For most kids, a trip to Disney World in Florida is a vacation of fun and amusement park adventure. For Sian Boyd O’Toole, a student at the Holly Bank Trust School in West Yorkshire, England, a trip to Disney World meant a chance meeting that would permanently change her life and the lives of others around her.

In June 1999, while waiting in line for an amusement event at Disney World, Sian and her caregiver happened upon Mike Nash, a veteran EagleEyes user, and his mom. Mike was in Florida helping the Boston College team demonstrate the EagleEyes system at Epcot Center. Witnesses say that the chemistry between the two wheelchair-bound students was immediate. This fact became evident when Sian, who reportedly hates computers, agreed to meet Mike the following day at Epcot Center in order to try out the EagleEyes system.

No sooner had Sian completed her first eye painting when the Holly Bank School was abuzz with news of her recent discovery. Sian’s caregiver brought contact information back to Debbie Lees, I.T. System Manager at the Holly Bank School. Soon, the wheels were in motion to make the EagleEyes technology available to Holly Bank students.

Debbie’s first obstacle was funding. Through the sponsorship of local businesses like Javlin Computers, Debbie was able to raise the money for her and Karen Smith , another Holly Bank staff member, to visit Boston College to learn how to use EagleEyes. Debbie and Karen returned to England with the information necessary to launch the EagleEyes system at Holly Bank School.

Currently there are anywhere between six and ten students using the EagleEyes/Camera Mouse equipment at Holly Bank. One of the school’s major objectives is to use the system to empower students to interact with their community via the Internet. For example, students can participate in on-line classes or play games in shared web areas. Because the disabled community has traditionally been largely isolated from society, the impact of this functionality can hardly be overestimated. The Internet is an arena where students can be recognized by their ABILITIES, rather than their disabilities. It gives students access to a much wider social circle both within and outside the disabled community.

Additionally, Holly Bank School is working to help students control their environment with Camera Mouse equipment. For example, students can switch on a light by looking at a computer screen. This application has enormous potential for fostering increased independence for the students using it.

When asked what advice she has to share with other schools interested in setting up EagleEyes/Camera Mouse, Debbie enthusiastically responded, “Do it! Paint an eye-painting, shoot some aliens, surf the web!”

And imagine the possibilities...