edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins
The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The ACB Braille Forum” cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to [email protected], or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date.
Keep Your Eye on the Ball Golf Tournament
The Cleveland Eye Bank Foundation will hold the Keep Your Eye on the Ball golf tournament on June 16, 2025 at the Pine Hills Golf Club, 433 W. 130th St., Hinckley, OH 44233. If you’re interested, register at https://secure.lglforms.com/form_engine/s/wqbTPpdCbsJo5Mn7nUOlFA. Games are four-person scramble. The price includes continental breakfast, boxed lunches, beverages, a day of golf, and automatic entry into the skins game. Prizes and side games will be available for purchase at registration, including auction items, mulligans and raffles. For more information, visit https://cleyebankfoundation.org/.
New Guide Dog Product!
Memorialize the guide dog that means or meant so much to you with Danny’s Guide Dogs’ Labrador Retriever or German Shepherd pewter statue – complete with harness. The statue weighs one pound and is 4.5 inches tall, 2 inches wide and 5.5 inches long. The dog is in a sitting position, looking slightly upward. The front of the pedestal allows room for an optional engraved message.
The statue is made with lead-free pewter and is produced by master craftsman George Kysor, owner of the “Baker Art Foundry” in Placerville, Calif. For more information, contact Dan Kysor at (916) 706-1431, or email him, [email protected].
Lighthouse Guild Receives Grant
Lighthouse Guild has received a $100,000 grant from the Frances G. Scaife Foundation to expand its ability to provide essential technology skills and assistive technology training for people who are visually impaired. With this generous contribution Lighthouse Guild will launch the Frannie Scaife Tech Training Initiative. The initiative will provide one-on-one training — both in-person and remote — to serve visually impaired individuals beyond the New York City area. Additionally, it will offer group sessions and special workshops focused on essential assistive technology skills. For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/yeys4x26.
Now Available from NBP
There are a lot of new books available from National Braille Press. For adults, books include: “Healing Foods: 70 Recipes for Wellness” (by Cooking Light, available in braille and BRF); “Safe & Easy Steps to Lower Your Blood Pressure” (by Nutrition Action, also available in braille and BRF).
If you recently acquired some new technology, these new and updated technology guides may be of some help.
Updated: “iOS Basics for the Beginning User: Using Your iPhone with VoiceOver,” by Atty Svendsen and updated by Paul Martz, 2 slim volumes. This update of the popular book includes information about the Braille Screen Input feature available in recent versions of iOS. The book guides you through the most important features of iOS and VoiceOver.
New: iOS 18 Reference Card, by Anna Dresner and updated by Paul Martz, 1 small vol.
New: “Online Safety for Blind Computer Users: Staying Secure in an Ever-Changing Digital World,” by Kim Nova and Chris Nova, 1 volume. This book tackles the scarier side of the Internet, showing blind computer users how to increase their security online. It covers a wide range of dangers, such as online scams and malware, and offer solutions to help you protect your identity, your personal information, and your finances.
In the children’s section are “The Snail and the Whale,” by Julia Donaldson. It’s available in UEB for ages 3 to 8, and it comes with a stuffed whale toy.
Also new is “Miss Tizzy,” by Libba Moore Gray. It comes in UEB, and is geared toward ages 2-7.
Many of you may remember “Stone Soup,” by Jon J. Muth, from your childhood (or your children or grandchildren’s). It is available in UEB, and is geared toward ages 2-7.
For assistance with all NBP listings, call toll-free 1-800-548-7323 or (617) 266-6160 ext. 520, or order online at shop.nbp.org.