EYE ON DBS
The Florida Division of Blind Services Internal Newsletter
Volume 3, Number 1, January, 2004
EYE ON DBS |
The Florida Division of Blind Services Internal Newsletter
Volume 3, Number 1, January, 2004 |
District One provides comprehensive services to the Independent Living Adult Program (ILAP) population in a rural ten-county area that encompasses approximately 175 miles in length. One counselor and one support person provide these services, in spite of the many obstacles. The services include monitoring of cases served by Independence for the Blind. District One always exceeds its goals of successful individuals (25 closures).
The staff continues to provide in-service presentations to Lions Clubs, Council on Aging, schools, and various other community agencies on an as needed basis.
Also, the staff attend inter-agency meetings maintaining contact with other agencies, and participating in Health Fairs annually.
As the elder population has a greater interest in technology, the staff try to stay current. This is done by attending meetings of the national and state consumer organizations, reading the latest periodicals, participating in training provided by this agency, and keeping abreast of the latest information from vendors who sell low vision products. The staff is always eager to participate in training that will enable them to better serve clients, thereby giving clients the knowledge and encouragement to become more self-sufficient.
The ILAP staff is perhaps the most senior staff of the agency, with each having more than 29 years of service to the elder blind population of the state. Also, these dedicated individuals are quite versatile, filling in when vacancies occurred in the past until a permanent staff person came on board. These individuals have crossed the programs, assisting with Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) services during the absence of a VR counselor.
District One considers itself a family where we live in harmony with each other: not so much to achieve accolades, but to provide the best quality services to blind and visually impaired people in the district. We are District One for a reason—we are number one!
by Chris Collins
Rehabilitation Supervisor
This story is being submitted in hopes to balance some of the negativity you read about in the news. I am a Rehabilitation Supervisor working for the Florida Division of Blind Services. In June of 2001, the Panama City Division of Blind Services Office received a call from an individual named "Bill." He was referred to our DBS office by a local Ophthalmologist in Fort Walton Beach. "Bill" reported being blind and that he had some memory problems as a result of a motorcycle accident the year before. During my interview I learned that he needed everything to learn to become functional as a visually impaired individual. I discussed the various programs with him including the Bureau of Business Enterprise programs. We discussed the BBE programs and he thought that this program might be a good fit for him. I recommended that he attend the Daytona Rehabilitation Center for the Blind. "Bill" attended the Rehab Center and during his initial program he was given a complete battery of academic and psychological tests, as well as interest inventories. During one of many conference calls it was brought up that he might consider becoming a motorcycle mechanic. I discussed this with Mr. Harry McEwen who conducted the testing at the Rehabilitation Center. Mr. McEwen made this recommendation based on "Bill's" test scores and interest inventory. The Center was able to set up a tour of the American Motor Cycle Institute (AMI) located in Daytona Beach. I coordinated with AMI and they were willing to try and train "Bill" if we were willing to give it a shot. Jointly we decided that "Bill" should first attend the Personal Watercraft course to become a Jet Ski Mechanic. This was chosen because it was the shortest course and less complicated than the motorcycle courses. AMI was extremely helpful with accommodations like giving verbal tests and assisting him when he needed assistance in the classroom. The Daytona Talking Books Library was instrumental in reading his required textbook on four-track tape so that "Bill" had access to the book used in class. Over a period of a year "Bill" attended motorcycle mechanics training for Honda, Yamaha, and Suzuki motorcycles. "Bill" passed all of the courses and is now certified in each area.
That in its self is pretty impressive. This was a long and complicated process and everyone had a stake in the process. As his counselor I had to handle several emergency issues as well as domestic situations. On numerous occasions I heard from "Bill" that he could not do something or that he needed to stop training. Being basically sneaky, I assisted him in over coming all of his issues to succeed in his training.
Things stayed very interesting during this entire process. A mechanic needs tools and not just any tools. To help "Bill" get through the training process I was able to procure several talking tools from a company called Science Products located in Pennsylvania. Science Products makes tools talk. Well at least tools that can be converted to a digital display talk. "Bill" was provided with talking calipers, micrometers, and a talking multimeter. Additionally, he was provided with a Braille Torque Wrench. Further he was provided with Access Technology devices such as a complete computer system with JAWS, scanner and printer from Magnifying America in Pensacola. Because he had some short-term memory issues—his best friend for the year was a handheld four-track tape recorder. "Bill" taped everything. He taped lessons in school, telephone numbers—just about everything. DBS also assisted him with reader and tutoring services while he attended AMI. At the recommendation of the Manderfield Technical Training Laboratory, "Bill" was also provided with two CCTV’s (Freedom Machine) from Florida Reading & Vision Technology. Two were purchased so that one could be used in the training location and the other in is home. The Manderfield Technical training Laboratory was instrumental in assisting him with technology assistance while he was in Daytona, 350 miles from his home counselor. "Bill" was also provided with tools for the training and job such as a spark tester, compression tester, brake bleeder, and flywheel puller tools to name a few.
In addition, a complete set of general mechanics tools were purchased from Sears based on the recommended tool listing provided by AMI.
Next came the big step of putting classroom training to practical use. Jerry Demboski owner of Jerry’s Motorcycle Repair located in Fort Walton Beach, was brave enough to say “OK. Let's give it a try and see how it goes.” Currently "Bill" is doing a work experience at Jerry’s Motorcycle Repair Shop.
A few months ago "Bill" informed me that it would be helpful if he could have a tool that is used to help him adjust carburetors. Being motorcycle ignorant, I had to have him explain what these tools were like and just how they would be used. Then again I spent hours of surfing the Internet trying to find a talking Carburetor Synchronization tool. No luck. I could not find any tools to adjust carburetors that were digital. So I called Science Products and talked with Mr. Boswell of Captek. He obviously new more about this type of tool than I did but he to had never heard of this in digital. He did state that basically it was something that measured vacuum. Well I figured that maybe it just has not been invented yet. So I looked up Vacuum Gage Digital on the Internet and found a site for Digigauge.com. located in Oceanport, New Jersey. I looked at the gauges listed and did not have a clue what I was looking at. So I called Digigaue and talked with Mr. Steve Collins. He explained that they were a small company and that he could program the gauge to measure what I wanted it to measure. You see they have a Micro-Processor in them. Mr. Steve Collins said he was very excited about the possibility, especially now that he knew what the end result was to be used for. So I called Science Products and talked again with Mr. Boswell of Captek. He too was psyched about the idea and the possibility of making this idea work. He agreed to contact Mr. Steve Collins in New Jersey and discuss the specifics. The result is one talking motorcycle carburetor calibration tool for a visually impaired person to use.
In today’s world filed with negativity it was nice to see so many people coming together to make a plan work. Not one person said it cannot be done. Everyone said “let's give it a try and see what happens.” I have always hated phrases like “no, it can’t be done, or worse, we’ve tried that before.” The cool thing about rehabilitation is the flow from one thing to another and finding ways to overcome obstacles in the way. There are many individuals in the United States willing to assist those with disabilities to get back on their feet. I must admit I was amazed and very proud of all of the average Americans who have a share in this person getting back on track. This rehabilitation is not over, however, the future looks very bright.
TALLAHASSEE, FL – Secretary of State Glenda E. Hood announced the launch of the Florida Electronic Library, a collection of free databases and live reference services available to all Florida residents, on December 2, 2003 at the Seminole Community Library located at St. Petersburg College in Seminole, Florida.
“Through the Florida Electronic Library, all Florida residents can have access to an array of library services that no single community in Florida could afford independently,” says Secretary of State Hood. “It represents a partnership with local communities and assures equity of information services for all Florida’s residents, no matter where they live.”
The Florida Electronic Library is a Web site offering databases that provide access to electronic magazines, newspapers, almanacs, encyclopedias, books, and documents as well as one-on-one online assistance from professional librarians. The site can be used to research current events and gather information regarding health topics, business, homework help, and more.
“We’re particularly proud of the Florida Electronic Library’s ‘Ask a Librarian’ service, which will allow real-time chat to provide answers to users’ information requests,” says State Librarian Judith A. Ring. “Librarians will be able to guide users through Web searches and interact with them online.”
Access is being provided through the Florida Electronic Library Web site (http://www.flelibrary.org) and through the web sites of Florida’s public libraries.
The Florida Electronic Library is the result of statewide collaboration between public, academic, private, and special libraries and is funded by a federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant administered by the Florida Division of Library and Information Services, Florida Department of State.
Talking Book Library customers can access the Florida Electronic Library with a customer ID number—a nine-digit number beginning with 999. It is our substitute for a public library card barcode. DBS staff who are not customers should use the latter method.
The Bureau of Braille and Talking Book Library Services convened the 2003 Florida Talking Book Network Annual Meeting on Wednesday, December 3. Talking book subregional library colleagues from metropolitan areas around the state gathered for two days of training on a new point-and-click customer and holdings database from Keystone Systems, Inc.
The Don Weber Conference Room served as a makeshift computer lab thanks to the technical wizardry of Lee Fox and Greg Luther. The latter also dazzled attendees with magic tricks sprinkled with droll commentary. “Forgive me, I’m used to performing for a live audience,” he quipped during one illusion. The computers will remain in place to support Department-wide MyFloridaMarketplace online training through January.
On Friday, December 5, discussions turned to library issues including progress toward implementing the digital audio book in 2008 and continuing outreach efforts. The group also addressed adjustments to network processes and procedures resulting from database enhancements. “The new Keystone Library Automation System version will result in improved staff efficiencies and customer service,” said Linda Hill, head of the Bureau’s Reader Services Section.
The U.S. government is investing $9 million in a project that could see microelectromechanical systems restore blind people's sight.
A U.S. collaboration of government laboratories, universities and businesses is developing arrays of electrodes based on microelectromechanical systems (MEMs) that could be used to restore the sight of blind people.
The arrays, which will consist of 1000 electrodes, will be implanted in the retina and electrically stimulate the optical nerve endings in patients with damaged retinas. The U.S. Department of Energy is funding the $9 million dollar project.
Eye diseases such as retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration attack the rod and cone cells that detect light inside the eyeball, but leave most of the nerve endings intact. Although millions of people suffer from these conditions, project member Mark Humayun of the University of Southern California believes that the solution to the problem already exists.
"There is a considerable amount of advanced technology literally sitting on the shelf or being used for defense purposes that we could use to help solve blindness," he says.
The array of electrodes being developed by the American researchers is made from silicon components that are micrometres across—that is, a similar size to the nerve endings in the retina. A small camera attached to the patient's spectacles activates the array by transmitting radio signals to it. Each electrode then fires an electrical pulse into a group of nerves, and the brain interprets this pulse as a visual signal.
The researchers are testing different electrical waveforms to find the one that best mimics the electrochemical response of the retina to light. Since the retina is very sensitive to pressure, the team plan to use spring-loaded electrodes to keep the devices in contact with the retina using the least possible force. The materials used to encase the arrays must also be highly reliable and compatible with the saline conditions in the eye.
Patients using the MEMs arrays will only be able to see 1000 pixels, in contrast with the millions of pixels visible to the healthy human eye. But project leader Kurt Wessendorf of Sandia National Laboratory says that the device should enable people to perform household tasks and read large type. He is also optimistic that his team will be able to make larger arrays in the near future.
MEMS may also be the key to making affordable adaptive optics (AO) systems for improving human vision. Deformable mirrors that are currently deployed in AO systems cost around $1000 per channel and at least 97 channels needed to correct aberrations of the eye.
In contrast, recent research by scientists at the University of Rochester and Boston Micromachines suggests that a surface machined MEMs mirror that only costs around $10 may be a cost-effective and compact alternative.
Copyright ©by Katie Pennicott, reprinted with permission by Blindworld. For more information, visit the website at blindworld.net
NEW YORK, Dec. 1—Cingular Wireless has announced the availability of Voice Connect, a voice dialing and voice information services product that allows subscribers to place calls by saying a name from their personal address book (i.e. "Call Jane at home") or by saying a number (i.e. "Call 614-238-5432"). The service works with all models of phones so a special handset is not required. One of the features of the service is the personal address book, which allows voice access to contact information. The personal address book allows the customer to store up to 1,000 contacts with up to five numbers per name (i.e. Jane's home number, Jane's mobile number, Jane's work number, Jane's pager number, etc.). Names can be entered into the personal address book in one of three ways:
by voice enrolling them via *8 (or *08 on some GSM phones) with the user saying "Add a name;" by entering the contact information at the Voice Connect Web site; if the user already has contacts stored in Microsoft Outlook or Palm Desktop, he or she can use the free synchronization software on the Voice Connect section of the Cingular Wireless Web site to download those contacts to his or her Voice Connect address book. Once a customer is provisioned with the Voice Connect service, he or she can access the Voice Connect Web site to manage his or her address book, view a call log, or get information on all that Voice Connect can do. In addition to voice dialing capability, Voice Connect also provides voice access to a number of information services. Available information services include News, Sports, Lottery Results, Stock Quotes, Weather Reports, TV Dramas, Movies and Horoscopes, and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. While this service provides helpful dialing and information access for all customers, it can be particularly useful for customers with disabilities.
With Cingular's Voice Connect Exemption Program, customers with significant visual, cognitive and physical disabilities can complete an application and certification process and obtain Voice Connect without incurring the $4.99 monthly service charge. However, regular airtime charges still apply when using the service. To apply, please contact Cingular's National Center for Customers with Disabilities (NCCD) for help with the application and certification process by dialing 866-241-6568 for voice calls, or 866-241-6567 for TTY calls.
The Braille Authority of North America (BANA) announces that "English Braille American Edition 1994, Revised 2002" is available in Braille (# 5-35932-00) and print (# 7-35932-00) for $20 U.S. from the American Printing House for the Blind, 1839 Frankfort Avenue, Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085. English Braille American Edition is the code book which gives the rules for contracted Braille.
A compendium of the changes to "English Braille American Edition 1994" from 1995 to 2002 is available for downloading in Braille and print formats on the BANA Web site at http://www.brailleauthority.org/downloads.html. For those unable to access the Web site, Braille and print hardcopy may be obtained without charge by writing to Eileen Curran, BANA chairperson, National Braille Press, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02115; phone (617) 266-6160, ext. 17; toll-free (888) 965-8965, ext. 17; email ecurran@nbp.org.
Code Factory and SVOX are honoured to announce the new release of its mobile phone application for the visually impaired, Mobile Accessibility 2 (MA2). MA2, which comes in multiple languages, supports most features of a standard Symbian Series 60 mobile phone like e-mail/SMS and Multimedia Messaging, calendar, calculator, contacts, battery level, missed calls, and many other features.
Further, it will provide some additional tools such as an Office Pack, Camera program, Screen magnifier, Color recognizer, and a Pack of 3 accessible games. Lastly, MA2 has been packaged with an updated Speech Synthesizer, which offers superior quality and speed.
For those that have not heard about Mobile Accessibility, this is an application that is downloaded to one of the phones described below to allow the visually impaired to utilize a mobile phone to its fullest extent and beyond. MA2 allows the end-user to easily utilize a mobile phone thanks to the intuitive menu structure. For more information, please visit the website www.mobileaccessibility.com or email fries@svox.com
New web-over-phone service bridges digital divide with voice access to web pages.
PhoneAnything has launched the UK's first web-over-phone service for the visually impaired. The new service allows the UK's 1 million blind and partially sighted individuals to listen to complete web pages, rather than voice-specific content such as VoiceXML, using any landline or mobile phone. Until now, blind and partially sighted individuals wanting to surf the net, shop, or pay bills online have had to use proprietary and cumbersome computer equipment, such as screen readers. The web-over-phone service offers instant voice access to the Internet for the cost of a local call.
PhoneAnything's technology will also benefit organizations wishing to comply with the Disability Discrimination Act. The Act requires all service providers to make reasonable adjustments to the way they deliver services to ensure disabled people can use them. PhoneAnything's web-over-phone technology can make an organization's website instantly available to any blind or partially sighted user with a phone—organizations can license the technology and provide their website to visually impaired customers through specific phone numbers. The technology will allow businesses to reach the large number of visually impaired consumers in the UK cost-effectively.
Steve Tyler, Senior Strategic Manager for Digital Technology at the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) said, "The Internet can transform the lives of people who are visually impaired. With PhoneAnything's new technology, visually impaired users can now browse the web and even carry out transactions using just their phone, without the need for a costly computer or other technology. The RNIB is delighted that there is now an affordable and easy-to-use way for visually impaired people to get online.
"The RNIB has worked with PhoneAnything before developing phone based services to make a wide variety of information available to blind and partially sighted individuals. This new technology is a major step towards giving visually impaired users the same access to information as sighted people."
Stefan Haselwimmer, Managing Director of PhoneAnything said, "The Internet is a potentially invaluable resource for blind and partially sighted individuals, yet a significant proportion of visually impaired people do not own a computer. We believe that our web-over-phone service offers a cheap and easy way for visually impaired people and anyone without a computer to access the net."
The web-over-phone service has been extensively tested by a large number of blind and partially-sighted users to ensure it meets the needs of these users. Sighted individuals will also benefit from the new technology.
According to recent research, around 50% of UK households do not have Internet access. PhoneAnything's new service provides full access to Internet web pages, in addition to voice access to mobile Internet content (WAP), to anyone with a phone.
There are no subscription charges to pay to use the service.
The key features of PhoneAnything web-over-phone service include the ability to:
- Navigate standard Internet pages (HTTP) and secure Internet pages (HTTPS).
- Navigate web pages using the keypad. Users can skip through text items, select links and fast-forward through a web page.
- Complete Internet forms containing text fields, popups and radio buttons.
- Open external links within a page such as e-mail links or streaming audio links (RealAudio, Windows Media, MP3).
- Bookmark web pages for access at a later date.
- Increase or decrease the speed of the text-to-speech engine used to read out the page.
- Enter any Internet address using the telephone keypad.
About PhoneAnything.
PhoneAnything delivers voice access to Internet content through any telephone. It was the first company in the UK to launch a comprehensive phone information service (July 2001). PhoneAnything main phone service provides phone access to web pages, WAP pages, streaming audio and e-mail and offers truly mobile access to the Internet from any phone.
In August 2003, PhoneAnything partnered with the RNIB to build a phone system for delivering TV listings and talking books to the visually impaired. In September 2003, PhoneAnything received a SMART award from the DTI to develop a phone-based method of delivering consumer information to the blind and partially-sighted.
PhoneAnything has extensive experience with visually impaired users, with a significant proportion of its existing phone users being blind or partially sighted.
For more information, visit the website at www.phoneanything.com.
Copyright © 2003, M2 Presswire. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission by Blind World, www.blindworld.net.
MATSUE, Japan. Uniplan Ltd., a maker of welfare service equipment, said Thursday it has developed a tactile display that enables the blind and people with severely impaired vision to recognize images and characters formed by protruding pins in response to data input with a personal computer.
The horizontal display creates images and characters by raising or lowering by one millimeter the 3,000 plastic pins on its surface which the blind can recognize by touch, Uniplan said.
The computer controlling the display discerns images and characters input or drawn with the computer's keyboard, mouse or scanner, and the display arranges pin formations in just 18 seconds, the company told a news conference. The space between each pin is 2.5 mm.
Uniplan President Masaaki Takahashi said the company will further improve the flat display "so that the blind, including children who we hope will use it as a sort of dictionary, can use it daily."
Uniplan said it will start selling the display—measuring 16 centimeters in width and 12 cm in length—by March 31, 2005 at a low price to facilitate worldwide sales.
"We hope to price the display at approximately 300,000 yen ($2,750) and, if possible, we would like to give it an even lower price," Takahashi said.
The company said it has already received a proposal from a U.S. organization aiding the blind to jointly work on the display, as well as a price inquiry.
An official at the Shimane Industrial Promotion Foundation, an entity affiliated with the Shimane prefectural government, said, "The display may become a global standard as a widely used item of equipment for the blind."
The company said it plans to further improve the display so that it can project images and text on Internet sites onto the display.
Copyright © 2003, Japan Economic Newswire. Reprinted with permission by Blind World @ www.blindworld.net.
TORONTO - Like most 11-year-old boys, Timothy Peters is curious about all sorts of things. He finds dragons fascinating and loves to watch TV, read books, and play video games on his computer.
But unlike most of his peers, the grade seven student was born blind and must rely on Braille texts and audio programs to quench his thirst for information.
His world is about to change thanks to a new digital library launched by the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.
Available to the organization's 105,000 clients across the country, the site (www.cnib.ca/library) is one of the most advanced libraries of alternative formats in the world.
Its goal is quite simple—level the playing field for people who are blind or visually impaired.
Through the use of digital audio technology, the site brings to life thousands of books, newspapers, and magazines.
It holds more
than 10,000 books, including popular newer titles like Life of Pi and Fall on
Your Knees, which are available for immediate reading online through one of
three formats:
- Electronic text that can be read aloud by special software on the user's
computer.
- Electronic text that activates a "refreshable" Braille keyboard.
- And digital audio or human narration that can be heard using programs like Windows Media Player.
Even the morning paper from dozens of cities across Canada can be accessed—something previously not available because most newspaper Web sites are not built for the text recognition software used by the blind or visually impaired. Various online encyclopedias and dictionaries are also linked from the site.
The new technology is exciting because only about three percent of the printed information available to sighted people is currently accessible to those who are blind, said Jim Sanders, the institute's president.
The institute hopes to double its content within five years by working with publishers and other libraries.
Sanders, who had not been able to read a newspaper in 30 years before the new system, said the digital age has dramatically changed the standard of living for the visually impaired. Mainly, it has given them privacy.
"Being totally blind, someone has to read to you or make copies on audio or Braille all your personal material, letters from friends, bank account information, bills, what you order from a drugstore," he said. "Your entire personal life is going to be known by at least one other person."
But with advances like text recognition software, voice activation and Braille keyboards, people like Sanders can do it all themselves now.
"I can't describe it. If somebody 20 years ago had told me that I could read again after becoming blind ... I would have asked them to voluntarily commit themselves," he said. "Print is no longer an enemy for me."
For now, access to the library is limited to CNIB members but the system can eventually be used to better lives of about three million Canadians who are either blind or print-disabled in some other way.
The library also lets clients order from the institute's full collection, which has 60,000 titles, mostly in cassette or hard Braille format.
In addition to the print material, the site houses the Children's Discovery Portal—a personal favorite of 11-year-old Peters, who beta tested the site, including its games and chat room.
"I am finding it exciting to finally have a Web site devoted to blind people and their needs. I would give the site a grade of 99.9999 percent," he said from his home in Stoney Creek.
His father, Robert Peters, expects the site to change his son's life.
"It is going to be such a boon to my kid when he goes to university, and he will have access to information (books) like everyone else," he said.
Copyright ©2003, The Standard (St. Catharines), by Angela Pacienza. Reprinted with permission by Blind World, www.blindworld.net.
RE: Consideration of Accessibility Features for Product Reviews
Dear Consumer Reports:
I am the Director of the New Mexico Commission for the Blind. It pleases me to say that Consumer Reports is on our Newsline for the Blind. While the product reviews are of general interest to our consumers, I am urging you to also evaluate product accessibility. The use of touch screens and dynamic displays are a serious barrier for persons who are blind or have vision loss. This is an important issue as the aging population is leading to increasing numbers of persons who are blind. It is estimated that by 2015, 1.6 million Americans over 65 will be blind.
The products of concern include dishwashers, washing machines, stoves, microwave ovens, bread machines, CD players, DVD players, stereos, and treadmills. Basically, any item that has programmable features or a dynamic display can cause access problems. You can learn more about the issue at www.tiaonline.org/access/guide.html, where you will find a guide produced by the Electronic Industries Alliance and the Electronic Industries Foundation.
Consumer Reports can play a vital role in encouraging the manufacture of accessible products. The solution can be as simple as surfaces with tactile features, audible tones to indicate menu selections, or high contrast displays. However, providing access to all features may require speech output. These design changes can make these products easier to use by everybody, not just persons who are visually impaired.
Please do not hesitate to contact me if I can provide you any additional information, or if you have any concerns or questions.
Sincerely,
Greg D. Trapp, JD Executive Director cc: National Federation of the Blind, Dr. Marc Maurer, President American Council of the Blind, Mr. Christopher Gray, PresidentFor more information about the New Mexico Commission for the Blind, visit their website at: http://www.state.nm.us/cftb/
Copyright ©2003. Reprinted with permission by Greg D. Trapp, JD.
By Dulce
Credit for this very well-written article goes to a rather mysterious lady, identified to me only as "Dulce."
As my guide dog and I stood in line at the checkout of the River City Market at CSUS, I asked the cashier what I considered a simple question. "Where are the napkins please?" Her response was hurried, but sincere, "over there."
Emerging from the light rail for the first time, I managed to catch the attention of a passerby. "Please sir, can you tell me where I might catch bus 63?" A kind voice offered a pleasant response before disappearing into the cacophony of the early afternoon, 'You can catch it, 'Over there.'"
So many things reside over there—napkins, bus stops, pencils, pens, clothing racks, department stores, and even my shoes! A never ending supply of important and indispensable items and locales all reside in this place which is shrouded in mystery and intrigue.
I stand in perplexed silence after learning that something is over there. It is a place I have never been and have no hope of finding on my own.
My dog guide, Shadow, is quite skilled in finding chairs, stairs, elevators, escalators, helping me cross streets, and can even find me the Diet Pepsi display at Food Town; however, when I tell her to find "over there" her little bottom hits the floor and a small whimper tells me that she is as confused as I.
We will not be going "over there" today. Over there has caused me a bit of vexation, a lot of confusion and, on occasion, made my heart race.
I have discovered that "over there" can be a dangerous place. One day, while crossing a street, I heard a driver's irritated voice shout out a warning of a truck bearing down on me from over there. Shadow artfully dodged the oncoming vehicle and pulled me to the safety of the curb. Our hearts were both racing as we took a few moments to compose ourselves.
Close encounters with over there can be frightening experiences.
Although many blind people have wondered as to the exact location of "over there," few have dared to venture forth in an actual exploration of the mysterious place.
One day, while standing in line at the supermarket, I asked the clerk where I might find the aspirin. With a cheery smile in her voice, she informed me that the aspirin was located "over there." With a weary sigh, I decided that I would take the extra step that would unravel the mystery, which had vexed my compatriots since the beginning of time.
Taking a deep breath, and attempting to look nonchalant, I smiled at the clerk, "Where," I asked, "is over there?" I imagined the girl's shocked expression. I felt her sharing condescending and concerned looks with her fellows in the store. The silence grew palpable as they mulled the possibility of allowing a blind person access to the forbidden land.
She had no choice; she would have to tell me how to find "over there!" I had won! Exhilaration swept through me as I waited in breathless anticipation.
A victorious
smile crept to my lips, my hand tightened on the handle of Shadow's harness, we
would soon be going over there! The clerk's voice reeked with resignation as the
decision was made. "That way," she said.
Copyright ©2003, All Rights Reserved. Reprinted with permission by Blindworld,
www.blindworld.org.
Book Port™ is a flexible book reading device that consists of a small, portable unit with a keypad and earbuds, plus accompanying software. It features both text-to-speech capabilities and digital audio support. This means you may read electronic files (with synthetic speech) or digital recorded books (with human speech).
The unit contains state-of-the-art hardware such as a universal serial bus (USB) connector and a CompactFlash® card slot for removable mass storage. Book Port also acts as a recorder, letting you take audio notes on the material you read.
The included software and cable lets you use your PC to transfer material to Book Port. You can then disconnect Book Port and take it anywhere you go.
Thousands of public domain electronic books are available free over the Internet. More recent electronic books are available for purchase over the Internet. Two popular sources are bookshare.org and NLS Web Braille at www.loc.gov/nls. In addition, if you have a scanner and optical character recognition (OCR) software, you can scan your own books or other material, load them onto Book Port, then read them anywhere. Note that you must follow applicable copyright laws when scanning material into your computer.
Features:
Note: Additional CompactFlash cards are available from any computer or electronics dealer.
Ordering Info:
Book PortFor more information visit the website at: http://www.aph.org/products/bp_bro.html
There was a time, not long ago, when most people thought that blind people could never learn to read. People thought that the only way to read was to look at words with your eyes.
A young French boy named Louis Braille thought otherwise. Blind from the age of three, young Louis desperately wanted to read. He realized the vast world of thought and ideas that was locked out to him because of his disability. And he was determined to find the key to this door for himself, and for all other blind persons.
This story begins in the early part of the nineteenth century. Louis Braille was born in 1809, in a small village near Paris. His father made harnesses and other leather goods to sell to the other villagers. Louis' father often used sharp tools to cut and punch holes in the leather.
One of the tools he used to makes holes was a sharp awl. An awl is a tool that looks like a short pointed stick, with a round, wooden handle. While playing with one of his father's awls, Louis' hand slipped and he accidentally poked one of his eyes. At first the injury didn't seem serious, but then the wound became infected. A few days later young Louis lost sight in both his eyes. The first few days after becoming blind were very hard.
But as the days went by Louis learned to adapt and learned to lead an otherwise normal life. He went to school with all his friends and did well at his studies. He was both intelligent and creative. He wasn't going to let his disability slow him down one bit.
As he grew older, he realized that the small school he attended did not have the money and resources he needed. He heard of a school in Paris that was especially for blind students. Louis didn't have to think twice about going. He packed his bags and went off to find himself a solid education.
When he arrived at the special school for the blind, he asked his teacher if the school had books for blind persons to read. Louis found that the school did have books for the blind to read.
These books had large letters that were raised up off the page. Since the letters were so big, the books themselves were large and bulky. More importantly, the books were expensive to buy. The school had exactly fourteen of them.
Louis set about reading all fourteen books in the school library. He could feel each letter, but it took him a long time to read a sentence. It took a few seconds to reach each word and by the time he reached the end of a sentence, he almost forgot what the beginning of the sentence was about. Louis knew that there must be a better way.
There must be a way for a blind person to quickly feel the words on a page. There must be a way for a blind person to read as quickly and as easily as a sighted person.
That day he set himself the goal of thinking up a system for blind people to read. He would try to think of some alphabet code to make his 'finger reading' as quick and easy as sighted reading.
Now Louis was a tremendously creative person. He learned to play the cello and organ at a young age. He was so talented an organist that he played at churches all over Paris.
Music was really his first love. It also happened to be a steady source of income. Louis had great confidence in his own creative abilities.
He knew that he was as intelligent and creative as any other person his own age. And his musical talent showed how much he could accomplish when given a chance.
One day chance walked in the door. Somebody at the school heard about an alphabet code that was being used by the French army. This code was used to deliver messages at night from officers to soldiers. The messages could not be written on paper because the soldier would have to strike a match to read it.
The light from the match would give the enemy a target at which to shoot. The alphabet code was made up of small dots and dashes. These symbols were raised up off the paper so that soldiers could read them by running their fingers over them. Once the soldiers understood the code, everything worked fine.
Louis got hold of some of this code and tried it out. It was much better than reading the gigantic books with gigantic raised letters.
But the army code was still slow and cumbersome. The dashes took up a lot of space on a page. Each page could only hold one or two sentences. Louis knew that he could improve this alphabet in some way.
On his next vacation home, he would spend all his time working on finding a way to make this improvement. When he arrived home for school vacation, he was greeted warmly by his parents.
His mother and father always encouraged him on his music and other school projects. Louis sat down to think about how he could improve the system of dots and dashes. He liked the idea of the raised dots, but could do without the raised dashes.
As he sat there in his father's leather shop, he picked up one of his father's blunt awls. The idea came to him in a flash. The very tool that had caused him to go blind could be used to make a raised dot alphabet that would enable him to read.
The next few days he spent working on an alphabet made up entirely of six dots. The position of the different dots would represent the different letters of the alphabet.
Louis used the blunt awl to punch out a sentence. He read it quickly from left to right. Everything made sense. It worked.
Reprinted with permission by Phil Shapiro, ©1995, All Rights Reserved. For additional stories visit the website at: http://www.his.com/pshapiro/stories.menu.html.
Freedom Scientific announced two major additions to its PAC Mate family of accessible Pocket PC devices for the blind. Orders are now being taken for the new PAC Mate BX400 and PAC Mate QX400. These units use Microsoft’s Pocket PC 2003 software and JAWS for Windows. The processor is a high performance Intel X scale 400 MHz processor.
These new PAC Mate models feature a revolutionary new modular approach, providing significant user benefits in the areas of affordability and convenience. The BX400 and QX400 are Braille in/Speech out and QWERTY in/Speech out units, respectively, and you can clip on one of Freedom Scientific’s currently shipping 20-cell and 40-cell PAC Mate Portable Braille Displays if you want a unit with integrated Braille. Simply remove a plastic cover piece from either unit, and the PAC Mate Braille Display snaps into the BX400 or QX400 to form an integrated unit.
The PAC Mate BX400 and QX400 can be converted from a speech-only device to an integrated Braille Display device and back again in seconds. Because the PAC Mate Portable Braille Display can be quickly and easily removed, it also can be used as your PC or laptop Braille display.
From an economic perspective, this represents a new level of protection against obsolescence. A user can buy a speech-only unit now and easily add Braille to it later. They also can move up from a 20-cell display to a 40-cell display without having to buy a new speech-only unit. Likewise, the interconnect for the Braille Display will be forward compatible with future Freedom Scientific products, so there is no need to repurchase Braille when moving to the latest processor technology.
By making an industry standard platform accessible, Freedom Scientific has opened the door for its customers to access Microsoft’s Pocket PC software that includes Windows, Outlook, Word, Excel, Internet Explorer and desktop synchronization. The PAC Mate can also utilize other popular third-party software and hardware compatible with Pocket PC.
This functionality makes PAC Mate a sound, long-term investment because it's an accessible, mainstream computing device that always will be compatible with the latest software and hardware. And, if you are a JAWS user, then you already know how to use a PAC Mate.
To order any of the PAC Mate products, contact your local dealer or call Freedom Scientific at (800) 444-4443 or (727) 803-8000. For more information visit the website at info@FreedomScientific.com.
Currently 180 million people throughout the world are blind and have difficulty navigating and adapting to their environment. The Hand Guide,™ developed by Guideline,™ is a hand-held obstacle detection device that increases mobility by allowing them to navigate their environment with greater confidence. Hand Guide is designed to be used in conjunction with a cane or a Guide Dog and adds extra range to detect objects up to four feet away in any direction in which it is pointed. Once the device detects something, it will signal a warning by vibrating or chirping, depending on the user's preference. Features include ease of use, comfort, durability and affordability. The Hand Guide offers numerous advantages as a supplemental guidance device, including: detection of stationary, hanging, people or moving objects; up to four feet of increased range when used with a cane or guide dog in front of you, to either side and at any level including face or shoulder height; and indoor and outdoor applications. It is ideal for increasing peripheral perception and for discovering openings in a crowded area where a cane is not practical. Hand Guide measures approximately 5- 1/2 inches and is easy to use. It sells for $179 plus shipping and handling; and includes a one-year warranty. Hand Guide is available through the product's website at: www.Guideline-technologies.com or by calling: (800) 809-1849.
This month’s featured website can be found at http://www.talkingpages.org/. This site is a non-profit web-based lending library that lends audio books to those who have macular degeneration or other vision problems. There are no fees for the library lending service and postage is paid.
FDA Clearance to Expand to Phase 3 Clinical Trial for Glaucoma Treatment.
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., PRNewswire—GMP Companies, Inc., a health care company that acquires, develops and commercializes novel pharmaceutical, diagnostic and medical device technologies, announced today that it has received clearance from the U.S. Food & Drug Administration to expand to a Phase 3 clinical trial for its Eyepass(TM) Glaucoma Implant, an investigational device for the treatment of patients with glaucoma. Enrollment for the trial has begun and will include up to 15 investigational sites within the United States.
GMP Vision Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of GMP Companies, is conducting the Phase 3 pivotal trial to assess the safety and effectiveness of the Eyepass(TM) Glaucoma Implant in patients with glaucoma who have failed conventional medical and surgical therapy. To date, preliminary results support the safety of the Eyepass(TM) Glaucoma Implant and its ability to lower abnormally high intraocular pressure, which causes the major symptoms and complications of glaucoma including blindness.
"We are encouraged by the preliminary results from early phases of the clinical trials for our Eyepass(TM) Glaucoma Implant," said Michael Salem, M.D., Executive Vice President of Research and Development for GMP Companies, Inc. "We are hopeful that our device may potentially provide a vital therapy for the millions of patients who suffer from the debilitating effects of glaucoma."
GMP Vision Solutions acquired the technology for the Eyepass(TM) Glaucoma Implant from two glaucoma specialists, Reay Brown, M.D., Founding Partner of Atlanta Ophthalmology Associates and Mary Lynch, M.D., Chief of Ophthalmology and Associate Chief of Surgery at Veteran's Hospital in Atlanta, Georgia.
Approximately 2.2 million Americans have glaucoma (National Eye Institute) and an additional 1.5 to 2 million may be undiagnosed (Glaucoma Research Foundation and National Eye Institute). Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the U.S., the first leading cause of preventable blindness and the leading cause of blindness among African-Americans. Worldwide, it is estimated that approximately 67 million people are suspected of having glaucoma.
About GMP Companies, Inc.
GMP Companies, Inc. and its subsidiaries acquire, develop and commercialize novel pharmaceutical, diagnostic and medical device technologies. These technologies are typically licensed or acquired from academic medical centers, individual inventors, research institutions and partner companies. Through our two areas of focus, medical technology and biotechnology, we are developing and commercializing various medical products relating to the treatment and care of patients with medical conditions including diabetes, glaucoma, genetic diseases, cardiovascular diseases, cancer and neurologic disorders. To learn more about the Company, visit the website at www.gmpcompanies.com .
Eyepass(TM) Glaucoma Implant is a trademark of GMP Vision Solutions, Inc., a subsidiary of GMP Companies, Inc.
Copyright © 2003 PR Newswire. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission by Blindworld, www.blindworld.net.
2004 American Council of the Blind (ACB) Scholarship Deadline
Online applications must be electronically submitted no later than March 1, midnight Eastern Standard Time.
If you are not applying online, completed applications must be postmarked no later than March 1, 2004, to:
ACB Scholarship Program,For more information or to download the form visit the website at: http://www.acb.org/scholapp04-instruct.html
2004 National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Deadline
To apply for a scholarship, complete an application form and mail completed application and attachments to Mrs. Peggy Elliott, Chairman, National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Committee, 805 Fifth Avenue, Grinnell, Iowa 50112; (641) 236-3366. Form must be received by March 31, 2004.
The scholarship application form can be downloaded at http://www.nfb.org/services/scho_app.doc.
Visually Impaired Orientation Counselor I/II
Apartment Resource Counselor
Nebraska Commission For The Blind & Visually Impaired
Position # 40405
Location: Lincoln, Nebraska
Job Site: Orientation and Adjustment Center for the Blind
Salary: (Bachelor’s Degree) $ 27,080.00
(Master’s Degree) $ 31,293.00
Closing Date: Open until filled
Apply in person at Nebraska State Personnel or online at www.wrk4neb.org
Description of duties:
Provides counseling with students about blindness and attitudes towards blindness.
Instructs clients in daily living skills.
Prepares periodic reports evaluating the Client’s progress toward successful rehabilitation.
Works effectively as a member of the Orientation Center team and participates in all of its functions.
Participates with students in educational, social and training activities.
Provides information and instruction in the apartment setting.
Serves as Liaison between apartment owners and The Commission.
Maintains apartment inventory.
Provides instruction to students in alternative techniques in both the Orientation Center and apartment settings.
Performs related work as desired.
For more information, contact Fatos Floyd
Nebraska Orientation Center
Director at, (402) 471-8120
Rural Outreach Specialist
Full-time opening available immediately
Society for the Blind has an immediate opening for a team player to motivate and demonstrate the use of various adaptive technology, teach basic cane travel skills and instruct in the area of Daily Living Skills (cooking) to blind/visually impaired seniors. Ability to gather outreach information and data entry a must. Have great people skills and be able to work independently. A high level of expectation and enthusiasm is the hallmark of our growing program.
Duties include:
Scheduling at least two visits utilizing the Mobile Instructional Unit, to various facilities i.e. senior centers, Independent Living Centers, AARP meetings, fairs, during each calendar month.
Maintaining close contact with the Project Director and keeping project director apprised of all activities.
Maintain and input information into database pertaining to individuals and facilities contacted.
Demonstrate the use of various technological devices i.e. bill identifier, Voice Note QT, Trekker, Pocket Viewer.
Demonstrate the use of lap top computers using JAWs, Zoomtext, Typing Tutor and the Toolbox Software. Training will be provided if necessary.
Utilize the LCD Projector to provide important information to participants and to the general public about blindness/vision loss.
The Rural Outreach Specialist will maintain reports on all activities and provide them in a prompt manner to the Project Director. The Rural Outreach Specialist will take part in Senior Intensive Retreats and teach Daily Living Skills when necessary during the retreat.
Prepare menus and shopping lists for the retreat.
Maintain all written correspondence and records in a safe secure manner.
Other duties as assigned.
Society for the Blind offers excellent benefits including medical, dental, and an employer-contributed 9% to the 401K. For those wishing it, flex-time is a possibility.
To apply, please mail or fax resume and cover letter to:
Connie Leblond, Project Director
Senior Intensive Retreat
Society for the Blind
2750 24th St.
Sacramento, CA 95818-3299
916-452-8271 Ext. 333
Fax: (916) 452-2622
E-mail: cleblond@societyfortheblind.org
Society for the Blind is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
In Front of the Fire Dinner Party
Hot Virgin Bloody Mary's
Put vegetable juice cocktail, horseradish, lemon juice and zest, lime juice and zest, Worcestershire, Tabasco, and pepper in a saucepan. Bring to a boil over medium heat. Lower heat and simmer for five minutes.
Pour into heated mugs and garnish each mug with a celery stick.
Per serving: 52 calories (0% calories from fat), 2 g protein, 0 total fat (0 saturated fat), 10 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 155 mg sodium
Diabetic exchanges: 1/2 carbohydrate (2 vegetable)
Spicy Seafood and Chicken Gumbo with Rice
(makes 6 servings)
Put chicken broth, tomatoes with their juice, onion, garlic, celery, parsley, bay leaves, oregano, and thyme in a large pot. Bring to a boil; reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes. Add shrimp, crabmeat, cooked chicken, Worcestershire, and cayenne.
Continue to simmer for another 10 minutes. Add okra and cook until okra is tender, about five minutes. Remove and discard bay leaves.
Ladle into soup bowls. Place 1/3 cup of cooked rice on top of each serving and sprinkle with scallions.
Pass Tabasco separately to sprinkle over the gumbo.
Per serving: 255 calories (14% calories from fat), 26 g protein, 4 g total fat (0.9 g saturated fat), 28 g carbohydrate, 4 g dietary fiber, 128 mg cholesterol, 306 mg sodium
Diabetic exchanges: 3 very lean protein, 2 carbohydrate (1 bread/starch, 3 vegetable)
Pear Tart
(makes 6 servings)
Working on a lightly floured surface, roll out dough to form a 6-inch by 12-inch (15 by 30 cm) rectangle. Cut a 3/4-inch (2 cm) strip off each side. Brush the edge of the pastry with water and 'paste' the strips along each edge of the square to form a raised border. With a fork, prick the bottom of the tart shell every 1/2 inch (1.25 cm). Do not prick edges. Chill thoroughly.
Preheat oven to 400°F.
Peel, core, and thinly slice pears. Slightly separate the pear slices and lay each pear on the dough in an even and attractive pattern. Sprinkle a little lemon juice over the pears. Combine sugar, nutmeg, and pepper. Sprinkle evenly over the pears.
Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, until edges of pastry are puffed and brown and pears are tender.
Remove from oven and immediately brush with warmed preserves. Cool slightly before serving warm with fat-free no sugar added vanilla ice cream (if desired).
Per serving (tart) only: 91 calories (31% calories from fat), 3 g total fat (0.5 g saturated fat), 15 g carbohydrate, 2 g dietary fiber, 0 cholesterol, 21 mg sodium
Diabetic exchanges: 1 carbohydrate (fruit)
Reprinted with permission, ©2003 diabetic-recipes.com.
For additional information and recipes, visit their website at http://www.diabetic-recipes.com/
We 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).
Guidelines for Newsletter Submissions
1. Do not include any information within your article that could identify a
client. This includes last names or employment information specific enough to
determine that someone is a DBS client.
2. If a client wishes to be named in an article or wishes that information be
included that could lead to them being identified (i.e. name of small business),
the newsletter staff must have a permission form signed by the client specifying
they acknowledge and allow DBS to make their name public.
3. If you have photos you wish to accompany your story, the newsletter staff
must have copies of completed photo permission forms for every individual who
appears including DBS employees. If individuals are under 18 the permission
forms must be signed by a parent or legal guardian.
4. If you wish your article to be accompanied by materials previously printed in
another source we must have the following information:
Where the material was originally printed
The date on which the material was initially published
The author of the work in which the desired material was published. Contact
information for the author and or editor of the work.
The sooner you can provide this information to newsletter staff the more likely
it is we will be able to include materials with your article. Newspapers and
magazines are not required to give us reprint permission, so there is no
guarantee we will be able to include the material.