by Elizabeth M. Lennon
The announcement of new products and services in this column should not be considered an endorsement of those products and services by the American Council of the Blind, its staff or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The Braille Forum” cannot be responsible for the reliability of products or services mentioned.
Summer Music
The Summer Music Institute for Blind College-Bound Musicians will be held in July on a college campus in Bridgeport, Ct. This is a three-week residential program for students in 10th, 11th and 12th grades who have had some music experience and are serious about gaining skills necessary for the study of music in college. It will teach braille music, computer composing and notation skills, theory, keyboard and ensemble.
Students will have the opportunity to live and work in a true-to-life campus situation while sharing the fun of summer outings, performing and mingling with others of similar abilities and interests. Enrollment is limited to 10 students, who will be accepted based on their applications and telephone interviews.
The program costs $2,000. Partial scholarships are available. Applications must be completed and returned by April 15. Students under age 15 or in need of significant financial help should apply early. For an application, or to reach the National Resource Center for Blind Musicians with questions regarding braille music, contact the Music and Arts Center for the Handicapped, 600 University Ave., Bridgeport, CT 06601; e-mail 102730.163@compuserve.com; or phone (203) 366-3300.
Dot’s Right!
Dot’s Right! is an inkprint-to-braille transcription service. The company transcribes a variety of materials, including menus, personal documents, training/technical manuals and much more. One to 10 copies of a document cost $6.50 per copy; 11 to 25, $4.50 per copy; 26 or more copies, $3 per copy. Menu preparation costs $50 per job, and 10 cents per page. Scanning text and/or images costs $50 per hour and includes layout and editing. California sales tax (8.25 percent) will be added to the cost. Information is available in print and braille. Call or write for a free estimate and more information. The address is: Liz Conejo, Dot’s Right Transcription Service, 1864 N. Avenue 51, Los Angeles, CA 90042; phone (323) 254-9213; or e-mail lconejo@concentric.net.
Carved Art Puzzle
Katchina Internationale Inc. has available several different types of carved art puzzles — puzzles with raised pictures. The concept behind the puzzle is to memorize the puzzle pieces by touch, and put it together. These puzzles are not recommended for children under age 3. Puzzle pictures are: a decorated candle; an eagle; a tulip; a butterfly; a hummingbird; a maple leaf; a hot air balloon; a lighthouse; and the Statue of Liberty.
The candle and eagle cost $5 each; the tulip, butterfly and hummingbird, $11.90 each; the maple leaf, hot air balloon and lighthouse, $15.60 each; and the Statue of Liberty, $25.80. Prices do not include shipping or taxes. For more information, call (819) 775-6181, or write to Katchina Internationale Inc., C.P. 84062, Gatineau Quebec J8P 7K8, Canada.
News from AFB
The American Foundation for the Blind recently initiated a national campaign to define the potential solutions to alleviate the challenge of access to textbooks for blind students. The AFB Textbook and Instructional Materials Solutions Forum, a collaborative national effort on the part of agencies and organizations that produce textbooks and other instructional materials, works to ensure equal access to those materials. Forum participants include textbook publishers, educators, access technology specialists, producers of braille and recorded texts, parents of blind children, and blind or visually impaired adults. Partners include ACB, AFB, APH, AER, BANA, NLS, NAPVI, WGBH, National Braille Press, the Association of American Publishers, RFB&D, and many others.
Also, Scott McCall was appointed to the post of vice president of national programs. In this capacity, he will oversee AFB’s offices in Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas and San Francisco, as well as the Policy Research and Program Evaluation Department, AFB’s national program associates, the National Technology Program, and the Information Center.
AFB recently launched “AccessWorld: Technology for Consumers with Visual Impairments.” This 32-page periodical will be available bimonthly in large print, braille, on tape and via the World Wide Web. A preview issue is available at http://www.afb.org/accessworld.html. AccessWorld will cover developments in assistive technology, government policies mandating accessibility, and industry efforts to provide accessible products and services. To subscribe, or for more information, call (888) 522-0220; e-mail pubsvc@tsp.sheridan.com or visit AFB’s web site, http://www.afb.org.
“A Capital Idea! Successful Strategies for Getting What You Want from Government” is a guide to successful advocacy, which is now available on AFB’s web site via http://www.afb.org/gov.html. This manual takes you step by step through defining an issue, identifying the players, planning a strategy, forming alliances, meeting and communicating with legislators or regulators, and following up on contacts.
AFB is also seeking student interns for its New York and Chicago offices. Students must be in high school. They will work in AFB’s Product Evaluation Lab in New York City, and one will work in Chicago with AFB’s National Technology Program. For more information, call Mark Uslan at (212) 502-7638.
Need information for National Braille Literacy Month? AFB has a packet of braille information available for parents of young blind children. It includes information frequently requested by parents of preschool and early elementary children, such as learning braille as a sighted parent, sources of children’s books in braille, and suggested activities parents can do with their child to promote early literacy. For a packet, contact Frances Mary D’Andrea at (404) 525-2303.
And the Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute will be held Friday, March 3 to Sunday, March 5, at the Marriott Quorum Hotel, Dallas, Texas. The program is “Achieving an Accessible World: Partnerships, Roadblocks, Opportunities.” It will feature speakers from the private and public sectors, both in and outside of the blindness field. Early bird registration (before February 4) is $235; registration between Feb. 4 and 25 is $285; after Feb. 25, $325. To register, or to receive the most recent JLTLI Bulletin, contact Gabriella Smith-Coventry at (212) 502-7641, or Corinne Kirchner, (212) 502-7640.
Bookkeeping System
Check Mate Plus is a DOS-based, voice-friendly double-entry bookkeeping system that has a quick and easy amortization table that computes the answers to mortgage and loan questions. It has full documentation and is for IBM-compatible computers only. Contact Robert Langford, 11330 Quail Run, Dallas, TX 75238; phone (214) 340-6328.
Ratchet Belts
Chuck Martin of Ko Am International Trade Co., Tacoma, Wash. has available a new kind of belt called a Ratchet Belt. Instead of holes, it has a ratchet type of device which adjusts easily to different sizes. It has 5 1/2 inches of ratchets, compared with 4 inches of holes. The belt is leather, with a metal buckle. You may view the belt on the web at http://www.ratchetbelt.com. For more information, visit the web site, or write to Ko Am International Trade Co., 9332 S. Steele St., Suite U-444, Tacoma, WA 98444; phone (253) 535-9261, or e-mail Ratchetbelt@aol.com.
Sports Lens
Ever been out in the sun and wished your sunglasses could do a better job? Or have you been biking and wished for some better protective gear? Wish no more. DIGI has available several types of SportLens. You can wear them over glasses and with contact lenses, and do a variety of activities with them, including sailing, fishing, biking, and more.
The SportLens comes in visor and cap bill styles, and in a variety of colors. The lens is scratch resistant, adjustable, easy to remove (thanks to Velcro) and clean, and fully ventilated. For more information, call toll-free (800) 750-3444.
Meeting Needs
Resources for Rehabilitation recently published the third edition of its popular resource guide, “Meeting the Needs of Employees with Disabilities.” It provides information to help people with disabilities retain or obtain employment. Chapters cover visual impairment and blindness, hearing and speech impairments, describe organizations, adaptations, assistive devices and services, as well as suggestions for a safe, friendly workplace. It costs $49.95 (including shipping and handling). For a complete list of publications and prices, contact Resources for Rehabilitation, 33 Bedford St., Suite 19A, Lexington, MA 02420; phone (781) 862-6455; or e-mail info@rfr.org.
Mini Notebook
Easier Ways recently came out with a new mini perma notebook for brailling telephone numbers, addresses, birthdays, appointments, etc. It is flat and fits easily into a pocket or purse. It comes with 50 sheets (3 by 5 inches, two-hole punched) of clear Perma plastic filler. It makes sharp braille. You can add or remove a sheet easily, and make quick entries without having to remove a sheet. For more information, contact Easier Ways Inc., 2954 Shady Ln., Highlands Ranch, CO 80126; phone (303) 290-0987 or e-mail EasierWays@aol.com.
Louis Braille International
The Louis Braille International Cultural and Educational Center of Blind People needs your help. LBICEC needs books, office supplies and finances for distribution and sponsoring blind children in Bangladesh.
If you have any spare math instruments, braille reading materials, braille writing equipment, braille and talking watches, canes, eyeglass frames, or anything else that could be used in teaching blind children and adults, please send it to Louis Braille International Cultural and Educational Center of Blind People, P.O. Monno Nagar, Tongi, Gazipur, Bangladesh.
Audio Darts
Audio Darts of Pittsburgh will hold its third Harold Schlegel Darts Tournament the weekend of March 31-April 2, 2000. This tournament will be held at the Best Western Motel, 3401 Boulevard of the Allies, Pittsburgh, Pa. The room rate is $69 per night plus tax for up to four people per room. Reserve your room by calling (412) 683-6100. The first event will be held at 7:30 p.m. Friday; the tournament will conclude at 5 p.m. Sunday. The cost of the tournament is $65.
Make all checks payable to Audio Darts of Pittsburgh and mail to: Louis Wassermann, 2503 Silver Oak Dr., Pittsburgh, PA 15220. For more information, call Lois Briggs at (412) 366-2630 or Joe Wassermann at (412) 687-5166.
Web-Braille
Braille readers take note! The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped has developed technology that will allow you to read a book on the Internet. It’s called Web-Braille, and it gives you access to more than 2,700 electronic braille books recently placed on the Internet. Each year numerous new titles will be added. The new service began August 24. For more information, contact Robert Fistick, head of NLS’ Publications and Media Section, at (202) 707-9279 or via e-mail, rfis@loc.gov.
Free Books
The following braille books are available to anyone who would like them by calling or writing the address listed below. “The American Vest Pocket Dictionary”: more than 30,000 words, seven thick volumes (will not fit in your pocket). “The Cooking Class Cookbook”: good recipes for beginning cooks, 20 pages brailled on thermoform paper.
“Easy Ways to Delicious Meals”: a Campbell’s cookbook, one volume. “Cooking with Betty Crocker Mixes”: package directions and simple recipes, one thermoform volume (copyright 1974). “Muffin Mania”: one thermoform volume (11 pages), copyright 1983. “Stouffers”: package directions, one volume.
“Better Homes and Gardens Salad Book”: plain and fancy salads for every occasion, four volumes, copyright 1958. “Better Homes and Gardens Meat Cookbook”: all kinds and cuts, 400 ways to fix them, four volumes, copyright 1960. Write to 2655 NW Acey Pl., Corvallis, OR 97330; phone (541) 752-3325.
ZoomText Xtra
Ai Squared recently released version 7.0 of its ZoomText Xtra. It is able to run in both Windows 95 or 98 and Windows NT. It is also compatible with Microsoft Office 2000. Support for Windows 2000 will be available as soon as Windows 2000 is released. This version also includes support for TrueColor display modes, mouse wheel zooming, a talking setup program, and much more. To order a trial version, or for more information, visit the web site, http://www.aisquared.com or call (802) 362-3612.
Scanacan
Scanacan is a new device which will allow users to identify their groceries and any other item with a standard bar code. Scanacan, in conjunction with an omnidirectional handheld or mounted bar code scanner, keeps an inventory of what you have on hand. Simple commands will allow you to check what you have in your pantry, cleaning closet, music or video collection, and much more. You can add, change, delete, look up or print your records. Adding records allows you to create your own database of favorite items. Changing records allows you to edit any existing records to update price changes or enter new information about the item. Deleting the records will not delete the bar code from the database, so you can re-enter it at any time. Hardware and software sold together or separately. Contact Ferguson Enterprises, 104 Anderson Ave., Manchester, SD 57353-5701; phone (605) 546-2366.
English Dictionary
Jose Inacio Laurini would like to receive an English dictionary from the Library of Congress. He would prefer Webster’s or any other similar dictionary, if at all possible, on four-track cassette. If you have one you can give him, send it to Jose Inacio Laurini, 324 Conejo Motta Street, Cabreuva, Sao Paulo 13315-00, Brazil.
It’s Ready & It’s Big!
NASDSE and the Hilton/Perkins Program of the Perkins School for the Blind recently began distributing their educational service guidelines for students who are blind or visually impaired. This document is intended to provide assistance to state and local education agencies, service providers and parents. It describes essential program elements which must be considered in designing appropriate services for blind or visually impaired students, including those with multiple disabilities. The blind initiative document is the product of 13 national organizations’ collaborative efforts, modeled after the NASDSE’s deaf initiative guidelines published in 1994. The document is organized into five chapters, a glossary, and appendices. It has been distributed to state directors of special education, organizations, and parent and consumer groups. If you would like a copy, contact the Hilton/Perkins Foundation, Perkins School for the Blind, 175 N. Beacon St., Watertown, MA 02472.
Portset Reader
Technologies for the Visually Impaired has a new reading machine available called the Portset Reader. It is a stand-alone scanner with speech built in. All you do is turn it on, wait for the announcement, lift the lid and place your print on the glass. Press the start key and within a short time the document will be read to you. You can select either a male or female voice for the reading function. The scanner can read a page size up to A4 (slightly larger than U.S. letter) with a type size as small as eight points. It weighs less than 13 pounds and measures 18 3/4 inches by 10 3/8 inches by 5 5/8 inches. For more information, contact the company at (516) 724-4479; e-mail tvii@concentric.net; or write to 9 Nolan Ct., Hauppauge, NY 11788.
Baseball Game
Now that the World Series is over, you can obtain version 14 of the World Series Baseball Game and Information System. This game comes with 269 teams, including the 1999 Yankees and Braves and the all-star teams. You can play baseball on your computer using all the great teams of the past, Negro and Japanese teams, and many all-star teams. You can also review the history of baseball, find out who’s in the Hall of Fame, check out all the baseball records, and test your knowledge of the game on a 1,000-question quiz. The price is $15 for new users, $5 for updates. Send your check to Harry Hollingsworth, 692 S. Sheraton Dr., Akron, OH 44319; phone (330) 644-2421; or e-mail hhhollingsworth@attglobal.net.
Book Marker
Have you ever fallen asleep while reading a book on tape, and wished you’d had a bookmark so you could find your place? Wish no more. The Talking Book Marker is a simple switch that plugs into your cassette player’s REM jack. While you are listening to the tape, you hold down the switch. When you relax your grip, the switch releases and the talking book stops playing. If you are interested in learning more about the Talking Book Marker, or would like to order, call Jim Daily at (406) 782-2202, or send your name, address and telephone number along with a check for $27.95 per book marker ordered to: The Talking Book Marker, 835 Emma, Butte, MT 59701. If you have Internet access, check the web site, http://www.angelfire.com/mt/jdaily, or e-mail jandmdaily@yahoo.com.
Vision Tape Ministry
Vision Tape Ministry is a free bimonthly mailing of three cassettes containing church, Christian conference sermons and special music. For more information, call Jack or Gwen Kinly at (334) 297-6432, or write to Vision Tape Ministry, 34 Ramsy Rd., Phenix City, AL 36869.