Free Teleconferencing
The National Alliance of Blind Students has used this free service and recommended it to ACB. According to information provided, this is the largest free teleconference service in the world, but conference calls can only be made within the U.S. The only cost is the normal long distance or local rate to call the service computer. A sample phone number explains what to do and how to sign up, either on the Easy Conference web site or by phone. The sample phone number explaining the service is (305) 503-6666. After hearing about the service, you may sign up on the web site www.easyconference.com, or call (775) 831-0322 to sign up by phone. Up to 30 people can take part in a conference call. All users of this system need to be 18 years of age to sign up.
Internships Available for College Students with Disabilities
The Workforce Recruitment Program for College Students with Disabilities (WRP), a nationwide, federal government internship program, began taking applications in December. Many colleges/universities are participating. Ask your school's Office of Disability Services and/or Office of Career Services for an application. According to a former intern with a visual impairment, "The WRP is a really great program! My internship placed me in a fast-track, permanent position. I love my various, special projects and assignments."
Please understand that the WRP coordinator works directly with colleges, and cannot respond to inquiries from individual students. If not already participating, your college can contact the WRP coordinator at the Office of Disability Employment Policy, 1331 F Street NW, Third Floor, Washington, DC 20004, phone (202) 376-6200, TTY (202) 376-6205, fax (202) 376-6219, e- mail [email protected].
Hand-Knit Products
Ms. J. Barrett makes Irish fisherman afghans, measuring 40 x 70 inches, with fringed or scalloped edging. Cost is $30 including U.S. shipping. She also sells pastel-colored, hand knit infant sweaters with bonnets and booties for $15, baby afghans, 36 x 26 inches for $15, angel-shaped dishcloths $5 each, and a crocheted rosary in a pouch for $5. When placing orders, specify color choice and send order by tape or in print to J. Barrett, 39 Cathy Circle, Portsmouth, RI 02871, phone (401) 683-0940.
Accessible Computing 101
This list is where you find thorough, step-by-step instructions on how to perform many necessary computer-related tasks, all from the blindness perspective. Experienced computer users are very welcome, and invited to teach others in a thorough, comprehensive manner.
The Golden Rule is the list rule -- "Do unto others as you would have others do unto you." Happy computing! To subscribe, send an e-mail message to [email protected].
JAWS 4.0
JAWS for Windows 4.0 is available for download or shipment from Freedom Scientific. The newest version of the screen reader is designed to display help messages on the screen and read and rewind, say all scripts without pauses. It also features new customization tools that do not require user-written scripts.
JAWS 4.0 supports Adobe Acrobat Reader 5.0, Microsoft Office XP, and Internet Explorer 6. Tutorials for JAWS 4.0 are available in MP3 format for free download at www.hj.com/JAWS/JAWS_BT.htm. Free upgrades to JAWS 4.0 are available to people who purchased a new license for JAWS 3.7 on or after July 1, 2001. JAWS for Windows 4.0 Standard Edition -- with support for Windows 9X, Me, XP Home -- costs $795, and JAWS For Windows Professional Edition -- with support for Windows 9X, Me, XP Home, NT, 2000 Professional, and XP Professional -- costs $1,195.
For more information, contact Freedom Scientific at (800) 444-4443 or (727) 803-8000, or e-mail [email protected].
Scholarship Money Available
According to Dr. Elaine Gerber, Senior Research Associate of the American Foundation for the Blind, the following web site link provides information on a complete listing of scholarship opportunities for students who are blind and visually impaired from a variety of organizations. Visit the following link: http://www.afb.org/info_document_view.asp?DocumentID=1645.
Association of Blind Citizens Expands Scholarship Program
The Association of Blind Citizens will be offering $5,000 in college scholarships to blind or visually impaired individuals seeking a college degree. The Reggie Johnson Memorial Scholarship will be valued at $2,000 and three additional $1,000 scholarships will be available. The scholarships will be offered for the 2002-2003 school year. The scholarship may be applied to tuition, living expenses or related expenses resulting from vision impairment.
The application for the above-mentioned scholarship can only be obtained on ABC's web site. Potential applicants are encouraged to visit www.assocofblindcitizens.org and click on the scholarship link for more details and an application.
Communication System for People Who Are Deaf-Blind
Braillephone is a portable communication system for people who are deaf-blind. It is designed for use as a telephone or as a face-to-face communication device, and can be used with other software as a portal to access Microsoft DOS or Windows-based computer systems. The device features: 25,000-character memory, 23-cell, 8-dot braille display, 20-character visual display, and braille or Qwerty keyboard.
For more information, contact Audio Visual Mart by phone, (800) 737-6278 or (504) 733-1500, or visit the web site, www.av-mart.com.
The Best Ever Large Print Calendar
The Voice of the Blue Ridge, of Roanoke, Va., designs and produces the best large print calendar in the country, according to people with low vision who use them (including the editor of this column). Each month is printed on paper that is 17 inches x 22 inches, with ample space to write in daily appointments. The calendars are so popular, the service has decided to sell them for $3 each, if purchased in bulk orders. ACB affiliates and special-interest groups may wish to buy them for re-sale to members and other community groups such as elders. For more information, contact John Montgomery, executive director, Voice of the Blue Ridge, toll-free (866) 985-8900, e-mail [email protected], phone (540) 985-8900.
The Voice of the Blue Ridge, a non-profit organization, provides a dial-in news service, and volunteers who provide audio description for local theaters and the opera group.
Braille Business Cards
Web sites of the following companies may be contacted to see about braille business cards.
Descriptive Service for TV Rugrats
The animated children's series, Rugrats, appearing on the Nickelodeon cable network, now provides audio description for young viewers who are blind or visually impaired. The Media Access Group at WGBH (Boston) provides descriptive services for the series. Funding for the description comes from the U.S. Department of Education.
Easy Access to Relay Services
711 is good news for people with and without hearing or speech disabilities.
All telephone (voice) users and relay service (teletext) users can now initiate a call from anywhere in the U.S. without dialing a seven or 10-digit access number.
Relay services enable a text telephone (TTY) user to call a voice telephone user through a telecommunications relay service (TRS) provider (or relay center), where a communications assistant places the call to the voice user, and then relays the conversation by transcribing spoken content for the TTY user and reading text aloud for the voice user.
Online Educational Opportunities
This monthly e-mail publication offers information and resources for online education. It covers everything from simple online tutorials to online degree programs. Each issue includes course reviews, related articles, recommended web sites, recommended reference sites and books.
To subscribe, send a message to [email protected].