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The Florida Division of Blind Services Newsletter Volume 4, Number 9, September 2005 |
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Table of ContentsDistrict News Around the State Around the Nation Around the World Tools for Living Announcements
Website of the Month Recipes To Our Readers
District NewsDistricts Eight and NineDistrict 8 is pleased to finally announce some new staff. Nuelsi Font is our new Senior Word Processor. She has been with us for a few months and she is doing a phenomenal job. Nuelsi has brought a renewed energy to our office and the VR team. Shannon Simon is on board as our Customer Service Representative. Shannon has been with us a few weeks and in this short period of time has picked up a great deal and is really moving forward with job placement for our clients. She has great instincts and drive and we are very happy to have her aboard. Finally, we welcome Kate Saksefski as our new VR Counselor. Kate was an intern in our own Gainesville office and started with us this past Monday 8/22. She came trained in CRIS, DBS processes and procedures, and has been doing a fantastic job jumping in with both feet and moving forward. She has already gone out and done numerous initial interviews and it has been wonderful to see her energy. She is very sharp and has a wonderful knowledge of rehabilitation that will certainly benefit our clients. Thank you Gainesville for providing such wonderful training. Our Bradenton office has a VR Support Group that has now met five times. Anywhere from three to eleven VR clients, past and present, attend the support group, some whom are working and some who are looking for jobs. They share their personal stories of dealing with their situation from family reactions, employers, friends, and strangers. They provide guidance and support to each other and so much more. DBS Staff currently are facilitating the meetings, but once we have a core group, our staff will fade out so this can truly be a client run program. Those attending use this meeting time productively to learn how to work through various issues they come up against in their day to day activities. Those working share with those looking the ups and downs they have encountered to get to where they are now and the supports that aided them, as well as what DBS has provided. It is a very productive group and those who attend are very happy that DBS has pulled this together. In Ft. Myers we are pleased to announce that we have a new Supervisor, Stephen Yost. Stephen comes to us with a wide background in rehabilitation and believes in the team approach. He has developed various ways of enhancing teamwork through his work and outside interests in sports and coaching. Stephen believes in building on strengths and is implementing these ideas in his work. Currently he is in the midst of learning the DBS system and, while this is an overwhelming road he is traveling, he is handling it all with a great deal of style and professionalism. I am very pleased to have him aboard. Around the StateTales of My Travels in ItalyEarlier this year, I had the good fortune, thanks to a generous but anonymous Angel who helped to raise money to sponsor two people from Florida to attend No Barriers Dolomiti. The conference was held in the beautiful Italian Alps that offered physically challenged attendees the opportunity to meet, interact and learn from scientists and inventors who are developing assistive technologies, and to see, feel and use state-of-the-art assistive equipment. No Barriers Dolomiti seeks to improve the quality of life of people with disabilities by increasing active participation in the outdoor environment. It is not just a name; it is a state of mind. It is the attitude of reaching out and finding a way to accomplish one's dreams, no matter what it takes. The principle aim of NO BARRIERS DOLOMITI is to facilitate knowledge exchange between people with disabilities and those who create assistive technologies, thus fostering cooperation between them, and improving the efficacy of current rehabilitation approaches. Leaving on the heals of Hurricane Dennis on an international flight made for an interesting and challenging beginning of my trip abroad! After an "over night" eight-plus hour flight to Paris with my seat mate falling into my lap and my feet being constantly tickled by the curtain that divided us from the first classers we arrived in the Charles Degaul airport. There, we practically ran for what seemed like miles to catch our next flight to Venice, despite the fact that we had plenty of time. Arriving in Venice at approximately 11:00 local time we went in search of currency exchange only to find the computers down. Being jet-lagged as we were, what with it being 5:00 a.m. at home, we decided to tackle that mountain a little later. When we met up with our friend and traveling companion, Bobbie Osborn, we learned that our hotel rooms had been given away. However, being the wonder that she is, Bobbie had already scouted out another hotel and we struck out for it. Venice is a beautiful, romantic little city with no cars, lots of out-of-the-way alleyways, cobblestone streets and bridges—a pedestrian's dream and mobility nightmare! To cross a bridge you must walk up one side and down the other. Venice is built on the Mediterranean Sea and sports many forms of water transportation, the best, in my opinion being gondolas, narrow boats which are guided by one long paddle. The highlights of my time there are: a visit to the Doge's Palace where there was beautiful, old art and lots of history, taking a gondola ride with a most helpful and friendly gondolier and browsing in the shops which were filled with beautiful Venetian glass and gorgeous leather. Cortina d'Ampezzo where No Barriers Dolimiti was held is near the north-eastern border of Italy with Austria. The village, boasting a thousand-year old remarkable historical background, has nearly 7,000 inhabitants. It attracts visitors from all over the world for its lively international atmosphere, its fashionable shops, and excellent restaurants. Cortina is also known as the "Regina delle Dolomiti" (Queen of the Dolomites) since it is in the heart of the wonderful Dolomites which is where we did our rock climbing and hiking. It is surrounded by forests and wide ski slopes, below the towering craggy red rock mountains. It offers something to everyone and most certainly captured my heart. Alpine skiing is not the only international sport that has gained Cortina its worldwide fame; there are also an Olympic ski-jump outside the village and a thrilling bobsleigh track where international championships take place every year as well. The morning we wound our way up the mountain to Cortina we were awed by the panoramic view, fresh cool air, and friendly local folks. There were flowers of every color. We met some pretty amazing, determined people there who had a lot of good advice to offer regarding how to overcome whatever life tosses your way to remain active and have fun, but showed us firsthand just how to go about that! Take Erik Weihenmayer for instance, fourteen years ago, he was just another Boston College kid trying to pick up girls at keg parties. Today, this mountain-climbing nut is the toast of the world as the first blind person to reach the top of Mount Everest. Weihenmayer may not be able to see (the victim of a rare hereditary disease, he lost his sight at 13), but one of the most famous blind Americans after Stevie Wonder and Ray Charles. He climbs mountains, teaches middle schoolers, motivates CEOs, and wrote a book (Touch the Top of the World). He is the recipient of numerous awards, among them the prestigious Free Spirit Award and the 2002 ESPN, ESPY award. Then there is Warren McDonald, who had always wanted to climb one of Australia's most remote mountains, Tasmania’s Federation Peak. His world changed dramatically when a climbing accident on Hinchinbrook Island left him pinned under a rock for two days and resulted in the amputation of both of his legs. After the accident, Warren revealed his desperation to get back out into the wilderness he loves so much. Ten months later, he was in a wheelchair climbing Cradle Mountain, and less than a year after that walking into Tasmania's World Heritage wilderness on a pair of short prosthesis he developed himself. Then comes Mark Wellman, an accomplished athlete and outdoor adventurer, who was left a paraplegic by a freak accident on a descent in the John Muir Wilderness in 1982. Mark didn’t let that stop him though. He has gone on to ascend over 50 peaks in the Sierra Nevada as well as many summits in the French Alps. There is no limit to what we can reasonably achieve, except perhaps in our own minds" he says. Mark was honored in 1996 by the Paralympic Committee and ascended a 120-foot rope with the flaming torch to light the Olympic Cauldron. His autobiography is titled Climbing Back. He has designed adaptive equipment and has developed programs to inspire and motivate others, including films highlighting a variety of athletes with disabilities. He speaks for Disabled Sports USA, and lends his name to the Governor's Committee on Employment for the Disabled. There was lots of interesting technology and many new and challenging ideas shared at No Barriers Dolomiti. Sile O'Modhrain, Ph.D., from the M.I.T. Media Lab presented a lecture on Sensible Design, a Perceptually Aware Approach to the Design of Assistive Devices. Michael May, Ph.D. and President of Sendero, Inc. shared information about GPS navigation and demonstrated way-finding technology for people who are Blind. There was a rock wall in the city that we all had a chance to climb and each of us managed to reach the top… Some a little faster than others but reach the top we did! Sam Atwood (Clients Advocate, Division of Blind Services) and Bobbie also went rock climbing in the Dolomite mountains and Sam was ecstatic to have the opportunity to climb with and belay for one of the heroic climbers Andy Holzer who will accompany he and Craig Kiser on the climb on Kilimanjaro in September. We went for a couple of hikes through the Natural Park of the Ampezzo Dolomites, which is in the Dolomite mountains and has a powerful and spectacular river running through it. We managed to keep our guide, Giordano on edge as he thought we'd be a subdued group of disabled people just wanting a walk in the park and instead, we wanted to ramble around on our own and experience walking under a waterfall where you had to put on a safety harness and hook into a line as there was a 200 foot, sheer drop down the mountain. Unknown to us, the locals were giving poor Giordano a really hard time as well and we ended up feeling a little sorry for him and relenting but this was a wonderful opportunity to focus attention on the capabilities of blind people and to shatter the public's perceptions about what is possible, not only for blind people, but for all of us in our lives. Thanks to Leonard Timm and Jerry Kerr, founders of DRAFT, a nonprofit organization that represents people with disabilities who are, by virtue of new developments in technology and more widespread use of the principles of universal design, finding the opportunity to more fully participate in our society, and enhance the quality of their lives we had a chance to experience operating the Segway HT. The Segway is a human transporter that can self-balance because of a technology called dynamic stabilization and works in much the same way your own sense of balance does. The last leg of my journey was Rome. I must admit, it was a bit disappointing. It was hot, noisy, dirty and crowded. However, in historical Rome’s defense, it was viewed through tired and blind eyes. We visited the Coliseum, properly named The Flavian Amphitheatre where Romans used to go for entertainment which largely consisted of blood sports where animals would be pitted against both each other and gladiators, slaves who were trained to fight to the death. Then, it was on to the ancient Roman Ruins to plunder around in the fallen debris largely caused by an earthquake. Last, we visited the Crypt of the Capuchin Priests, a museum that honored the dead by displaying their bones in an art format. Yes, a bit bizarre but quite interesting. I hadn’t meant for this tale to go on for quite so long but didn’t want to leave any thing out. I hope you’ve had a good time traveling with me on the magic carpet of imagination. My trip was fun, challenging and well worth it! You must seize every opportunity to live and experience new things and I’m so grateful to have had that opportunity. Caio! Update on the Talking Book LibraryOur statewide PR efforts are now in full swing, with lots of great news to report. Our TV ad campaign on WFOR (CBS, Miami/Fort Lauderdale) has just ended, while the ads on WEAR (ABC, Pensacola) will end on August 31 and those on WFLA (NBC, Tampa Bay) will end on September 2. The ads on WCKF (Warner Brothers, Orlando Area) will continue through September, and our ads on WINK (CBS, Ft. Myers) will start on August 29 and continue through September 10, playing at least 20 times during the two-week period. Now, we have just arranged for the "Rita Moreno" TV ads to run in Jacksonville from September 12 through October 2 on two different networks: the ads will play at least 18 times on WJXX (ABC) and at least seven times on WTLV (NBC). The ads on WJXX will air during "Good Morning America." and on Sunday mornings between 7:00 am and 8:00 am on "Good Morning Jacksonville." The rest of the WJXX ads, and all of the WTLV ads, will be on a rotator schedule, running between 9:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Then, our statewide radio campaign will start right after Labor Day and run for three weeks, with each ad played at least 15 times on 56 stations, reaching every area of the State. Also in September, our display ads will begin running in several senior newspapers around Florida (they are already running in the papers covering Volusia, Flagler, Orange, Osceola, and Seminole Counties). From September through November, the ads will appear in the senior newspapers in Brevard, Marion, Lake, Sumter, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier Counties. Several sub-regional libraries are also adding to the statewide effort. In Miami-Dade, Barbara Moyer has been working with Marivi Prado, Public Affairs Officer for the Miami-Dade Public Library System, and they have arranged for extensive newspaper coverage. In addition to the article in the Spanish edition of the Miami Herald, they have just announced that articles on talking books will appear in several of their local community newspapers, including the Coconut Grove Tribune, Kendall Gazette, South Miami News, and Palmetto Bay News! They have also sent information on the outreach campaign to the library press, as well as a press release on talking books in Spanish to several local Hispanic media outlets. Ann Bush has also had success working with local press, and has had another newspaper article published, this one in the South Tampa News ("Library Serves Visually Impaired," July 27, 2005, p. 18A-22A). Marilyn Stevenson in Pinellas has had at least six articles about their grant award to start a print books-by-mail program published in community newspapers. Helen Hudson in Pensacola reported that her library system has a regular slot on WEAR's "Dayside" show every Friday (11:00 am), and that Helen is the guest three-five times per year. This allows for regular TV exposure for talking books. Jerry Reynolds from Jacksonville was recently a guest on a radio show on WYMM (AM radio). Every Saturday afternoon, they have a one-hour show on blindness issues, coordinated by the local chapter of the National Federation of the Blind of Florida. Since the show is available on streaming audio over the Web (http://www.wymm1530.com), we just completed mailing an announcement of this to all customers statewide. Pat Schubert in Bradenton has been working with her local public television station, and she reports that their interview with her about talking books was recently played several times. In our local area, the WCEU "Fishing Tales" program from a few years ago on anglers with disabilities (with former Library Program Administrator Greg Carlson and Sam Atwood from DBS Headquarters) is being replayed regularly. Incidentally, Greg is doing well as the Director of the Jacaranda Public Library in Sarasota County, and he called me at 7:00 am this morning after seeing our TV ad on WFLA-TV. "We provide the information and reading materials needed by our customers." Around the NationCamp Lighthouse: Summer Fun for Blind KidsMost American kids have the summer off from school. But that doesn't mean they aren't busy. Many spend their days at summer camp. Along with traditional camps that feature a variety of activities, there are specialized camps that teach sports skills, or theater arts. There are also camps for kids with physical or mental disabilities. At Camp Lighthouse, blind and visually impaired youngsters create art, play sports, and develop a positive outlook on life. On a hot summer day in Washington D.C. the kids at Camp Lighthouse are in the pool. Like campers everywhere, they cackle, jump and splash each other wildly. "It's just a lot of fun. I just can't explain how much fun I have here," says Darkina, 12, who has been coming here every summer since she was 8. While playing in the water is fun, she and her fellow campers say there's more to Camp Lighthouse than swimming: "This camp is very educational. I learned a lot of things. I learned new camp songs, I learned new games, new dances," Darkina says. "We watch movies and do activities outside," Dovontay says. "We went to a baseball game yesterday," says Elizabeth. "When I got home. I was like—'no, no I want to go back to camp." "A couple days ago I went on a field trip to a place where they record books on tapes and CDs," Kelly says. "I got to hear a couple of pages of Harry Potter. We did finger prints. We do arts and crafts. And we go play on a lap top." The non-profit service group, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind, has sponsored this camp for nearly half-a-century, and hundreds of blind and visually impaired kids have grown up here. This summer, 34 campers are enrolled in the two-week long session. Camp director Antoine Johnson says there are about the same number of volunteer counselors. "The volunteers have been great," he says. "They are acting like big brothers and big sisters to the campers, engaging the campers in different activities answering the questions. They also learn about one another. It's a mutual thing." Like the campers, volunteers often return summer after summer. Liz Teter, 17, is back. The high school student says volunteering helped her understand blindness as a challenge some people have to live with. "Last year when I first started volunteering with them, I was really surprised how independent they were," she says. "They were teaching me a lot of stuff, too. They knew their surroundings really well. They just use other senses." Kelly, eight-years-old, says she likes talking with the volunteers and playing with her friends at camp. Unlike her classmates in public school, Kelly says, she finds everybody at Camp Lighthouse easier to deal with. "There are more people that are visually impaired, and more people that understand you better," she adds. That's one of the reasons Camp Lighthouse was established. Michelle Tatro, of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (CLB), credits the camp environment with reducing the social isolation that visual impairment often causes. "The parents that I meet expressed gratitude for being able to bring their children to some place where they have children who are able to group together, that have the same problems, where they can communicate, bond and make friendships," she says. Ms. Tatro says the different social experiences campers get during their summer activities can change the way they look at themselves and their life. "I think that they are learning that they are capable of doing whatever they want," she says. "It might take them a longer while, but they are more than capable of participating in everyday activity as a sighted child would." Camp Lighthouse is one of many programs provided for free by the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind. There's a pet picnic every June, "where we have farm animals that they (the kids) may never have the opportunity to see," Ms. Tatro says. There's also an annual Easter egg hunt, and Halloween and Christmas parties. More recently, the Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind had a Braille rally, "where visually impaired adults and children act as navigators for drivers," Ms. Tatro explains. "There is a path that they take. They read the map in Braille, large print; they tell the driver how to go where to turn and how to get back there." Camp Lighthouse director Antoine Johnson says he'd like to add more summer activities. "This camp is for two weeks," he says. "If we were able to get the funding to do longer sessions, I'd like to see that." And, no doubt, so would the kids … who are strengthening their independent living skills as they have fun in the sun. Reprinted from The Voice of America, copyright 2005. http://www.voanews.com/english/AmericanLife/2005-07-21-voa18.cfm. Project VROOM: Improving Math Curricula for Blind StudentsThe U.S. Department of Education reports that 72 percent of blind eighth graders receive a high school diploma. No more than 70 percent of those high school graduates enroll in post-secondary education, where mathematics is a key component to their success. However, mathematics is a visual language that causes major obstacles for blind students considering careers in science, engineering, technology or mathematics. Also, there is an increasing gap between the number of blind students needing training and the supply of teachers properly trained to serve blind students seeking such careers. Dr. Stan Cronk and Dr. Ronald Ferguson, both faculty members at Louisiana Tech University, have developed an innovative way to address this significant problem. Their project is entitled Project VROOM: Visualizing the Real Operations of Math. According to Cronk and Ferguson, the ultimate goal of the project is to develop, implement, and evaluate a Math 101 course for blind students. The aptly named VROOM brings together a crack team with an exciting plan. The entire project team combined together has at least 125 years of collective experience. These persons represent a variety of interdisciplinary interests including biomedical engineering, mathematics, education of the blind, adaptive technology, instructional technology, and mathematics education. The project costs approximately $99,968 and consists of three phases. In Phase One, an effective Math 101 curriculum is developed. In Phase Two, the Math 101 curriculum is field-tested during a six-week summer workshop. Blind high school students from all over the nation have been selected to participate in the summer workshop. During the workshop, the students receive instruction in an introductory algebra course. By the end of Phase Three, a technology appropriate Math 101 curriculum will be available for blind students. Currently, no other program provides an interdisciplinary evidence-based approach to teaching Math 101 to the blind, which makes Project VROOM unique and inventive. The directors of Project VROOM chose Math 101 because on most college campuses Math 101 is considered the gateway mathematics course to most science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers. Math 101 is also an important prerequisite to more advanced mathematics courses in college curricula, such as calculus or differential equations. Reprinted from Louisiana Tech University, copyright 2005. http://research.latech.edu/news/102. Healthy Eyes: Your Child's Most Important School SupplyAmong all the crayons, paper, scissors and glue you purchase for
your child’s first day of school, the most important school supply
is a healthy pair of eyes. Studies indicate vision is the key
element (almost 80 percent) of the learning process during a child’s
first 12 years.
If any of these or other vision skills is lacking or not functioning properly, your child will have to work harder. This can lead to headaches, fatigue and other eyestrain problems. As a parent, be alert for symptoms that may indicate your child has a vision or visual processing problem. When children have undetected vision problems, school can become a struggle. Signs that your child may be experiencing vision difficulties in the classroom include: trouble finishing written assignments, losing their place when reading, having a short attention span when doing close work, skipping words when reading, making errors when copying from a classroom board, holding reading material closer than normal, rubbing their eyes, and having greater potential than grades may indicate (under performing.) To ensure a lifetime of healthy eyes and vision and success in school, the American Optometric Association (AOA) encourages comprehensive eye exams to be performed when a child is six months old, three years old, when a child enters school, and every two years after that. A school vision test or a pediatrician's screening, while helpful, is not a substitute for a thorough eye examination. An examination assesses whether the eyes see clearly. But it also measures the eyes’ ability to work together, to focus properly, and to move together in activities such as across a page of print or following a ball. A visit to the optometrist will help make your child’s time in
the classroom more productive and rewarding by ensuring that your
child’s eyes’ are healthy and are "ready for learning." The American Optometric Association, founded in 1898, represents more than 34,000 doctors of optometry, optometry students and paraoptometric assistants and technicians in more than 7,000 communities across the country. Optometrists examine, diagnose, treat and manage diseases and disorders of the visual system, the eye and associated structures as well as diagnose related systemic conditions. The mission of the profession of optometry is to fulfill the vision and eye care needs of the public through clinical care, research and education, all of which enhance the quality of life of patients. "Making It Count: Math Skills for Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired"Math teacher extraordinare, Susan Osterhaus, from the Texas School for the Blind, made it count in Hartford, Connecticut on June 14 and 15 when she partnered with APH to present the National Instructional Partnership (NIP) event 'Making It Count: Math Skills for Students who are Blind and Visually Impaired'. Susan featured APH products such as the Geometry Tactile Graphics Kit; Braille Transcribers' Kit: Math; Graphic Aid for Mathematics; Abacus; Braille/Print Protractor, and many others as she discussed Math instruction with more than 40 teachers of the visually impaired at this 'sold-out' training event. EOT Jeanette Haines at the Connecticut Board of Education and Services for the Blind organized this NIP event and is to be congratulated for planning such a successful training. Reprinted from: The American Printing House for the Blind, copyright 2005. Disaster Information for Persons with DisabilitiesThe U.S. Department of Transportation today launched a new web site containing information to help ensure safe and secure transportation for persons with disabilities in the event of a disaster or emergency. The new site includes advice on emergency preparedness, transportation accessibility, and evacuation methods for certain modes of transportation, such as rail and transit systems. Disabled individuals can learn how to react in situations ranging from evacuations of mass transit systems to being trapped in a car during a blizzard or hurricane. The site also includes links to Department of Homeland Security web pages that provide information on preparing for specific emergencies, including natural disasters such as severe weather, fire and earthquakes, as well as man-made disasters such as spills of hazardous materials. In addition, the site also provides information for transportation providers on how to respond to the unique needs of people with disabilities during an emergency. The new site was developed in response to an executive order issued by President Bush on July 22, 2004, which directed federal agencies to support safety and security for individuals with disabilities during natural and man-made disasters. The web address for the new site is: http://www.dotcr.ost.dot.gov/asp/emergencyprep.asp. Around the WorldHelping Trainee Balloon Pilot's Blind AmbitionSomerset (UK)--A qualified hot air balloon instructor from Chesterblade, near Cranmore, is helping a man to become the first blind person to gain a private hot air balloon license. Freelance photographer Sue Carden, who taught actress Rula Lenska to fly and is a former long distance record holder, has been a qualified instructor for about 15 years and has been working with 34-year-old Jamie Weller, who is an ex-serviceman. Mr. Weller is a resident of St Dunstan's, in Sussex, which is a home for blind former armed forces personnel. Miss Carden has been working with Mr. Weller to help him participate in a fundraising challenge by St. Dunstan's, called the Blind Ambition Campaign. Two other residents have already completed challenges on water and land, and Mr. Weller is hoping to complete the £100,000 St. Dunstan's fundraising campaign with his airborne exploits. Miss Carden and Mr. Weller took to the skies to launch the publicity for Mr. Weller's challenge at the Bristol Balloon Fiesta and Mr. Weller plans a cross London flight this month, not attempted in a hot air balloon for more than 10 years. After achieving his pilot's license and taking on the cross-London challenge, Mr. Weller plans a cross Channel flight next year. To achieve his ultimate ambition of gaining his pilot's license, Miss Carden has taken Mr. Weller's first training session in Turin, Italy, and he needs to accumulate a minimum of 16 hours' flight experience within two years and take at least six flights, four of which must be with an approved instructor. The private pilot's license is then subject to a medical examination, written examination and a flight test with a Civil Aviation Authority examiner. After Mr. Weller's Turin flight, Miss Carden said: "It is a pleasure to meet someone who has as much passion for flying as I have. "I think people will be surprised by how well he can fly. "We communicate so well that I forget he is an unsighted student—when pushed and challenged, he performs better than most people as he listens to instructions and translates this into flying ability. "The brilliant thing about flying is that with his disability, he does not have the usual obstacles to avoid that you would encounter on land or water, and it is a team sport anyway, so you rarely fly alone. "His wife is also enjoying being part of the ground support crew." Miss Carden, who became hooked on ballooning when she was at college about 20 years ago, said she loves the reaction from some of her passengers. "I took a 78-year-old lady up on Saturday at the balloon fiesta, and it had been her dream to travel in a hot air balloon since she had seen a Zeppelin during the war, " she said. "It was lovely when she said we had made her dream come true." Reprinted from: Northcliffe Electronic Publishing Ltd., copyright 2005. Article Source: Somerset Guardian Blind Girl Climbs to Great New HeightsNine-year-old Mehreen Akhtar is the first ever blind child to have reached the British Regional Youth Climbing Series (BRYCS) National Climbing Finals. The competition run by the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) took place on 16th July at the Westway Climbing Centre in London. Mehreen attends Huddersfield Actionnaires club, run by Action for Blind People. These multi-sports clubs take place across the UK to give blind and partially sighted children and young people aged eight–16 years the opportunity to enjoy a wide range of sports in a safe, fun and structured environment. Ross Ford, Sports Development Officer at Action for Blind People says: ‘When Mehreen first came to Actionnaires she was very shy and had no self-confidence. It is so wonderful to see her remarkable achievement. One of the main aims of running these clubs is for the children to ultimately become involved in mainstream participation with sighted kids. It is a great joy for me to see this happening.’ Mehreen from Huddersfield took part in the regional rounds across the UK and came in the top 3 in the girls7-9 age category in the Yorkshire and Humberside region, enabling her to qualify for the national finals. Nick Colton, Deputy CEO from British Mountaineering Council says: ‘This is the first time a blind person has entered one of our climbing competitions. To reach the National Final is a notable achievement for anyone and it is a great credit to Mehreen personally and to Action for Blind People as an organization. It demonstrates that climbing is an activity that blind people can both participate and excel in, and demonstrates the BMC’s commitment to equal opportunities.’ There are currently 10 Actionnaires Clubs across the UK in Huddersfield, Gravesend, Portsmouth, Essex, Liverpool, South London, Sunderland, Blackburn Manchester and Coventry. For further information please contact Debbie Flatley at email address: Humanware’s CEO Dr. Russell Smith Dies in Cessna CrashHumanWare recently announced the death of the company's founder and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Russell Smith, and his wife Marian who were killed on Sunday, August 7th in the crash of their Cessna 182. Russell and Marian, as they are known to most of the blindness industry, were avid fliers who had built their own private airstrip at their home in Aylesford, New Zealand. On Sunday while returning home together from Nelson, their aircraft crashed into the sea north of Christchurch. "Russell devoted his entire working life to developing innovative technology for people who are blind or visually impaired," stated Philip Rance, President of HumanWare USA. "In his 30 years of service, he became an icon and was recognized, honored and admired throughout the world." Rance added, "His death, at age 60, is a huge loss to the blindness industry as a whole. Both he and Marian will be greatly missed by family, friends, and colleagues all over the world." Dr. Smith graduated from University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand, with B.E.(Hons) in Electrical Engineering and went on to complete a Ph.D. degree in 1972. His doctoral research concerned new techniques for designing transducers and information displays for under-water sonar systems. He joined the Wormald International Group in 1975 to head a new division which would develop the SonicGuide sonar mobility aid for the blind. The benefit of Russell's earlier research in sonar techniques was instrumental in ensuring the successful launch of this innovative product on to the world blindness market. In 1976 Russell was appointed the first Manager of Wormald International Sensory Aids Ltd, which became Pulse Data International Ltd in January 1988 after a management buyout. In January 2005 Russell finalized a merger of the company with Canadian-based VisuAide, and the new combined company was renamed HumanWare Ltd. "Russell Smith was one of the fathers of our industry," notes Jim Halliday, President Emeritus of HumanWare USA. "In the 30 years since we first met, he has inspired and driven the development of an amazing list of technological firsts that have and will continue to create opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired." He emphasizes, "Russell's legacy will live long after the rest of us are gone!" Some of the "firsts" Smith's company has developed include:
As well as being Chief Executive of the HumanWare Group, Russell was Chairman of the Board of the group's Europe, Australia, USA, and Canada subsidiary companies. Rance acknowledged, "Although we are a very solid company with teams in place to manage effectively well into the future, we will all miss Russell's inspiration and guidance, his tenacity, and his kind humanity. He and Marian will leave a huge void in all of our lives." A memorial service will be held in the U.S. to honor of Dr. Russell Smith, with date and location to be advised. Tools for LivingAppReader Makes Proofreading EasierAI Squared invites customers to make use of AppReader, an enhancement to the popular magnification software ZoomText. AppReader makes it easier to read what you have written before signing off on it. After completing an essay, report, or letter to a friend, reviewing or revising work can be tedious. With AppReader, built into the ZoomText magnifier/screen reader software, a single key combination lets you close your eyes and listen to your text read aloud or have the double confirmation of both hearing your words and seeing them highlighted on the screen. AppReader has simple key commands for pausing, revising, and reviewing text. Whenever you exit AppReader, the cursor is automatically positioned at the last word spoken, thus making navigation an easy matter. AppReader can also be an efficient tool for reviewing web pages and other large documents as well as for proofreading original work. For more information Contact AI Squared Product Support: phone: 802-362-3612 E-mail: support@aisquared.com Web site: www.aisquared.com GPS Version 3 Now Available for BrailleNoteGPS Version 3.3 for BrailleNote is now Available! Sendero's GPS version 3.3 for the BrailleNote is now shipping including versions for the tiny PK and the new mPower. Version 3.3 introduces two huge improvements to Sendero's BrailleNote GPS, the Cadillac of accessible GPS systems. The Points of Interest database is being expanded from one to twelve million points in the U.S. and Canada with 108 categories. Additional functionality has been added to deal with this voluminous and newer data content. In addition to the restaurants and hotels common in previous versions, the GPS 3.3 data includes everything from beauty salons to nursing homes to churches. As our beta testers in the U.S. and Canada have said, "it is amazing how much stuff is out there and we feel like we can see it with our BrailleNote GPS, especially in version 3.3." We have enhanced the manual route creation software. You can now designate manual waypoints as Straight, Left or Right. You can add custom descriptions like "4-way intersection" or "slight bend in path." This makes manual routes created across a campus or in the woods extremely versatile. For both manual and automatic routes, you now hear a natural voice telling you to "continue straight" when you are on course or, "Warning, off route" when you are not. Directional information has been enhanced by averaging headings, making relative directions for waypoint and points of interest much better. BrailleNote GPS has at least double the features and functions of other accessible GPS products and the PK GPS is the smallest and most powerful. For more information, come see Sendero or HumanWare at an upcoming conference or call 1-888-757-6810. Details are on the web at: HumanWare is the manufacturer of the BrailleNote family of products and Sendero Group is the manufacturer of the GPS as well as a distributor of BrailleNotes. Sendero's GPS products are the most mature as a result of 10 years development and sales with the largest installed base of blind GPS users worldwide. HumanWare 175 Mason Circle Concord CA 94520 800.722.3393 Kurzweil Technologies and National Federation of the Blind Premiere the World's First Portable Reading Machine for the BlindKurzweil Technologies, Inc. (KTI) and the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) introduced the world's first portable reading machine for the blind last week at the NFB's 2005 National Convention in Louisville, KY. The portable reading machine, which can fit in a user's shirt pocket, can read print and text materials as users go through their normal daily routine. It converts print into human-sounding speech and can read handouts at meetings, signs on a wall, text on packages, and electronic displays. The hardware consists of a consumer digital camera with a standard PocketPC, so the hardware cost is expected to benefit from the rapid improvement of price-performance of consumer electronics. The camera and pocket computer are held together by a snap-in case. The technology was developed by Ray Kurzweil and his colleagues at KTI in close collaboration with the NFB, which is organizing a comprehensive testing program with blind users. Ray Kurzweil was the principal developer of the first print-to-speech reading machine for the blind, also developed in close collaboration with the NFB. Ray Kurzweil noted that "The new unit is 10,000 times smaller than the original 1976 reading machine, yet the computer it's using is 2,000 times more powerful." This new portable unit is expected to be available for sale in 2006. For more information, visit the website at: http://www.kurzweiltech.com/kesi.html. Announcing MobileSpeak Screen ReaderCode Factory has elected to release MobileSpeak/Pocket as a public beta and to help celebrate the launch of this revolutionary product, Technologies for Lifelong Independence is offering a special promotion to those who buy the product during this pre-release period. You benefit by becoming one of the first on your block to enjoy the independence and low price of a talking PDA whose weight is less than 4 ounces and can be used without a keyboard. The early adopters special from TLI:
For further information on this exciting new product, including features, facts and hardware requirements and the TLI early adopter special, please go to: http://www.independtech.com/msp. NOTE: All winners of a cell phone package must sign up for T-Mobile service through TLI. If you elect not to take T-Mobile service, you can select one of the other prizes, excluding the Dell Axim. AnnouncementsAssociation of Blind Citizens Assistive Technology Fund InformationCreating Opportunity One Step at A Time: http://www.blindcitizens.org/assistive.html The Association of Blind Citizens has established the Assistive Technology Fund. The Assistive Technology Fund (ATF) will provide funds to cover 50 percent of the retail price of adaptive devices or software. The ABC board of directors believes that this program will allow blind and visually impaired individuals access to technology products that will have a significant impact on improving employment opportunities, increase the level of independence and enhance their overall quality of life. The products covered by this program must retail for a minimum of $200 with a maximum retail price of $6,000. Persons eligible to apply for assistance must have a family income of less than $50,000 and cash assets of less than $20,000. Applications will be reviewed by the Assistive Technology Committee (ATC) and recommendations will be submitted for board approval. If applicants are selected to receive a technology grant, applicants will be asked to provide documents such as tax returns, bank statements and any other documents that the ABC board or its designee would deem necessary to assess financial need for the grant. Applicants must be legally blind and a resident of the United States to qualify for this program. Applications must be submitted by June 30th, September 30th and December 31st for each grant period (three per year). Applicants will be notified if their request for a grant is approved. Applicants may submit one request per calendar year. All applications must be submitted via e-mail. You will be notified by ABC within 45 days after the application deadline. You may fill out the request form below by pasting it in to your word processor and emailing it to: Association of Blind Citizens Assistive Technology request form: Name: ______________________________________________ 1st Line of Address: ____________________________________ 2nd Line of Address: ____________________________________ City, State, Zip: _________________________________________ Telephone (with area code): _______________________________ Email address: _________________________________________ Provide a description of 500 or fewer words of the device you wish to purchase and how it will help you achieve employment or increase your independence. Requests must be received via email only by June 30th, September 30th, and December 31st. American Foundation for the Blind Continues Partnership with Verizon Communications to Launch New Career—Braille Textbook TranscriberThe American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) today announced that Verizon Communications is continuing its partnership with AFB to develop and promote the new career of Braille Textbook Transcriber, and improve literacy for America’s blind and low-vision schoolchildren. The $200,000 grant from Verizon Reads will assist AFB in the continued development and launch of the online community college-level courses designed to train transcribers to produce textbooks and instructional materials in Braille. AFB is working on this effort in collaboration with Northwest Vista College in San Antonio, Texas, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) and 35 of the leading national organizations and associations in education, literacy and service to the blind and visually impaired U.S. population. Northwest Vista College is the first campus in the nation to offer its students the opportunity to achieve the credentials and certification for this new career. The classes will be available by the end of 2006. "The online curriculum is a critical step toward meeting the needs of blind and low-vision schoolchildren across America, who currently wait months to receive textbooks and instructional materials in Braille," said Carl R. Augusto, president and CEO of the American Foundation for the Blind. "We are deeply appreciative of Verizon’s commitment to continuing this partnership, and its long-standing dedication to championing literacy in America." Reprinted from Verison, copyright 2005. http://www.verizonreads.net/news/story.asp?story_id=252. Freedom Scientific and immixGroupSM Partner for Product Procurement through the GSAFreedom Scientific has announced that its software and hardware products are now available to federal government agencies through immixTechnology's GSA (General Services Administration) Schedule, contract number GS-35F-0330J. Freedom Scientific is a worldwide leader in assistive technology for the blind, visually impaired, and those with learning disabilities. A subsidiary of immixGroup, Inc., immixTechnology, is a government channel management firm that addresses the business requirements of technology manufacturers selling to the government. The partnership between Freedom Scientific and immixTechnology means that government agencies now can purchase Freedom Scientific products through a pre-competed schedule, as opposed to a best-bid process. This reduces order time, labor, and paperwork, and ensures the purchasing agency the best price. Under the GSA Schedules (also referred to as Multiple Award Schedules and Federal Supply Schedules) Program, GSA establishes long-term government-wide contracts with commercial firms to provide access to products and services that can be ordered directly from GSA Schedule contractors or through the GSA Advantage!® online shopping and ordering system. Through the use of immixTechnology's GSA Schedule and its other contract vehicles, government agencies are able to easily purchase a broad range of leading commercial technologies. "Government agencies require products that enable workers, trainees, and others who are blind or have low vision or learning disabilities to excel in the work or study environment, doing the same work as their sighted counterparts," said Lee Hamilton, president and CEO of Freedom Scientific. "Freedom Scientific products set the standard of excellence in this technology, providing a broad range of solutions that encompass accessible screen reading, screen magnification software, accessible portable Pocket PC solutions, Braille displays, scanning and reading machines, teaching and learning software for those with learning disabilities, and more." Many Freedom Scientific products are designed to be complete hardware and software accessibility solutions that are tested and guaranteed to work together and do not require additional training. Freedom Scientific’s product development approach also gives users access to the same mainstream technology features with which sighted users work. For instance, Freedom Scientific’s JAWS screen reading software enables the visually impaired to read the same on-screen documents, including Web pages, that sighted users read. Freedom Scientific’s PAC Mate provides a Pocket PC solution based on the Windows Mobile platform, using Microsoft Pocket PC applications and third-party applications that a Pocket PC can use. Four Preferred Freedom Scientific Dealers have been named as "Sales Agents" that are able to fulfill orders through immixTechnology. The Dealers are: TCS Associates, Virtual Vision, Vision Dynamics, ADAPT 2C, and Universal Low Vision Aids. "A significant amount of our business is already conducted with government agencies," Hamilton said. "We look forward to working with immixTechnology to expand our assistive technology to other agencies in the public sector." To review the complete GSA Schedule of Freedom Scientific products, visit: http://www.immixtechnology.com or contact Robert Brown, senior account manager at immix Technology: Phone: (703) 752-0613 E-mail: robert_brown@immextechnology.com. New Guide Dog ListServGuide Dogs Long Hall is a forum for discussing long-duration travel with a guide dog, and the many issues associated with such travel. Topics can include planning extensive travel with a guide dog domestically, or abroad, health and import regulations such dogs must satisfy for entry in to other countries, preparing guide dogs for long-duration travel including travel by sea and/or air, rights of access, (especially in foreign countries and on transportation providers, and cultural aspects of working with guide dogs over seas). Sharing your past experiences with long-duration vacations or trips you may have taken with a guide dog are strongly encouraged. Any topic related to this subject is fare game for this list. The list is moderated by Peter Donahue. To subscribe send an e-mail message to: Upon receipt of the confirmation message simply reply for your subscription to be activated. Subscribers will be automatically added to the list upon receipt of their subscription request and confirmation to join the list. Subscribers are asked to observe the golden rule when participating in group discussions. Your participation is strongly encouraged. Please take time to introduce yourself once you have been subscribed and begin receiving messages. Your experiences with long-duration travel with a guide dog will serve to help those contemplating such trips to know how to properly prepare for such journeys, and how to handle a guide dog and deal with associated issues and concerns while traveling. Most importantly be imaginative, and have fun. Guide Dogs for the Blind, Inc. Has Open PositionPosition: Reproduction Coordinator Reports To: Breeding Manager Overall Summary: The Reproduction Coordinator is responsible for coordinating the breeding colony dogs to ensure that optimum conception rate, litter size, and overall production goals are achieved. The Technician uses different procedures and techniques to monitor fertility cycles to maximize results. This position also provides a variety of program support, including but not limited to breeding records, colony health assessment and constituent interface. Position Essential Functions:
Position Essential Requirements:
Position Specifications: This full-time (32-40 hours/wk), non-exempt, Grade 8 position is expected to pay a minimum of $17/hr., depending on experience. How to Apply: Please submit your application for this position in one of the following ways: Complete the Online Application for Employment: http://www.guidedogs.com/career-apply.html
Email your cover letter and resume to: Mail your cover letter and resume to the following address: Guide Dogs for the Blind Attention: Recruiting P.O. Box 151200 San Rafael, CA 94915-1200
Phone: (800) 295-4050 Website: http://www.guidedogs.com
Street Addresses:
350 Los Ranchitos Road San Rafael, CA 94903 (415) 499-4000
32901 S.E. Kelso Road Boring, OR 97009 (503) 668-2100 Website of the MonthThe website of the month is "A Blind Net". This site contains information about organizations of and for the blind, as well as other useful resources. Visit the website at: http://www.blind.net/blindind.htm. RecipesPork Chops with Wild Mushrooms1/8 ounce dried wild mushrooms, such as morels, mixed Italian etc. 1/2 cup boiling water Olive oil cooking spray 4 center-cut boneless loin pork chops, 4 ounces each, all fat removed Freshly ground pepper 3 ounces fresh oyster or shiitake mushrooms 1/2 cup canned fat-free, low-sodium chicken broth 1/4 cup dry white wine 2 springs fresh thyme In a bowl, place the dried mushrooms and cover with boiling water. Follow package directions to dehydrate. Drain the mushrooms. Reserve 1/4 cup of the mushroom soaking liquid. Lightly coat a nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add the chops and cook uncovered for about five minutes over medium heat. Turn the chops, season with pepper, reduce heat, and cook for another eight to nine minutes. Transfer the chops to a plate, cover, and keep warm. Recoat the same skillet with cooking spray and add both the dried and the fresh mushrooms. Sauté for four to five minutes. Raise the heat and add the chicken broth, wine, reserved mushroom soaking liquid, and thyme, Reduce the liquid by half. To serve, place the pork on separate plates. Divide the mushrooms between the portions and spoon the sauce on top. Per serving: 173 calories (31 percent calories from fat), 26 g protein, 6 g total fat (2.0 g saturated fat), 2 g carbohydrates, trace dietary fiber, 72 mg cholesterol, 508 mg potassium, 80 mg sodium Diabetic exchanges: 3 lean protein Garlic and Thyme Mashed Potatoes1 ½ pounds Yukon Gold or Russet potatoes 3 cloves garlic, cut in half 2 sprigs thyme, plus 1 teaspoon fresh thyme leaves 3 tablespoons skim milk ¼ teaspoon salt (optional) Freshly ground pepper Peel and cut the potatoes into similar sized pieces. Place in a large pot of boiling water with the garlic and thyme sprigs. Simmer until the potatoes test done with a sharp knife. Drain the potatoes, and discard the garlic and thyme sprigs. Mash the potatoes. Add the fresh thyme leaves and milk with salt (if using) and pepper. Keep warm till ready to serve. To serve, divide between plates. Per serving: 116 calories (0 percent calories from fat), 3 g protein, 0 total fat (0 saturated fat), 26 g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 90 mg potassium, 15 mg sodium Diabetic exchanges: 1 1/2 carbohydrate (bread/starch) Sautéed Baby SpinachOlive oil cooking spray 2 scallions, white and 1 inch green, chopped 1 clove garlic, minced 1 pound baby spinach, washed well Coat a large nonstick skillet with cooking spray. Add the scallion and garlic. Sauté for 1 minute. Add the spinach and sauté until the spinach is wilted. Serve immediately. Per serving: 28 calories (0 percent calories from fat), 3 g protein, 0 total fat (0 saturated fat), 5 g carbohydrates, 3 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 649 mg potassium, 91 mg sodium Diabetic exchanges: 1/2 carbohydrate (1 vegetable) Broiled Grapefruits with Cassis2 large pink grapefruits 2 teaspoons one-to-one sugar substitute 1 ½ tablespoons crème de cassis or if you prefer, orange liquor Pre-heat the broiler. Halve each grapefruit and with a sharp knife, loosen each section from the membrane. Arrange the grapefruit halves in an oven proof pan. Sprinkle with sugar substitute and liquor. Broil grapefruits until they begin to brown, about eight to 10 minutes, depending on your stove. Serve warm. Per serving: 76 calories (0 percent calories from at), 1 g protein, 0 total fat (0 saturated fat), 17 g carbohydrates, 2 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 232 mg potassium, 0 sodium Diabetic exchanges: 1 carbohydrate (fruit) Reprinted with permission from Diabetic-Recipes.com. Visit the website at: http://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:
If you are already registered with Florida Talking Books, call your local Talking Book librarian or the main Talking Book library at 1-800-226-6075 and tell the librarian that you want to register for NFB-Newsline. If you are not registered with Talking Books but you are legally blind or print handicapped, you must fill out an application and attach a letter from a qualified professional attesting to your eligibility. Clients of the Division of Blind Services can contact their VR counselor or district office. For the application visit the NFBF website at: http://www.nfbflorida.org/newsline/index.htm. Logging in: From any touch-tone telephone, call NFB-Newsline® at the number listed on your Welcome Letter. A female voice will answer and ask for a Portal Number. Enter 632. You will then be connected to the NFB-Newsline computer. When the voice asks, punch in your 6-digit identification number. You will then be asked for your 4-digit security code. All these numbers are provided at the bottom of your Welcome Letter. After Newsline recognizes you by name, you will be asked to select option 2. Guidelines for Newsletter Submissions
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