SAVE THE DATE

Thursday, November 18, 2010

The Computer Center for Visually Impaired People (CCVIP) at Baruch College Invites you to a Technology Demonstration featuring accessible PDAs and note taking devices.

Time: 2:00-4:00pm and 7:00-9:00pm

Where: Baruch College 151 East 25th Street, Room 655

What: Join us as we take a look at accessible portable digital assistants (PDAs), or as we have come to know them–notetakers. We will be looking at devices such as the Braille Note Apex, Pacmate Omni, iPad and a netbook loaded with JAWS. We will look at how these devices can be used in academic and professional settings to take notes as well as perform various other functions.

Admission: Free

Reservations: Call 646-312-1420

If you are unable to join us in person, watch it on the web at the

Address below:

www.baruch.cuny.edu/ccvip-live-event

*Streaming will only be available for the Afternoon Session from 2-4pm

Also mark your calendars for Wednesday, January 19, 2011. In this session we will look at the latest in accessible ebook readers, including the Kindle and iPad. We will also have on hand digital book readers including the Victor Reader Stream, BookSense and BookPort Plus.

We hope to see you!

Lisa F. Saunders

646-312-1420

lisa.saunders@baruch.cuny.edu

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The annual youth and adult writing contests sponsored by the Writers’ Division of the NFB will open January first 2011 and close April first, 2011.

Adult contests, poetry, fiction and non-fiction, are open to all entrants eighteen years and over.

The youth contests are all about Braille and all poetry and fiction entries are required to be submitted in Braille. The age groups are divided into three categories: first through sixth grades, seventh and eight grades, and ninth through twelfth grades.

Prizes for contest winners range up to $100 for adult categories and up to $25 for youth categories.

All contest winners will be announced at the Writers’ Division business meeting during the NFB national convention to be held in Orlando Florida the first week of July 2011. In addition, shortly after convention, a list of winners will appear on the Writers’ Division website, www.nfb-writers-division.org First, second and third place winners in each category will appear in the summer and fall issues of the Writers’ Division magazine, “Slate & Style.”

For additional contest details and submission guidelines, go to the Writers’ Division website, www.nfb-writers-division.org.

President NFB Writers’ Division

Robert Leslie Newman

email– newmanrl@cox.net

Division website

http://www.nfb-writers-division.org

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Computers for the Blind

Here is your chance to have a powerful computer with software allowing blind and visually challenged persons to be able to join family and friends, doing what they are doing.

Each computer comes complete with monitor, keyboard, mouse, speakers, and all associated cables. It also comes with preloaded software. Software includes: Open Office for word processing/book keeping, NVDA screen reader, demo version of Window-Eyes (will function for 30 minutes before computer restart), and 60 day demo version of ZoomText. For only a donation of $100, the Texas Center for the Visually Challenged will send your new computer right to your door. As of this morning, they have sent over 3,600 computers to visually impaired individuals. Computers can only be shipped to the United States or Canada

Subscribe to the internet service of your choice and send a $100 gift and you are ready to go!

Call Lee Mann at 214 340 6328 for full information. Please pass this information on to other people who may need an inexpensive, fully accessible computer.

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Horizons for the Blind, a Crystal Lake, Ill based not-for-profit organization, announces the launch of directionsformeTM (directionsforme.org), an exciting new Internet based service that makes consumer packaging information available in an accessible online format for people who are blind, visually impaired or simply have trouble reading the increasingly small print on packages or labels.

There are limited resources, if any, for visually impaired consumers to access this information. Many websites are not designed to be fully or even partly accessible for text-to-speech screen readers, Braille output devices, screen magnifiers and web-enabled cell phones.

This important information is often ignored because of the difficulty in seeing it. Some of this information is of a convenient nature but drug interaction and allergy warnings could be life threatening. Gaining comprehensive access will foster self sufficiency and allow consumers to lead more healthy and independent lives.

directionsforMeTM was designed specifically for the blind and visually impaired consumer and employs innovative methods to simplify the user experience.

Skip to Main Content: Allows you to bypass repetitive information contained on each web page.

Subject Headings: Lets you go directly to the information you want without wading through content you do not.

Formatting: After consulting and testing with actual users, information on the directions site is set up in the most efficient and understandable way possible.

The Directions website will address a glaring disconnect between consumer product manufacturers and this underserved population.

The easy-to-use format makes directionsforMeTM appealing to a wide range of consumers. With the amount of information on consumer products increasing dramatically and the print size decreasing just as significantly, many consumers, particularly the growing senior population, are having trouble reading the information on packages and labels.

Through a licensing agreement with Gladson, Directions features over 300,000 products in food, health and beauty and general merchandise categories. It provides consumers a consistent, one-stop source for preparation directions, nutrition facts, ingredients, allergy/drug interaction warnings and more.

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Books And Beyond is a show that plays on ACB Radio each weekend. It’s hosted by Bonnie Blose, and we talk to authors, editors, publishers and other creative and interesting people. Sometimes the shows are blindness related and sometimes they’re not. All Books And Beyond shows will be archived at www.accessibleworld.org on The Books And Beyond archives page. You can still call 773-572-3166 and hear them on the phone as they become available. For questions, email Nancy Lynn at freespirit52@charter.net

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Need training or technical support?

The world of assistive technology is constantly evolving. I strive to guide you by sharing what I’ve learned, building on your strengths, and placing the tools in your hands to achieve your goals.

Adapt on Demand

“The help you need when you need it”

816-721-3145

E-mail: adapt@kc.rr.com

My services include work environment assessment, accessibility testing, purchasing advice, computer training, network setup, virus and spyware removal, and general hardware and software technical support by phone or through E-mail at $20 per incident.

I make this pledge. If I haven’t assisted you to your satisfaction I won’t accept payment. I’m in this to help people first.

Invest in yourself! Contact me soon to discover the ways we can work together to adapt technology toward pursuing your dreams.

Blind pianist, Stephanie Pieck, is giving a concert to benefit the non-profit organization, Freedom Guide Dogs for the Blind, in Cassville, NY. Freedom trained Stephanie’s guide dog, Ecko and placed him with her through their Hometown Training program.

This FREE concert is being held at Open Arms Church in Schenectady, NY on Saturday, October 9 at 2:00pm. It will feature the classical works of Beethoven, Chopin and more. Plus, there will be refreshments, and demonstrations with Freedom Guide Dog representatives.

Donations are encouraged and will go toward the training and placement of guide dogs to help the blind and visually impaired.

Pieck is an award-winning blind concert pianist who has performed in the United States, the Czech Republic and Poland. She is a highly successful teacher of both blind and sighted students and sees concerts as an extension of her educational work.

The piano for the event is being provided by Artist Pianos in Latham, NY. You can visit their website at www.artist-pianos.com

For more information contact:

Nicole White

Freedom Guide Dogs

1210 Hardscrabble Rd.  

Cassville, NY 13318

Ph. (315) 822-5132    

Email: nicole@freedomguidedogs.org   

Web: www.freedomguidedogs.org

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In honor of National Guide Dog month I would like  to make the readers aware of my recently written E-book. If you are some one who is considering looking into getting a guide dog this is the book for you. If you are a guide dog handler from any school and maybe would like to get some incite with regard to issues pertaining to you and your dog then this is the book for you. The book is both entertaining and enlightening. It is full of personal experiences and practical advice. So come on and celebrate National Guide Dog Month with this addition to your library. Please visit http://guidedogmanual.weebly.com for more information and articles.

(see my contact info on the website) Note: This website is very accessible with screen readers.

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Don’t STAND 4 Vision Loss — RIDE or WALK!

October 23, 2010 

Double Up 4Vision

Tandem Bike Ride/Walk Fundraiser 2 Fight Vision Loss.  80% of vision loss is preventable or correctable! 

WHO: Lighthouse International 

WHAT: Pairing people with and without sight on tandem bikes to share the experience! 

Single cyclists are welcome. Anyone can walk … Everyone can cheer you on! 

WHERE: Riverside: West 135th – 70th Streets 

WHY: Vision loss touches everyone … Ride for yourself or someone you love 

REGISTER: doubleup4vision.org

LEARN MORE: (212) 821-9688 • tandem@lighthouse.org

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GUIDE DOG DOCUMENTARY TELEVISION SERIES CASTING

Are you or someone you know visually impaired and employing a guide dog in their everyday lives?  Sirens Media, a prominent television production company working in conjunction with a major television network, is casting a documentary television series centering around a fascinating family, small business, or close group of friends where one or more members use guide dogs to help navigate their lives.

If this sounds like you or someone you know, drop us a line ASAP!  We’d love to hear from you!

Please send an email with the following info to:  assistanceanimals@gmail.com

- Your name, age, gender, profession

- Contact information – email, phone, and physical address

- A recent photograph of yourself

- A short biography and description of why you and the people in your life might make great TV

Science Sense tours are available to individuals or groups. Space is limited and advance registration is required. For more information or to register,
please call 212.313.7565 or email volunteeroffice@amnh.org

A great way to meet others, take this game of kings to whatever level you like!

Please see the website of the United States Braille Chess Association

http://www.crisscrosstech.com/usbca/

A group of Blind or Visually Impaired Chess enthusiasts who enjoy playing Tournaments or just Friendly Games with those of their own strength and knowledge of this wonderful sport!

Alan Dicey, President

United States Braille Chess Association

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Tony Grima, National Braille Press

Social Networking and You: Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn for Blind Users By Anna Dresner In Braille, eBraille, text, and DAISY formats, $12.00

It seems like everyone these days is spending at least some of their time on social networking sites. If you’re not participating, you may feel left out – and it doesn’t help that none of these sites were designed with blind users in mind! But what exactly do Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn have to offer? How do you get started on them? And what about issues of privacy?

This book is designed to help you learn about these three social networking sites so that you can decide which, if any, you wish to join. Anna Dresner gives you enough information to get started; she describes how these sites work right now and gives you some idea about the sorts of things you can do on them. Anna offers commands and strategies for navigating these sites with screen readers, and includes pointers for handling specific situations using JAWS, Window-Eyes and System Access, and VoiceOver on the Mac.

Note: The DAISY version of this book will work with any version of FSReader, which comes free with every installation of JAWS.

Read the full table of contents for this book, or order it, at
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/SOCIAL.html
To order any books, send payment to:
NBP, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115-4302
Or call and charge it: toll-free (800) 548-7323 or (617) 266-6160 ext 20.

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Buddy Gray Music in Tuscaloosa, AL is seeking a piano tuner and technician. A driving assistant will transport the tuner to and from tunings and assist them into the buildings where the pianos are located. Please contact Buddy Gray at 205-799-1056.

Buddy Gray Enterprises in Tuscaloosa, AL is also seeking a Customer Service Representative who is articulate, possesses good customer and communication skills and is assertive. Please contact Buddy Gray at 205-799-1056.
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CHOICE MAGAZINE  FREE AS DIGITAL DOWNLOAD FROM NLS
Reconnect with an old friend or meet a new one – CHOICE Magazine Listening is available for free digital download from the Library of Congress’ National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped’s BARD program.
Produced six times a year, each issue contains unabridged works from quality publications.  The articles, short stories, poetry and interviews are selected from more than 100 magazines and other periodicals. The selections are read by professional voice talent, not synthetic text-to-speech.
Established in 1962, CHOICE Magazine Listening is available free of charge only to people who are blind, experiencing vision loss or have other disabilities that limit or  prevent  reading standard print. The audio anthology  continues to be released on four-track cassette tape for those who prefer that format. website: www.choicemagazinelistening.org or by calling toll-free 1-888-724-6423. Information on the digital download from NLS at:  www.nlsbard.loc.go or contacting a local NLS cooperating library located usually in state capitals in the US. Engage in discussion of Choice selections on Facebook and Twitter, too!

 If you are interested in purchasing Scentsy fragrances or would like more information, check out my website at www.scentsy.com/indy

Beginning Yoga for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a dynamic, inspiring five CD set produced by Gretchen Hein, a certified Kripalu yoga instructor and Marty Klein, a blind author and workshop facilitator. The goal of the series is to

Help blind and visually impaired folks use yoga to reclaim and sustain strong, flexible bodies as well as help encourage students to find a yoga class in their local communities that will be suitable for them.

The packaging has bold, dark lettering with a contrasting background so folks with low vision can read it. Each CD is numbered with bold markings as well. Gretchen’s descriptions of yoga postures are detailed and focused specifically for blind students while Marty’s comments and insights as a blind man make for an informative and enjoyable learning experience. Each CD has many different tracks to make future programming possible by combining different yoga postures. There are specific tracks on CD #5 to inform prospective yoga teachers how to be thoughtful toward a blind student. Students are encouraged to give this CD to a teacher for their listening before joining a local class.

The cost of the five CD package is $39.95 plus shipping and handling. You can order the set at www.blindyoga.net.

If you would like to purchase a blind Yoga CD package at the discounted price please go to the web site and click on Contact Us. Send us your email address or a phone number and we will get in touch with you within a few days.  The discount will be available to Ziegler Magazine readers for one month.

Large Print Calendar

Susquehanna Association for the Blind and Vision Impaired’s large print calendars are now available to order. The calendar is nearly double the size of a standard calendar to provide as much room as possible for writing in appointments and special occasions. Individual calendars can be purchased for $5 plus shipping.

Calendars are also available at SABVI low vision Store. For additional information, or to order, please contact Lindsay Fauth by dialing (717)291-5951 x111 or LFauth@sabvi.com.

Braille Calendar

Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired has Braille calendars available to order. Individual calendars can be purchased for $1 free postage.

For additional information, or to order, please contact Charlotte at (513) 522-3860.

The Cisco academy for the vision impaired is accepting applicants for classes in 2010. We will be offering both IT Essentials 1 and Discovery 1 starting the first week of February.

ITE1 is an introduction to PC repair including: Hardware, installing and maintaining an operating system, Troubleshooting, portable devices, and customer service.

Discovery 1 is focused on home and small business networking. It is the first of four courses that prepare students to take the CCNA certification.

Each class runs for a total of one year, with online lectures commencing for the first semester. The classes are self-paced so you can finish them in a month, a semester, or take the entire year if desired. The cost for each course is $75.

In addition we may be offering an accelerated course for both ITE1 and Discovery1. This course will run for two weeks in January and will be 500 dollars. This will pay for an instructor to grade your labs within 24 hours and be available to assist you 8 hours a day.

The Cisco Academy for the Vision impaired enables blind students to enter the world of Information technology. We provide Diagram descriptions, audio lab recordings, live online lectures by blind and vision impaired instructors, and a community of students and instructors to network with even after you have graduated our course.

For more information on any of our courses please email caviinfo@gmail.com

You can also check out our brand new website: www.ciscovision.org