by Sarah Blake
The announcement of products and services in this column is not an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its staff, or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The Braille Forum” cannot be held responsible for the reliability of products and services mentioned.
To submit items for this column, you may e-mail Sarah Blake at [email protected], or call ACB at 1-800-424-8666 and leave a message in mailbox 26. Please remember that postal regulations prohibit us from including advertisements, and that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates.
NELDS Drawing Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the NELDS drawing! The first prize, two round-trip airfares to Birmingham, went to Teddie-Joy Remhild of Burbank, Calif. Second prize, five nights at the hotel, went to Brian Charlson of Watertown, Mass. And third prize of two banquet tickets went to Ann Brash of LaGrange, Ill. Many thanks to all who entered.
New ACB Radio Director
Congratulations to Dave Williams, ACB Radio’s new director. Williams has been interim director since July of 2003, and was named full-time director Feb. 6.
Pre-Registration on Tape
If you would like to receive the pre-registration information on cassette tape, please contact Sharon Lovering in the ACB national office, 1-800-424-8666 extension 22, or via e- mail, [email protected]. If you have received these tapes in the past, make sure that we have your correct information on file.
Faith First Series in Braille
“Faith First,” a religious book series for grades K through 8, is being brailled by Midwestern Braille Volunteers, 325 N. Kirkwood Rd., St. Louis, MO 63122; phone (314) 966-5828 and ask for Loretta. The volunteers have completed the kindergarten, eucharist and reconciliation books, and are working on the rest thanks to the publisher, Resources for Christian Living. (Thanks to Jeanne Wisa Fike of Chesterfield, Mo. for the information.)
Candle in the Window Conference
Candle in the Window will hold its 18th conference August 11 through 15 at the Kavanaugh Life Enrichment Center outside of Louisville, Ky. Participants will explore the concept of independence within and outside the blindness community. If you would like to offer a workshop or activity, or know someone whom you think we should contact, please let us know by April 15. Presenters receive a $40 discount on the registration fee. For more information, contact Peter Altschul at (202) 234-5243 or via e-mail at [email protected].
Scholarships
The American Foundation for the Blind administers a scholarship program for deserving students. Each year individuals who are blind or visually impaired can apply for financial awards to support their post-secondary education. AFB is currently accepting applications for the following 2004 scholarships: Delta Gamma Memorial Scholarship ($1,000); Ferdinand Torres Scholarship ($1,500); Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship ($500); R. L. Gillette Scholarship ($1,000); and the Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship ($2,500). Applications must be postmarked no later than April 30, 2004. For more information, visit http://www.afb.org/scholarships.asp or call 1-800-232-5463.
Internships
The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars (TWC), through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Labor’s Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), will provide 50 competitive scholarship awards to students with disabilities to study and intern in Washington, D.C., during the 2004 fall academic semester, September 1 to December 18. Applicants should be highly motivated students and recent graduates who are eager to prove their abilities in the workforce. Students will gain professional work experience in the executive, judicial, and legislative branches of the federal government in Washington, D.C. The Washington Center will complement students’ work experience with solid academic training for credit from highly qualified instructors. In addition, students will be exposed to community, national, and international leaders through workshops, seminars, lectures, embassy visits, and networking events held throughout the semester. The deadline for highly competitive applications is May 3; the regular deadline is June 14. For more information, contact the Washington Center at (202) 336-7600. Application materials and additional information are available on the web site, http://www.twc.edu. You may also download them from http://www.aapd.com/Internships/washintern.html.
Research Study in Georgia
The Emory University School of Medicine is seeking volunteers who are totally blind for a research study. Subjects must be in good health and between the ages of 18-60. The study will take about five hours, and will include physical and neurologic examinations at no cost. Following one to two sessions of tactile (touch) sensory testing with non-painful stimuli, there will be a session of fMRI (Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging) scanning to determine blood flow to the brain. The fMRI session is completely painless and non-invasive. The sessions will take place in the Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine. If needed, transportation will be provided. Subjects will be compensated at the rate of $25 per hour for the testing and scanning sessions. For more information, please call Valerie Weisser in the laboratory of Dr. Krish Sathian at (404) 727-1453 or e-mail [email protected].
Macular Degeneration Genetic Study
The Massachusetts Eye & Ear Infirmary and Harvard Medical School are conducting an important national genetic study called the Family Study of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD). Families in which there are two or more living siblings with AMD are currently being recruited. If eligible, you and your family members will receive a free eye exam at your local eye doctor’s office. Families meeting the above criteria who are interested in participating in this study may call 1-800-219-9157 for more information.
Emergent Literacy Study
Highly literate adults who are blind or visually impaired are invited to complete an online survey of their literacy learning and technology use. The online survey is one component of Project Emerge, a research study on emergent literacy in young children with visual impairments, based at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The purpose of the survey is to learn more about the factors that contributed to literacy learning success in individuals who, prior to the age of 6 years, experienced severe visual impairment that affected their ability to read. Participants should be 21 years of age or older and have completed a four-year college degree. The results of this survey will increase knowledge and understanding of early learning experiences, environments, and technologies that are most likely to support literacy learning for young children with visual impairments/blindness. Families and teachers of young children with visual impairments/blindness will then be able to use the information to promote early literacy. The online survey will take about 45 minutes to complete and can be found at http://www.fpg.unc.edu/~emerge/litsurvey/literacysurvey.cfm. For more information, contact Allen Stutts via e-mail, [email protected], or call 1-888-718-7303.
News from AFB
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) recently announced the election of three distinguished board members: Bill MacGowan, Vice President of Human Resources, Global Centers of Expertise, Sun Microsystems; Walter Leavy, Managing Editor, Johnson Publishing Co. (Ebony magazine); and William R. Wiener, Dean, The Graduate College, Western Michigan University. Congratulations!
The American Foundation for the Blind presented its Access Awards at the Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute (JLTLI) on March 5, 2004. This year's honorees included Janet Barlow, Billie Louise Bentzen, and Lukas Franck for working to standardize audio pedestrian signals; IBM Corporation for promoting accessibility throughout its company and in its products; and Allison Driver and Scott Strauss of Spiegel and McDiarmid for helping improve cell phone accessibility.
Want to Beta-Test a Digital Talking Book?
You are invited to participate in an exciting beta test of digital talking books! The Mid-Illinois Talking Book Center and TAP Information Services will be working with a company called OverDrive to provide and test text-to-speech function and quality in Adobe Acrobat electronic books in PDF format. Your feedback will assist OverDrive and Adobe in evaluating the “read-aloud” function in Adobe formatted electronic books, which will help the center in evaluating various formats for digital talking books, reader preferences, and providing feedback on these to publishers, other vendors, libraries, and talking book centers. For more information, visit http://ebooks.mitbc.org.
Accessible Tours
The Kennedy Space Center offers accessible tours for people with various disabilities. Features include audio guides and hands-on models of the space shuttle and Apollo Saturn V rocket. Each model is three feet high and allows guests with low vision or blindness to use touch to conceptualize the space shuttle and the rocket. The center provides all of its services for guests with disabilities free of charge or at a minimal fee. For more information, or to arrange reservations for guests with disabilities, call (321) 449-4364 or visit http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com.
Talking Checkbook
Talking Checkbook 2.0 enables people with disabilities to manage finances and print their own checks independently. Features include accessibility with JAWS and Window-Eyes, a calculator, and a calendar. Talking Checkbook also includes its own voice output. A template for signing printed checks is also included. The program is available for $59.95 plus shipping and handling. For more information, visit http://www.readingmadeeasy.com or call (815) 722-5961.
Tactile Maps Online
The Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute provides tactile street maps over the web. The system uses a server-based geographic information system (GIS), and will be able to produce tactile graphics files properly prepared for standard braille embossers, swell paper, ViewPlus Tiger embossers, or other tactile output devices. Ultimately, the software will be available as an on-line service that allows anyone to request a tactile street map of any location at any scale, download the files and emboss or render the tactile map immediately. The street maps are automatically produced with appropriate information density, braille labels, and simple line figures to optimize their use by a blind map reader. The current system only includes USA data; in the future, other data sources may be used. If you are interested in learning more, or would like to become a beta tester, visit http://www.ski.org/tmap.
Summer Camp Dates
The Oral Hull Foundation just announced its 2004 summer camp dates. Adult camp (21 years and older) will be in session July 17 to 24; youth camp (ages 10 to 20) will meet August 14 to 21. Sessions cost $300 for the week; camperships are available for both camps. Camp sessions include nature walks, swimming, fishing, sports, good food and much more. To request an application, write to Oral Hull Foundation for the Blind, PO Box 157, Sandy, OR 97055; phone (503) 668-6194, or e-mail [email protected].
National Church Conference
The National Church Conference of the Blind will hold its annual conference July 25-29, 2004 in Kansas City, Mo. at the Ramada Inn Airport, 7301 NW Tiffany Springs Rd. The room rate for the conference is $59 per night plus tax for up to four people per room. To reserve a room, call (816) 741-9500. Come join us for inspirational Bible teaching, seminars, tours and talent time. For more information, contact Rheba Dunn, Membership Secretary, PO Box 196, Grover, CO 80729; phone (970) 895-2352, or e-mail [email protected]. Or visit the web site, www.thenccb.org.
Text-To-Speech GPS Available on Wireless Devices
Rhetorical, a leading developer of text-to-speech technology, recently signed an agreement with Motorola Inc. to provide speech synthesis software for use with Motorola’s VIAMOTO products. These products allow consumers to easily access location-specific information and turn-by-turn directions on wireless devices. VIAMOTO users select their destination in one of three ways: either by calling an operator, using the phone keypad, or through a web interface. The voice directions for a route are then determined by VIAMOTO servers, downloaded and stored in the phone. The directions from the current GPS location to the destination are then automatically read to the user along the route.
Careers in Computer Programming
Lift is a non-profit company that recruits, qualifies, trains and hires information technology professionals who have physical disabilities and places them with major corporations. Johnson & Johnson and Verizon Wireless are two of more than 80 corporate clients that Lift has served. For more information, visit their web site at www.lift-inc.org, write to PO Box 4264, Warren, NJ 07059, or phone (908) 707-9840.
Braille Repair
Does your Perkins braille writer need repairs? Contact Frank Levine, Atlanta Brailler Repair and Service, 3830 S. Cobb Dr., Suite 125, Smyrna, GA 30080; phone (770) 432-7280 or e-mail [email protected].
Library Seeks Books
The Ezealor Community Library is a non-profit public library and resource center seeking educational and informational items. If you have any books, magazines, or other items you can spare, send them to: Ezealor Community Library, PO Box 3479, Onitsha, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Braille Menus in Memphis
Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired and the Memphis Restaurant Association have cooked up a winning solution for the 60,000-plus people who are blind or visually impaired: work together to provide braille and large-print menus to Memphis area eateries. Are you going to Memphis? Ask for one when you go out to eat!