K12> NASA SCIENTIST MAKES SCIENCE AND MATH ACCESSIBLE

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From: NASANews@xxxxxxxxxxx
To: <undisclosed-recipients:;>
Sent: Fri, 24 Oct 2003 10:50:14 -0400 (EDT)
Subject: NASA SCIENTIST MAKES SCIENCE AND MATH ACCESSIBLE
 
Marta Metelko
Headquarters, Washington       October 24, 2003
(Phone: 202/358-1642)

RELEASE: 03-343

NASA SCIENTIST MAKES SCIENCE AND MATH ACCESSIBLE

     NASA math whiz and computer software designer Robert O.
Shelton considers himself lucky, even though he lost his
sight when he was 11-years-old. He felt lucky to have parents
and teachers who spotted his talent in mathematics and
science, encouraged him, and provided tools that helped him
pursue his interest.

Shelton was born with congenital glaucoma, a disease that is
usually treatable with today's laser surgery technology but
was hard to cure in the 1950s, when Shelton was a child.
After suffering through 40 operations, he said, "It was
almost a relief to lose my sight and have it over with."

"Before I lost my sight, I was a smart kid, but rather
sloppy," Shelton said. "My mother told me, 'you're going to
have to use different muscles now -- the ones between your
ears.' She was tough on me. She said I could do whatever I
wanted, but I would have to work even harder because I was
blind," Shelton added.

As a child in Houston, Shelton enjoyed working with his
father, an electrical engineer, tinkering in the family
garage, building things and tearing them apart to see how
they worked. After losing his sight, he continued that trend
in a new way -- learning mathematical equations and
scientific laws that explain why things work. His teachers
helped him study advanced mathematics and science and taught
him to visualize concepts in his mind.

Shelton earned bachelor's, master's and doctorate degrees in
mathematics from Rice University in Houston in 1971, 1973 and
1975, respectively. While at Rice, he was a graduate intern
at the Johnson Space Center (JSC), Houston. He worked with
computer scientists and engineers designing the navigation
system for the Space Shuttle.

"NASA has always been committed to hiring individuals with
disabilities," Shelton said. "They provided me with the help
and technology I needed to do the job, and made it seem
simple."

When NASA offered him a job working on artificial
intelligence systems in 1987, Shelton, his wife and four
children returned to Texas. He joined the JSC Software
Technology Branch, designing computer technology used to
analyze data sent from the Space Shuttle to the Mission
Control Center in Houston.

Shelton uses his math and computer expertise to head up JSC's
contributions to NASA's Learning Technologies Project. He
works on technology tools for teachers and students in
kindergarten through 12th grade. The tools are available
through Web sites, and Shelton's leadership has ensured sites
are accessible to students with disabilities.

"I want blind and sighted students who use the site to find
out what they can do," Shelton said. "I want teachers to have
easy-to-use, cutting-edge technology tools that make math and
science accessible to all students. Most importantly, I want
employers to emulate NASA by hiring blind people and using
their talents, " he added.

Shelton believes using NASA technology and know-how to reach
people with disabilities is a natural match. Improved
technology, such as synthetic speech software that reads
content, has helped him be more independent as he works.

The Web site is filled with appealing activities: students
can build, test and run a remotely controlled rover in
simulated environments and compete in skill-based games
against other students around the country. The site also
offers software tools that make it easier for teachers to
manage information related to their science and math
curricula. Shelton's creative team is working on a new
product that will be available soon: a graphing tool to make
NASA science and math activities accessible to people who
can't see. It uses tones to help blind people visualize
graphs and mathematic concepts.

According to Shelton the unemployment rate for blind people
is high and many who are employed are not working at jobs
that fully use their education or potential. He hopes the
NASA Web site will help students learn valuable skills to
improve employment prospects.

Media organizations interested in interviewing Shelton should
contact John Ira Petty, JSC Public Affairs at: 281/483-5111.

To access the NASA Learning Technologies Project on the
Internet, visit:

http://prime.jsc.nasa.gov


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