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| Comments by Stewart Hughes on Friday, January 30, 2009 at 07:45 |
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Congress Reintroduces Legislation to Protect Blind Pedestrians
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29, 2009 - Congressmen Edolphus "Ed" Towns (D-N.Y.)
and Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.) have proudly introduced H.R. 734, The
Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act of 2009. This legislation mirrors a previously
introduced initiative in the 110th Congress. The Pedestrian Safety
Enhancement Act would require the Department of Transportation to
research and ultimately set forth a standard for minimum information that must
be provided by hybrid and electric vehicles required for blind and other
pedestrians to travel safely and independently in urban, rural, and
residential environments.
"ACB has a long history of being the leader in the blindness community
regarding pedestrian safety issues," said Mitch Pomerantz, President of
the American Council of the Blind.
When vision is reduced or completely eliminated as a means of
understanding and responding to one's environment, an individual's hearing takes over
as the primary source of environmental information. Traditionally, people
who are blind or visually impaired have learned to rely on their hearing
to navigate safely across streets and through other vehicular ways, such
as parking lots. In so doing, the sound of traffic is their primary
focus. Traffic sounds provide information about such things as the position
of vehicles, their direction of travel, and the speed at which they are
likely to move. With this information, the pedestrian can make informed
decisions about when to cross a street or other vehicular ways safely.
Pomerantz said, "This issue is one that the entire blindness community
is united in supporting. I urge ACB membership to contact their members
of Congress to ask them to co-sponsor this legislation, as this is an
opportunity to bring real change and make blind pedestrians' lives
safer."
About ACB
The American Council of the Blind is the largest consumer-based
organization of blind and visually impaired Americans advocating for the rights of
blind Americans. Comprised of more than 70 affiliates across the United
States, the organization is dedicated to making it possible for blind and
visually impaired Americans to participate fully in every aspect of American
society.
For more information about the American Council of the Blind, and the issues it supports, visit www.acb.org or contact the American Council of the Blind, 2200 Wilson Blvd., Suite 650, Arlington, VA 22201; phone (202) 467-5081 or toll-free, 1-800-424-8666.
Eric Bridges
Director of Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
American Council of the Blind
2200 Wilson Blvd. Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
Phone: (202) 467-5081
Fax: (703) 465-5085
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| Comments by Stewart Hughes on Wednesday, January 28, 2009 at 07:39 |
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"HumanWare" <nicolas.lagace@humanware.com> 1/26/2009 5:39 PM
HumanWare's SmartView Graduate is fully compatible with ZoomText®
Longueuil, January 26, 2009 * HumanWare released today the latest software version of the SmartView Graduate, a video magnifier that helps Low Vision Students fully participate in class. One of the significant improvements in this release is the addition of support for split screens and "zero-delay video" when running in conjunction with ZoomText® screen magnification software.
The split screen functionality lets users see magnified images from the Graduate camera in one half of their computer screen and other applications in the other half. ZoomText® operates normally in magnifying application windows on one side while on the other, the Graduate application completely controls the magnification of camera images. No specific configuration of ZoomText® is required.
With the introduction of the "zero-delay video" architecture in this release, the SmartView Graduate avoids any lag time between an image changing and it being displayed on the computer screen. Without this feature, delays of up to two seconds are common for video magnifiers working in conjunction with ZoomText®.
Other new features include the ability to save four preset views and a simplified installation. Each preset view includes settings for color combinations, image rotation, contrast and brightness. This can significantly reduce the time required to switch between desktop and distant views as all saved parameters for either position can be changed with a simple press of a button.
To help new users get the most from their SmartView Graduate, HumanWare is also announcing the availability of a set of online video tutorials. These videos demonstrate how to setup the unit for optimal use, basic commands, saving images, and how to use preset views.
Both the SmartView Graduate software release 1.2 and the instructional tutorials are immediately available for free download on HumanWare's website.
About the SmartView Graduate
The SmartView Graduate is the perfect companion for any student or traveling professional. It is ideally suited for people with low vision who need to see things on their desk or across the room.
Since the SmartView Graduate gets its power from your laptop's USB ports, it can be used just about anywhere you take your laptop. The SmartView Graduate can be easily operated from your computer keyboard. Zoom-in, change high contrast color combinations and save images with simple keystrokes. The SmartView Graduate's camera easily turns and rotates, allowing the user to view items on their desktop or a whiteboard across the room. Images can be magnified up to 50 times their normal size. The unit can be taken apart and put into a computer bag or its optional case in less than a minute, making it extremely easy to carry.
About HumanWare
HumanWare (www.humanware.com) is the global leader in assistive technologies for the Print Disabled. HumanWare provides products to people who are blind and have low vision and students with learning disabilities. HumanWare offers a full range of low vision products including the SmartView Xtend desktop video magnifier, the SmartView Pocket and Nano handheld electronic magnifiers, and the myReader2, HumanWare's unique "auto-reader". HumanWare's other innovative products include the BrailleNote, the leading productivity device for the blind in education, business and for personal use; the Victor Reader product line, the world's leading digital audio book players, and the ClassMate Reader, the only portable book player to offer synchronized text and audio.
For more information about these or other HumanWare products, please contact us:
Canada
call toll free: 1-888-723-7273
Email: ca.info@humanware.com
UK/Europe
Tel: +44 1933 415 800
Email: eu.info@humanware.com
Australia/Asia
Tel: +61 2 9686 2600
Email: au.sales@humanware.com
U.S.A
call toll free 1-800-722-3393 or (925) 680-7100
Email: us.info@humanware.com
Media contact:
Nicolas Lagace
Tel.: (450) 463-1717
E-mail: nicolas.lagace@humanware.com |
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| Comments by Tina Fiorentino on Wednesday, January 21, 2009 at 13:17 |
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| October has been offically named "BLINDNESS AWARENESS MONTH". The bill signed into law by Governor Jon Corzine on December 5th, 2008. Check the LRF website for upcoming events being held throughout the month of October. |
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no URL given |
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| Comments by Stewart Hughes on Friday, January 16, 2009 at 09:47 |
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APH Transcribes Presidential Inauguration Guide Book
Louisville, KY - The American Printing House for the Blind (APH), is
the
official vendor of the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Guide Book printed
in
braille.
The book serves not only as a guide to public activities
surrounding the inauguration, but as a document that sets these events
in
historic
context. It contains quotes from President-Elect Barack Obama, and
Vice
President-Elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. ; biographies of Barack and
Michele
Obama,
and Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Dr. Jill Biden; names of the 56th
Inaugural
Committee; History of the Inauguration; Calendar of Official Events;
2009
Presidential Inaugural Parade Participants; United States Senate &
House of
Representative Leadership; Official Inaugural Balls; Security
Procedures;
Access for Those with Disabilities; Places of Interest in Washington
DC, and
Transportation Tips.
"To our knowledge, this is the first time the Presidential
Inaugural Guide Book has been transcribed into braille," says Dr.
Tuck
Tinsley III, President of APH. "We are truly honored to play such an
important part in
U.S. history."
The guide book is 72 pages in print. The braille version
is
118 pages. Hard copies of the guide are being distributed to a
select
group of people. APH has produced 150 braille copies and will send
them to the
56th Presidential Inaugural Committee for distribution later this
week.
In addition to distributing braille copies, the Inaugural
Committee will post an electronic version on its website,
www.pic2009.org<http://www.pic2009.org
, and there will a podcast on this website for visually impaired
persons who wish to access the guide electronically.
ABOUT APH:
The American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) non-profit
organization, is the world's largest company devoted solely to
researching,
developing,
and manufacturing products for people who are blind or visually
impaired.
Founded in 1858, it is the oldest organization of its kind in the
United
States.
Under the 1879 federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind, APH
is
the official supplier of educational materials for visually impaired
students in the U.S. who are working at less than college level.
APH manufactures textbooks and magazines in braille, large print,
recorded, and computer disc formats. APH also manufactures hundreds
of
educational, recreational,
and daily living products. APH's fully-accessible web site (
www.aph.org
) features information about APH products and services, online
ordering
of products, and free information on a wide variety of
blindness-related
topics.
One popular feature of the site is the Louis Database, a free tool to
help locate accessible books available from organizations across the
U.S.
APH products
can also be ordered through Louis.
The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. is located at 1839
Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. For more information, call
(502)
895-2405
or log on to
www.aph.org<http://www.aph.org/.
Roberta
Roberta L. Williams
Public Relations Manager
Tours, InSights Art, General Publicity
502-899-2357
American Printing House for the Blind
Building independence since 1858
www.aph.org<http://www.aph.org/
and You Tube
http://www.youtube.com/user/aphftb
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http://www.aph.org |
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| Comments by Stewart Hughes on Friday, December 19, 2008 at 10:58 |
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The 2009 ACB scholarship application is now available on:
The application will be available online until March 1 11:59 Eastern
standard time.
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http://www.acb.org/ |
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| Comments by Stewart Hughes on Friday, December 12, 2008 at 12:11 |
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Colleagues:
I am a bit tardy in getting this message out as I was away from the
Computer all day yesterday. Nonetheless, this past Monday Eric Bridges (in person)
and I (by phone) met with Kareem Dale of President-Elect Obama's
Transition Team for over an hour. Mr. Dale is Obama's point-person to the disability
community and himself, a blind attorney from Chicago. Also in attendance
were two representatives from the NFB, including President Marc Maurer,
and several other Transition Team members with an interest and/or expertise in
issues of concern to blind and visually-impaired persons.
We were given the opportunity to outline what we considered to be three
Key issues for our constituents. ACB's three issues were:
1. maintaining and strengthening categorical services including retention and growth of the
Randolph-Sheppard Vending Program;
2. access to information including support for H.R. 6320 and promoting accessible technology and websites;
3. pedestrian safety with an emphasis on addressing the growing danger of
quiet cars.
Interestingly, NFB's issues differed little from ours other than
Indicating its renewed push to reinstate the earnings protections under Social
Security. Everyone was cordial even to the point of Mr. Maurer reminding
the Obama people that the ACB President represented a constituency with a
valid perspective that government officials should not ignore.
For his part, Mr. Dale stressed that while he was meeting with the various
disability constituencies based loosely on category of disability, the
incoming administration expected cooperation and collaboration between and
among these groups. Parenthetically, my concern is that this means that
categorical services are not favorably viewed by those with disability
expertise on the Obama team, but we'll have to wait and see about that.
Dale also indicated that he hoped that the organizations of and for the
blind would collaborate on issues of mutual interest. Again, we'll just
have to wait and see whether that message is heard by all parties
involved.
I pledged that we would make every effort toward enhanced cooperation on
issues of mutual interest.
Finally, Mr. Dale wanted all of us to convey to our constituencies the new
administration's willingness to hear what we have to say and that this
meeting was our opportunity to present key issues early in the transition.
He also wanted us to make sure our members knew that this meeting had
Taken place; hence this relatively lengthy note to our members and supporters.
Take care.
Sincerely,
Mitch Pomerantz
Join the Monthly Monetary Support program (MMS) and help improve tomorrow
today in ACB.
For details, contact Dr. Ron Milliman, MMS Program Committee Chair, by
e-mail:
rmilliman@insightbb.com or by phone at 270-782-9325 and get started making
tomorrow look brighter today in ACB!
This message has come to you from the ACB Leadership List: a special
List for use by the leadership of the American Council of the Blind.
This communication is privileged and may contain confidential
information intended only for the person(s) to whom it is addressed.
Any unauthorized disclosure, copying, other distribution of this
communication is strictly prohibited and may result in immediate removal
from the List. If you have received this message in error, please
notify ACB immediately by writing to support@acb.org.
Join the MMD program of Pennsylvania Council of the Blind and help improve tomorrow today in PCB. For further information contact:
George S. Holliday, Fundraising Committee Chair,
E-mail: george.holliday1@verizon.net Tel: 215-748-3556
or the PCB State Office:
E-mail: pcb1@paonline.com Tel: 877-617-7407
Let's all help today for a brighter tomorrow!
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| Comments by Admin on Tuesday, December 02, 2008 at 13:03 |
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| Learn about the Performing Arts Division of the National Foundation of the Blind, by visiting www.padnfb.org/paddonate.html They’ve been very supportive of Rocco, and we want to help them in return. You’ll see Rocco’s website is linked to their Member Performers page. |
| United States |
http://www.padnfb.org/paddonate.html |
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| Comments by Stewart Hughes on Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 06:05 |
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Greetings all,
FYI,
Stewart
DBrown8827@aol.com> 11/19/2008 3:21:38 PM
Please read and forward to prospective blind high school students, and
potential volunteers.
thank you,
Denice Brown
National Federation of the Blind
Youth Slam
"The key to evolution, to teaching science, and to teaching
the blind about science is opportunity."
*Geerat Vermeij, blind biologist
When: July 26-August 1, 2009
Where: University of Maryland, College Park
Two hundred blind and low vision students from all across the country will
attend this five-day adventure that will engage, inspire, and encourage the
next generation of blind youth to consider careers falsely believed to be
impossible for the blind. Have you ever wanted to build and launch a rocket? Are
you interested in learning about forensics? Or do you have an interest in
journalism? The possiblities are plentiful at the NFB Youth Slam!
While staying at the University of Maryland, College Park, students will be
mentored by blind role models during fun and challenging activities designed
to build confidence and increase science literacy. Participants will also
have the opportunity to attend workshops on topics such as leadership, career
preparation, and blindness. In addition, students will have time for fun and
mingling during social activities, such as karaoke, recreation night, and a
talent show. Interesting and fun activities are plentiful*even if you don't
like science! The NFB Youth Slam will culminate in an inspiring rally and
march in Washington, D.C.
Interested students who will be entering high school in the fall of 2009 or
are currently in high school (including those graduating in the spring of
2009) should complete an application by March 1, 2009. Students need not have a
strong interest in science, technology, engineering, or math (STEM) in order
to participate, enjoy, and benefit from this extraordinary experience
Watch the _NFB Youth Slam 2009 video_
(http://www.blindscience.org/images/ncbys/media/Youth_Slam_Promo_2009.wmv) , or print the program _flyer (pdf)._
(http://www.blindscience.org/images/ncbys/documents/pdf/Youth%20Slam%20Flyer%2009.
pdf)
If you are interested in being a participant or volunteer in the Youth Slam,
please visit one of the following pages:
_Mentor and Volunteer Information Page_
(http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/Mentor_Information.asp?SnID=1540481004)
_Student Information Page_
(http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/Student_Information.asp?SnID=1540481004)
For more information, read the Youth Slam frequently asked questions:
_FAQs for students_
(http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/FAQ_Students.asp?SnID=1540481004)
_FAQs for mentors_
(http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/FAQ_Mentors.asp?SnID=1540481004)
_FAQs for parents_
(http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/FAQ_Parents.asp?SnID=1540481004)
Learn more about the program by visiting the _2007 NFB Youth Slam_
(http://www.blindscience.org/ncbys/Youth_Slam_2009.asp?SnID=1540481004) page!
Current Sponsors and Supporters
Instructional Supporters
_AccessComputing Alliance_
(http://www.washington.edu/doit/Newsflash/nf.03.03.06.html)
If you have any questions about the NFB Youth Slam, please e-mail
_youthslam@nfb.org_ (mailto:youthslam@nfb.org) or contact:
Karen Zakhnini, Education Project Manager
Jernigan Institute
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, ext. 2293
Stewart Hughes
Family Resource Coordinator II
Family Access Services/PARC
Little Rock Foundation Family Resource Room CSH 126A
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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| Comments by Stewart Hughes on Wednesday, November 19, 2008 at 11:22 |
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Sandy White, Sports Administrator, Blind Sports Organization*
Re: Fitness, recreation, & sports opportunities in Phila., PA
The Blind Sports Organization offers the following activities at the
Overbrook School f/t Blind gym
6333 Malvern Ave.
Philadelphia 19151
Men's Goalball (an international team sport) - every Tues. 5:30-8:30PM
- no charge but must join BSO ($8/yr) & US Blind Athletes ($35/yr)
Women's Goalball - every Sat. 2-4PM - see fee info above
Judo - for men and women - every Sat. 10 Am
Walk/Run Club - as needed
In the spring -
coed Beeb Baseball (modified softball)
For more info e-mail info@blind sports.org or call (302-836-5784)
Thank you very much,
Sandy White
Sports Administrator
*BSO is a 35 year old non-profit community service organization
that promotes and provides fitness, recreation, and sport to blind
and visually impaired youth and adults
BSO is funded by:
United Way Donor Choice
GoodSearch.com
eScrip.com
ACME store receipts
Stewart Hughes
Family Resource Coordinator II
Family Access Services/PARC
Little Rock Foundation Family Resource Room CSH 126A
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
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| Comments by Debbie Nichols on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 09:38 |
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Welcome to The Little Rock Foundation's web site!
If you have questions or need any information regarding our organization, please don't hesitate to contact us.
Have a great day! |
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no URL given |
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| Comments by Tina Fiorentino on Wednesday, October 29, 2008 at 07:39 |
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Welcome to the Little Rock Foundation's new blog please feel to post any comments, questions for others view.
Thank you for visiting our website.
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no URL given |
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