Courtney Meyer & Megan Orth
Jordyn Castor is a sophomore majoring in computer science. But Jordyn isn’t your average sophomore. In spite of her blindness, Jordyn is pursuing a major that is highly visual and graphical while helping other students to overcome similar visual barriers in learning.
In September, Jordyn spoke at a lecture series by the University Activities Board entitled “Real Heroes: No Capes, No Masks, No Distractions.”
Reflecting on the intended message of her speech, Jordyn said “People might look at me as an inspirational hero, but to me it is everyday life, and despite challenges I am going to live my life to the fullest.”
She adds, “There were a lot of jokes and fun in my speech, and I just tried to show them that I have adaptive techniques for doing things like math, physics, or even crossing the street, but I am just a normal person.”
“Life isn’t always fair, but you have to adapt and play the hand you’re dealt.”
Although Jordyn can read her textbooks using a refreshable Braille display on her computer, she requires tactile graphic images to study graphs, line drawings or maps. These images are prepared by RCPD staff and Tower Guard members.
To complete high-level math and calculus, she uses Nemeth Braille and other auditory techniques like Math Speak. Jordyn and a team of engineering students have been working to build apparatuses that will aid individuals with visual impairments in understanding complex graphical problems. One that assistive technology trainer Kaitlyn Hlywa has already built allows Jordyn to tactitly “visualize” 2D graphics and problems involving 3D vectors with angles and Cartesian coordinates.
Jordyn and Kaitlyn work with a graphing apparatus.
Jordyn has also been assisting the RCPD’s Tower Guard and the College of Engineering in producing an accessible physics book. Another team of students in Electrical and Computer Engineering is working to create a refreshable haptic display that cannot only convert text into Braille for users to feel from a small device connected to their computer, but also allow users to interpret graphic images.
One of the innovative graphic images that Jordyn and other students who are blind can use.
Her time has not only been dedicated to helping students at Michigan State University understand disability-related challenges to learning; she has volunteered as a part of the RCPD and College of Engineering’s efforts to design anatomical models for students at the Asian Aid India School for the Blind in Bobbili, India. In consulting with the students constructing the accessible models, she has conveyed how technology like screen readers and Braille make textbooks accessible.
Jordyn found the experience of working in a group with other engineering students and giving them advice about anatomical models for students who are blind to be “awesome”. She is thrilled that the students in India have loved the models, and says that it is “really cool to see a product I helped make get put to use.”
Jordyn is not only a scholar, but also a humanitarian. “It is rewarding to see the talents of students like Jordyn combine with the passion and skill of Team RCPD, Tower Guard, and the College of Engineering to create opportunity in an area of study where the challenges are abundant while the possibilities remain endless. The power of engineering, creativity and persistence to solve problems and create opportunity is exactly what Hal Wochholz had in mind as he invested in our engineering partnerships,” said RCPD Director Michael Hudson.
After graduating, Jordyn hopes to pursue a career in software engineering. Her fascination with computers dates back to 2nd grade when her family bought their first computer and her school helped install a screen reader. In 7th grade Jordyn further learned how exciting computers can be when she attended a conference by the National Federation of the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland. The conference was her first exposure to programming, showing her that in spite of a visual impairment, she could pursue a career in computer science, and she has been interested ever since.
There is no doubt that computer science is an extremely difficult major, but Jordyn lives by the mantra that “nothing is impossible.” Jordyn is glad to pave the way for other students who are blind to pursue a computer science related career. She is grateful for the help provided by her fellow Spartans, noting “I never expected to come to a university where people would be so accommodating and these helpful apparatuses would be made for me by students.”
“People are so giving and willing to help, and that is all part of engineering and what we are trying to do. It is great that students get hands on experience and it is exciting for me to see the end product and put those products to use.”
Jordyn feels that “it is awesome to be a Spartan because people are so willing to help…and people put their heart into everything.” Jordyn is no exception.