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 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.
Hellen Keller Exhibit Now Open
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is currently offering a public exhibit entitled, "Helen Keller: A Daring Adventure." Throughout her remarkable life, Keller traveled to 35 countries advocating services for the blind. She communicated with and gathered support from many famous leaders including Albert Einstein, Dwight Eisenhower, Mark Twain, Alexander Graham Bell, W.E.B. Du Bois, and Franklin D. Roosevelt. The exhibit shares press clippings, photos, letters, travel mementos, personal effects, and everyday artifacts that were bequeathed to AFB upon Keller's passing in 1968. The exhibition is part of a fundraising effort to digitize the more than 80,000 Keller holdings at AFB. You can learn all about the life and accomplishments of Helen Keller by visiting the exhibit at AFB's New York headquarters through July 30. For more information about the exhibit and hours of operation, visit www.afb.org.
Candle in the Window Conference
The 2010 Candle in the Window conference will be held Aug. 4-8 at Wooded Glen, located in Henryville, Ind. Candle in the Window is a conference planned by and for blind and visually impaired people, focusing on a specific topic and exploring several aspects as they relate to living with blindness. This year's theme is "Transition," and discussions will focus on several questions. How did we handle transitions while growing up? How does blindness affect transitions? What transitions are we either experiencing now or likely to experience in the near future? How can we recognize healthy or unhealthy changes and resist inappropriate ones?
In addition to the conference sessions, there will be plenty of time to reflect, to get to know other conference participants and to have fun! The cost of the conference is $485 double occupancy, $465 triple, and $415 quad, and includes room and all meals. When planning transportation, arrange to arrive in Louisville, Ky., where transportation will be provided to the conference center. Attendance is limited to 20 participants, so make your reservations early. A $40 deposit (non-refundable) will reserve your spot. Payment by check may be sent to: Carlos Taylor, 818 W. Riverside Ave., Apt. C3, Muncie, IN 47303. Any questions may be directed to Nancy Trzcinski at [email protected] or (413) 441-2305 or Becky Barnes at [email protected] or (914) 393-6613.
Governor Morehead Reunion
Calling all GMS alums, friends, and anyone who wants to join us in a fun-filled weekend! The Governor Morehead School Alumni Association will hold its annual convention/reunion Aug. 6-8, 2010, at the Holiday Inn, North Raleigh, in Raleigh, N.C. This will be a memorable occasion because activities will be held at the Ashe Avenue campus and the campus of the old Garner Road school.
To complete a convention application and to learn more about the Governor Morehead School Alumni Association, Inc., go to www.gmsaai.org, or call Annie Edgerton Carson at (919) 556-0786 if you do not have access to a computer.
Feedback Needed on New Braille Code
The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) is seeking feedback on the NUBS experimental braille code which combines literary, scientific and math notation into one unified code. Braille readers, teachers, and transcribers are needed to read a sampler of the NUBS code and answer specific questions about their reading experience. Anyone who can read and write braille, regardless of their age or experience, is encouraged to participate in this project. Samplers are available in both hard-copy braille and simulated braille. If you are interested in assisting with this evaluation, please contact Judy Dixon by one of the following methods: e-mailing [email protected]; calling (202) 707-0722; or sending either a braille or print letter to Judy Dixon, 1805 N. Oakland St., Arlington, VA 22207. When you make contact, let Judy know your name, address, and preference for embossed braille or simulated braille. All participants will be notified of how to access the evaluation results once the project is complete.
Victory for Missouri's Pensioners
There's great news for Missourians who receive a blind pension. The Missouri Council of the Blind has received a favorable ruling in its lawsuit against the state for withholding benefits from the Blind Pension Fund designated to assist Missouri's 3,300 recipients. The state must now repay nearly $30 million in back benefits and interest to these individuals. For more information, contact Missouri Council of the Blind president Denny Huff at (636) 262-1383 or [email protected].
Humanitarian Award Winner
Congratulations to Peggy Trail, winner of the 2009 James H. Veale Humanitarian Award. Each year the Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind bestows this award on a sighted person for his or her contribution to people who are blind or visually impaired. Peggy was nominated by her long-time friend Margaret Johnson and 16 other visually impaired individuals from around the country.
Distinguished Service Award Winner
Congratulations to Dawn Turco, senior vice president of educational operations for The Hadley School for the Blind. She recently received the 2010 Distinguished Service Award from the Distance Education and Training Council for her 17 years of service at Hadley.
Accessible Diabetes Products
Prodigy recently released its Count-A-Dose device, which enables people with limited or no vision to fill an insulin syringe independently. Prodigy has also launched a low vision web site which contains information about the Prodigy ® Count-a-dose ™, Prodigy Voice ™ Meter, and will soon include the Prodigy IQ Pump. For more information, call 1-866-908-9201.
Online Resource for Educators
My Dream Classroom is a new web site launched by Humanware in partnership with ReadHowYouWant. The site is designed to be an interactive tool where teachers can learn about various assistive technology and solutions that can enhance the learning independence of their students. The site is available at www.humanware.com/mydreamclassroom.com.
Employment Training in Hospitality
The National Statler Center provides employment training for people with vision loss or a physical disability. The center's Careers in Hospitality Program is a 10-week course that trains individuals in customer service, hospitality, travel and tourism, assistive technology, Microsoft Office, and job-seeking skills. Participants from around the country and around the world are eligible for this Buffalo, N.Y. program. To learn more about an upcoming session, contact Jeff Pease at (716) 888-4526 or [email protected]. For more information, visit www.StatlerCenter.org.