by Sharon Lovering
(Editor’s Note: We are pleased to announce the selection of Billie Jean Keith as the new editor for the Here and There column. Billie Jean will begin compiling items for the column immediately and present her first column in our December issue. Again, we want to thank Elizabeth M. Lennon for her many years of excellent stewardship of this column, and Sharon Lovering for the excellent work she did while we were searching for a new editor. Look for Billie Jean Keith’s introductory column in December. Please submit items for the column to her, via e-mail at billiejean@2keiths.com, via snail-mail at the ACB national office, 1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1004, Washington, DC 20005, or via phone at the national office, (202) 467-5081 extension 26.)
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.
Disconnected
The USA Connection for the Blind, advertised in this space in September, is no longer available.
New Number
ABLE-NET, an Internet service provider listed in this space last month, has a new telephone number. It is (209) 556-9381. The company provides a variety of Internet services to all 50 states and Canada, and discounts for organizations and individuals with disabilities.
Vision Loss
The Jewish Guild for the Blind has a new brochure available called “Assisting People with Vision Loss.” It is designed to help sighted people understand how best to help family, friends, colleagues or other people who may be blind or visually impaired. For a free copy, write to the Public Relations Department, Jewish Guild for the Blind, 15 W. 65th St., New York, NY 10023, or phone Victoria Keller at (212) 769-6268.
Toy Guide
The National Parent Network on Disabilities, the National Lekotek Center, and Toys “R” Us are continuing their partnership in the production and distribution of an eighth Toy Guide for Differently-Abled Kids.
Toys “R” Us is making available an even wider selection of toys, coded with ability symbols for easy identification. If you have earlier versions of the Toy Guide, this issue will be of greater value because ideas, improvements and expansion of toy selections continue to be made in direct response to consumers. The National Lekotek Center has evaluated the toys with children in testing centers in the belief that ALL children should have the opportunity to select toys that will be fun, meet their needs and be useful for developmental growth. A very important component of this new Toy Guide is that it was created in part by parent suggestions from around the country. This guide includes an order form in the catalog to allow parents and families to order toys directly.
To request a copy, contact the National Parent Network on Disabilities, 1130 17th St. NW, Suite 400, Washington, DC 20036; phone (202) 463-2299.
Platform
The 2000 Democratic National Platform is available on tape for blind and visually impaired people. To get a copy, write to: 2000 Platform, Democratic National Committee, 430 S. Capitol St. SE, Washington, DC 20009; phone (202) 863-7191; or e-mail platform@dnc.democrats.org.
Opera
Do you like opera? Will you be in the Baltimore-Washington area? If so, you can see audio-described “Hansel and Gretel” (December 9-10, 13 and 15); “Faust” (March 15-25, 2001); and “Turandot” (June 9-17, 2001). Contact the Baltimore Opera Company’s box office at (410) 727-6000 for specially priced tickets and dates and times of the described performances.
News from AFB
Jay Stiteley was recently named the director of the American Foundation for the Blind’s midwest office in Chicago. He will oversee all of AFB’s efforts on behalf of blind and visually impaired people in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Dr. Dean Tuttle and Charles and Roberta Kaman received the 2000 Migel Medals from AFB. Tuttle, an executive with the Hadley School for the Blind, is a retired professor in special education who has written extensively on visual impairment. His 1984 book “Self-Esteem and Adjusting with Blindness” is still used in rehabilitation centers serving blind and visually impaired individuals. Charles and Roberta Kaman are the founders of Fidelco Guide Dog Foundation; they began breeding German shepherds and donating them to guide dog schools in 1960, and training dogs themselves in 1981. Fidelco’s “in community” training program is unique in the United States; the trainers take the dog to the person’s home and working environment to train as a team.
Also, AFB is renaming the Catherine T. Gallagher Award Fund to the William F. and Catherine T. Gallagher Award Fund. These awards recognize blind and visually impaired people who are role models in their community. To help AFB pay tribute to today’s blind and visually impaired mentors through a gift to the fund, call Lorraine Zamora at (212) 502-7620 or e-mail her at lorraine@afb.net. Recipients receive $1,000 and an expense-paid trip to the presentation at AFBþs 2001 Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute in Washington, D.C. March 16-18. Eligible recipients are blind or visually impaired people who: are nominated in writing by a community group, school, or civic organization; have two testimonies from blind or visually impaired individuals naming the nominee as their mentor or role model. All references should include and describe the person’s independence, community participation and contributions, potential as a mentor or role model, and public speaking abilities. Nominations must be in by December 15, 2000. Send them to Scott McCall, AFB Southeast, 100 Peachtree St., Suite 620, Atlanta, GA 30303, or e-mail them to smccall@afb.net.
Audio Games
Do you enjoy playing computer games? Personal Computer Systems produces audio games for the blind community. Windows games are audio only; everything is spoken by a human voice. You don’t need a screen reader to play. If you contact the company for a list of games for DOS and Windows, you will receive a coupon for $10 off any game. This offer expires December 31, 2000. Contact Personal Computer Systems, 551 Compton Ave., Perth Amboy, NJ 08861; phone (732) 826-1917, or e-mail pvlasak@monmouth.com.
OpusDots
Opus Technologies recently released OpusDots Lite, a new software system for transcribing printed sheet music into braille music. The software uses new “scan and click” technology, which lets the user scan the printed sheet music with a scanner, then enter the musical elements by clicking over them in the scanned image. The entered music is then translated automatically into music braille. OpusDots Lite is designed to translate only single-line music for band and orchestra instruments (e.g. flute, clarinet, trumpet, violin, viola), chorus (soprano, alto, tenor or bass music line but not lyrics), and sight-reading or music theory exercises. A non-Lite version of OpusDots, which can translate keyboard and multi-stave music with chords and lyrics, is due out sometime in the future. OpusDots Lite requires a PC with Windows 98 or later, a scanner, and an optional embosser or refreshable braille device for braille output. It is available at a special introductory price of $299 through December 31, 2000. Shipping and handling is $5 per U.S. order ($10 for Canada and Mexico, inquire for other countries). Program updates will be provided for free until the next major release. Contact Opus Technologies at 13333 Thunderhead St., San Diego, CA 92129; phone (858) 538-9401; e-mail opus@opustec.com or visit the web site, http://www.opustec.com.
Sierra Regional
The 9th annual Sierra Regional Ski for Light three-day cross-country event will be held in Truckee, Calif. March 10-12, 2001. Lodging will be at the Best Western Truckee Tahoe Inn; skiing will be at Tahoe Donner Cross Country. The weekend costs $135 if you bring your own skis, $160 if you need to rent them. Want a private room? Add $100. The fees include two nights lodging double occupancy, two breakfasts (Sunday and Monday), two dinners (Saturday and Sunday), and trail passes for all three days. If you want to stay over on Friday, March 9, lodging at La Quinta Inn in Sacramento costs $35 double, $70 single. Submit your application with a $40 deposit before January 15, 2001. Applications will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. Final payment is due February 15, 2001. Scholarships are available. For an application and more information (specify braille or print), contact Betsy Rowell, 9608 Mira Del Rio Dr., Sacramento, CA 95827; phone (916) 362-5557, or e-mail betsy@unlimited.net.
Fellowships
The American Association of University Women Educational Foundation is seeking applicants for the 2001-2002 Eleanor Roosevelt Teacher Fellowships and Community Action Grants. The Roosevelt fellowships provide K-12 public school teachers with up to $9,000 for professional development and projects designed to advance girls’ interests in math, science and/or technology. Fellows also receive an expense-paid trip to participate in a five- day teachers’ institute (July 21-25, 2001) in Washington, DC. Approximately 25 fellowships will be awarded to women teachers individually or as lead members of teams, which may include other teachers or administrators, men and women. The postmark deadline for the Roosevelt fellowships is January 10, 2001. For an application, visit http://www.aauw.org/3000/ertfapp.html, or call (319) 337-1716 extension 192.
Community Action Grants support innovative community-based programs designed to promote education and equity for women and girls. Individual women, including teachers or community activists, as well as AAUW branches, AAUW state chapters and community-based non-profit organizations are eligible. Grants provide $2,000-$7,000 for a one-year project, or $5,000 to $10,000 for a two-year project. One-year grants provide seed money for a clearly defined activity that must be innovative, community-based, and related to education and equity for women and girls. Two-year grants require a focus on activities supporting K-12 girls’ interests and achievement in math, science and/or technology, as well as school/community partnerships. The application postmark deadline is February 1, 2001. For an application, visit http://www.aauw.org/3000/cagapp.html, or call (319) 337-1716, extension 192.
Call for Papers
“2001: A Technology Odyssey” will be held August 3-5, 2001 at the Doubletree Hotel in Pittsburgh, Pa. The conference committee is seeking presentation papers that address topics related to training blind and visually impaired people in using assistive technology. Topics include but are not limited to: best practice; standards of training; instructor qualifications and certification; policy issues; and the future of access technology. Submit a presentation abstract of 300 words or less by February 1, 2001. The abstract should describe the presentation and the objectives to be met, as well as the title, length of presentation (half-hour or hour), equipment requirements, and your name, title, employer, and contact information. Submit it to Mark Uslan, American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300, New York, NY 10001; fax (212) 502-7773, or e-mail it to muslan@afb.net.
Scholarships
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic has scholarships available. The Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards are given annually to nine blind or visually impaired students at four-year U.S. colleges or universities. The Marion Huber “Learning Through Listening” Awards are presented annually to six highly successful high school seniors with learning disabilities. Competitions are open to active RFB&D members who have been registered for at least one year prior to the deadline — either individually or through their schools — and who demonstrate outstanding scholarship, leadership, enterprise and service to others. The application deadline is February 21, 2001. Call (800) 221-4792 to request an application, or visit the web site, http://www.rfbd.org.
Special Offer
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic and Time magazine have joined together for a special offer that benefits RFB&D and its members. If you subscribe to Time magazine’s large-print version, Time will donate the full dollar value of your paid subscription to support RFB&D. To subscribe, call toll-free (800) 234-8600; Time will send you a Time big-number watch with your subscription. A six-month subscription costs $40.
New Book
“Providing Services to African-Americans Who Are Blind: Views of Experienced White and African-American Rehabilitation Counselors” is the newest book from the Mississippi State University Rehabilitation Research and Training Center. It reports similarities and differences in the views of 26 experienced vocational rehabilitation counselors serving African-Americans who are blind or visually impaired. It costs $15; contact Kelly Schaefer at (662) 325-2001.
Apply Online
Medicare beneficiaries may now apply online for a replacement Medicare card. To do so, visit http://www.ssa.gov/medicarecard.
LCD Phones
BrailleStream-LCD 1.1 is the first assistive technology solution for offices using Digital business telephones that present call data in an LCD window on the telephone. It is intended to help blind people by processing the data displayed in the LCD window and providing the information to a voice synthesizer or braille display by tightly integrating with JAWS for Windows software by Henter-Joyce, a division of Freedom Scientific. It will also work with MAGic screen magnification software. For more information, visit http://www.adaptiveinno.com, call (905) 737-6388, or e-mail jcook@trangosoft.com.
Text Cloner
Text Cloner is a low-cost, easy-to-use OCR software package designed to be used with your existing screen reader. It can handle multiple columns automatically, and you don’t even need to worry about page orientation, because the program will rotate and straighten it for you. You must have an IBM-compatible computer (Pentium 200 megahertz or higher) with 32 megabytes of memory (64 or higher recommended), 40 megabytes of free disk space, and a CD- ROM drive at 2x speed or faster. You also need to have Windows 98, NT, 2000 or ME. Text Cloner’s retail price is $59.95. Check out a trial version at http://www.premier-programming.com.
Tech Mag
AccessWorld, the American Foundation for the Blind’s technology periodical, is a comprehensive resource for obtaining the latest information on assistive technology. It includes: objective product evaluations; assistive technology news; a question and answer column; a calendar of events; on the job profiles; conference reports and more. The September issue featured: “What Makes a Web Site Accessible?”; “CCTV Users Report Symptoms of Computer Vision Syndrome”; and “Update on an Industry Pioneer: Is Artic Alive and Well?” You’ll receive 6 issues a year, in your choice of on-line, large print, audio cassette, disc, or braille formats. You can read a free sample issue on our Web site, http://www.afb.org. To subscribe, or for more information, please contact AccessWorld/AFB Press, Subscriber Services, 450 Fame Ave., Hanover, PA 17331. Or call toll free (888) 522-0220 in the United States; international subscribers please call (717) 632-3535.