Hawaii Association of the Blind
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We are the State affiliate of the American Council of the Blind.
HAB welcomes DONATIONS to support its projects like scholarships, grants and training. Contact Ameila Cetrone for particulars. All donations are tax-deductible.

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Technology    Photos-Audio-Video        Archives

News & Announcements

On this page:

► Court Says Next Gen Currency Must Be Accessible to the Blind
► Hawaii Blind Vendors Association Annual Convention
► HAB Forum - September 2008
► Mind's Eye Travel
► Audible Quiet Electric Cars
► Blind Drivers
► Web Anywhere
► FamilyConnect Launched by AFB
► Diamond Head Theater
► Letters to HAB - Updated May 2008
► Jobs (September 2008)

Court Says Next Gen Currency Must Be Accessible to the Blind

WASHINGTON, Oct. 6, 2008 – Late Friday afternoon, the American Council of the Blind (ACB) was advised that District Judge James Robertson had rendered his final order in the historic case in which the Council sought currency that is independently identifiable by people who are blind.

Judge Robertson ruled:

1. IT IS ORDERED AND ADJUDGED that the defendant has violated Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act by failing to provide meaningful access to United States currency for blind and other visually impaired persons.

2. IT IS FURTHER ORDERED AND DECREED that defendant take such steps as may be required to provide meaningful access to United States currency for blind and other visually impaired persons, which steps shall be completed, in connection with each denomination of currency, not later than the date when a redesign of that denomination is next approved by the Secretary of the Treasury after the entry of this order and judgment.

3. This Order and Judgment does not apply to the one-dollar ($1) note, and does not require the defendant to make any changes to the one-dollar ($1) note. This Order and Judgment does not apply to changing the Series year or the signatures of the Secretary of the Treasury or the Treasurer of the United States on each note, nor to changing the machine-readable features on the notes that are not visible to the naked eye. Notwithstanding paragraph 2 above, given that the defendant is currently engaged in implementing a redesign of the $100 note (“the NextGen $100”), the defendant need not comply with paragraph 2 above in connection with the NextGen $100 note until the date when another redesign of such denomination is next approved by the Secretary of the Treasury after the redesign that is currently in progress.

4. The defendant shall file periodic status reports describing the steps taken to implement this Order and Judgment. The first such status report shall be filed no later than March 16, 2009, and each succeeding report shall be filed every six months thereafter, until the defendant has fully complied with this Order and Judgment.

ACB President Mitch Pomerantz said, “This has been a very long time in coming, but it is certainly worth the wait. The decision has monumental ramifications for people all across this country who are blind or visually impaired.”

ACB brought suit against the United States Department of the Treasury in 2002. This action was taken after many attempts over several years to get the Treasury Department to address the concerns of this nation’s blind community. People who are blind have no means of independently distinguishing between a one-dollar bill and a hundred-dollar bill. Since more than 180 other countries around the world have made such identification possible by their citizens, and since cash plays such a central role in American life today, it was felt that legal action to address this fundamental issue was imperative. ACB believes that this action, taken on behalf of its more than 20,000 members, was vindicated by the Court’s decision.

The American Council of the Blind is the nation’s leading consumer-based advocacy organization working on behalf of blind and visually impaired Americans and has more than 70 state and special-interest affiliates throughout the United States. The national office of the organization is located in Washington, D.C. For more information about the American Council of the Blind, visit the web site at  http://www.acb.org

or call (202) 467-5081 or 1-800-424-8666.
----------------------------------------------
Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
Phone: (202) 467-5081
Fax: (202) 467-5085

HAWAII BLIND VENDORS ASSOCIATION
Annual Convention 2008

Please join us at our annual convention for a most stimulating and informative day.

THEME: RANDOLPH-SHEPPARD in CRISIS

WHEN: Saturday, October 18, 2008

WHERE Pagoda Hotel, 1525 Rycroft St., Honolulu
 

COST:             $5.00 - Registration
                        $30.00-Lunch (Also includes continental breakfast and afternoon snacks)
                        $35.00 - Dues

RSVP by October 11, 2008
Please call Myles Tamashiro at
626-0535

HAB Forum - Sept 2008

We are pleased to inform you that HAB Forum for September 2008 is now available. Click here to read this issue.

Highlights:

* Judge Robertson of the US District Court orders the US Department of Treasury to immediately implement the court ruling which shall make the US currency accessible to the blind and visually impaired.

* Legislative Attempt to remove "BLIND" in the recent proposal to amend the Randolph Sheppard Act

* Using Humanware's Trekker GPS Navigation System

* HAB social gathering - Spring Fling

* ACB 2008 National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky

* On Becoming a US Citizen

* Camping

* HAPVI calendar of events

...and more!

Click here to read this issue.

Mind's Eye Travel

There's a new travel agency that serves the needs of blind and visually-impaired individuals. Mind's Eye
Travel was an exhibitor at the ACB's 47^th National Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.

Destinations are carefully screened in advance, together with planned activities, restaurants and lodging.
Reservations are currently going on for:

1. Discover the Coast of Maine
Five days and four nights
September 10 - 14, 2008.

2. Sedona, Arizona and the Grand Canyon
Six days and five nights
October 8 - 13, 2008

3. Southern Caribbean Cruise
Seven days on Princess Cruises
Round trip from San Juan
February 15, 2009
6 ports of call including Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua & Barbuda, Tortola and St. Thomas.

Mind’s Eye Travel holds only a small number of rooms,
so make your reservation as soon as you are able. A 50%
deposit is required to hold space.

For more information or to make a reservation:

Contact: Sue Bramhall
Telephone: 207-542-4438
Email: mindseyetravel@verizon.net

URL: http://www.mindseyetravel.com

Audible Quiet Electric Cars

News about a solution to the problem with "quiet cars". Introducing the hybrid you can hear (so it won't run you over) By Michael Savage Thursday, 7 August 2008 said it's "safe and sound hybrid technology" simulates the traditional grunt of a combustion engine. The fearsome roar of their engines is one of the first things to come to mind at the mention of Lotus, the stylish, lightweight British sports cars. That familiar growl could soon be heard coming from a far more modest source: beneath the hitherto tranquil bonnets of other manufacturers' electric cars. Lotus is developing technology that will put the roar of the traditional combustion engine under the hoods of eco-friendly vehicles, in an attempt to make the quiet cars safer for unsuspecting pedestrians - particularly the blind - and cyclists. Stealthy hybrids and electric cars have come in for criticism from groups representing the blind and partially sighted, concerned that the low hum of the vehicles puts those with imperfect sight at greater risk of being hit on the roads. Some are almost silent at slow speeds. Lotus said its "safe and sound hybrid technology" simulates the traditional grunt of a combustion engine, making it "instantly recognisable that the vehicle is in motion". It has already put the system into a Toyota Prius, one of the most popular hybrid cars on the market. The device kicks in automatically to produce an artificial engine noise when the hybrid car runs on its electric motor. When the car's combustion engine takes over, sensors fitted to the engine and suspension turn off the sound.The engine noise is produced by a waterproof loudspeaker positioned next to the car's radiator, making the sound seem to originate from under the bonnet. The system produces a pitch and frequency designed to help pedestrians identify the car's speed and distance. Lotus adapted the system from technology previously developed to block outside noise from the inside of its cars. Electric vehicles are tipped to become a more common sight on the roads over the coming decade as drivers seek ways of minmising the cost of ever-higher petrol prices and the issue of global warming moves up the agenda. Mike Kimberley, chief executive of Group Lotus, said: "The increased acceptance of greener vehicles such as hybrid and electric vehicles is to be encouraged; they have an important role in improving fuel economy and reducing emissions. Our technology increases pedestrian safety, while retaining the car's environmental benefits."Duncan Vernon, road safety manager for the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, said: "We need to look at ways of ensuring the safety of pedestrians. We welcome innovative solutions which address this." Lotus hopes that manufacturers of electric and hybrid cars will adopt the technology, which it says can also be fitted to cars already on the roads for a sum that would not "break the bank". Pressure is growing on the Government to introduce minimum noise requirements for road vehicles, to ensure the noise-augmenting technology is used and that the new wave of quiet eco-friendly cars poses no risk to vulnerable pedestrians. Clive Wood, transport policy officer at the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association, said: "Blind and partially sighted people use the noise of oncoming traffic as a cue for when it is safe to cross a road. If a quiet hybrid electric vehicle is approaching, then they will no longer have this cue and are immediately put at risk." He added: "We recognise the environmental benefits of these vehicles. However, more consideration needs to be given to the safety implications to visuallyimpaired pedestrians." Silent danger on the street *Electric and hybrid cars are so quiet many fear they pose a risk to pedestrians. One US study found electric and hybrid cars moving slowly had to be 40 per cent closer to pedestrians than conventional vehicles before their location could be detected. They have no noisy pistons, internal explosions or fan belts which cause the roar we associate with the traditional car engine. Hybrids pose an added problem. For much of the time, they are powered by a combustion engine. But at low speeds, an electric motor takes over, making them very quiet. The new system from Lotus kicks in when sensors detect the electric motor is working.

Blind Drivers

Hi All!

Well folks, here's something from GM and Carnigee Melon University, and if you have some sight, you'll love it, and if not, you'll still love the audio. This driverless vehicle was at the consumer electronic show in Las Vegas in January of 2008.
This vehicle will be on our roads in 10 years.
So folks, enjoy, and if you want to, become involved, and sooner or later,  we'll be in them as blind folks.
I've ben involved as an activist in this industry for 10 years now.  However, the industry thinks that the blind and disabled don't want these vehicles. Let's prove them wrong.
 

The link for the video on the today show, (yes this technology is now
mainstream and not a pipe dream any more), is
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/22537113#22537113

Harry
- VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.
 

Web Anywhere

BLIND, VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INTERNET, WEB, ACCESSIBILITY, SOFTWARE, DISABILITY, SCREEN READER

Description

Free software launched today lets blind and visually impaired people surf the Internet on the go. The UW computer science student who created the software,
called WebAnywhere, says more accessibility tools must move from desktop machines to the Web.     

Newswise — Visions of future technology don't involve being chained to a desktop machine. People move from home computers to work computers to mobile devices;
public kiosks pop up in libraries, schools and hotels; and people increasingly store everything from e-mail to spreadsheets on the Web.

But for the roughly 10 million people in the United States who are blind or visually impaired, using a computer has, so far, required special screen-reading
software typically installed only on their own machines.

New software, called WebAnywhere, launched today lets blind and visually impaired people surf the Web on the go. The tool developed at the University of
Washington turns screen-reading into an Internet service that reads aloud Web text on any computer with speakers or a headphone connection.

"This is for situations where someone who's blind can't use their own computer but still wants access to the Internet. At a museum, at a library, at a public
kiosk, at a friend's house, at the airport," said Richard Ladner, a UW professor of computer science and engineering. The free program and both audio and
video demonstrations are at
http://webanywhere.cs.washington.edu.

Ladner will demonstrate the tool next week in Dallas at the National Federation of the Blind's annual convention. WebAnywhere was developed under Ladner's
supervision by Jeffrey Bigham, a UW doctoral student in computer science and engineering. The research was funded by the National Science Foundation.

Free screen readers already exist, as do sophisticated commercial programs. But all must be installed on a machine before being used. This is the first accessibility tool hosted on the Web, meaning it doesn't have to be downloaded onto a computer. It processes the text on an external server and then sends
the audio file to play in the user's Web browser.

"You don't have to install new software. So even if you go to a heavily locked-down computer, say at a library, you can still use it," Bigham said

In May, Bigham was named the winner of the Accessible Technology Award for Interface Design for the Imagine Cup, a student programming contest sponsored
by Microsoft Corp. The prize comes with $8,000 and a trip to Paris in early July.

For the past month WebAnywhere has been available on request. Bigham said he's received inquiries from librarians who would like to make all their machines accessible on a limited budget. He's also had interest from teachers who struggle to find the time to locate free software, get permission to install it
on a school computer and then maintain the program so that a single computer is accessible to a visually impaired student. This software would make any computer in the lab instantly accessible for Internet tasks. The Web-based service also eliminates the need for local technical support: there is no software
to install or update because each time a person visits the site he or she gets the latest version.

To test the software, researchers had people use the tool to do three things typically done at public machines: check e-mail, look up a bus schedule and search for a restaurant's phone number. People using WebAnywhere were able to successfully complete all three tasks, using a variety of machines and Internet
connections.

Like other screen readers, WebAnywhere converts written text to an electronically generated voice. So far the system works only in English. But the source
code was released a few weeks ago and a Web developer in China has expressed interest in developing a Chinese version.

The UW team plans to create updates that will allow users to change the speed at which the text is read aloud and add other popular features found in existing screen readers. The service is currently hosted on a server at the UW campus.

Bigham is also working with Benetech, a Palo Alto, Calif., technology nonprofit that distributes free electronic books, to make its collection of more than 30,000 books accessible to blind users without them having to install any screen-reading software.
 

He believes this could be the first of many Web-based accessibility tools.
"Traditional desktop tools such as e-mail, word processors and spreadsheets are moving to the Web," Bigham said. "Access technology, which currently runs only on the desktop, needs to follow suit."

For more information on WebAnywhere, including a video demonstration, see
http://webanywhere.cs.washington.edu

© 2008 Newswise
.  All Rights Reserved.  

MAGGIE FOX
Editor in Charge, Health and Science
Reuters
1333 H Street NW, Suite 500, Washington DC, 20005  United States

(t) 1-202-898-8492 | (f) 202-898-8383

maggie.fox@reuters.com
Reuters Messaging: maggie.fox.reuters.com@reuters.net
 

FamilyConnect Launched by AFB

May 7, 2008

FamilyConnect ( http://www.FamilyConnect.org  , a new
web site for parents of children who are visually
impaired, which was launched on April 29 by the
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual
Impairments (NAP VI). The information you provided
about your services is searchable on FamilyConnect and
is featured in your organization’s own full page on the
site.

In addition to descriptions of organizations and their
services for parents and children, FamilyConnect also
features a calendar of events that lists upcoming
activities that parents can search for by interest
categories. The information posted in FamilyConnect is
sent via e-mail alerts to parents who register in
FamilyConnect. We hope you will regularly visit the
FamilyConnect Administrative Center
http://www.afb.org/FamilyConnectadmin/

your online tool for updating your profile and for
posting upcoming activities and events and news and
announcements about programs you offer for children
with visual impairments and their families. For your
convenience, the user name and password you will need
to use the FamilyConnect Administrative Center are
listed below:

User name: HAPVI
Password: reassume

(In addition, you need to provide your first and last
name, email address and telephone number.)

We are enclosing a brochure describing FamilyConnect
and hope you will share the information with families
you serve. Additional copies of the brochure are
available from Irene Liber at iliber@afb.net We would
also love to have you link to FamilyConnect from your
own web site. You can pick up the code for a graphical
or text link from the ”Link to Us” option at the bottom of
each page on site. If you have any questions or
suggestions on how we can make FamilyConnect better,
please contact us at
FCAdminCenter@afb.net

The FamilyConnect Team

AFB American Foundation’ for the Blind

Expanding possibilities for people with vision loss

Thank you to our lead sponsors, Conrad N. Hilton
Foundation and Lavelle Fund for the Blind, Inc., and to
The Annie E. Casey Foundation and Morgan Stanley for
additional support.

Every parent wonders, ”Will I do a good job raising my
child?” Talk to other parents on message boards where
you can share your stories, questions, concerns, you’ll
have the same question... and triumphs and many more
…
If your child is visually impaired, read blog posts and
personal stories written by parents about their own
FamilyConnect experiences. (www.familyconnectorg),
whether your child was recently diagnosed, has been
living with a visual impairment for years, or is multiply
disabled.

Create a personal profile and receive information,
events, and news based support, information, and
resources on your child’s age, eye condition.

Get instant alerts when new articles FamilyConnect
offers you: Timely, Authoritative Information Browse
article by age or topic on every aspect of raising a
visually impaired child, from family relationships and
social activities, to schooling and assistive technology.

Search a nationwide directory of local blindness
agencies to find out where you can get hands-on help
and professional services in your area.

Created with, and for, Parents

FamilyConnect is brought to you by the American
Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the National
Association for Parents of Children with Visual
Impairments NAPVI). AFB’s comprehensive research
and information, and NAPVI’s broadreaching base of
families, combine to create a unique resource and
welcoming online community.

Visit us today at  http://www.familyconnect.org and find
the support you need to raise your child.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hawaii Association of Parents of the Visually Impaired
Contact: Myles Tamashiro
Tel: 808-626-0535

Diamond Head Theatre for the Blind

Diamond Head Theatre is offering audio description for the blind on the 2nd Sunday of each LIVE theatre performance.

The following list of dates pertain to their shows this season.
 

                Movie Title                                       Show Date

All shows are at 4:00 pm and they offer a $5 discount on the $22 & $32 seats for blind patrons.

Contact:
Melanie Garcia
Box Office Manager/Volunteer Coordinator
Diamond Head Theatre
520 Makapuu Ave.
Honolulu, HI 96816
(808) 733-0277, x.310
mgarcia@diamondheadtheatre.com

i

Home Delivery For HAB members who have no time or unable to do their grocery shopping, you may dial (808) 590-2048 and look for George or Jackye Peacock - owners of AKAMAI grocery shopping & delivery service, who would be more than glad to be your personal shopper. Just give them a list of the items you need, the store where you want them bought and they will shop for you and deliver them right on your doorstep for a minimal delivery fee! Happy shopping!

	Letters to HAB
	It gives us great joy and a real sense of accomplishment reading letters from those whose lives   were touched by HAB. ************************* Dear Warren and Members of the Hawaii Association of the Blind: Thank you for your invitation to the HAB’s 41st annual convention and banquet held on march 8, 2008. All your hard work was evident in the success of the convention. Congratulations! What an honor it was to receive the Eva H. Smyth Award! I was so very touched and grateful to be recognized as I know that this award is a very special one. MAHALO for this very heartwarming recognition. It has been a pleasure working with all of you over the years. I started my librarian career at LBPH and I plan to end my career at LBPH. People have asked if I wouldn’t want to work at another library to do something different. My answer has always been, “No, I really like my job.” We have always had a dedicated and committed staff at LBPH, but could not do what we do without the support of organizations like yours. We greatly appreciate your efforts to help us to provide quality services to our patrons. Mrs. Ranger was very happy to hear of your present the Eva H. Smyth Award to Fusako and me. We are very proud to carry on her tradition and dedication and commitment to the blind community. When I train new staff, I tell them that the job will be a very rewarding one. I have watched people like Art (Cabanilla) grow up and become an outstanding member of the community. I have met and been touched by so many patrons over the years. All of you have helped to make my chosen career path a very rewarding and satisfying one. You always make me feel welcome when I attend the HAB activities. I look forward to continuing working with you and celebrating HAB’s 50th anniversary with all of you! Best wishes to you as you continue to advocate for the blind community. Your voice is a very strong one and you make a difference. Keep up the good work! Sincerely, Sue Sugimura, Librarian (March 27, 2008) <end of letter> Dear Warren and HAB Friends, I know how much Mabel Smythe means to blind people in Hawaii, so an award in her name is very special and meaningful. How surprised and honored I was to receive this award at the banquet at your annual convention. As an individual I feel quite overwhelmed and inadequate. However, when taken in the context of LBPH and its mission, its hard-working staff and previous librarians, upon whose work we have built upon and expanded, it is with pride and gratefulness to accept this award. Thank you for recognizing your library and its work. Thank you for your gestures and demonstrations of continued support in all that we do. We invite you and the HAB members to hear Michael Katzmann speak about the new digital machines and books that will come out late this year. Mr. Katzmann oversees the whole transition from cassette to digital formats so he has a lot of information to share. There will be 2 meetings on Tuesday, April 8, 2008 at LBPH as follows: 10 am to 12 noon; and 4:00 pm – Coffee Hour; and 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm Best wishes to your organization. May you continue in your good works and tackling the concerns of blind individuals and reaching viable solutions! Mahalo for your friendship, and thank you for this award, that lets me know we are doing something useful and good. Much aloha, Fusako Miyashiro (April 3, 2008) ***********************************************     ************************************ Dear Warren and all Members of HAB, You have done so much for the students here on Maui. With the money you gave us on Saturday, we plan to get the girl from Hana involved in the state peer groups. Although Margy works with her quite a bit, she is more isolated than any of the other VI students in the state, and it is much more expensive getting her from Hana to either Kahului or Honolulu! Thank you all for the great convention, lunch, dinner, socials and all that you do for all the kids in Hawaii! Much Aloha, Carol and Margy (March 11, 2008) ______________________________ Dear Warren, Thank you again for the wonderful dinner event last week. I support your mission. Please let me know if I can ever be of more assistance. Aloha, Rep. Corinne Ching (March 10, 2008) ______________________________ Dear Mr. Toyama and HAB, Warmest mahalo for the enjoyable day at the annual conference! I enjoyed meeting several HAB members and special guests. Lunch and dinner were a special treat as well. It sure was interesting to hear all about what is going on in the field of blindness/visual impairments around the USA and in Hawaii. A big thank you for your generous donation to the visually impaired children on Kauai. I am excited for the opportunities your kindness will allow! Mahalo and Aloha Jennifer Berg, TVI, OMS-Kauai ______________________________ Mr. Toyama: Thank you very much for the invitation to your 41st Annual Hawaii Association of the Blind Convention Banquet. I appreciate your thoughtfulness in having me as a guest, and I thank you for your generosity. Thank you for the generous support of our public schools. If you should need assistance in the future, please do not hesitate to contact our office. Sincerely, Norman Sakamoto (March 11, 2008) Chair, Senate Committee on Education, Senator 15th District: ______________________________ Dear President Toyama: On behalf of the Hawaii State Public Library System (HSPLS), I am happy to be able to thank you and the Hawaii Association of the Blind for the very generous gift of $1,000 presented to the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH) at your 41st anniversary banquet on Saturday, March 8, 2008. This gift will be used to help purchase materials for the planned upgrade projects at LBPH that will enhance library services for Hawaii’s blind community. I am also very pleased to learn that both Branch Manager Fusako Miyashiro, and Public Services Librarian Sue Sugimura from the staff of LBPH were awarded the Eva Smythe Award that evening. Your organization’s continued support of the library and its staff is greatly appreciated. Please continue to encourage your members to use the wonderful services that the HSPLS has to offer. May I extend our best wishes and sincere thanks to you and your organization. Sincerely, Richard Burns State Librarian, Hawaii State Public Library System   ************************* October 15,2007 Hello Warren, Julia, Amelia, Members of HAB, We just received the check for $1,000 and we are so grateful for it. It is just in time for the students' Pumpkin Decorating party, and some will be used to buy the pumpkins. I will send a picture of their creations after the party. What is really nice about these socials that we do is that the parents (and sometimes siblings) all participate with the students. It has been convenient to have petty cash when I take multi-impaired students out on mobility outings to teach specific skills like making small purchases and using a public pay phone. It takes a number of repetitions for the students to learn these skills. We have also used some of the HAB money to pay for the students' Go-Cart outing on September 29. That one was special because it was the last one for our students. Maui Go-Carts are closing down and moving to Oahu. The owner of the Go-Carts always let the kids drive - even the totally blind kids (accompanied by the owner, of course). He let them control the gas and brakes, and told them how to steer. He hardly ever had to grab the wheel to correct, and the kids loved the feeling of driving! So have fun now, Oahu! And thank you very much for your support, Members of the Hawaii Association of the Blind! Aloha, Margy Greiner and Carol Hotta *************************************************************** October 12, 2007 East Hawaii Regional Special Education Office 480 Waianuenue Avenue, Bldg. B Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Warren and the Members of the Hawaii Association of the Blind, Thank you so very much for the generous gift to the students of the island of Hawaii. With this support, we are able to provide meaningful experiences that allow the students to learn and grow. Most recently, the elementary and middle school students from Hilo, Kona, and Kohala were treated to a docent conducted tour of the Panaewa Zoo. They were able to learn about the behaviors and habitats of the animals and visited the petting zoo. Through the students' encounters with the animals, they were introduced to novel textures and sounds close up. In addition, the students were given opportunities to practice self-advocacy skills in a scavenger hunt and in purchasing their meals at the local shopping mall. Your support provided meals for the students in need and funds to purchase items for the scavenger hunt. Students were able to practice sighted/human guide techniques with their peers that needed assistance. They used their map reading skills. We sincerely appreciate your support and will keep you informed about our activities! With much gratitude and Aloha, Maryanne Genora, Lisa Martin, Lea Ono   ************** A couple of months back, HAB donated some funds to teachers of visually impaired students to augment their resources in holding a Tech Camp. This amount has created a huge impact on the success of the event and the kids brought home pleasant unforgettable memories. Here are some of the letters.   Dear Waren and HAB: Thank you so much for supporting our first Tech Camp Summer Program. It was a huge success and the students thoroughly enjoyed themselves. I’m enclosing some pictures and will forward a copy of the DVD when it’s finished. Thanks again for all your support. Mahalo, Nani (Joan) Andersen ********************************* Warren: Your donation contributed to many smiles and lots of fun! Thank you so much, Kristin ********************************* Tech Camp was a success! Thank you for your contribution. Jeannie ********************************* Hi, the kids got so much out of this camp. Thank you for your support! Liz Martin ************************************* Warren: As always, our lifesaver in our time of need. Thank you for all your help and aloha! Love, Amy ************************************* Way to go! H.A.B. Mahalo, Chrstian ********************************* Hi Warren! It’s such a nice feeling to know that we can count on HAB! The kids had such a wonderful time at Tech Camp 2007! Liz Causey ********************************** Warren: Thank you for your generous funds. It helped a lot. Susie ************************************* Thank you H.A.B. Thanks for all your support! Karen, Hope & Francine ***************************** The students loved the Tech Camp. Thank you so much for your continuous support of our programs and students. Aloha, Wainani   You can still read the messages read & resolutions passed during HAB's 40th annual convention held last March 17, 2007. Click here.
	JOBS (September 2008) The Blind Vendors Ohana, Inc. has an opening for a full-time Sales Associate. For more information , please click here. BVOI is an equal-opportunity employer.