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Posts Tagged ‘Accessible Reading and Braille’
Walmart Mail Order Pharmacy Now Offers ScripTalk Talking Prescriptions
April 19, 2012Walmart Mail Order Pharmacy is currently doing a pilot program with En-Vision America to offer ScripTalk Talking Prescriptions, which can be read with a small device called a ScripTalk Station.
The ScripTalk Station provides those who cannot read print a safe and easy way to access the information on their prescriptions. Simply press a button and place the special Talking Label over the reader. A pleasant, natural sounding voice speaks all the information printed on the label.
When you sign-up for the Walmart program, you’ll get a free ScripTalk reader and be able to take advantage of the low prices of Walmart Mail Service. Many private insurance companies and state Medicaid services will cover Walmart Mail Order.
For more information on how to enroll in this program and to get your free ScripTalk Station reader, please contact En-Vision America at 800-890-1180.
Hands-on with “Enhanced Vision” Low Vision Products in San Francisco and San Rafael
March 27, 2012Enhanced Vision is currently the number one manufacturer of desktop and handheld video magnification devices manufactured in California.
In April and May, representatives from Enhanced Vision will be at the LightHouse to present their most current reading devices so that you can see what works for you.
When: Friday, April 27 at LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
When: Friday, May 11 at LightHouse of Marin, 10:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
If you have useable vision and are having difficulty reading, this is an event you will not want to miss. Enhanced Vision has recently introduced some exciting new products that include “high-definition” video magnification devices in a variety of screen sizes and magnification levels; portable devices that provide both magnification and Text-to-Voice readers; and computer-compatible products that will help you to read again.
If you are not familiar with Enhanced Vision products, please check them out at www.enhancedvision.com.
Be sure to mark your calendar for this opportunity to see and try the latest devices available for people with macular degeneration and other causes of visual impairment. Those attending on April 27th in San Francisco can also can have a sneak-peak of our newly revamped, hands-on store, Adaptations, which offers practical solutions for living actively and independently.
For more information about the LightHouse and Adaptations, call 1-888-400-8933 or visit our website at www.lighthouse-sf.org. And remember to calendar this event!
Bookshare Professional Development Workshop
March 27, 2012The Northern California Chapter of the Association for Education and Rehabilitation of the Blind and Visually Impaired and the California School for the Blind present a Bookshare Professional Development Workshop to be held on Wednesday April 18th, 2012, from 8:00 am to 3:30 pm at the California School for the Blind.
This free Professional Development Workshop is designed to provide a stimulating interactive environment for up to 20 participants (minimum of 15). The experienced instructors understand print disabilities and bring relevant expertise and related technology experience into their delivery, using effective teaching strategies that challenge and engage all learners.
As a result, you will have deeper insight and greater knowledge around:
Space is limited so sign up before Monday April 9.
For information about registering, please contact Theresa Stern (formally Duncan) at: tstern@guidedogs.com. Please put “NCAER BOOKSHARE REGISTRATION” in the subject line.
American Action Fund Free Braille Books Program
March 12, 2012The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults (AAF) is making its free braille books for blind children available online as downloadable BRF files.
Since 1997, the AAF has provided popular and award-winning children’s books, including titles from popular series, to blind children throughout the United States, as well as to libraries and other organizations that serve blind children.
The books have been and will continue to be distributed by mail, but now readers and libraries will be able to download them from the American Action Fund website. The BRF files are ready to be used on braille notetakers and other braille-aware devices.
For more information visit their site.
Entries Due April 30 for Onkyo Braille Essay Contest
February 29, 2012The Onkyo Corporation and The Braille Mainichi are sponsoring a braille essay contest for people of all ages. Winners will receive cash prizes ranging from $500 to $2,000. The contest is being administered by the National Federation of the Blind on behalf of the North America-Caribbean Region of the World Blind Union.
Essays must be written by contest participants in English or their native language in braille and must be completely original in nature. Entries should be no fewer than 800 words and no more than 1,000 words in length. There will be two groups of competitors: a junior group, age 25 and under; and a senior group, age 26 and up.
Essay topics:
1. How do you acquire knowledge and information through braille or audio devices? (Illustrate with some interesting personal stories/episodes.)
2. How can blind persons become independent by learning braille or music?
3. Individual concept about world peace from the viewpoint of persons with disabilities.
All essays must be received by April 30, 2012.
Visit http://nfb.org/onkyo-braille-essay-contest for more information and an application. Please contact Trisha Tatam at 410-659-9314 (ext. 2510) or ttatam@nfb.org with any questions.
Participants Needed for Social Networking Survey
February 8, 2012Jeffrey P. Bigham, Ph.D., principal investigator from the University of Rochester, is conducting a research study in order to understand the use of social networking among blind and visually impaired people. If you are interested in taking the 15 minute survey please go to:
New Dates! Window-Eyes Training by GW Micro
February 7, 2012GW Micro will be offering a two-day Window-Eyes training at the LightHouse in February. Take the training that the American Foundation for the Blind raved about in their review of Window-Eyes training in the July 2010 edition of AccessWorld (www.afb.org/aw).
If you are a teacher who needs to know how to use the latest screen reading technology, an IT professional who needs to support blind clients, a student or current Window-Eyes customer who needs to know how to get the most out of Window-Eyes; then Window-Eyes training is made just for you.
When: Tuesday, March 20 and Wednesday, March 21
Where: LightHouse San Francisco Headquarters
What do you get when you sign up for Window-Eyes training?
You get. . .
* Hands-on training with a GW Micro certified trainer
* The entire two-day curriculum on CD
* Knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook using Window-Eyes advanced Office technology features
* Knowledge of the Internet and how to use it to its full advantage with Window-Eyes
* Knowledge of how to customize your computer, making graphics, words, and colors speak the way you want them to
* Continuing Education Units (for an additional fee)
* Many more skills. Check out www.gwmicro.com/training for more information
Unlike other training courses that can cost up to $1000 per day, the complete, two-day Window-Eyes training is only $650 per student. Check with your Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) counselor to see if this expense is covered under your DOR plan.
If you have any questions regarding the training, please contact Kimberly Cline at 260-489-3671 or kimberly@gwmicro.com for more information.
To sign up for the training, please register at https://www.gwmicro.com/Training/Window-Eyes_Training/Registration/. Make sure to select San Francisco, CA as the location for training. For more information, check out www.gwmicro.com/wetraining.
Register by Feb. 3 for 2012 Braille Challenge
January 12, 2012Vista Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired will host the 2012 Northern California Braille Challenge in collaboration with LightHouse for the Blind, California School for the Blind and Society for the Blind.
Braille Challenge is an academic contest for school-age youth in grades 1 to 12 who read Braille. It serves to encourage blind children of all ages to fine-tune their braille skills, which are essential to their academic and employment success in the sighted world. This is the only national academic competition for blind students in the United States and is a program of the Braille Institute of America.
WHEN: Saturday, March 3, 2012, 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
LOCATION: Santa Clara Valley Blind Center, 101 North Bascom Ave., San Jose, CA 95128
EVENT CONTACT PERSON: Alice McGrath, amcgrath@vistacenter.org, 650-858-0202, ext. 130
HOW TO REGISTER: Download and complete the registration form and send to:
Vista Center
Attn: Alice McGrath
2470 El Camino Real, Ste. 107
Palo Alto CA 94306
Fax: 650-858-0214
Registration forms are due Feb. 3, 2012.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Teachers for the visually impaired, transcribers and braillists are needed to serve as proctors and scorers for this exciting event. Contact Alice McGrath to sign up.
For more information about the Braille Challenge, go to www.braillechallenge.org.
Victor Reader Stream Survey
November 14, 2011To help HumanWare continue to improve its Victor Reader Stream digital talking book player, the company has prepared a 20-minute survey for Stream users. Take the survey here.
Ten respondents will be chosen at random to receive a free Stream SoftPak upgrade to their device. Participation ends November 20, 2011, and the winners will be announced on November 21, 2011.
Information provided in survey responses will be treated as confidential for HumanWare use only.
Open House: SF Library for the Blind and Print Disabled
October 25, 2011
When: Thursday, November 3, 2011, 1:00 to 7:00 p.m.
Where: The Library for the Blind and Print Disabled at the San Francisco Main Library at 100 Larkin Street, San Francisco
What:
1. Meet the new librarian, Jane Glasby.
2. Learn about the free federal “talking book” program of the National Library Service and how to sign up.
3. Learn about BARD, the online downloading of talking books and braille.
At 1:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., see:
▪ Demonstrations of BARD and OPAC—how to sign up and how to download digital talking books from the Internet;
▪ How to search the Online Public Access Catalogue of the Library.
4. See demonstrations of CCTV readers, reading scanners, refreshable computers, braille displays and braille embossers.
5. Use the new digital players.
6. See described DVD movies.
7. Win a door prize.
Contact: Jane Glasby, Program Manager, Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, San Francisco Main Library, 415-557-4253 or lbpd@sfpl.org.