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The Florida Division of Blind Services Newsletter Volume 5, Number 3, March 2006 |
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Table of ContentsDBS News Around the State Around the Nation Around the World Tools for Living Website of the Month Announcements Recipes To Our Readers DBS NewsDistrict IIFirst and foremost, District II staff would like to wish everyone a happy and prosperous year. This past year has been prosperous for us. We have been engaged in several activities such as our Open House (which was held during vision awareness month) October, 2005. It was a great success. We had several staff members from DVR and other local non-profit community agencies attend who participated and received information about all our programs and prospective services. We also had one of our local low vision vendors come and provide a demonstration of the most up-to-date technology and low vision aids available. Since then we have had the pleasure of putting together our Second Annual Employment Training Workshop for VR participants seeking employment. Heading this project was our customer service specialist, Valerie Walker. Through her community contacts—and with the support of her colleagues and District VR Counselors—employers, community service providers, and DBS-VR participants who went through the first workshop (and are currently employed) provided our current participants with information related to interviewing techniques, job applications, job search, resume writing techniques, and professional work ethics/behavior. The workshop lasted two days with the final day being devoted to mock interviews and feedback. After their employment training, participants provided their own experiences. Because of their feedback about the workshop, our local CRP facility has offered to provide a one-day follow up workshop each month for our participants who require additional assistance. This is our second year hosting the Employment Training Workshop. Last year, two of our participants where employed in a competitive setting. Recently, another of our participants was hired for a competitive position at FSU. It is interesting to note that most of the participants who went through the Employment Training Workshop also attended the Rethinking Unemployment Training Workshop several years ago. It is too soon to tell, but we think we are on the right track towards increasing our successful closures. From the Desk of Valerie Walker, Customer Service Specialist The Second Annual Employment Training Workshop, held at the District II office in Tallahassee, was a great success. We were privileged to have several helpful keynote speakers who provided tools that would better assist our clients in obtaining employment. One of our vendors shared information with us such as what type of system the company uses and how we could make it compatible to what they would need in the work place (JAWS, CCTV, etc.). The turn out was great. Six clients attended the workshop. One of our local sister agencies will do follow-up training for clients as needed between our training sessions. Also, an individual who attended our last training came and shared how he benefited from the first training. He is now employed in a full-time position with benefits. Another success story is that of a young lady who had been unemployed for some time. She received a call for a position the day our training ended. Thanks to all who played a part in putting this training together and for their participation. During the three day period of January 19-21, District II attended the Florida Rehab Council Forum. Once again, this provided the District with information that we hope will be useful as we strive to provide better service to our clients. ILAP Specialist La'Verne Beckwith has been involved in community outreach by demonstrating low vision aids (including CCTVs) during Counties Senior Day Health Fairs. On January 24, 2006, she attended the Wakulla County Senior Citizens Center where she made a presentation about the various eye conditions that most senior citizens are diagnosed with and that affect their ability to live independently. She provided training on how to use the low vision aids she demonstrated. Her presentation brought about enough interest to warrent seeking a vendor who would come in and provide further information on low vision aids for purchase. The event was advertised in the Wakulla Newspaper and was very successful. The City of Tallahassee public transportation system is undergoing a major renovation. Improvements will include new buses, routes, and shelters. The old name "TalTran" is no more. The new name is "StarMetro." Two of our staff (including an intern) are part of a local congregation group that is concerned about these new changes. They believe that our bus system needs to be more user-friendly to commuters who have a disability. From the Desk of Beth Crain, District Supervisor Beth has come across this information that we hope will be a good resource for all VR counselors with a college caseload. The Washington Center (TWC) for Internships & Academic Seminars: Good internships are prized by today's college students. These short-term work experiences are critical stepping stones to professional success. The Washington Center has worked with over 1,000 colleges and universities to provide high quality internships. The Washington Center offers a credit-worthy experience consisting of the following:
Below are just a few recent examples of thousands of TWC internship placements:
For more information, go to: http://www.twc.edu/ or you may email: info@twc.edu. In conclusion, we look forward to this Spring and Summer season. We have already begun preparations for our one-day Middle School Enrichment Program and our 4-week Summer Transition Program. DBS Launches Outreach CampaignI am pleased to announce the launch of our Statewide Public Outreach Campaign (SPOC). This enterprise will boldly take DBS where we have never gone before! SPOC's mission is to inform at least four million Florida residents of the services provided by the Florida Division of Blind Services (DBS) during the next six months. Funding for this project has been provided by DBS. Using a variety of electronic and print media, SPOC will provide information about our programs for children, independent living, vocational rehabilitation, and the library. To do this, we will use a mix of paid and free advertising on radio and television, as well as print media. The radio campaign, already under way, will run through the first week of March on 56 Florida radio stations. The statewide radio campaign will cover every geographic area of the State, and will reach at least 950,000 listeners. For the television campaign, we are using a 30 second public service announcement featuring Governor Bush to promote the general services of DBS. We are also running an ad for the library's talking book program featuring actress Rita Moreno. Our TV ads will appear on the Warner Brothers network in Orlando, WKCF, Channel 18 (http://www.wb18.com/), the ABC affiliate in Pensacola, WEAR, its sister station WFGX, and on the NBC affiliate in Tampa, WFLA, Channel 8. WFLA (http://www.wfla.com/) has more viewers that any other TV station in Florida (3.7 million). In addition, web banner ads promoting both DBS general services and the library will appear in rotation with other advertisers at the top of TV station WEAR's website (http://www.weartv.com/) for the duration of the ad campaign and will link visitors to the DBS Web site. The TV ads mentioned above will reach a total of approximately 1.5 million Florida residents during February and March 2006. Arrangements are being made for TV coverage in other areas as well, including southeast Florida, Ft. Myers, and the Jacksonville area. Both the radio and television stations are also planning to give us a substantial amount of free air time where possible. There are many blind and visually impaired people living in Florida who are unaware of DBS, the Talking Book Library, and the services we both offer. The public outreach campaign we have undertaken will reach millions of Floridians. It is our hope that those who need our services will hear about us and take that initial step towards a more self-sufficient and independent life. Around the StateNo Person Left BehindEach year Floridians with disabilities must be prepared for what mother nature brings to us in the way of Hurricanes and other natural disasters. This year we are encouraging all persons with disabilities to voluntarily register with "No Person Left Behind." "No Person Left Behind" is a program with four main goals:
We want to be able to provide educational material and tools to every person who has a disability so that they can become better informed as to what to do in case of a hurricane or other disaster. After they have learned what to do, we want to empower them to take control of their own disaster plan and follow through with it. On behalf of the "No Person Left Behind" program, I would like to announce that a new mailing list has been created to handle the day to day messages from all over the state that keep everyone informed about what is going on. I would like to encourage everyone to join this mailing list so that you can stay current on this program. Join the "No Person Left Behind" mailing list by visiting the website at: adaboardswfl.org/mailman/listinfo/nopersonleftbehind-information_adaboardswfl.org. You can stay connected and provide input for others who are working on this program. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me or the Florida Division of Blind Services. Contact information: MsLinda Carter (ADA Advisory Board of Southwest Florida) (239) 368-6846 (239) 826-8696
Florida Division of Blind Services (800) 342-1828
Websites: Parents of Blind Children MeetingThe National Federation of the Blind of Florida-Parents will hold its first full-length seminar during the 2006 NFBF State Convention May 26th through 29th at the Holiday Inn Resort, 6515 International Dr., in Orlando. Carol Castellano, author, educator, and advocate, will speak on educating blind child in the public school system. Other highlights include a cane walk/scavenger hunt, Braille books and materials exchange, technology expos, and mentoring and blind student discussion panels. Convention participants receive a special rate of $72 per night. Some financial assistance will be available. For more information contact: Debby Brackett Phone: (772) 286-8812 Email mailto:bwbddl@yahoo.com?subject=NFBF-Parents (please put "NFBF-Parents" in the subject line). Parents and educators are invited to join the parents' list serve at: nfbf-parents-subscribe@yahoogroups.com Please include a brief introduction. To learn more about NFBF-Parents, visit the website at: Around the NationChase and the Chicago Lighthouse Partner to Train Visually Impaired Consumers on ATM Use(Bank Installs ''Talking'' ATM at Chicago Lighthouse, Donating 300 Earphones) CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Chase, Chicago's largest bank, and the Chicago Lighthouse for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired are partnering to train the visually impaired on using automated teller machines. Chase has installed a fully accessible, state-of-the-art ATM at the Chicago Lighthouse, 1850 W. Roosevelt Rd.—the first ATM at the site. Visually impaired customers plug a standard set of earphones into the ATM to hear voice prompts that take them step by step through a transaction. The earphone outlet is easily accessible on the front of the ATM. Chase bankers will train Chicago Lighthouse staff on using the ATMs and the staff will train hundreds of employees and individuals served by the Chicago Lighthouse on an ongoing basis. Chase will also donate up to 300 sets of earphones which the Chicago Lighthouse will distribute. The earphones can be used at any accessible ATM. "This initiative allows people who are blind to utilize ATMs throughout the metropolitan area," noted James Kesteloot, president and executive director of the Chicago Lighthouse. "It's significant because it mainstreams people who are blind or visually impaired and gives them the independence to be able to handle banking transactions right in their own communities." Chase predecessor Bank One was a pioneer in providing accessible ATMs for the visually impaired, installing the first "talking" ATMs in Illinois and Ohio in 2001. Today, all 1,200 Chase ATMs in the Chicago area are accessible to people who are blind. Chase customers can obtain earphones at any Chase branch. "Chase is committed to delivering service, convenience, and choice to all of our customers," said Michael Cleary, Chief Operating Officer of Chase's Consumer Bank. "Our partnership with the Chicago Lighthouse will help us equip more visually impaired individuals to manage their own financial needs by taking advantage of the convenience of our extensive ATM network." Chase's Access Ability Resource Center, which serves to identify ways to make products more accessible to disabled employees and customers, worked with Chase's Consumer Bank to place the ATM at the Chicago Lighthouse. Chase offers the following additional services to visually impaired consumers:
Visually impaired customers may also use their personal software to bank online through http://www.chase.com/. Ongoing Partnership The ATM is the latest step in Chase's ongoing partnership with the Chicago Lighthouse to assist blind and visually impaired individuals with life skills. Earlier this year, Chase employees began teaching resume writing skills and performing mock job interviews at the Chicago Lighthouse to help prepare visually impaired people to seek employment. "Chase is committed to a diverse workforce, as well as to serving our diverse customer base," Cleary said. "Resume and interview help prepares individuals for the experience of seeking a job while it also helps our staff prepare to work with potential job candidates who have different needs." "With unemployment rates among people who are blind or visually impaired hovering around 70 percent, the most important thing any blind person wants is a job," Kesteloot maintained. "Thanks to Chase, job seekers who are blind or visually impaired have had access to additional training that can make the difference in whether they get a position or not get one." About Chase Chase, the U.S. consumer and commercial banking brand of JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE:JPM), has more than 100 million credit cards issued and serves consumers and small businesses through more than 2,600 bank branches, 7,100 ATMs and 225 mortgage offices as well as through relationships with over 15,000 auto dealerships, 2,500 schools and universities, and 2,100 insurance agencies. It also serves more than 25,000 commercial banking clients, including corporations, municipalities, financial institutions, and not-for-profit entities with annual revenues generally ranging from $10 million to $2 billion. About The Chicago Lighthouse Celebrating its centennial in 2006, The Lighthouse is one of the oldest social service agencies in Chicago. It offers 23 different programs that in fiscal year 2005 provided direct service to 23,688 individuals. Among them are a vocational services program; a clock-making facility; a school for multi-disabled infants and children; a low vision clinic; a legal clinic; a Braille library and CRIS Radio; and a reading service for people who are blind or visually impaired. Because of the scope and breath of its services, The Lighthouse is regarded as the most comprehensive agency of its kind in the Midwest and a model agency nationally. Contact for Chicago Lighthouse: Dominic Calabrese (312) 997-3662 dominic.calabrese@chicagolighthouse.org
Contact for Chase Bank:
Calmetta Coleman (312) 732-6209 Source: Chicago Business Wire, Press Release, January 18, 2006. Scientists Link Another Gene to Degenerative BlindnessA University of Wisconsin-Madison team has taken a small but crucial step forward in the ongoing fight against retinal degeneration. Working with fruit flies, the scientists have discovered that a mutation in a common gene called calnexin can derail the light-processing activity of cells. Newswise - Researchers have labored for decades to understand blindness-inducing neurodegenerative diseases such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP). It has been a painstaking scientific journey as AMD and RP each belong to a complex family of disorders in which every disorder has many forms and each form is encoded with a distinct genetic recipe. Even AMD, a major cause of vision loss in people over 60, is actually a collection of more than 50 diseases. Now, a team of researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison has taken a small but crucial step forward in the ongoing fight against retinal degeneration. Working with fruit flies, the scientists have discovered that a mutation in a common gene called calnexin can derail the light-processing activity of cells and set in motion the gradual breakdown of vision. They report their findings today in the journal Neuron. Calnexin—found in both fruit flies and humans—functions as a cellular chaperone, ensuring that proteins "fold" or orient properly and get to the parts of the cell they need to go. It also modulates calcium levels, which is critical for proper vision. When calnexin goes awry, however, calcium levels build up and the proteins that depend on it malfunction, says senior author Nansi Jo Colley, a medical geneticist at the UW-Madison departments of ophthalmology and genetics, and an affiliate of the Eye Research Institute. At a time when more than 103 genes are known to be involved with AMD and RP, the UW-Madison work could one day help doctors deliver tailor-made treatments to patients who specifically carry calnexin mutations. Because the calnexin protein and other chaperones are also present in the brain, the work can help to answer broader questions about neurodegenerative disease, Colley adds. "Understanding the basic mechanisms of how proteins are folded holds the key to finding treatments for not only retinal degenerative diseases but also other neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's, Huntington's, and Parkinson's." To detect the calnexin mutation, the UW-Madison team used genetic mapping to zero in on the exact region harboring the mutant. Subsequent DNA sequencing of that target area pinpointed calnexin as the culprit gene, explains lead author Erica Rosenbaum, a researcher in Colley's laboratory. Colley plans to continue searching for other genetic mutations that might help trigger retinal degeneration. "The more mutations we identify, the easier it will be to step back and look at the big picture of the general principles of neurodegeneration," she says. Source: Newswise (press release) - USA, January 18, 2006. Source URL: www.newswise.com/articles/view/517339/. Special Deductions Available for Elderly and Blind FilersSome older taxpayers may be able to cut their tax bills with very little work. All they have to do is check a couple of boxes on their tax returns. The Internal Revenue Service has special, higher standard-deduction amounts for taxpayers age 65 or older. In addition, there is a similar break for the blind, regardless of age. The option to take both of these bigger tax breaks is found just below the line where you enter your adjusted gross income on the 1040 or 1040A return—older and visually impaired filers can't use the 1040EZ form. Here you'll find boxes to check if you or your spouse are older or visually impaired. If you're able to check one or both of these boxes, then ignore the standard deduction amounts shown on your return. Instead, head to the instruction book (Page 36 in the 1040 directions; Page 33 in the 1040A booklet) where you'll find a larger amount you can subtract. As with the regular standard deduction, the exact amount of this elderly or blind standard deduction depends on your filing status. It could translate into a deduction hike of up to $4,000 for some taxpayers. Accounting for all variables, these added tax savings are computed for each instance in which a taxpayer—and his or her spouse—meets IRS requirements. For example, a younger single filer gets a standard deduction on his 2005 return of $5,000. A single senior filer's amount is $6,250, an increase of $1,250. If the older taxpayer also is blind, then his standard deduction jumps to $7,500. Married couples who file jointly get to consider each partner's eligibility in determining their increased standard deduction amount. An older husband and his older wife can claim a standard deduction of $12,000. That's $2,000 more than a younger married couple can deduct. Another $1,000 each would be allowed if the senior husband and wife each were blind, bringing their standard deduction up to the maximum $14,000—$4,000 more than allowed younger-than-65 joint filers with no visual problems. Larger deduction amounts also apply to older and blind taxpayers who are able to use head-of-household or married-filing-separately status. Vision considerations Age is not a factor in considering the extra deduction for blindness; young filers with this impairment are eligible for a larger standard deduction too. And you don't have to be totally blind to qualify. You can check the blind box if you have a statement certified by your eye doctor or registered optometrist that: *Even with glasses or contact lenses, you cannot see better than 20/200 in your better eye or your field of vision is 20 degrees or less. *If your eye condition is not likely to improve beyond the conditions listed above, you can get a doctor's statement noting this instead. There's no need to file the statement, but keep it in your tax records. For many older and visually impaired taxpayers, these enhanced standard deduction amounts are more than they would get if they itemized. And they definitely are a lot less work. Freelance writer Kay Bell writes Bankrate's tax stories from her home in Austin, Texas, and blogs each day on tax topics at Don't Mess with Taxes. Source: Copyright 2006, Bankrate.com (press release), Thursday, January 19, 2006. Civil Service Announces Call Center AgreementNew York State Civil Service Commissioner Daniel E. Wall today announced it has reached agreement with Industries for the Blind of New York State, Inc. (IBNYS) in Albany and its affiliate, The Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI) in Rochester, to operate the Department's toll-free hotline for the New York State Accident Reporting System. The hotline, which will operate out of the ABVI call center in Rochester, is expected to handle about 35,000 calls annually and will be open for business 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. "We are pleased to enter into this contract with Industries for the Blind of New York, which will provide skilled service for our accident hotline callers and also offer increased employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired," said Commissioner Wall. The call center utilizes advanced, adaptive technologies to enable workers who are sight impaired to use on-line tools and communications software to effectively respond to telephone inquiries. "The Department of Civil Service has presented us with a wonderful opportunity to provide meaningful employment to people who are blind," said Richard M. Healey, President and CEO of IBNYS. He added, "We want to thank them for their confidence in our ability to serve their call center needs, and are committed to providing service levels that will exceed their expectations." The contract is for a five-year period with an annual value of about $275,000, said Commissioner Wall. Call center representatives will electronically record telephone calls made by state employees when reporting work-related accidents via the Accident Reporting System toll-free telephone number. Representatives will also obtain information concerning each incident along with any injury information and assign the caller an ARS number. Also, the call center currently provides services to the State Department of Labor and the State Insurance Department's Healthy New York program. The call center is staffed by blind and visually impaired workers. Seven new workers will be added to the call center as a result of the Civil Service contract. Contact:
Industries for the Blind of New York State Don O'Hagan (518) 456 8671 Source: Business Wire (press release) - San Francisco, CA, January 20, 2006. Source URL: home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20060120005369&newsLang=en. Four Paws, Two EyesGolden retriever Mr. Jake has a way of turning heads. No matter where owner Melissa Harrington takes the five-month-old puppy, she said, she receives compliments on his looks and good behavior. "My husband is never so popular as when he takes [Mr. Jake] into the office," she said. But the dog also inspires questions, too, such as "What does his vest mean?" or "What is a dog doing in the mall?" Mr. Jake is Harrington's fourth guide dog in training, so the Burke resident has become somewhat of an expert at answering these questions. The fluorescent-yellow vest in question bears the words "Future Guide Dog" on it, and because Mr. Jake is a service dog in training, he can access public places like the mall the same way fully certified service dogs do, she said. Harrington and her family—three daughters and a husband—began raising guide dogs when they moved to Burke from San Diego in 2002. Harrington, who was staying at home with infant daughter Cassie, heard about the New York-based Guide Dog Foundation, Inc. and decided to become involved. The Guide Dog Foundation, founded in 1946 as Guiding Eyes, Inc., is one of about 10 schools nationwide that breeds and trains guide dogs, and matches the dogs with visually impaired clients, or graduates. The Guide Dog Foundation provides the dogs free of charge to the graduates, and also works to increase awareness nationwide about visual impairment and disability rights. THE WORK of "puppy walkers," as preliminary dog raisers such as Harrington are called, is integral to the Guide Dog Foundation's mission, said Bruce Benzler, program services director for the Guide Dog Foundation. "It's a real asset and a real value to have puppy walkers doing such a generous job for us in training these puppies," he said. A guide dog puppy typically stays with a family for about a year, he said, at which point it returns to New York for a full medical evaluation and placement in the guide dog training program. Training and raising costs are covered by individual and corporate sponsors, said Ann Middleton, a D.C.-area liaison for the Guide Dog Foundation. About 50 percent of dogs who enter the training program graduate as fully certified guide animals, said Benzler, about 100 dogs per year. The dogs that do not graduate may go into other programs such as alcohol, tobacco and firearms detectors or service dogs for persons with non-visual disabilities. Guide dogs are bred for good temperament and intelligence, he said, but need a good home early on to become ideal workers. The purpose of having a regular citizen raise the dog in its first year of life is to give the dog experience with real homes and real people. "You cannot have a guide dog just brought up in a kennel until it is ready to start training," he said. GUIDE DOG puppies need to be cared for, exercised and well taken care of, said Harrington, but they also need to be exposed to as many new situations as possible. According to Middleton, these situations can be anything, from a crowded Metro platforms to a fireworks show to a doctor's office. "You can take them anywhere they would normally go as a guide dog," said Middleton. With Mr. Jake, said Harrington, the jacket went on as soon as soon he was nine weeks old so that he could become accustomed to it. He has had office experience from going to work with Harrington's husband, and has visited a preschool as well. Mr. Jake is an extraordinarily calm and well-behaved dog, said Harrington. He still jumps in excitement when guests come over, and occasionally sneaks a chew on the end of his leash, but the qualities of friendliness and obedience that prevail in Mr. Jake will serve him well in his career, she said. The lessons a puppy walker teaches in a dog's first few months provide the foundation for later training, such as becoming housebroken, learning to sit and stay, and remaining calm in all situations, she said. "The biggest thing to teach them is not to greet everyone," she said. "When the jacket is on and they are working, they can't do that." This is not as hard as it seems, she said, as most dogs pick up on the work-play balance instinctually. Middleton, who raised five guide dog puppies herself, agreed. The dogs are on their best behavior when they are wearing the vest in public, she said, but when the vest is off they are back to acting like puppies. Bringing up four guide dogs has also given Harrington and her family the experience to answer the hardest question of all: "How do you ever let them go?" It is hard for a family to say goodbye to a dog it has raised for a year or more, said Harrington, but the benefits far outweigh the negatives. Raising a guide dog brings the family together knowing that they are doing something important for someone else. Harrington's two high-school and college-age daughters gained valuable volunteer experience raising the puppies, said Harrington. "It's a lot more fun and easy than people think," she said. "My husband and I look at each other and think, 'This is so fun.' I can't believe everyone wouldn't want to do this." Since a guide dog's experiences are tailored to the living situation of their future owners, said Ann Middleton, all types of homes are needed to raise the puppies. A fenced-in yard is not necessary; however, a closed 'play space' is. Prospective guide-dog raisers should also take into consideration the amount of time they will be able to spend at home with the dog. Guide dogs in training should be rarely, if at all, left unsupervised, said Melissa Harrington. For more information on becoming a puppy walker, contact Ann Middleton at puppywalkerDC@aol.com. For more information on the Guide Dog Foundation, contact info@guidedog.org or call 631-930-9000. Reprinted with permission, Burke Connection, copyright 2006. Sight-impaired Have Inmates to Thank for Guide Dogs(PAWS Program Enlists Help of N.C. Prisoners for Training) MARION--If you ask Chad Mills of Marion how long his black Labrador retriever, Stephan, has been with him, he'll say it seems like forever. Nancy Riedel, field program coordinator for Southeastern Guide Dogs, talks about who qualifies and what the process is in applying for a guide dog. The truth is, Mills and Stephan celebrated their first anniversary together in November. Mills lost his sight a few years ago, and for a year now, Stephan has been his eyes. Stephan is one of the first dogs to graduate from Puppies Assisting With Sight (PAWS), a guide dog training program at McCain Correctional Hospital in Raeford. The PAWS program is associated with Southeastern Guide Dogs. Southeastern not only trains the inmate-trainers but also completes the dogs' training at its facility in Florida. Mills has never really had perfect vision. He lost his left eye to retina blastoma, a rare cancer, when he was less than a year old. Doctors were able to save his right eye, but Mills developed problems in that eye, also. It was only after he became and adult and got married that Mills heard about Southeastern Guide Dogs. It was then that he and his wife, Shannon, decided to volunteer to help raise puppies. Volunteers not only care for the puppies but teach them basic obedience skills as well. They later turn the dogs over to Southeastern for the final steps in training and placement as guide dogs. Shortly after getting their first Southeastern puppy to raise, the Millses' lives took another turn. Chad got a cataract in his right eye, which caused his remaining eyesight to quickly deteriorate. It wasn't long before it became evident he would soon need one of Southeastern's guide dogs himself. Stephan is born About the same time that Mills began having trouble with his right eye, the black Labrador retriever, Stephan, was born. At eight weeks old, he entered a new experimental guide dog training program at McCain Correctional Hospital. The dog was matched with former inmate Patrick Gerald Nancy Riedel, field program coordinator for Southeastern, remembers those first days at McCain. "When we started this program with McCain back in 2002, Patrick was the one inmate that seemed to have no interest in his puppy," Riedel said. "When my co-worker handed him Stephan, I remember he held him out, kind of at arm's length, like a father would hold a new baby. There was no affection on Patrick's face. He basically told us, 'I'll raise this dog, but I'm not going to love it. It's just a dog.' "Patrick walked into that program looking at it like a job that he got paid a dollar a day for," Riedel said. "He thought it was nice if he could help a blind person, but that was as far as it went." Inmates in the program get a two-month-old puppy. They keep it 18 to 24 months. Riedel says over that period, she saw an amazing transformation in the dog, and in Gerald. "That puppy softened him, it brought him out of his shell. He was laughing. He was very relaxed around us," Riedel said. Riedel credits the change in the inmates to the unconditional love the dogs give their trainers. The PAWS program at McCain has grown to be Riedel's favorite part of her job. Chad and Stephan Stephan officially joined the Mills family in November 2004. Chad Mills says it wasn't long before the dog was looking out for him and for his son, Jackson. "Stephan is truly part of the family," Mills said. "He has his work time mainly during the first part of the day, but when Jackson comes home in the afternoon (from school) and the harness comes off, it's playtime." "Taking off of the harness" is a key phrase with guide dogs because work and play must be as distinct from each other as possible. So when the dogs are trained, so are their owners. They must go to Florida for a 26-day training program with their new guide dogs. In addition to learning how to work with each other on the commands, the team has to form a bond of trust and devotion. "We also learn important ongoing issues for working with the dogs," Mills said. "For instance, if I take Stephan out to a fast-food place, I don't want him eating stray french fries or food scraps. We train the dogs to control this by feeding them at very specific times each and every day and we never vary from them." Mills said his schedule usually includes getting up between six and seven a.m. He will take Stephan outside for a few minutes. Stephan then gets some water and three cups of food. Stephan must be done with his food in 10 minutes or Mills takes it up until the next feeding to make sure the dog stays on a specific schedule. Even with the strict guidelines, the putting on and off of the harness, the daily exercise and all of the other things that tend to make dog ownership a difficult task sometimes, Mills knows that the benefits far outweigh any detriments. "We don't think of Stephan as a dog," Mills said. "He's so much like a person that we think of him as another child in the house. He's really become a part of our family. I couldn't make it without him." Copyright 2006. Reprinted with permission from Asheville Citizen-Times. Source URL: www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060131/HEALTH/601310301/1069. Am Eye Healthy?(Campaign Focuses on Raising Awareness and Improving Eye Health of 75 Million Aging Boomers) "Am Eye Healthy?" is the question more than 75 million aging Baby Boomers should ask themselves, according to a new health education campaign launched in February in Washington, DC. The new effort aims to help Americans understand the importance of regular eye exams and vision screenings and the value of early detection, treatment, and rehabilitation options. Members of Congress, including Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton and Representative Gene Green, helped launch the bi-partisan supported campaign at an event on Capitol Hill. "In eye health, an ounce of prevention truly is worth a pound of cure. There are more treatment and rehabilitation options now than ever, but early detection is critical. This campaign will help more Americans learn about the importance of making regular eye screenings and exams a key part of their preventative health care," said Senator Clinton. At today's launch, and throughout the year, the campaign will offer free vision screenings, educational materials, and a user-friendly site: www.ameyehealthy.org. Campaign partner Prevent Blindness America and its affiliates are hosting local vision screenings today along with other "Am Eye Healthy?" partners in Florida, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Tennessee, Texas, and Washington, DC. "We want people to think about their eye health as part of their general well-being," said Daniel D. Garrett, senior vice president of Prevent Blindness America. "We are pleased to be offering screenings in conjunction with our local chapters and other campaign partners in eight states." A collaboration of over 20 consumer, senior, patient, and health groups, working in partnership with Novartis Ophthalmics, "Am Eye Healthy?" has the power of health advocacy and educational partners on the national and local levels. Partners include the AMD Alliance International, American Association of People with Disabilities, American Council of the Blind, American Foundation for the Blind, American Society on Aging, Congressional Black Caucus Foundation, Consumer Action, Foundation Fighting Blindness, League of United Latin American Citizens, Lighthouse International, National Alliance for Care-giving, National Association for Visually Handicapped, National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, National Consumers League, National Hispanic Council on Aging, Older Women's League, Prevent Blindness America, The Seniors Coalition, SeniorNet, and 60 Plus Association. "Early detection through annual eye exams can prevent or slow vision loss. Eye exams can uncover problems in the eye before symptoms appear or vision loss occurs," said Dr. Lorraine Marchi, founder and CEO of the National Association for Visually Handicapped. "Common diseases associated with aging, including high blood pressure and diabetes, can lead to eye problems (as can eye tumors, retinal disorders, and glaucoma) which may have no symptoms in the early stages. These conditions don't have to mean vision loss, though. Medical research has made great strides. With early detection, there are more ways than ever before to help protect vision." About Prevent Blindness America Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness America is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness America touches the lives of millions of people each year through public and professional education, advocacy, community and patient service programs, and research. These services are made possible through the generous support of the American public. Together with a network of affiliates, divisions and chapters, it's committed to eliminating preventable blindness in America. For more information, or to make a contribution to the sight-saving fund, call 1-800-331-2020 or visit us on the Web at: http://www.preventblindness.org/. Yahoo! News (press release) - USA, February 1, 2006. Source URL: biz.yahoo.com/prnews/060201/dcw044.html?.v=65. Artificial Vision: Bionic Eye Offers Hope to the BlindSandia National Laboratories have released a prototype "eye-chip" that may eventually achieve the miraculous goal of restoring sight to the blind. Part of an ambitious project involving several U.S. national labs and Universities, the chip will be inserted onto the retina of a blind patient and linked to nerves that will send electrical impulses to the brain for processing. The module will receive data from a tiny camera lodged in the frame of the patient's glasses and the current MEMS [microelectromechanical systems] - based array aims to produce 1000 points of light (compared with millions in the biological eye), delivering a yellowish image that is slow to form but, nonetheless, is a vast improvement over complete blindness. The idea, funded by a $9 million, three-year grant from the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Biological and Environmental Research, will target blindness caused by diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and retinitis pigmentosa. These diseases damage rods and cones in the eye that normally convert light to electrical impulses, but leave intact the neural paths to the brain that transport electrical signals. Eventually, the input from rods and cones ceases, but 70 to 90 percent of nerve structures set up to receive those inputs remain intact. Two hundred thousand eyes in the U.S. are blinded each year by macular degeneration, primarily in the elderly. One baby in 4,000 demonstrates retinitis pigmentosa. "The aim is to bring a blind person to the point where he or she can read, move around objects in the house, and do basic household chores," says Sandia project leader Kurt Wessendorf. "They won't be able to drive cars, at least in the near future, because instead of millions of pixels, they'll see approximately a thousand. The images will come a little slowly and appear yellow." Source: Gizmag - Victoria, Australia (press release), January 5, 2006. URL: www.gizmag.com/go/1475/. Around the WorldNLB and RNIB Library Services Consider MergerBlind and partially sighted people can look forward to an improved, comprehensive library service in the UK within two years. The Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) and the National Library for the Blind (NLB) have started formal discussions with a view to merging the library services of both charities in April 2007. This in principle decision has been taken by the trustees of both charities and detailed negotiations will now start. Both RNIB and NLB provide a range of library services for blind and partially sighted people, who are frustrated by the inadequate provision of books and other reading materials in formats like Braille, large print, or audio by publishers and mainstream libraries. By combining the library services of both charities, blind and partially sighted people will enjoy a more comprehensive service with a wider choice of titles and formats. Duplication will be reduced so that more resources can be channeled into direct services for customers. Source Url: www.managinginformation.com/news/ Gift Catalogue Boost for BlindThe National Library for the Blind (NLB) has linked up with the Good Gifts Catalogue to give people the chance to buy Braille or giant print books for visually-impaired children. Produced by the Charities Advisory Trust, the catalogue features a large array of alternative gift ideas which help to support more than 35 different charities. Anybody buying a book for the library will receive a gift card to give or keep along with the guarantee that the gift is always wanted. Only five percent of books published every year are made available in a format suitable for visually impaired people to read, meaning that initiatives such as the Good Gifts Catalogue are vital in enabling the library to continue providing a service to blind and partially-sighted people across the UK. Claire Briscoe, from the Stockport-based National Library for the Blind, said: "The Good Gifts Catalogue is a great idea for Valentine shoppers struggling to find a gift for that person who has everything. It's obviously a very loving and giving time of year and we believe the catalogue fits in well with that philosophy." She added: "I am an avid reader and can't imagine how frustrating it would be if someone took away 95 percent of the books on my shelf. But that's exactly the predicament facing visually impaired people in this country every day. We don't receive any regular government funding and are completely dependent on the generosity of our supporters to enable us to continue to bring the magic of reading to the two million visually impaired people across the UK." For more information on the Good Gifts Catalogue visit:` To request a copy of the catalogue or find out how you can support NLB, contact: Zo Fletcher
Community Newswire - UK. Source URL: services.press.net/pressnet/communitynewswire/index.jsp?story_id=1453999&setStyle=mlStory&returnStyle=heading.cnw. Five Teams Compete for the First Nethrodaya Cup for the BlindHindu - Chennai, India, Sunday, January 22, 2006 CHENNAI: Have ball will play, they say: even if they can't see it. The five teams competing for the first Nethrodaya Cricket Cup—Cricket for the Blind—are comprised of members with varying degrees of visual impairment, some of them completely blind. Yet, this match isn't just an exhibition of the indomitable human spirit, it's about the game. There are some serious national-level and World Cup players on the teams from the four South Indian states (Kerala has two). Gopi Govindaraj from Nethrodaya is the brain behind the tournament. He says, "Sports is an integral part of our lives, but it is restricted to people without disabilities. This is a chance for the visually impaired students to play in a user-friendly environment." The Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, stepped forward to play host on their grounds. India has been a pioneer in formulating the game and arranging a World Cup for blind cricket, thanks to the visually impaired George Abraham, founder of the Association of Cricket for the Blind in India (ACBI) and a cricket enthusiast. The boys have been practicing for three months now. Sunday is the big day when the finals will decide the first residence of the spanking new trophy. Former test cricketer V.V. Kumar, who inaugurated the tournament on Saturday, said the Indian team could learn a lot about concentration and focus from the blind cricketers. The finals begin at 4.30 p.m. at IIT and are open to the public. Source: BlindNews Mailing List: GeoffAndWen.com/blind/. Tools for LivingHumanWare launches KeyMaestro, the Wireless Braille Keyboard for the Maestro PDAHumanWare is pleased to announce the release of KeyMaestro, a portable Braille Bluetooth keyboard offering enhanced notetaking capability to the Maestro PDA. Now users can input data quickly and conveniently in computer Braille or Grade 2 anytime, anywhere. The HumanWare light and highly portable Braille keyboard uses Bluetooth technology, allowing users to communicate with the Maestro PDA without the hassle of cumbersome wires and adapters. Maestro, the first mainstream pocket computer accessible to the blind and visually impaired, allows to manage appointments and contacts, take text notes with a standard or Braille keyboard, record voice memos, consult and edit documents, read books, manage your e-mails, listen to music, and more, all in the palm of your hand. KeyMaestro is a full Perkins-type keyboard. The user can input data in Braille, quickly access favourite applications, enter commands with special function keys, and enjoy the convenience of compact portability. KeyMaestro can be used alternatively with the tactile keyboard of PDA without quitting the active Maestro (or Trekker) application. The KeyMaestro keyboard has improved power management. It has a power on/off key, battery autonomy of 100 hours of continuous use, and a power-saving auto-sleep mode. Visually impaired users can also know the battery status via audio feedback. The Bluetooth Manager of the Maestro platform has been finely tuned to provide users with a robust, easy-to-connect interface. Once the keyboard has been enabled, Maestro will automatically communicate each time you want to use it, as soon as the Maestro and KeyMaestro have been turned on. KeyMaestro comes with a carrying case and four AAA batteries and is available now from HumanWare and its distributors. About HumanWare HumanWare designs and manufactures innovative technology for people who are blind and visually impaired. Products like the SmartView video magnifier and more recently myReader, the world's first low vision auto-reader, are redefining the way people look at low vision. The Victor Reader family of Digital Talking Book players has been at the forefront of the industry since its inception. The BrailleNote is the best-known solution in the notetaker market today and is complemented by the Maestro handheld notetaker for the blind. HumanWare also produces the world's only commercialized GPS-based orientation solutions for the blind—Trekker and BrailleNote GPS. For more information contact: Nicolas Lagacé HumanWare Canada Phone: (450) 463-1717 ext. 341 E-mail: nicolas.lagace@humanware.com Website: http://www.humanware.com/ Humanware Releases KeySoft 7HumanWare is proud to announce the release of KeySoft 7 for BrailleNote, VoiceNote mPower, BrailleNote PK, and BrailleNote and VoiceNote Classic. Special Note: Classic units must have the compact flash slot in the rear of the unit to take advantage of this release. This is our most feature packed release of KeySoft yet. We've posted extensively in the past about the main features of KeySoft 7, but in brief, they include:
Now it's time for the part we like best where we put all this new functionality in the hands of our users. With different versions of KeySoft for the various BrailleNote and VoiceNote models, it's important that you take the time to read all instructions carefully and follow them exactly to get yourself up and running in the shortest amount of time. We know you want to start using the new functionality as soon as possible, but investing a little time now will ensure that the process goes smoothly. In brief, you must install a product key onto your BrailleNote which authorizes your particular machine to run KeySoft 7. Once this installation process has been completed, you can then download the software for your particular unit as described in the upgrade instructions. Please follow these instructions carefully and be sure you are downloading the correct software for the model of BrailleNote or VoiceNote you own. If you attempt to obtain a product key but are unable to get one for your serial number, please contact us at: sma@humanware.com and we will look into the issue promptly. We have created a web site for all things related to KeySoft 7. On this site you will find the upgrade instructions for your particular type of BrailleNote or VoiceNote, a link to the product key download site, links to the actual software you should install, an audio tutorial in MP3 regarding the new features of KeySoft 7, the JAWS keyboard emulator software, a new version of KeySync, and the Palm Bluetooth visual display software. This site can be found at: http://www.humanware.com/Resources/KeySoft7Upgrade.asp. If you take the time to explore this site, you will find everything you need to get up and running with KeySoft 7.0. We hope you'll enjoy this latest release and thank you for choosing the BrailleNote family of products, powered by KeySoft. Bnannounce mailing list: Email: Bnannounce@list.humanware.com
The KELVIN Talking Thermostat(A programmable thermostat designed especially for the visually impaired, disabled, and elderly. Your voice controls the temperature!) Do you wish you could control the temperature in your home without having to get up every 5 minutes? Are you concerned about a loved one's ability to manage the thermostat when you are not there? With the KELVIN Talking Thermostat, comfort is never out of reach. The unique KELVIN Talking Thermostat is a voice-interactive programmable thermostat designed especially for the visually impaired, disabled, elderly, or anyone who has difficulty seeing and programming a standard thermostat. Voice controlled thermostat With the KELVIN Talking Thermometer, your voice controls the temperature settings! Once you program the thermostat using the talking buttons, the advanced speech recognition technology allows you to raise and lower the temperature simply by using voice commands. The voice commands can be initiated by pressing the large tactile buttons or by clapping your hands, knocking on a table or desk, or even just by whistling! This useful low vision aid will control the heat, fan, and air conditioner to a precise and ideal comfort level. Talking buttons mean no more eye strain Every button talks. No more straining, squinting, or guessing while trying to figure out the buttons. When a button is pressed, a clear voice will tell you exactly what that button signifies. It will announce the time, room temperature, and temperature setting. Programming buttons including "Set Day," "Set Time," "Raise" and "Lower" make the 5" x 5" x 1 3/8" KELVIN Talking Thermostat simple to use and understand. A fully programmable thermostat Save money, conserve energy, eliminate energy waste, and lower your monthly heating and electric bills by programming the KELVIN Talking Thermostat. For your convenience our talking thermostat comes preprogrammed with a temperature control schedule that will work for most households. If this schedule is not to your liking, you can program it specifically to meet your needs. By pressing the talking buttons, you can program the KELVIN Talking Thermostat to lower the temperature daily at a specific time of day, such as evening, and raise the temperature the following morning. With a 7 day programmable thermostat, you can set different time and temperature profiles for every day of the week. Set it once, then forget about it! It can also be specially programmed for weekends and vacations. LED display Although the KELVIN Talking Thermostat is voice interactive, an easy to read LED display is also included. View time, temperature, day of the week, and other information, and visually confirm the voice-activated commands. Exceptional Value The cost of the KELVIN Talking Thermostat is comparable to standard thermostats. Controlling your own heating and cooling will allow you to save money in the long run. With the voice activated controls, you don't have to wait for someone else to change the thermostat settings - you can easily do it yourself! Why use the KELVIN Talking Thermostat? The KELVIN Talking Thermostat is affordable, accurate, and gives you the security of knowing that household heating and cooling needs are being managed. For someone who is visually impaired, disabled, elderly, or otherwise has difficulty using a standard thermostat, the KELVIN Talking Thermostat is a small investment that will enhance quality of life and increase independence. Order the KELVIN Talking Thermostat for yourself or a loved one today. For more information, visit the website at: www.actiontalkingproducts.com/. We will be happy to answer all of your questions. Jot-A-Dot is the First Innovation in Braille Writing in the Last 50 YearsJot-A-Dot is a revolutionary new device to write Braille. Braille was originally invented in 1829 and remains the foundation of written communication in education and employment for all blind people. In 2002, the World Health Organization's World Population Statistics revealed that there are 42 million people in the world who are blind. Meanwhile there has been little progress in Braille writing. The most commonly used device, still, for writing Braille was invented in 1834. It's called the Slate and Stylus and requires the writer, having learned the Braille code, to then write the code backwards from right to left so that the embossed dot text on the back side of the paper is oriented properly for reading from left to right. The second most widely used Braille writing tool in the world is the Perkins Brailler, developed at the Perkins School for the Blind in Massachusetts in 1950. It looks like a mechanical typewriter from the period and using it is so physically demanding that young blind children often have to wait until their arms are strong enough to start writing. By contrast to these two devices, Jot-A-Dot has a standard 6 dot Braille keyboard and enables writing from left to right. The six keys have been ergonomically designed to suit the widest possible hand size and shape. Jot-A-Dot is made of high impact resistant plastics and weighs less than 0.5kg, so it can be easily carried by anyone to write Braille anywhere. Conveniently, it's also possible for writers to check what they've just written and then to start writing again from the same position they stopped. Why Jot a Dot?
Jot a Dot is the newest innovation in Braille writing, available for a fraction of the cost of a traditional Brailler. Jot-A-Dot was developed by the Australian company Quantum Technology (quantech.com.au) with initial funding from the Guide Dog Association of New South Wales. For more information, visit the website at: TextAloud brings books, web pages and articles, to those with visual impairments(Assistive Technology Speaks for Those Who Cannot See) Clemmons, NC (PRWEB) February 16, 2006 -- Most of us take such actions as computing, word processing, reading e-mail, or surfing the web for granted. But for those without sight, or who are battling any kind of visual disability, these tasks can present huge challenges (and expenses)—even with all of the sophisticated technology available today. Luckily, Text-to-Speech software programs like NextUp.com's TextAloud help to provide an alternative, turning visual text into natural and enjoyable speech. With TextAloud, a hard-to-read e-mail or website becomes an enjoyable listening experience. This is why Text-to-Speech programs like TextAloud are becoming more and more essential to the visually impaired and the way they read for work, learning, or simple enjoyment. TextAloud is an award-winning program that converts text into spoken audio for listening on a PC and that can also save text to audio files for playback on the go. This easy to use program is a snap to set up and works along with a wide array of surprisingly natural premium voices to bring words to life for those who have trouble reading visually. For visually-impaired users, TextAloud truly presents an easy and very affordable alternative to high-end machines and software programs which are too often prohibitively expensive. "TextAloud was specifically created to bring words on screen to the ear in an enjoyable and affordable way," noted Ken White, CEO of NextUp.com. "Visually impaired users were some of the first to discover TextAloud and we are excited to see our program continuing to be such a benefit to those who cannot see." Praise from Visually-Disabled Users of TextAloud Edward M.: "My wife is permanently blind and TextAloud has enabled her to participate again in the various groups in which she is interested. We collect e-mail files and any research material into optical recognition documents that can be read by TextAloud using the "speech to file" feature. We then burn a CD from the information in *.WAV format, and this becomes her library (she is able to mark the Jewel cases in Braille for location purposes). It has made a great deal of difference in her feeling of self-worth." Carolyn T.: "I'm a 40-year-old blind woman and scholar. Before getting TextAloud, I had to pay people to read texts I needed, either aloud to me or onto tape. The tapes were bulky and easily damaged, and the process was time-consuming and extremely expensive. The sheer number of cassettes (as well as bulky recorder) I would have to carry meant that I could not read on campus or when I traveled. While proud of being accepted into a graduate program, these kinds of hurdles made me begin to dread what it would take for me to attain my Ph.D. "However, not long after starting graduate work, a friend recommended NextUp.com's TextAloud, and it was an effective and inexpensive solution to what is normally a costly endeavor for blind people. Now I'm finally able to read when I'm on campus as well as when I travel (with several books' worth of text easily fitting on my MP3 player at one time). In addition, unlike taped texts, TextAloud can change the speed at which the text is read without distorting the voice or words. And unlike many adaptive software packages that blind people are told they should buy, TextAloud doesn't cost thousands of dollars—something any college student can appreciate! "Although I originally purchased TextAloud to read books for school, I also use it to read over my own work, grade my students' papers, and access articles and email on-line. TextAloud has become invaluable to me and it's one of the few tools that I've consistently recommended to my students, faculty, and associates when asked about alternatives to ink-based texts." About TextAloud TextAloud is a full-featured Text to Speech tool offering direct support for Word, PDF and HTML formats, as well as advanced pronunciation tools, an Internet Explorer Plug-In for easy listening of favorite web pages, and more. TextAloud is priced at just $29.95 and is compatible with systems using Windows® 98, NT, 2000 and XP. The program is available for fast, safe, and secure purchase via http://www.nextup.com/. NextUp.com also offers TextAloud with optional premium voices from AT&T Natural Voices, Nuance RealSpeak, NeoSpeech, and Cepstral® for the most natural-sounding computer speech anywhere. Available languages include English with U.S., U.K., and Indian and Scottish accents, as well as French, Canadian French, Latin American Spanish, European Spanish, Mexican Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, European Portuguese, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Cantonese Chinese, Korean, Japanese, German, Italian, Dutch, Belgian Dutch, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Polish, and Arabic. About NextUp.com NextUp.com, a division of NextUp Technologies, LLC, provides award-winning Text to Speech software for consumers, business customers, educators, and those with a visual impairment or learning disability. In addition to TextAloud, NextUp.com markets other innovative Windows software including talking personal "news agent" NewsAloud, WeatherAloud (a weather application that lets users select and listen to personalized weather forecasts), and stock updates and related news headlines read aloud thanks to StocksAloud. Most recently, NextUp released NextUp Talker 1.0, an easy and affordable program that allows people who have lost their voices to use the latest in high-quality computer voices to communicate with others. Evaluation copies of TextAloud are currently available upon request by members of the press. To receive a review copy, or for more information on NextUp.com or TextAloud, please contact Rick Ellis. Meanwhile, for images, logos, box shots, or other information or artwork on TextAloud, please contact publicist Angela Mitchell at (904) 982-8043. All companies and products referenced in this press release are the trademarks of their respective owners. Source: E-media Wire www.emediawire.com/releases/2006/2/emw347415.htm Website of the MonthBlind Cool TechThis month's featured website is blindcooltech.com. It has all kinds of blind tech devices and pod cast demos showing how they work. AnnouncementsChange of Location for Rehab Council Quarterly MeetingThe next meeting of the rehabilitation council will be held during the third weekend in April in Orlando and not Fort Myers as was reported in the February edition of the Eye on DBS newsletter. Information regarding the meeting and public forum will become available as details are confirmed. Recognize Retinal Problems—and Seek Immediate CareIf you experience sudden vision changes—many floaters or specks, flashing lights, blurred or wavy vision, a dark spot in the middle of your vision, or a sudden vision loss—seek emergency medical care. These symptoms could indicate a potentially serious retinal disorder. Seeking immediate care could save your vision, according to the January issue of Mayo Clinic Health Letter. Symptoms could indicate:
If you suspect a retinal problem, contact your eye care provider immediately. Time wasted could be vision lost. Source: Mayo Clinic, January 20, 2006. Source URL: www.newswise.com/articles/view/517422/. Downloadable BooksThere is a library of downloadable books in Braille for reading from your PC or PDA with a Braille display. Included are many titles from the NFB. There is no fee or registration required and you can find some interesting titles! Visit the International Braille Research site at: http://www.braille.org/. VR Counselor Needed in St. PeteThe St. Petersburg office has a VR counselor position available. If you or anyone you know might be interested, please have them contact Deborah Alexander, Supervisor in our office. The number is (727) 893-2341, (Suncom 513-9150) and toll free (800) 909-9632. We are looking for someone with a Master's in Rehab Counseling or Counseling who is eligible to sit for the CRC. APH and Digital Recording StudiosThe American Printing House for the Blind operates state-of-the-art digital recording studios that produce books, magazines, and other materials through audio cassettes, CDs, and digital audio files. We are pleased to announce that our studios and expert narrators are now available to consider new projects! For additional information, please contact: Doug Trent in Contract Administration: email: dtrent@aph.org phone: (800) 223-1839 ext. 267.
Michael McCarty Fred's Head Database Coordinator American Printing House for the Blind Phone: 502 899-2396 Fax: 502 899-2363
Website: http://www.aph.org/ Website: http://www.fredsheadcompanion.blogspot.com/
nfb-talk mailing list Email: nfb-talk@nfbnet.org Web: www.nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfb-talk College Scholarships for Individuals with Parents with DisabilitiesIn recognition of the more than nine million parents with disabilities in the U.S. and their families, Through the Looking Glass (TLG), non-profit organization, is pleased to announce the 2006 College Scholarship Fund specifically for graduating high school seniors who have parents with disabilities. Scholarship funds are available to graduating high school students who:
Up to ten separate $1,000 awards will be given out in Summer 2006. These awards are one of several projects of Through the Looking Glass' National Resource Center for Parents with Disabilities. This National Center is funded by the National Institute on Disability Research and Rehabilitation (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education. More information and application forms are available on Through the Looking Glass website: Forms may also be requested by calling (800) 644-2666. Founded in 1982, Through the Looking Glass (TLG) is a nationally recognized center that has pioneered research, training, and services for families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability. Since 1998, TLG has been funded by NIDRR as the National Resource Center for Parents with Disabilities. The overall goal of this national center is to increase knowledge regarding parenting with a disability and support more accessible and disability-appropriate resources for diverse parents with disabilities and their children. The Centers' services and activities include:
Contact Info: Darlene Bubis, MFT Family Clinician Website & Outreach Specialist
Through the Looking Glass 2198 Sixth Street, Suite 100 Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 848-1112 ext. 172 (800) 644-2666 ext. 172 The Magnifying Center is Now Emerald Coast Vision AidsWe have recently changed the name of our business from The Magnifying Center-Pensacola to Emerald Coast Vision Aids, Incorporated. There has been no change in management or store location and we will be providing the same products and fine service on which we have built our award winning reputation of 14 years in the industry. Please note the change below in our toll free number. Mike Hage has built a stellar reputation in the Panhandle of Florida and beyond by providing state of the art equipment and unparalleled customer service for products that assist the blind and visually impaired. We at Emerald Coast Vision Aids look forward to continuing to serve the needs of the blind and visually impaired in Northwest Florida and beyond. Emerald Coast Vision Aids, Inc. 8084 North Davis Highway, Suite G-1 Pensacola, FL 32514
Toll Free: (877) 473-8081 Local Phone: (850) 473-8081 Fax: (850) 473-8099 Motorola i355 Text to Speech PhoneSouthernLINC Wireless is a leading wireless carrier covering the major metro and rural areas in Alabama, Georgia, southeastern Mississippi, and northwest Florida. We bundle multiple communications options into one phone, including InstantLINCSM (Push to Talk) Mobile to Mobile, Cellular Service, Text Messaging, Wireless Internet access, and Wireless Data. SouthernLINC Wireless is now pleased to offer Enhancements for the Visually Impaired (EVI) software for Motorola's i355 phone. This phone includes Text to Speech (TTS) which uses voice playback to guide you through phone menus along with placing and receiving calls. With the TTS feature, you can hear the following as you use your phone:
Members and affiliates of the Florida Division of Blind Services in the Northwest Florida panhandle who want more information on this life-enriching communications feature should contact David Dickson, SouthernLINC Wireless Direct Account Executive, at (888) 590-3756. RecipesCrustless Spinach Quiche(makes 6 servings)
1 10 ounce package frozen chopped spinach 4 ounces skim milk Swiss cheese 2 slices day old bread, crusts removed and broken into small pieces 12 ounces egg substitute 3 scallions, whites and 1 inch green, sliced ¼ teaspoon nutmeg freshly ground pepper to taste butter flavored cooking spray Preheat the oven to 350°F. Thaw the spinach in the microwave and then drain in a colander, squeezing out all liquid. Mix spinach with cheese, bread pieces, egg substitute, scallion, nutmeg, and pepper. Pour into a nonstick 8 or 9 inch (20 to 22.5 cm) pie pan which has been sprayed with cooking spray. Even out with a spatula. Bake about 30 minutes or until completely set. Serve hot. Per serving: 121 calories (28 percent calories from fat), 13 g protein, 4 g total fat (2.2 g saturated fat), 9 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 10 mg cholesterol, 282 mg sodium Diabetic exchanges: 2 lean protein, 1/2 carbohydrate (bread/starch) Homemade Turkey Sausage(makes 6 servings)
11/4 pounds coarsely ground white turkey 1 teaspoon kosher salt 11/2 teaspoons ground pepper, or to taste 2 teaspoons chopped fresh sage, or 1/2 teaspoon dried 2 teaspoons chopped fresh thyme, or 1/2 teaspoon dried ½ teaspoon ground ginger ½ teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 tablespoon Calvados 11/2 tablespoons finely grated orange zest olive oil cooking spray Combine well the turkey, salt, pepper, sage, thyme, ginger, nutmeg, Calvados, and orange zest in a bowl. Spray a non stick skillet with cooking spray and sauté a small bit of sausage mixture to test for seasoning. Correct if necessary. Form the remainder into 6 patties about 1/2 inch thick and sauté until browned on both sides and cooked through. Serve hot from the pan. Per serving: 114 calories (8 percent calories from fat) 23 g protein, 1 g total fat (0.3 g saturated fat), 1 g carbohydrate, trace dietary fiber, 64 mg cholesterol, 362 mg sodium Diabetic exchanges: 3 very lean protein Baked Bagel Thins(makes 6 servings)
3 3-ounce whole wheat bagels refrigerated butter-flavored cooking spray Preheat oven to 450°F. Slice each bagel into four crosswise slices. Spray a non stick cookie sheet with spray. Place the slices in a single layer on the sheet and spray again. Bake for five minutes until lightly browned. Serve immediately. Per serving: 112 calories (4 percent calories from fat), 5 g protein, 1 g total fat (0 saturated fat), 24 g carbohydrate, 4 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 209 mg sodium Diabetic exchanges: 1 1/2 carbohydrate (bread/starch) Papaya and Raspberries with Lime(makes 6 servings)
3 ripe papayas, about 1 pound each, peeled and seeded 1 cup fresh raspberries juice and grated zest of two small limes sugar substitute, to taste Cut the peeled and seeded papayas in half lengthwise. Cut into slices and arrange in individual dessert dishes. Divide the raspberries among the dishes. Drizzle with lime juice. Sprinkle with lime zest and a small amount of sugar substitute. Taste and add more sugar substitute, if needed. Serve at once. Per serving: 72 calories (4 percent calories from fat), 1 g protein, trace total fat (0 saturated fat), 18 g carbohydrate, 4 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 5 mg sodium Diabetic exchanges: 1 carbohydrate (fruit) Reprinted with permission from Diabetic Recipes.com. Visit their website at www.diabetic-recipes.com/ To Our ReadersWe hope you found this issue of Eye on DBS both informative and interesting. This newsletter continues to evolve. Towards that end, we encourage all of you to send your suggestions, article ideas, recipes, or criticisms to either: Sam Atwood (Sam_Atwood@dbs.doe.state.fl.us) or Lydia Markley (Lydia_Markley@dbs.doe.state.fl.us) The Eye on DBS Newsletter can be accessed in several ways:
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