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:
► Another Major Legal Victory
► Mind's Eye Travel
► What To Do In An Earthquake
► Trekker Breeze
► Gene Therapy to Cure Blindness
► FamilyConnect Launched by AFB
► Video Description Supported in 2 tested DTV Converter Boxes
► Do Not Call My Phone
► American Printing House - 150 Years
► Diamond Head Theater
► BlindDollar
► Blind Seeks Your Support
► Letters to HAB - Updated May 2008
► Jobs

Another Major Legal Victory

On May 21, 2008, the Federal Appeals court, ruled in favor of the American Council of the Blind, upholding a lower court ruling last year declaring that the government discriminated against the blind and visually-impaired when they printed US paper money in the same size, color and feel. This is considered a major triumph for the blinds of the country who struggle everyday dealing with currency transactions.

Click here to read the New York Times article about this reassuring decision.

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

What to do in an Earthquake
 

(EXTRACT FROM DOUG COPP'S ARTICLE ON THE: 'TRIANGLE OF LIFE' )

My name is  Doug Copp. I am the Rescue Chief and Disaster Manager of the American Rescue  Team
 International (ARTI), the world's most experienced rescue team. The
 information in this article will save lives in an earthquake. I have  crawled inside 875 collapsed buildings, worked with rescue teams from 60
 countries, founded rescue teams in several countries, and I am a member of many
 rescue teams from many countries. I was the United Nations expert in Disaster
 Mitigation for two years. I have worked at every major disaster in the world since 1985, except for simultaneous disasters.

 The first building I ever crawled inside of was a school in Mexico City
 during the 1985 earthquake. Every child was under its desk Every child was
 crushed to the thickness of their bones. They could have survived by lying down next to their desks in the aisles. It was obscene, unnecessary and I wondered
why the children were not in the aisles. I didn't at the time
 know that the children were told to hide under something.

 Simply stated, when buildings collapse, the weight of the ceilings falling
 upon the objects or furniture inside crushes these objects, leaving a space or void next to them. This space is what I call the 'triangle of life'.
 The larger the object, the stronger, the less it will compact. The less the object compacts, the larger the void, the greater the probability that the
person who is using this void for safety will not be injured.

 The next time you watch collapsed buildings, on television, count the
 'triangles' you see formed. They are everywhere. It is the most common shape, you will see, in a collapsed building.

 TIPS FOR EARTHQUAKE SAFETY
 1) Most everyone who simply 'ducks and covers' WHEN BUILDINGS COLLAPSE are
 crushed to death. People who get under objects, like desks or cars, are crushed.
 2) Cats, and dogs and babies often naturally curl up in the fetal position.  You should too in an earthquake. It is a natural safety/survival instinct.
 You can survive in a smaller void. Get next to an object, next to asofa, next to a large bulky object that will compress slightly but leave avoid next
to it.
 3) Wooden buildings are the safest type of construction to be in during an earthquake. Wood is flexible and moves with the force of the earthquake.
 If the wooden building does collapse, large survival voids are created. Also, the wooden building has less concentrated, crushing weight. Brick buildings
 will break into individual bricks. Bricks will cause many injuries but less
 squashed bodies than concrete slabs.
 4) If you are in bed during the night and an earthquake occurs, simply roll off the bed. A safe void will exist around the bed. Hotels can achieve a much
greater survival rate in earthquakes, simply by posting asign on The back of the door of every room telling occupants to liedown on the floor, next to
the bottom of the bed during an earthquake.
 5) If an earthquake happens and you cannot easily escape by getting out the door or window, then lie down and curl up in the fetal position next to a
sofa, or large chair.
 6) Most everyone who gets under a doorway when buildings collapse is killed.
 How? If you stand under a doorway and the doorjamb falls forward or backward
 you will be crushed by the ceiling above. If the door jam falls sidewaysyou will be cut in half by the doorway. In either case, you will be killed!
 7) Never go to the stairs. The stairs have a different 'moment of frequency'
 (they swing separately from the main part of the building). The stairs and remainder of the building continuously bump into each other until
 structural failure of the stairs takes place. The people who get on stairs before they fall are chopped up by the stair treads horribly mutilated. Even
if the  building doesn't collapse, stay away from the stairs. The stairs are a likely part of the building to be damaged. Even if the stairs are not collapsed
by the earthquake, they may collapse later when overloaded by fleeing people. They should always be checked for safety, even when the rest of the building
is not damaged.
 8) Get Near the Outer Walls Of Buildings Or Outside Of Them If Possible.
 It is much better to be near the outside of the building rather than the interior. The farther inside you are from the outside perimeter of the
 building the greater the probability that your escape route will be  blocked.
 9) People inside of their vehicles are crushed when the road above falls in an earthquake and crushes their vehicles; which is exactly what happened with
the slabs between the decks of the Nimitz Freeway. The victims of the San Francisco earthquake all stayed inside of their vehicles. They were
 all killed. They could have easily survived by getting out and sitting or lying next to their vehicles. Everyone killed would have survived if they had
been able to get out of their cars and sit or lie next to them. All the crushed
 cars had voids 3 feet high next to them, except for the cars that had columns fall directly across them.
 10) I discovered, while crawling inside of collapsed newspaper offices and
 other offices with a lot of paper, that paper does not compact. Large voids are found surrounding stacks of paper.

TREKKER BREEZE

TREKKER BREEZE, THE EASY ALL-IN-ONE HANDHELD TALKING GPS IS NOW AVAILABLE Longueuil, June 26, 2008 - HumanWare is now taking orders for the Trekker Breeze, a state-of-the-art talking GPS specially designed for the needs of visually impaired users. This simple orientation tool is designed for use when travelling in familiar surroundings or pre-defined routes. The product will also be appealing to people not comfortable with computers and screen readers. The new model is an addition to our popular Trekker and BrailleNote GPS systems, which have thousands of users worldwide. With this innovation, HumanWare will make GPS technology even more accessible to a greater number of people. The Trekker Breeze is available for purchase at an affordable price of $895. In the fall of 2008, The Trekker Breeze will become available in other languages for European and Asian countries. Like other GPS products from HumanWare, the Trekker Breeze provides talking GPS directions that help users know where they are, where they are going and what is around them. Trekker Breeze offers the important benefits of GPS orientation tools. It enhances autonomy and confidence in travelling and makes learning new routes easier. Users can record routes as they walk them with sighted assistance. Routes can then be previewed and activated for future use. As they walk by, users receive audible information, such as street names, intersections and reference landmarks. In case they are lost, they can retrace their steps. They can also reach favorite destinations with turn-by-turn instructions from their current position. The product makes it easier to travel alone, and allows people to discover and enjoy their surroundings. "GPS technology brings great benefits to visually impaired travellers. With this new addition to our product line, Humanware now offers GPS benefits to an even wider portion of the visually impaired population," said Lucia Gomez, Product Manager. "Easy and intuitive, Trekker Breeze offers basic orientation functions in an all-in-one hand size device. It is also the most affordable GPS tool specially designed for the needs of users who are blind." HumanWare offers the most complete line of GPS tools for visually impaired people. The line includes the popular BrailleNote GPS and Trekker. BrailleNote GPS is a full-featured GPS tool that integrates seamlessly with Keysoft. It is available with any of the BrailleNote family of products. BrailleNote GPS benefits from the highly efficient and easy-to-learn Keysoft interface. Sleek and discreet, Trekker is a powerful GPS solution running on a mainstream palm-size PDA. Trekker is highly appealing to professionals and students already familiar with computers and screen readers. "Trekker Breeze will make the potential of GPS technology even more accessible to the blind," said Lucia Gomez. The BrailleNote GPS and Trekker are currently available from HumanWare. For more information, please visit http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/products/gps About HumanWare HumanWare (www.humanware.com) is the global leader in assistive technologies for the print disabled. HumanWare provides products to people who are blind and have low vision and students with learning disabilities. HumanWare offers a collection of innovative products include BrailleNote, the leading productivity device for the blind in education, business and for personal use; the Victor Reader product line, the world's leading digital audiobook players, and SmartView Xtend, the first fully modular and upgradeable CCTV-based video magnifier.

For more information:
HumanWare
Nicolas Lagace
Tel.: (450) 463-1717
E-mail: nicolas.lagace@humanware.com

Gene Therapy to Cure Blindness

Breaking News from the Foundation Fighting Blindness
04/28/2008
Now They See
Landmark Gene Therapy Provides Vision to Nearly Blind Young Adults
Jean Bennett, M.D., Ph.D.,
lead investigator of the study, with her husband, Albert Maguire, M.D.,
the study's lead surgeon.
Three young adults with virtually no vision can now read several lines on an eye chart and see better in dimly lit settings thanks to an innovative gene
therapy aiming to reverse blindness in a severe form of retinitis pigmentosa known as Leber congenital amaurosis or LCA. One person was even able to better
navigate an obstacle course several weeks after receiving the therapy.
The three individuals are participating in a Phase I clinical trial at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which is funded in part by the Foundation
Fighting Blindness.
"I am overwhelmed with delight. We are delivering vision to people who were blind. This is the biggest advancement in the 37-year history of the Foundation
Fighting Blindness," says Gordon Gund, Co-Founder and Chairman of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. "We have achieved an incredible milestone in curing
blindness, and this advancement will help pave the way for the development of gene therapies to treat and cure a variety of retinal diseases including:
retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, Usher syndrome, and macular degeneration. This is a great day for the Foundation and all people affected by blinding
retinal diseases."
The development of the approach began when a form of LCA was linked to the RPE65 gene in 1997. Three years later, researchers began giving vision to dogs
born blind from LCA, including the world-famous Lancelot. More than 50 dogs have been treated and all continue to see well. The Foundation Fighting Blindness
has been funding this research virtually every step of the way.
Though the Phase I studies are primarily focused on safety, the first dose used in this study resulted in improved vision. An additional six individuals
will be enrolled in a continuation of this study to evaluate safety and efficacy of differing doses. The vision improvement in young adults seen so far
at the lowest dose gives researchers optimism that the treatment may provide near-normal vision to children in Phase II studies.
Results of the clinical trials, funded in part by the Foundation, were published on April 28, 2008 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The journal published
the results of gene therapy trials taking place at CHOP and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London. A third trial of the gene therapy, sponsored by the NEI,
is also taking place at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Florida.
Jean Bennett, M.D., Ph.D., lead investigator of the CHOP trial, reports that the team studied three participants, who ranged in age from 19 to 26. All three had one eye treated.
Bennett says that all three individuals reported improved vision in dimly lit environments and in visual acuity in their injected eyes starting two weeks after treatment. Nystagmus- the roving eye movement associated with severe vision loss from LCA- was also reduced in all three individuals.
The treatment developed by this team of investigators involves delivery of a normal RPE65 gene to the retina to augment function of the defective RPE65
gene that leads to one form of LCA. Twelve different genes that lead to LCA have been identified.
The gene is delivered using a therapeutic virus known as an adeno-associated vector or AAV.
Researchers believe the vision improvement from a single injection will last for many years. In earlier laboratory studies, a single AAV-based gene therapy
in more than 50 dogs born blind from LCA has been effective for more than seven years.
This study is being carried out by an international team led by The University of Pennsylvania, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the Second University
of Naples and the Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (both in Italy), and several other American institutions.
Click here to view national network news coverage of groundbreaking research, partly funded by the Foundation Fighting Blindness, of a gene therapy for
Leber Congenital Amaurosis, a genetic disease that causes blindness.
DISCLAIMER: Physicians differ in their approach to incorporating research results into their clinical practice. You should always consult with and be guided
by your Physician's advice when considering treatment based on research results.

Foundation Fighting Blindness
http://www.blindness.org

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

Video Description Supported in 2 tested DTV Converter Boxes

At midnight on February 17, 2009, all full-power television stations in the United States will stop broadcasting in analog and switch to 100% digital broadcasting. Digital broadcasting promises to provide a clearer picture and more programming options and will free up airwaves for use by emergency responders.

Congress created the TV Converter Box Coupon Program for households wishing to keep using their analog TV sets after February 17, 2009. The Program allows U.S. households to obtain up to two coupons, each worth $40, that can be applied toward the cost of eligible converter boxes.

A TV connected to cable, satellite or other pay TV service does not require a TV converter box from this program.

To learn how to get DTV converter boxes and coupons, necessary to continue receiving over-the-air broadcasting after February of 2009, please visit
http://www.dtv2009.gov

or call 1-888-388-2009 (That's "DTV-2009") or 1-877-530-2634 (TTY).

Video Description and Converter Boxes

WGBH's Media Access Group has tested two of the National Telecommunications and Information Administration/NTIA-certified coupon eligible converter boxes and has determined that you can
indeed receive and hear video description from a broadcast digital TV signal that properly includes it.

This morning we tested two boxes:

- Insignia from Best Buy
- Digital Stream from Radio Shack

We tuned in two different PBS kids programs broadcast on WGBH's
digital channel and heard the descriptions coming through.

Even better news is that both boxes have both CC and SAP (or audio)
buttons on the remote controls that allow you to access the various
caption signals and alternate audio channels without having to go
through the set-up menus.

You will find discrepancies in the on-screen menus when you use the
two different methods for controlling the alternate audio:

- both boxes display "English 1" and "English 2" in the on-screen
menu when you use the SAP or Audio button on the remote control. Use
English 2 for accessing the video description (or Spanish if you are
looking for that).

- in their set-up menus, both boxes display "English/Spanish/French"
as the options in the pick list in those menus.

And, of course, neither of the boxes have audible/talking menus for
control of the set up and control of the boxes.

The broadcaster must be properly tagging and sending the alternate
audio in order for the boxes to pick up those signals and present
them to the viewer.

But, all in all, good news!

Mary Watkins
Director of Communications and Outreach
Media Access Group at WGBH
mary_watkins@wgbh.org
http://access.wgbh.org
One Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135
617 300-3700 v/fax
617 300-2489 TTY

WGBH Boston informs, inspires, and entertains millions through
public broadcasting, the Web, educational multimedia, and access
services for people with disabilities.

Dr. Ronald E. Milliman, Professor of Marketing, Western Kentucky University
Chair, ACB Public Relations Committee
Chair, ACB Monthly Monetary Support Program (MMS) Committee

DO NOT CALL MY PHONE

Ten days from today (15 Feb 2008), all cell phone numbers are being released to
telemarketing companies and you will start to receive sales calls.
YOU WILL BE CHARGED FOR THESE CALLS

To prevent this, call the following number from your cell phone:

1-888-382-1222.

It is the National DO NOT CALL list managed by the Federal Trade Commission. It will only take a minute of your time..
It blocks your number for five (5) years.
You must call from the cell phone number you want to have block ed .
You cannot call from a different phone number.

Go to this website to register your telephones:
http://www.donotcall.gov

American Printing House - 150 Years
Its work guaranteed independence for generations
By Laura Ungar

Blind since age 20, Larry Skutchan likens the darkness he sees to silvery-green, shimmering water. But Skutchan can nonetheless read the day's newspaper, browse the Internet and generally live an independent life, thanks to technology from the American Printing House for the Blind.

Skutchan, 50, is technology project leader at the printing house and one of millions of visually impaired Americans helped by the Louisville institution, which celebrates its 150th anniversary tomorrow.

The printing house began with one employee in the basement of the Kentucky School for the Blind. In 1879, it was designated by the federal government as the official source of educational texts and aids for blind students
across the nation -- a designation it still holds.

Today, it has its own building, more than 300 employees and a budget of $32.7 million, which comes from a federal appropriation, direct sales and donations.

Changes mirror progress for the estimated 10 million visually impaired Americans, 1.3 million of whom are, like Skutchan, legally blind. Over the years, the nonprofit organization has created a steady stream of technology, from children's books to recorded magazines to personal digital assistants and sonar devices specifically for the blind.

They are devices that people like Skutchan use everyday.

He always carries his Braille Plus personal digital assistant, a small computer with wireless Internet access that can perform a number of tasks such as reading aloud from periodicals or the Internet. At his bedside he
keeps a Book Port, similar to an iPod or MP3 player, which can load and read electronic versions of books. And he often uses his stylus, a pointed instrument that makes dots in braille, and metal slate, a template to
correctly space the dots, to create strips of labels he can read.

"Technology has given blind people the ability to be on equal footing with sighted people in many careers," said Skutchan, who lost his sight in 1978 because of detached retinas in both eyes.

Paula Weise, executive director of the Blue Grass Council of the Blind in Lexington, said the printing house is a godsend to scores of visually impaired Kentuckians.

"It's just opened up such a world of communication for them," said Weise, whose husband lost his sight to diabetes. "It is just a lifesaver."

Computer revolution
The driving force behind the printing house was a blind man from  Mississippi named Dempsey Sherrod, who raised money and promoted the idea of establishing a place to create educational materials for blind children.

He proposed placing the printing house in Louisville because of its central location, and the Kentucky General Assembly passed an act establishing the institution in 1858. Federal funding allowed it to prosper, eventually leading to a new building on Frankfort Avenue.

The printing house's first book, a collection of children's fables embossed in 1866, used raised letters because braille hadn't yet become standard. The first books in braille were printed in 1893, along with early braille
slates and styluses, tactile maps and writing guides.

The printing house expanded its offerings in the 20th century, publishing a Reader's Digest in braille in 1928. It also published Helen Keller's bible; her large, weathered copy of Psalms in braille is displayed in the
printing house museum.

Talking books, magazines and a recorded encyclopedia were eventually developed in a recording studio at the printing house, first as records and later as cassette tapes.

Fred Gissoni, a 78-year-old blind Louisvillian who works in technical service at the printing house, recalled the large recorder he used in the 1950s to listen to talking books. "I remember how marvelous I thought it
was to carry an 18-pound recorder around," Gissoni said.

Eventually, he and others said, computers revolutionized printing house offerings.

IBM led the development of a computerized braille translation in 1964, and by 1987, most braille production was computerized. The printing house introduced a database of accessible textbooks in the late 1980s, and in
1997 made it available on the Internet.

Through the years, the printing house has also sold learning aids unrelated to reading, such as tactile games, globes and computer math programs. Recent offerings include a sonar aid that the printing house began distributing in
2004, which detects objects or people and tells the user how far away they
are by emitting tones that sound like chirping birds.

'An essential place'
The printing house of today is a modern place buzzing with activity.

In one area is a factory manufacturing reading materials in braille, where an old metal printer sits amid several new ones. On a recent day, two  women collaborated to create pages with both braille and large print.

In another part of the building, proofreader Laura Myers moved her fingers gracefully across braille type and read aloud as copy holder Monica  Thurston followed along on regular written pages.

Myers is among the 10 percent of printing house workers who are visually impaired, as is field service representative Maria Delgado. Delgado said she began using a printing house writing slate when she lost her sight after
high school, while living in Mexico. Today, she uses much more advanced technology, including software developed by Skutchan.

Printing house products "opened up a lot of doors for me," said Delgado,  37. "We have a lot more opportunities than we had before."

Paula Penrod, public relations liaison for the Kentucky School for the Blind, said her school depends on the printing house to help serve its 70 students and provide resources to visually impaired students mainstreamed in the state's school districts. Frequently used items include light boxes, abacuses, specialized paper and books in braille.

"There are just so many products that Kentucky students couldn't do without," Penrod said. "They're making a tremendous difference."

Marcellus Mayes of Louisville, who is blind and serves as president of the Metro Disabilities Coalition, said he has for years used a printing house recorder to take notes and remember things. Besides providing such tools,
he said the printing house has raised awareness of blind people and their growing independence.

For instance, representatives from the printing house sometimes work with
organizations of blind people to advocate for their causes in Frankfort.

"They have a lot of respect all over the nation for what they do," Mayes said. "It's an essential place."

Reporter Laura Ungar can be reached at (502) 582-7190.lungar@courier-journal.com
The Courier-Journal

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

BlindDollars

My friend, Art, recently sent me an email with an audio attachment from blindDollars.org. The name alone tells it all. Of course, I had to check it out and I did. Cute jingle. It's about our demand as Americans with vision loss/impairment to accessible currency. We, in the Hawaii Association of the Blind, in total support of the national American Council of the Blind, have always clamored for an accessible US currency. I use a Note Teller in my work as a cashier and I have to say, the device is not 100% accurate. There are times when it read a $5 bill as $50! Whoah! And that's not to mention the so many "cannot read" responses.

Mary McVicker Scroggs of blindDollars.org is urging us to take immediate action to contact government officials - the policy makers of the country by sending a message to your Representative, Senators, or favorite Presidential candidate. Visit her website at
http://www.blinddollars.org
where you can click on a link that brings you to a web page containing a draft message to be sent to your favorite Presidential candidate. The message enumerates the various reasons for accessible currency and its benefits.

Also, there is a video interview of Mary at youtube,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vLn0pjrVNHk
to learn more.

And now, listen to the jingle.

Blind Seeks Your Support

An initiative has been started to collect signatures online from blind and visually-impaired individuals, including their sighted friends and families who share our cause. The petition reads as follows:

To:  U.S. Congress  

We, the undersigned blind and visually impaired individuals, or supporters thereof, are dismayed and frustrated by the decision of the U.S. Department of the Treasury to appeal the decision to create accessible paper currency. We support the decision of Judge James Robertson in the federal district court in the District of Columbia for the following reasons:
Because accessible currency would allow blind or visually impaired people to independently identify the bills in their hand without depending on the good will of others.
Because accessible currency would increase employment opportunities for blind and visually impaired people, as jobs regarding the quick handling of cash, such as those behind a cash register, could be done easily.
Because the government’s blithe assertion that blind and visually impaired people could simply use credit cards does not take into account the fact that credit cards are not accepted by all businesses the way cash is accepted.
Because although it is true, as the government asserts, there are machines that can identify paper money as it is currently designed, such machines are unaffordable to many, and are neither as fast or as portable as a person’s own hands.
Because 180 other countries have already proven that it is possible to create currency that allows blind and visually impaired individuals to participate fully in the commerce of their countries.
And because, it is our hope that a government which is progressive enough to insist on the right of blind and visually impaired people to vote independently, the right of visually impaired and blind people to access information produced by the government in alternative formats such as Braille, and the right of blind and visually impaired people to equal education and employment opportunities will also recognize that blind and visually impaired people should be able to access the information provided in one of this nation’s oldest printed materials: our own government’s currency.

A special website was created and written by Michael Malver ( mmalver@visi.com ). specifically for this purpose. If you believe that blind and visuall-impaired persons should have access to the US currency, then visit http://www.money4all.info  to sign up in showing your support.

Much mahalo!

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.
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