Google Scholarships

As part of their ongoing commitment to advancing computing and technology, Google is pleased to support the work of their partner organizations in providing scholarships to students studying computer science.

They are now accepting applications for the following scholarship opportunities in North America:

• Google Lime Scholarship for Students with Disabilities – Deadline: February 5, 2012
• Google AISES Scholarship – Deadline: February 29, 2012
• Google Hispanic College Fund Scholarship – Deadline: March 1, 2012
• Google UNCF Scholarship – US Application ; Canada Application – Deadline: March 18, 2012

In addition, they are still accepting applications for the Google Anita Borg Memorial Scholarship (Deadline: February 6, 2012).

Links to specific scholarship Information and applications are available at http://googleforstudents.blogspot.com/2012/01/google-scholarships-in-north-america.html.

Scholarship recipients will each receive a $10,000 scholarship for the 2012-2013 academic year and will be invited to attend the all-expenses-paid annual Google Scholars’ Retreat at the Googleplex in Mountain View, CA. Scholarships will be awarded based on the strength of the applicants’ academic background and their demonstrated passion for computer science.

For complete details on all Google scholarships, visit www.google.com/jobs/scholarships.

New Scholarships Available through the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI)

Here are two new scholarship announcements from the Council of Citizens with Low Vision International:

Scholarships for College Students – The Fred Scheigert Scholarship Program
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) will award three scholarships in the amount of $3,000 each to full-time entering freshmen, undergraduate and graduate college students who are low vision, maintain a strong GPA and are involved in their school/local community. Application materials must be received by March 15. Scholarship monies will be awarded for the 2012 – 2013 academic year. To read the scholarship guidelines and complete an on-line application, please go to http://www.cclvi.org/scholarships/.  Applications will be available to submit on-line until March 15 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. Questions may be directed to CCLVI at 800-733-2258.

Dr. Sam Genensky Video Magnifier Memorial Award
The Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) announces the Dr. Sam Genensky Video Magnifier Memorial Awards. A total of five video magnifiers will be awarded to at least 2 students (K-12, undergraduate, graduate and vocational levels) and 2 non-students (adults and seniors). Applications may be submitted beginning January 25 and all materials must be received by March 31. To read the award guidelines and complete an on-line application, please go to http://www.cclvi.org/scholarships/. Applications will be available to submit on-line until March 31 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. To receive a hard copy application, please call 800-733-2258.

Attention Campers! Camp Registration Opens Tomorrow, February 1

Registration for 2012 Enchanted Hills Camp Sessions opens on February 1st, when the application will be available for download on our website at http://lighthouse-sf.org/programs/enchanted-hills/.

Instructions and payment information will be available on the application. Our camping sessions are extremely popular and fill up fast, so don’t delay. Applications will be accepted on a first come first served basis. For more information please contact Rich Russo at rrusso@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7352.

2012 Camping Session Dates

• Family Camp I: June 21 through June 24
• Adult Session: June 30 through July 5
• Adults with Special Needs: July 7 through July 11
• Family Camp II: July 12 through July 15
• Youth Session I (3rd through 8th Grade): July 16 through July 22
• Youth Session II (9th through 12th Grade): July 26 through
  August 4
• Blind Babies Camp: August 12 through August 14

Blind Users Wanted for Chrome Usability Study

Google is currently scheduling people who are blind for a usability study to take place on Thursday, January 26, 2012, at the Assistive Technology Teaching and Learning Center in Berkeley. The goal of this study is to learn more about the usability of ChromeOS.

The criteria for the study is as follows:

- be over 18
- be completely blind and use some form of assistive technology.
- have used ChromeOS

If you are interested in participating, please complete the short survey below. They will then schedule appointments on a first-come, first-served basis. If you have difficulty accessing the link below this paragraph, please contact Philip Strain at pstrain@google.com.

Link to survey:
http://goo.gl/MbZvR

NFB, AFB Accepting Applications for 2012 Scholarships

2012 NFB Scholarship Program for Blind College-Bound Students
Are you legally blind and will you be a full-time college student attending the fall 2012 semester in the United States or Puerto Rico?

The National Federation of the Blind Scholarship Program application form is online at www.nfb.org/scholarships, along with all rules for eligibility, the list of requirements for a completed packet, and additional information. (A print application form is available upon request.)

Scholarships Include:
• 1 for $12,000
• 1 for $10,000
• 2 for $7,000 each
• 4 for $5,000 each
• 22 for $3,000 each
• Plus additional gifts for each winner

The deadline to submit the application form and all required supporting documents is March 31, 2012.

American Foundation for the Blind Scholarships
The American Foundation for the Blind, AFB, is offering 11 scholarships totaling $19,000 in 2012. Scholarships are in these amounts:

• 1 award for $500 – restricted to student in full-time graduate study, any field.
• 5 awards for $1,000 each – 4 different restrictions (graduate or undergraduate in rehabilitation field/teacher of the blind or visually impaired; graduate or undergraduate female in study of classical or religious music; graduate or undergraduate in study of engineering or computer, physical or life sciences; 2 awards restricted to undergraduate females in a four-year degree program for literature or music).
• 4 awards for $2,500 each – graduate or undergraduate in rehabilitation or education of the blind or visually impaired.
• 1 award for $3,500 – graduate or undergraduate, but preference given to new immigrants to the U.S. residing in the New York City metropolitan area.

Information and application forms are available at www.afb.org/scholarships.asp. The deadline to apply is April 30, 2012.

Video Description for the 21st Century Classroom

Join the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute for a free, forward-looking webinar on the changing world of educational video description on Tuesday, January 24, 2012.

This exciting and interactive presentation is perfect for teachers, administrators and parents who want to know all about the latest developments in video description technology and how it can help blind and visually impaired students in every educational setting.

Topics include: 1) A teachers’ guide to using video description; 2) A comprehensive overview of resources for obtaining described materials; and 3) A sneak peak at the description technologies of the future being developed at the Video Description Research and Development Center, VDRDC.

This innovative webinar is presented by the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP), in collaboration with the Video Description Research and Development Center (VDRDC) and the Description Leadership Network (DLN). Register now at http://webinars.dcmp.org/ to reserve your seat at the table.

Window-Eyes training by GW Micro

GW 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, February 7 and Wednesday, February 8
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.

Have you Had Problems Using Clipper Cards?

Disability Rights Advocates is investigating complaints regarding barriers that blind or visually impaired persons have experienced attempting to tag on or tag off at Caltrain stations using Clipper Cards.

If you have been unable to successfully tag on or tag off using a Clipper Card at a Caltrain station, have been unable to locate Clipper Card tagging machines due to the absence of tactile directional floor tiles, or have had to seek the assistance of a sighted person due to the inaccessibility of Clipper Card tagging machines, Disability Rights Advocates would like to talk to you. To share your stories, please contact Scott Murray by phone at 510-665-8644 or by e-mail at smurray@dralegal.org.

Turndown Attendant – Starwood Hotel S.F. – St Regis

Job Description

We are seeking a professional with an exceptional service attitude for the position of Turndown Attendant. They will be responsible to reset guest rooms and bathroom areas in a thoughtful manner in accordance with the St. Regis brand standards. They will organize linen closets on floors assigned and complete assignments accurately, and in a timely manner.

To Apply:

Click Link http://www.starwoodhotels.com/corporate/careers/index.html

Click Find a Job section

Search for location, San Francisco

Company Description

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc., one of the leading hotel and leisure companies in the world with more than 1000 properties in over 100 countries, is a fully integrated owner, operator and franchisor of hotels and resorts with the following internationally renowned brands: St. Regis, The Luxury Collection, Sheraton, Westin, Four Points by Sheraton, W, Le Meriden, Aloft and ElementSM. For more information, please visit www.starwoodhotels.com.
EEO/AA/M/F/D/V Drug Free Workplace

Employment Opportunity: Social Worker – City and County of San Francisco

The San Francisco Public Defender’s Office seeks a social worker passionate about providing services for probationers and parolees who are returning to the community.  Candidates must be highly motivated and show a commitment to working with individuals involved in the criminal justice system.  The social worker will be responsible for conducting custodial interviews and needs assessments of the adult parolees or probationers in order to improve legal outcomes and to develop a reentry service plan to assist in their release back to the community.  The social worker will also assess and evaluate the needs of individuals incarcerated in San Francisco County Jails for referral to substance abuse and mental health programs, vocational training programs, education, housing and employment opportunities, governmental assistance opportunities and other appropriate services.  The social worker will work collaboratively with attorneys in the office and other agencies to ensure that better legal outcomes are achieved and services are provided to the parolee or probationer.  This will involve contact with multi-systems such as the courts, probation, health services, education, employment, reentry and mental health agencies.  The social worker is expected to develop strong collaboratives with community-based agencies that provide services for the parolees and probationers in our community.  The social worker will also prepare and present reports to the courts, conduct outreach and training and monitor the progress of their clients.

You must create a profile on the Job Aps

http://jobaps.com/sf/sup/BulPreview.asp?R1=PEX&R2=2910&R3=058535