edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins
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 E-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.
SAS Launches Free Resources to Create and Share Non-Visual Digital Maps
A new resource from analytics company SAS and Perkins School for the Blind: free, digital, non-visual campus maps to help college students and visitors navigate campus confidently and safely. With SAS Graphics Accelerator, a free browser extension that transforms graphs and charts into sound, users create non-visual digital maps that contain points of interest such as intersections, bus stops, buildings and other landmarks. Completed maps will be housed on Perkins’ Paths to Technology website. To learn more, visit https://www.sas.com/en_us/news/press-releases/2020/august/sas-graphics-accelerator-higher-education.html.
Newsreel Magazine
Established in 1958, NEWSREEL Magazine is a monthly audio publication for and by individuals who are blind or visually impaired. Each three-hour issue includes a variety of articles. To request a three-month free trial subscription of NEWSREEL in one of several formats (including NLS-type cartridge), send a message to [email protected] or call 1-888-723-8737
Clinical Trial for People with Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP)
jCyte Inc., a biotech company dedicated to preserving and restoring vision in patients with RP, recently announced promising results from a Phase 2b clinical trial of jCell in RP. Based on these results, the company plans to initiate a pivotal study in 2021. For more information, visit www.jcyte.com.
ANATAD Podcast
ANATAD stands for Android News, Apps, Talk, And Deals. The ANATAD Podcast seeks to bridge the gap for blind and visually impaired users of Android and iPhone technology. Hear past episodes at www.anatadpodcast.com. To subscribe to the podcast, visit https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1163732.rss.
New from National Braille Press
“Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style” by Benjamin Dreyer is now available in braille (5 volumes). The author was Random House’s copy chief for more than two decades. This book offers lessons on punctuation; the rules and non-rules of grammar; language to avoid, and more.
Over in the children’s department is “SUN! One in a Billion” by Stacy McAnulty and Stevie Lewis. It’s available as a print-and-braille (UEB) book for ages 4 to 8.
For more information, call toll-free 1-800-548-7323, or visit online at https://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/publications/index.html.