Leaders and Legends: Durward K. McDaniel

Durward K. McDaniel
Inducted 2002
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

Durward McDaniel (1915-1994) was born in Oklahoma and lost his sight at the age of 14 as the result of an oil field accident. He attended the Oklahoma School for the Blind, the University of Oklahoma and its law school. He opened a law office in Oklahoma City and qualified to practice before the Supreme Court. He was married to Aileen and they had one daughter. In 1949 he co-founded the Oklahoma League for the Blind and served as president of the Oklahoma Council of the Blind from 1947 to 1950.

Durwood McDaniel has been credited with being one of the primary forces in the movement to found the American Council of the Blind. Notwithstanding the status of a fledgling organization with limited resources, he persuaded ACB's National Board to create the office of a national representative to provide a presence on Capitol Hill. He served as its first national representative in Washington (occasionally without a full pay check) from 1968 to 1981 and at one time as its vice president. In 1969 the first special interest affiliates were formed, and ACB was off and running. For a time he was editor of The Braille Forum. Recognizing the commonality of problems of blind people with other minorities, he sought for and obtained admission of the American Council of the Blind into the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights.

Durward McDaniel believed that through skillful influence on state and federal legislative processes, hard work in state and federal governmental regulatory processes, and fervent advocacy at local, state and national levels, the quality of life for all blind persons could be improved. He was an expert on the Randolph-Sheppard vending program and starting in 1981 served as legal counsel for RSVA, an affiliate of ACB. He chaired the Affiliated Leadership League of and for the Blind of America and was a founding member of the American Coalition of Citizens with Disabilities. He was one of the leading exponents of the provision in the Wagner-O'Day Act mandating the 75/25 percent ration of blind to sighted workers in workshops. He worked diligently for the Fully Insured Rule of Title II of the Social Security Act which qualified blind persons for benefits. He was well versed in and an effective shaper of legislation that affected blind Americans.

In 1991 Durward McDaniel received the Migel Medal for outstanding services to the blind from the American Foundation for the Blind. In 1993 he was honored with the Distinguished Service Award of the President of the United States. He was especially passionate about and dedicated to the betterment of the lives of average or small-town blind Americans. He was a man of ideas, a man of action, and a man of tireless energy. Few names are better known among the blind in this country than that of Durward McDaniel. He was known for his self-sacrificial deeds, his unwavering principles, and his deep concern for his fellow blind.

Plaque sponsored by: Alliance of and for Visually Impaired Texans, American Council of the Blind of Texas, Inc., Austin Council of the Blind, Inc., Texas AER

About the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.

Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Visit the virtual Hall of Fame for the inspiring stories of many more heroes of the field of blindness.

Leaders and Legends: Anne Sullivan Macy

Anne Sullivan Macy
Inducted 2006
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

Anne Sullivan Macy (1866 - 1936) was born in Massachusetts and although she was called Anne or Annie from the very beginning, her baptismal certificate identifies her as Johanna Mansfield Sullivan. Her parents were poor, illiterate Irish immigrants. By age seven she was unschooled, hot tempered, and nearly blind from untreated trachoma. Her mother was frail and died of tuberculosis when Anne was eight years old and her abusive, alcoholic father abandoned his family when Anne was ten years old. She and her brother were sent to the state almshouse in Tewksbury, Massachusetts where Jimmie died a short time later. Anne spent four unhappy years at Tewksbury, grieving over her brother's death and the disappointment of two unsuccessful eye operations.

As a result of her direct plea to a state official who had come to inspect the Tewksbury almshouse, she was allowed to leave and enroll in the Perkins School for the Blind in Boston in 1880. Here she quickly learned to read and write and to use the manual alphabet to communicate with a deaf/blind friend. While at Perkins, Anne had several successful eye operations, which improved her sight significantly. In 1886 she graduated from Perkins as valedictorian of her class. A short time later, Anne accepted the Keller family's offer to come to Tuscumbia, Alabama, to tutor their blind, deaf, mute seven year-old daughter, Helen.

In March of 1887 Anne began her lifelong role as Helen Keller's teacher, a true pioneer in the field of education of deaf-blind. In 1894 Anne was to deliver a speech at the American Association to Promote the Teaching of Speech to the Deaf in Chautauqua, New York. She was too shy to speak and had her friend and mentor, Alexander G. Bell, speak for her. Anne was Helen's educator for thirteen years and, in 1900, accompanied her to Radcliffe College. Anne went with Helen to every class, spelling into her hand all the lectures, demonstrations, and assignments. When Helen received her Bachelor of Arts degree, it was a triumph for both women. Annie and John Macy married in 1905 and maintained a relationship through 1914.

Despite Anne's declining health, she and Helen traveled widely in the United States and later in other countries. They gave lectures, vaudeville performances, and even appeared in a film titled "Deliverance." In 1924, Anne and Helen began to work for the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) as advocates, counselors, and fundraisers. By 1927 they had addressed 250,000 people in 249 meetings on the subject of blindness.

In 1930-31 Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania wished to recognize Anne and Helen's achievements with honorary degrees. Helen accepted but Anne refused until a year later when she reluctantly accepted the honor. In 2003 she was inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame.

Plaque sponsored by the Perkins School for the Blind

Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan (1930 Newsreel Footage)

About the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.

Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Visit the virtual Hall of Fame for the inspiring stories of many more heroes of the field of blindness.

Leaders and Legends: Berthold Lowenfeld

Berthold Lowenfeld
Inducted 2002
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

Berthold Lowenfeld (1901-1994) was born in Linz, Austria. He graduated from the University of Vienna in 1927 with a Ph.D. in Psychology. In 1922, while still a student, he began teaching at the Jewish School for the Blind, Hohe Warte, in Vienna where he worked until 1930, when he was awarded a Rockefeller Fellowship to study the education of blind children in the United States. Prior to leaving for the U.S., he married his beloved Greta, and they often referred to their year abroad as their "honeymoon."

In 1938, the Lowenfelds move permanently to the United States with Kathryn Maxfield, an educator working for the American Foundation for the Blind, as their sponsor. They settled in New York, and soon both the Lowenfelds were working part-time for the New York Institute for the Education of the Blind, a residential school in the Bronx.

Shortly thereafter, Robert Irwin, the Director of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), offered Berthold Lowenfeld a research position in order to study the feasibility of "talking books" for the blind. Subsequently, he became the Director of Research for AFB, a position he held from 1939 until 1949. His research into talking books, needs of preschool blind children, and the attributes of local day school programs for blind children were among his most profound and lasting contributions during this time. From 1944 until 1949, he was also teaching university courses in education of blind children for Teacher's College, Columbia University. In 1948 he served as president of the National Braille Club.

From 1949 until his retirement in 1964, Berthold Lowenfeld served as the Superintendent of the California School for the Blind. He made a deep and lasting impression on the characteristics and responsibilities of schools for the blind which is still very evident today. He also became the most vocal and persistent advocate for blind children having the opportunity to attend their local schools. He never viewed his role with a school for the blind and his advocacy for local school placements as being contradictory. Rather, he constantly reminded his colleagues that if they assessed children well, determined the environment in which they would best learn, and provided the appropriate resources, local schools and residential schools would both flourish.

Berthold Lowenfeld's contributions to the literature on blindness are known and deeply respected throughout the world. Two of his books, Our Blind Children, and The Changing Status of the Blind, are classics in the field and timeless in relevance. This exceptional writer has additionally given us three other books, over 100 articles, numerous book chapters, and many other documents. At the 1992 AER International Conference, he was the recipient of the distinguished C. Warren Bledsoe Award to recognize a lifetime achievement of outstanding contribution to the blindness professional literature.

About the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.

Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Visit the virtual Hall of Fame for the inspiring stories of many more heroes of the field of blindness.

TV-B-Gone!

This could be my most favorite gadget. I'm adding it to Fred's Head because I'm betting you've been in similar situations and would have loved to have had this device.

Have you ever sat in a doctor's office for several hours? Maybe the Social Security office or other government agency? You know they always have a TV on and it's usually playing the worse possible thing they could find to watch. My favorite is the doctor's office and the medical facts show. What about the emergency room at a hospital? I had to sit in a waiting room for most of a night a few years ago and the only thing on TV was Jerry Springer. I was ready to scream before that night was over.

Now there's a solution: the TV-B-Gone. This small keychain wonder is designed to turn off virtually any television. Invented by Mitch Altman, a former Silicon Valley entrepreneur, the TV-B-Gone is a simple remote control device with a single button. When activated, the unit emits 209 different turn-off codes for nearly every TV. The unit takes a little more than a minute to cycle through all of the turn-off codes, but fortunately, codes for the most common TVs are emitted first. And because it's small, unassuming, and attaches to your key ring, you can always be discreet about offing that off-putting talking head.

Just think, more authentic and meaningful social interactions can be yours in seconds. Be prepared when the TV goes off, though; you may have to talk to some stranger sitting in the room with you. Of course, if it's just simple silence you're after, the TV-B-Gone delivers that, too.

Click this link to purchase the TV B Gone from amazone.com.

Micro Spy Remote

Now, let's take this one step further. Why not control the TV instead of just shutting it off. This little universal remote can control a wide variety of televisions (Sony, Panasonic, Samsung, Toshiba, Sanyo, Aiwa, Mitsubishi, Philips, JVC, Sharp, etc) and its small size will safeguard you against discovery. Simply hold the mute button until the target TV mutes, you can take control of almost any television within seconds! Control volume, channel, mute, off/on with easy-to-feel buttons that are great for anyone who is blind or visually impaired. Dimensions: 2.3" x 1.4" x .25" (5.8 x 3.6 x .6 cm) and comes with a Keychain attachment and one CR2032 battery (included).

Click this link to purchase the Micro Spy Remote from ThinkGeek.

How to boost your Internet speed

Need to increase your Internet connection speed? There are a number of tweaks out there that will enable you to maximize your system's performance and likewise, there are lots of things you can do to tweak your Internet connection to boost Internet speed. There are tons of them out there, but this article is going to focus on one very well hidden way in Windows. NOTE: this is for the advanced Windows user, do this if you're really familiar with Windows and your screen reader.

Un-reserving bandwidth

By Default, XP reserves 20% of your bandwidth for it's own use. This is a crying shame and should be undone immediately. To do this, you will not require any additional software, just follow the steps below to make changes to your Windows XP.

1. Access the Group Policy Editor. This can be done by typing gpedit.msc in the Run box (Start, and then Run).
   
2. Use your arrow and tab keys to navigate to Computer Configuration/Administrative Templates/ Network/QOS Packet Scheduler. If you have some vision, this will be in the pane on the left side.
   
3. Once you've navigated to the right setting, hit the tab key and find Limit reservable bandwidth, either right-click this or use the applications key and select properties.
   
4. Now this might seem a bit weird, as the State will say "Not Configured" but Windows by default will reserve 20%. So the trick is to set it to reserve 0%. You can do this by clicking enabled and then setting the Bandwidth Limit % to 0.
   
5. Hit OK then close the Group Policy Editor.

That's it! You're done with this tweak. Reboot your computer and see if you notice a difference in your connection speed, pages should load a bit faster now.

Fastest, Simplest, Most Accessible Dictionary Online

Ninjas are three things:

1. They're smart
   
2. They're accurate
   
3. They're really fast

Combine the lightning fast reflexes of ninja with the vast information of a dictionary and what do you get? NinjaWords. This is an online dictionary which outperforms the rest. Your usual dictionary floods you with ads and a bunch of stuff, everything besides a definition, which probably doesn't interest you in the very least. What's more you can't look up different words on one page, you have to redo your search or open a new page, what a pain with a screen reader.

Ninja Words allows you to look up multiple words in the same search, separated by commas, and in the url, just type them in the address bar. It comes with a spell check and for those who need to boost their vocab, you can aggregate words into a list, bookmark or send it to your word-challenged friends. NinjaWords can also be added to your Firefox and IE toolbars.

Click this link to use the power of a ninja to look up your next words at http://www.NinjaWords.com.

Definr

Here's another incredibly fast online dictionary. It only takes a few seconds to lookup a word and its very accessible.

Click this link to visit http://definr.com.

Leaders and Legends: Roy Kumpe

Roy Kumpe
Inducted 2002
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

Roy Kumpe (1910-1987) was born in Arkansas. After the onset of blindness at the age of eight, he attended the Arkansas School for the Blind. He graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock completing his law degree in 1938.

Soon thereafter, he started a job placement service called Arkansas Employment Services which linked federal vending stand sites with competent operators who were blind. The realization that not enough people were independent enough to be successfully employed kindled his dream to create a training center for people who are blind or visually impaired.

One of the first steps toward the fulfillment of Roy Kumpe's dream was to persuade a statewide convention of Lions Clubs to sponsor a civilian rehabilitation center and to raise $10,000 for its first quarters. Thus, the first rehabilitation center to open under non-governmental auspices in the country was incorporated in 1947 as Arkansas Enterprises for the Blind. AEB shared honors with a rehabilitation program in the district of Columbia in pioneering effective vending stand programs under the Randolph-Sheppard Act. The center pioneered in many other areas, receiving training grants through the Social and Rehabilitation Services Administration for developing the optical aids clinic, for training blind persons as taxpayer service representatives, for testing the effectiveness and use of newly developed ultrasonic binaural sensors, and for new methods of training blind computer programmers.

He established the International Services for the Blind in 1971 and subsequently served as consultant to governmental agencies for the blind in El Salvador, Columbia, Uruguay and Bolivia. To reflect this world wide scope, the name officially changed to Lions World Services for the Blind in 1989. Since the early beginnings in 1947, LWSB has served more than 10,000 individuals from 50 states and 54 countries. Under Roy Kumpe's quiet yet persuasive leadership and with that indomitable pioneer spirit, the agency grew into one of the most comprehensive rehabilitation centers in the world, offering a complete personal adjustment program, 13 vocational courses, a vision rehabilitation clinic, an assistive technology laboratory, and a college preparatory program. He was a tireless advocate for specialized training programs and separate agencies for the blind.

Roy Kumpe was active in AAWB, serving as its president from 1951-1953. He served on the board of trustees of AFB in the mid 50's. In 1972 he was the founder-president of the National Council of Rehabilitation Centers for the Blind. He was the recipient of many honors and awards: an appointment by President Truman to the President's Committee on Employment of the Handicapped in 1949; the Merit Citation from the National Rehabilitation Association in 1962; the Migel Medal from AFB in 1970; and was appointed Ambassador of Goodwill by the President of Lions International in 1974. He received an honorary doctorate of law degree from the University of Arkansas in 1972.

Plaque sponsored by the Lions World Services for the Blind

About the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.

Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Visit the virtual Hall of Fame for the inspiring stories of many more heroes of the field of blindness.

Accessible Fx Software

Fx Software is a website that offers free downloadable programs. There are two categories, Assistive Software and Other Software. It is the Assistive Software that is of particular interest to folks with low vision. In this category there are 11 free downloads:

• KwikLoupe: simple screen magnifier
  
• RapidSet: allowing you to conveniently change font and/or background colour
  
• Mouseketeer: mouse clicking/dragging
  
• Vu-Bar 4: tool for keeping a single line of text in view
  
• Sonar 4: provides a permanent ring around the mouse pointer
  
• Edgeless: causes mouse pointer to wrap around screen
  
• KeyCounter: keeps track of number of keystrokes to suggest need for rest
  
• mmFollow: adds cartoon character to mouse cursor
  
• Washer: adjusts screen for varying conditions of colour blindness
  
• Bigger Cursors: set of large colourful cursors
  
• Chunky Cursors: set of large chunky colourful cursors

Click this link to visit FX Software at http://www.fxc.btinternet.co.uk.

The Blind Planet

The Blind Planet is a rapidly-growing website that offers a lot of valuable information for the blind community, and / or for those people who are interested in learning about blindness and how blind people go about their daily lives. Regardless of whether you are blind, sighted, a novice or a professional at technology, or are just searching for help and / or information on a particular topic, you will definitely find the Blind Planet to be one of your favorite websites very quickly.

The site has a variety of material available for you to browse. You will find many audio podcasts and tutorials on different topics. These can range from software and hardware reviews / tutorials on different software programs and hardware devices that blind people use on a daily basis to sound-seeing tours of places such as museums, parks, etc. You will find audio files from not only the site owner, but from a variety of podcasters, so you can hear about the experience of other blind individuals in the community.

The Blind Planet is a community-driven site, which means that the growth of the site depends heavily on its users and contributions from the blind community. You can even submit your own audio files and other content to the site. You can even have your own blog on the site if you want with your very own RSS feed. There are links to many blindness-related websites that focus on specific topics related to blindness. There are links to many blindness-related mailing lists where you can ask questions on certain topics and make new friends with others in the blind community.

The Blind Planet opened on January 15, 2008. New features will be added on a regular basis, so be sure to check back often.

Click this link to visit http://www.blind-planet.com.

Evaluating Internet Health Information: A Tutorial from the National Library of Medicine

Your doctor says you may have Glaucoma. What does that mean? Most people would immediately turn to the web for information. How do you know that the sites you visit are reliable? Are these sites going to give you the best medical information?

The National Library of Medicine has developed a tutorial that will help answer these questions. The tutorial is in both text and audio formats. You will need to have the Flash Player plugin installed to run the tutorial. If Flash is not installed on your computer, you will be asked to download the free plugin.

The tutorial runs automatically, but you can also use the navigation bar at the bottom of the screen to go forward, backward, pause, or start over. It's about sixteen minutes long and packed with information.

Click this link to visit the National Library of Medicine's "Evaluating Internet Health Information" web page.

Interactive Health Tutorials (MedlinePlus)

"Using animated graphics each tutorial explains a procedure or condition in easy-to-read language. You can also listen to the tutorial." Totorials cover a variety of Diseases and Conditions, Tests and Diagnostic Procedures, Surgery and Treatment Procedures, and Prevention/Wellness.

Click this link to view these Interactive Health Tutorials.

Create a Web Page with MS-Word

Did you know that you can create your very own Web page using MS Word? Well, you surely can and it's pretty easy to do too! If you're looking to make a real simple and laid back Web page, Word is the way to go. Also, if you want to practice making pages, this is a good starting tool to use.

Introduction

If you prefer to design your own Web page without the help from Word's Web Page Wizard, you can use Word's formatting tools to assign styles, create headings and add body text to your page. You can easily add lists and graphics as well. When you're finished, you can save your page and even post on the Web if you'd like. If you're confused already, don't worry, we're going to cover all of this right now!

Follow the steps below to create your own Web page:

1. Open Microsoft Word and click New from the File menu. This opens the New dialogue box.
   
2. Select the Web page option. Word will open a blank Web page in your program window.
   
3. Select a Heading Style. To enter a heading for your Web page, click the Styles and Formatting drop down list on the Format toolbar and choose a heading style, such as Heading 1 or Heading 2. Heading styles range in sizes from large to small.
   
4. Type in the Heading Text you'd like to add. If you're creating a personal Web page, for example, you might type "Welcome to My Page." If you're creating a company Web page, you'll probably want to type the company name instead.
   
5. Continue selecting the different styles you want to use and type in all the text you want. If you're creating a personal Web page, you might want to include information about yourself or if it's a company Web page, you'll want to insert information about the company. You can format the text any way you'd like, such as changing fonts, increasing font sizes and much more. You can also add pictures from the Insert menu, Picture option. Just play around with the different menus to create the style you're looking for.
   
6. When you're finished, be sure to save your work with the Save as Type option. Make sure you choose the Web page(*.htm;*.html) choice.

That's it! Your Web page is now ready. You can always go back and change things around as you get more material, more pictures, etc. Just make sure you save your work after each time. Now, you may be asking how you can upload your newly designed page to the World Wide Web for all to see. Let's go over a couple of scenarios for this first.

Scenario 1:

You've created a Web page using the above steps. Now, what should you do to upload your files on to the Web?

At this point, construction of your homepage is complete, but your page still resides on your computer, not on the Internet. You are now ready to publish your page on the World Wide Web. To do this, you will need to copy your page from your computer's hard drive to a Web server.

The Internet Service Provider (ISP) that you use for Internet access might provide free Web hosting to its customers. Many do. You'll just have to check with them to see if they do. If not, there are a number of companies that will provide server space at no charge. (For example, http://www.geocities.com). You will, however, be required to include a banner or icon somewhere on your page to promote the free hosting service or their sponsors.

Alternatively, there are many professional Web hosting companies that offer inexpensive hosting packages with advanced features for under $10 per month.

When you register for Web hosting services, you will be sent instructions on how to upload files to the Web server (your Web page). The Web host will also provide you with a user ID and password so that other people can't access or alter your files.

There are also many Web space providers who will sell you space on their servers. Prices will range from as little as $1 per month and up to $100 per month or more. This all just depends upon your needs. Non-virtual Web space is typically the cheapest, offering a URL like: http://www.some-provider.com/yourname/. For a little more, plus the cost of registering a domain name, you can get virtual Web space, which will allow you to have a URL like: http://www.yourname.com/.

Scenario 2:

You have your own website and would like to know the steps to upload the .html files you've created. No problem!

If you have a domain name of your own (http://www.yourname.com), you would have been provided with a user ID and password and the instructions to upload the files. Uploading files can also be done using FTP (File Transfer Protocols) software like CuteFTP, AutoFTP Pro, etc.

If you have a non-virtual Web space (http://www.some-provider.com/yourname/), the files can be uploaded using the File Manager menu, where you will get the command button Upload. This, in turn, requests that you select the path where the .html files are located.

NOTE: The above mentioned www.some-provider.com can be www.geocities.com, for example. Sites like that allow you to create your own website for free. Also, the above mentioned File Manager menu and the Upload option are applicable for the geocities website and though similar, might not be the same for other Web sites that provide free Web space.

Once you figure out everything that will work the best for your Web page, you can create more pages and turn your one page into a whole website!

Audio Vision Radio Reading Service is Online

Think for a moment how your life would change if you couldn't read a newspaper, magazine, or book. Because you have this "luxury", you may not realize how the morning paper can affect your life. Unfortunately, there are as many as 180,000 Californians who, due to blindness, impaired vision, or physical disability, have had to learn to live without.

Now, through AUDIO VISION Radio Reading Service for the Blind, many people once caught in this information void have 24-hour, seven-days-a-week access to the local and national news and information that shapes our lives. Everything from the front-page stories to the grocery store advertisements is read by volunteers and is broadcast over what is called a "sub-frequency" of a public FM radio station. In California, the broadcast can be heard only through the use of a special radio receiver. For the blind and print handicapped, this service is as big a part of their lives as breakfast, lunch and dinner. Anyone who cannot read due to blindness, impaired vision or physical handicap can request the AUDIO VISION service.

The ultimate goal of AUDIO VISION is to make this broadcast available to anyone who needs it without the use of expensive special access receivers. The broadcast of newspapers is now available online. It is not a live stream but a archival selection. Each days reading is replaced by the current day. Click this link to visit http://www.audiovisionradio.org.

Four More Online Radio Reading Services

• New Orleans: http://wrbh.org
  
• Washington DC: http://www.washear.org
  
• San Diego, California: http://www.kpbs.org/radio_reading_service
  
• Tempe, Arizona: http://sunsounds.rio.maricopa.edu

Free guide to Chicago for the disabled

Chicago is offering a new free guide for visitors with disabilities called "Easy Access Chicago." Basic visitor information for city attractions like Millennium Park, Navy Pier, Wrigley Field and the Sears Tower are all in the guide, along with details on accommodations like ramps and elevators, handicapped parking, Braille signage and assistive listening devices, and accessible bathrooms, counters and ticket windows.

Other tips include how to get a 21-day pass for paratransit services or arrange free guided tours for visitors with disabilities through the Chicago Greeter program, which offers 40 special interest areas and 25 neighborhoods to choose from (details at http://www.chicagogreeter.com or 312-744-8000).

"Easy Access Chicago" can be ordered by mail at no charge from the Illinois Bureau of Tourism at 800-226-6632 or by visiting http://www.enjoyillinois.com. It can also be downloaded in a PDF format from www.easyaccesschicago.org. You'll find the link near the bottom of the welcome screen.

All the city's public buses are wheelchair-accessible. Each July, the city hosts the largest Disability Pride Parade in the nation as well as AccessChicago, a products and services expo.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Leaders and Legends: Ruth Kaarlela

Ruth Kaarlela
Inducted 2002
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

Ruth Kaarlela was born in Michigan in 1919. She received her bachelors and masters degrees in social work (1947) from Wayne State University and a Ph.D. from the University of Michigan in gerontology (1978). She took courses at Syracuse University and Columbia University Teachers College which resulted in certification in special education to teach blind children. She is currently living in Michigan.

Ruth Kaarlela was employed as a social worker in the Family Service Agency in Lansing for five years and then at the University of Michigan hospital for 4 years. During a three year period at the Industrial Home for the Blind at the Mineola campus, she developed plans for integration of blind children into public schools. For two years she was an itinerant teacher of blind children in a Long Island school system. She was then asked to take charge of a Nassau County day school for emotionally disturbed children, supervising 21 teachers and 90 children.

In 1963 Ruth Kaarlela joined the faculty at Western Michigan University to initiate a Rehabilitation Teaching Program. This involved developing the curriculum, acquiring equipment, selecting students, locating internship settings and building a library of literature. For the next 23 years, she was involved in offering graduate courses, refining program content to include low vision, multihandicapping conditions, gerontology and technology, and in the latter years she served as chairperson of the Department of Blind Rehabilitation. Because of her pioneer work in the profession of rehabilitation teaching and the development of a university curriculum, she has been referred to as the "Founder of Rehabilitation Teaching."

Ruth Kaarlela was also known as a significant leader in the gerontology movement of the 70's and 80's. She taught the first gerontology course at Western Michigan University, which later led to the establishment of a complete gerontology degree program. She felt strongly about incorporating the principles and practices of aging into the training program for rehabilitation teachers of the blind. After her retirement from WMU in 1986, she worked on a special project for the American Foundation for the Blind educating native Americans with respect to visual problems.

Ruth Kaarlela authored many publications that served as the basis for educating rehabilitation teachers and made countless presentations extolling the need for and virtues of the profession. She served on the accreditation board for the National Accreditation Council (NAC). She was active in Division 11 of AER, the Michigan Association of Certified Rehabilitation Teachers (MACRT), and the gerontological society. In 1990 she received the Josephine Taylor Award from AER's Division 17. In 1999 at the rehabilitation teachers' gathering in Kalamazoo she was the guest of honor and received the Millennium Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the rehabilitation teaching profession. She recently won the 2001 Migel Medal Award from the AFB, in the "Professional" category.

Photos: 1) BA degree at Wayne University (Detroit, 1952); 2) Visiting with Dr. Paul Ponchillia during Hall of Fame gathering in Louisville (October, 2002); 3) Retirement party as chair of the department, with Dr. William Wiener, successor chair, and Donald Blasch, predecessor (1986); 4) Presented the Millennium Award at the Rehabilitation Teacher's Conference in Kalamazoo--Nancy Parkin, former student, speaks kind words (July, 1999)

About the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.

Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Visit the virtual Hall of Fame for the inspiring stories of many more heroes of the field of blindness.

Leaders and Legends: Kenneth Jernigan

Kenneth Jernigan
Inducted 2002
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

Kenneth Jernigan (1926-1998) grew up on a farm in central Tennessee. He graduated with honors from Tennessee Technological University in 1948 with a bachelor's degree in social science. In 1949 he received a master's degree in English from Peabody College in Nashville, where he subsequently completed additional graduate study. He received the Captain Charles W. Browne Award presented by the American Foundation for the Blind to the nation's outstanding blind student. He was married to Mary Ellen who was also active in NFB activities.

Kenneth Jernigan then spent four years as a teacher of English at the Tennessee School for the Blind. In 1953 he was appointed to the faculty of the California Orientation Center for the Blind in Oakland, where he played a major role in program development.

From 1958 until 1978, he served as Director of the Iowa State Commission for the Blind. In this capacity he was responsible for administering state programs of rehabilitation, home teaching, home industries, an orientation and adjustment center, and library services for the blind and physically handicapped. Under his dynamic and forceful leadership, he made many improvements in services to the blind of Iowa.

In 1978 Kenneth Jernigan moved to Baltimore to become Executive Director of the American Brotherhood for the Blind and Director of the National Center for the Blind. As President of the National Federation of the Blind, he led the organization through the most impressive period of growth in its history. The creation and development of the National Center for the Blind and the expansion of NFB's influential voice and force in the affairs of the blind stand as the culmination of his lifework and a tribute to his brilliance and commitment to the blind of this nation.

Kenneth Jernigan has received too many honors and awards to enumerate individually, including honorary doctorates from three institutions of higher education. In 1960 the Federation presented him with its Newell Perry Award for outstanding accomplishment in services for the blind. In 1968 and again in 1990 he was given a Special Citation and award by the President of the United States for distinguished service. He served as a special consultant to or member of numerous boards and advisory bodies.

Kenneth Jernigan will be best remembered for his passionate and visionary leadership in the National Federation of the Blind for more than thirty-five years. He was President (with one brief interruption) from 1968 until July, 1986. The eloquent and articulate Kenneth Jernigan has touched countless lives both nationally and internationally through his writings and speeches on blindness. There has never been a more vocal or effective advocate for the blind.

About the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.

Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Visit the virtual Hall of Fame for the inspiring stories of many more heroes of the field of blindness.

Leaders and Legends: Robert B. Irwin

Robert B. Irwin
Inducted 2002
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

Robert Irwin (1883-1951) was born in Iowa. When he was five years old he became blind as a result of an eye inflammation. He attended and graduated from a "School for Defective Youth" which was later renamed the Washington State School for the Blind. After graduating from the University of Washington, he attended graduate school at Harvard University where he received an M.A. in 1907 and stayed for two more years to concentrate on the education and welfare of the blind as well as on government and history.

Robert Irwin began his career in 1910 as supervisor of the classes for the blind in the Cleveland Public Schools, where he also organized classes for partially seeing children in 1913. Assisted by Dr. Goddard in 1914, he was the first to adapt Binet intelligence tests so that they "might be used more appropriately with the blind."

In 1923, Robert Irwin was called to New York to become the Director of Research and Education of the American Foundation for the Blind. During this time, he developed an efficient interpoint braille printing machine which reduced the bulk and cost of braille books by about 40 percent. Another significant contribution was to bring Edison's idea to fruition by using 33rpm long-playing records, long before they became commercially accepted, as Talking Books and by promoting a nationwide system of library services to supply them to the blind in the United States.

During Robert Irwin's tenure as Executive Director of AFB from 1929 to 1949, he built it into one of the most important agencies in work for the blind. An early concern of his was the achievement of better international cooperation on behalf of all the blind in the world. To promote this cause, he organized the World Conference on Work for the Blind which met in New York in 1931. In 1946 Irwin's interest in international work for the blind resulted in organizing the American Foundation for Overseas Blind, later renamed Helen Keller International.

His legislative efforts led to the program of Aid to the Needy Blind under Title X of the Social Security Act and a bill allowing the blind an additional exemption on their Federal Income Tax. He was instrumental in the passage of three laws which became a great stimulus to the employment of the blind: the Barden-La Follette Act, the Randolph-Sheppard Act, and the Wagner-O'Day Act. When World War II required special provisions for war-blinded, he wrote and secured the passage of the bill recognized as "a bill of rights for blinded veterans."

Many honors have been bestowed on Robert Irwin: President of AAWB for four years, named Alumnus Summa Laude Dignatus by the University of Washington, made a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor by the French Government, and awarded an honorary Doctor of Laws degree from Western Reserve University in Cleveland "in recognition of his local, national, and international service in behalf of the blind."

Plaque sponsored by the American Foundation for the Blind

About the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.

Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Visit the virtual Hall of Fame for the inspiring stories of many more heroes of the field of blindness.

What's In Your Wallet?

You reach for your wallet or purse and find nothing. Gone! Your mind races to that last time you remember having it. You're frantic as you think of what might be in it: credit cards, debit card, ATM card, cash, Social Security card. Your first response is to feel a little sick, followed by shrieking, "What will I do?"

Sound too far-fetched? Not at all. In fact, the Federal Trade Commission estimates that about 10 million Americans will have their identities stolen this year. Identity thieves live to get their hands on what's in your wallet. They use that information to assume your identity to commit fraud and other crimes.

Do this NOW: And I mean the moment you finish reading this article. Take everything out of your wallet and lay all of the cards and documents on the screen of a photocopy machine. Make a copy. Now turn every item over and make another copy of the back sides. If necessary, roll the pages in a brailler and date the copies and keep them in a safe place. Now you have a current inventory, plus all the account numbers and phone numbers for the contents of your wallet.

Hopefully you will never lose your wallet, but if you do, here are the steps to follow immediately:

1. Using the information on your inventory, cancel your debit card immediately. It is at the most risk, as anyone can go online and use your debit card if it has a MasterCard or Visa logo, without your PIN. If you do not report this within two days you can be liable for up to $500.
   
2. Cancel your ATM card and finally your credit cards. Make sure you watch your statements carefully to identify and report unauthorized charges.
   
3. Contact one of the three credit reporting agencies: Equifax 800 525 6285; Experian 888 397 3742; TransUnion 800 372-8391. Each agency is bound by law to report your loss to the other two. A fraud alert will be placed on all three reports and tells creditors to follow certain procedures before opening any new accounts.
   
4. File a police report. This is very important if your identity is indeed stolen. A copy of the report will make it easier to prove that future credit-card charges are not your own so you cannot be held liable. Contact your local police department and they can advise you on how to proceed. You may also need to contact your homeowners' insurance company to see if your policy covers you for the costs involved with identity fraud.
   
5. Provide details to the Federal Trade Commission. Go to http://www.Consumer.gov/idtheft to fill out the ID Theft Affidavit. You can make copies of it and send it to creditors in the event that unauthorized credit lines are opened.

Here's another tip. Minimize, carry just what you need from day to day and put the rest in a safe place. Re-inventory and re-photocopy. You want to make sure you always have a true account in a safe place of exactly what's in your wallet.

Free Credit Report

Yeah yeah, a free credit report, right? But this one is for real, and for FREE. Promise! You can get a report from TransUnion, Equifax,and Experian by clicking this link.

Tips for Preventing Clothes Dryer Fires

Besides cleaning the lint filter after each load and checking the back of the dryer where lint can be trapped, there are a number of other simple solutions you can implement to prevent a clothes dryer fire from starting in your home:

• Invest in a dryer duct made of solid metallic material. Flimsy vinyl and foil dryer ducts are combustible and their spiral wound surfaces tend to trap lint.
  
  
• Avoid kinking or crushing the dryer duct to make up for installation in tight quarters -this further restricts airflow.
  
  
• Regularly disconnect, clean and inspect your dryer duct, or hire a professional to do so. This will help to reduce fire hazards.
  
  
• Do not dry clothing or fabric that has absorbed flammable liquids (alcohol, cooking oils, gasoline, spot removers, dry-cleaning solvents, etc.). Flammable substances give off vapors that could ignite or explode.
  
  
• Carefully read, or have someone read to you the manufacturers' warnings which are listed in your dryer's care manual. Also, warnings and instructions can usually be found on the inside of the dryer's lid.
  
  
• Do not operate the dryer without a lint filter.
  
  
• Make sure that the dryer is plugged into an outlet suitable for its electrical needs. Overloaded electrical outlets can result in blown fuses or tripped circuit breakers.
  
  
• Turn the dryer off when leaving your home and don't run it while you are asleep.
  
  
• Keep the dryer area clear of combustibles such as boxes or clothing.

By keeping your dryer clean, not only will you significantly reduce the risk of fire, but you will also save money as your dryer will run more efficiently and last longer.

Remove Dryer Lint with the LintEater

Are you one of those blind handymen who love to take things apart and actually know how to put it back together? I say that because I'm not one of them. Well, if you are handy around the house, you know that over time, your dryer vent fills with lint that sneaks by your dryer's filter. Avoid the fires that can occur when lint buildup blocks the flow of air, causing excessive heat buildup by keeping your dryer vent clear with the LintEater.

Designed by a leading manufacturer of professional duct-cleaning equipment, the LintEater Dryer Vent Cleaning System effectively removes dangerous lint build-up in almost every type of dryer vent system, and it's easy to use with a shop vac or cordless drill (sold separately) or even your dryer's air.

The LintEater Dryer Vent Cleaning System comes with a variety of brushes, extension rods and adapters to clear your ducts thoroughly, regardless of whether you have a metal, foil or white vinyl dryer vent. The rotating action of the auger brush and flexible rods will traverse the multiple turns that are common in most vent systems. The included adapters allow you to use the air from your dryer or a shop vacuum/blower to remove the lint from the vent completely while rotary brushing.

Five 36-inch flexible rods screw together to reach into dryer vents up to 15 feet from one end. The self-feeding 4" auger brush attaches to the flexible rods, and its high-quality bristles retain their shape for repeated use. A blockage-removal tool removes heavy blockages, like animal nests, or attaches to several rods and a cordless drill to clear out clogged downspouts from the ground level. The 2.5-diameter lint-trap brush can reach 42 inches when connected to one rod - all the way to the bottom of your lint trap. This exceptional reach also makes it a snap to clean intake vents as well as underneath and all around your dryer.

Connect the standard hose shop vacuum or blower to the included vacuum adapter to remove lint completely while rotary brushing. The dryer adapter uses the dryer air to remove lint while rotary brushing if you don't have a shop vac or blower.

A 12-foot extension rod kit (sold separately) is available for vents longer than 15 feet. You can also order the extension set with the Dryer Vent Cleaning System as a kit.

Click this link to purchase the LintEater cleaning kit from the Smarthome website.

Dryer Sheets Can Cause Damage

The heating unit went out on my dryer! The repair man went over to the dryer and pulled out the lint filter. It was clean . (We always clean the lint from the filter after every load of clothes.) He said that he wanted to show us something; he took the filter over to the sink and started running hot water over it. The lint filter is made of a mesh material, well, the hot water just sat on top of the mesh! It didn't run through as expected. He told us that dryer sheets cause a film over the mesh, that's what burns out the heating unit. You can't SEE the film, but it's there. You know that dryer sheets often feel waxy when you take them out of the box, well this stuff builds up on your clothes and on your lint screen. This is also what causes dryer units to catch fire. He said the best way to keep your dryer working for a very long time (& to keep your electric bill lower) is to take that filter out & wash it with hot soapy water & an old toothbrush at least every six months. He said that increases the life of the dryer at least twice as long!

Miscellaneous Food Tips

Here are some interesting and useful tips for various types of food:

• Ripening bananas: Take bananas apart if you want them to keep longer. Leaving them connected at the stem ripens them faster.
  
• Storing cheese: Store opened chunks of cheese in aluminum foil, to keep them fresher and mold-free longer.
  
• Choosing bell peppers: Peppers with 3 bumps on the bottom are sweeter and better for eating raw. Peppers with 4 bumps on the bottom are firmer and better for cooking.
  
• Cooking ground beef: Add a teaspoon of water when frying ground beef to help pull the grease away from the meat while cooking.
  
• Scrambled eggs: To make scrambled eggs or omelets richer, add a couple of spoonfuls of sour cream, cream cheese or heavy cream, and beat as usual.
  
• Pizza: Heat up leftover pizza in a nonstick skillet on top of the stove, set heat to medium low and heat till warm. This keeps the crust crispy. No soggy micro pizza.
  
• Cake Frosting: When you buy a container of cake frosting from the store, whip it with your mixer for a few minutes. You can double it in size. You get to frost more cake/cupcakes with the same amount. You also eat less sugar and calories per serving.
  
• Reheating refrigerated bread: To warm biscuits, pancakes, or muffins that were refrigerated, place them in a microwave with a cup of water. The increased moisture will keep the food moist and help it reheat faster.
  

Create News Playlists with NewsClipper and LiveNewsCameras

If you want to watch news clips from major TV news networks in one location, NewsClipper is your one-stop shop. NewsClipper aggregates videos from websites like MSNBC, Fox News, ABC, BBC, CNN, CBS, ESPN, and NBC. You can also take your favorite videos and add them to a playlist or create your own news channel. For people who are blind or visually impaired, it gives you the option of watching the daily news in one handy spot, instead of fighting through several inaccessible sites. My favorite feature is being able to watch the various networks cover the same story, noting the differences in the way the story is covered.

Click this link to visit http://www.newsclipper.org.

LiveNewsCameras.com

If you can't get your fix of news from around the world on your TV, Livestreamingnewscameras.com can help you by giving you access to over 150 channels of live streaming news from the US and around the world. Channels are visually represented in an easy to recognize way, meaning that it will only take you seconds to find the channel that you are looking for. Along with the availability of multiple channels, LiveNewsCameras also has a live moderator who answers real-time chat questions and can help by letting you know what channels to watch and what is currently going on. With an impressive channel selection and the ability to watch in full screen, LiveNewsCameras is worth checking out the next time you want to know what is going on in the world or right in your own backyard.

^D<"LiveNewsCameras.com brings together the resources of journalists around the world and makes live streaming video easy to find and use on your computer.

Find Songs with Similar Sounds at Audiobaba

I love searching for new music and Audiobaba is a great place to find tunes that are similar to what I have in my collection. From the website:

Audiobaba is a next-generation music search and recommendation engine. We realize that unless you know the name of the song you want, searching for music has so far been a pretty pathetic undertaking. Because there really is no better way to describe a song than "da da dee da da da", rather than using text to search for music, Audiobaba searches for music by fingerprinting the acoustic and impossible to articulate qualities of every song in its database and searches through them acoustically. We then further refine and personalize results as we receive feedback from our valued users.

Instead of using the old methods of keywords, genres, and metatags, we rethought the musical paradigm. With text, the name of the game is to find what you want. With music, the idea is to discover new things. So why does music search return the song you want? We thought that was a little silly, so we created Audiobaba. Instead of just returning the song you want (it does that anyway because we know users expect it), it actually returns songs that sound similar.

Audiobaba is powered by a complex artificial intelligence and years of academic research on sound and music. Our computer algorithms 'listen' to music and compare it for multitudes (we can't tell you the exact number but its over 70) of acoustic qualities like beats, rhythm, and all that jazz.

Click this link to find new music at http://www.audiobaba.com.

free international calling with Talkster

Talkster provides you with an easy and free (or very cheap) way to make long distance calls. There is also a simple group calling functionality allowing you to setup free conference calls.

No need to register or sign up for anything. First enter the number you want to make calls from and the number of the person you want to call. Talkster will create local access numbers for both of you. Next time you want to call that person just use the Talkster phone number.

• Make free (or cheap) long distance and group calls using any landline or mobile phone.
  
• Arrange conference calls with upto 5 people simultaneously.
  
• Currently works in 30 countries: US, UK, Canada, Australia, Germany, France etc. See a full list at the website.
  
• No registration or sign up required. There are no hidden fees, talking limits, membership charges or credit card requests.

Note: The Talkster service is free, however in some cases you may be charged by your provider at local rates.

Click this link and start calling your friends for free at http://www.talkster.com.

Recipe Search Powered by Google

Here we are with another great recipe site.

If you are looking for unique recipes and opinions about food from food lovers all over the world, then this simple-to-use website or toolbar is a must. In general, food bloggers tend to give more of a personal touch when writing about food than commercial cooking or recipe sites do. Food Blog Search uses Google's Custom Search Engine to provide you with the most accurate results when you search. If Google is your home page, you can add the Food Blog Search gadget right to your home page simply by clicking on the link provided at http://www.foodblogsearch.com. If you have some vision and use the Google Toolbar you can also ad the Food Blog Search directly to it. If you have a web page, Google provides a piece of code so that you can add the search feature to your site.

Started in October 2006, Food Blog Search now searches over a thousand hand-selected, high quality food blogs. More and more food blogs are added to the list of sites searched every day.

Click this link to find tasty meals at http://www.Foodblogsearch.com.

Pet Travel Dish Set

Are you on the go with your dog guide or other pet? The Pet Travel Dish Set might fill your needs, as well as your animal's.

The two 3 cup bowls are stainless steel on the inside and each includes a plastic cover to keep food fresh. The bowls sit in the chrome-plated steel frame that folds like a suitcase. Also includes a side pocket that holds your pet's 1/2 liter bottle of water. Top-rack dishwasher-safe, great for the office or while traveling. The perfect little picnic set for the busy dog guide.

Click this link to purchase the Pet Travel Dish Set from Shop.com.

accessibar for Firefox

Accessibar is a toolbar that can be installed as an add-on for the Firefox browser with a set of tools to make the internet more accessible for people with special needs. Accessibar is especially useful for those with low vision. As with all toolbar icons in Firefox, the toolbar can include text that names the function of the icon. All of the Accessibar functions can also be activated with keyboard shortcuts that can be configured by the user.

Here's a list of features from the developers:

• Web page fonts and background colors can be changed from a selection of 70 colors on current session
• Icons with configurable shortcut keys to increase and decrease Font size.
• Line spacing can be increased or decreased to five different spacing settings incrementally.
• All images (including Flash) displayed on a web page can be selected as being hidden or shown.
• All changes made to web page display can be restored to original page settings by pressing ^D<"Restore Page^D<".
• Changes made to the currently displayed web page persist until ^D<"Restore Page^D<" is selected.
• Integrated Text To Speech reader. Reads out strings hovered over as well as focused elements.
• Reader settings can be configured allowing the selection of the voice, volume, speaking rate, pitch, and voice range.
• Toolbar functions have configurable Hotkeys (keyboard shortcuts).

Click this link to learn more about the accessibar from http://accessibar.mozdev.org.

Second Chance to Live Blog

I received the following email and wanted to share this site with you.

Hello Fred's Head,

I am interested in providing encouragement to our veterans and the soldiers who have been wounded while protecting our great country. Additionally, I am interested in providing practical information and insight to assist their families. My name is Craig J. Phillips. I am an alumnus of Oral Robert's University Class of 1985, an alumnus of the University of Kentucky, graduate program in Rehabilitation Counseling Class of 1990, and a traumatic brain injury survivor.

I sustained an open skull fracture with right frontal lobe damage and remained in a coma for 3 weeks at the age of 10 in August of 1967. I underwent brain and skull surgery after waking from the coma. Follow-up cognitive and psyche / social testing revealed that I would not be able to succeed academically beyond high school. In 1967 Neurological Rehabilitation was not available to me, so I had to teach myself how to walk, talk, read, write and speak in complete sentences. I completed high school on time and went on to obtain both my undergraduate and graduate degrees. For an in depth view of my process please read my blog post My Journey Thus Far.

Through out my life, I've developed strategies to overcome many obstacles and in so doing I have achieved far beyond all reasonable expectations. On February 6, 2007 at the encouragement of a friend, I created Second Chance to Live: http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com, which presents topics in such a way to encourage, motivate and empower the reader to live life on life's terms. I believe our circumstances are not meant to keep us down, but to build us up. As a traumatic brain injury survivor, I speak from my experience, strength and hope. As a professional, I provide information to encourage, motivate and empower both disabled and non-disabled individuals to not give up on their process. Please read my post The Power of Identification for more on this topic.

My interest is to provide encouragement, hope, motivation and empowerment to survivors and their families. Please encourage your readers to visit Second Chance to Live at http://secondchancetolive.wordpress.com.

Thank you for your time and kindness,
Craig J. Phillips MRC, BA

Knife Safety

Ten steps to keep you safe:

1. Keep knives out of sight. Knives, in the open, can attract children to play with them. Under counter and under cabinet knives are a good alternative to drawer knives.
   
2. Lock up your knives. You can get a drawer lock or a block lock.
   
3. Dull knives slip. Keep your knives sharp. A dull knife can make you lose control.
   
4. Use the right tool for the job. Don't use a butcher knive to open a can of beans. People can get into trouble by trying to perform tasks the knife wasn't meant to do.
   
5. Don't hold things in your hand while cutting. Use a cutting board and both hands to cut. Some people will try to pry open frozen steaks (and a lot of other things) with the meat in one hand and the knife in the other. When the pressure is released, there is a good chance that your hand could be cut.
   
6. Don't let knife handles hang over the edge of tables and countertops. You could knock the knife onto the floor, cutting your leg as it falls, or you might step on it while searching to pick it up.
   
7. Buy quality knives. Some less-expensive knives have handles that are hard to hold onto. Even worse, the handle may break while you are using the knife.
   
8. Don't mix knives with a pile of dishes or just throw them in dishwater. You can get cut when you are washing the dishes. If you put them in the dishwasher, put them blade down so someone doesn't get cut.
   
9. Give knives to those who are responsible, don't give a five year old a pocket knife. Wait until people are mature enough.
   
10. Go slow. Don't rush the cutting process. Many chefs that cut their hands are trying to rush through the job.

Tip for Cleaning Knives

When cleaning knives, especially those used for raw meat, don't forget to clean the joint between the handle and the blade. This corner or edge is easy to overlook. We know when the blade is still dirty, right? And the handle we can feel whether it's greasy or not. But this little area isn't always easy to reach with a scrubbing pad. Use a toothbrush if it's really gunky in there. You don't want old raw meat from who knows when to touch your next meal.

Light Your Way with a Solar Powered Stepping Stone

Create a clear walkway through your garden with a stepping stone that lights up automatically at night. The Solar Lighted Stepping Stone provides a lighted path marker for lawns or gardens, and since its included batteries are recharged by the sun, no electricity is required. A built-in photo sensor automatically activates the light at dusk and turns it off at dawn.

The weatherproof Solar Lighted Stepping Stone has the look of carved stone without its fragility. The 14.5 x 14.5-inch stepping stone has four pre-installed amber LEDs that generate bright light all night long. Each long-life bulb will last over 100,000 hours.

• Illuminates automatically at dusk and turns off at dawn
  
• No wires or electricity is required to recharge the included batteries
  
• Weatherproof path marker retains the look of carved stone

Click this link to purchase the Solar Lighted Stepping Stone from the Smarthome website: http://www.smarthome.com/33203.html.

Solar Wall Lights

Ah, renewable energy. My family could definitely make do with these Solar Wall Lights, as they not only beautify my home in the evening but they prevent folks from stumbling over while making their way up the stairs.

Simply hang these compact lights along outdoor steps, walls, fences or fence posts, anywhere you need to see better. When fully charged, the white energy-saving LEDs come on automatically at dusk to provide up to six hours of light. Two LEDs per light you'll be impressed with the brightness. The quality integral solar panel and replaceable rechargeable Ni-MH batteries ensure years of service. Easy to mount on any flat surface. Can be operated manually, sold in sets of two.

Click this link to purchase the Solar Wall Lights from Solutions.

Leaders and Legends: Douglas Inkster

Douglas Inkster
Inducted 2002
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

Doug Inkster (1925-1993) was born in Michigan. He received a bachelor's degree from the University of Miami, Coral Gables, FL and a masters in counseling, testing and guidance and a doctorate from Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI in rehabilitation administration. He was wounded in World War II. Doug was married and they had two daughters and a son, all of whom were married before his death in 1993.

Doug Inkster has served with a number of agencies throughout his illustrious career. Early in his career, he served from 1950 to 1960 as the Vocational Rehabilitation Coordinator for the Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Lansing. Then in 1960 he assumed the position of Assistant Regional Representative for the US Department of Health Education and Welfare, Rehabilitation Services Administration, Region V. He was Superintendent of the Illinois Visually Handicapped Institute from 1963 to 1967. For three years he served as Assistant Superintendent of the Chicago State Hospital. Then he broadened his base of experience with shorter terms of employment with a variety of agencies, serving as Director of Vocational Independence Program for the Foundation for the Junior Blind in Los Angeles, as Assistant Executive Director for the National Accreditation Council, as Assistant Director of the Home for Aged Blind in Yonkers, as Executive Director of Vision Enrichment Services, Grand Rapids, and also serving as consultant for REHAB CONCEPTS, Jackson, Michigan.

Doug Inkster will be remembered most for his dynamic leadership and innovative approaches while serving as the Executive Director at the Center for Independent Living in New York from 1972 until his retirement in 1985. He became a national pioneer in the development of adjustment training programs for the older blind and visually impaired population when no other programs of this type existed. During a time in our country when there was a paucity of materials, he developed a set of training manuals for the instruction of independent living skills. Additionally, he strengthened the training and enhanced the acceptability of rehabilitation teacher assistants as a part of the service delivery model.

Many organizations and state services sought his expertise particularly in the areas of rehabilitation administration, program design and evaluation, grant applications, and accreditation. Some of the agencies with whom he consulted included the American Foundation for the Blind, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, National Accreditation Council for Agencies Serving the Blind, and state services in New Jersey, South Carolina, Wisconsin, New York, and Puerto Rico. He played a lead role in crafting the first NAC accreditation criteria.

Plaque sponsored by the family and friends of Douglas Inkster

About the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.

Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Visit the virtual Hall of Fame for the inspiring stories of many more heroes of the field of blindness.

Leaders and Legends: Samuel Gridley Howe

Samuel Gridley Howe
Inducted 2002
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

Samuel Gridley Howe (1801-1876) was born in Boston. He graduated from Brown University in 1821 and from the Harvard Medical School in 1824. After serving as a soldier and doctor in the Greek War of Independence, he returned to Boston in 1831. He married Julia Ward and they had six children.

One day, shortly after his return, Samuel Howe met an old friend from Brown University, Dr. John Dix Fisher. Fisher was the principal founder in 1829 of what at that time was known as The New England Asylum for the Blind. Fisher offered him the directorship and even though the school had no students and no buildings, he accepted.

Since there were no schools for the blind in America, Samuel Howe was directed by the trustees to visit schools for the blind in Europe to observe their programs and to obtain educational aids and appliances. He was also instructed to hire two teachers to assist him. After his trip he was determined to avoid the tendencies he observed in Europe of overprotecting their pupils and treating them as objects of charity.

He opened the school in his father's home with two young sisters, Sophia and Abigail Carter from Andover, Massachusetts. Within a month the enrollment had reached six students, ranging in age from six to twenty years old. Since he needed a larger place, Thomas H. Perkins, a wealthy Bostonian and one of the School's trustees, offered his house. The school moved again in 1839 to the Mt. Washington House Hotel in South Boston and changed its name to the Perkins Institution for the Blind.

During those early years, Samuel Howe developed his philosophy of education of the blind. He believed they should no longer be "doomed to inequality," to becoming only "mere objects of pity" and he believed that blind children could learn as much as other children. During his first years as director he visited 15 states, getting schools started in Ohio, Tennessee, Kentucky and Virginia. He also developed an embossed letter system for the blind to read, first known as Howe Type and later as Boston Line Type. It was used at Perkins until braille came into common usage at the turn of the century.

In 1837, Samuel Howe began an experiment in education that would bring him to the attention of the world. His success in educating Laura Bridgman, a girl who became deaf-blind from scarlet fever at the age of two proved it was possible. His interest in promoting the education of children with disabilities went beyond the blind and deaf-blind. He also helped to initiate schools for mentally retarded children (1848) and deaf children (1867). Howe has rightly been called the most significant and foresighted figure in the American history of special education.

About the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.

Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Visit the virtual Hall of Fame for the inspiring stories of many more heroes of the field of blindness.

Leaders and Legends: Everett "Butch" Hill

Everett "Butch" Hill
Inducted 2007
Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field

Everett W. Hill, Jr. (1943-1994) grew up in Pine City, Minnesota. He was a gifted drummer and basketball player, lettering in high school and at Northland College in Wisconsin, where he did his first two years of undergraduate work. He graduated from the University of Minnesota with a B.S. in Physical Education in 1966. He had three children with his wife Joan. After his divorce Butch and Mary Maureen were married in 1979.

Butch Hill contributed significantly in a variety of ways to the field of Orientation and Mobility. In 1966 at the age of 23, he accepted a job teaching mobility at the Minneapolis Society for the Blind. Realizing that very little about the field of O&M had been documented at that time, he pursued his formal education in O&M at Western Michigan University. After graduation he returned to the Minneapolis Society for the Blind as director of O&M and then to the Missouri School for the Blind also as director of O&M from 1968 until 1970

In 1970 he accepted a position at Florida State University as a faculty member and while there collaborated with Purvis Ponder on the first methodological textbook on Orientation and Mobility Techniques: A Guide for the Practitioner published by the American Foundation for the Blind.

Butch returned to Western Michigan University in 1974 to complete a Masters degree in special education and a doctorate in special education in 1979. He remained there as an assistant professor until 1976. He is especially noted for his significant research and publications in the area of positional/spatial orientation and developed the Hill Test of Selected Positional Concepts, which became the first norm-referenced assessment tool in O&M.

In 1979 he joined the faculty at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University as a professor of Special Education and Kennedy Center Investigator. He was a prolific author with 29 peer reviewed journal publications, 18 of which he was sole author. He authored three books, seven book chapters, three monographs and countless conference papers and presentations nationally and internationally. Up to this point most programs in O&M were modeled after those developed for adults who were blind. Butch committed himself to the reconceptualization of the standard adult model of O&M instruction to the specific needs of young preschool children. He was awarded a federal research grant that enabled his team to create a specific assessment tool and training program for O&M entitled the Preschool Orientation and Mobility Project - POMP. Thousands of children nationally and internationally have been assessed using the Hill Performance Test of Selected Positional Concepts and have benefited from the outgrowth of POMP. In March of 1994, the field was shocked to learn that Butch had died, at the age of 51, on the basketball court playing the game he loved so much.

He received numerous awards. In 1986 he received the Outstanding Teaching Award from Peabody College. From 1988 to 1990 he served as the chair of Division Nine of AER. Because of his significant contributions to Division Nine, the Newcomer-Hill Award was established in 1992. At the AER conference in 1992 he was awarded the highest honor in O&M, the Lawrence E. Blaha Award. Throughout his life he inspired a generation of practitioners through his courageous leadership, his passion and purpose for the field of O&M, his inquisitiveness and infectious love of O&M.

"In his all too short 28 years with us, he single-handedly accomplished what he set-out to do when he entered the field of O&M, which was to heighten the awareness and recognition of the field of O&M by creating a well defined base of research literature." -- George Zimmerman

"Through his early work on concept development with children who were congenitally blind, Dr. Hill helped to build the bridge between the approach to the systematic delivery of orientation and mobility training as it was developed for adventitiously blinded adults and O&M services for congenitally blind children." -- Rick Welsh

Plaque sponsored by Western Michigan University and Vanderbilt University

About the Hall of Fame

The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.

These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.

Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is a project of the entire field of blindness. It is curated by the American Printing House for the Blind, a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization.

Visit the virtual Hall of Fame for the inspiring stories of many more heroes of the field of blindness.

"People of Vision: a History of the American Council of the Blind"

The leadership of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) is pleased to present "People of Vision: a History of the American Council of the Blind". " This is the history of the creation and development of the ACB begun in August, 1994.

Dr. Otis Stevens, Chairman of the ACB History Committee, cautions all members to recognize that there are many in the blind community who will not agree with the conclusions of our history. "While we have worked tirelessly to print a true and accurate account of the events of the 1950's, the 1960's, and all other periods as shown through letters and other documentary evidence," he said "we do recognize that many blind individuals who grew up believing an alternative explanation of these events may well react emotionally to this book." "All we can ask," he continued "is that they are willing and open-minded enough to let the record speak for itself."

You can purchase the book through the ACB website. Purchase either a paperback or hardback edition, check the option for an accessible version, and you can begin reading this interesting history today.

Silent Keyboard Controls Two Computers

Do you ever get tired of hearing the sound of yourself typing? Honestly, it's never really bothered me, but I'm sure that if you work near other people, they might get annoyed with it after some time. Next time you go shopping for a new keyboard, you might look for one that's a bit quieter than the rest. Take this one from Thanko which is not only silent, but works on two PCs.

While it's pretty obvious what it means for a keyboard to be silent, I don't often hear of one that boasts the ability to work on two computers at the same time. I guess that it's really not the same time, but a flip of a switch just above your arrow keys will allow you to operate on a second computer. Click this link to purchase the Silent Keyboard from the geekstuff4u website.

Organizing Software: by the Blind for the Blind

Peter Crain has written a free organizer program that works with several screen readers. Features include:

• Contacts: A simple database of contact names, addresses, phone numbers etc.
  
• Notes: For brief notations.
  
• Tasks: Eight fields and corresponding date field for day to day tasks.

Organiser is designed for Windows XP. A minimum system includes a Pentium, CD-ROM drive, and sound card with speakers. The program requires approximately 2 Mb of available hard disk space to install. . Click this link to download Organizer from Peter Crain.

10 Steps to Help Refrigerators Live Longer

Every summer there are countless refrigerators that die unexpectedly. This is often due to the increase in temperature and the associated humidity. The following are a few suggestions to help your appliance make it through the next summer heat wave.

1. Don^D>'t use as an air conditioner. You may laugh, but this is particularly common with the elderly. They often leave the refrigerator door open in the hope of cooling the room. Or they may stand in front of the refrigerator trying to get cool themselves. A chair left sitting in front of the refrigerator is a sure sign.
   
   
2. Don^D>'t overload defrost system. Keep containers of water or juice sealed. Open containers of liquid will increase the amount of moisture deposited onto the cooling coil. This will cause the compressor to run longer. Run times of 16 hours per day are normal for refrigerators. Extra moisture could easily increase this to 20 hours per day.
   
   
3. Turn off icemaker. Icemakers will produce a harvest every four to six hours. This is more ice than most families can consume. All the exposed ice cubes will stress the refrigerator in hot weather. Turn off the icemaker until more is required. Depending upon the size of ice bucket, you will probably only need to turn it on every few days.

   Put new ice cubes into a sealed container rather than leaving exposed in the ice bucket.

   Have even seen a customer turn off icemaker and cover the ice bucket with plastic wrap. They left the front of bucket open enough to grab cubes when needed. Customer claimed this idea made ice cubes last longer, and refrigerator run less.
   
   

4. Doors not sealing properly. Gaskets full of holes or cracks allow warm air to enter. Or gaskets that are not clean may not seal properly. Clean surfaces with light detergent and warm water.

   To test the gaskets use a dollar bill. While holding dollar bill against cabinet close door so that gasket seals. Pull the dollar bill out. It should have a resistance to being pulled out from under gasket. Use this method to test full perimeter. Resistance felt should be uniform around whole gasket.
   
   

5. Door warped. When the refrigerator door closes it should seal along its full length. If it seals at one point, but not another, the door itself may be warping out of alignment. This will need to be corrected by a service company. Until they get there try closing the door firmly (close hard, but don^D>'t slam shut). This will often force door to realign temporarily.
   
   
6. Don^D>'t overload. A standard refrigerator can accept about 50 pounds of new food per day. If you are overloading the food may appear not to cool properly. For example: Why add a whole case of warm soda to a refrigerator on a hot day. Add only what is required for that day. Add extra beverages just before bedtime. The refrigerator will have all night to cool them down.
   
   
7. Don^D>'t overload door shelves. Modern refrigerators can have extremely large door shelves that are easily overloaded. Heavy items such as glass bottles or large soda containers should be moved inside. The weight may be pulling the door away from the cabinet. This can cause the gasket to stretch until small openings appear at the corners of the gasket. Warm air can enter.
   
   
8. Teach children refrigerator etiquette. Children are notorious for standing in front of the freezer door trying to decide which treat to take. Even a few minutes with the door open can cause the refrigerator stress. Every time it is opened the cold air will roll out. As it rolls out the warmer room air will enter the refrigerators interior. This warm air invasion forces the appliance to run longer trying to produce more cold air.
   
   
9. Don^D>'t block air circulation. Remove bags, brooms, trays, etc, from the space between outside of refrigerator and surrounding walls. Refrigerator must be allowed to circulate air around itself. Blocking the airflow will cause the compressor to overheat. An overheated compressor can quickly burn out. If refrigerator temperature suddenly becomes erratic suspect the compressor is overworking.
   
   
10. Keep level. If not level the cabinet can go out of square. This is particularly important with newer refrigerators because they have very little internal bracing. If not properly leveled the cabinet can start to lean. This will affect door alignment and closing.

Doing the above will certainly help your refrigerator make it through the heat. The last suggestion is to simply keep your fingers crossed. Because, if Mother Nature decides to send us the full strength of her heat wave that is all that may save your refrigerator from joining the others in the great landfill in the sky.

Copyright 2005 by Donald Grummett. All rights reserved.

Donald Grummett is an appliance service manager in Ottawa, Canada. In the trade over 30 years as a technician, business owner, and technical trainer. Learn more invaluable information about your household appliances by visiting http://www.mgservices.ca.

Article Source:
http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Donald_Grummett

Do you have a freezer that doesn't have a frost-free or self defrost feature? Don't buy a new one just to upgrade. You can easily remove the built up frost if you know this trick.

When the interior walls of the freezer are clean and dry, spray them with a non-stick cooking spray. The frost will still build up as usual, but when it comes time to remove it, it will just slide right off with very little effort. There! You just saved yourself a ton of time and work.