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Hawaii Association of the Blind |
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"advocating independence, equality and opportunity for the blind" |
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HAB Home || HAB History || Events || HAB Forum || Scholarships || Join HAB || Resources || Affiliates || Contact Us |
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| Aloha! And Welcome to the home page of the 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. | ||
Technology Photos-Audio-Video Archives
News & Announcements
On This Page
►Report on the 43rd HAB Annual Convention
►HAB Forum - March 2010
►Blind's Audio Description Project
►Hawaii Blind Vendors Training Conference
►Ho’opono 75th Anniversary
►iBill Money Reader
►KnfbReader Mobile Hints and Tricks seminar
►Letters to HAB
| Report on the 43rd HAB Annual Convention March 13, 2010 Pagoda Hotel, Honolulu, Hawaii
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HAB successfully celebrated its 43rd annual convention last March
13th at the Pagoda Hotel. It was an emotional occasion as State
agencies catering to the blind reported on their individual agency's
status in light of the current economic conditions. The blind
community heard how services for the blind in particular were
severely affected by the recession. We had resource speakers from
various State agencies. Joe Cordova spoke for the Division of
Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR). Fusako Miyashiro spoke on behalf of
the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (LBPH). Leah
Grupen delivered a touching report on the present status of
Ho'Opono. Christian Yates spoke on how the Department of
Education is doing during these hard times. Jeff Thom delivered the
annual report on the American Council of the Blind (ACB). Annie
Moriyasu talked about the Center of Disability Studies (CDS) of the
University of Hawaii which will be holding a Conference in April 2010
to be attended by a number of delegates from the Pacific Rim and the
United nations.
Corollary to this event is a workshop on Audio Description Project to
be conducted by Joel Snyder of the American Council of the Blind.
The banquet was highlighted by presentation of grants to the various
educational districts of Hawaii itinerant teachers. As a show of full
support, HAB donated a $30,000 donation to Ho'Opono to help the
agency carry out its services to its clients. In addition, HAB donated
$25,000 to the Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
(LBPH) which was received by Fusako Miyashiro and Sue Sugimura.
Also at the banquet were some prominent individuals like Neil
Abercrombie, State Representative John Mizuno, State Senator
Norman Sakamoto, Dr. Bouffard, Robert Humphreys, among others. In
addition, Mr. Stan Levin was presented with a special gift (a koa
clock) in recognition of his valuable contributions as legal counsel to
the blind community in Hawaii and as a symbol of timeless friendship.
You can also listen to the recordings of the Convention and the
banquet by clicking on this link.
HAB Forum - March 2010
The latest issue of the HAB Forum is now out and available in digital
format (pdf file) on the HAB website. Here are some of the highlights
from our official newsletter:
* In his column "President's Message", Warren Toyama has explicitly
voiced out HAB's full support for Ho'Opono and the Library for the
Blind and Physically Handicapped. During these trying times, HAB
proves it is a friend indeed to a friend who is in dire need.
Beth Flormata contributed three articles to this issue. To wit:
* HAB celebrated the New Year with an eventful party-cum-Bingo at
the Pagoda Hotel last January. Members and friends were treated to a
sumptuous dinner with lots of fun and laughter.
* HAB has sent Beth to represent the organization to the 75th Annual
Convention of the California Council of the Blind in Fresno, California.
She writes about her wonderful experience in this event.
* A new column called "Inspirations", this article talks about Life and
about making the appropriate choices in our daily living. No one can
make those decisions for you but you yourself. Continue on the fight
or give up, be happy or sad ...- your call.
* Ronald Flormata talks about how mainstream companies are now
finding the blind and visually-impaired community as a viable market
for their more popular products. Additionally, he shares his advice on
how to enjoy your accessible portable digital players by downloading
thousands of digital books and magazines from the National Library
Services.
* Filo Tu tells us about the current goings-on in the Blind Vending
Program. HAB's timely intervention was able to successfully save the
Program from losing one of the only two Vending Specialists at
Ho'Opono.
* Amy Downard of the Hawaii Association of Parents of the
Visually-Impaired (HAPVI) reports on the 2009 annual convention of
the organization at the Pagoda Hotel. The HAPVI convention was well
attended by families, educators and various community resource
programs for the blind.
* Carol Hotta of Keiki and Parents of the Visually-Impaired (KAPVI)
writes about some of our keiki, like Megan and Karl who were grateful
for the financial support provided indirectly to them by
HAB.
* Keith Okazaki of the Hawaii New Vision Association invites
everybody to a fund-raising event for Ho'Opono on the agency's 75th
anniversary. This special event will be held on Sunday, April 25,
from 3 to 8 PM at Ige's Restaurant & 19th Puka (across from
Buzz's Steakhouse). Come and meet up with old friends and make
new ones!
* Landa Phelan is writing on the job opportunities offered by the
Lighthouse for the Blind, an affiliate of the National Industries for the
Blind. Lighthouse is specifically looking for visually-impaired
individuals who would work in their office supply stores in Hawaii.
Landa, who happens to be a guide dog user herself, is happy to report
that some airports like the Honolulu International Airport, provide a
relief area for their guide dogs.
Furthermore, she congratulates the American Council of the Blind for
pushing the Social Security Administration to provide their blind
clients with information in accessible formats.
To read the full text of the newsletter,
click here.
Blind's Audio Description Project
(from Art Cabanilla)
Audio description, intended for persons who are blind or have visual
impairments, is the narration that conveys the settings, costumes,
body language, and sight gags in a visual presentation or
performance. Concise, objective descriptions inserted between
portions of dialogue or song can help listeners to understand
important visual elements. Audio description is meant to complement
a performance, not interfere with it. The narrative technique is
successful because it makes the visual relevant.
On the Accessible World broadcast, Snyder will highlight the work of
the American Council of the Blind's Audio Description Project (ADP),
an initiative that Snyder directs [www.adinternational.org]. The ADP is
a major initiative designed to promote and produce description for
media. The ADP produced description for the 30th anniversary DVD of
"The Miracle Worker", as well as a DVD documentary biography of
President Obama. In addition, the live ABC broadcast of President
Obama's inauguration was audio described.
Snyder will report on pending legislation that would mandate
description for broadcast television and give us an update on recent
progress in the courts regarding description in movie theaters. He will
also discuss how description is produced and share clips of
description for nationally broadcast television and major motion
pictures.
Date: Monday, March 1, 2010
Time: 5:00 PM PST, 6:00 PM MDT, 7:00 PM CST, and 8:00 PM EST
and elsewhere in the world Tuesday 1:00 GMT
Approximately 15 minutes prior to the event start time; go to The Pat
Price Tek Talk Training Room at:
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2
Or, alternatively.
Select The Pat Price Tek Talk Training Room at:
www.accessibleworld.org
Enter your first and last names on the sign-in screen.
All Tek Talk training events are recorded so if you are unable to
participate live at the above times then you may download the
presentation or podcast from the Tek Talk archives on our website at
www.accessibleworld.org
If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online
conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that
you need to download and then run. A link to the software is available
on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms.
All online interactive programs require no password, are free of
charge, and open to anyone worldwide having an Internet connection,
a computer, speakers, and a sound card. Those with microphones can
interact audibly with the presenters and others in the virtual audience
or text chat with the attendees. To speak to us, hold down the control
key and talk; then let up to listen.
Hawaii Blind Vendors Training Conference
The HAWAII STATE COMMITTEE OF BLIND VENDORS conducted a
STATEWIDE TRAINING CONFERENCE for blind vendors last February
13, 2010 at the Ho'Opono Auditorium. The conference was
unmistakably a great success attended by 49 individuals, comprised
mostly of vendors and would-be-vendors, and H'Opono staff. Leah
Grupen, the Acting Ho'opono Administrator, welcomed the group as
she opened the training conference at 9 a.m. Resource speakers
included:
1) Dennis Higashiguchi- Manager, Consulting Section, N&K CPA’s, Inc.,
Dennis discussed how customer service helps in the vending
business by focusing on his motto - AIM for PRIDE. The former stands
for Analyze, Initiate and Maintain. The latter means Physical factors,
Responsiveness, Informed, Dependability and Empathy.
2) Alan Y. Nakamura - Regional Merchandising Manager,
Tesoro Hawaii Corporation,
Alan covered the topic of merchandising and shared some sound
advice on how to select the mmost saleable products in Hawaii.
3) Nani Fife - Manager, Welfare Programs, City & County of Honolulu,
Nani spoke on how one can fulfill his or her dreams despite the odds.
She did this by using herself as an example.
4) Matthew Hert Project Manager, Blackstone Consulting Inc.
Matthew explained the role of logistics in managing successfully a
military dining facility.
Discussions were lively with questions and answers on the floor
between trainees and resource persons. Continental breakfast and
sumptuous lunch were provided free to the participants.
The Conference concluded with a speech from Mr. Joe Cordova,
Administrator, Division of Vocational Rehabilitation and currently the
Acting Business Enterprise Program Manager at Ho'Opono.
Ho’opono 75th Anniversary
Come & Join The Fun at The Ho’opono 75th Anniversary Fundraiser
Ho’opono is turning the Big 75 this year and the Hawaii New Visions Association
is inviting you, your family and friends to join all of us for tons of fun
at the Ho’opono 75th Anniversary Fundraiswer.
This very special event will be held on Sunday, April 25th, from 3 to 8
PM, at Ige’s Restaurant & 19th Puka (across from Buzz’s Steakhouse). Come
and meet up with old friends and make new ones! Enjoy ono pupus, live
entertainment and dancing! Win door prizes and raffles!
Best of all, besides having a great time, proceeds will go towards
supporting a great cause – Ho’opono’s New Visions Program! Here are just a few
ways your kokua will be helping New Visions:
- Repair broken braille writers and buy new ones
- Purchase appliances and supplies for kitchen
- Acquire materials and tools for Wood shop
- Fund activities and outings for students
- Provide outreach to community
So mark your calendars and call for your Ho’opono 75th Anniversary Fundraiser
tickets today! And make sure to invite your friends and family!
When
Sunday, April 25, 2010
3:00 to 8:00 PM
Where
Ige's Restaurant & 19th Puka
98-761 Oihana Place (across from Buzz’s Steakhouse)
Aiea, Hawaii 96701
Phone: 486-3500
Cost & Tickets
Cost is $20 per person and includes heavy pupus, soft drinks, coffee and tea.
(No-host cocktails will also be available for purchase.)
To buy tickets, please contact
Sharon Ige
542-9912
sharonige003@hawaii.rr.com
or
Shellford Cantan
585-8139
jrcantan@yahoo.com
Make checks payable to: Friends of Hoopono
| iBill Money Reader | ![]() |
Recently, we had an article on this website about this latest entrant,
iBill by Orbit Research, into the assistive technology bank note
identifier. What got me was its aggressive pricing - just $99 with very
convincing features compared to those we already have in the
market. 99.9% Accuracy, 1 second reading, lightweight, small size,
portability, 1 AAA battery required, affordable just to name a few. It's
interesting to read early users review of this invaluable device. Here's
a good one with a downloadable podcast even:
by Ron Graham (Access Abiloty)
http://accessability.blogspot.com/2009/12/review-of-ibill-talking-banknote.html
One feature some users cited which the iBill does not possess is
upgradeability by users. You have to send the device back to Orbit
Research for upgrades. I guess this was more of cost consideration
than on oversight on the part of Orbit.
This product is now available. The manufacturer accepts orders by
phone or through their website at
http://orbitresearch.com/7009/index.html
Orbit Research
3422 Old Capitol Trail
Suite 585
Wilmington, DE 19808
Phone from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, EST, Monday to Friday
Phone: 1-888-60-ORBIT (1-888-606-7248)
Fax: 1-208-279-4576
Due to overwhelming demand, it takes some time to process orders. It
looks like the company failed to anticipate the welcome problem.
KnfbReader Mobile Hints and Tricks Seminar Now online
Last Thursday evening many of us participated in a lively discussion
about the KnfbReader Mobile. The online and teleconference
discussion ran for nearly three hours and covered topics such as how
to read currency, reading public signs, future developments and many
other topics.
The seminar is now available for you to stream or download. To listen
to the seminar visit
http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com/products-mobile/products-mobile.php.
You may also download the seminar by clicking on this link,
http://hingson.s3.amazonaws.com/KnfbReaderHintsandTricks-March4-2010.mp3.
After listening to the seminar should anyone have any questions
please do not hesitate to email the list or me off list at
info@michaelhingson.com.
You may also feel free to call me at (415) 827-4084. We are ready to
help you configure and order a Reader of your own should you wish
one and do not yet own this wonderful device.
Happy reading to all.
Best,
Mike Hingson
The Michael Hingson Group, INC.
"Speaking with Vision"
Michael Hingson, President
(415) 827-4084
info@michaelhingson.com
http://www.michaelhingson.com
for info on the new KNFB Reader Mobile, visit:
http://knfbreader.michaelhingson.com
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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! |
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| Copyright © 2004-2008 Hawaii Association of the Blind |
| 1255 Nuuanu Ave. #1102 |
| Honolulu, HI 96817, USA |
| Phone: (808) 521-6213 |
| Email: toyamaj005@hawaii.rr.com |