Tips On How to Be a Proper Wedding Guest

Keep in mind these quick pointers for being a perfect wedding guest, and you'll help the wedding day go smoothly for the bride and groom. If you've never been to a wedding, these tips will give you some idea of what goes on, and how you fit in to the big picture.

1. Make your hotel and plane reservations early, especially if you receive a "save the date" notice.
   
   
2. Purchase gifts early, and use the registry. It is designed to make your life - and the lives of the bride and groom - easier.
   
   
3. Respond, or RSVP, as soon as possible after you get the invitation. Only bring a guest if you receive an invitation addressed to you and a guest.
   
   
4. Dress appropriately. If the invitation says black tie, men should wear tuxedos and women should wear formal dresses. If you are unsure of the dress code, you're safer erroring on the side of dressing up too much.
   
   
5. Bring children only if the invitation expressly mentions them. Weddings are formal events and typically not appropriate for little ones.
   
   
6. Arrive 15 minutes before the ceremony begins. Tradition dictates that friends and family of the bride sit on the left and friends and family of the groom sit on the right. Typically, an usher will lead you to your seat.
   
   
7. Wait in the receiving line, if there is one, to congratulate the newlywed couple and their parents after the ceremony. Keep your greeting upbeat and brief.
   
   
8. Remain quiet and attentive during toasts at the reception, and while the couple cuts the wedding cake.
   
   
9. Wait for the bride and groom to have their first dance before you hit the dance floor. Then get up, dance and enjoy the party; the couple will be pleased to see all the guests having a good time.
   
   
10. Avoid keeping the bride or groom engaged in conversation for too long - they have many guests to greet, and a honeymoon suite awaits them.

If you have questions about attire, whether to bring children to the ceremony, or other logistics, call the best man or maid of honor, who are often much more accessible than the bride or groom.

Remember, the bride and groom want to see and talk to everybody, so don't be disappointed if you don't get to talk with them for long.

Mail your gift ahead of time to make it easier on the bride and groom. If you do bring the gift, take it to the reception and place it on the gift table.

Don't question or point out to the bride, groom or immediate family why certain traditional elements may have been left out of the couples' ceremony and reception. They have planned their wedding for months to contain only the elements they love.

Remember, the bride and groom want you to have a good time, too. Take this time to enjoy family members you have not seen in a while or dance the night away with your Significant other.

Deleting Unwanted Programs From Your Computer

It seems like I get questions all the time asking how to remove / uninstall programs. So, here's the step-by-step procedure:

1. The first thing to do is click the Start menu, Programs. Then hunt for the program you want to delete. Oftentimes, you'll find an Uninstall program under it's program group.
   
   
2. Another way would be to click the Start button, Settings, Control Panel. Then open the Add/Remove programs icon. You'll see a list of programs that Windows can remove from your system. Just click the one you would like to remove and hit the OK button.
   
   
3. If neither of the above works, you can always go to the program's folder and delete it. However, there is no guarantee that the program was confined to that folder. It could have other files distributed throughout your computer.
   
   
4. Finally, you might consider a program like Spring Cleaning . It can remove unused or old versions of programs and toss duplicates and unneeded files.

As I mentioned earlier, you might get a message during uninstall telling you that there are shared files (.dll) that are not needed-it seems that whenever I delete these, it turns out I DO need them for another program to run, so it may be best to keep those files.

Keep in mind that some of the files that get placed on your hard drive when you install a program are basically updates to some of your existing files. So if you are uninstalling something and get a message saying not all the files from a program could be removed, it may be due to the fact that other programs also use these files.

Tips On How to Repair A Video Cassette

If you've got a favorite or irreplaceable videocassette that's been broken or damaged, resist the temptation to try splicing it. A poorly spliced videotape could ruin the video-head drum in your player. All is not lost, though, if you want to salvage the tape's contents.

1. Take out the five screws with a Phillips screwdriver from the bottom of two videocassettes, one you can sacrifice and the one that's been damaged.
   
   
2. Gently separate the tops and bottoms of the cassettes. Some tapes have a label down the sides, you will have to remove these labels.
   
   
3. Study the way the tape threads through the cassette. You'll need to remember this later.
   
   
4. Discard all of the tape from the sacrificed cassette, but keep all the other parts, including the reels.
   
   
5. Take the first section of the damaged tape (still on its reel) from the videocassette you want to save and transfer it to the shell of the sacrificed cassette.
   
   
6. Attach it to the take-up reel with adhesive tape. The take-up reel will be on your right if you have the case facing as if it were going into a VCR.
   
   
7. Take the empty reel from the sacrificed cassette and transfer it to the shell of the cassette you're saving. Attach the second section of broken tape to this cassette.
   
   
8. Reassemble the cassette shells, being careful to thread the tape the way you found it. You now have two tapes that contain as much of your material as can be saved, with no midtape splice that could damage your video-head drum.
   
   
9. Copy the two tapes to a new videocassette and then throw them away.

Practice this videocassette repair technique on a couple of tapes you don't care about before you attempt to repair that irreplaceable tape of your sister's wedding.

If a tape breaks at one end, you can safely reattach it to the reel for the purpose of copying it, but you should still throw it away since it won't have the leader that the VCR's end sensor relies on to tell it to stop rewinding.

For more information on videocassette restoration, visit this blog: http://richardhess.com/notes/.

Tips On How to Handle Romantic Rejection

Your sweetheart just told you, "I love you, but I'm not in love with you." What now?

1. Yeah, it hurts to hear it. The truth is, you'll get over it.
   
   
2. Realize that this person, no matter how much you like him or her, is not going to reciprocate. You can't make a person love you. And you can drive yourself crazy trying.
   
   
3. You deserve a partner who respects you and cares about you. You want to feel secure and valuable, right? Remember this.
   
   
4. At first, you'll experience denial. "It's not really over," you tell yourself. Now tell yourself that it's not your fault. You could have been this or that, but you weren't. Don't dwell on your imagined shortcomings.
   
   
5. Don't try to get him or her back by making drastic improvements. It won't work. It's too late for that. If you do anything, do it for yourself. Now is the time to be selfish.
   
   
6. Go to your friends or family - those who accept you and will understand your hurt.
   
   
7. Take up a hobby or sport. Get your mind off your breakup. Stay busy, this is key.
   
   
8. You will get depressed. It's normal. You will get angry; this is normal too.
   
   
9. Decide that you wanted it to be over. Convince yourself of this.
   
   
10. You might try finding someone else, some people will suggest this - but it's not very healthy and won't really be fair to the new person. Give yourself time to pull yourself together.
    
    
11. Don't get obsessive. If you feel that you can't get over it by yourself, get professional help. You don't want to turn into a stalker.

The end of a relationship can be very difficult to get through, it can also be a time for learning. What could you have done different? Did you do all that you could have to better the relationship? Only you can answer these questions, and improve for the next romance.

Tips On How to Read Your Date's Body Language

Your date might claim to be having fun - yet, you catch him or her yawning uncontrollably. Reading body language helps tell you what your date is really thinking.

Positive Body Language

1. Notice whether your date exhibits good yet relaxed posture. A slouched date probably isn't having a good time. A date who's sitting up is being attentive.
   
   
2. If you can see your date, observe whether your date makes good eye contact. If your date keeps looking into your eyes, you've got it made.
   
   
3. Is your date leaning forward? Then you aren't a complete stranger anymore.
   
   
4. Be aware of any physical contact. Holding hands is a great sign.
   
   
5. Notice if your date has his or her palms up, which indicates a friendly warmth.
   
   
6. Know that your date is listening to you if he or she nods during conversation; this indicates your words are being heard. Listen, see if your date verbally reacts to what you're saying.
7. Pay attention to whether your date is in sync with you and constantly reflecting your behavior. Does she shift in her seat when you do? Does he pick up your speed and tone when he's speaking? Are you both breathing at the same rate? This occurs unconsciously and indicates a good rhythm between you, it's not just a copycat game.

Negative Body Language

1. Take note if your date's arms are crossed. This suggests there's a wall between the two of you.
   
   
2. Beware if your date is yawning. This is a bad sign - unless it's because your date was up all night thinking about you.
   
   
3. Clue in if your date is nodding, or verbalizing too much during the conversation, it means you're talking to the same wall that was created by the crossed arms.
   
   
4. Is your date looking at everything but you? Be worried.
   
   
5. Notice if your date is keeping some distance between you. Personal space is one thing, but if your date is not standing next to you, that's a bad sign.
   
   

If your date offers you gum, take it, no matter how sure you are that your breath is "fine". Good luck, and I hope all your dates are good ones.

Visually Impaired computer users can now explore technical drawings

Digitised technical drawings are typically presented and edited on standard PCs with appropriate software installed. However, blind and visually-challenged persons must access a user interface and presentation tool specially tailored for them.

The TeDUB project has overcome the limitations of existing technologies by creating an innovative, accessible system. The Image Interpreter analyses drawings semi-automatically or automatically using image processing and knowledge processing techniques.

The system is capable of analysing and presenting diagrams from a number of formally defined technical drawing domains, primarily electronic circuits, floor plans and software (UML) engineering drawings.

Diagrams enter the system, are processed and transformed to the internal format of the TeDUB system and accessed by the Diagram Navigator, which allows users to interact via a number of devices, including an ordinary keyboard for input and textual output, either accessed through a Braille device or a screen reader.

The system also offers navigation using a joystick and sound notifications. Users can choose between interfaces. For example, the 3D sound interface provides spatial information relating to the user's current position, which allows them to 'walk' around the diagram.

An evaluation took place in Ireland, Italy, The Netherlands and the UK involving 35 blind or partially-sighted participants, including students aged 16 to 30 following courses on computer science or informatics, and professionals aged 21 to 60, working as programmers, software consultants and university lecturers.

They were positive about how easy the system can be learned. They also liked the simple operation of the interface when using keyboard commands and the combination of different interfaces to operate the system, as well as how to access information.

TeDUB can be integrated into available screen readers, avoiding the need to recreate completely new software environments. It also solves a problem that has traditionally demanded the more laborious solution of manually creating tactile diagrams.

Project partners are extending the number of types of drawings the system can handle and plan to include business bar and pie charts found in standard business communications. Future plans include focusing on the educational domain, specifically e-learning content.

For more information on TeDUB, visit the project web site by clicking this link: http://www-agki.tzi.de/bv/projects/tedub.

How to Know if Someone Likes You Romantically

Sometimes the direct approach is best - just ask. But if that seems too bold for your liking, look for the following signs.

Behavior

1. Pay attention to your conversations with the person in question. Does this person show a special interest in having a conversation with you and, once started, make an effort to keep that conversation going?
   
   
2. Is this person "accidentally" running into you in places where he or she knows you will be, such as at your desk? At the Laundrymat on Tuesdays? At your brother's birthday party?
   
   
3. Make a note if he or she mentions future plans to spend time with you: "That band is coming to town soon. We should really get tickets".
   
   
4. Spend time alone together. Canceling other plans in order to be with you longer, or not finding excuses to leave, could be a sign of interest.
   
   
5. Has he or she been calling for random reasons, such as, "I was wondering if you knew what that pizza place down the street is called," followed by, "Are you hungry?"
   
   
6. Has this person taken a sudden interest in your life and hobbies? This is a sure sign that he or she is interested in something - and it's probably not your CD collection.
   
   
7. Observe how the person acts around your friends - he or she might be extra friendly to your closest pals for a reason.

Body Language

1. Sometimes seeing someone you have a crush on results in telltale physiological signs. Does the person in question blush when you look at him or her? His or her sympathetic nervous system is probably going into overdrive. Does he or she have trouble speaking, using jumbled words when talking to you?
   
   
2. See if the person in question mirrors your motions: When you lean back, he or she leans back; when you put your elbows on the table, he or she does the same.
   
   
3. Note whether this person sits or stands in the open position - that is, facing you with arms uncrossed. In addition, a woman tends to cross her legs in a man's direction.
   
   
4. Does he or she move closer to you and/or touch you softly, such as with a pat of your hand or a touch of your cheek?
   
   
5. Other elements of body language include frequent eye contact, holding your gaze and looking down before looking away, energetic speech coupled with open hands, and flashing palms.
   
   
6. Does the person you're wondering about just plain smile at you a lot?

Take some time to closely observe those around you, you may be surprised at what you discover.

Get Help With Your Modest Needs

Modest Needs is a non-profit organization reaching out to the people conventional philanthropy has forgotten: hard-working individuals and families who suddenly find themselves faced with small, emergency expenses that they have no way to afford on their own.

Most persons living paycheck to paycheck earn just barely too much to qualify for any type of conventional assistance. This means they can't receive the help they need to overcome a short-term crisis - until they've already lost everything.

Modest Needs exists because they think there's a better way to do things. As far as They are concerned, no hard-working person should ever have to choose between taking a child to the doctor and putting food on the table.

At Modest Needs, compassionate persons whose lives have been touched by kindness pass that kindness on to hard-working individuals and families struggling with the burden of an unexpected emergency expense.

They do this by helping people afford small, emergency expenses like those we've all encountered before: the unexpected car repair, the unanticipated visit to the doctor, or the unusually large winter heating bill. Assistance can come within seventy-two hours from the time of request.

Operating this way since 2002, the members of the Modest Needs community have prevented 1604 individuals and families from entering the cycle of poverty over a small, emergency expense. And in keeping with their philosophy, they never ask for anything in return.

By choice, the work they do at Modest Needs is funded exclusively by the generosity of private citizens, with gifts typically ranging from $5 to $100 at a time.

If your life has been touched by kindness, and you're looking for a meaningful way to pass that kindness on, I hope you'll join the Modest Needs community. Here, every person has the power to change a life. Modest Needs is a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit corporation.

If you need help to afford a small, emergency expense, please apply for assistance.

Click this link to visit the Modest Needs home page: http://www.modestneeds.org. You may also use the contact information below to send a gift or a personal note:

Modest Needs Foundation
150 W 22nd St
Fifth Floor
New York, NY 10011
Phone: 212-463-7042
Email: questions@modestneeds.org

The Happy Baby Food Grinder

the Happy Baby Food Grinder has a new name, the Kidco Food Mill! This is the same grinder that has been made for over thirty years, only the name has changed.

Your happy baby will love this convenient baby food grinder that was developed by a pediatrician! The KidCo Food Mill is a sensible and simple way to prepare natural baby food that is blended to the perfect balance of smooth puree and essential bulk for easy digestion. Use at home or away to treat your infant to the wholesome goodness of fresh cooked meats, pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables. Feed directly from the 4 once capacity cup with the included serving spoon.

Plastic components are molded to meet FDA specifications for food preparation while the precision sharpened cutter and strainer are medical grade stainless steel. The entire assembly is dishwasher safe, may be sterilized and won't chip, break or crack.

YOU can make baby food far more economically and be sure of the nutritional value, with the KidCo Food Mill. The feeder is made of safe polypropylene with medical grade stainless steel components. Turns nutritious table food into healthy baby food instantly. Travels easily to restaurants, grandparents or friends. Also available with convenient carrying case - lightweight and durable.

This item is simple to use, just clean off your left-over vegitables, place them into the tube and hand crank it, while pushing the plunger. Baby food is magically extruded. My kids were eating stuffed cabbage before they had teeth. You can usually find this grinder at health food stores. You can also click this link to purchase the Happy Baby Food Grinder from the Happy Baby Products Yahoo store.

The Ketch-All Multiple Catch Mousetrap

I lived on a farm with my family during my teen-age years, and as wenter came, we found that field mice loved our home as much as we did. One problem that I always had with the old-fashioned mousetraps is checking to see if I caught anything. My father ended up with that job.

How does a blind person check those things anyway? Once you set the trap, I guess you would have to use a stick or something to disarm it, but then if you have a mouse in the trap, it doesn't sound right to poke around at it. You can't reach down to see if there's a mouse, it's gross for one thing, and you may trap your finger in the process.

Luckily for me, someone has solved this delemma. The Ketch-All Multiple Catch Mousetrap is a wind-up repeating trap. No bait required. Just put it two inches from the wall and for some reason the mice climb right in. A spring loaded trap door flips them into a little chamber, and they call their friends to join them.

One trap catches ten a night, and the mice don't seem to mind at all. The one that I know of is the Trap Man, sold as the Ketch-All in the US, but the Mouse Master looks like it may work just as well.

Of course, it does leave you with the problem of what to do with a daily box of live mice, but that's for another Fred's Head article.

Click this link to purchase the Ketch-All Multiple Catch Mousetrap from cooperseeds.com.

The Mouse Master is available from Triton Pest Control, click this link to visit their site.

Freshen The Air with Light Bulbs?

The title got your attention didn't it? No, I haven't totally flipped my lid, and no, my personal intelligence light bulb hasn't burned out.

Fresh2 makes fluorescent compact light bulbs coated with a titanium dioxide film. The fluorescent UV light causes a chemical reaction with the film, and the resulting oxidation eliminates odors. I know it sounds far fetched, but the things really work. I ordered a pair for our laundry room which is located in our basement.

We replaced the room's sixty watt incandescent bulb (which we kept on all the time) with this new Fresh2 forty watt fluorescent fixture. I immediately liked the fact that we're saving electricity, but within one day, the odors were completely eliminated. The only problem that some may have is that the air should circulate around them, meaning that they work best in exposed sockets, which isn't the most attractive look. Results will vary based on the size of the room.

A similar technology is being used in Japan on windows. In this application, exposure of the titanium dioxide to sunlight UV caused a reaction that effectively cleaned the windows of soot, grime, etc.

For prices and ordering information, click this link to visit the fresh2 web site: http://www.fresh2.com/light-bulbs.html.

Drain Cleaning Made Easy

The Zip-It Drain Cleaner

I don't know about you guys out there, but I love the ladies with long hair, that's why I married one. The only issue I have with long hair is its inability to go down the drain.

I'd be willing to bet that this inexpensive device is the best bargain in the Fred's Head database when it comes to household tools. For 2 dollars you get a flexible twenty-four inch plastic probe that will remove an alarming amount of hair and gunk clogging your sink or shower drain. It descends the drain easily, you can snake it down without taking off the usual drain plug. The many little reverse (and very sharp!) spines hook hair balls and other unmentionables as you carefully back it out. It removes grunge that liquidators won't touch. Sold as disposable, a cautious wipe will keep it going forever. I can't keep the plumbing going without it.

The Zip-It Drain Cleaner can be purchased from any local Ace Hardware store, or click this link to purchase it from the Do It Best online hardware store.

The Drain King

A more complicated device is the Drain King, sold at most hardware or home improvement centers. This brilliant invention for clearing clogged drains without costly chemicals comes in different sizes for different drain diameters. You attach it to a hose, and for the kitchen sink, take off the p-trap, and slide the hose down the drain pipe as far as it will go. You then turn on the hose and it builds up pressure inside the wedged bellows to the point where it releases in a burst, expanding and contracting, you can clear one obstruction and then push the hose further to get to others.

Plumbing Super-Site

On the Web since 1994: The Plumber. You'll find lots of articles on the history of plumbing, going all the way back to Babylonia. Plus, you'll learn how to say "where is the toilet?" in dozens of languages.

Click this link to visit theplumber.com.

Don't Get Stuck Running Speaker Wires

I have been using these wonderful little Mounting Squares from Scotch for about 2 years now for holding things up, down, and together, and have loved them. They are Clear, easy to remove from surfaces, and can be purchased from any home improvement center.

I was desperately searching for an easy and elegant way to tack down my speaker wire for a new surround sound system when I stumbled upon these little gems and knew that I had found the answer. These squares are like a cross between Sticky Tack and the best Scotch tape you've ever used. They are gooey and very sticky, yet hold their form and are almost totally invisible.

For tacking down speaker wire, many folks nail those little "U" shaped brackets into the wall; but these are so much better. I simply stuck one to the wall, stuck the speaker wire to it and then stuck another one over it to make a "sandwich" with the speaker wire in the middle. It looks fantastic, it's non-marring, it's easy and fast, and it really holds well! In addition, these hold up pictures, posters and even light objects with ease. They are truly an innovation and fill a need that many don't realize they have until they see the product. They are just great to have around.

Precut, Removable Clear Mounting Squares
Hang notes, photos and other lightweight items on metal, glass, wood, plastic-most smooth surfaces.
Two-sided adhesive with a removable liner.
Securely holds objects up to 1 lb.
Precut 11/16" squares.
35 Squares per Pack

Click this link to purchase the Scotch Mounting Squares from Amos.

Stop Drafts Cold With The Twin Draft Stopper

Lots of people visiting my house comment on all the different gadgets I have, but the only one they ask me about, so they can get one of their own is my double draft stopper. Sometimes the simple and cheap is more impressive than the complex and expensive.

The Twin Draft Stopper is two long cylinders of styrofoam that slide into a cloth cover, which is then slid under the door and holds the foam in place to stop drafts. The foam can be trimmed to fit your door and the extra fabric folds back and fastens with velcro. It glides with the door, can be easily removed, and the cover is machine washable. They're available from a variety of web sites, and are a lot cheaper than having your doors replaced.

Click this link to purchase the Twin Draft Stopper from the Improvements Catalog.

Bugzooka Those Nasty Bugs From Your Home

Spiders up in the corners of the ceiling. Mosquitoes lurking on the wall by the light. Flies on the windowpane. You can hear them, feel them, but they're hard to hit, and when you do, they squish. So don't even try to hit them, yuck!

The Bugzooka looks, sounds, and is priced like a kids' toy but is highly evolved efficiency when it comes to removing bugs from your home. No batteries. Just cock the bellows on your hip, point the extendable end to within an inch or two of the offending insect, thumb the trigger, and FWOOP!, insect magically gone. Stroll the country house---thirty spiders, fwoopety-fwoop, all gone in five minutes. Don't suck bugs in to your expensive vacuum, some can crawl out of the hose, and who wants bugs in the bag when it comes time to change it.

Bugs are sucked, in good condition, into a chamber on the end of the Bugzooka where they can be studied by a child (probably male) or released humanely. If you really don't care to see the bugs up close, the kit includes a smoked-plastic version of the capture chamber. Now that's nuance.

Click this link to purchase the Bugzooka from Amazon.com.

Remove Spiders from Your Home

Spider Catcher is the latest in arachnid immobilisation technology. You can catch a spider while still remaining 65cm away. All you have to do is pull the trigger on the handle of the Spider Catcher, pop the bristled end onto the creature and release.

The spider is incapacitated thanks to the nylon bristles that act like glue to its hairy little legs. Unfortunately, you'll have to finish the job yourself and release the beast in the garden or kill it. The device can also be used to catch butterflies and moths without hurting them.

There's a shorter travel version for caravans, boats, motor homes, cars, tents, etc.

Click this link to learn more about the Spider Fighter.

Gardening Gloves for the Blind

My wife used to come in after a day of gardening with her hands roughened and scratched. Sure, she had gardening gloves, but they'd always get pulled off and forgotten the first time she had to do anything delicate. Leather, canvas, cotton -- nothing would stay on her hands.

Last year she picked up a pair of Atlas 370 gloves at the local garden store. They're extremely thin, lightweight, and flexible, so there's no need to take them off. The palm is tough nitrile -- made it through a season with no punctures or tears -- while the back is a cool, breathable knit. You could tie your shoes without taking these off.

These gloves were actually designed for precision assemblers. Gardeners discovered them and adopted them in a heartbeat. They're pretty easy to find at local garden centers (many of which also carry a heavier cold-weather version), but several on-line retailers stock them. For blind or visually impaired gardeners, they work great!

Click this link to visit the LFS Glove & Safety site: http://www.lfsinc.com/atlasgloves/garden.htm.

Recharge Any Battery

Disposable alkaline batteries are not perceived by most people to be rechargeable, and that's how the manufacturers like it. Until digital pulse-technology chargers came out a few years ago, it was NOT an option for most people. Alkaline battery walls are very thin, and the heat generated by simple brute-force recharging frequently split them open with a bang.

There are new chip-controlled chargers which will safely and effectively recharge "disposable" alkaline batteries. I have a Buddy-L Super Charger, one of the first designed this way. Bought it about 7 years ago, and I still use it to recharge all my alkaline batteries. Saves me a BUNDLE!

Battery-Recharger.com features the Battery Xtender. Amazingly, it recharges ordinary "Off the Shelf" batteries like Duracell ®, Energizer ®, Rayovac ®, and Sony ® AAA, AA, C and D sizes of alkaline, zinc-carbon, and even rechargeable Ni-Cad and NiMH types!

NOW YOU CAN:

• Save money!
  
• Safely extend the life of your batteries!
  
• Keep your batteries fresh and ready to provide power!
  
• Help the environment! Cut down on battery waste!

In addition, battery-recharger.com features many different battery chargers for all your household or work needs. Click this link to visit battery-recharger.com.

EZ Test Battery Tester

Now that you know how to charge your batteries, you'll need something to tell you when they're dead.

Now you can independently test household batteries! APH offers two versions of the EZ Test Battery Tester:

• The Audible EZ Test reports battery status by beeps
• The Audible/Tactile EZ Test reports battery status by vibrations and beeps

A flexible testing wire allows for testing of 1.5 volt batteries, including AAA, AA, C, and D batteries. The unit also includes two contacts for testing 9 volt batteries.

If the battery being tested is at or near full strength, you will receive three beep signals or vibrations/beeps depending on which model of EZ Test you have. Two signals indicate medium strength, and a single signal indicates a weak battery.

Measures only 4.5 x 1.1 x 0.6 inches. Requires two AAA batteries (included) to operate.

Includes:

• Battery tester unit with attached elastic band to hold testing wire while unit is stored
• Two AAA batteries
• Instructions in print, braille, and on cassette
• One year warranty

Note: EZ Test IS available for purchase with Federal Quota funds.

EZ Test Battery Tester

Audio Feedback Version:
Catalog Number: 1-03968-00

Audio/Tactile Feedback Version:
Catalog Number: 1-03969-00

Click here to purchase these items through our Quick Order Entry page: http://shop.aph.org/quickentry.asp

If you need assistance, click this link to read the Fred's Head Companion post "Purchasing Products From The APH Website Is Easy".

American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085
Toll Free: 800-223-1839
Phone: 502-895-2405
Fax: 502-899-2274
E-mail: info@aph.org
Web site: http://www.aph.org

Native Baby Sling

Like most Americans, I hauled my firstborn around in his carseat or infant carrier, which made traveling on public transportation very interesting. Have you ever tried to use a dog guide while packing a child?

For my second child, I researched slings extensively, and bought one from a company called New Native.

This carrier goes over one shoulder and the opposite hip. It is popular for those finding conventional carriers too bulky, and looking for a carrier that can easily be stuffed into a diaper bag or purse. It can be worn with the baby in front, side or back. For mom, it is ideal for discreet nursing. Made from 100% cotton fabric, with no buckles, padding or metal rings that can slip or be uncomfortable.

Extra small and larger sizes are available upon request. They make sizes up to 5XL in a variety of colors.

Click this link to see if the New Native Baby Sling is right for you.

Medicinal Benefits of Whole Foods

"For the first 5000 years of civilization, humans relied on foods and herbs for medicine. Only in the past 50 years have we forgotten our medicinal "roots" in favor of patent medicines. While pharmaceuticals have their value, we should not forget the well-documented, non-toxic and inexpensive healing properties of whole foods. The following list is but a sampling of the health benefits from whole foods."

Examples

"Apple. Lowers cholesterol and risk for cancer. Has mild antibacterial, anti-viral, anti-inflammatory estrogenic activity. High in fiber, helps avoid constipation, suppresses appetite. Juice can cause diarrhea in children".

"Asparagus. A super source of the antioxidant glutathione, to lower cancer risk".

"Avocado. Benefits circulation, lowers cholesterol, dilates blood vessels. It's main fat, monounsaturated oleic acid (also concentrated in olive oil), acts as an antioxidant to block artery-destroying toxicity of bad-type-LDL cholesterol. One of the richest sources of glutathione, a powerful antioxidant shown to block thirty different carcinogens and to block proliferation of the AIDS virus in test tube experiments".

"Banana and Plantain. Soothes the stomach. Good for dyspepsia (upset stomach). Strengthens the stomach lining against acid and ulcers. Has antibiotic activity".

"Barley. Long known as a "heart medicine" in the Middle East. Reduces cholesterol. Has anti-viral and anti-cancer activity. Contains potent antioxidants, including tocotrienols".

"Beans. (legumes, including navy, black, kidney, pinto, soy beans and lentils). Potent medicine in lowering cholesterol. One-half cup of cooked beans daily reduces cholesterol an average 10 percent. Regulates blood sugar levels. An excellent food for diabetics. Linked to lower rates of certain cancers. Very high in fiber. A leading producer of intestinal gas in most people".

"Beets. Richer than spinach in iron and other minerals. The greens are helpful in cases of anemia, tuberculosis, constipation, poor appetite, obesity, tumors, gout, pimples and helpful in the elimination of irritating drug poisons. Beets are one of the best foods to relieve constipation and they are also good for obesity.

For more foods, and why you should eat them, click this link to visit the Medicinal Value of Whole Foods site: http://www.naturalways.com/medValFd.htm.

What's That Acronyma?

APH, ACB, KSB, KCB, VIPS, TARC, NCAA, NAACP, GDUI, and NFB. Don't you hate it when someone throws you an acronym? You spend the next few seconds rolling it over in your mind, trying to figure out what they are talking about, so as not to look too behind the times.

Maybe you just received the latest office memo and there's about to be a big purchase from, you guessed it, another acronym! Wouldn't it be great if there was a place where you could go to look up this funny name, and actually know what it stands for? There is, and the link is at the bottom of this article.

Acronyma is a large, online database full of acronyms. You simply put in the acronym, hit the "search" button, and get instant results. As of this article, there were 471909 acronyms and abbreviations for you to search. There are also acronyms and abbreviations in Spanish, German, French, Dutch, Italian, and Portuguese.

Click this link to visit the Acronyma home page: http://www.acronyma.com.

Freelance Opportunities for Disabled Latino Writers in the U.S.

the National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities, is looking for reporters with first person experience with Latino culture and disability.

Reporters are needed to write articles documenting

• success stories about how Latinos with disabilities living in the U.S. have found jobs or advanced in their careers
  
  
• experiences and challenges disabled Latinos face in obtaining education, training, assistive technology, independent living services and jobs in both urban and rural communities in the U.S.
  
  
• Latino organizations reaching out to serve disabled members of their communities
  
  
• disability organizations reaching out to serve Latinos
  
  
• analyses of the situations of disabled Latinos in areas of the U.S. that have a high concentration Latinos with disabilities
  
  
• obstacles and failures, especially if something was learned from the experience
  
  
• interpretation of how new federal initiatives or legislation impact disabled Latinos

Reporters will be expected to use a variety of techniques to obtain information including conducting interviews and surveys, attending meetings, networking, and using local or Web-based libraries and information centers. Articles will be short, practical, and may be submitted in English or Spanish. Go to www.projectvision.net to see sample articles. Reporters will be compensated for their work on a per-article basis.

To apply, send a resume describing yourself and your skills, and a one-page article you have written about disabled Latinos to Robin Savinar at robin@wid.org or call (510) 251-4325.

The National Technical Assistance Center for Latinos with Disabilities is a project of the World Institute on Disability, supported by the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

Insight Radio: Europe's Only Radio Station Serving The Blind and Partially Sighted

Insight Radio broadcasts over the Internet providing tailored, accessible information for people who are blind or visually impaired.

By tuning into Insight Radio, a blind or partially sighted person can listen to a selection of newspapers on the same day they hit the street, thus overcoming the situation where it can take up to three days for them to receive an abridged audio recording of newspapers. The station also has a regular and popular line-up of news and entertainment programmes, supported by live studio debates and phone-ins.

This project is achieving a great deal, not the least helping to break down the barriers faced by blind and partially sighted people in having quick and easy access to information. It also provides a valuable training ground for blind people who may be interested in building a career in broadcasting. The station has had fifteen people enter into full-time employment or training within the broadcasting industry, including BBC Scotland.

Insight Radio began broadcasting on November 20, 2003. It can be accessed by clicking this link: http://www.insightradio-net.com.

Smith-Kettlewell Journal for the Blind

The entire contents of The Smith-Kettlewell Technical File are now available by FTP. The Smith-Kettlewell Technical File is a quarterly technical journal for blind and visually impaired readers that contains, among other articles, a seven part series on soldering techniques, and an extensive series on basic electronics construction methods which culminates in building a series of practical test instruments. also included are numerous articles on specific integrated circuits and other solid state devices.

To find this journal, go to this case-sensitive site:

ftp.ski.org/pub/Rehab/Fowle

You may also contact Tom Fowle at fowle@ski.org if you have difficulties accessing the site.

Start your Career as a Travel Agent

Imagine a future in the exciting Travel Industry

Working at home in your own home-based travel agency is one of the most exciting business opportunities available. The Ctravel terminal has placed Soneil Vision as a leader in its field with a leap in current technology. Ctravel software is Internet based software that will give access to all travel and ticketing networks. It can be used in a call center, in a travel agency office, at home as an extension of the office or anywhere as an independent travel professional. The blind person can able to read each single line displayed and ultimately make a booking.

Ctravel allows blind travel agents to login and check for:

• The lowest fares available
  
• Availability options
  
• All applicable rules and routing
  
• Passport and visa regulations
  
• Special meals and services
  
• Complex itineraries with stopovers and open jaws
  
• Waitlist and sell-up booking classes
  
• Calculate the airport taxes
  
• Reserve the seat allowing you to view the file later
  
• Print the ticket directly from the PNR

The software also allows you to make or receive phone calls, faxes and emails from anywhere as if you were physically present in the office by using a VPN.

For more information on this exciting field, see below:

Soneil Vision Enabling Solutions
29-6033 Shawson Drive
Mississauga, ON L5T 1H8
Canada
Phone: 905-565-0840
Fax: 905-565-0352
Email: info@soneilves.com
Web: http://soneilves.com/

Light Up Your Portible Devices

Hi-Speed USB 2.0 Cables with LED Light-Up Connectors!

They may look like ordinary clear cables... but power up your PC and the clear connectors light up! Great for case-modifyers or just for fun, and they're very helpful for identifying cables when you've got several USB devices connected at a hub.

Get organized and look cool at the same time

These great cables are available in 3,6, and 10ft. lengths, in blue, green, clear, and red colors.

Click this link for detailed information on these light up USB cables, or to purchase the cables from Cyberguys.com.

Voice-Dialing and Information Services over the Phone: Weather, Traffic, Airlines, Taxis, and more

Message: hello fred!

I'm working with a blind 80 something year old Veteran who asked me about cell-phones. I don't know much about them. He would like one with voice input capacity.

I'd greatly appreciate any help with this you might be able to offer. location: California

Let me begin by saying that the majority of the phones on the market today are not accessible to the blind. Menu functions like checking the status of the battery, call waiting, the call list, and the address book are almost impossible to use. There are phones that speak this information, but they are very expensive, and if he's like me, spending several hundred dollars for a cell phone is out of the question. I always said that if I spent that kind of money, I'd drop the phone as soon as the purchase was completed.

Cingular Wireless has a plan where you can get the software free if you are blind or visually impaired, but the phone costs $249, which is a lot of money for a cell phone. The reason for the expense is that the phone must run a particular operating system to accommodate the speech software. Cingular does not offer a payment plan for this phone.

Now, there are things that can make cell phones easier to use. The first thing that most folks look at is the keypad. We want keys that are raised, with a dot on the "5" key for reference. Most "flip" phones have a keypad that is flat, which is difficult to use by the blind. How raised the keys need to be is a personal preference, depending on the sensitivity of the fingers.

Sprint offers its voice-dialing service, Sprint PCS Voice Command, for free to customers who are blind, visually impaired or physically disabled. The free service, which allows calls to be dialed by speaking the desired contact or phone number, also includes 10 free directory assistance calls per month. Sprint PCS Voice Command is currently available to Sprint customers for $5 a month.

To take advantage of this program, customers should contact Sprint to obtain an application form. The form requests basic customer information; in addition, customers are asked to have their doctor or ophthalmologist sign the form certifying the customer's eligibility. For more details about this offer, please visit www.sprint.com/accessibility, or to obtain an application, contact Customer Solutions at (888) 211-4727.

Sprint PCS Voice Command is enjoyed by many of Sprint's disabled customers who have difficulty dialing phone numbers or reading handset display information. Sprint PCS Voice Command uses next-generation speech technology that responds to any voice and works on any Sprint PCS Phone.

The Sprint PCS Voice Command personal address book holds up to 500 names and 2500 phone numbers. Sprint PCS Voice Command users can manage their personal address book online, by voice and through Sprint Directory Assistance.

This advanced service is network-based so customers who upgrade to a new phone or happen to lose their Sprint PCS Phone won't lose their address book and contacts. Plus, Sprint PCS Voice Command customers may also "Call the Web" for access to news, weather, sports, email and other information.

Cingular Wireless has a similar service called Voice Connect that will allow a person to speak the numbers they want to dial. To use this service however, one must enter *8 on their cell phone. They can then speak the number they want to dial, or enter names in to an address book. Once the names are in, you can say something like, "call mom" and the phone will call the number you've associated with your mom. The service does have some other features like getting the current weather conditions, a wake up call feature, getting sports and news, and your daily horoscope. If you are blind, you can get this service for free. You will have to show some documentation, but it's usually something simple. Blind users can also get the 411 service for free.

For more information on the various plans that Cingular offers, visit their home page for Disability Resources: http://www.cingular.com/disabilityresources.

VoiceDialer for Windows Mobile Pocket PC

Voice Dialer is available for Windows Mobile based Pocket PC's. The application lets you say the name of a contact you would like to call, freeing your hands from having to dial the number manually. VoiceDialer retrieves the names and phone number from your contact list and then dials the number.

According to SmartVoice, the developer, VoiceDialer is accurate enough to never need training, it will work the first time even if you have never used it before. They also say it can handle multiple users and accents. VoiceDialer contains text to speech to provide a complete eyes-free interface, allowing confirmations, and the ability to call to multiple locations including mobile, work and home.

Find more information on Voice Dialer by visiting the web site: http://www.smartvoiceintl.com.

1-800-555-TELL

A similar service can be found at 1-800-555-TELL. The phone line is provided by Tell Me (R). It lets you get information such as news, sports, weather, stock quotes, entertainment news and driving directions. The software is easy to navigate, it tells you exactly what you can do.

When you call, you tell it what kind of information you want to hear. An example would be to say "weather" and the system will get that information for you. If you are interested in sports, you say "sports", then say the sport you want to hear about. You could say a specific team such as "Braves". In the sports baseball area, you can also say "American League" or "National League" to get all the scores from a specific league. If you pick the taxi or airline option, Tell Me will directly connect you with a cab company in the area you choose, or will connect you with an airline representative.

This service is toll-free for U.S. citizens, the phone number is 1-800-555-TELL, or 1-800-555-8355.

Surf The World Wide Web with Your Phone

netECHO; by InternetSpeech lets people unleash the power of the Internet simply with the sound of their voice. netECHO; lets users give simple voice commands like "Yahoo," or "e-mail" to get the Net-based information they want.

Access is provided via any phone, and information on any web site, whether voice-enabled or not is available to the user. A computer is not required. InternetSpeech is a California corporation, founded in 1998.

See how easy netECHO is to use by checking out the demo.

Click this link to visit the netECHO home page: http://www.internetspeech.com.

Hotline for Disability-Related Air Travel Problems

In August 2002, the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings (Enforcement Office), established a toll free number that consumers who experience disability related air travel problems may use to obtain information and assistance. The hotline is staffed from 7 am to 11 pm local time in Washington, D.C., seven days a week, and provides general information to consumers about the rights of air travelers with disabilities and assists air travelers in resolving time-sensitive disability-related issues that need to be addressed in real time.

Unfortunately, many members of the public are still not aware of the existence of the hotline, and as a result the hotline is not being sufficiently used. The Enforcement Office asks that you advise members of your respective organizations about the existence of an aviation consumer disability toll-free hotline and encourage them to call the hotline if they should experience disability-related air service problems. The toll-free number for the hotline is 1-800-778-4838 (voice) or 1-800-455-9880 (TTY).

The Enforcement Office is committed to improving the quality of air transportation for people with disabilities and believes that with your help the toll-free hotline can be a major step towards accomplishing this goal.

The Kansas Audio-Reader Network

The University of Kansas' Audio-Reader Network, the second-oldest radio reading service in the nation, makes print accessible for people who are blind or who cannot use printed materials because of a disability.

Audio-Reader was one of only two radio reading services in the nation -- Minnesota was first -- when it was established in 1971 by Lawrence philanthropist Petey Cerf. Today, with the help of FM radio broadcasters, cable TV companies, microwave relay systems and the Kansas Lions Sight Foundation Satellite Network, reading by radio is available to thousands of people across Kansas and western Missouri, with some Audio-Reader programming available via satellite to other radio reading services across the United States.

Audio-Reader is generally broadcast on the subcarrier of an FM radio station. This means a special radio is required in the home. The radio is provided by Audio-Reader, on loan, for as long as it is wanted. In some locations Audio-Reader may only be available through the local cable company. In those cases, Audio-Reader will provide a special radio if one is required, but the listener will have to subscribe and pay for basic cable service. Listeners receive a program guide in large print, Braille, or cassette.

Audio-Reader, offered as a public service by KU, provides live and recorded broadcasts of printed materials including current books, magazines and newspapers. The range of materials includes the New York Times and Wrestling USA, as well as Spanish broadcast of content in Dos Mundos, an English-Spanish newspaper published in Kansas City, Mo.

Other services include Personal Taping and Fax Response. Pamphlets, newsletters, articles, instruction manuals or other printed materials under 100 pages can be mailed to Audio-Reader and a volunteer will read the text onto a cassette. Shorter documents may be faxed to their offices and they will telephone the sender and read them back, usually within a half hour. Details about these services are available upon request.

Audio-Reader also streams the material it provides to the blind through their website. The stream is in the RealAudio format and is available to registered users only. You can request membership through the contact information below.

Audio-Reader also operates a newspaper-by-telephone system, the Lions Telephone Reader. Please use the contact information below to receive an application for service, or a broadcast schedule:

Audio-Reader
1120 west 11th St.
P.O. Box 847
Lawrence, KS 66044
Toll Free: 800-772-8898
Phone: 785-864-4600
Fax: 785-864-4053
Web: http://reader.ku.edu/

Describe Online for the UK

Ever wondered where to go after you step onto the platform or how to find your train when you leave the bus or taxi? Ever felt lost in the maze of tunnels and galleries where no natural light reaches you? Ever been left wondering what the sign really means when you don't know where you are, let alone where you're going?

Describe Online, a web site in the UK, is publishing text guides to public premises, on a web site which is accessible to all who can benefit from this information. Ever been shocked by the silence you received when you hoped to hear the information you've been waiting for?

The site contains guidance information relating to the London Underground and National Rail networks, together with our first guide to a town centre. It also contains an accessible National Rail map and National Rail station finder as well as a growing number of guides to stations throughout the country.

With Describe Online's text guides of various locations, the user can better understand a location before traveling. It's almost like having a tour guide telling you what's around! Describe Online is co-operating with public information websites to make their pages more accessible and user friendly. They can produce a text guide to your premises, which would include the routes to and from public transport. Their guides range from instructions to customers telling them where to obtain assistance from staff, to descriptions of the entire premises in whatever detail is agreed to be appropriate. Some of their guides include:

• Sight Village 2005
  
• London Underground
  
• National Rail
  
• Glasgow
  
• Watford Town Centre

If you are planning a trip to any of these locations, check out the text guides to insure you are prepared before you travel. A similar site is planned for the United States in the future.

Click here to visit the Describe Online home page: http://www.describe-online.com/.

Magnification Devices for People With Macular Degeneration

Enhanced Vision is a developer of innovative products designed specifically for people who are legally blind and have macular degeneration and other low vision conditions. They have helped thousands of people regain their visual independence by providing the ability to read, write, watch TV, enjoy a play and live again.

Dedicated to helping individuals maintain their independence, Enhanced Vision has leveraged leading technologies to develop a full line of superior, easy-to-use tools at affordable prices. Products are sold through specialized agencies and eye care professionals throughout the distributors' world. The company is located in Orange County, California.

Information on their popular JORDY, Merlin, Flipper, Acrobat and Max products are available online. Review features, specifications plus download their screensaver!

For more information on Enhanced Vision use the contact information below.

Enhanced Vision
17911 Sampson Lane
Huntington Beach, CA 92647
Toll Free: 888-811-3161
Phone: 714-374-1829
Fax: 714-374-1821
Email: evinfo@enhancedvision.com
Web: http://www.enhancedvision.com

Free Computer Help, Tech Support, and Tips at MalekTips

The MalekTips website was created in 1998 by Andrew Malek of Envision Programming. The page's goal is to freely disperse computer-related tips, hints, and informative articles. Tips are organized to be easy to find, and are presented clearly, in easy-to-understand language. MalekTips also provides author-supplied links and descriptions to public-domain, freeware, and shareware software available over the Internet.

Background Information

MalekTips was originally known as Malek's Win95 Tips Page, a personal website created in the summer of 1996. Malek's Win95 Tips Page provided tips, hints, and software links solely for the Windows 95 © operating system. The page won numerous awards and praise from the Internet community for its easy-to-find and comprehensive selection of Win95-related information. Through MalekTips, they have expanded this service by providing many types of computer-related tips, including Internet and web development help, as well as help for other Windows © operating systems.

If you are having difficulty with your computer, or the software that you depend on everyday, let me incourage you to check this site out. If you have enough vision for photography, this site is a wealth of information and suggestions on how to get the perfect shot.

Click here to visit the MalekTips web site: http://malektips.com.

National Church Conference of the Blind

The National Church Conference of the Blind holds an annual conference in different locations throughout the United States featuring Bible teaching, workshops, tour, talent time, fellowship and more.

They believe:

1. That the Bible is the inspired, infallible, authoritative Word of God.
   
2. In one God, eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
   
3. In the Deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, His virgin birth, His sinless life, His vicarious, atoning death through His shed blood, His bodily resurrection, His ascension to the right hand of the Father, and in His personal return in power and glory.

The group also offers a free Spring and Fall taped newsletter. To receive the taped newsletter contact:

Reverend JACK W. KINLEY
34 Ramsey Rd.
Phenix City, AL 36869-5903
(334) 297-6432

Click this link to visit the National Church Conference of the Blind's home page: http://www.thenccb.com, or use the contact information below.

National Church Conference of the Blind
P.O. BOX 196
GROVER, CO 80729
Phone: 970-895-2352
Web: http://www.thenccb.com

Basketball System for the Blind

A group of Johns Hopkins engineering undergraduates have designed and built a system that uses sound emitters in the ball and on the backboard to enable blind people to play basketball.

The Johns Hopkins students who devised the system were enrolled in a two-semester engineering design course in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. In their completed system, a large piezoelectric sound emitter powered by a 9-volt battery and mounted behind the backboard sends out low pulse tones to help players locate their shooting target. A remote control is used to turn it on and off. A smaller sound emitter, embedded in the basketball and powered by five 3-volt button batteries, sends out a higher continuous tone to tell players where the ball is.

The prototype system is not perfect. The basketball's sound pitch needs to be lowered for the comfort of players and to avoid echo problems, which would sometimes make it difficult for a blind player to identify the ball's location. Plans are to consult a sports equipment maker about modifying the pitch. They also hope to persuade a company to install the system in other sports items like soccer balls and volleyballs.

When the student engineers designed the system, a key hurdle was how to create a cavity in a ball to hold the electronics, while keeping it airtight. Weight was a consideration. If the device was too heavy, the ball wouldn't bounce or roll properly. The students soon discovered the Spalding Infusion basketball, which is equipped with a airtight cylinder that houses a small pump. The company provided several Infusion balls for the students to cut open and study. Spalding then provided five additional basketballs that had just the cylinder in them without the pump. That gave the students a small space in which to insert a sounding device and batteries. The opening's small size limited their options and led to a relatively high-pitched sounder. However, the students also came up with an idea for an alternate mini-speaker system that should emit a lower pitch. They provided details on this alternative to the sponsoring organization, for possible future developmental work.

The basketball system for the blind was one of nine Johns Hopkins projects completed in 2005 by undergraduates in the engineering design course. The class is taught by Andrew F. Conn, a Johns Hopkins graduate with more than 30 years of experience in public and private research and development. Each team of three or four students, working within budgets of up to $10,000, had to design a device, purchase or fabricate the parts, and assemble the final product. Corporations, government agencies and nonprofit groups provided the assignments and funding. The course is traditionally a well-received, hands-on engineering experience for Johns Hopkins undergraduates.

For more information on the basketball system for the blind, click this link to visit the Johns Hopkins Department of Mechanical Engineering: http://www.me.jhu.edu.

You can also click this link to get more information on the Spalding Infusion basketball: http://www.spalding.com/infusion/index.php.

Camp Fire Cooking

When was the last time you went camping? I know, we just don't do that kind of thing anymore, and it's really too bad.

Well I found a site that may get you back in the mood for camping, or at least give you some cool things to try in the backyard.

Camp Fire Cooking is a site that has instructions on building a safe campfire, and recipes to broaden the menu beyond hot dogs. I found some recipes that sounded really good, and I had never heard of these items before. I liked that the site was speech friendly, and the recipes were easy to understand.

Even if you don't go camping, this site has some fun things to try around the house. Click here to visit the home page of Camp Fire Cooking: http://www.eartheasy.com/play_campfire_cooking.htm.

Scan Printed Materials Faster With Text Cloner Pro

Designing tools to work with screen readers and not duplicating what they already do well. Premier Literacy's scanning package Text Cloner Pro focuses on both Accuracy and Speed.

Text Cloner Pro has two different scanning methods: high-speed and high-detailed scanning. Switching between the two scanning modes is just a matter of which key to press-F5 or F6. Now your low-cost scanner can be fast. Text Cloner Pro was tested with a portable Canon LIDE 20 scanner, and the low-end $600 Dell laptop, running Window-Eyes 5.0. Text Cloner Pro was able to scan and recognize five pages a minute with 99-percent accuracy. For professional or academic requirements, getting information into the computer so that it can read it, in an expedient fashion, is critical for success. The two different default-scanning modes make it so you rarely have to make menu changes while scanning . and less time scanning equals more time reading.

The difference is the high-speed mode is only looking for text. If there are images or tables, it will ignore them. The high-speed mode has three different scanning methods; these methods tell the computer what kind of document you are scanning. By providing this information up front, the computer spends less time trying to figure out what kind of document it is, thus, speeding up the loading and scanning process. For the high-detailed scanning, the computer assumes nothing and looks at every part of the document; it will try to reproduce the tables and include the graphics found in the original. This takes time, so if you are doing straightforward scanning, you will find that you can reduce the time waiting for text to appear on your screen by 66 percent . spend less time waiting and more time reading!

High-speed scanning will: automatically detect orientation of the document and rotate it 90, 180 or 270 degrees. You can have it so that it automatically removes the columns and puts the text in continuous reading format. It will automatically de-hyphenate words to ensure smooth reading by screen readers. Retains font type and size. It will, however, ignore pictures and will not reproduce tables.

High-detailed scanning will: automatically detect orientation of the document and rotate it 90, 180 or 270 degrees. You can have it so that it automatically removes the columns and puts the text in continuous reading format. It will automatically de-hyphenate words to ensure smooth reading by screen readers. Retains font type and size. Includes the images in the final document and reproduce tables. It is recommended that you use high-detailed scanning for documents with watermarks, colored backgrounds, or very complicated layouts.

Blind computer users have to spend in the neighborhood of a $1,000 for a screen reader to access their computer. Then, the same company that sold them the screen reader would try to sell them a scanning and reading package that required the users to turn off their expensive screen reader-in essence, blind computer users paid twice for a reading product. As individuals who require a screen reader to read, blind computer users don't need another reading product; they just need a tool that can get their information into the computer so their screen reader can read it. Text Cloner Pro is that tool. By default, its output is an MS Word compatible or RTF document that you can have your screen reader read in Text Cloner Pro or you can save it, open it up, and read it in your favorite word processor. Premier Assistive avoids creating proprietary file formats, because they want to produce documents that can easily be accessed by everyone, even those who don't use assistive technology.

For more information, contact:

Premier Literacy
Phone: 517-668-8188
Web: http://www.readingmadeeasy.com

National Industries for the Blind Fellowship for Leadership Development Program

Are you an individual who is blind, excels at your job, and sets high goals for yourself? Do you want to gain the skills and experience necessary to take your career to the next level? Would you like both on-the-job and classroom experience dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of business leadership? If you answered "yes" to those questions, the Fellowship for Leadership Development may be for you!

The Fellowship is a two-year, professional, salaried program that combines on-the-job experience with formal management training. Fellows are blind individuals who demonstrate leadership competencies and a high potential to succeed and prosper in a management position. At the completion of the Fellowship, successful fellows will be hired in professional managerial positions within NIB and the network of NIB associated agencies.

For the application form, guidelines and more information, please visit the National Industries for the blind's web site: http://www.nib.org. If you have further questions, call Kathy Gallagher, NIB's Sr. Human Resources Specialist, at 703-578-8343.

Simply Speaking to Your Computer

Powered by IBM's sophisticated large vocabulary voice recognition technology, LDHC's Simply Speaking product is an easy-to-use voice recognition and text-to-speech interface program that allows the user to dictate into many Windows based programs, including Outlook and Explorer. Useful for a variety of actions including e-mailing and instant messaging, Simply Speaking will convert voice into typewritten text and operates with an extremely high accuracy level. Simply Speaking will also read back highlighted text from any Windows application.

For more information about LDHC and their product, Simply Speaking, please visit either of the following two links:

Click here to visit the Simply Speaking home page: http://www.simplyspeaking.com.
Click here to visit The Learning Differences Help Center home page: http://www.ldhc.org/main.html.

Using A Microphone With My Computer

So you're thinking of doing some recording with the computer. Maybe a podcast? You plugged in a microphone to your computer but you can't hear anything. How can you get it to work?

It could be that the microphone is muted or not turned up. To check this, either double-click the little speaker in the system tray (down by the clock), or follow these steps to get to the "Volume Control" through the Start Menu in Windows.

1. Press your "Windows" key, or the "Start Button" on your keyboard to open the Start Menu.
   
2. Press the letter "P" until you reach "Programs" or "All Programs" and press enter.
   
3. Press the letter "A" until you get to "Accessories" and press enter.
   
4. Press the letter "E" until you reach "Entertainment" and press enter.
   
5. Press "V" for "Volume Control".

You will be presented with a series of volume control sliders. Tab through the sliders until you reach "Microphone". Make sure the box is unchecked, and tab again to insure that the volume for the Mic is up. You may also wish to tab again to reach the "Line In" slider and uncheck it as well. This will allow recording from an external device, like a tape deck or record player.

If you don't see a volume control for your microphone, the drivers may be missing. The simplest way to solve this problem is to re-install your sound card drivers. You will need to consult your card's User's Manual for specific information on how to download the software, and complete the installation.

Now you're ready to record your voice with either Sound Recorder or your favorite sound editing program.

Don't Leave Home Without Your American Express Braille and Large Print Card Statements

American Express has braille and large print card statements for members with vision impairments in the United States.

Cardmembers can request the new service by calling the American Express toll-free customer service number at (800) 528-4800, or the customer service number listed on the back of their American Express Card.

American Express Company is a diversified worldwide travel, network and financial services provider founded in 1850. It is a leader in charge and credit cards, Travelers Cheques, travel, financial planning, investment products, insurance and international banking.

For more information, visit the American Express home page: http://www.americanexpress.com.

Get Your Ticket To Work

Ticket to Work is a free, voluntary program that helps Social Security disability beneficiaries navigate the employment process and overcome the barriers to finding fulfilling careers. Ticket to Work connects Social Security disability beneficiaries to various programs - from employment to vocational rehabilitation - so they have the tools, assistance, and guidance they need to find the right job.

Eligible beneficiaries receive a "Ticket" in the mail. Ticket-holders can redeem their Tickets to obtain services from public or private providers in their local community, including the State Vocational Rehabilitation Agency, which make it possible for people with disabilities to get into the workforce. These approved providers, called "Employment Networks" (EN), are private organizations or government agencies that have agreed to work with Social Security in providing employment services and supports to beneficiaries with disabilities. Once Ticket-holders have found an EN, they work together to design an individual employment plan and to find a job best suited for the Ticket-holder's skills, experience, and goals.

Ticket to Work aims to: increase beneficiary choice in obtaining rehabilitation and vocational services; remove barriers that require people with disabilities to choose between healthcare coverage and work; and assure that more beneficiaries with disabilities have the opportunity to participate in the workforce.

Please visit http://www.socialsecurity.gov/work for details about this valuable program from Social Security.

Accessible Voting

The ES&S AutoMARK is a new system designed to give people with disabilities more independence at their local poling place. The 40,000 polling places across 42 states that currently use or are considering the optical scan method of ballot-marking will be candidates for this state-of-the-art voting machine, which uses a touch screen, allows for an auditable paper trail and gives disabled Americans the option to vote privately and independently.

The addition of this technology to an existing optical scan system will bring those polling places into compliance with the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) of 2002 requiring all polling locations to be equipped with at least one voting machine for people with disabilities by January 2006. The ES&S AutoMARK offers a virtually fool-proof way for all Americans to vote accurately with a high level of confidence that their vote is private and secure -- and, since the Chad fiasco of 2000 -- gives polling places reliable and legal documents in case of a recount.

The ES&S AutoMARK prevents overvoting, accidentally marking too many candidates; and minimizes undervoting, skipping a race unintentionally. At the end, the votes are summarized on the screen, also via headphones, and voters have a chance to change selections. Once complete, the voter brings the ballot to an optical scan machine for tabulation.

The machine offers several features for disabled voters, including an audio ballot; a tempo control voice technology; directions and a touch pad with Braille; repeat key voice technology; sip/puff tube for paraplegics and quadriplegics; and zoom and contrast button for the visually impaired. It also features a full range of foreign language options.

This technology was created by Chicago-based AutoMARK Technical Systems (ATS) and is being distributed by Election Systems and Software (ES&S). For more information, call Ed Claffy, 630/291-0655 or go to the Automarks web site by clicking this link. You can also visit the ES&S - Election Systems & Software page by clicking this link: http://www.ESSVOTE.com.

Headquartered in Tustin, AccuPoll (OTCBB:ACUP) is the developer of a federally qualified electronic voting system featuring an intuitive touch screen input and a voter verified paper audit trail (VVPAT) that can be confirmed by the voter at the time the ballot is cast, creating a permanent paper audit trail as mandated in the "Help America Vote Act of 2002" (HAVA). AccuPoll's voter verified paper audit trial allows voters with visual impairments to audibly review the permanent paper audit trail as their ballot is cast.

A core component of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) is that all voting locations have a means by which voters with disabilities may vote unassisted by the first federal election of 2006. States across the country are currently evaluating voting systems that meet federal guidelines in order to comply with these new standards. AccuPoll System Scores High Marks for Accessibility, allowing many to vote unassisted for the first time.

For additional information: Click here to visit the Accupoll home page: www.accupoll.com

Tips for Purchasing Blank Cassettes

If you want your custom-mix tapes to sound their best, you have to start by choosing good tapes. Match the tape you choose to both your tape deck and what you're recording.

1. Check your tape deck's manual for the manufacturer's recommendations.
   
   
2. Buy "normal bias" Type I tapes for use with mini-recorders.
   
   
3. If you're playing tapes on a boom box, personal stereo or low-end car deck, buy Type I tapes unless the playback unit has a switch for "high bias" Type II tapes.
   
   
4. Choose "metal bias" Type IV tapes if playing tapes on a high-end cassette deck.
   
   
5. Check the Maximum Output Level (MOL) specification to compare tapes and brands within a type. Higher numbers are better.
   
   
6. Buy Type I tapes for recording speech.
   
   
7. Choose Type I tapes or lower-grade Type II tapes for dubbing from one cassette to another.
   
   
8. Buy Type II or Type IV tapes if recording live music on a deck.
   
   
9. Select higher-grade Type II or Type IV tapes for recording from LP or CD.

Tips:

Higher-grade tapes within a type are typically distinguished by an "X" or an "S" model number.

Most tape decks automatically set the bias for the type of tape by reading notches on the cassette.

"C" indicates the total number of minutes on the tape. An example of this is C-60, C-90, and C-120.

Type II tapes can record higher frequencies than Type I tapes and have a higher signal-to-noise ratio. Type IV tapes are even better.

C-120 cassettes are made of thinner tape, which is more prone to jamming and breaking.

APH offers blank 90-minute cassette tapes in packages of 5 tapes or 25 tapes for your recording convenience. Now there is no need for that last-minute run to the store before class -- and because of the multi-pack packaging, there is enough recording time available for even your longest lecturer.

Store recorded cassettes in APH's Cassette Circulation/Storage Containers. These plastic containers come in two varieties, one that holds four cassettes and one for six cassettes. They close securely, are embossed "Free Matter for the Blind or Handicapped," and have a slot for a mailing label so they can be mailed without additional packaging.

APH offers a number of accessories to increase recording efficiency or listening enjoyment. Check them out on our web site at http://www.aph.org or request a catalog by calling 1-800-223-1839 or emailing catalogs@aph.org

To Order

Blank C-90 Cassette Tapes (5 tapes): 1-08561-00
Blank C-90 Cassette Tapes (25 tapes): 1-08560-01

NOTE: Cassette tapes are not available on Federal Quota.

Cassette Circulation/Storage Containers (4 cassette capacity): 1-02620-00
Cassette Circulation/Storage Containers (6 cassette capacity): 1-02630-00

Click here to purchase this item through our Quick Order Entry page: http://shop.aph.org/quickentry.asp

If you need assistance, click this link to read the Fred's Head Companion post "Purchasing Products From The APH Website Is Easy".

American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085
Toll Free: 800-223-1839
Phone: 502-895-2405
Fax: 502-899-2274
E-mail: info@aph.org
Web site: http://www.aph.org

Adult Dyslexia Organisation

The Adult Dyslexia Organisation, British charity No. 1022854, was founded in 1991 and is run by dyslexics on a full time basis. The ADO empowers a minority, which is sadly often overlooked. Dyslexia can affect anyone regardless of social or economic background, and the wide diversity of their membership reflects this.

The aims of this organisation are to enable and support men and women who have dyslexia. They try to meet these aims by:

1. Providing a checklist for people who think they may be dyslexic.
   
2. Being sensitive to the many different circumstances which adult dyslexics can face.
   
3. Advising on issues relating to employment and education.
   
4. Providing opportunities for members to explore and discuss their experience of this disability in relation to its effect on the family or on an individual's development.
   
5. Encouraging public and professional awareness.
   
6. Providing opportunities for people who contact them to gain skills in office procedure and administration by voluntary work in their modern office facility.
   >li>Liaising with the LEA on matters affecting dyslexics in the U.K.
   
7. Encouraging the expansion of special educational provision for dyslexics.

The Adult Dyslexia Organisation, ADO is a charity run by dyslexics for adults with dyslexia and all those concerned with them, regardless of background, gender or ethnic origin. The ADO is supported in its work by a wide range of consultants. Their web site has some great features:

• The Information Section contains update news, events, booking forms, press releases, and information on current issues.
• The Education Section contains information about adult dyslexia for students and teachers in Further, Higher, Distance, Community, or Workbased - learning. Resources on Basic Skills and Literacy are also found in this section.
  
• The Employment Section contains information for employers, trade unions, employees and those seeking employment.
  
• The Day-to-Section contains information on public and government services, counselling, your rights and legal advice.
  
• The ICT Section contains information on what assistive technologies can be used to support dyslexic adults.
  
• The Research Section contains information on current research into dyslexia and their accessibility research initiative.

The site also provides a range of accessibility options (e.g. ReadSpeaker and background colour changes), which can be found in the toolbar (visually to the left on their site pages).

For more information on the Adult Dyslexia Organisation, use the contact information below.

Adult Dyslexia Organisation (ADO)
Ground Floor, Secker House
Minet Road, Loughborough Estate
London SW9 7TP
UK
Phone: 0207 924 9559
Email: dyslexia.hq@dial.pipex.com
Web: http://www.adult-dyslexia.org

Helen Keller: Selected Writings

Helen Keller dedicated her adult life to expanding possibilities for people living with disabilities throughout the world by working for over four decades for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). Whether uniting a variety of parties for the standardization of the English braille code or improving the educational opportunities for people with vision loss, her actions reflected her unshakeable belief in the essential goodness of humanity and everyone's responsibility for creating a better world.

Just in time for the 125th anniversary of Keller's birth this month, New York University Press and AFB have published the first ever collection of Helen Keller's writings. The selections in this book are drawn from all periods of her life, beginning with a letter the eight-year-old Helen wrote to William Wade, a Pennsylvania philanthropist who funded much of Keller's education. Helen Keller: Selected Writings includes excerpts from Keller's popular autobiography, letters to her family and friends, and the texts of many of her important political speeches.

This book will reveal new sides of Keller to those who know her mostly from The Miracle Worker. Though she was a life-long advocate of people with disabilities, Keller also used her celebrity to promote her social, political, and religious views. Even those who know Keller well will find new material in her journal excerpts and letters to family. Spanning the entire range of Keller's life, the writings collected here provide a rich portrait of one of America's best-known women.

The collection also includes an introductory essay by Kim E. Nielsen, professor in the Department of Social Change and Development at the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, who edited the book. Headnotes appear with each document, and a selected bibliography of work by and about Keller is also included. The majority of the letters and some archival photographs, all drawn from AFB's Helen Keller Archives in New York, are being published for the first time.

Whether reading a new book, or typing a letter to one of her friends, writing allowed Keller to connect directly with the world around her. The writings included in Helen Keller: Selected Writings are a testament to the fact that Keller's legacy is not a historical relic from a past long gone, but rather a body of work that speaks to us powerfully today.

Click here to order your copy of Helen Keller: Selected Writings from the American Foundation For The Blind's online store.

Helen Keller

by Cynthia F. Klingel

Braille -- T-N1499-10

This phonics-based nonfiction book provides information about Helen Keller for level two beginning readers, and includes an index and recommended books and websites for further study. Wonder Books Level 2 Biographies. (Grades 2-4)

Click here to purchase this book through our Quick Order Entry page: http://shop.aph.org/quickentry.asp

If you need assistance, click this link to read the Fred's Head Companion post "Purchasing Products From The APH Website Is Easy".

American Printing House for the Blind, Inc.
1839 Frankfort Avenue
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 6085
Louisville, Kentucky 40206-0085
Toll Free: 800-223-1839
Phone: 502-895-2405
Fax: 502-899-2274
E-mail: info@aph.org
Web site: http://www.aph.org

Emergency Procedures For The Blind and Visually Impaired

Accommodating People With Disabilities In Disasters: A Reference Guide To Federal Law

The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has released a reference guide that outlines existing legal requirements and standards relating to access for people with disabilities. A Reference Guide for Accommodating Individuals with Disabilities in the Provision of Disaster Mass Care, Housing and Human Services is the first of a series of disability-related guidelines to be produced by FEMA for disaster preparedness and response planners and service providers at all levels.

The Reference Guide summarizes equal access requirements for people with disabilities within Disaster Mass Care, Housing, and Human Services functions. The Guide explains how applicable Federal laws relate to government entities and non-government, private sector and religious organizations.

A full copy of the Guide may be accessed at http://www.fema.gov/oer/reference.

Other Documents

The United States Fire Administration and the Federal Emergency Management Agency have developed various training manuals that are to be used in emergency situations. The following links will navigate you to the accessible versions of these documents. If you wish to save the documents, please right click on the title and choose "Save Target As.." from the resulting menu.

• Emergency Procedures for Employees with Disabilities in Office Occupancies
  
• FIRE RISKS FOR THE BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED
  
• USFA The Visually Impaired
  
• USFA People with Disabilities and their Caregivers
  
• USFA People with Disabilities
  
• USFA People with Special Needs
  
• FIRE RISKS FOR OLDER ADULTS

The Perkins School for the Blind

Celebrating over 175 years of service, the Perkins School for the Blind in Watertown, Massachusetts is the first school for the blind in the country, where Helen Keller and her teacher, Annie Sullivan, were educated. Today Perkins serves 60,000 people who are blind or visually impaired with multiple disabilities - from babies to school-age children to elders, here and in 55 developing countries around the world.

Perkins has been, and continues to be, a source of inspiration and opportunity for people who are blind, deafblind or with multiple disabilities across the nation and the world. True to its Mission, Perkins School for the Blind continues to grow and evolve with the needs, desires and dreams of its students and their families.

The School fulfills, enriches and teaches. But ultimately, Perkins provides its students with the tools and knowledge to chart a course toward each individual's maximum level of independence, rich in experience and overflowing with potential. This commitment begins with the president, and radiates throughout the organization. The President's Message, and President's Biography simply reinforce what thousands of students and clients already know, that Perkins School for the Blind is about hope.

Spanning 175 years, the History of the School is a testament to this claim. And that history continues. With each day come new opportunities, new challenges and new invitations to reach beyond expectations.

To learn more about Perkins' programs and services in Massachusetts and around the world, use the contact information below.

Perkins School for the Blind
175 North Beacon Street
Watertown, MA 02472
Phone: 617-924-3434
Fax: 617-926-2027
Web: http://www.perkins.org/index.php

H. A. L. T. E. R.

(Handicapped Athletes Learning To Enjoy Riding)

H. A .L. T. E. R. is an affordable Therapeutic Horseback Riding program which has served disabled residents of Spartanburg (and surrounding counties) and students at the South Carolina School for the Deaf and Blind since 1987.

Therapeutic Horseback Riding is now a growing therapeutic field in the United States, Canada and Europe. Recognized by the American Physical Therapy Organization and the American Occupational Therapy Organization, Therapeutic Horseback Riding has received national media attention. USA Today, People, CNN and CBS networks have recently done features on the topic.

H. A.L.T.E.R., a 501 (c)(3) organization, provides services with a dedicated corps of volunteers and public support. The Saturday morning (five week) sessions generally run from early Spring through late Fall each year (see schedule on their site).

For information about how you can help support this project, please contact Tom Adams at The Palmetto Bank, 864-472-5300. Donations can be made by using the contact information below:

H.A.L.T.E.R.
PO Box 1403
Spartanburg, SC 29304
Phone: 864-472-5300 Fax: (864) 472-5373
Fax: 864-472-5373
Email: moreabouthalter@handicappedathletes.com
Web: http://www.handicappedathletes.com/

What Is Section 508?

In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Inaccessible technology interferes with an individual's ability to obtain and use information quickly and easily. Section 508 was enacted to eliminate barriers in information technology, to make available new opportunities for people with disabilities, and to encourage development of technologies that will help achieve these goals. The law applies to all Federal agencies when they develop, procure, maintain, or use electronic and information technology. Under Section 508, agencies must give disabled employees and members of the public access to information that is comparable to the access available to others.

For more information on Section 508, click this link to go to the official Section 508 web site: http://www.section508.com/ .

Light Perception

I'd like to thank Dianna Amarich for sharing the following post from her blog at http://www.livejournal.com/users/diannaamarich.

I've been doing a lot of thinking today about my vision, or what's left of it. I have light perception. At least I used to have light perception. I can't say for certain now that I have it at all.

I don't remember when I went to the eye doctor and found out that it's been fading. I just know that there came a time when I couldn't tell if a light was shining in my eye or not. At the time, I don't know if I was too bothered about it, but I am now.

I used to have to wear sunglasses all of the time because the light would be so bright it would hurt my eyes. Even to have to look at it for a short time. I couldn't even stand camera flashes for pictures. Nowadays, I don't notice these things, or not as often. And I wish I did. At least I was seeing light for certain then.

Now my brain is playing tricks with my eyes. I don't remember all that the doctor said about what's being stimulated or how, it just is.

Anyhow, when I'm inside a building sometimes the light flashes when it shouldn't. It's as if the light is blinking very rapidly. When I'm outside, sometimes it's bright and sometimes I don't even notice it. So I'm not sure what I'm seeing or if I'm seeing anything. Very frustrating!

I'm finally admitting it, at least in writing, that I'm angry at losing what light perception I had. I've been like this on and off for a while but didn't talk about it much. I didn't see the point. I didn't realize how much I depended on light perception when I was traveling. I could tell where a door was by looking towards it and seeing light coming through it--even from a distance. Not all the way across the room, but still. I think that's one of the main things I used it for. Sometimes when I was little and was allowed to ride a bike, I used light perception to tell me when I was passing certain landmarks on the path I was allowed to ride on. Of course I didn't use only light perception, I listened, too, however I traveled.

Just knowing what the weather looked like--if it was cloudy, sunny or whatever--was nice, too. Of course I can still tell those things by how it feels outside, but it's not the same.

Sometimes it was neat to watch light patterns in glass. It was just fun to do. It's not like I saw colors, but if I looked at glass, especially stained glass, the light just looked different depending on how I turned my head to look at it. (I knew I was looking through stained glass at the time, because someone told me.)

Sometimes it was bright and sometimes it was ... soft. Sometimes it looked kind of cloudy. Sometimes it looked just plain normal--whatever that is. It's hard for me to describe what normal looks like for sighted people, and I'm sure some are curious. That doesn't bother me. I don't mind trying to answer questions about how I see things.

I don't like being in this confused state of sometimes seeing and sometimes not. One thing, and it may be small to some but it's big to me, is not being able to tell when a light is on or off in my own home! I hate that! I can't stand having to ask Eric all of the time, "Is the light off?" or the opposite. It's one of those things I was able to do for, I guess most of my life. And now it's almost impossible for me to be certain anymore.

Sometimes I wish it would just go away completely, and then I wouldn't have to wonder anymore about what I was or wasn't seeing. At least then it would be all dark. But then I'd miss what light I do manage to see.

There is no easy way to deal with this. I'm just going from day to day, wondering what will happen next.

Read Dianna's Online Journal at http://www.livejournal.com/users/diannaamarich/

Assistive Technology Loan Program

Members of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) can join the Digital Federal Credit Union (DCU) to take advantage of access loans, which are now available for any product, device, or building modification designed to assist someone with a disability. Borrow from $1,500 to $25,000 or more for up to 72 months with no down payment required. The borrower need not be the beneficiary of the purchase.

Qualified purchases include, but are not limited to: assistive technology, durable medical equipment, housing modifications, and rehabilitative equipment. DCU offers convenient repayment methods, including electronically, at a DCU ATM, at any DCU branch, or by mail with a loan payment coupon. If you direct deposit your net pay, Social Security, or pension into your DCU checking account and make electronic payments for the full term of your loan, your interest rate will be one-half percent below that for other payment methods. Rates are also based on your personal credit history.

There is no fee to join the credit union; all you have to do is open a savings or checking account for as little as $5. If you are already an AAPD member, or if you would like to join AAPD and DCU at the same time, you can call DCU directly for further information and an application at 800-328-8797 or 800-395-5146 if using a TTY. You may also visit DCU's web site at www.dcu.org by clicking this link.

Soundaround

soundaround is the international interactive audio magazine for blind & partially sighted people. This is the first magazine to provide a web site that is self-speaking, you don't need a screen reader to access the Soundaround site.

This blind friendly web site is navigated by using the number keys on your computer keyboard. Listen to the voice prompts, and then choose which article you would like to hear. At the end of each item you can either listen again, or move on to something else. The prompt will tell you what options are available. It's as simple as that!

If you'd like more information on Soundaround, an MP3 file of the Soundaround Promo can be downloaded by clicking this link. Contact information can also be found below.

The Sound Around magazine is one hundred minutes of programming that is sent on cassette to bli nd or visually impaired people in the United Kingdom, and is a Registered Charity supported by public donation. Charity Registration number: 280679

Soundaround
74 Glentham Road
Barnes, London SW13 9JJ
UK
Phone: +44-20-8741-3332
Email: nigel@soundaround.org
Web: http://www.soundaround.org

Seeing The World Without Color

Have you ever been curious to know what people who are Color Blind see? How do they distinguish between the large numbers of colors that are out there? Can they tell certain colors? Let your curiosity lead you to Vischeck.

Vischeck offers a web service that simulates the world as seen by color-blind observers, observers at a distance, or users of LCD displays. The integrated vischeck system has been developed by two scientists at Stanford university:

Robert Dougherty PhD

Dr. Dougherty completed his doctoral work in the psychology department of the University of California, Santa Cruz. He worked as a postdoctoral fellow in the department of ophthalmology at the University of British Columbia and the BC's Children's Hospital Visual Neuroscience Lab before moving to Stanford. After a short leave from academics to run a small company, Dr. Dougherty returned to Stanford as a senior research scientist to help form the new Stanford Institute for Reading and Learning (SIRL). He uses functional brain imaging and psychophysics to study visual and auditory processing.

Alex Wade PhD

Dr. Wade completed his doctoral work on retinal imaging at University College London in the Institute of Ophthalmology and Moorfield's eye hospital. He is currently studying the perception of colour and form in the human visual cortex using functional magnetic resonance imaging.

This site is a great resource on Color Blindness, and can be visited by clicking on the following link.

Click this link to visit the Vischeck home page: http://www.vischeck.com/

Premier Literacy

Premier Assistive Technology was founded in 1998 with a mission to provide assistive technology to persons with disabilities and give them access to today's technologically oriented world. In targeting those objectives, they are rapidly finding that their technologies are beginning to reach far beyond the boundaries that have historically been framed by the visually disabled software market to other emerging areas. They have developed a complete suite of products that address "reading and information transfer" needs for individuals with visual and mobility challenges. Applications for learning disabilities, general literacy and English as a second language can also be well-served using existing and emerging assistive technologies.

Their suite of products continues to grow and includes the following products and technologies:

• Scan & Read Lite©
  
• Scan & Read Pro©
  
• Text-to-Audio©
  
• Talking Word Processor©
  
• Text Cloner Pro©
  
• Talking Calculator©
  
• Scan and View©
  
• Complete Reading System©
  
• Universal Reader©
  
• Universal Reader Plus©
  
• OFF Limits© The Talking Web Browser
  
• PDF Magic Pro©
  
• The Ultimate Talking Dictionary©
  
• Predictor Pro© Word Prediction
  
• The Talking Checkbook©
  
• E-Library©
  
• E-Text Reader©

All of their products are designed with simplicity in mind and feature both easy setup and "one-button" control for many key functions. The quality and overall capabilities of their products is equal to or better than any on the market today, with one major difference ...theirs cost much less. A driving force behind ddddddPremier Assistive's business philosophy is that assistive technology should be affordable for everyone!!!

Premiere Assistive Technology becomes Premiere Literacy

Here's a press release , announcing the name change for Premiere Assistive Technology, Inc., in which the new name will be more reflective of the role this strategic assistive technology company excels at.

The new name of the company is Premiere Literacy.

The change in name is reflective of a broader understanding of their clients^D>' needs, which the company has come to grasp in their years of operation, as well as the evolution of technology in the role of literacy. This is also augmented by alliances they continue to build.

For more information on Premier Assistive Technology, click here for their home page: http://www.readingmadeeasy.com.

A Special Grant For Schools and Organizations

The "Breaking Down Barriers to Assistive Technology" Grant from Premier Literacy, Inc. is committed to providing you the most effective and affordable assistive technology products available in the world today. This grant was established in 2002 to help bridge the gap between education budgets and the need for educational organizations to deploy sufficient resources to serve the needs and requirements of special education programs. They fully appreciate the significant budget pressures that all institutions experience and this grant program will help to act as a catalyst to solidify your special education / assistive technology programs. Above all else, this program is meant to promote literacy EVERYWHERE in your organization, not just isolated groups or departments. In this spirit, the lowest level of grant awarded is for an entire school. (Grants to individuals, single departments or "for profit" companies are not awarded). This grant will give you the right to install the suite of software on EVERY PC IN YOUR ORGANIZATION.

This is truly a grant. There are no current or future obligations for your organization to pay any monies to Premier Assistive Technology to use the programs for the versions being granted to you. After the grant period has expired (all or part of a school year), there will be an optional, but very nominal maintenance fee (a fraction of the total grant value) that you can pay to entitle you to future product releases, technical support, company communications, etc. Again, the maintenance fee is optional and only needed if you want to qualify for those services for future school years. If you elect to pay that fee, you have our commitment that the costs of the maintenance will be VERY affordable.

Since you will receive an Unlimited Site License to install the software on EVERY PC in your organization, the value of the grant will be calculated based on the total number of students in your entire organization (not just a selected department like Special Education). While the number need not be exact, it IS important that this number be a good approximation of the number of students so Premier can devote the appropriate resources to support of the product and services they provide to all grant recipients.

You will receive email notification of your grant upon acceptance along with a letter detailing the grant program along with the software. It will likely take 2-3 weeks to process your grant application, but if you have any questions at any time please feel free to contact them at 815-722-5961 or 517-668-8188 or email them at info@readingmadeeasy.com.

To begin the Grant application process, click this link: http://www.premier-programming.com/grant/grantform.htm.

Premier Literacy
Executive Offices
1309 N. William St.
Joliet, IL 60435
Phone: 815-722-5961
Fax: 815-722-8802
Email: info@readingmadeeasy.com
Web: http://www.readingmadeeasy.com

Victor Reader Classic

The Victor Reader Classic digital talking book players (Classic, Classic +, and Classic + with recording) enables playback of the latest DAISY version 3 digital talking books and a wider variety of other audio formats as well as offering more effective book navigation features.

The Victor Reader is a popular player for DAISY version 2 books produced by libraries for the blind and as these libraries transition to the DAISY version 3 books which have even more extensive navigation features, the Victor Reader is ready to offer the enhanced DAISY 3 reading experience. Books that are produced in the DAISY 3 standard, also called the NISO Z39.86 standard in the United States, allow a blind or otherwise print-disabled person to navigate a digital audio book much like the equivalent print book. The reader can jump from chapter to chapter, section to section, select random pages, or even set electronic bookmarks.

The Victor Reader can play MP3 files as well as the popular OGG Vorbis compressed audio format.

The Victor Reader Classic line durable ergonomic design, integrated handle, auto insert/eject CD loader, and long-life rechargeable battery, together with its outstanding software will continue to distinguish the Classic line as a popular choice of digital talking book players for print-disabled persons.

For more information on the Victor Reader Classic, please visit the visuaide site: http://www.visuaide.com/index.en.asp

A Fork In The Road

The folks at Fork in the Road have been making low vision simulators since 1994. The simulators have been purchased by organizations and individuals in the US , Canada , Europe , Asia , Africa and Australia .

Their goal is to help educate people about low vision. The simulators provide a reasonably accurate picture of some of the functional limitations and abilities of different types of visual impairments. Some of the most common causes of low vision in the developed world are: macular degeneration, glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, and cataracts.

Other eye diseases that can cause low vision include RP (retinitis pigmentosa) and brain injuries (including strokes).

Of course, wearing a simulator does not portray what it is like to have low vision, as that is a permanent situation that affects a person in ways beyond his or her ability to read or walk about. However, spending some time wearing a simulator and attempting to do various everyday tasks can quickly give fully-sighted persons a sense of some of the issues involved. Often, people are impressed with how much they can do and, sometimes, the simplest task becomes extremely frustrating.

These are outstanding educational tools to help teach rehabilitation, education, medical and health care providers about the impact of vision impairment on their patients, clients or students. Low vision simulators can make for a lively in-service or continuing education program.

Consumers with low vision have found that these simulators help to get the point across to friends and family who don't understand the importance of putting things back where they belong, closing the cabinet doors in the kitchen, or not leaving things lying around on the steps. For people with low vision who are highly adapted and "don't act blind", they can also help to show others just what you're putting up with.

Organizations that do public fund raising have used low vision simulators when having an event such as a golf outing, wine/cheese tasting, or when making a presentation to a civic club. Low vision simulators quickly help sighted persons not familiar with vision impairment understand the "grey area" between fully sighted and totally blind. They might then be more likely to understand your need for funding to serve this population.

For more information on low vision simulators, use the contact information below:

Fork in the Road Vision Rehabilitation Services, LLC
5141 Door Drive,
Madison, WI 53705-4752
Phone: 608-233-3464
Fax: 608-233-3464
Email: info@lowvisionsimulators.com
Web: http://www.lowvisionsimulators.com./

SARA (Scanning and Reading Apliance)

The colorful SARA is so simple to use that it works right out of the box. Just place a book, magazine, newspaper, bill, or other document on the scanning surface and press a button. SARA reads aloud in a crisp clear voice. Absolutely no technical or computer experience is needed. SARA can read columns and sidebars as well as text in a huge array of type styles and colors.

SARA's design recognizes the special needs of its users. A small group of large buttons perform all the basic functions any user needs. The buttons on a straight-forward keypad, are colorful, with tactile symbols that convey each button's use. If assistance is needed to identify a button, a Help key can be pushed to speak the button's name and function. Front-mounted stereo speakers make SARA easy to hear, and the RealSpeak® voice can be changed for the user's preference. The speaking speed and volume can be adjusted while reading or controlled to read a single word or line at a time. Users can even have SARA spell words to get a better understanding of what is being spoken.

SARA remembers hundreds of thousands of pages and handles everything from small-print phone book pages to your favorite novel. SARA's built-in CD player gives the user options to read books saved on disk. SARA also can be attached to a computer monitor or TV for colorful, large print to complement the speech. You can adjust the print, type style, color, spacing and size to meet your needs.

ABOUT FREEDOM SCIENTIFIC

Freedom Scientific is the world's leading manufacturer of assistive technology products for the blind and products for the special education and learning disability markets.

For more information on SARA or Freedom Scientific, visit their home page: http://www.freedomscientific.com

Learning While Traveling Life's Eyeway

This site intends to be a comprehensive source of material that informs, inspires and includes persons with visual impairments. In addition, the site caters to the requirements of parents and guardians, medical professionals, rehabilitation experts and service providers.

Eyeway.org is a project of the Score Foundation which is registered as a Trust, and is based out of New Delhi. They believe in the unlimited potential of the human-being. They also believe in the power of information, which not only informs, but also inspires, enriches, empowers and encourages people to pursue their passions and make a contribution.

It is said that "A Disability is God given, but a handicap is man made." A vision impaired person tends to get marginalised and excluded from various facets of life due to a lack of understanding, sensitivity and accessible designs. With the passage of time the constant exclusion leads to the disability transforming itself into a handicap.

The second major point of the site is inclusion or Universal Design. They believe that every one born into this world is an integral part of it. The society has to recognise, appreciate and accommodate the diversity that exists within it. All plans, policies and programmes have to take into account the needs of every member, lest no one gets left out.

Score Foundation is committed to the following:

1. Using information through its project Eyeway.org to inform, inspire and include persons with vision impairments and their families.
   
   
2. Empowering professionals and organisations working in the field, and to facilitate and nurture the process of realising potential of persons with vision impairments. The effort is to make Eyeway.org a one stop information centre on the eye.
   
   
3. Being involved in an ongoing research programme to constantly keep in touch with the information and support needs of the various target groups to ensure relevance and utility.
   
   
4. Campaigning for persons with vision impairments to be included into the main stream scheme of things.

Their activities and programmes are based on learnings from years of interaction with persons with vision impairment and a detailed study of the lives of successful individuals who were vision impaired.

Eyeway intends to build a community where people can share and learn from each other. If you would like to know more about Eyeway.org or Score Foundation, please write to them at inspiration@eyeway.org or click here to visit the Eyeway.org web site.

Accessible Food Preparation Directions

Message: Is there a website or book which gives preparation instructions for packaged products such as Betty Crocker?
location: West Virginia

This is a great question, and I have found three sites that may have the books you're looking for.

1. National Braille Press sells braille books of package instructions. Call them Toll-free at (888) 965-8965 or visit the National Braille Press web site: http://www.nbp.org
   .
2. The Volunteer Braillists and Tapists of Madison WI have books of package instructions in braille. I searched their site and found the following books that may be of interest:
   
   
   • Back of the Box Gourmet by Michael McLaughlin
     
   • Best Recipes - From the Backs of Boxes, Bottles, Cans and Jars
     
   • by Celia Dyer
     
   • Betty Crocker Hamburger and Tuna Helper Collection by General Mills
     
   • Betty Crocker Potatoes by General Mills
     
   • Betty Crocker's Bisquick Cook Book by BettyCrocker&General Mills
     
   • Betty Crockers Cookie Book by General Mills
     
   • Betty Crockers Creative Recipes with Bisquick by General Mills Inc.
     
   • Betty Crockers Creative Recipes With Bisquick by Carol Murphy/Editor
     
   • Betty Crocker's Microwave Cooking by General Mills, Inc.
     
   • Birds Eye Cool Whip by General Foods Corporation
     
   • Even More Recipes - From the Backs of Boxes, Bottles, Cans and Jars by Ceil Dyer
   
   
   For more information, call them at 608-233-0222, or visit The Volunteer Braillists and Tapists of Madison WI web site: http://www.vbti.org/.
3. You may also want to contact Horizons for the Blind to see if they have books that fit your search. Their web site is: http://www.horizons-blind.org.

the Family Center on Technology and Disability

The Family Center is a resource designed to support organizations and programs that work with families of children and youth with disabilities. They offer a range of information and services on the subject of assistive technologies. Whether you're an organization, a parent, an educator, or an interested friend, they hope you'll find information that supports you in your efforts to bring the highest quality education to children with disabilities.

There are 1500 member organizations of the Family Center on Technology and Disability Network. All members have the same comonalities:

• They share a concern for the families of children with disabilities.
  
• They're committed to providing useful information and resources to help children with disabilities fulfill their potential.
  
• They share an interest in remaining current on developments in the field of assistive technology.
  
• As a knowledge network, they pursue collaborative activities to strengthen individual organizations and the network as a whole.

Organizations that belong to the Family Center Network fit the following types:

• Parent support and advocacy groups
  
• Disability-specific associations
  
• State and local government agencies
  
• Foundations that support disabilities research and programs
  
• National advocacy organizations
  
• University-based programs

The Family Center provides the following to these Network members:

• A fully-searchable database containing reviews of books, articles, research and other materials of interest and utility to families of children with disabilities
  
• A monthly newsletter featuring discussions of leading-edge developments in assistive technology, highlights of member organization initiatives, updates on pertinent legislation and regulation, and many other items.
  
• Online conferences addressing topical issues and providing access to leading national experts
  
• Presentation materials on the subject of assistive technologies

The Family Center on Technology and Disability operates entirely through program support from the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP). Member organizations do not pay dues or contribute financially to the operation of the Center. The Family Center is managed by a partnership of organizations, including the Alliance for Technology Access (ATA), Parent Advocacy Coalition for Educational Rights (PACER), Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access (CATEA) and InfoUse, Inc. The partnership is led by the Academy for Educational Development (AED).

If you would like more information on the Family Center, please refer to the contact information provided below.

Family Center on Technology and Disability (FCTD)
Academy for Educational Development (AED)
1825 Connecticut Avenue, NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20009-5721
Phone: 202-884-8068
Fax: 202-884-8441
Email: fctd@aed.org
Web: http://www.fctd.info/

The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities

The National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities is the center that provides information to the nation on:

• disabilities in children and youth;
  
• programs and services for infants, children, and youth with disabilities;
  
• IDEA, the nation's special education law;
  
• No Child Left Behind, the nation's general education law; and
  
• research-based information on effective practices for children with disabilities.

Anyone can use their services-families, educators, administrators, journalists, students. their special focus is children and youth (birth to age 22).

Their Web site has information on the following:

• Specific disabilities
  
• Early intervention services for infants and toddlers
  
• Special education and related services for children in school
  
• Resources and connections in every state
  
• Individualized education programs
  
• Parent materials
  
• Disability organizations
  
• Professional associations
  
• Education rights and what the law requires
  
• Transition to adult life
  

^DELand much, much more!

For more About NICHCY, use the contact information provided below:

National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities
P.O. Box 1492
Washington, DC 20013
Toll Free: 800-695-0285
Phone: 202-884-8200
Fax: 202-884-8441
Email: nichcy@aed.org
Web: http://www.nichcy.org

myReader from HumanWare Restores the Joy of Reading

myReader, a low vision auto-reader, manufactured by HumanWare (http://www.humanware.com), is changing the face of low vision and restoring partially sighted people's reading ability.

The machine took three years to design and manufacture in New Zealand and was awarded 'Best Design' by the New Zealand Institute of Designers. It looks set now to improve the lives of thousands of partially sighted people in the UK.

Using advanced digital technology, myReader captures the text placed underneath its camera and displays it on a built-in 15 inch, flicker-free LCD screen. myReader can then enlarge the text and re-format it so it appears in one of three ways: a column designed to fit the whole screen, a row across the centre of the screen or just one word at a time. The text then automatically scrolls on the screen at the speed selected by the user.

myReader offers controls and an interface that are easy to use by people of different ages and different levels of vision and ability.

HumanWare is a multi award-winning vision technology specialist based in Christchurch, New Zealand, and with its European headquarters in Northamptonshire, England. The company was formed in January 2005 after its original trading venture, Pulse Data International - which was established in 1988 and developed myReader - merged with Canadian blindness company, Visuaide.

Click here to find out more about myReader by visiting the HumanWare home page: http://www.humanware.com,

Organize Your Life

If you've been fighting a losing battle with clutter in your home, your place of work, or even in your spiritual life, I have a site for you! As a totally blind person, I hate clutter, and this is a wonderful resource.

Welcome to LifeOrganizers.com where learning how to organize is fun... really!

LifeOrganizers.com is a rich resource of office and home organizing articles, tips, and fresh, easy ideas on how to get rid of clutter from every part of your life... from the garage to your filing cabinet to your spiritual matters! they show you how to organize anything and everything! Get organized completely with this site. Read one article a day, put one suggestion into action a day. With their help, you will enjoy how harmony and a sense of control can come from the clutter of your surroundings. Yes, it can be done. And you can do it with help from this site!

Get Organized Here: http://www.LifeOrganizers.com

Downloading, Uploading, Installing, What's The Difference?

Many computer users get confused by these three terms. You obviously knew where to come to get the answer.

Downloading - This is moving a file that's on the Internet (or over a network) onto your computer. For most of us, downloading is just a matter of clicking a download link on a web site and saving the file to disk.

Uploading - This is the opposite of downloading. With uploading, you take a file from your computer and send it to a computer on the internet (or a computer / server on a network). Usually this is done with an FTP client, but some web sites you'll come across will allow you to send files to them with your web browser.

Installing - This is often confused with downloading, but it's a different animal. When you install something, you basically "put" the program on your computer so you can use it. Normally this is done via a setup program or "wizard" to make installation easy. Once you're finished installing a program, you can usually run it from your Start Menu, Programs area.

Do I Run Or Save

What's the difference between "run" and "save" when I download a program?

When you are downloading a file off the internet you may get the option to "Run" or "Save". Either of these options will lead you to the setup for the program and install it on your computer, but the difference lies in where the setup file opens from.

If you click "Save" you can specify where the setup file goes (My Downloads or the desktop). From there you could put it on a disk just in case you need to reinstall it or want to put it on another computer.

By choosing "Run" the setup process starts once the setup file is downloaded to your temporary internet file. When you empty your temp file the setup download goes away. This is great if you aren't a download packrat, but you should be clearing out your temp files often or they can get clogged with downloads.

Me? I usually download to my Desktop then delete after install or save to a Downloads folder or send to a disk.

For more definitions of various computer terms, go to http://www.worldstart.com/tips/computer-terms/index.htm.

Fannie Mae Mortgage Program Gives Disabled Borrowers Chance At First Home

Affording a home isn't always possible for people with disabilities, who typically have lower-paying jobs and steeper monthly medical bills.

A Fannie Mae program, known as Community HomeChoice, offers flexible mortgage, credit and income guidelines for low- and moderate-income disabled people. It requires only $500 down for a traditional 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, and participants can count the public benefits they receive as income to qualify for a mortgage. It also allows relatives who have a disabled family member living with them to get a loan.

The new program became available nationwide last year. Loans typically go for about 4.9 percent to borrowers with good credit. Borrowers who put down less than 20 percent still must pay mortgage insurance.

Nationally, one in five people age 5 or older have some type of long-term disability, according to the 2000 census. In South Florida, one in three say they have a disability.

For more information on the Community HomeChoice program call Fannie Mae's Consumer Resource Center at 1-800-7FANNIE (1-800-732-6643). You may also click this link to visit the Community HomeChoice information page at eFannieMae.com.

Learn to interpret and transcribe Braille online

Have you always been intrigued with Braille, the language that helps the blind to "read?" Are you also looking for a new career in a field with a high demand for skilled workers? New Hampshire's Dover Adult Learning Center of Strafford County is now offering two online courses that will instruct participants to understand and transcribe Braille.

"Beginning Braille Transcription" and "Intermediate Braille Transcription" are immediately available through the Center's partnership with Education to Go, Inc., making it possible for participants to learn the course material at their own pace, and from the comfort of their own homes.

By completing these two courses, participants will be able to comfortably read and use the entire Literary Braille Code. Instruction includes how to use the 63 contractions of Grade II Braille, which shorten the space needed for Braille words. Also, participants will learn how to prepare for the Library of Congress Braille Transcriber's Certification exam, which is essential for anyone seeking a career in Braille transcription.

For information about these and other online courses, visit the Dover Adult Learning Center of Strafford County Online Instruction Center: http://www.ed2go.com/dalcsc/

Computerized News Reporter

Speakwire The speaking newswire service of CEC systems an Edinburgh based company is a service to bring news to your desktop from around the world. It gathers news feeds from the prominent news organisations and delivers it to your computer as a speaking summary of events from news, politics, business, sport, fashion etc.

After releasing Speegle the worlds first talking search engine CEC Systems have now built up a world wide market for speech delivery of content very quickly indeed. The company is expanding with a new servers being added on a regular basis both in the UK and in the USA, where their market is expanding every day.

Speakwire does what it says it talks the news from newsfeeds that are chosen by the user and quickly links back to the original article via a simple number key press. It is a functional tool which will save time for those professional people who need to keep up with world events as they happen. As a background spoken service it is not intrusive on the screen until you decide to read the article from the source. Speech is compelling, speech is instructive, speech is the most direct form of human communication, speech is the nearest thing we have to a universal currency. Speakwire brings these elements together in a news service which can be used by everyone. It includes you. This service does not replace your screen reader, but works with it to bring you the latest news from leading companies.

Try out speakwire for yourself at: www.speakwire.com

Kentucky's See World

The See World Store is a convenient place to try out and purchase various devices to aid you at work and home. They carry a wide variety of magnifiers, light fixtures, kitchen aids, talking clocks and calculators, and various books and games in large print and braille. Come on in and try it before you buy it. If you don't live in Kentucky, their web site features Weekly Specials,, and the product of the week.

See World is a part of the Kentucky Office for the Blind. Their mission is to provide opportunities to individuals with visual disabilities for employment and independence. OFB offer services to assist the blind or visually impaired individual's effort to become more independent and productive in the workplace, community, school, and home. For more on See World, use the following contact information:

See World Store/Office for the Blind
Charles McDowell Center
8412 Westport Road
Louisville, KY 40242
Toll Free: 800-346-2115
Phone: 502-429-4460
Email: KirstenM.Schmidt@ky.gov
Web: https://seeworld.ky.gov//Default.asp

Radio, By The Blind, For The World

Five great channels of round-the-clock programming from the American Council of the Blind. Listen worldwide on the Internet to ACB's premiere radio service.

From Director Chrissie Cochran, to talk show hosts, to "deejays", to musicians, ACB Radio is by, for and about blind and visually impaired people. With volunteers and listeners on five continents, ACB Radio is truly an international service.

Here's a look at what you will find on ACB Radio:

• ACB Mainstream: The flagship channel of ACB Radio brings you interviews and information on timely topics such as technology, upcoming events, important issues and much more. Some of the shows allow listeners to call in and ask questions or make comments. Best of all, many of the programs on ACB Mainstream are archived in the On Demand section, so if you miss one you can catch it at a later time. The archive also is a great resource for information on issues relating to the blind or visually impaired.
• ACB Cafe: Come on in and listen to great music from blind and visually impaired musicians. From the famous to the not-so-famous, you'll be entertained round-the-clock by lots of talented folks. Coming soon: Hear a song you like on the Cafe and buy the CD right then and there!
• ACB Treasure Trove: Calling all old-time radio fans! This is the place for you! 24/7 shows from the golden days of radio. Drama, comedy, mysteries - it's all there, just waiting for you to tune in.
• ACB Interactive: Blind people from around the world host their own shows, featuring music they love and want to share with you. Listen in; you'll never know what's coming up next.
• ACB World: This is the newest stream to the ACB Radio family. Tune into international programming from a blindness perspective.

Programming is broadcast in two-hour blocks on ACB Mainstream. A block may consist of one two-hour show, or of two or more shorter shows that together make up two hours of programming. New programming begins at 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time each evening, and repeats every two hours for the next 24 hours.

Country music star Ronnie Milsap was a recent guest on the Mainstream. The 90-minute chat with Ronnie is now in the On Demand section available from the ACB Radio homepage.

Also check out the On Demand section for past broadcasts of Main Menu, a show about the latest technology for blind and visually impaired people. The current edition of Main Menu is heard each week on the Mainstream channel beginning at 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on Tuesday.

ACB Radio carries programming of regional interest. Sound Prints, a weekly talk show from the Kentucky Council of the Blind, is a part of the Mainstream lineup beginning at 9:00 PM Eastern Standard Time on Wednesdays. Sound Prints includes a mix of local, state and national programming; something there for every listener.

Some state conventions, such as the semiannual conferences of the California Council of the Blind, are broadcast on ACB Radio; watch for announcements of these special upcoming events on the ACB Radio website.

ACB Radio broadcasts all general sessions live from the national convention of the American Council of the Blind each July. Also broadcast live from the convention are the Tuesday evening Friends in Art Performing Arts Showcase (an outstanding lineup of talent from within ACB), the ACB's Candidates' Forum (the Thursday evening question-and-answer session for anyone seeking a position on the ACB Board of Directors or ACB Board of Publications), and the annual convention banquet and entertainment. During the first part of convention week, listen for hellos from friends and news from vendors stopping by the ACB Radio Interactive booth in the exhibit hall.

So how can you join in on all the fun with ACB Radio? First you need a computer and an Internet connection. (High-speed connections work best, but are not an absolute necessity.) Obviously you already have both a computer and an Internet connection, or you wouldn't be reading this article.

You will also need a program such as WinAmp or Windows Media Player installed on your computer so the sound files will play. Go to: www.acbradio.org where you will find links to versions of these programs that work well with adaptive screen readers such as JAWS and Window-Eyes.

Back on the www.acbradio.org home page, you will find links to all five channels, plus links to the On Demand area. Start linking and listening. It's great!

Radio Hosts Wanted for ACB World

ACB Radio is looking for contributors to the ACB World stream, so if you are able to do a show in a language other than English, or know of an organization for the blind in another country that would like to have a program on the World Stream, or that already have a program running in their own country but would like a wider audience, then please write with details to chrissie@acbradio.org and let's build the stream.

This high quality stream will also be used for experimental programming, for example, if you want to do a program featuring binaural stereo, or, perhaps a program featuring electronic music, or something that won't fit on any of the other streams, then again, please write to ACB Radio.

ACB Radio Podcast Feeds Online

Listen to ACB Radio anytime anywhere using their podcast feeds which can be found from the ACB Radio Main Stream Replay page. Click Main Stream then Replay and you'll find the podcast feeds at the foot of the page.

ACB Radio Replay

The ACB Radio Replay service provides listeners with the opportunity to listen again to all recent ACB Radio Main Stream programmes from the previous seven days. This includes many shows which are not normally archived.

Please note, Each day's programming on ACB Radio Main Stream begins at 01:00 Universal Time which is equivalent to a previous evening in the United States. During the US Winter 01:00 Universal Time is 8PM Eastern 5PM Pacific, and for people who use daylight saving during the US Summer, Main Stream shows start an hour later locally at 9PM Eastern 6PM Pacific. This is the time when you should tune in to ACB Radio Main Stream for the first run of programmes, and the time at which you will hear ACB Radio shows before anyone else.

Following their first run on ACB Radio Main Stream, The full set of ACB Radio Main Stream programmes from each day can be replayed from this page at any time for up to one week.

To replay programmes which are first heard on Tuesday evenings in the US and which are recycled throughout Wednesdays, choose the link labelled Replay Wednesday.

To be absolutely sure they don't miss the beginning of the programme block, you will hear about 30 seconds of the proceeding programme from a previous block.
,

Links to ACB Radio Replays

• Replay Monday - Including: Marlaina.
  
• Replay Tuesday - Including: Tuesday Topics and Christian Connection.
  
• Replay Wednesday - Including: Main Menu and a highlight from the previous week.
  
• Replay Thursday - Including: Sound Prints, Blind Citizens Australia, Access All Areas and Cry Justice.
  
• Replay Friday - Including: World of Radio and a monthly magazine.
  
• Replay Saturday - Including: Blind Handyman and Blind Like Me.
  

Podcasts

ACB Radio Replay is also available as a series of podcasts. You will need a client like iPodder installed on your system in order to take advantage of the following feeds. Copy one or more of the following URLs into the Add Podcast Dialog of your Podcatching software.

Monday - http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=monday
Tuesday - http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=tuesday
Wednesday - http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=wednesday
Thursday - http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=thursday
Friday - http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=friday
Saturday - http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday

If you wish to download all ACB Radio Main Stream Replays, this will run to around 125MB per week, you can subscribe to the full Replay podcast feed at: http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=replay

blink bang radio

"My name is Shane Davidson and I am the station owner of a internet radio station called blink bang radio. We're looking for listeners and DJ's. We've already got a great lineup of DJ's, but there's room for more and if you've got talent, we'd love to have you."

"Click this link to visit us on the web at http://www.blinkbangradio.net".

AbilityLinks Matches Job Seakers With Employers

Kathleen Yosko, President and Chief Executive Officer of Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital in Wheaton, first conceived of the idea of the consortium that would facilitate the sharing of employment resources such as job leads, as a win-win for employers and job applicants. AbilityLinks is a result of her ideas.

AbilityLinks, a consortium of over 100 businesses and service agencies dedicated to using Internet technology to match up employers and job-ready individuals who are blind or have limited vision. AbilityLinks users can navigate the entire website with screen readers, and other adaptive software.

Other AbilityLinks website features provide all three users -- jobseekers, employers and service providers -- with more timely feedback on their job or candidate searches by sending them automatic e-mails when new resumes or job postings appear on the website that meet their criteria.

Employers have more flexibility in choosing the type of candidate they desire. For example, employers can specify that they prefer pre-screened candidates who currently are working with service providers. This enables the employers to receive free services for which they would normally be charged by recruiters.

Similarly, job seekers that post resumes have more flexibility. They can choose to only list themselves as the primary contact, or their service providers as the primary contact, or both themselves and their service providers.

An ongoing feature of AbilityLinks services -- the personalized support its staff provides to all users. There are no fees to employers or job applicants. The goal of the consortium is a successful match of job applicants with companies, meeting the needs of both -- and they have succeeded time and time again in meeting this objective.

Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital is dedicated to the delivery of comprehensive inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation services throughout the Chicagoland area. As a leading national advocate for people with disabilities, Marianjoy established AbilityLinks to assist patients with re- entry into the workforce. AbilityLinks is now managed by a consortium of over 100 businesses and service agencies dedicated to using Internet technology to match job-ready people with disabilities to employers, other educational programs, and support services. Marianjoy also offers other programs to improve quality of life, including driver rehabilitation, golf and sports medicine, and wellness programs.

For more information:

Click here to visit AbilityLinks: http://www.abilitylinks.org .
Or click here to visit the Marianjoy Rehabilitation Hospital web site: http://www.marianjoy.org

Organization for Creative People with Low Vision

Friends-in-Art is a national organization of writers, sculptors, painters, raconteurs, dancers, actors, musicians, and art enthusiasts who just happen to be blind or visually impaired.

FIA was formed in 1984. Its mission is to help blind and visually impaired artists enhance their skills and broaden their opportunities. Through advocacy, scholarships, information-sharing, and activities, FIA increases opportunities for audiences with visual impairments to enjoy all aspects of the arts.

Here are some FIA programs and activities:

• SCHOLARSHIPS - FIA offers an annual $1,000 scholarship to further the education of a visually impaired artist.
• BROCHURE - An FIA brochure offers suggestions for making exhibits more accessible and promotes museum tours in which visually impaired and sighted participants can experience the benefits of enjoying art together.
• PARTNERING - FIA members collaborate with technology manufacturers to increase the accessibility of MIDI products, and with teachers to improve arts education for visually impaired children in public school classrooms.

Friends-in-Art holds its annual conference in conjunction with the American Council of the Blind convention. It happens each year over the month of July. Convention activities vary from year to year, but some of the perennial favorites include:

• The annual Performing Arts Showcase, where outstanding blind and visually impaired musicians from throughout the United States "strut their stuff" for enthusiastic audiences; even includes a chorus and a band. A top-notch show; it's the best ticket around!
• Museum or gallery tours of accessible exhibits, ranging from a computerized rendering of the Shroud of Turin to native crafts, African art and Native American sculpture;
• A round sing of familiar and not-so-familiar rounds from around the world;
• An art parlor displaying a wide variety of 2- and 3-dimensional visual arts created by blind and visually impaired people;
• A variety of workshops on topics such as MIDI technology, creative writing, public speaking, and fiber arts; and
• Opportunities to meet and talk with blind and visually impaired artists and musicians.

Friends-in-Art's newsletter is called "The Log of the Bridgetender". It highlights FIA convention activities, and contains articles of general interest to artists with visual impairments.

FIA is a nonprofit membership organization. Anyone interested in music, creative writing, the visual arts, drama or fiber arts, and how these art forms relate to the blind and visually impaired, is welcome to join.

Annual dues are $12.00 ($8.00 for students) per year. Checks should be made payable to FIA of ACB and sent to:

Arlo Monthei, FIA Treasurer
1304 39th Street
Des Moines, IA 50311

Please provide name, address, phone number, and email address. Also give your preference for braille, large print, or email newsletter.

FIA sells CD's of its annual Performing Arts Showcases. For more information, contact Peter Altschul by sending email to: atschu@erols.com.

To learn more about FIA, its goals, programs and activities, and to share information and ideas, subscribe to the FIA email list by sending a blank message to: fia-acb-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Contributor: Carla Ruschival
BellaOnline's Sight Loss Editor
http://sightloss.bellaonline.com/Site.asp

Candle in the Window

Themed issue-oriented workshops, swimming, hiking, socializing - all this and more happens every August at this special conference for blind and visually impaired adults in Louisville, Kentucky. A wonderful opportunity for people with vision loss.

Candle in the Window is a small nonprofit organization dedicated to building individual skills and a sense of community among blind and visually impaired people. For 19 years Candle has been welcoming people with low vision from throughout the nation and from all walks of life to its annual conference. Meals, conference materials, and transportation to and from the Louisville International Airport are generally included. A payment plan and a limited number of scholarships are available.

For more information, contact Peter Altschul by telephone at (202-234-5243, or by email at atschu@erols.com , or contact Kathy Szinnyey by telephone at (502)895-0866, or by email at fredkate@iglou.com.

Contributor: Carla Ruschival
BellaOnline's Sight Loss Editor
http://sightloss.bellaonline.com/Site.asp

Looking At You, A Web Site for Blind Teens

The goal of this site is to tell everyone what young, blind or visually impaired people can do, and you may be surprised! It also encourages young blind people to participate in lots of activities and show their independence.

The web site was written by three students who attend the Royal Blind School in Edinburgh, Scotland, and won an award from The Cable and Wireless Childnet Academy for being one of the best sites on the net created by young people around the world.

The site features sections on:

• Leisure
  
• Living Independently
  
• Sports
  
• Visually Impaired Groups
  
• Music
  
• Being Blind

Click here to visit the Looking At You home page: http://www.sonokids.org/lookingatyou

How Many Different Modems Are There?

Modem is short form for "demodulator/modulator". A modem allows a computer to send or receive data through a connection. It works by changing the regular analog signal to a digital signal to be used by computers. Different types of modems exist such as dial-up, cable, DSL, and wireless.

Standard Dial-up - These modems have the slowest transfer speed (downloads) of all modems. Dial-up modems are capable of speeds of up to 56 kilobits per second through an Internet Service Provider connection. Dial-up modems use phone lines to connect with the Internet.

DSL (Digital Subscriber Line) - DSL is also provided through regular copper lines though it is not available to everyone, since you have to be close to a telephone switching office (usually within about 4 miles). DSL speeds can differ depending on the quality of the connection. Still, download speeds typically will be about 1000 kilobits per second on a good connection.

Cable Modem - A cable modem runs over cable television lines. The coaxial cable it uses gives you much more bandwidth than dial-up and therefore gives you extremely fast access to the World Wide Web. These modems can give you a transmission rate of about 2000 kilobits per second which is about 40 times faster than the top speed of dial-up! However, speeds may vary depending on the location or other concerns.

Wireless Broadband Internet - Wireless Internet (Wi-fi) connects using radio frequency signals, rather than phone lines or cable television lines. Also, you can connect to the internet within a limited range, which means an equipped laptop can connect to the internet away from home easily when a "Hotspot" is available. Wireless Internet is popular in PDAs, cellular phones, and other portable devices including laptops and notebooks. Download speeds of Wireless Internet can sometimes reach about 1.5 megabits (almost 2 million kilobits), much faster than other connections.

Action Figure Times and The Toy Encyclopedia

Action Figure Times

I found a site that is great for parents and kids, and is easy to use for the blind or visually impaired. The site talks about action figures, and you can get good descriptions of their appearance, and much more. Let's look at each section in detail.

The coolest link on this site for blind users is the "Fast Page" option. This gives you another way of viewing the site, just not as fancy. Speech users will want to click this link to get the "plain text" version without all the graphics.

"News" is quite self explanatory really, hear you get up-to-date news on Action Figures.

"Overheard" is where rumors surrounding the action figures lay in wait. Here you can find the latest rumors-mind you, they are rumors and may not actually be true.

"Area Reports" is where people post on the message board about the toys that they found. Have you found a great action figure? Post it here.

"What's New" is of course where you will find out what new line of action figures will be hitting the stores near you. This section will keep you on top of the toys coming out, with great descriptions.

"Toy Trivia" is where you can answer toy trivia or brush up on it by reading the previous trivia questions. Interesting questions like: "Patrick Stewart was first immortalized in plastic for the Star Trek: TNG line; prior to that, what action figure of him was planned but scrapped due to lack of interest"? Go to the site for the answer. "Toy Review" is the section that may hold the most interest for parents. This is where the action figure toys are reviewed by consumers and collectors just like you.

What a great site, dedicated to many of our TV and cartoon heros.

Click here to visit Action Figure Times: http://www.aftimes.com/

The Toy Encyclopedia

This is a fan page as much as it is a source for information. I love discovering vintage toys, particularly if they are a little unusual or hard to find.

The site offers photos of the classic toys, as well as text articles and descriptions of each entry. You can buy toys here, and write your own article on a particular toy. Take a little time to remember when you were a kid.

Click this link to visit The Toy Encyclopedia web site: http://bigredtoybox.com/articles.

One of the most popular action figures is Batman, and he wouldn't be complete without the famous Batmobile. Have you ever been curious about how the Batmobile got its start? If so, there's a website for you! Click this link to learn The History of the Batmobile: http://www.batmobilehistory.com.

Starting Programs Without Leaving The Start Menu

When I start Windows, I always open up two programs, Outlook Express, and Internet Explorer. Speech users know the drill, Hit the "Windows" key, "P" for "Programs", "I" for Internet Explorer, "Windows" key again, "P" for "Programs", and "O" for Outlook Express. That process always seemed crazy to me. Now, I could set up shortcuts for these programs, but you run the risk of something conflicting with another program's shortcuts. Well, I found a cool way to launch these programs without having to leave the Start Menu.

The next time you need to launch more than one program from your Programs menu (Start/All Programs), hold down your SHIFT key while you click the program's icon with your mouse. The application will launch, but you won't lose the Programs menu and have to start all over.

The same trick works for speech users too.

1. Press your "Windows" key
   
2. Press "P" for "Programs"
   
3. Arrow to the program you want
   
4. Hold down the "Shift" key and press "Enter"
   
5. Move to the next program, and either hold down the "Shift" as you press "Enter" on the icon, or just press "Enter" to launch both programs.

Totally Cool!

Shutting Down MSN Messenger

Do you get strange boxes with advertisements popping up in Windows XP? These boxes can cause your screen reader to not read a program correctly, besides the fact that it is just annoying. MSN Messenger is the program that causes these boxes to pop up on XP users. This tip will show you how to stop them, but first, a little background.

Microsoft decided to make MSN Messenger a built-in default feature in XP. A nice gesture, but for some, yet another useless feature that gets in your way.

If you just remove it from your system you might run into trouble. So just do the next best thing-disable it. Here's what you do...

1. Click on the "Start" button, or hit your "Windows" key.
   
2. Hit the letter "p" until you get to "all programs" and then press "enter". Mouse users click the "all programs icon".
   
3. Use your arrow keys to find the "MSN Messenger" entry of your Programs Menu and press "enter". Mouse users click on the MSN Messenger icon to open the program.
   
4. go to "Tools" by either clicking on the icon, or by pressint ALT+T.
   
5. Use your arrow keys to navigate to "Options", or click it with your mouse.
   
6. Use control+tab to get to "Preferences", or click it with your mouse.
   
7. Screen reader users will tab through the options until you hear "Run this program when Windows starts". Press the "space bar" to uncheck this box. Continue to use your "tab" key until you hear "Run this program in the background", and press "space" to uncheck this box. Mouse users should also make sure these boxes are unchecked.
   
8. Click, or tab to OK.
   
9. Close the program.

That should do it. No more annoying MSN Messenger coming up when you turn on your computer or try to surf the web! Also, if you ever do decide to get in on the IM craze, you still have the program on your system.

Network of Care: Web Site Provides Assistive Product Info

Looking for a money ID device, but don't know where to find one? After searching Fred's Head, you might also want to visit Network of Care.

Network of Care is a web site which bills itself as "a comprehensive, Internet-based community resource for the elderly and people with disabilities, as well as their caregivers and service providers." Network of Care is sponsored by a California Department of Aging innovation grant in partnership with the Alameda County Department of Aging and Adult Services.

The site offers helpful information about diseases, assistive devices and caregiving, as well as daily news from around the world concerning aging and disabilities. Californians can use special site features to send messages to their legislators to affect government policy change. There is also a bill tracker feature which lets visitors keep track of disability-rights legislation. Other site features include: government links, a private online community for service Providers, Caregiver support, a library containing information about diseases and conditions, and resource locator.

While the bulk of these services are designed to provide information about aging and age-related issues to residents of Alameda County, California, visitors from other locales will still find much on the site that is helpful. One of these areas is the site's database of Blind and Low Vision-related product information.

The data is compiled into categories ranging from Health Care to Reading, and Computers to Tools. Every record contains a short description of the product, the cost (when available) and contact info for those wishing to learn more. Not sure of the name of the product you need? No problem. The site lets you search for records by product/function, keyword, company/manufacturer and brand name.

Network Of Care
P.O. Box 130
Tiburon, CA 94920
Email: inquiries@networkofcare.com
Web: http://www.networkofcare.org

Are Guide Horses Really An Alternative?

After posting our article on guide horses to the Fred's Head Companion at http://www.FredsHeadCompanion.blogspot.com a comment was left about a website that has a different view of using minature horses as guides for the blind. According to the website:

"We invite you to join us in reading and learning why the use of Miniature Horses as Guide Horses for the blind is a dangerous, and a possibly life-threatening endeavor."

"You will find links to articles and stories that will show and explain WHY this is so dangerous, and why Miniature Horses are not suited for this task."

"This web site has been assembled by a group of concerned people, and it's intended use is as a learning tool to aid in the education of the general public, that may seek more detailed information on this topic."

"Most stories in the press, have shown only one side...that being the positive side. We are here to show you the other side of this controversial story of the "seeing eye horses"."

"GUIDEHORSENO.com is a non-profit web site dedicated to collecting useful information about the use of Miniature Horses as Guide Animals for the sight impaired. All content and links on this site are the sole opinions of the author(s)."

Click this link to form your own opinions: http://www.GUIDEHORSENO.com.

Sources for Braille Transcription Codes with Emphasis on Phonetics

The following is a listing of some of Braille transcription codes with a special emphasis on phonetics. All of these have information about writing English Braille, and some of these tell how to transcribe symbols for both English and foreign language "sounds." All are available for purchase through the American Printing House for the Blind. For APH Customer Service, call 800-223-1839 or follow this link to the Louis Database of Accessible Materials to order these materials directly. Literary Braille Code

• English Braille, American edition. Revised edition compiled by the American Association of Workers for the Blind, Association for the Education of the Visually Handicapped, the National Braille Association, and the Braille Authority of North America. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1972.
• English Braille, American edition, 1959: changes to the 1972 revision. Adopted by the Braille Authority of North America. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1980.
• English Braille, American edition, 1959: changes to the 1972 revision. Adopted by the Braille Authority of North America. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1987.
• English Braille, American edition, 1959: changes to the 1972 revision. Adopted by the Braille Authority of North America. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1991.
• English Braille, American edition, 1959: chart of contractions, selected symbols, and simplified rules. Jackson, IL: Illinois Braille and Sight Saving School, 1959. (Available from the American Printing House for the Blind.
• Provisional Guidelines for Literary Linear Braille Format. Compiled by the Braille Authority of North America. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1987. (Print or braille copies free to Library of Congress-certified literary braille transcribers from the Braille Development Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress, Washington, DC 20542.)

Mathematics Braille Code

• The Nemeth Braille Code for Mathematics and Science notation. 1972 Revised edition. Compiled by the American Association of Workers for the Blind, Association for the Education of the Visually Handicapped, the National Braille Association, and the Braille Authority of North America. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1972. (Print or braille copies free to Library of Congress- certified mathematics transcribers from the Braille Development Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.)

Computer Braille Code

• Code for Computer Braille Notation. Compiled by the Braille Authority of North America. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1987.
• Computer Braille Code Supplement, Flowchart Design for Applicable Braille Codes. Compiled under the authority of the Braille Authority of North America. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1992.

Foreign-Language Braille Code

• Contracted German: the reformed German braille contractions. By Adam Heinz. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1972.

Music Braille Code

• Manual of braille music notation, American edition. Compiled by the Braille Authority of North America. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1990.
• Manual of braille music notation supplement, American edition, and 1993 International supplement. Compiled by the Braille Authority of North America, Music Technical Committee. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1993. (Print or braille copies free to Library of Congress- certified music transcribers from the Braille Development Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress.)

Textbook Braille Code

• Code of braille textbook formats and techniques. Compiled by the American Association of Workers for the Blind, Association of Educators of the Visually Handicapped, National Braille Association, and Braille Authority of North America. Louisville: American Printing House for the Blind, 1977, 1980 braille edition (Appendix E omitted, 1980 BANA changes included), 1980 print edition (BANA changes included).
• Braille Formats: Principals of Print to Braille Transcription, by the Braille Authority of North America, available from the American Printing House for the Blind.

Contributor: Barbara Henderson

Vision World Wide

Vision World Wide is a volunteer-operated non-profit organization helping to improve the quality of life of the vision impaired. They function as an information resource for and conduit between the vision impaired and the medical caregiving communities, as a support group, as a consumer protection agency, and as an educational outreach program to help the general public understand issues relating to vision loss.

Vision World Wide has six primary services:

1. Vision Enhancement, a quarterly journal featuring news, technological and medical developments, and much more information.

2. Telephone information and referral helplines, available 24 hours a day.

3. Their website, which contains a lot of information on a variety of topics, relevant news that breaks between Vision Enhancement's quarterly publication dates, and links to many resources on the web.

4. Vision E-News, an email distribution list for information.

5. Free information packets customized to the requester's needs, they contain information on coping with vision loss, a compilation of articles from state and national resources, pamphlets about various eye diseases and disorders, and articles from Vision Enhancement.

6. Consumer protection, primarily in the form of product reviews and their vast collection of product information. If a consumer asks about a specific product, they can often provide a review of that product, but they will also provide information about several other product options, allowing the consumer to make an informed decision.

Vision World Wide
5707 Brockton Drive, #302
Indianapolis, IN 46220-5481
Toll Free: 800-431-1739
Phone: 317-254-1332
Fax: 317-251-6588
Email: info@visionww.org
Web: http://www.visionww.org

Blind and Visually Impaired Web Rings

Blind Rings are virtual libraries of websites and home pages that are either run by blind individuals or are for the blind and visually impaired. In fact, from the BlindRing websites one can leap to more than 260 other blind- and vision-related websites or home pages.

The types of sites listed in the Blind Rings are varied. There are product and technology manufacturers' sites, resource sites, and sites started by individuals who want to share their life experience and knowledge with others.

To visit the sites listed in the Blind Rings, follow the links listed below.

Organisations, Schools, and Services for the Blind, http://www.webring.org/cgi-bin/webring?ring=blind&list
The Blind and Visually Impaired Ring, http://www.viguide.com/blindandvi.htm

Read Books! Because Braille Matters

The National Braille Press is delighted to continue the distribution of free braille materials to young potential braille readers an their families through the expansion of their "Read Books! Because Braille Matters program.

NBP has produced attractive Braille Book Bags for distribution to families of young blind children, at no cost to a school, or the families. The contents of the book bags include:

• An age-appropriate print/braille book (in English or Spanish)
  
• A colorful print/braille placemat
  
• Braille-large print magnetic letters
  
• two guides for parents, "Because Books Matter" and "Just Enough to Know Better"
  
• A coupon that parents can redeem for either another free print-braille children's book or a set of braille-print playing cards.

The program goals are to:

• Foster a love of reading at an early age;
  
• Expose parents of preschool blind children to braille as an effective method of reading and writing;
  
• Encourage parents to learn just enough braille to help their child;
  
• Introduce visually impaired children to a means of reading independently
  
• Prepare parents to advocate for braille instruction when their blind child enters school;
  
• Promote an early expectation of personal achievement through literacy.

Instructions for Schools

In order to receive these free Braille Book Bags, NBP asks you to:

1. Identify the numbers of blind children who are potential braille readers (birth through age seven, sorry no exceptions) and their families in your area. There are three age-appropriate book bags (0-3, 4-5, 6-7). They need to know how many you need in each age group (English vs. Spanish);
2. Check with potential recipients to ensure that they have not already received a book bag, as NBP distributes directly to parents and through multiple organizations and can provide only one bag per child;
3. Personally deliver the book bags or be willing to give NBP a mailing address for identified families;
4. Return the postage-paid tag on the outside of the bag that will indicate to NBP you have delivered the bag (NBP assumes all costs);
5. Encourage parents to fill out and return the coupon on the inside of the book bag;
6. Help to evaluate the program by sharing your reactions and observations after presenting these bags to families;
7. If you find this program valuable, write a letter of support that NBP can use to obtain additional funds to provide book bags to other families across the country;
8. Encourage parents to write to NBP about their experiences using the bag and its materials.

To place an order or for further information, please use the contact information below: Amy Ruell National Program Manager ReadBooks! Because Braille Matters National Braille Press 88 St. Stephen St. Boston, MA 02115 (888) 965-8965 Ext. 34 aruell@nbp.org http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/readbooks/index.html

InfoTech, Your Information On Technology Magazine

Infotech is an audio magazine focusing upon the subject of Information Technology. It comprises fair, impartial reviews of a wide range of specialist equipment, for visually impaired people - ranging from small low-tech items (clocks watches and calculators etc.), through to computer hardware and software.

The reviews are presented in straightforward easy-to-understand language, and the magazine contains interviews with representatives of equipment suppliers and service providers, many of whom are visually impaired. The magazine also contains small tutorials, teaching computing applications using adaptive technology.

Infotech is produced each month, and it is available either on audio cassette, on CD-ROM, or through the web site. The files can be downloaded to your computer, either as individual articles, or in one zipped archive containing the entire edition. The length of each edition is usually ninety minutes, although some editions have been much longer than this.

HOW TO SUBSCRIBE

When subscribing, please ensure that you advise the Sales Person in which format you would like to receive Infotech (cassette, CD-ROM or internet download). If you would like to download each magazine, you will need to provide a username and password.

Back editions can be purchased from March 2001 onward. Some of the magazines can be downloaded. All of the editions however are available on cassette and CD. It is worth noting that the CD's can easily be used on the Victor DAISY Talking Book Players, both Classic and Pro versions, or any other DAISY OR MP3 compatible player.

In addition, you can purchase "Best of Infotech" and "Best of Infotech 2002" double CD's, each set containing over eighteen hours worth of material.

Infotech is thirty pounds per year. To order, please use the information below to contact T& T Consultancy Ltd, who are responsible for the production and distribution of Infotech, located in the UK.

T&T Consultancy Limited
Office Suite 5
Imex Technology Park
Trentham Lakes South,, Stoke on Trent ST4 8LJ
UK
Phone: +44-0-1782-644141
Fax: +44-0-1782-646142
Email: enquiries@tandt-consultancy.com
Web: http://www.tandt-consultancy.com

What Is A Blog?

Want to expose your thoughts to the world? Share your favorite links? Shout out your political, religious, or personal beliefs? Well, a blog is the place to do it. It can be a soap box, a pulpit, a diary, whatever you want it to be. There are few rules and can be any size or shape.

The word "Blog" came from "Web Log" which is a web site where you can post pictures, share links, make comments, and write whatever you want. Another neat aspect of blogging is that visitors can comment on the posts creating an interactive, collaborative space. Many have RSS feeds that notify you of new posts.

There's a blog for every interest, and if there isn't, you can create one. Basic blogs can be created for free, while more involved ones might require a hosting fee.

For some lists of what's out there, check out these web sites...

Blogger: http://www.blogger.com
Blog Catalog: http://blogcatalog.com
Blog Search Engine: http://www.blogsearchengine.com/
Blogarama: http://www.blogarama.com
Don't forget to check out the Fred's Head Companion at http://www.FredsHeadCompanion.blogspot.com.

How to Set Up a "New Mail" Sound Alert in Outlook Express

We've all heard the sound that plays when new mail arrives. It's really not that great, it serves the purpose I guess, but wouldn't it be cool if you could assign another sound to that notification? In Outlook Express you can!

1. Click the Start button.
   
2. If you're using Windows 95/98 with a screen reader, hit "s" until you hear "Settings", or click "settings if you use a mouse. Windows XP users that use a screen reader will hit "c" until you hear "Control Panel", or you can click "control panel" with your mouse.
   
3. Windows 95/98 users with a screen reader will hit the letter"s" until you hear "Sounds", or click that icon with your mouse. Windows XP users will hit "s" until you hear " Sounds and Audio Devices", or click that icon with your mouse.
   
4. Windows XP users will navigate to the "Sounds" tab).
   
5. Tab through the various options until you get to the "New Mail Notification" item.
   
6. Click, or press enter on the "Browse" button.
7. You will be presented with a list of available sound files. Screen reader users can use the arrow keys to browse through the various files, pressing enter to select the file of your choice. Mouse users will double click on the sound file you wish to use.
   

If you aren't happy with the Windows sounds that are available head to your favorite search engine and look for "wav" files.

What do you do when you locate wave files on the web?

1. Most of the time, you can click, or press enter on a link to hear the sound. If you like it, right-click the link and select "Save target as" from the resulting menu.
   
2. Save the file to a location you'll remember.
   
3. Head back to the "Sounds" screen (under the Control Panel).
   
4. Select the sound item "New Mail Notification".
5. Browse to the file you just downloaded.
6. Select that file by either double clicking on it, or pressing enter on the file.
   

You'll nee to make sure that you have your email program configured to play a sound when mail arrives, this is normally on by default. If it's not:

1. In Outlook Express go to "Tools", by either clicking on the icon, or using ALT+T.
   
2. Use the arrow keys to navigate to "Options", or click it with the mouse.
   
3. Under the "General" tab check the box marked "play sound when new messages arrive" under "Send/Receive Messages".

There you have it-your own sounds for mail notification.

Most Livable Cities

Are you thinking of moving? Well if so this might be a site that you want to check out. This site rates the ^D<"most livable^D>" communities in America. You have four options of how to view: Large, Medium, Small, and Regional.

Each City in each section has a ton of information about it, letting you know exactly why it made the list. From the economy to housing, neighborhoods and tourism, you'll find just about everything you need to know about these cities.

You can also check out on the main page^DDLwhat criteria that these cities had to have to make the list, what categories they fit in, and you can even find creative communities if you have the desire.

If you're not thinking of moving, you can still check this site out, I mean hey did your city make the list? I know that mine sure did! so check it out!
Click here to visit MostLivable.org: http://www.mostlivable.org

Finding Messages in Outlook Express

Have you ever been looking for a specific e-mail message but had HUNDREDS of messages to sort through? It's enough to drive you crazy. Instead of hunting through each message one by one, you can do a search.

The trick is to look for specific keywords. Let's say you were looking for a message regarding a specific computer tip. We'll say you're looking for something on processors. Here's how to find that message:

1. Open outlook Express, and press ALT+E, or click on the "Edit" Menu.
   
2. Arrow down to, or click on "Find".
   
3. Choose "Message".
   
4. You will be in a dialog box. Use your "tab" key to navigate the options if using a screen reader.,
   
5. If you are already in the folder where you want to look, you can choose the "Find Message In This Folder" option, or if you know which folder the message is in, click the Browse button and select that folder.
   
6. If you're not sure where the message is, click the Browse button, but select "Local Folders" from the top of the list.
   
7. Since we're looking for "processors" we'll type that in the "Message" field. This will return any message that has that keyword in the body of it.
8. Click, or tab to the "Find Now" button. Outlook Express will sift through your mail messages and try to locate anything that matches your search criteria. If it finds messages with your keyword, those will be displayed in a new box.
   
9. Use your arrow keys to find the message and press "enter" to open it, or double-click a message to open it for reading.
   
10. When finished with the search, press the escape key until you return to the main screen of Outlook Express.

the Accessible Friends Network

The Accessible Friends Network (TAFN) is an all voluntary UK group that uses email, the internet, voice conferencing & other resources to improve the quality of life for people who are registered blind (& may also have other disabilities) & their partners, by networking. They offer technical support, training and a comprehensive user-contributed website, and meetings, as well as quizzes & fun events, are held via voice conferencing on their Ventrilo server.
TAFN Helpline Number (during normal UK office hours) 0845 83 82 369
For more information, see the contact information below.

The Accessible Friends Network,
47 Hanley Road,
Hull, Yorkshire HU5 5SS
UK
Phone: 0845 83 82 369

USA Water Ski

USA Water Ski was formed in 1939 as a non-profit organization promoting water skiing in the United States. USA Water Ski is affiliated with the International Water Ski Federation (world governing body) and is recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and Pan-American Sports Organization as the national governing body of organized water skiing in the United States. With more than 40,000 members, USA Water Ski is the largest water skiing federation in the world.

They maintain a web page for Disabled water skiers on their site that gives information on the following topics:

• A History of Disabled Skiing
• U.S. National Records
• World Records - Men
• World Records - Women
• Upcoming Events
• National Championships
• Athlete Resources
• Equipment

For more information, and a link to the Disability page, use the contact information below.

USA Water Ski
1251 Holy Cow Road
Polk City, FL 33868
Phone: 863-324-4341
Fax: 863-325-8259
Web: http://usawaterski.org/pages/divisions/WSDA/main.htm

My Pictures are Gone

Do you use Outlook Express to read your email? Does your screen reader keep saying, "Some pictures have been blocked...Click here to download pictures?" Do you see a large, red "X" where your pictures should be? Do you want this to stop?

All right, enough with the questions. The problem is that you are using Windows XP with Service Pack Two. Microsoft thought it would be cool to block pictures from being displayed, in case you get some pictures that might not be nice for children. This created a little problem for those who use screen readers, because screen readers seem to focus on that famous bar, which appears under the "Subject" line. If you want your screen reader to stop reading this message, or if you want to see the pictures that people email to you, follow these steps.

1. Open your Outlook Express.
2. Click on Tools, or hit ALT+T.
3. Use your arrow keys and find "Options" and press enter on it, or click it with your mouse.
4. Look for, or use Control+Tab to get to the "Security" tab.
5. Hit the Tab key until you get to "Download Images".
6. uncheck the box marked "Block images and other external content..."
7. Tab to, or click on the "OK" button.

Now your pictures should appear without any problem, and your screen reader won't keep saying the same line about bblocked pictures for every message you open. Be aware that unchecking this box will allow those rather nasty pictures to display, so be aware of children when checking your email.

Converting PDF Files using Adobe's Online Utilities With Your Screen Reader

We've all needed to read a PDF file at one time or another, but getting our screen reader to cooperate is not always possible. There is a way to translate PDF files to something your screen reader can handle.

Follow these steps to translate your PDF file in to an HTML or text file.

1. Place your reading cursor on the link that would download, or open the PDF file.
2. Right click the link, or hit the "Applications" key. This key is located just to the left of the right-hand control key.
3. Choose "properties" from the list.
4. At the bottom of the resulting page, you should find the URL of the PDF file. This should look something like http://www.aph.org/test.pdf
5. Copy the entire URL to the clipboard.
6. Go to the following page: http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/access_onlinetools.html Click here to go to the Adobe Online Conversion page
7. Look for the line "Enter a URL to an Adobe PDF document below":
8. You will find an edit box a few lines down the screen.
9. Paste the URL of your PDF file in to the box.
10. Choose either HTML or Text by checking the appropriate option.
11. Take a few minutes to fill in the information as to why you are using this online conversion utility, who knows, they may work even harder to make PDF files easier to use.
12. Click the "Get this Adobe PDF Document" button.

Your document should come up in a new window. If you want to save the document to your hard drive, choose "Save as" from the "File" menu and remember to save as HTML if that was your choice of translation.

American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults

The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is a service agency which specializes in providing to blind people help which is not readily available to them from government programs or other existing service systems. The services of the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults are planned especially to meet the needs of blind children, the elderly blind, and the deaf-blind.

The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults has offices in Baltimore, Maryland, and Tarzana, California, and volunteer workers throughout the country. The Tarzana office houses their free lending library of Braille and Twin Vision® books for blind children. Books are sent postage free to borrowers in the US and Canada. They publish and distribute to deaf-blind persons a free weekly newspaper in Braille internationally. The Action Fund also distributes free Braille calendars to blind and deaf-blind people on a nationwide basis. A very large number of volunteers help the Action Fund provide its services.

American Action Fund
1800 Johnson Street
Suite 100
Baltimore,, MD 21230
Phone: 410-659-9315
Web: http://www.actionfund.org/

Explore With Google and NASA

Google Earth

Just about every computer user has Googled the internet for information. Now, you can Google the planet as well.

Google Earth is a standalone application that's essentially an enhanced and upgraded version of its Keyhole 3D satellite imagery product. Google has made the application free to all users, dropping its annual subscription fee for the basic version.

Google Earth is designed to make it easy to "fly" to aerial views of many locations on the planet. Currently, the application has detailed imagery for the U.S., Canada and the U.K. and 38 major cities in other countries, as well as medium to high resolution terrain imagery for the entire world.

The application is a "console" with controls allowing you manipulate 3D satellite imagery of the Earth in a viewer directly above the controls. When you first start the application, your view is of the entire globe. You can either use the controls or Google Earth's search functions to zoom in on a specific location.

Google Earth has three primary search features: Fly To, Local Search and Directions, each accessed by buttons at the top-left of the application.

The Fly To feature accepts an address, place name, cross street or simple Latitude/Longitude coordinates and zooms you quickly in to the specified location, typically stopping at an altitude of about 3,000 feet above ground. From this point, use the controls to zoom, tilt, pan or rotate the view.

Checkboxes next to the navigation controls allow you to overlay lodging, roads, terrain, dining, geographical borders and 3D buildings over the satellite image.

Click here to see the system requirements for Google Earth, and to download the program: http://earth.google.com.

One small step for Google...

On July 20, 1969, man first landed on the Moon. A few decades later, we're pleased to cut you in on the action. Google Moon is an extension of Google Maps and Google Earth that, courtesy of NASA imagery, enables you to surf the Moon's surface and check out the exact spots that the Apollo astronauts made their landings. Don't forget to zoom in real close for special features.

Click this link to visit Google Moon: http://moon.google.com.

Google Mars

If you like exploring the moon with Google you'll love doing the same with Mars.

Click this link to begin exploring Mars with Google: http://www.google.com/mars.

NASA's World Wind

World Wind is a FREE piece of software from NASA that allows you to easily search and manipulate many terabytes of satellite images, aerial images, and topographical maps from various sources including Terraserver.

World Wind lets you zoom from satellite altitude into any place on Earth. Leveraging Landsat satellite imagery and Shuttle Radar Topography Mission data, World Wind lets you experience Earth terrain in visually rich 3D, just as if you were really there. Major landmarks around the globe can be marked on images. In fact, icons are clickable and link to a Wikipedia entry about the landmark. If you like how easily you can manipulate/move Google Maps, you can do just about the same thing here. Virtually visit any place in the world. Look across the Andes, into the Grand Canyon, over the Alps, or along the African Sahara.

Use this link to learn more about this exciting program from NASA: http://worldwind.arc.nasa.gov.

Please note that neither of these programs are screen reader friendly, but users of screen magnification programs should have no problem navigating with either software package.

Alliance for Technology Access

The Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) is a network of community-based Resource Centers, Developers, Vendors and Associates dedicated to providing information and support services to children and adults with disabilities, and increasing their use of standard, assistive, and information technologies. ATA Members can be found all across the country. Their site is designed to help you get to know them a little better, make use of their resources, contact one of their members and perhaps consider joining them in achieving their mission of "connecting children and adults with disabilities to technology tools."

If you are searching for assistive technology, you can search the hub to find products and information. Click here to visit The ATA Hub page to conduct your search.

Alliance for Technology Access
1304 Southpoint Blvd.
Suite 240
Petaluma, CA 94954
Phone: 707-778-3011
Fax: 707-765-2080
Email: ATAinfo@ATAccess.org

Advantage Canes

Advantage Graphite Canes have been acclaimed world-wide as the greatest breakthrough in canes. The world's first cane made of graphite materials.

Advantage Graphite Canes are designed to achieve optimum balance for ease of use and comfort. At 50 inches, the Advantage cane only weighs 8.5 ounces.

For more information, e-mail: advantagecanes@aol.com or click here to visit the Advantage Cane web site..

Revolution Enterprises Incorporated
12170 Dearborn Place
Poway, CA 92064
Toll Free: 800-382-5132
Web: http://www.advantagecanes.com

"Chat" With Your Friends Through The Internet

A warm welcome from the folks at VIP Conduit. This is a community of vision impaired individuals, their friends and families. Although they primarily serve the visually impaired, anyone is most welcome to join the site.

You may wonder how they got their name. The acronym VIP has the traditional meaning "very important person", but in some circles it also stands for "visually impaired person". They believe that all of their visitors and guest are VIP's in the traditional sense but VIP also describes the group they serve. A conduit is a means of transmission. Whether its through their classes or other on-line events or through their interaction with others, a great deal of useful knowledge is exchanged.

Their motto "many voices one chorus" also says a great deal about who they are and what they do. while they are a collection of individuals, they cooperate with each other to make all of our lives better. Similarly they recognize that there are a myriad of cyber communities like theirs and they strive to build bridges with those other communities to make the internet experience better for everyone.

The site has a Variety of voice chat rooms. In order to enter these chat rooms you will need the Ventrilo client. You can download this program directly from their site. You will also need to get a user id and password. Just fill out their simple "Join" form and the user id and password will be e-mailed to you.

They encourage everyone who joins to become a VIP Conduit member. A VIP Conduit membership entitles you to priority tech support, access to their classes and members only rooms and much much more.

To learn more about the VIP CONDUIT, simply click this link to visit their home page: http://www.vipconduit.com/.

Access-USA: Producer Of Alternative Format Media

Access-USA is North America's largest fully integrated production house for all types of alternative format media from braille to captioning.

Access-USA has over two decades of experience and leadership in helping businesses and organizations to communicate more effectively with over 4.2 million people with visual impairments, and this market is growing every year!

The Americans with Disabilities Act is opening doors in the business world. Not just doors to new markets, but doors to untapped human resources as well. Employers have found that employees with disabilities have proven to be hard working and reliable, while accommodations are often less complicated or expensive than anticipated.

Access-USA
PO Drawer 160
242 James Street
Clayton, NY 13624
Toll Free: 800-263-2750
Fax: 800-563-1687
Email: info@access-usa.com
Web: http://www.access-usa.com/Welcome_1.htm

Access Technology Institute

Access Technology Institute is dedicated to changing the way in which the world of training for blind and visually impaired consumers are viewed by society.

ATI is also proud to play an important role in changing the way in which rehab agencies, educational institutions and individuals view access technology training. Every blind and visually impaired student has a right to expect quality training in access technology. ATI fervently supports that right and guarantees that students who hold a certificate of graduation from ATI are among the best of Access Technology Trainers.

Access Technology Institute
PO Box 215151
Sacramento, CA 95821
Phone: 916-679-4161
Fax: 916-679-4198
Email: webinfo@accesstechnologyinstitute.com
Web: http://www.accesstechnologyinstitute.com/

Access Ingenuity

Access Ingenuity provides a full range of products and services for people with disabilities. Because the goal is to provide effective access solutions they can advise, supply, and train with products from across the industry.

Access Ingenuity
3635 Montgomery Drive
Santa Rosa, CA 95405
Toll Free: 877-579-4380
Phone: 707-579-4380
Fax: 707-579-4273
Email: access@accessingenuity.com
Web: http://www.accessingenuity.com

Finding Adaptive Technology Is As Easy As Abledata

ABLEDATA provides objective information about assistive technology products and rehabilitation equipment available from domestic and international sources.

Although ABLEDATA does not sell any products, they can help you locate the companies that do.

ABLEDATA is Maintained for the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education by Macro International Inc.

ABLEDATA
8630 Fenton Street
Suite 930
Silver Spring, MD 20910.
Toll Free: 1-800-227-0216
Fax: 301-608-8958.
Email: abledata@orcmacro.com.
Web: http://www.abledata.com/

WebbIE: the free web browser for People Who are Blind or Visually Impaired

WebbIE is a web browser for blind and visually-impaired people, especially those using screen readers. It is based on Microsoft's Internet Explorer to ensure that a maximum of sites work with it. It allows you access to the vast majority of webpages and tries to present all the information there simply and easily so you can explore and use the web fully.

WebbIE is Freeware, meaning that it is free to use on any computer. It can be downloaded from the following site. Click here to download WebbIE http://www.webbie.org.uk/index.htm