edited by Sharon Strzalkowski
The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The ACB Braille Forum” cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to [email protected], or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date.
Summer 2017 NASA Internship Opportunities
Are you a high-school or college student interested in aeronautics and outer space? NASA started taking applications for its summer 2017 internships on Nov. 10. The application deadline is March 1, 2017.
Don’t delay – apply early! The best opportunities fill up fast. NASA has internships for high-school students and for rising freshmen through doctoral students in STEM fields. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, with a minimum GPA of 3.0 for college and 3.0 for high school. High school students must be at least 16 years old at the time the internship begins.
Applying is a two-step process. First, register for an account at the One Stop Shopping Initiative (OSSI): NASA Internships, Fellowships, and Scholarships (NIFS) at https://intern.nasa.gov/. Then select and apply to specific internship opportunities.
If you have questions, or need help applying, contact Kenneth Silberman at (301) 286-9281, or via e-mail, [email protected].
Hands On Award Winners
National Braille Press held its annual gala on Oct. 28, 2016. The gala honored two legendary pioneers in the field of accessibility for the blind with the “Hands On” Award: Joe Sullivan, founder of Duxbury Systems of Westford, Mass., and Deane Blazie, founder of Maryland Computer Services and Blazie Engineering.
Duxbury Systems is the company responsible for the computer platform that transcribes the printed word to braille.
Blazie Engineering revolutionized accessibility technology with the creation of the Braille ‘n Speak and refreshable braille notetakers. Blazie has also been an eminent force in the development of NBP’s new refreshable braille computer, the B2G.
AFB’s Learn Tech
The American Foundation for the Blind recently launched Learn Tech, a technology access initiative that features free online tutorials to help people who are blind or visually impaired learn how to improve their computer and technology skills. The tutorials can be accessed at www.afb.org/learntech.
The newest tutorial offering for Learn Tech is a 10-part series on “Using Google Docs and Google Drive with NVDA.” When these tools are used together, computer users who are blind or visually impaired are able to use the computer for work or school without any additional, expensive software. These tools also allow for easy project collaboration with others at school or in the workplace, leveling the playing field.
Also available from Learn Tech are the previously released “Learn NVDA” free video tutorials that describe how to use the NVDA screen reader. Additional tutorials will be added to Learn Tech over time.
Learn Tech tutorials were made possible with support from the Lions Club International Foundation, the Jessie Ball DuPont Fund, and the Consumer Technology Association Foundation.
Dry Eye Center in Maryland
The Dry Eye Center at Center for Total Eye Care is one of the first facilities in central Maryland to utilize a wide range of diagnostic technologies to pinpoint the underlying cause of a patient’s dry eye condition and create an individualized treatment plan.
Dr. Christine Luzuriaga, OD, previously the head of a Pennsylvania dry eye clinic, now works alongside Dr. Cynthia Jun, one of Center for Total Eye Care’s dry eye experts, to take a comprehensive and personalized approach to dry eye care.
For more information, call (410) 876-3333 or visit CenterForTotalEyeCare.com.
New iPad App
EDA PLAY PAULI is a new iPad app designed and developed for kids with visual impairment and multiple disorders. If your school, family or educational specialists use iPads for kids with special needs, check out EDA PLAY PAULI.
In the app, users will experience a day in life of a girl named Pauli. The player goes through the game with a simple touch on the iPad screen. All the pictures are in bold colors, and recognizable shapes are on a black background. For more information, visit http://edaplay.com/en/eda-play-pauli/.