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 items for this column, send a message to [email protected], or call ACB at 1-800-424-8666 and leave a message in mailbox 26. Please remember that postal regulations prohibit us from including advertisements, and that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates.
** NBP RELEASES BIOGRAPHY OF LOUIS BRAILLE
On March 6, 2006, National Braille Press released the newest biography in its series, "Louis Braille: A Touch of Genius." It includes 31 never- before-translated letters about his life. To help launch the new biography, NBP has created print/braille bookmarks that can be distributed to students, clients, or friends. To order biographies or bookmark bundles, contact NBP at 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115-4302; call 1-800-548-7323; or e- mail [email protected].
** CHRISTIAN CAMP ANNOUNCEMENT
The 2006 Siloam Camp for the Blind will be held May 13-20 at the Golden Cross Ranch in New Caney, Tex. Cost for the week of camp is free for first-time campers, $200 for repeat campers. Lodging, all meals and activities are included. All campers must send a $25 camp registration fee along with your name, address, home phone number, and cell phone number to the Gospel Association for the Blind, P.O. Box 1162, Bunnell, FL 32110. Reach voice mail at 1-866-251-5165 and enter 7128 pound.
** R&D AWARD NOMINATIONS
ONCE, the Spanish organization for the blind, is accepting nominations for the Fourth International R&D Award in New Technologies for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The goal of this award program is to encourage technology-related developments that correct or overcome the limitations of people with low vision. The relevant areas of technology-related research may include: engineering, artificial intelligence, computer sciences, telecommunications, microtechnology and nanoelectronics. The winner will receive a prize of over $200,000. Submissions must be received in either English or Spanish by June 30, 2006. Send nominations to: Secretariat of the Fourth ONCE International R & D Award in New Technologies for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Calle Jos‚ Ortega y Gasset 18, 28006 Madrid, Spain. For additional details, visit www.once.es/otros/premios/imasd/index.
** NEW UNCONTRACTED BRAILLE SCRIPTURE BOOK
"Touched by God's Word" is a collection of over 100 comforting scriptures taken from the New King James Version of the Bible, compiled and translated by Sandy Price into an easy-to-read format to help those who struggle with reading braille. The content is double-spaced and brailled on one side only. It is available in jumbo, standard, and contracted braille. All translations are $14.95 each plus shipping and tax. To order a book, call Sandy Price at (804) 550-3733 or e-mail her, [email protected].
** BRIEFS FROM AFB
AFB has launched an on-line museum to celebrate the legacy of Anne Sullivan Macy, the pioneer of educating the visually impaired. The museum's online gallery is available at www.afb.org/annesullivan-seek. It shows Anne through her own words as well as through the eyes of others. The pages feature photographs, letters, comic strips, sound recordings and other artifacts relating to Anne's life and work.
AFB recently announced the winners of the 2006 Migel Medals and Access Awards. Migel Medal recipients were Kevin Lessard, Rachel Rosenbaum and Carol McCarl; Access Award recipients were "Blind Justice," Ski for Light, and the Dallas-Fort Worth Airport and architect Rick Lee.
AFB has recently elected three new trustees to its national board: Laurence J. Kirshbaum, chairman and chief executive officer of the Time Warner Book Group; Kathryn C. Brown, senior vice president, public policy development and corporate social responsibility, Verizon Communications; and Patricia C. Sueltz, CEO of SurfControl.
AFB has expanded its online employment resources for people who are visually impaired. CareerConnect showcases jobs held by people who are visually impaired. It includes resources for job seekers, human resource staff, rehabilitation professionals, mentors, and parents or family members. Visit www.afb.org/careerconnect.
AFB and Verizon continue their joint effort to develop and promote the new career opportunity of braille translator. The online college curriculum will be available through Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Tex. Classes focusing on producing textbooks and instructional materials in braille will begin in late 2006.
** VIBRATING WATCH
Swiss watchmaker Tissot has created a watch that enables visually impaired people to tell time through vibrations. By briefly pressing the watch's crown and then running the finger clockwise around the glass, the wearer can "feel" the time through the constant vibration on the hour and intermittent vibrations for the minutes corresponding to one of the 12 raised indices on the bezel. To learn more, call (201) 271-4642 or e-mail [email protected].
** COMPUTER SYSTEM FOR SALE
Bob Langford is offering an adaptive computer system for $100. Features include: Pentium, 128 meg RAM, Windows 98, demo of Window-Eyes, 56K modem, sound card, CD drive, and speakers. It also includes a six-cassette computer training tutorial combining Window-Eyes and Windows 98 by Brian Hartgen and a mini tutorial on keyboarding. Call Bob at (214) 340-6328 during business hours Central time.
** BLIND SITE PROVIDES INSIGHT
Blind Site is an online magazine that is part general-interest magazine and part blog for the blind. Its focus is to help visually impaired people to see and understand themselves. Visit the site at http://home.earthlink.net/~blindsite. E-mail poems, essays, short stories, or reactions to others' comments to [email protected].
** SENSATION PRODUCTS
Novelsensations carries a wide variety of gifts, from musical items to scented items. The catalog is available free via e-mail as a Word attachment. A highlights tape is also available for free. A full catalog on tape costs $5. Contact Charlotte Bettinger, PO Box 7, Farmington, MN 55024; phone (651) 463-9346, or e-mail [email protected].
** LARGE PRINT PRAYERS AVAILABLE
"Prayers & Psalms for Today" is a large-print CD that includes helps for people facing all kinds of life situations and challenges. It has selections from Prayers and Thanksgivings, Prayers for the Sick, Prayers for Use by a Sick Person and the Psalter (the book of Psalms). The CD materials are in APHont. All are designed for 8 « x 11 pages and formatted in Word 97. The large-print Book of Common Prayer CD is also available. To order a CD, please send a self-addressed 6 x 9-inch envelope with three 39-cent stamps attached (four if it's a padded envelope) to: Ann Dahlen, 1900 6th Ave., Apt. 513, Rock Island, IL 61201. Donations of any amount are appreciated and encouraged to help cover ministry costs. For more information, e-mail [email protected].
** DIGITAL TALKING BOOK PILOT LAUNCHED
HumanWare is working with the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) to assist with a pilot project to evaluate the distribution of digital talking books via the Internet. HumanWare will design and develop the prototype Internet-capable digital players and assist the RNZFB to conduct trials of the technology among its existing talking book clients. The objective is to find out whether a DTB player and service solution can be designed to replace the postal system with Internet delivery of its books and magazines to people who are not computer-literate.
** LEARNING AID FOR GUITAR STUDENTS
FlexiRest is a hand rest designed to assist students learning to play the guitar. The rest stabilizes the hand, instills good right hand positioning, and aids motor memory. It has a screw cap that lets learners intermittently swivel the rest out of the way for unsupported practice. Go to www.guitarhandrest.com for more details.
** WANT TO LEARN HOW TO PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?
Now you can learn to play piano, guitar, bass, drums, banjo, saxophone and the penny whistle without using written or braille music. Bill Brown has complete courses, as well as individual lessons, for these instruments in an all-audio format. Bill plays a section of the song for you and then talks you through the notes and fingering in a step-by-step fashion. The four tape or CD courses are $39; individual song lessons are $10 each. Call 1- 800-484-1839 and enter code 8123 or log onto www.musicvi.com. Bill's courses are also available through NLS.
** SEEKING MATH TUTOR
Bob Groff is seeking someone to help him with his math skills. The person must know Nemeth code and how to use the abacus. He is also seeking a speech pathologist to evaluate his speech. Contact Robert Groff Jr. at 487 PC Circle, Quitman, AR 72131, or phone (501) 589-2886.
** SEEKING RECIPES
Lucia Marett is searching for sources where she can locate quick, nutritious one-dish or single-pot recipes, or one-dish casseroles. Please send braille or print letters to 170 W. 23rd St., Apt. #3-H, New York, NY 10011-2430, or e-mail them to [email protected].
** WINK'S MESSAGE OF FAITH & HOPE
A new taped magazine, "A Message of Faith, Hope, Joy and Praise," is available free from Rev. Adelaide Wink. Sample copies are available. This is a magazine for the blind, hard of hearing, and for the mild to moderately mentally ill.
She needs volunteers to read Christian books and booklets onto tape so that she can transcribe them into braille. She would also love to hear from home workers who do knitting and crocheting to earn extra money, and from those who work from home in such fields as manufacturing or light packaging.
Wink would like to learn German braille, reading, writing, grammar, spelling and conversational skills. She also would like to hear from blind people in Germany who read, write and speak English well.
She has been living with obsessive-compulsive disorder for more than 51 years, and is willing to share God's help with those with OCD who want it.
If you would like to respond to any of the above matters, please call Rev. Adelaide Wink at (352) 746-3087 or write to her at 59 S. Lee St., Beverly Hills, FL 34465-3640.
** ASSISTANCE DOG ORGANIZATION
For a $20 membership in the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners, a consumer advocacy organization, you and your guide, hearing or service dog are eligible to receive: free Advantage or Advantix; Avid microchip and registration in lost dog recovery systems; Cosequin; rebates on vaccines and discounts for various corporate veterinary hospital groups; and if you and your dog meet eligibility requirements, financial assistance from the Veterinary Care Partnership fund. Visit www.iaadp.org or phone Carol at (760) 439-9544 during business hours Pacific time.
** VOICE INTERNET UPDATES
InternetSpeech.com, the web site that enables access to the Internet via voice, has updated its web functions. The new features include on-page search capability, shopping opportunities, and form-filling tools. For more information, visit www.internetspeech.com, or call 1-877-312-4638.
** COMPUTER CONSULTATION
Cutting Edge Solutions provides computer and technology consultation to people who are blind. The company will assist in finding the best deals for adaptive equipment and help you determine exactly what your computer needs are. For more information about this and other services, visit www.cuttingedgesolutions.biz.
** TALKING PRODUCTS
ETS, Inc. manufacturers a variety of talking consumer products. The company offers Johnson & Johnson one-touch blood glucose meters, a talking blood pressure meter, a talking bathroom scale, and an FDA-certified talking microwave. To learn more about these products, contact the company at (505) 888-3923 or visit www.etsnm.com.
** ELECTRONIC PUBLICATIONS AVAILABLE
TFB Publications, known for transcribing publications into braille, is now offering a wide variety of publications in electronic formats such as Word, plain text and formats that can be used with popular notetakers. TBF publications include: children's stories, cookbooks, craft patterns, mainstream novels, general-interest magazines, adult literature, books on travel, prayer books, and medical information. To request electronic catalogs, e-mail [email protected] or call (201) 313-8905.
** SELF-VOICING GAMES & MORE
Azabat Software offers computer games and word processing programs for people who are visually impaired. The software is self-voiced -- there is no need for speech synthesizers and programs. The games use large fonts where possible and can be run from a CD without installation. Azabat's computer games include: Yahtzee, Blackjack, Klondike Solitaire, and Connect 4. The games cost $35 individually, but together on one CD, they cost $90. The Azabat Talking Typing Tutor costs $50 and the Talking Word Processor with Internet and e-mail capability costs $350. For more information on these products, visit www.azabat.co.uk.