Hadley has partnered with Coral Edge, an AWS Select Tier Partner, to develop and launch Hadley’s first Alexa Skill, Hadley Helps, showcasing their free, practical help for individuals with impaired vision.
WILMINGTON, North Carolina – October 11, 2022 -- Hadley is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, and the nation's leader in distance and online learning for visually impaired adults from all 50 states and more than 100 countries for more than a century. To reach more adults, Hadley is expanding their learning platform to include Alexa-enabled devices. Their first Alexa skill, Hadley Helps, serves to reach ophthalmologists through a demonstration of Hadley’s services. “We needed to raise awareness of Hadley’s help among professionals who are diagnosing and treating people experiencing vision loss. We also knew these doctors are all about maximizing use of modern technology,” remarked Julie Tye, Hadley CEO. “So, building an Alexa skill to reach ophthalmologists fit perfectly. It’s also a natural fit to use voice-enabled technology to reach and help visually impaired adults themselves. As vision has faded for them, our learners often rely heavily on their other senses. Audio becomes critically important. Getting our practical help in real time to them using a conversational AI will be an exciting extension of our learning platform,” continued Tye.
Hadley enlisted Coral Edge to help design and build Hadley Helps. Coral Edge is an Amazon Web Services (AWS) Select Tier Partner in the AWS Partner Network (APN) and has delivered technology solutions for companies across the globe for over 15 years. Coral Edge worked shoulder-to-shoulder with Hadley to develop the skill’s branding and script writing, while also enlisting Jullia Rosdahl, M.D., Ph.D., a glaucoma specialist at the Duke Eye Center, to be included in the audio demonstration used in the skill.
The development included a host of AWS Services, including the Name-free Interaction (NFI) Toolkit to allow for a custom launch phrase, “How does Hadley help?” Just as the name of the skill, Hadley Helps, the use of a custom launch phrase was selected intentionally. “The skill name and custom launch phrase are both simple to remember, while also conveying the purpose of Hadley – to help the visually impaired,” said Coral Edge CEO Kirsti Elliott. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work with Hadley and use this innovative technology to serve the visually impaired community. As we look toward the future, Alexa-enabled devices will open a world of learning opportunities for the visually impaired right in their own homes, and we are excited to be a part of that,” adds Elliott.
What’s next? Hadley officially launched Hadley Helps when they hosted ophthalmologists from the American Academy of Ophthalmology Conference in Chicago on Friday, September 30, 2022. Reaching the ophthalmologists was an important first step but only the start; Hadley and Coral Edge now turn their attention to adapting Hadley’s vast library of learning materials for use in the Hadley Helps skill – expanding its reach to empower a growing number of learners as they navigate life with vision loss. It’s estimated that the number of Americans facing vision loss will double, from today’s 7MM to more than 14MM by 2050. Hadley will be there to help!
About Hadley
Founded in 1920 by William Hadley, an educator who lost his eyesight later in life, Hadley offers practical help, connection and support free of charge to anyone with a visual impairment, their families and professionals supporting them. With Hadley, you can discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult due to vision loss and connect with a network of peers who "get it." And you don't need to come to Hadley. Hadley's help comes to you; online, on the phone or through the mail.
Since relaunching in July 2020, more than 45,000 people have signed up with Hadley, registering more than 135,000 workshop interactions. And our workshops have 98% satisfaction ratings. We reach all 50 states and more than 100 countries. For more information, visit www.hadley.edu, call 800-323-4238, or ask your Alexa-enabled device, “How does Hadley help?”
About Coral Edge
Coral Edge is a full-service technical consultancy firm providing accelerated technology solutions built-on best practices, experience, and the diligent pursuit of business and technical alignment. Since 2007, Coral Edge has successfully worked both domestically and internationally alongside some of the largest, industry-leading corporations to support the development and implementation of a wide range of technical solutions in industries such as retail, mobility, supply chain, logistics, manufacturing, education, and high-tech. For more information, contact Coral Edge at info@thecoraledge.com or visit www.thecoraledge.com/contact.
