push, that motivation and not feel like a burden to others. To go over, amputees need inexpensive, high-tech, efficient prosthetics as well as support from others. After teaming up with my Community of Response, Kessler Foundation (which I will describe later), I learned that I am not going to help amputees specifically, but I will also be working with people with other disabilities, such as traumatic brain injury or spinal cord injury. They also basically have the same needs as amputees, such as low cost treatments and support, although the treatment (for amputees, it would be prosthetics) would suit their disability. About 650 million people in the world live with a disability (United Nations, 2006). Overall, my general Community of Response would be people with disabilities, but I tried to focus more on amputees.

4. About the CON (main points) • Amputees (and others with disabilities) • Need high quality prosthetic limbs/mobility. • Need rehabilitation and support. • Need financial aid to pay for treatment. • Need to blend in.

5. Pictures of the CON Person with no arms or legs still exercises. Two “special” people with disabilities who face constant discrimination from others. These are amputees from the military.

6. About the COR (paragraph) My Community of Response, Kessler Foundation (West Orange), is a great facility that does everything in their power to make the lives of people with disabilities better. Their mission, and I quote, is to make “discoveries that change lives for people with disabilities” (Kessler Foundation, 2010). It “strives to improve the lives of people with physical and cognitive disabilities caused by stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain and spinal cord injury, and other chronic neurologic and musculoskeletal conditions.” (Kessler Foundation, 2010) In addition, they strive for excellence, treat each other with respect, act with integrity, foster an innovative environment, and more. Kessler Foundation has provided many patients with treatment as well as recovery/rehabilitation after their treatment. In addition, they find their patients work in order to empower them and enable them to adapt to a real-life environment. They also sponsor a team of wheelchair-atheletes called the WheelBlazers, and make them feel like they can still be atheletes, regardless of their condition. I have chosen this organization because it is good at what it does (since it makes the patients feel comfortable as well as provides cutting edge treatments for them) and is a great foundation to work with!

7. About the COR (main points) • Kessler Foundation • Great facility • Improves the lives of disabled people • Foster an innovative environment • Provides rehabilitation • Find some patients work (empowering) • Sponsors the WheelBlazers • Good at what it does, great organization!

8. Pictures of the COR A person with a disability working at a local restaurant, thanks to Kessler Foundation. WheelBlazers cyclist on his specialized cycle, provided by Kessler Foundation. Kessler Foundation's Lauren Scrivo participating in the annual Stroll 'N Roll (walk-a-thon) with her friend.

9. My goals • I want to publish an App on the Android Market. • In addition, I want to raise at least $100. • If possible, I also want to Volunteer/Participate at Kessler Foundation activity.

10. Timeline of Actions (1/4) 3/4/12 I set up Android Workspace to start app. 3/10/12 I started the app and created a ball and target. I made a basic onTouch function so that the ball would move on touch. 3/11/12 I created basic obstacles that moved (level 1) and made a collision detection between the ball and the obstacle. 3/18/12 I fixed up everything on level 1, and fixed all of the glitches. 3/24/12 I increased speed of the moving ball and obstacle and created a switch variable to switch to level 2. 3/25/12 I started with a level 2, and added another obstacle. 3/31/12 I fixed glitches in the variable structures for level 2.

11. Timeline of Actions (2/4) 4/1/12 I made levels 3 to 7, and added a new obstacle, a box, to level 6 and 7. 4/2/12 I made levels 8 to 10 with double boxes and double obstacles making the game harder. 4/3/12 I made levels 11 to 14 with an added wheel. 4/4/12 I made level 15 and a closing statement. Then, made instructions and fixed many glitches. 4/5/12 Again, I kept fixing glitches and making the app work better. 4/6/12 More of fixing glitches on my part... and adding features, like a number of chances to beat the level.

12. Timeline of Actions (3/4) 4/7/12 Then I set up a meeting date with Kessler Foundation to discuss the app. 4/14/12 I made a basic starting screen and met with Mrs. DeLuca to discuss the app. 4/16/12 I made a menu screen for the levels, Easy, Medium, and Hard. I tested game on friend's Android phone. It ran perfectly! 4/17/12 I made final changes to app and sent the app to Kessler Foundation to publish. 4/18/12 I made final edits to the code and re-sent it to Kessler Foundation. Meanwhile, started to plan another meeting at Kessler, this time including Mrs. Gorton.

13. Timeline of Actions (4/4) 5/3/12 It’s the day of the meeting! We met the CEO of Kessler Foundation, took pictures, went over what I have to change on the app, etc. 5/5/12 Next I made the said edits to the code (minor edits) and re-sent it. I also added a donate button to the app. 5/8/12 The app is finally published! We are now approaching the media 5/14/12 I also made a YouTube video for a trailer of the game. 5/15/12 The newsletter was given to us by Kessler Foundation. I found some changes to make. Also, we read the press release. Edits need to be made. 5/16/12 We gave the edits to Lauren from Kessler. We are collecting donations. So far we have $300 and counting!

14. My accomplishments • I published a gaming app on the Android Market to raise money. • We raised $325 and counting • I published a trailer of the app. • I met with Kessler Foundation (and CEO!) twice. • I also joined the Stroll ‘N Roll committee (volunteering).

15. Classified Files : Evidence (1/3) Snapshot of the app I made (“The Target”) published on Google Play (a.k.a. Android Market).

16. Classified Files : Evidence (2/3) A snapshot of a newsletter on the Kessler Foundation site about me and my accomplishment

17. Classified Files : Evidence (3/3) Me (on the left) at Kessler Foundation for the meeting, along with CEO Rodger DeRose (next to me), Lauren (in the middle), Pam DeLuca, and Mrs. Gorton (on the right).

18. Reflection : Blog Entry #8 (1/4) Q1: How have your communication skills changed as a result of the service learning project? Be as specific and detailed as possible. A: Wow, I don't even know how to start! My communication skills have changed for the better or improved significantly, whether it be by talking directly to my Community of Need (amputees and people with other disabilities), emailing my Community of Response (Kessler Foundation), or just discussing what to do next with my parents or teacher. Now, more than before this project, it is much easier to present myself without losing my "professional" cool with others. This was improved on when I attended two meetings with my Community of Response. It was especially challenging when I spoke with the CEO of Kessler Foundation, yet I managed to present myself well and I learned a great deal from the experience. In addition, I have learned to speak up when I want to say something, at the right time of course. In the first meeting with my Community of Response, and as well as the second, I learned to speak up when I had an idea to advertise the app or come up with a solution on how to fix a certain aspect of the app. I have learned to coordinate well with my parents, teacher, and Mrs. Pam DeLuca (from Kessler Foundation) through email. For example, when we had to schedule a convenient time to meet for the second meeting (which included Mrs. Gorton), I had to come up with a good time for me as well as coordinate with both Mrs. Gorton and Mrs. DeLuca to see which time is best for both of them. Mrs. DeLuca was out of the office for a week, and Mrs. Gorton was free at a time in that week, so I had to find ask Mrs. DeLuca and Mrs. Gorton to find another time. It was challenging because they didn't know each other and I did, so I had to find a time that would suit all three of us. So overall, I ameliorated on my communication skills and they changed significantly because of this project!

19. Reflection : Blog Entry #8 (2/4) Q2: How has your knowledge about social studies changed as a result of this project? Think about everything that we learned this year (not necessarily just in relation to service learning), and explain how this project has helped to expand your knowledge of social studies. A: At first, I used to think that Social Studies was just maps or the government, but this project has made me realized that Social Studies is much more. In this way, my knowledge of Social Studies has changed as a result of this project. In the beginning of the school year, we used to learn about the different types of human interactions (human:human, human:environment, and human:technology). This project has expanded my knowledge of some of these interactions because I stepped into the real world and interacted with other people, such as my Community of Need/Response and Mrs. Gorton at meetings. I also used technology to communicate with others, when I emailed my COR, made an app, and reached out to newspapers. I have learned that social studies is the study of the social sciences and communication skills as well as the human interaction with others (humans, environment, and technology). According to the Board of Directors of National Council for the Social Studies (1992), social studies is the integrated study of the social sciences and humanities to promote civic competence." Also, I have expanded my learning of primary/secondary sources by citing my sources, in-text, as well as on a Works Cited Page. So overall, my knowledge of Social Studies has expanded in many ways; this project has improved my knowledge on human interactions, social sciences, as well as sources of information. Social Studies is not only how you learn about the past, but also how you shape the future.

20. Reflection : Blog Entry #8 (3/4) Q3: How do the knowledge and skills you gained from your service learning project relate to your other classes besides social studies? A: The knowledge and skills that I have gained from Service Learning do not only relate to social studies, but to other classes as well. For starters, many others have said that their new-found skills relate to Writing Workshop, and I totally agree with them. Because I wrote so many professional, refined emails to my COR (in the hope of sounding mature), I have learned how to shape my writing and say what I want to in the best possible way. In addition, the skills and knowledge I have gained also relate to science. Our Community of Need has a need, and so do other living things in the environment. When someone or something causes a disturbance in the food chain, other animals suffer from it as well. Humans can interact with them to either make it better or worse for them. Not only do my skills and knowledge relate to writing and science, but they also relate to French or any other World Language (I take french, so that is why it relates to french for me!). In french, which I only have limited knowledge in, I need to learn how to say many new things, all in a whole other language. That is why, during oral quizzes, presentations, or even written quizzes, I need to think before speaking. In the same way, I needed to think before speaking when talking to my Community of Response, so that I did not accidentally say something that didn't sound mature. That is how my knowledge and skills relate to french (or any new language for that matter!). Lastly, my newly gained skills and knowledge relate to Math Explorations, where we work in groups a lot, do presentations, and solve problems in the best possible way. My knowledge relates to Math Explorations because when we work in groups, we have to coordinate with them. And I have the tendency to do all the work (because I usually want it my way or because I do it fastest), so this project has helped me get over doing all the work and learning to depend on others and/or compromise. Plus, I have learned to better present myself when doing presentations in front of the class, because I could present myself in front of a CEO! So overall, my newly gained skills and knowledge relate to many other classes besides social studies.

21. Reflection : Blog Entry #8 (4/4) Q4: Identify and explain--in detail--at least one other way that this project has changed you. Be sure to give and explain specific supporting examples to show that change has taken place within you. A: This project has changed me in many other ways, I definitely can't define through one reason/explanation. This project has changed me by helping me deal with time shortage, helping me learn how to solve real-life problems, and of course, expanding my knowledge of making apps! First of all, I have learned to deal with time shortage. When I was making my app, I was way behind schedule. I was at least two weeks behind schedule. When I was supposed to be wrapping up level fifteen, I just finished level one of the game. That is why I picked up the pace and started to work diligently even when I wasn't scheduled to. Because of that motive and assiduous work, I managed to finish in time! In addition, this project changed how I solved problems. During the app-making process, I faced many problems, whether it be that the obstacles were not moving properly or that the level was not increasing. I had to use all of my knowledge, and more, to fix those "bugs" (as we call them in programming). That is how this project improved my problem solving. Yes, I saved the most obvious way for last! This project improved my app-making skills because I learned how to do many new things in programming and I learned about the many features of the programming language that I could use to my advantage. For example, the app has a donate button. This button requires internet to open to the donation link. I learned how to program a method that opened a browser to allow for donations. Also, when the ball reached the designated target, the level had to increase. I did not know how to do this, but I soon learned about a switch case method. In english (haha!), this means that I learned about a way to make the level increase without having to create a new file. I could just increase a variable (like in math), and the level would increase, and the obstacles would be re-drawn at a different point. Overall, I this project has changed me by improving my technical skills; I learned to manage time shortage better, solve problems faster, and program more efficiently! Thank you, Service Learning!

22. Acknowledgements Thank you to: • Pam DeLuca, who emailed me back and got me involved with Kessler Foundation, as well as helped to advertise the app. • Sandra McDonald, who tested my app and directed me on what to edit, and published the app on the Android Market . • Lauren Scrivo, who took so much time and effort to create newsletters about me and advertised the app to many sources. • Mrs. Gorton, who directed me (and the class) on what to do, when to do it, and overall, who got me (and the rest of 7D) involved with trying to make a difference in the world. • Dad, who steered me into programming apps and made this project do-able. • Mom, who helped advertise the newsletter to other sources. • Rodger DeRose, who approved the app and made it possible to publish.

23. Works Cited

24. Mohnish Sabhani Period 1 5/1/12 Thank you for watching my presentation!