Campus departments unite to replace student's stolen computer

Freshman Joe Grimme returned from spring break to find his Read Center door unlocked and his computer gone. \nHis Gateway, 19-inch monitor, printer, specialized software and scanner -- $3,620 worth of equipment that helps Grimme, who is legally blind -- had been stolen. \nThe software enlarges text and reads it out loud.\nEmployees from three University departments combined efforts to replace Grimme's stolen equipment last week. \nBefore class March 23, Grimme said a representative of University Information Technology Services called, saying the department had heard about the situation and would try to help.\n"Really, that was a surprising phone call," Grimme said. "Between UITS, Disabled Student Services and Adaptive Technology Center, they were going to get a computer together."\nThe computer was set up at 5 p.m. the same day.\nBefore spring break, Grimme had a special system set up to do his academic work, said Jody Ferguson, coordinator for Learning Disabilities Services. Between departments and from existing equipment, the University was able to provide Grimme a computer similar to the one that was stolen, she said.\n"It'll work for the rest of the year, and that's what I need," Grimme said.\nGrimme said he uses his computer to read his textbooks, write papers, mix music, edit film and design Web pages. Read Center's director of student affairs, Grimme said he used the residence hall's office computer until his was replaced.\n"He has the use of (the new) machine for as long as he needs it," Ferguson said. "It's as good or better equipment as what he had."\nFerguson said a personal computer is especially important for a student with a visual impairment.\n"When you think about college, reading is one of the main ways you access information," Ferguson said. "This computer has a way to make font much larger."\nGrimme called the Adaptive Technology Center to let them know specialized software the Center provides had been stolen with his computer.\nPrograms that allow the print on the screen to be enlarged and for text to be read aloud were replaced March 23 at no charge, said Margaret Londergan, director of the Adaptive Technology Center, part of UITS.\nWhen the center heard his computer was stolen, the staff began looking at ways to replace it and started contacting other departments.\n"We did not want his disability to stand in the way of his success as an IU student," Londergan said. "Everyone has opportunity for success."\nLondergan said she started the Adaptive Technology Center 18 months ago after realizing that access to technology for people with disabilities was lacking on campus. Today, about 250 students benefit from the hardware and software the center offers -- Braille output, computer screen magnification, writing assistance and making electronic-text CDs from textbooks.\nWhen he realized his graduation present had been stolen, Grimme said he didn't know what to do. He said he told his resident assistant, who called police. Grimme said the IU Police Department dusted for fingerprints but didn't find any evidence.\nIUPD Lt. Jerry Minger said investigators are checking into the possibility of duplicate keys that could have been made for the room and plan to interview people with knowledge of the specialized equipment in Grimme's room.