by Sharon Lovering
The announcement of products and services in this column is not an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its staff, or elected officials. Products and services are listed free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The Braille Forum” cannot be responsible for the reliability of products and services mentioned.
To submit an item for “Here and There,” send an e-mail message to [email protected]. You may call the ACB toll-free number, (800) 424-8666, and leave a message in mailbox 22. Please bear in mind that we need information two months ahead of actual publication dates.
Albert Schweitzer Prize Winners
Sabriye Tenberken of Germany and Paul Kronenberg of the Netherlands jointly won the Albert Schweitzer Prize for their initiative in starting a schools project for blind children in Tibet.
Betts Award Winners
The American Association of People with Disabilities recently announced the winners of the Henry B. Betts Award: Dick and Ginny Thornburgh, longtime advocates for the rights of people with disabilities. The award was presented at the AAPD Leadership Gala on March 4.
Friedlander Medal Winner
On Dec. 11, 2002, the board of managers of the Overbrook School for the Blind awarded Rudy Lutter its highest honor, the Julius R. Friedlander Medal. The medal is awarded from time to time for special cause to a person who has served by advancing the work of the school. Rudy serves the school as a member of that board, and he is the first blind person to receive the award. Congratulations!
Leadership Award Winners
The American Association of People with Disabilities recently announced the winners of the Paul G. Hearne/AAPD Leadership Awards. They are: Albert Cheong, San Francisco, Calif.; Claudia Gordon, Washington, D.C.; Carrie D. Griffin, Washington, D.C.; Peter Cody Hunt, Pittsburgh, Pa.; and Sarah Louise Triano, Chicago, Ill.
Healthy Eating, Healthy You
March is National Nutrition Month, which coincides with a nutrition education and information campaign sponsored by the American Dietetic Association, designed to focus attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. For more information, contact the association at (312) 899-4853, or e-mail [email protected].
Community Service Grants
Braille International recently established a community service grant program. Its goal is to award grants from $500 to $4,000 to programs that will make a permanent difference in the lives of people who are blind and visually impaired through education, rehabilitation and/or employment. To be eligible, you must serve people who are blind and visually impaired, and be tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Applications will be accepted up to 4 p.m. on May 1, 2003. For complete information and an application, visit www.brailleinternational.org, or write James Redditt, President, Braille International, Inc., 3290 SE Slater St., Stuart, FL 34997.
Position Open
The P.E.D. Education Center, Florence, S.C., is seeking a teacher of the visually impaired to serve as an itinerant teacher in the P.E.D. area. Salary is based on education and experience. You will receive state benefits if hired. Florence is 70 miles west of Myrtle Beach and 100 miles north of Charleston. Contact Dr. Thomas E. Truitt, (843) 669-3391 extension 12, or by e-mail: [email protected].
No-Frills Internet Provider
An ACB member in Utah recommends this Internet service called Emsanet. Charges are $9.95 for the first month and $12 per month thereafter, or $99 for a year. Use the code “ACB” to get this lower rate. According to the company, there is assistance 24 hours a day, seven days a week, via automated customer service and toll-free tech support. For more information, phone (877) 367-2638, or e-mail [email protected], or [email protected].
Bill Irwin to Address Wildflower Pilgrimage
In 1990, Bill Irwin threw a pack on his back, harnessed his guide dog, and set out on foot on a 2,168-mile journey from Georgia to Maine on the Appalachian Trail. His story, recorded in his best-selling book “Blind Courage,” reveals the experiences that have molded him into the motivational speaker who captivates audiences nationwide. Irwin will be the guest speaker following the closing buffet banquet at the Wildflower Pilgrimage, 8 p.m. Saturday, April 26, at Mills Auditorium, Gatlinburg, Tenn. For tickets, or more information, call (865) 436-7318 ext. 22, or visit www.springwildflowerpilgrimage.org.
Blind Rhodes Scholar
Kamyar Cyrus Habib, Kirkland, is a senior at Columbia where he majors in English and comparative literature. A Truman Scholar, he also has concentrated in computer science where he designed an apparatus that converts text applications to speech. Cyrus is a black belt karate instructor, a downhill skier, and a published photographer. He is also blind. He is president of an advocacy group for students with disabilities, and has worked for Senators Cantwell and Clinton. He is also vice president of the Iranian students’ association at Columbia. He will read for the B.A. in European and Middle Eastern languages at Oxford.
Free Braille Transcription & More
Does your child enjoy a given series so much that he or she would love to read each and every book in it? Or is the whole class at school talking about a new book that’s just been released, but your student hasn’t had a chance to read it because it’s not yet available in braille? Introducing The Braille Bookstore’s READ WHAT YOU WANT program! We’ll transcribe any popular book for ages 2 to 12 into braille at no additional charge for transcription, i.e., your only cost will be our everyday low braille production price (based on the number of braille pages). For instance, you can order any book in the Magic Tree House or Cam Jansen Adventures Series in braille for just $6.95; any Goosebumps mystery for only $15.95; or any title in the Babysitters Club or Nancy Drew mystery stories collections for $19.95 and $21.95 respectively. And since we can usually get a copy of the print book you want transcribed locally, you won’t even have to mail it to us. Now, kids can read just about ANY book they want a week or two after you call us, without costing a small fortune. So give us a ring at 1-800-987-1231 (or send an e-mail to [email protected]) today to get us working on whatever book you want.
One more thing: we already have over a thousand braille titles for all ages available from our online catalog. What’s more, we have a gift shop and a “learning braille” category, featuring such popular items as print/braille flash cards, braille magnets, bookmarks, key chains, calendars, playing cards, tactile board games, and gift certificates. On our web site, you can even type in a list of words or names for us to make print/braille flash cards out of — for just $6.95! You can browse through our online bookstore (and order right on the web site using our screen reader-friendly, completely secure shopping cart) by dropping by: www.braillebookstore.com.
Accessible Shopping Mall
Do you have access to the Internet? Do you enjoy shopping? Visit www.mallforall.com/07090/ADA/index.cfm. The Royal National Institute of the Blind in the United Kingdom has evaluated this online mall and called it excellent. Its owner wants ACB members to check it out and provide feedback on accessibility improvements. If you discover a problem, contact Allen King via e-mail, [email protected], or phone (408) 268-0516. King has offered to donate his first three-month commissions earned from ACB member purchases to ACB; be sure to let him know which stores you buy from and how much you spent.
Audio Described Movies
Audiovision Canada has over 340 described movies on video and audio cassettes, as well as CD. Videos are $25, audio cassettes are $15. Call toll-free (800) 567-6755 ext. 228.
Publication for College Students with Disabilities
The U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights has issued a new pamphlet titled “Students with Disabilities: Preparing for Postsecondary Education: Know Your Rights and Responsibilities.” This publication provides a comprehensive, plain-English explanation of what students with disabilities can expect in the postsecondary environment.
To order copies of this publication, write to ED Pubs, Education Publications Center, U.S. Department of Education, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398. To fax a request, use (301) 470-1244. Send e-mail requests to [email protected].
Apple Unveils New Browser
At the Macworld Expo, Apple Computer unveiled a new web browser, called Safari. The new browser, which only runs on Mac OS X 10.2 or higher, can read web pages aloud, includes a Google search field, tracks recently visited URLs, and includes a feature to block pop-up ads. Although no one expects Safari to challenge Internet Explorer’s dominance of the browser market, Apple’s new browser will give existing Apple customers an alternative to Microsoft software.