by Sharon Lovering
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 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 22. Please bear in mind that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates.
Exchange Pioneers Fellowships
The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) and the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) are proud to announce the Exchange Pioneers Fellowships. These fellowships will be awarded to people with disabilities in order to obtain internships with US-based international exchange offices or organizations. The incentives will provide opportunities for people with disabilities to gain experience in the international exchange field, and for exchange organizations to become familiar with disability perspectives. These internships can be valuable stepping stones toward employment in an international profession.
Five $2,000 fellowships will be awarded to people with disabilities to offset costs associated with completing an internship during spring or summer 2003. Internships must be between 25-40 hours per week for a minimum of three months in length. Interns should plan to support the organization’s goals to increase their office and program accessibility. Each recipient will be required to write a publishable article about his/her experience and agree to be a peer mentor to others with disabilities seeking similar experiences.
The fellowship application deadline is March 1, 2003 for spring internships and May 1, 2003 for summer internships. Winners must have applied for internships prior to submitting an application. Fellowships will be granted pending confirmation of internship acceptance. Those searching for potential internship sites can explore the following web page for a list of some international exchange organizations that offer internships: www.miusa.org/participant/interntips.html.
For information or an application, contact Mary Ann Higgins by e-mail, [email protected], or by phone, (330) 854-9048, or Pam Houston at NCDE, [email protected], phone/TTY (541) 343-1284. NCDE is sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the U.S. Department of State and managed by Mobility International USA. Visit the web sites for more information on NCDE: www.miusa.org or AAPD, www.aapd-dc.org.
Cooking Without Looking
WXEL-TV in Palm Beach, Fla., aired the pilot program of “Cooking Without Looking” on January 4. A new audio-described TV program, “Cooking Without Looking” is the first-ever television show created especially for a blind and visually impaired audience. The show will help blind and visually impaired people enjoy the art of cooking while shedding light on issues visually impaired people face when dining out and eating in.
“We wanted to give our blind and visually impaired viewers something very special, something which would entertain, educate and empower,” says Lee A. Rowand, Director of Television Programming & Creative Services for WXEL, TV 42. “It does all of that and more. Sighted people will get a lot out of it, too. It’s enjoyable for everyone.”
Magnifying America, the world’s largest retailer of technology and specialty solutions for people who are blind and visually impaired, is the production underwriter of “Cooking Without Looking.”
John Palmer, owner of Magnifying America, says, “We are very proud to be involved in the beginning of such a groundbreaking effort. ‘Cooking Without Looking’ will be revolutionary TV a show that will both inspire and educate people who are blind, visually impaired and, yes, even sighted. The show’s done with a lot of humor and candor so that everyone will enjoy it.”
The show runs from noon to 1 p.m. on Palm Beach’s channel 42 (PBS).
New Address for California Canes
California Canes has a new e-mail address: [email protected]. The company also has a new mailing address, which is 16263 Walnut St., Hesperia, CA 92345. The phone number is (866) 332-4883, and fax is (760) 956-7477. You may check out new items on the web site, www.californiacanes.com.
New Editor at Ziegler
“Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind” has a new editor: Gregory Evanina. Evanina, who has been an associate editor since 1991, replaces Michael Mellor, who is retiring after almost 19 years.
Don’t Waste Braille Books!
Here’s one for those of you who have been calling in requesting a place to donate your used braille books and magazines. American Helping Hand, a non-profit organization in the state of Washington, is interested in collecting braille books, magazines, etc. to be shipped to blind and deaf-blind individuals living in developing countries. Preprinted address labels will be provided to anyone who would like to help out and pass along their unwanted braille books and braille or taped magazines. Please contact Janice Lee at 312 N. 80th St., Seattle, WA 98103.
Digital Voice Recorders
GoodySquare.com has digital voice recorders available. They are light, small, and fit neatly in a pocket or purse. And what’s more, GoodySquare is offering ACB members a 30 percent discount on purchases of voice recorders made through the web site (www.goodysquare.com) or via the phone, (888) 229-0118. The model 7085 offers up to 9 hours of recording time and comes with all accessories. Model 904SU gives 4 hours recording time, and interfaces with a computer via a USB. Model 918SU offers up to 18 hours of recording time; it, too, interfaces with a computer via USB. Check them out!
Thank You from Milton
The John Milton Society for the Blind is unable to continue its publications program, and will be discontinuing all its publications immediately. Due to the restricted nature of donors’ bequests, the only program it will be able to continue is its scholarship program under the auspices of Community Funds, Inc. John Milton Society is searching for other organizations to take over its publications.
If you subscribe to the JMS Adult Lessons Quarterly in braille or on tape, please note that Bill Owens at the curriculum publishing office of the Presbyterian Church will be keeping the mailing list for these publications while trying to find another group to produce the quarterly. You may reach Bill Owens at (888) 728-7228. If you subscribe to other publications, please visit www.jmsblind.org for alternate resources.
If you are a contributor, thank you for your stewardship. Should you wish to continue, you may include the John Milton Society in your will. You may also send donations (checks only please, made out to Community Funds, Inc.) to Community Funds, Inc., 2 Park Ave., New York, NY 10016. The office closed December 31, 2002.
Winter Sports Clinic
More than 350 disabled veterans will ski the Rocky Mountains at the 17th annual Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic in Snowmass Village at Aspen, Colo., March 31 to April 5. This rehabilitation program is open to all U.S. military veterans with spinal cord injury or disease, certain neurological conditions, orthopedic amputations, visual impairments or other disabilities, who receive care at any Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facility.
Sponsored by VA and the Disabled American Veterans (DAV), the clinic is hosted by the Grand Junction (Colo.) VA Medical Center and VA’s Rocky Mountain Network. At the clinic, disabled veterans will learn adaptive Alpine and Nordic skiing, and will be introduced to a variety of other adaptive activities and sports, such as rock climbing, scuba diving, snowmobiling and sled hockey. The U.S. Secret Service will also teach self-defense.
Known as “Miracles on a Mountainside,” the National Disabled Veterans Winter Sports Clinic shows that the lives of disabled veterans can be changed forever when they discover the extraordinary challenges they can overcome.
For further information, contact Annie Tuttle, VA Public Affairs Coordinator, Winter Sports Clinic, at (909) 422-3193; or Rob Lewis, DAV Communications, at (859) 442-2049.
Audio E-Book Available Soon
Time Warner AudioBooks (a division of AOL Time Warner Book Group), AFB Talking Books (a department of the American Foundation for the Blind) and Dolphin Computer Access have partnered to produce the first commercially available audio e-book. Best selling author James Patterson will release his new novel, “The Jester,” as an audio e-book in conjunction with its standard print, audio and e-book releases.
This new technology offers many features that allow people to enjoy books in a unique and exciting way. Readers can display the text of the book on the computer screen, fully synchronized with the audio of a professional narrator, or they can switch back and forth between the text and the audio. Those who are blind, visually impaired, or dyslexic may access the text via audio or on screen in large print or in braille. Additionally, the user’s experience is enhanced with features such as the search function, in which the entire text and audio may be searched for keywords and phrases.
This audio e-book will be available on an additional CD included in the unabridged CD audiobook version of “The Jester,” available from Time Warner AudioBooks in March.
Simon Says ...
The GE Interlogix Simon® security system, Electronic House magazine’s 2002 Product of the Year, is a good fit for the lifestyle and needs of the visually impaired. Simon provides home security, fire alarm, and environmental monitoring — all in a sleek, new, low profile unit. The system delivers voice prompts and status messages to the user and describes, in plain English, the location and nature of an alarm. Simon assures users when it is armed properly and notifies them if it isn’t.
Visually impaired users also appreciate the home automation capabilities of the Simon system. A dark home may be perfectly comfortable for a blind person, but from a security perspective, it is also inviting to burglars. Simon can be programmed to turn lights on or off on a schedule or in response to sensor activation, giving the home a “lived-in” look — whether anyone is home or not.
The optional Dialog Thermostat interacts with the Simon system to automatically adjust the temperature when no one is home. This provides convenient energy savings without the need to constantly adjust the temperature or try to program a thermostat that might not be designed for visually impaired users.
Simon can be turned off and on using a small, portable keychain touchpad that doesn’t require any codes. This comes in handy when children need to interact with the system. Instead of memorizing difficult codes, the user has only to press the lock or unlock button to turn the system on or off.
To learn more about the new Simon system or locate a GE Interlogix Security Pro dealer in your area, call GE Interlogix at (800) 777-1415, ext. 2119.
Doctor Locator
The American Optometric Association now has a new Doctor Locator available on its web site, www.aoa.org. It is available 24 hours a day and requires no phone calls or referrals. If you’re new to a community and looking for an eye doctor, use the AOA “Dr. Locator.” You can locate optometrists in your area using ZIP code, doctor name, practice name, city or state.
Single-Button SAP Access
Panasonic is proud to announce the continuing expansion of its single-button SAP (Second Audio Program) access feature, conveniently located on the remote controls of the majority of the company’s television and video products. The SAP broadcast helps people who are blind or visually impaired enjoy television programs. The SAP function button is consistently located in the upper right-hand corner of most Panasonic TV remote controls and is easily distinguished from other buttons by three raised dots on the SAP button surface. In 2002, Panasonic featured the easy-access SAP button on the remote controls of 46 different products, and will continue to incorporate this helpful feature in the remote controls of most 2003 stereo televisions, VCRs, combo products, (televisions with built-in VCRs, DVD players, or both) and DVD/VCR combos.
Panasonic has also added more accessibility features throughout its 2003 cordless telephone line. The phone includes several innovative features that assist people who are hearing impaired, visually impaired or blind. The Innovations Award winning model KX-TG2258S and other Panasonic 2003 digital cordless phone models feature Talking Caller ID. Used in conjunction with the Caller ID service that may be available through the local telephone company, this feature enables users to hear who is calling before they even pick up the phone.
Other innovative features that are found throughout Panasonic’s line are: slow talk; handset locator; beep alert; buttons that are differentiated by size, shape and tactile marks; visual ring indicator; handset speakerphone; lighted keypad; headset jack; TTY compatibility (also found in Panasonic’s Allure phone); any button answer; and large buttons (on model KX- TG2208B).
More information about Panasonic accessibility programs and products is available at www.panasonic.com/accessibility. Consumers may contact Panasonic by e-mail at [email protected], by phone at (800) 211-7262 or by TTY at (877) 833-8855.
Large Print Books at Low Prices
Toby Press will provide large print books in hard cover and 16-point type very soon, through Barnes & Noble, Amazon.com and better booksellers. Titles will include: “Oliver Twist” and “Great Expectations” by Charles Dickens, for $19.95 each; “The Scarlet Letter” & “House of the Seven Gables,” both for $19.95; “Pride and Prejudice” and “Emma” by Jane Austen, for $19.95 each; and “Collected Poetry by Walt Whitman,” for $19.95; “The Sacrifice of Tamar” and “Chains Around the Grass” by Naomi Ragen, for $24.95 each, along with other classics.
For more information, contact the Toby Press, P.O. Box 8531, New Milford, CT 06776-8531, phone (203) 830-8508, e-mail [email protected], or visit the web site, www.tobypress.com.