Mar 8, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Pete Winton, Lee County Administration
(239) 335-2777
COUNTY EMPLOYEE NAMED VISUALLY IMPAIRED CITIZEN OF THE YEAR
FORT MYERS, Fla. (March 8, 2005) - Kim Gonzalez - Lee County Government's central receptionist - has been named Citizen of the Year by Visually Impaired Persons (VIP) of Southwest Florida.
Gonzalez, who has 80 percent vision loss, received the recognition at a luncheon ceremony Monday (Mar. 7) at Shadow Woods Country Club. The award also is sponsored by Good Wheels.
The VIP Center provides instruction in a variety of independent living and vocational rehabilitation skills. Good Wheels provides transportation for disadvantaged persons and is a service that Gonzalez utilizes daily.
Gonzalez has been a county employee for nine months.
She was recognized "as an outstanding example of a person with multiple challenges who not only advocates for others but also went on to become an exemplary employee, gaining her desired level of independence," the nomination reads.
"Kim trained at the VIP reception desk and became quite proficient, then went on to work for the county. She has been a wonderful advocate for visually impaired, blind and handicapped people, especially in the transportation area."
Gonzalez works as the county's central receptionist in the Public Resources Division and has a workstation outfitted with devices to help her perform her duties. Blind Services assisted in providing the equipment she uses, including a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) that magnifies print images and a modified phone system (IntelliDESK®) that converts computer images into recognizable speech (JAWS).
"She has the most positive attitude and is a joy to work with." said Libby Walker, director of Public Resources.
ABOUT THE EQUIPMENT
IntelliDESK® is a comprehensive, PC-based main answering console solution. It is designed to meet specific telecommunication requirements within healthcare, government or any environment that requires operator assistance and directory look up. Because call handling is of the utmost importance, performing as the main console directory look up IntelliDESK® turns your telecommunications center into a dynamic single point of call handling, directory look up.
IntelliDESK® currently operates in conjunction with JAWS to assist the visually impaired. The company partners with many Telephone system manufacturers such as SIEMENS, NORTEL, AVAYA, & NEC.