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.
Auction Site for Blind Surfers
Blind Treasures is a business owned by a person who is blind. He has now added an auction site with no listing or selling fees for any interested person to join. Visit the site at www.blindtreasures.com/auction. Tony Meade is the owner and you can contact him by phone, (910) 875-3151, or e-mail [email protected].
In Time for Christmas
Kira Larkin crochets baby blankets and Christmas stockings. Baby blankets are $30 each. Stockings come in four sizes: large, $18; medium, $14; small, $10; and ornamental, $3 each. Contact Kira Larkin by phone at (801) 587-1789, or by mail at Box 1724, Heritage Center, Salt Lake City, UT 84112.
Greeting Cards Brailled
Maryann Rocker will braille greeting cards for any occasion, including graduation, birthdays, holidays, anniversaries and retirement. For a price list, contact [email protected], or send braille or typed letters to 415 Chapel Drive #E-107, Tallahassee, FL 32304.
NetECHO
Internet Speech Inc. now has NetECHO available. With netECHO, you simply call the service (any phone, any time), log in and use verbal commands to send & receive e-mail from your existing web- based e-mail account. You can surf any web site, search a word or topic, get news, a stock quote, horoscopes, and much more. That’s right, from any phone, any time, you get access to the information important to you, and no computer is needed!
We have easy-to-follow pricing for the service: $9.95 per month ($16.95 for toll-free access) plus an initiation fee of $20. Visit www.internetspeech.com or call toll-free (877) 312- 4638 for more information.
Knitting Plain and Fancy from NBP
A new print/braille book from National Braille Press (NBP) is “Knitting Patterns, Plain & Fancy.” The patterns were selected by Daphne Raeder and the book sells for $10. Raeder has assembled a range of patterns suitable for everyday wear, yet special enough to give as gifts. Black and white photos of the knitted products, along with a brief description of each item, have been collated into the centerfold for readers to share with others.
Patterns include: Baby Bunting Plain & Fancy; Infant Set II (cardigan, hat, booties & blanket); Garden Party Hat (small, medium, and large); Child’s Guernsey Sweater; Patrick’s Pumpkin Hat (small, medium, and large); Jennifer’s Guernsey (men’s and women’s); Man’s Rigby Vest (V-neck); Memere’s Afghan; Cables and Lace Afghan; Dandy Dog Sweaters; Woman's Village Vest; Mittens, Gloves, Hats, and Scarves; Felt hat (with brim variations); The “Retro” Bag (felted purse pattern); and Fabulous Felt Totes.
To order this print-braille edition, send $10 to National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115-4302, or call toll-free (800) 548-7323 to charge it. You may also e-mail your order to [email protected]. Look for this item at http://www.nbp.org/knit.html.
Braille Books for Children and Youth
Seedlings Books has a new 2003 catalog with more than 500 low-cost braille books for children ages 1-14, including 48 new titles. For teens age 12 and up, there is a new book: “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” by Richard Carlson, Ph.D., or simple ways to help teens face the stresses of homework, peer pressure, dating and other worries. The price is $21. To request the free catalog in print, braille or on disk, call toll-free (800) 777-8552, phone (734) 427-8552 ext. 101, or e-mail [email protected]. Visit the web site, www.seedlings.org, to order online. Or send snail-mail to Seedlings at P.O. Box 51924, Livonia, MI 48151-5924.
Golden Moments
Camille Petrecca has prepared a book in braille or large print titled “Golden Moments: Reflections of a Retriever.” This heartwarming book tells the true story of how a confirmed white cane user overcame her fear of dogs and now has her dog guide to prove it. The story is suitable for children and adults, and is written from the dog guide’s viewpoint. To order, send check or money order for $20, in U.S. dollars only. Price includes shipping. Checks should be made payable to the Campanian Society, P.O. Box 167, Oxford, OH 45056, phone (513) 524-4846.
Horizons Catalog Available
If you have someone on your holiday gift list who loves cooking, knitting, crocheting, or gardening, the new 2002/2003 Horizons for the Blind products catalog is just the ticket. Cooks will especially enjoy several new Betty Crocker cookbooks along with Miss Jackie’s Cookbook, written by a blind cook. The needlework crowd will enjoy new additions to our catalog, including Holiday Coasters and Knitting From the Top Down. How about a collection of 1,112 Down-to-Earth Garden Secrets? We’ve even got a book on the art of origami. With the holidays fast approaching, our holiday crafts and learn-how books may be just what you need to get ready. To order this free catalog, telephone (815) 444-8800 (voice/TDD); fax (815) 444-8830; e-mail [email protected]. Please specify whether you prefer braille, large print, or audio cassette.
Fortune Cookies with Braille Messages
The California School for the Blind runs a student-operated business called the Lucky Touch Fortune Cookie Company. They will customize your order for a special event such as Christmas, Hanukkah, a birthday, anniversary, graduation, love notes, conventions, etc. Messages can be provided in braille or large print. Orders take two weeks after receipt of payment, but for customized orders, add two extra weeks. Prices range from $1 for three cookies in an in-stock message to $11 for a chocolate dipped, giant fortune cookie with a customized message. Cookies in a gift basket are also available.
To order, call Judith Lesner, phone (510) 794-3800, extension 300, fax (510) 794-3813, or write Lucky Touch Fortune Cookie Company, 500 Walnut Ave., Fremont, CA 94536.
New Catalog for Jett Enterprises
Jett Enterprises has its new catalog available. It features products for people who are blind or visually impaired, including items for guide dogs, kitchenware, jewelry, gifts and more. Free gift tags and instructional tapes are available.
For a free cassette or diskette catalog, call toll-free (800) 275-5553 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (Pacific time). To order a braille catalog, send $10 to Jett Enterprises, 3140 Cambridge Court, Palm Springs, CA 92264. A $5 credit toward purchase of a braille catalog will be applied to the customer’s first order. Send e-mail to [email protected] or visit the web site, www.jettenterprises.com.
Make Powerpoint Presentations Talk
PowerTalk is a free software program that automatically speaks the text of Microsoft PowerPoint presentations using the Microsoft Speech, SAPI. The software is open source and free. To get the program, point your browser at http://www.meru.org.uk/speechmakers/powertalk.html to be guided through the download process.
PowerTalk is published as part of the Speechmakers project that is hosted and managed by MERU. It provides high-quality communications software for people with disabilities. For more information, please visit the project site or contact Simon Judge by e-mail, [email protected].
Computer Training Via Distance Learning
The Carroll Center for the Blind in Newton, Mass. and its satellite centers in Holyoke and Worcester offer the latest in adaptive computer training for people who are blind or visually impaired through traditional classroom instruction as well as through distance learning courses.
Training courses available include: Computer Basics for Seniors, Computer Basics with JAWS for Windows (JFW), Microsoft Office with JFW, Assessment One, Keyboarding One, Introduction to the Internet with JFW, Using Outlook Express and Internet Explorer, Introduction to Excel, Office Skills Training, and Using ZoomText.
For information regarding the dates, times and duration of these courses, contact Brian Charlson toll-free at (800) 852- 3131, ext. 224, e-mail [email protected]. (Adapted from "Vision World Wide" web letter, August 2002.)
Another Cruise for ACB Members, Their Friends and Guide Dogs
A new cruise is being planned to Halifax and Sydney, Nova Scotia, Boston, and Portland, Maine from September 27 to October 3, 2003, leaving from New York City. The cruise liner is the one-year-old Carnival Victory. People who are interested in securing a reservation may do so now with a deposit of $50. Prices and room categories have not been set at this time, but we will provide more information when it is available.
For information, contact Sue Slater, Outside Travel Consultant, Damar Travel and Cruise, e-mail [email protected], toll-free phone (800) 999-6101.
Adaptive Learning System for Women Who Are Blind
The Adaptive MammaCare Personal Learning System teaches women who are blind or visually impaired how to do proficient breast self-examination at home. Included in the kit are a tone-indexed cassette and an audio-described video instruction. The breast model is an important part of the kit and contains simulations of abnormalities which indicate a need for medical intervention as well as those which are routine in nature. Medical schools and hospitals use this system to train student doctors. The kit is available for women who are blind or visually impaired for a scaled-down price of $55 (which includes shipping) till December 31, 2002.
To order the kit or for more information, call toll-free (800) 626-2273, e-mail [email protected], visit the web site, www.mammacare.com, or write Mammatech Corp., 930 NW Eighth Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601.
Business Owners Offer Products and Business Opportunity
Morgan Commercial Enterprises (owned by a couple who are blind) has a new free catalog featuring electronics, general merchandise, gifts, collectibles, tools, toys, inspirational/spiritual items, fine jewelry and items for holiday gift-giving. The catalog is available in print, cassette, computer disk, and via e-mail. The Morgans also offer a no-cost business opportunity for people to become Morgan Commercial Enterprises independent business owners.
For details, e-mail [email protected], write to Morgan Commercial Enterprises, 901 Freeport Road, Creighton, PA 15030-1049, or phone (724) 226-1930.
Language Translation
According to a reader, www.wordreference.com is an accessible web site that will provide translations of languages into English, and English into other languages.
RFB&D Wants Your Input
The Oak Ridge, Tenn. unit of Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) wants to get in touch with anyone who has used their services in order to collect success stories, document the value of their work and maintain contact with former patrons. In addition to the usual types of recorded materials, the Tennessee unit specializes in textbooks on computers, math and science, and foreign language. If you have ever read a book in these areas, there is a good chance it was recorded at Oak Ridge. Please write RFB&D, 205 Badger Rd., Oak Ridge, TN 37830, phone (865) 482-3496, or e-mail [email protected].
Newsreel
Newsreel is an interactive monthly audio magazine on four-track cassette tape. Articles for Newsreel are submitted by subscribers who are blind or visually impaired, in their own voices. It works rather like a correspondence club. Topics may include just about any subject or event in the lives of Newsreel subscribers, and include personal experiences; traveling with a white cane or having a guide dog; vacation tips; adaptive technology information; recipes; sports and poetry. The cost for a yearly subscription is $25 if subscribers return the cassettes and $50 if they keep the cassettes.
To contact Newsreel, write 8 East Long Street, Suite 420, Columbus, OH 43215-2914, toll-free phone (888) 723-8737, phone (614) 469-7077. Credit cards are accepted.