by Billie Jean Keith
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 an item for "Here and There," send an e-mail message to [email protected] . You may call the ACB toll-free number, (800) 424-8666, and leave a message in mailbox 26. Please bear in mind that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates.
Special Announcement from Ann Morris Enterprises
Ann Morris Enterprises, Inc. regrets not being able to attend this year's national ACB convention but would like to offer free shipping on any order placed before October 1, 2002. Just call (800) 454-3175 and mention this announcement. We thank you for your continued support.
Visit the home of Ann Morris Enterprises for low-cost items for visually impaired people, http://www.annmorris.com.
Football Schedule in Braille
The 2002 NCAA college football schedule is available in braille! Each copy costs $10. Send your check to Allen H. Gillis, 302 Schaeffel Road, Cullman, AL 35055.
Prepared Frozen Food Delivered to Your Home
Dinner is solved! A family-owned business, Schwan's has been delivering quality frozen foods directly to their customers' doorsteps in 48 states for more than 50 years. Deliveries are every two weeks or monthly. Schwan's has 300 frozen products for breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner. Product selection includes complete meals or individual portions that go from freezer to table in 30 minutes or less. A list of the most interesting food items includes southern-style biscuits, smaller-sized steaks, and delicious ice cream. There are no delivery or membership fees. Schwan's catalog is available in braille, 4-track cassette, and ASCII text. Call toll-free (888) 724-9267, or visit their web site, www.schwans.com, to request a free catalog. Ask about the free dinner with a $20 purchase for new customers.
Guide for Careers in the Arts
If you are a person with a disability, Paul Scribner's book "Putting Creativity to Work" is an outstanding resource. It clearly describes the steps to thinking through a career in the arts, with a unique emphasis on helping people with disabilities to pursue choices. VR counselors are often stymied by consumers whose career interests are focused on the arts. This guide hammers home both the challenges of pursuing a career as an artist with the likely pressure of not having long-term job security and the possibility of low pay for long hours of work, while pointing out the compensating joys of pursuing the life of a performing or visual artist.
Created by VSA Arts, this guide is recommended for any student in the early stages of career development and planning. It covers all steps of good vocational self-assessment. Through the use of personal stories of people with disabilities, the guide brings to life the struggles and successes of the artist's life. The guide lists dozens of related jobs in the performing arts. For a free copy of "Putting Creativity to Work," contact VSA Arts, 1300 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 700, Washington, DC 20036. It can be downloaded free from http://www.vsarts.org/resources/publications/careerguide/index.html.
For alternative formats, write to the Social Security Administration Braille Services, 1-A-19 Operations Building, 6401 Security Boulevard, Baltimore, MD 21235 or phone (410) 965-6414.
Talking Braille Pegboard
BrailleMaster is a talking braille pegboard, or like a braille tutor. The idea came from a student learning braille who often became impatient waiting for his instructor to verify correct placement in the braille pegboard. Now the pegboard, called BrailleMaster, can talk. As braille dots are pressed, the corresponding symbol is announced. The cost of the BrailleMaster is $295. It divides instruction into 19 lessons beginning with the alphabet and concluding with grade 2 braille. The accompanying dictionary contains full spelling and contractions for more than 400 common English words. For more information, contact Kevin Knutson at (661) 631-1033, or Harold Hallikainen by phone at (805) 541-0200 or e-mail him at [email protected], or visit the web site http://www.braillemaster.biz.
Preparing for College as a Student Who Is Blind
The book, "Preparing for College and Beyond," is a definitive source for academic students who need accommodations for a visual impairment. It explains what to expect, where to find resources and when, and how to advocate for one's needs. This guide is the result of research by authors Jamie Dote-Kwan, associate dean of student services at California State University, and Jeff Senge, coordinator for disabled student services, also at CSU. The book is available in grade 2 braille or 18-point large print, at a cost of $29.95. To order, contact the Braille Institute Press, phone (323) 906-3104, between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Pacific time.
Travel for People with Disabilities
D.A.S. Travel Specialties owner Robyn Wallen is an independent associate of Incentive Connection Travel, Inc., a full-service travel provider for everyone. Wallen specializes in the unique needs of people with disabilities, up to and including finding vans with hand controls, accessible hotels, providing transit and taxi information as well as assisting travelers in obtaining paratransit services in areas visited. For information, please phone (314) 608-7232.