THE STAR CENTER STORY Margaret Doumitt, a woman who had a vision, went beyond her wildest dreams, and since 1988 has helped thousands of people across the United States in the process. It was 1988 when Chuck and Margaret Doumitt's two youngest children began losing their eyesight. As most parents would do, Margaret and Chuck began searching for answers. After numerous doctor's visits and tests, they were informed that George and Angela had a rare condition called Battens Disease. This disease would eventually cause blindness, seizures, loss of motor skills, and death. There is no known cure for Batten, but that just made Margaret and Chuck more determined to find options for their children to continue their education and independent lifestyle. Already having established a successful business, they began exploring a new era that involved technology. This new, assistive technology would be, and could be, used to help people with disabilities reach their goals to learn effectively, live independently, and work competitively. Of course in 1988 the word computer was not even an everyday term! As Margaret's interest in assistive technology grew, she traveled the country to see what exactly assistive technology entailed. When she saw what the Technology Centers in Berkeley and Santa Monica and in other metropolitan areas were accomplishing with assistive technology, she began to dream that someday assistive technology would be available to her children who were continuing to lose their eyesight. She and Chuck realized that they had a choice to make - relocate to a larger, more metropolitan area which had an assistive technology center or to start an assistive technology center here in West Tennessee. Considering Margaret's dynamic and persistent attitude, it only would take a moment to realize that Margaret chose to develop an assistive technology center in rural West Tennessee. The first step was establishing a support group with parents of visually impaired children from over 21 counties. This support group met, identified needs, and with the help of the City of Jackson, Madison County, United Way, the business and corporate community, and private citizens, the West Tennessee Special Technology Access Resource Center-the STAR Center-was born. The STAR Center held its grand opening April 21, 1988 with an all volunteer staff in donated space in the back half of a classroom at West Jackson Elementary School in Jackson, TN. Within one year, Lambuth University offered space and by 1990, the STAR Center had been able to pay a salary to several of the volunteers and had grown to fill almost an entire floor of one building at Lambuth. In 1994, the STAR Center, which now had eight full-time and two part-time staff, obtained its own 10,000 square facility with a grant from the State of Tennessee Division of Rehabilitation Service and Matching Funds from West Tennessee HealthCare and concerned citizens of West Tennessee. Due to Margaret's persistence and vision, the facility was completely paid for with grants and local contributions upon moving in the building. Within a year, The STAR Center was able to rapidly begin adding more paid staff. In 1997, an additional facility was added in downtown Jackson thanks to the City of Jackson and a grant from the State of Tennessee Department of Rehabilitative Services. Today the STAR Center employs a highly technical staff of over 90 people recruited from all over the United States, owns two facilities, is debt free with a $3 million budget, serves over 17,000 people per year, and has the nation's only Mobile Assistive Technology Bus - The ACCESS EXPRESS. As 1999 came to a close, the STAR Center added an additional 2500 square feet which was totally paid for at the time of completion and purchased land for additional parking and a third facility to be constructed in the future. We are currently in the process of purchasing a larger building with plans to relocate in January 2005. Due to the rapid success of The STAR Center in the rural area of West Tennessee, the way was paved for two more major assistive technology facilities to be developed within the State of Tennessee in the metro areas of Nashville and Knoxville. For all of us, technology can make the things we do easier and faster. To a child or adult with a disability, the right technology simply makes things possible. Assistive technology is any device or assistive aid which provides access toward independence. Just as glasses are an assistive aid to someone with vision needs or a cane is an assistive aid to someone who has difficulty walking, computers and other equipment can help someone communicate, learn, work, or just become a little more independent. If someone is blind, there are computer programs which will read the screen for them, or if someone was involved in an accident and can no longer move their arms or legs, they can operate a computer by a voice input system. If a child is having trouble in the classroom with math or reading, software programs can help the child understand and address specific skill areas. Assistive technology has many different faces with many different applications which meet a variety of needs, and that is the amazing thing about what Margaret and The STAR Center has accomplished over the past fifteen years. Granted, she had a specific need in her family. She could have met that need and been done with it, but not Margaret. As she saw a need, she did everything in her power to meet that need and take it one step farther. Margaret and her team of volunteers and staff have led The STAR Center in becoming the largest assistive technology center in the nation! People from all over the country travel to Jackson, Tennessee to see how to best serve the children and adults with disabilities in their community. The STAR Center also developed the first all-encompassing mobile unit, The ACCESS EXPRESS, in the nation. A mobile unit in which STAR is able to drive to the person at home, school, work, or even in the hospital. The ACCESS EXPRESS and Center-based technology programs also provide training for children and adults, their families and caregivers, professional in education, rehabilitation and healthcare, and employers. Margaret and the STAR Center staff and volunteers do not know the meaning of the word "no" nor the phrase "I can't", and that attitude is the key to why the STAR Center has grown. Not in her wildest dreams did Margaret envision of the STAR Center being what it is today. It takes a community like Jackson, TN and a "go-getter" like Margaret Doumitt to make it happen! Margaret is an awesome woman with very specific dreams---the great thing is ........ she is still dreaming! Once she achieves a goal, she just makes a newer, larger, better commitment to meet another need. Never say "it can't be done" to Margaret Doumitt. To think that all this started with a simple question of one woman-Margaret Doumitt- asking: "How do I teach my child who is blind to read or type or have the skills to engage in competitive employment or even live independently?" One question and a DREAM has now lead to The STAR Center being the largest assistive technology center in the United States and the only center with a mobile bus unit-The Access Express. With a highly technical staff of over 50 and a group of volunteers 200+ strong, The STAR Center served over 17,000 people last year. Margaret and The STAR Center staff and volunteers have been and still are true advocates for not only the vision impaired, but people with all types of disabilities. With a dream, a few volunteers, and a deep commitment to helping others, Margaret Doumitt created the largest and most successful center in the nation dedicated to helping people with any type of disability. She truly is a source of inspiration and encouragement to anyone with a dream. "At The STAR Center, wishes take wings as people with disabilities rise above limitations and soar toward limitless possibilities!!"