Free College Lectures Online

Academic Earth

Academic Earth is a video depot for individual lectures and entire courses from some of the top universities in the United States. Visitors to Academic Earth will find lectures and courses from Yale, MIT, Berkeley, Harvard, Princeton, and Stanford. Many of the lectures and courses can be found at various websites on the Internet. What Academic Earth does is take all of those lectures and courses and put them in one, easy-to-search, place. You can search for lectures and courses by topic, popularity, professor, or by university.

Click this link to visit http://AcademicEarth.org.

The Teaching Company

The concept is great! Scour the world for the best professors and record their lectures. Paying customers get world-class university courses, at less than world-class university prices, while attending the class at their convenience. I know friends who have listened to a dozen classes this way (while driving). A class that sounds interesting to me is Robert Greenberg's celebrated forty-eight lessons on "How to Understand and Listen to Great Music." A friend said that it was more than a music appreciation class, it was a view of western civilization through music. Professionally recorded, lively, insightful, fast-paced, authoritative, and memorable. What more could you want from college on a cassette?

Since 1990, great teachers from the Ivy League, Stanford, Georgetown, and other leading colleges and universities have crafted 175 courses for lifelong learners. They provide the adventure of learning, without the homework or exams.

Another class that sounds interesting is an overview of Egyptian history taught by a mummy expert and a decent introduction to western philosophy. The Teaching Company catalog lists an eclectic range of other seminars. One caveat: these courses seem expensive for many individuals. But they are a lot cheaper than college, and most courses are at least forty or so tapes, so you really get your money's worth. Classes are also available on digital cassette, DVD, and in other formats. You can also check your local library, which would work best for me. Course clubs are another way to get the classes, and this would bring the cost down because you would share the cost with others.

Use this link to learn more about The Teaching Company by visiting their home page.

More Free Science and Video Lectures Online

This searchable blog-based archive offers lectures and slides for introductory science and math courses, and a wide variety of more specialized topics.

Click this link to visit the Free Science Online website at http://freescienceonline.blogspot.com.

VideoLectures - exchange ideas and share knowledge

This site contains free video lectures from the world's leading and prominent scientists." So far, the site features "92 events, 1266 authors, 1454 lectures, and 2247 videos." It also includes a sizable number of interviews and tutorials.

Click this link to visit http://videolectures.net.

Free Video Lectures

A large collection of links to video and audio lectures on science, technology , law, and other topics from colleges and other educational institutions in several countries, but mostly the United States.

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

McGill University Offers Free Courses Online

McGill University offers the content of many of their courses for free online. McGill calls their online course content site "COOL".

COOL offers course materials dating back to the fall 2005 semester through the fall 2009 semester. The bulk of the course offerings are in the sciences. The COOL course materials include video and audio lecture files as well as slides and other reading materials. COOL offers the video files in a variety of formats including MP3, WMV and MP4. You can also subscribe to courses via iTunes.

The free access to college course materials made possible by universities like McGill and many others, provide high school students with an opportunity to get a taste of what a college course is like while still in high school. Sampling college courses for free could help students get an idea of what they may want to study in college. The free course offerings can also provide high school teachers with supplemental materials for their classroom instruction.

Click this link to visit this COOL website at http://cool.mcgill.ca/Default.aspx.

OpenLearn - The Open University

The OpenLearn website gives free access to Open University course materials. This is the LearningSpace, where you'll find hundreds of free study units, each with a discussion forum. Study independently at your own pace or join a group and use the free learning tools to work with others.

Click this link to visit the OpenLearn website at http://openlearn.open.ac.uk.

Television Networks Featuring People Who Have Disabilities

Endeavor Freedom

People with a variety of disabilities make-up 20% of the population and yet disability news, stories, and events make up less than 3% of what the corporate media reports on. If you happen to be in a minority with a disability you are represented even less, and if you are poor and a minority with a disability, then truly nothing in mainstream culture reflects your/our everyday experience of life. EndeavorFreedom.tv wants to change all that.

"We want to capture and relay the everyday stories of everyday struggle by everyday people with disabilities just trying to manage the American dream here in the land of the free and the home of the brave.

We want you to be the hero, the star, the story and we want you to share with us the stories that you consider news, issues which are important to you, that are rarely if ever seen on corporate news. All of us are touched at some point and in some way by a disability. Share with us how it is that a disability affects you or some one you know.

In order for us to make this project a success we are seeking the active participation of the entire disability community abroad. This will be your chance to write, shoot, direct, and edit your story and share it with us so that we can in turn share it with the world.

EndeavorFreedom.tv also represents an opportunity for people with disabilities to become involved in media vocations which we as a community have been largely locked out of up until this point. We do have paid staff positions available to website developers, radio hosts, film editors, journalist, and camera personnel.

We are also seeking creators of disability unique content and will pay accordingly. We envision expanding EndeavorFreedom.tv into the central hub for the disability community. If you are interested in being part of our project please contact me. We'll start where we can and expand into all directions as time and space allows.

We are especially interested in bilingual personnel so that we can extend our reach to all communities of minorities with disabilities. So, if you are or know of anybody that might be a good candidate for any of these positions, please invite them to submit their resume to ZenGarcia@endeavorfreedom.tv. Click this link to visit http://www.endeavorfreedom.tv.

The Abilities TV Network

Recent studies show that 50+ million Americans are living with or facing some type of disability or physical challenge. There are over 300 million Americans. This means that just about everyone in the U.S. is related to, knows someone with, or directly cares for someone facing a physical challenge. "The Abilities TV Network" will be a national TV network and global web site run by the physically challenged, for the physically challenged, our loved ones, those who care for us, and those who serve our interests. It will feature TV shows based on the experiences of people who are living with physical challenges, and will act as a resource for them and their families as well. It will also provide information for companies that hire people with disabilities. "AbilitiesTV.net" is currently under construction. It will be an interactive web site that will allow subscribers worldwide to connect with the shows' writers, directors, producers, and each other. Viewers will also be able to watch clips of the shows right from their computers. A network of this type is long overdue. Networking, appearances, affordable sponsorship and advertising opportunities will follow shortly, so please stay tuned. TV Shows Will Feature What Individuals Can Do, Not What They Can't.

Click this link to visit http://www.abilitiestv.net.

People With Disabilities Broadcasting Company

Lights, camera, action! How many actors or actresses can you recall that have disabilities?

There was Geri Jewell. She was the cousin of Blair on the "Facts of Life" sitcom in the 1980s. Geri's disability is from Cerebral Palsy and I haven't seen her on TV in years.

Chris

topher Burke, who was born with Down Syndrome, had a recurring role on "Our House" during the 1980s. A few times, he also appeared on "Touched by An Angel."

My favorite actor was another angel, the late Michael Landon. He was a champion in promoting actors with disabilities. Few people know that Matthew Laborteaux who played the role of Albert, son of Charles Ingles, on "Little House on the Prairie" series is autistic. When Landon introduced "Highway to Heaven," he also launched the acting career of James Troesh. Never before to my knowledge, had a real actor with quadriplegia using a sip and puff wheelchair been shown on TV.

Most importantly, the role Troesh played as Scotty was dignified. Scotty was a successful attorney, and married to a nondisabled woman. Landon frequently had themes in his shows about the negative attitudes the public has about people with disabilities.

When a young punk deliberately parked in an accessible reserved space, Jonathan the angel used his powers to plop the auto upside down! Oh, how I wish I had those powers to zap cars out of those coveted spots.

Landon also wrote and directed shows about Tom Sullivan, a totally blind person who climbed mountains, and had a family.

So, why doesn't the mainstream media ever focus on real live people with disabilities? Move over CNN, FOX, ABC, NBC, and CBS. On the 15th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act, the People With disabilities Broadcasting Corporation (PWdBC) formally unveiled its Web site creating and maintaining an electrifying new disability media presence.

This new corporation will create the first 24-hour, seven day a week, TV channel "of, by, and for persons with disabilities."

This channel will feature dramas, sports, news and other features. It will also promote and design programming that will be accessible for everyone.

The PWdBC was founded by Howard Renensland who has an adult daughter with developmental disabilities. Renesland believes that too few people with disabilities appear in television and film.

Likewise, people with disabilities are not represented in the creative behind the scenes processes of networks. This new corporation aims at true inclusion.

Somehow, I believe Michael Landon is looking down from heaven with a big grin on his face.

For further information, click this link to check out the PWDBC website: http://www.pwdbc.org.
Click this link to e-mail Howard Renensland at: howard@pwdbc.org.
Click this link to visit the PWDBC Blog Page: http://pwdbc.blogspot.com.

AT508.com Internet TV for Assistive Technology

Wouldn't it be cool if people with disabilities had our own TV network that showed programs about assistive technology and the various issues that surround being disabled?

Welcome to AT508.com, where the latest and greatest information on Assistive Technology and how it pertains to Section 508 is made available to everyone.

The goal is clear: To provide the public with a single point to find solutions to Section 508 compliance, and to showcase the companies responsible for the technological breakthroughs necessary to enable true Section 508 compliance.

John Williams is the founder of at508.com and has been a professional writer for 35 years. He has been writing about disability issues since 1978 and is a former award winning weekly columnist for Business Week Online Magazine. He also writes a weekly column for the National Organization on Disability called Closing the Gap.

In 1982, Mr. Williams coined the phrase "Assistive Technology." Since then it has become a universal word in describing products benefiting people with disabilities.

He is also the founder and former publisher of Assistive Technology News, a tabloid newspaper covering Assistive technology issues.

For 24 years, Williams has been writing on assistive technology's benefits to people with disabilities. He has written about hundreds of products used by people with disabilities. He is credited with raising the awareness of disability issues, especially the benefits of assistive technology, to a national level.

Since he started writing a column, he has interviewed President George Bush, former President Bill Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, former first lady Hillary Clinton, Attorney General Janet Reno, Clint Eastwood, Governor Jesse Ventura, former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, Senator Max Cleland, Congressman Jim Langevin, Vinton Cerf (one of the founding fathers of the Internet), Country Western singer Mel Tillis, Microsoft's CEO Steve Ballmer, and other noted people in the disability arena.

Mr. Williams' column has won the Easter Seals Equality, Dignity and Integrity Award, Stuttering Foundation of America's 2000 Journalism Award, California Media Access Award. It was a contributing factor for Business Week Online receiving the New Media Excellence Award, for Easter Seals giving Business Week its leadership corporate award in 1999, for McGraw Hill Publishing Company receiving the American Foundation for the Blind's Lifetime Achievement Award for 20 years of writing about products benefiting blind people, and in November 2000 he received the Charles Van Riper Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in writing about stuttering and his leadership in this promoting opportunities for people with speech impediments.

Mr. Williams has been an environmental writer and has covered NASA, the Congress, Pentagon and the Supreme Court. He has edited two books on the environment, one on poetry and a NASA publication on A History of Sunspots.

He has had more than 2000 articles published and has written five books. His 1976 Merit Badge Book for the Boy Scouts of America on Space Exploration is the largest single selling Merit Badge book in the history of the Boy Scouts. His co-authored book with Dr. Frank G. Bowe, "Planning Effective Advocacy Programs," sold more than 35,000 copies and he wrote and designed the first national Communications Resource Handbook for United Way of America in 1976. UWA sold more than 20,000 copies to its member agencies. He is also one of the original writers of United Way/National Football Spots seen every during NFL games.

Mr. Williams is married and he and his wife have two children. He reads French, Latin and historical biographies. He graduated from King's College in Wilkes-Barre, PA in 1967 with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy and minors in mathematics and history. He loves camping, hiking, fishing and attending baseball games.

Click here to visit the at508.com web site.

Support for Performers with Disabilities

I.AM.PWD is a global civil rights campaign seeking equal employment opportunities for artists and professionals with disabilities throughout the entertainment and news media. Founded in 2008 by the Actors Equity Association (AEA), American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG), Tri Union Performers With Disabilities Committee, I.AM.PWD is dedicated to ending the discrimination and exclusion of performers and broadcasters with disabilities. I.AM.PWD is uniting labor, industry, community and governmental allies in the fight to combat continuing discrimination against people with disabilities.

Click this link to visit I.AM.PWD on the web at http://www.IAMPWD.org.

Remembering the Speak and Spell

Just a little more than thirty years ago, Texas Instruments brought us an important development that would change many a childhood, the Speak and Spell.

Despite it's humble size, The Speak and Spell played an important role in Speech History. It was one of the first highly accurate and widely available text-to-speech products, really one of the first practical applications of speech synthesis for a consumer market.

The toy was a direct outgrowth of Texas Instrument's bizarre 1970s experiments in speech synthesis. The world had just seen man create the tech required to reproduce human speech with tuned voices stored on ROMs. Seeing the potential of those speech fruits, Paul Breedlove, a TI engineer, began development of the Speak & Spell in 1976 with a $25,000 budget. Yes, even then it seems that the world callously and stupidly turned a cold shoulder to speech. Breedlove, however, would be vindicated. Within two short years, the Speak & Spell was flying off the 1978 shelves.

Breedlove's completed proof incorporated TI's trademarked Solid State Speech technology, which stored full words in solid state the way calculators of those halcyon 1970s days stored numbers. The Speak & Spell even had a slot for "expansion module" cartridges, which could be inserted to beef up the onboard vocabulary.

The Speak and Spell had its limitations, but had great staying power. The machine was produced for nearly twenty years and saw many improvements over its 1978-1992 run. Its vacuum florescent display was replaced with liquid crystal, it was given a membrane keyboard (which in turn was changed from ABC to a standard QWERTY layout), and it saw several releases in different languages.

Click this link to learn more about the Speak and Spell from Wikipedia.

Article Source:
http://www.speechtechblog.com/2009/01/07/there-was-a-time-a-peoples-history-of-speech-technology

Tips for Walking on Ice

Winter storms often produce ice and snow, leading to slippery walking surfaces. Here are some helpful tips to make winter weather travel safer.

1. Before going out, try to plan your route to avoid places where ice frequently forms. Taking that shortcut you usually use might not be a good idea if it will mean traveling on paths that have untreated surfaces.
   
2. Proper footwear is key. Avoid plastic and leather soles or high heels in favor of rubber and neoprene composite shoes or boots to provide better traction. Shoes or boots should have soles with a raised tread pattern on a low, wide heal and sole with a leading edge in many directions. Consider purchasing a pair of ice grippers or cleats to attach to your shoes to help with traction, but remember that these can sometimes become slippery indoors when walking on smooth surfaces such as stone, tile or ceramic. Practice putting them on your shoes and walking with them before you have to use them.
   
3. When you step outside, take short, shuffling steps and use your feet and cane to explore the surface as you move to let you know ahead of time where patches of ice are before you step onto them. When it comes to walking on ice, The Tortoise and the Hare has the best advice, slow and steady wins the race. Try to keep your hands free of objects so that you can use rails and other sturdy things in the environment to help maintain your balance. When you know that a stretch of sidewalk is particularly icy, try to find a grassy shoreline to walk on for better traction.
   
4. When you know that you must walk on ice, Keep your knees slightly bent and point your feet outward slightly to help maintain your center of balance. Try to keep your center of gravity directly over your feet as much as possible.
   
5. If you feel yourself start to slip, try to relax and stay calm as much as possible. Try to maneuver yourself so that you don't fall forward or land on your dominant hand. Let go of whatever you are carrying in your hands so you can maintain your balance. A broken cell phone is better than a broken bone.
   
6. If you know that a fall is coming, try to keep your head up and land on a fleshy body part instead of a bone. The idea here is to execute a planned fall to avoid breaking bones or hitting your head. Visit http://www.senioryears.com/fallsart.html for more information on the art of safer falling and try to familiarize yourself with the techniques described there.

With some planning and care, you can help reduce your chances of serious injury from winter weather walking.

SAMNet Radio

Serotek Corporation, a provider of internet and digital information accessibility software and services, has launched an online radio station called SAMNet Radio. The name of the station is derived from Serotek's online community, the System Access Mobile Network, or SAMNet. SAMNet Radio will air the best music of the last forty years, the latest technology news, live and interactive voice chats, and a portal for all to know what is happening in the SAMNet community.

Directed at an audience who is blind or has low vision, SAMNet Radio's slogan is "Your station, your community." The station's manager is Michael Lauf, former creator, host and producer of HandiTalk, the first interactive internet radio program to discuss the needs of the blind and visually impaired.

Click this link to listen to SAMNet Radio: http://radio.samobile.net.

Listen and Learn Recordings

It really doesn't matter who you are, what you're interested in, where you live or if you have no computer experience at all. This site will have something for you. Listen and Learn Recordings are friendly, easy to follow, informal but well structured audio introductions, tutorials and walk through's that are aimed at everyone from the beginner to the more advanced professional to get a running start with some new software or hardware. That's not to say you will only find computer related topics. If you want to hear about it, they want to record it! Use the feedback form to send your wish list to the recording team.

Do you have an interest in doing some voluntary work for LALRecordings? They're always looking for people to help expand the website.

Click this link to learn something new with http://www.lalrecordings.com.

Add Keyboard Support to Popular Media Players

So your system's got a fancy keyboard with a host of handy media shortcut buttons, but they only work with a select few applications. Media Keyboard 2 Media Player will fill in the support gap.

Once installed, MK2MP acts as a middle man between your keyboard and popular media-applications like VLC, Xion, XMPlay, 1BY1, and Winamp. The application runs almost invisible to the end user, passing the keyboard command onto the application with the right trigger. You can enable and disable common media-keyboard keys for each program, and specify whether it sits in your system tray or stays incognito. If the program you need to control isn't yet available, the application is in active development and open to suggestions for new players to be added.

Click this link to learn more or to download Media Keyboard 2 Media Player.

Christine's Website for the Blind

As a visually impaired individual, Christine, the creator of visuallyimpairedandtheblind.com, says that she "struggled with the massive amount of information available on the Internet." She has therefore constructed a website to stockpile relevant data in one spot for the blind and visually impaired community.

"The website is an amalgam of different information. There is a very useful job links page that is constantly being updated, most of these positions are specifically for the blind or visually impaired," explains Christine. The site also has a discussion board that focuses on the topics relevant to the blind and low vision community. "I also have an interview page in which I interview noted blind or visually impaired individuals. The resource and vendor links are also very useful tools for those seeking this information. It is my goal to make my website a useful tool for my blind and visually impaired peers."

For more information, click this link to visit http://www.visuallyimpairedandtheblind.com.

Create Your Own Email Reminder Service

Have you ever received an email that you didn't want to deal with right that second? Maybe it's a reminder of a bill that needs to be paid, or a doctor's appointment. You might think of moving it to a temporary folder, but what if you forget to check the folder on the day of the appointment? Don't worry about these things anymore, I've got you covered.

HitMeLater.com is a service that lets you schedule when email messages appear. Just send the email that you want later to x@hitmelater.com. Say you want the email in five hours? Send the email to 5@hitmelater.com. Want it on Saturday? Send it to saturday@hitmelater.com. The free version lets you send up to five email messages per day. The premium versions are very reasonable.

Click this link to press the snooze button on your email messages with http://hitmelater.com.

The Blind Online Success System

The Blind Online Success System (BOSS for short) is a free comprehensive internet marketing apprenticeship and coaching program that helps those who are blind or visually impaired to learn about online marketing so they can build and run an online business.

The BOSS program explains how internet marketing works and what will work for you. BOSS understands that there is real work involved in running an online business and they can teach you the CORRECT skills to learn to do the RIGHT work to build a successful online business.

You get personal access to mentors who not only understand the real steps necessary to run an online business, but also understand the special needs of the blind and visually impaired when it comes to doing so. They regularly evaluate tools and software to determine which are screen reader friendly, and will make your business more profitable.

Many OTHER internet marketing courses just offer theory. This is much different.

You will get the chance to develop and refine your business skills by working directly with the Blind Online Success System with different projects and by helping others the program with projects. These real-world applications of the information you will be learning allows you to get a well-rounded knowledge of internet marketing and how it really works.

Click this link to learn more about the Blind Online Success System: http://blindonlinesuccesssystem.com/info.

Seeing with the Photography Collective

The Seeing with Photography Collective (SWPC) "is a group of photographers based in New York City who are visually impaired, sighted and totally blind. Coming from diverse backgrounds, [they] share an awareness of sight loss, along with the determination to dialogue and integrate [their] images into a more universal context.

Sighted assistants focus and compose the view camera's frame directed by the blind artist. Then, in a darkened room, they leave the camera's shutter open as they slowly paint their sitter with a small flashlight- exposures lasting many minutes. Luminous distortions, and glowing forms result from the technique, not digital altering."

The web site provides more information about the organisation and a gallery of enlargeable images. The 'collective members' area provides a list of members; it is intended that this area will include links to individual members' work. The 'about SWPC' section includes links to related web sites.

Click this link to visit the Seeing with Photography Collective website at http://www.seeingwithphotography.com.

Additional Resources

Challenged Visions - John Dugdale & Flo Fox by Robert A. Schaefer Jr.
Shooting Blind: Photographs by the Visually Impaired
Blind Photographer Is a Man of Vision - Pete Eckert by Delfin Vigil
Ralph Baker, (refusing to be) Blind Photographer
Evgen Bavcar
Tactile Photography - Mariliana Arvelo & James Patten
Blind Eye Photography: http://blind-eye-photog.blogspot.com

Applying for Disability Benefits

The following information was posted to the Disability Information and Insight blog and is reposted here for your convenience.

These kits provide general information about Social Security's disability programs & how decisions are made on applications for disability benefits. The Disability Starter Kit will help you get ready for your disability interview or online application. Kits are available for adults & for children under age 18.

The kits provide information about the specific documents & information that will be requested. You will be asked for more details during your interview or when you complete the online Disability Report. The kits also provide general information about the disability programs & the decision-making process that can help take some of the mystery out of applying for disability benefits.

Each Disability Kit contains a: Fact sheet that answers questions most people ask, & a Worksheet to help you gather and organize the information you will need.

The information has been updated, you can click this link to download the kits: http://www.disabilityinfo.gov/digov-public/public/DisplayPage.do?parentFolderId=170.

Deadline Extended! Vote for the 2008 Blind Bargains Access Awards

The deadline has been extended to cast your votes for the second annual Blind Bargains Access Awards. Many categories are running very close, and your vote could determine the outcome. Vote for your choices in each of the eleven categories. The awards will recognize the greatest achievements, companies, websites, and people for 2008 and are decided by your votes. The final deadline is now this Friday, january 30 at 5 PM Eastern.

Click this link to cast your vote!

Access to Assets at the World Institute on Disability

The World Institute on Disability is an internationally recognized public policy center organized by and for people with disabilities. It works to strengthen the disability movement through research, training, advocacy and public education to help people with disabilities throughout the world to enjoy increased opportunities to live independently.

Founded in 1983 by leaders of the Independent Living Movement, WID's work focuses on issues and problems that directly affect people's ability to live full and independent lives. WID's programs address employment, economic development and financial stability issues; conduct research and policy analysis on personal assistance services, accessible health care, technology and other topics; and provide assistance to non governmental organizations (NGOs) and disabled leaders in developing countries. A majority of the Board and staff are persons with disabilities.

Access to Assets

Approximately 20% of the United States population lives with some level of disability, and people with disabilities are almost three times as likely to live in poverty than any other group. WID's Access to Assets project opens doors for the disability community by promoting asset-building and financial literacy among people with disabilities. Asset building is an anti-poverty strategy helping low-income people move toward greater economic independence by saving and purchasing long-term assets. Building assets, as a complement to increasing income, provides the stability to escape the cycle of poverty.

Access to Assets bridges the gap between the asset building and disability communities through the following services:

• Training and Technical Assistance: Advise asset-building organizations how to include consumers with disabilities in their programs.
  
• Disability Community Outreach: Inform disability organizations about available programs and relevant federal policy.
  
• Policy Analysis: Develop and influence federal asset-building legislation conducive to the participation of people with disabilities.
  
• Public Education: Distribute monthly EQUITY e-newsletter. The newsletter includes articles by leaders in the field, program administrators, and participants in asset- building programs, helpful tips, answers to questions about disability issues, federal policy updates, and resources.

To learn more about the Access to Assets program, contact:

Thomas Foley
Access to Assets Project Manager
Toll Free: 866-723-1201
Phone: 510-251-4341
Email: tom@wid.org
Web: http://www.wid.org

Flight Tracking: Listening to Air Traffic Control Online

You can listen to all communications between a control tower and it's incoming airplanes or even track an airplane from the beginning of it's flight to it's arrival.

By live feed from a satellite you will know the planes current altitude and speed, where it is located and a glimpse at the approximate time of arrival. The mapping of flights in real-time is based on the air traffic control system.

There are no costs or restrictions in doing so and many official websites are starting to provide the service. This can come in useful when curious about a family members flight, or when anticipating an arrival without knowing of it's progress.

Air traffic control (ATC) is responsible for providing crucial information to pilots around busy airports. They communicate with pilots on designated radio frequencies to keep airport operations running smoothly and safely.

While every airport varies, terminal controllers usually handle traffic in a 30 to 50 nautical mile (56 to 93 km) radius from the airport.

Using the Internet you can also listen in live to aircraft radio chat between planes and the control tower, and plane to plane traffic.

Hear what happens behind the scenes at some of the world's busiest airports. Listen to live transmissions between air traffic controllers in the airport tower and pilots landing and departing from the airport.

Call signs in aviation are derived from several different policies, depending on the type of flight operation being conducted, and depending on whether the caller is an aircraft or a ground facility. In most countries, unscheduled general aviation flights identify themselves using the call sign corresponding to the aircraft's registration number (also called N-number in the US, or tail number).

Click this link to listen to live aircraft radio traffic: http://www.liveatc.net.

Article Source:
http://www.disabled-world.com/entertainment/hobby/flight-tracking.php

Hassle Me By Email or RSS

Do you struggle sticking to your workout plan? Or remembering to call your grandmother? At times we all need a little reminder. Some use post it notes, Outlook tasks or maybe your spouse gives you constant reminders. Many of us will try just about anything to keep track of our to do lists.

Hassle Me offers their service free of charge via email. Simply type in the message you want to be reminded about and they will "hassle" you with an email as often as you'd like. Maybe you have it all together and don't need any help, but I think this could be useful.

Click this link to visit the Hassle Me website: http://www.hassleme.co.uk.

ReminderFeed

ReminderFeed is a simple tool that allows you to send reminders right to your feed reader. It's free to use and is pretty much hassle free, meaning you don't need to create an account to use it. Just type in what you need to be reminded of, and subscribe to the RSS feed.

You will need to give your reminder a title, a start and end date, and a description. Optionally, you can also add a link and include a password if you want to protect edits to your reminder. ReminderFeed will then generate an RSS feed that you can subscribe to and share with others. It's a great way for anyone to quickly set up a reminder that won't get lost in your inbox or sent to your already overloaded calendar. It's great for families on a busy schedule too!

Click this link to visit http://www.ReminderFeed.com.

The Deaf Blind Communicator

The Deaf Blind Communicator (DBC) is the latest product from Humanware for the BrailleNote family of notetakers. It turns any existing BrailleNote into a communications solution for someone who is deaf blind.

The Deaf Blind Communicator allows you to engage in several types of conversations. These include standard TTY calls, PC to BrailleNote conversations using a telecom program on the computer, DBC to DBC conversation for two nearby BrailleNotes running the DBC via Bluetooth, use of messaging services, text messaging, and face to face using the Smartphone provided. In the case of instant messaging, the BrailleNote will need to have a connection to the Internet as well as information for accessing a XMPP messaging server. For texting to be available, a SIM card will need to be present in the DBC Companion Smartphone.

The provided Smartphone is referred to in DBC documentation as the DBC Companion. There is no screen reading software on this phone, and it is, for all intents and purposes, inaccessible to a blind user. Through the software installed on the phone, though, the BrailleNote communicates with the phone and does provide the user with the phone's battery status when you check the BrailleNote's power. When you start a face to face conversation, the phone vibrates and repeats an audible message telling the sighted user that the blind person cannot hear and asking them to have a conversation with them using the mobile device. The person holding the phone slides it open to reveal the keyboard, and types messages that appear on the BrailleNote. When the user of the Braille Note types a message, it appears on the screen of the mobile phone. This mobile phone is also used as a means of notifying the deaf blind user when the phone line connected to the Braille Note is ringing. This allows them to answer TTY calls that come in.

Click this link to read a review of the Deaf Blind Communicator by the National Federation for the Blind (NFB)a.

Online Student Survival Guide and Finding Information on the Internet

We all know that online learning can be hard without the built-in social and administrative supports a campus provides. Online students will welcome this blog from Western Governors University, which offers advice on Adjusting to Online Learning, Balancing Life and School, Elements of Online Learning, Healthy Eating, and Selecting Your School.

Click this link to visit http://www.OnlineStudentSurvival.com.

Finding Information on the Internet: A Tutorial

Anyone who is taking classes online will eventually have to search the internet for something. "This tutorial presents the substance of the web searching workshop offered by the Teaching Library at the University of California at Berkeley. The content on this site has been updated to reflect the latest trends in search engines, directories, and evaluating web pages."

Click this link to read the tutorial on Finding Information on the Internet.

BlindSpeak: Text to Voice Email Service

BlindSpeak is a text to voice email application that lets you convert text into speech and then forward it to any email address. The recipient will receive both an MP3 file and a link within the message to the online Flash player, where they can play the message online.

Users can send up to five messages a day. All messages will be hosted on BlindSpeak for a thirty day period and then deleted. No registration is needed and you can preview the message before sending.

Click this link to visit http://www.blindspeak.com.

Get RSS Recommendations Based on Your Feeds

I'm always looking for new RSS feeds to read. I've got about one hundred that I follow, but there's always room for more. My problem is that I really don't want to spend hours searching for something to spend hours reading later. Luckily for me, there's SuggestRSS.

SuggestRSS is a web application that can process your current RSS subscriptions and, based on similarity, give you a list of RSS recommendations you can subscribe to. To get feed suggestions, simply export all your subscriptions from your feedreader as an OPML file, then upload the file on to SuggestRSS. The application will run a comparison and give you a list of feeds that you may want to check out. Easy to use and free!

Click this link to visit http://www.suggestrss.com.

What Is Juvenile macular degeneration

It's true that the most common form of macular degeneration is age-related but other types of macular degeneration affect much younger people, from teenagers and children to infants.

These different forms are known as juvenile macular degeneration, early-onset macular degeneration or macular dystrophy.

The macula is located at the back of the eye at the centre of the retina. It enables us to see what is directly in front of us and also allows us to see finer detail. So it plays a vital role in helping us to read, write and perform other detailed tasks. It also enables us to recognise faces and see colours.

When macular degeneration occurs, the light-sensitive cells at the centre of the macula become damaged, and they malfunction and die. This results in central vision becoming blurred while peripheral vision remains clear.

The different types of juvenile macular degeneration are caused by genetic mutations that affect the macular cells.

The most common form is Stargardt's disease, which is estimated to affect about one in 10,000 people. It's inherited in an autosomal recessive pattern, meaning that a person has a one in four chance of inheriting the problematic gene.

Although symptoms may not start until someone is in their 30s or 40s, it's most common for symptoms to begin between the ages of seven and 12, with loss of central vision by the time they reach adulthood.

The second most common form of juvenile macular degeneration is Best's vitelliform retinal dystrophy. It's also inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern, and a child has a one in two chance of inheriting the defective gene from their parents.

It's usually identified during childhood or teenage years and doesn't always affect both eyes equally. Sometimes good central vision can remain in one eye.

Central vision becomes blurred with symptoms similar to looking at a faded photograph. This loss of central vision makes it difficult for people affected to see what is directly in front of them and makes reading, writing, recognising faces and performing detailed tasks difficult.

Peripheral vision remains clear, so a person with juvenile macular degeneration does not develop total blindness. There is no pain or redness of the eyes.

Juvenile macular degeneration cannot be cured, but additional lighting and magnifiers can help to alleviate the symptoms. It's important to protect the eyes by eating healthy foods and avoiding exposure to ultraviolet light.

Article Source:
Female First Magazine (UK)

WebRN-Macular Degeneration.com

Check out this very comprehensive website on macular degeneration, set up by a registered nurse in the United States. It is packed with useful information, including tips on how to continue driving with low vision.

Click this link to visit http://www.WebRN-Macular Degeneration.com.

Understanding Low Vision

Low Vision is a term that denotes a level of vision which is 20/70 or worse and which is not fully remediable by the use of conventional glasses.

It is important at the outset to lay to rest some misconceptions about the condition:

• It is not synonymous with blindness: a person with low vision has some useful sight. On a positive note again, when vision impairment is recognised early, treatment can be more effective enabling people to keep as independent as possible.
  
  
• Low vision is not a natural part of aging. Whereas dry eyes due to a reduction in tear flow, and floating spots when looking around are common changes associated with ageing (presbyopia), such changes do not necessarily lead to low vision.

So what are the symptoms which might suggest you have low vision? Here are some problems commonly experienced by sufferers:

• Difficulty recognising familiar faces .
  
• Difficulty reading as letters appear distorted and/or broken.
  
• Difficulty seeing obstacles below you like steps and kerbs or objects in your wider field of vision.
  
• Difficulty recognising objects at a distance, street or bus signs, for example.
  
• Difficulty differentiating colors, especially in the green-blue-violet range.

Several eye diseases may be responsible for low vision, including:

• Macular Degeneration. Deterioration of the macula - the area on the retina responsible for sharp central vision - gradually causes blurred vision, difficulty reading and, ultimately, a blind spot in the central area of vision. This "dry"form of the disorder is age-related and affects 13m. of the US population.

  The more severe "wet" form arises when abnormal blood vessels develop under the macula and leak blood and fluid. There's also a juvenile hereditary type.
  
  

• Diabetic Retinopathy. Sufferers of diabetes often become vision-impaired to a greater or lesser degree. The severity of the vision loss is dependent on the amount of leakage from the blood vessels which nourish the retina. Laser procedures and surgical treatments are used to slow the progression of the disease.
  
  
• Cataracts. With full/partial clouding of the lens inside the eye, light is prevented from reaching the retina at the back of the eye. A generalized loss of vision is the result. Cataract surgery has a high success rate, but for a small number of patients low vision care will be required.
  
  
• Glaucoma. When the flow or drainage of fluid within the eye is compromised, the internal pressure in the eye builds up. The optic nerve can be damaged with a resultant loss of vision. Early diagnosis, drug treatment or sometimes surgery can minimize vision loss.
  
  
• Brain Trauma. Vision can be lost or damaged as a result of head injuries, brain damage and strokes.

In the light of the above, and on current demographic trends, low vision will become more prevalent as more of us live longer. Those with low vision will have to learn coping strategies in order to maintain a reasonable quality of life which should include:

• Optical devices, such as magnifiers, glasses with half-prisms, microscopes and telescopes.
  
  
• Environmental modifications - raised markers/high contrast tape to mark dials on appliances; an organized and obstacle-free home; lighting allowing for optimum use of vision, - help to maximize your remaining vision and maintain a safe environment.
  
  
• Adaptive, non-optical devices, such as large-print cookbooks, talking watches and computer software which turns text into speech.

A combination of technology and a positive attitude will enable those with low vision to live life as independently and as fully as possible.

Click this link to learn more about vision at http://www.MyVisionInfo.com.

Disability Information from the Federal Government

The federal government has developed a user friendly, disability-related website that has links to more than a dozen governmental agencies and many non-profit organizations. People with disabilities, their advocates, and professionals can search by topic and don't need to know which organization to look for. The general topics are employment, health, transportation, housing, civil rights, benefits, technology, and community life.

Click this link to visit http://www.DisabilityInfo.gov.

WhiteHouse.gov

While we're talking about accessible information, have you noticed the changes to the White House website, WhiteHouse.gov? It has a brand new look. The website of former president George W. Bush, was replaced by an updated, sleeker website that states:

"WhiteHouse.gov will be a central part of President Obama's pledge to make his the most transparent and accountable administration in American history."

Here's a little something for those of us who blog, an actual blog section has been added, guess I'll have to add that one to my reader! Considering Obama loves technology, it'll be interesting to see how well the site is maintained and if his weekly YouTube addresses will be available on the site as well.

Dog Grooming: Caring For the Ears

Dogs ears are prone to infection as you might already have noticed if you have a dog with problem ears. If your dog keeps getting infections here is some information that might help you deal with chronic ear infections.

Dog ear infections are usually called Otits Externa; this means an infection in the outer ear. (Otis Interna means an infection of the inner ear). Outer ear infections account for 90% of the infections in dogs; making ear infection the most common infection for a dog to be treated for. Ear mites can often accompany ear infections.

Dogs with allergies may experience more ear infections than other dogs. It can be caused by wax build up inside the ear. It can also be caused by long hair blocking the passage of air and creating a buildup of not only wax but also dirt and debris.

Regular ear cleaning will also get your friend used to having his ears handled which will make it easier to administer treatment.

You can prevent these infections by cleaning your dogs ears well and as part of your regular grooming regime. Cleaning your dog's ears is simple and you only need a soft cloth and some ear cleanser. Lift the ears and massage some cleanser into the ear this should loosen the dirt. Check with your vet to see what she recommends for an ear cleanser.

Regular ear cleaning is a powerful preventative measure; particularly if you have a dog who is at a high risk for ear infections. Ear infections are more common in dogs that swim often for example. Water inside the ears can be a problem for dogs who are essentially not designed for water.

You can spot an ear infection on your dog by looking for the following tell tale signs:

• smelly ears
  
• discharge
  
• excessive head shaking
  
• swelling
  
• redness in the ears

If your dog seems uncomfortable or is excessively scratching their ears it's probably causing a great deal of distress. If your partner is scratching too hard he could break blood vessels and cause swelling and bleeding.

If the infection is serious, its time to call the vet. Infections can be cleared up easily. Most often the dog will need some antibiotics to help clear the problem.

If your dog has recurring ear infections the vet might suggest clipping the hair around the ear. If the problem is more extreme, the vet might suggest surgery to allow for easier drainage of the ear canal.

Now that you know what to look for you should be able to detect ear infections before they become a serious problem.

WoofReport.com

"Woof Report is a free daily email newsletter offering handpicked pup-perfect ideas, dog care tips, products, and more. Our mission is to provide dog owners with a practical and objective source for the information they need to know."

Click this link to visit http://www.WoofReport.com.

Product Recalls: Keep Your Family Safe

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has an informative website that lists the recalls of various items and offers advice on the best ways to protect you and your family.

Most people visit this site to check the product safety recalls for a certain product or timeline. You can visit the site on a periodic basis and check to see which items have been recalled recently. You can search by date or product type. When you click on a specific recall it will show a picture of the item, describe the item, and give contact information on how to return the item.

The site also has a section designed especially for kids. It is an interactive site that teaches safety while children play the video games that are included in the site. The games include word searches, and finding the hazards in the home, as well as games regarding bike safety. (Note: games may not be compatible with screen reading technology).

The site is easy to navigate and contains important information for the consumer. It is also a great way to teach your children about the safety issues around your home.

Click this link to visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission website: http://www.cpsc.gov.

Recalls.gov: Your Online Resource for Recalls

In order to provide better service in alerting the American people to unsafe, hazardous or defective products, six federal agencies with vastly different jurisdictions have joined together to create http://www.recalls.gov -- a "one stop shop" for U.S. Government recalls.^D>" Includes consumer products, motor vehicles, boats, foods, medicines, cosmetics, and environmental products.

Click this link to visit http://recalls.gov.

Consumer.gov

For general information, Consumer.gov is a "one-stop" link to a broad range of federal information resources available online. It is designed so that you can locate information by category - such as Food, Health, Product Safety, Your Money, and Transportation. Each category has subcategories to direct you to areas within individual federal web sites containing related information.

Click this link to visit http://www.consumer.gov.

How To Drill A Hole

Drilling is one of the most common and most useful processes. Use the following steps to drill that perfect hole.

1. Measure the location of the hole. If possible, mark exactly where the hole needs to be drilled.
   
   
2. Choose the drill size appropriate to the material being drilled and the tool being used. Use common sense. Trying to directly cut a 3/8 inch diameter hole in stainless steel with a hand drill is not the wisest idea. Start with small diameters and work up.
   
   
3. Align and clamp the material in place. Clamps are always a good idea. As the drill pierces through the opposite side of the material, it can grab and spin the work piece. If you are holding the material by hand, injury can result. Be especially careful of this when using a hand drill. If the drill bit grabs, the entire tool can be ripped out of your hands.
   
   
4. Put on safety glasses and ear protection as appropriate. Let someone else know you are using power tools, if working alone.
   
   
5. Ensure that the drill is spinning the right direction and speed. If you wrap your right hand around the drill with your fingers ointing in the direction of rotation, your thumb should be pointing into the material to be drilled. Alternatively, watch the flutes (the spiral grooves in the drill). When the drill is spinning, they should appear to be moving away from the material. In fact, the flutes? job is to remove cut chips out of the hole.
   
   
6. Plunge the spinning drill into the material. The drill should be cutting without requiring a tremendous amount of force along its axis. If the drill does not appear to be cutting ensure that the flutes are not clogged. In materials such as aluminum, you need to ?peck? at the material: plunge in to cut, and then pull out to remove chips. Clogging the drill while continuing to apply more and more force into the material is a sure way to break a drill bit. For metals, cutting fluid can be helpful. Cutting fluid can be oil, water, detergent, or a mixture of those three. It helps to lubricate the sliding contact between the drill and the work piece, flush chips away from the interface, and to cool the drill.
   
   
7. If the edges of the hole are not to your satisfaction, try a deburring tool to cut and smooth around the edge of the hole. Multiple types of deburring tools exist.
   
   
8. Vacuum or sweep up any mess, wipe off any cutting fluid, and put all tools away.

Emergency Handwriting Guide

If you are accustomed to using a handwriting guide and find yourself without one, you can make an emergency guide. You can accomplish this by rolling the paper on which you plan to write into a tight cylinder. Then crush the cylinder flat. When the cylinder is unrolled, you will find creases at regular intervals. These can be used and felt as lines to follow with your trailing hand as you hold the pen or pencil in your writing hand.

Contributor: Fred Gissoni

Make A Pocket Pad Of Braille Paper

If you have sheets of paper that fit exactly into a braille slate, you have at your disposal what can be described as a "pad and pencil system" for preparing notes. Making a packet of paper that is useful for note taking, however, requires sheets of paper that will fit readily into the slate.

Usually paper comes in sheets of a size that make it necessary to move the paper or the slate in order to fill the sheet with writing. By cutting standard sized sheets of braille paper into slips that just fit into a slate, you can produce a handy system for making short notes.

An easy method for making such slips is to stand both paper and slate on edge on a level surface. Then bend the paper over the upper edge of the slate. (This is because pressing the paper against the edge of the slate will produce a crease that can be felt.) Next, use a letter opener or knife to cut along the crease to detach the slip from the main sheet of paper. Then prepare a supply of these slips ahead of time--and remember to keep one in the slate so it will be ready the next time you want to make a quick note.

Contributor: Fred Gissoni

National Association Of Blind Students (NABS)

The National Association of Blind Students (NABS) a Division of the National Federation of the Blind, is an organization of students who are blind. For over 30 years it has provided support, information and encouragement to blind college and university students. NABS offers resources in issues such as national testing, accessible textbooks and materials, overcoming negative attitudes about blindness from school personnel, developing new techniques of accomplishing laboratory or field assignments, and many other college experiences. The organization offers strong advocacy and motivational support.

The Student Slate is published by students and is available on cassette and on the Internet. This publication deals with issues particularly related to the needs and interests of college and university students.

National Association of Blind Students (NABS)
604B Gaylor
Austin, TX 78752
Phone: 512-417-8170
Email: nabs-1@nfbnet.org
Web: http://www.nfb.org/students/studivis.htm

The Texas Association of Blind Students

TABS is a membership organization devoted to the advancement of blind students of all ages. Since its inception in 1990, TABS has worked on multiple levels to encourage the equal participation of blind individuals in all functions of society. Through instructional seminars, state and national conventions, legislative action, social events, and literature, we strive to promote independence and self-advocacy. The organization operates as a whole under the principle that inside and outside the classroom blind students are fully capable of leading normal productive lives. In order to reinforce this belief, it is necessary to view the change within blind students themselves. Thus, our ongoing objective is to work in conjunction with the National Association of Blind Students (NABS) and to a larger extent with the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) to build a sturdy foundation of useful skills, solid confidence, and raw determination so that we may in turn show the public that blindness is not the limitation it is thought to be. In essence, the primary goal of TABS is to follow its parent organizations in changing what it means to be blind.

Click this link for more information on The Texas Association of Blind Students: http://www.nfb-texas.org/tabs.html.

Adjustable Hot Sauce

Dave's Gourmet, the maker of the well known, "Insanity Hot Sauce", has introduced a new bottle design that lets you adjust how hot you want your sauce.

The bottle has two sections, one containing mild sauce, the other containing hot sauce. By turning the cap, you can control how hot or mild you want it. Then you push the cap to mix and apply the sauce to your grub.

Click this link to visit the Dave's Gourmet home page: http://www.davesgourmet.com.

Audio Description Makes Digital Archival Images Available to the Visually Impaired

Audio Description Illinois contains information on how libraries can use various techniques to make digital archival images available to the visually impaired on the Internet.

Audio Description (AD) is the descriptive narration of key visual elements of live theatre, television, movies, and other media to enhance their enjoyment by consumers who are blind or have low vision. It inserts audio explanations and descriptions of the settings, characters, and action taking place in such media when such information about these visual elements is not offered in the regular audio presentation.

The AD Website contains recordings, Powerpoint presentations, and handouts from training sessions offered; examples of audio description of digital archives; best practices information; and a set of links to other resources on audio description.

This website is a rich resource for any library or agency interested in audio description.

Click this link to visit the Audio Description Illinois website at http://alsaudioillinois.net.

BookPALS Storyline Online

p>Welcome to Storyline Online, a Website where interesting children's books are read by SAG (Screen Actor's Guild) members. On the main page, you'll find some featured stories. While I was there, those stories were:

• Enemy Pie read by Camryn Manheim
  
• Romeow and Drooliet read by Haylie Duff
  
• White Socks Only read by Amber Rose Tamblyn
  
• When Pigasso Met Mootisse read by Eric Close
  
• Dad, Are You the Tooth Fairy? read by Jason Alexander
  
• Brave Irene read by Al Gore

To find more stories, click the More Stories button and the stories will switch. There are twenty stories in total as of this article.

To get started, simply choose a story. On the story's page, you will have several navigation options. You can select the Read By button and learn all about the actor reading the story or you can click the Let's Read It button and choose your connection speed to see the video.

The video will be of the actor reading the story with the story captioned as well. The video will show both the actor reading and the illustrations from the pages of the book. I thought that was very cool! On the Video page, you have the options of full screen, turning the captions on/off or changing the video's size.

As if the stories weren't cool enough on their own, they've even added downloadable activity guides. There are also Related Activities, which will pop up and suggest things you can do with the book. There's even a More Activities section you can check out!

Navigating the site with a screen reader will be a little different. The site uses flash, but the buttons appear to be labeled properly. Things may seem a little out of place, but I think with practice, you should have little difficulty.

I think this is a great site for kids and from reading the Viewer Comments, so do a lot of other people. Enjoy!

Click this link to visit http://www.storylineonline.net.

It's Time for Zinger Tales

From the site:

"Zinger Tales is a collection of stories told by great storytellers! Choose a storyteller to hear the tale and get some book recommendations too! Stories are provided in RealPlayer format, which requires the free RealPlayer plug-in."

Click this link to visit Zinger Tales.

Louis Braille: The biography

Early in the 19th century, a blind teenager in France created a code of raised dots for reading and writing by touch instead of by sight. The National Braille Press is proud to release the first fully illustrated adult biography of Louis Braille.

Based on primary research and including 31 never-before translated letters, the new, visually elegant, hardcover book adds a dimension to the material on Louis Braille's life that has fed schoolchildren's biography projects for many years. Along with English translations of Braille's original letters, the book includes an extraordinary collection of documents, photographs, and artistic works-some unearthed from a curator's private archives in France. The text provides a bibliographic narrative of the phases of Braille's life as student, young inventor, musician, and teacher.

Author Michael Mellor considers himself extraordinarily lucky to have happened upon four never-before-translated (French-to-English) letters that Braille wrote to family members during his years at the Institut National des Jeunes Aveugles (National Institute for Young Blind). Braille, who died at age 43, lived most of his life at the school.

The book also includes 24 newly translated letters that Mellor first saw in 1998 on display at the school.

Based on patterns of dots within a six-dot matrix, braille code uses the same logic as binary computer codes invented a century later and has been adapted for math, science, music and every major written language.

Click this link to purchase Louis Braille: A Touch of Genius from the National Braille Press.
Click this link to listen or download a 22 minute BBC Podcast called The Story of Braille.

APH Transcribes Presidential Inauguration Guide Book

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH), is the official vendor of the 2009 Presidential Inaugural Guide Book printed in braille.

            The book serves not only as a guide to public activities surrounding the inauguration, but as a document that sets these events in historic context.  It contains quotes from President-Elect Barack Obama, and Vice President-Elect Joseph R. Biden, Jr. ; biographies of Barack and Michele Obama, and Joseph R. Biden, Jr. and Dr. Jill Biden; names of the 56th Inaugural Committee; History of the Inauguration; Calendar of Official Events; 2009 Presidential Inaugural Parade Participants; United States Senate & House of Representative Leadership; Official Inaugural Balls; Security Procedures; Access for Those with Disabilities; Places of Interest in Washington DC, and Transportation Tips.

 

            “To our knowledge, this is the first time the Presidential Inaugural Guide Book has been transcribed into braille,” says Dr. Tuck Tinsley III, President of APH. “We are truly honored to play such an important part in U.S. history.”

           

            The guide book is 72 pages in print.  The braille version is 118 pages.  Hard copies of the guide are being distributed to a select group of people.  APH has produced 150 braille copies and will send them to the 56th Presidential Inaugural Committee for distribution later this week.

 

            In addition to distributing braille copies, the Inaugural Committee will post an electronic version on its website, http://www.pic2009.org,  and there will be a podcast on this website for visually impaired persons who wish to access the guide electronically.

ABOUT APH:

The American Printing House for the Blind, a 501©(3) non-profit organization, is the world's largest company devoted solely to researching, developing, and manufacturing products for people who are blind or visually impaired. Founded in 1858, it is the oldest organization of its kind in the United States. Under the 1879 federal Act to Promote the Education of the Blind, APH is the official supplier of educational materials for visually impaired students in the U.S. who are working at less than college level.

APH manufactures textbooks and magazines in braille, large print, recorded, and computer disc formats. APH also manufactures hundreds of educational, recreational, and daily living products. APH's fully-accessible web site (www.aph.org) features information about APH products and services, online ordering of products, and free information on a wide variety of blindness-related topics. One popular feature of the site is the Louis Database, a free tool to help locate accessible books available from organizations across the U.S. APH products can also be ordered through Louis.

The American Printing House for the Blind, Inc. is located at 1839 Frankfort Avenue in Louisville, Kentucky. For more information, call (502) 895-2405 or log on to www.aph.org.

Finding Funds For College: Sources for Scholarships for Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired

One of the most stressful things about attending college is figuring out how to afford it. Paying for college doesn^D>'t have to be impossible and students don't have to be wealthy in order to get a quality education. There are a number of ways that almost anyone can afford to pursue the career of their dreams with the education they deserve.

Many traditional colleges and universities offer a convenient payment plan, which can be divided up into 10-12 months. After determining the entire yearly cost, that figure would be divided by the number of monthly payments and paid at the college^D>'s billing office. Payments are usually determined from one year to the next and students must finish paying for one year of college before entering into a payment arrangement for the next. An example would be a college that would cost $12,000.00 per year in courses, meals and living on campus. In this scenario, many students can pay $1,000.00 per month for one year. For many families, a payment plan is much easier than trying to come up with a lump sum payment upfront.

Every year, many students qualify for federal student loans. Applications and information can be obtained at a high school guidance counselor's office and/or the college of interest^D>'s billing office. Applications for student loans are accepted each year and are generally required to be submitted at, or near, each new year. In order to be considered, student^D>'s must be willing and able to provide documented income for themselves and their family so that their loan application can be properly assessed.

Local businesses, organizations and even colleges often provide scholarships to students who they believe will excel at college studies. These scholarships are usually available to high school seniors and are based on a number of factors, including grades, participation in school activities, employment and a personal interview. In order to be considered for a scholarship, students must apply by obtaining an application at their high school guidance counselor's office or from the organization granting the scholarship.

Many parents and students think that scholarships are only for students with excellent grades, low income, or athletic skills. An example of the numerous scholarships available to students include: handicapped student scholarships, members of a church scholarships, scholarships for "C" students, veterans' children's scholarships, scholarships for minorities, and much, much more.

Though the majority of scholarships are from the federal government and are merit-based and/or for students with low incomes, billions of dollars are available to students from private-sector scholarships. Private-sector financial aid often goes unused because parents and students do not know how or where to apply.

There are organizations that research scholarship sources. The U.S. Commission for Scholastic Assistance--College Bound supplies the public with over 700 different private scholarship sources. Scholarship information includes names/titles, addresses, application deadlines, summaries, and the amount each scholarship pays.

Many scholarships pay the entire tuition; others can be applied towards tuition, living expenses, and/or other fees. Most scholarships can be used at junior colleges, career and vocational schools, four-year colleges, graduate schools, or medical and law schools.

For information on obtaining these scholarship lists, send a self-addressed business-size envelope to:
The U.S. Commission for Scholastic Assistance
P.O. Box 668
O'Fallon, IL 62269

Reprinted from accessAbilities 13 (1997-1998): 1

If you're thinking about going to college, you've probably been mulling over two key questions: Which college should I attend and how will I pay for it?

The answer to the first question will depend on several factors, including your desired course of study, your grades, and your geographic preferences. The latter question can be trickier. I've got a website that may help you find some of the answers to your questions about picking the right college.

MatchCollege.com features 6,000+ public and private colleges/universities, providing detailed information regarding admissions, financial aid & tuition, employment, housing, athletics and much more.

Click this link to visit http://www.matchcollege.com.

Thankfully there are numerous organizations, foundations and agencies that offer scholarships and grants for students who are blind or visually impaired. While only a few scholarships are sufficient to cover the full-cost of tuition and expenses, every little bit helps.

The following links will lead you to organizations that either offer scholarships to students who are blind or visually impaired, or have information that can help you in your search.

Google Lime Scholarship for Students with Disabilities

Google has partnered with Lime (http://www.limeconnect.com) to offer scholarships to students with disabilities who are pursuing university degrees in the field of computer science in Canada or the U.S. Lime is a not-for-profit organization that brings together global corporations and people with disabilities, bringing to light an untapped source of talent. Scholarships will be granted for the 2009–2010 academic year, and recipients will be invited to attend an all-expenses-paid retreat at the Googleplex in Mountain View in 2010.

Google hopes this program will increase opportunities for students with disabilities and encourage them to pursue careers in computer science. They also hope to foster long-lasting relationships through which these students can support each other over the course of their academic studies.

"As part of Google's ongoing commitment to advancing computing and technology, we are pleased to provide scholarships to encourage students to excel in their studies and become active role models and leaders. We hope these programs also help in dismantling barriers that keep women and minorities from entering computing and technology fields."

The deadline to apply for this year's Lime Scholarship is June 1, 2009. For complete details, visit http://www.google.com/jobs/scholarships.

Article Source:
Official Google Blog

Student Financial Aid

This site provides access to information on colleges and universities throughout the United States, free college scholarship and financial aid searches, SAT and ACT test preparation tips. Also provides graduate school preparation with tips for GRE, GMAT, MBA programs, and more at 101 Top College, University and Scholarship Pages.

Click this link to visit the Student Financial Aid page of the St. Ambrose University website.

The American Foundation for the Blind, http://www.afb.org has a comprehensive list of foundations, universities and service groups offering scholarships and grants for students who are blind or visually impaired. While there are no links to follow to gather additional information from these organizations while online, mailing addresses and phone numbers are provided.

American Foundation for the Blind
11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
New York, NY 10001
Phone: (212) 502-7600
E-mail: info@afb.org Internet: American Foundation for the Blind, www.afb.org

Association of Blind Citizens, http://www.assocofblindcitizens.org offers a $1000 annual scholarship to a college-bound student who is blind or visually impaired. The scholarship may be applied to tuition, living expenses or related expenses resulting from vision impairment. Scholarship application instructions and requirements are provided at the association's web site.

Association of Blind Citizens
PO Box 246
Holbrook, MA 02343
Telephone: (781) 654-2000
Fax: (519) 275-6713
Email: president@assocofblindcitizens.org
Internet: Association of Blind Citizens, www.assocofblindcitizens.org

The American Council of the Blind http://www.acb.org awards scholarships to exceptional graduate and undergraduate students who are blind. A person wishing to apply for an ACB scholarship needs to obtain an application form. The form is available on the ACB web site or by writing or calling ACB at the following address and phone number:

American Council of the Blind (ACB)
Scholarship Office
1155 15th Street NW Suite 1004
Washington, DC 20005
Phone: 800-424-8666
Email: info@acb.org
Internet: American Council of the Blind, www.acb.org

Blindskills Inc. http://www.blindskills.com/scholar.html is a nonprofit corporation that publishes DIALOGUE, a magazine written specifically for persons who are blind or are experiencing sight loss. A past issue of DIALOGUE contains the article "Scholarships for Blind and Visually Impaired Post Secondary Students" and it includes a lengthy list of scholarship opportunities and contact information.

Blindskills Inc.
P.O. Box 5181
Salem OR 97304-0181
Phone: (800) 860-4224
Fax: (503) 581-0178
E-Mail: blindskl@teleport.com
Web Site: www.blindskills.com

Collegeboard.com http://www.collegeboard.com is the web site for the College Board, a not-for-profit association of colleges and universities (and also the developers and administrators of the Scholastic Aptitude Test or SAT). The site has an online searchable database of more than 2,000 scholarship and grant resources. There is a simple online form which allows the user to tailor his or her search according to individual preferences. Searches can be customized to find scholarships for students who are blind or visually impaired. There are no fees for using this service.

The College Board
45 Columbus Avenue
New York, NY 10023-6992
Phone: (212) 713-8000
Internet: collegeboard.com http://www.collegeboard.com/

FreSch, the Free Scholarship Search, http://www.freschinfo.com web site, has an extensive database of scholarships, including scholarships for students who are blind or visually impaired. To get a listing of these scholarships, follow the link to Browse the scholarship database. You can then select a category to browse: choose Disabilities. When the form loads, indicate Blind and then submit. FreSch will compile a list of scholarships that are currently accepting applications. For a complete list of scholarships, including those with deadlines that have passed, uncheck the box for "Only show scholarships that the deadline has not passed" and submit.

FreSch
Internet: www.freschinfo.com

The National Federation of the Blind, http://www.nfb.org has its own scholarship program. Each year the organization awards approximately 22 NFB scholarships to support students whose interests run from computer science to teaching foreign languages. The NFB administers an additional scholarships on behalf of individuals and other foundations. Among these scholarships are:

• The Kenneth Jernigan Scholarship: a $10,000 scholarship given by the American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults.
• Melva T. Owen Memorial Scholarship: a $7,000 scholarship given to a student whose course of study is "directed towards attaining financial independence."
• Michael and Marie Marucci Scholarship: The winner of this $3,000 scholarship must be "studying a foreign language or comparative literature; pursuing a degree in history, geography, or political science with a concentration in international studies; or majoring in any other discipline that involves study abroad."
• Frank Walton Horn Memorial Scholarship: A $3,000 scholarship awarded with preference toward those studying architecture or engineering.

National Federation of the Blind
Scholarships Committee
805 Fifth Avenue
Grinnell, IA
Phone: (641) 236-3366
Email: nfb@nfb.org
Internet: National Federation for the Blind, www.nfb.org

U.S. Commission for Scholastic Assistance--College Bound is a printed resource with listings for more than 700 private scholarship sources. Millions of dollars of private sector (individual, company, etc.) scholarships are available to students every year. To get information on obtaining these scholarship sources, send a self-addressed business-size envelope to:

The U.S. Commission for Scholastic Assistance
PO Box 668
O'Fallon, IL 62269

The Student Aid Audio Guide is an online, simulated telephone conversation that that provides information on the following topics on Financial Aid from the U.S. Department of Education.

Introduction and Contents
Sources of Nonfederal Aid
The Federal Student Aid Programs and General Eligibility Requirements
How to File the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)
Determining Whose Information to Report and Completing Your Application
What Happens After I Apply?
Making Adjustments
Meeting Deadlines and Verifying Your Application
Federal Pell Grants
Campus-Based Aid: Common Provisions
Campus-Based Grant and Work-Study Programs
Federal Perkins Loans
Obtaining Loans for Students - Direct and FFEL (Federal Family Education Loan) Stafford Loans
Repaying Loans for Students - Direct and FFEL Stafford Loans
Loans for Parents - Direct and FFEL Plus Loans
Direct and FFEL Consolidation Loans

Please note: to listen to any of the content on the page, you must have The RealPlayer from Real Systems Inc. installed on your computer. To learn more, click the following link.

The Student Aid Audio Guide, http://studentaid.ed.gov/students/publications/student_audio_guide/index.html

College Scholarships for Individuals with Parents with Disabilities

In recognition of the more than nine million parents with disabilities in the U.S. and their families, Through the Looking Glass (TLG), non-profit organization, is pleased to announce the College Scholarship Fund specifically for graduating high school seniors who have parents with disabilities.

Scholarships funds are available to graduating high school students who:

1. demonstrate academic and personal achievement;
   
2. have grown up with at least one parent with a disability; and
   
3. will be a high school graduate or graduating senior by the Summer

This award is one of several projects of Through the Looking Glass' National Resource Center for Parents with Disabilities. This National Center is funded by the National Institute on Disability Research and Rehabilitation (NIDRR), U.S. Department of Education.

More information and application forms are available on the Through the Looking Glass website: www.lookingglass.org Forms may also be requested by calling 1-800-644-2666.

Founded in 1982, Through the Looking Glass (TLG) is a nationally recognized center that has pioneered research, training, and services for families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability. Since 1998, TLG has been funded by NIDRR as the National Resource Center for Parents with Disabilities. The overall goal of this national center is: To increase knowledge regarding parenting with a disability and support more accessible and disability-appropriate resources for diverse parents with disabilities and their children. The Centers services and activities include: national toll-free information and referral; technical assistance and consultations; professional trainings, workshops and presentations; national library and resources clearinghouse; publications and training modules; a national parent-to-parent network of parents with disabilities; international newsletter; website and bulletin boards; and regional and statewide systems development.

Through the Looking Glass
2198 Sixth Street, Suite 100
Berkeley, CA 94710
Toll Free: (800) 644-2666 ext. 172
Phone: 510-848-1112 ext. 172
Web: http://www.lookingglass.org

FAFSA4Caster: http://www.fafsa4caster.ed.gov was created by The Department of Education to give students an early estimate of their eligibility for federal financial aid for college.

Fynanz

Fynanz is a social lending program designed for student loans. Students and parents can request a loan and lenders will make loan offers covering all or part of the loan request. Unlike a typical student loan from a bank, the money lent through Fynanz comes from private individuals.

One benefit of Fynanz for borrowers is that the typical loan received has an interest rate that is 1% to 1.5% lower than typical bank rates. Another benefit of Fynanz is that it rewards good students by offering lower interest rates to students with outstanding grades. Finally, Fynanz lowers the interest rate on your loan by 1%for every 10% of principal repaid.

For individuals interested in lending money through Fynanz, the site provides loan guarantees up to 100% of the value of a loan. Fynanz's lender program should eliminate many of the typical worries associated with social lending.

Click this link to learn more at http://www.fynanz.com.

For students who are not eligible for the above options, but still want to attend college, there is an alternate option that will gradually help them to work toward their degree. College courses are offered at a certain cost, which is calculated on a credit hour basis. Many colleges allow students to enroll in several classes without becoming a full-time student and being required to pay the full tuition. These students can often pay as they go, which means they only pay for the course(s) they are taking at the time and this will be a much more affordable way to pay for college. It will take longer to obtain a degree, but anything worth having is worth waiting for.

Christian Record Services

Christian Record Services provides free Christian publications and programs for people with visual impairments. The goal of the many volunteers, employees, and trustees of Christian Record Services is to reach every blind or visually impaired person in North America with their free Christian publications and services. Services include:

• Subscription Magazines are available in braille, large print, and audio cassette.
  
• Full-Vision Books combine braille and print, enabling blind parents to read to their sighted children and sighted parents help their blind children learn to read braille.
  
• The Lending Library lends more than 2,000 volumes in braille and audio cassette.
  
• Gift Bibles and Study Guides are available in braille, large print, and audio cassette.
  
• National Camps for Blind Children are operated throughout North America.
  
• Scholarship Assistance is given on a limited basis to blind young people trying to obtain a college education.

For more information, contact:

Christian Record Services, Inc. / National Camps for Blind Children
4444 South 52nd Street
Lincoln NE 68516-1302
Phone: 402-488-0981
Fax: 402-488-7582
Email: info@christianrecord.org
Web: http://christianrecord.org

Disability Scholarships for the Blind

There are a variety of different disabilities scholarships and grant programs available to the visually impaired, and it is important to explore these opportunities if you are looking for a way to pay for a higher education. College is not out of reach for those with disabilities, especially the blind.

Click this link to visit DisabilityScholarships.us to learn about several scholarships, specifically for people who are blind or visually impaired.
The HEATH Resource Center has also created a list of thirty SCHOLARSHIPS for Legally Blind / Visually Impaired College Students.

Saber Duel: An Audio Game for the Blind

The following game anouncement was posted by Alexander Shen on alexander shen's art blog and is reposted here for your convenience.

I was walking to the train the other night, and I was thinking about an article that I read some time ago about a boy that was incredibly good at Soul Calibur despite the fact that he was blind. He memorized the sounds that different characters and moves made, so he knew how to react. Ultimately, he didn't let his disability limit him from enjoying a fantastic video game and source of entertainment.

I thought about this and decided that it was time for me to try my hand at creating games that were accessible to those with disabilities.

The first game that I've created is called Saber Duel. It's essentially a lightsaber blocking game where you block attacks coming from your left, center or right. I'd recommend using headphones as it'll further immerse you into the game. You should also know that this game runs on Windows only.

Click this link to download Saber Duel.

Download Audio Books for the Visually Impaired: Technology at Its Best

The following article was posted to the My Top Gossip blog and is reposted here for your convenience.

The goal of technology is to make people’s lives easier, more convenient, and better. Nowhere is this more prominently demonstrated than in audio books for the blind.

Our society has always been visual and is becoming increasingly so: from newspapers and books to computer screens, blind people have faced the struggle of accessing information that is readily available to most other people. The ability to read a book or newspaper is taken for granted by many of us, but it is a pleasure that is often denied the blind.

In today’s society, we obtain a great deal of information and entertainment using computers and the internet. Because they are very image-based, blind and visually impaired people struggle much more to access comparable information. Nor is Braille that much more convenient. While it does allow people to enjoy written language, it can be expensive and out of reach for many blind people.

With one seemingly simple advancement, doors to gaining information, being entertained, and staying current with the news were thrown open: enter audio book downloads for the blind.

For the first time, visually impaired people could go online and download audiobooks of their choice. The mass production of audio books for the blind, the opportunity came to learn in a way that had never been available before. In addition, the audio books were inexpensive or even free, making them accessible to most blind people.

In this case, technology has provided an enormous benefit for people around the world: blind people can now obtain an education that they would not have even five years ago.

Art, music, drama, history, geography, economics, current events, fiction, biographies, poetry - no genre, subject, or style is off limits when you access unabridged audiobooks. Visually impaired people have access to the world of knowledge that was previously housed in books, newspapers, or magazines.

In the area of education, audio books have been particularly helpful and effective. Core subjects of reading, writing, math, and science are able to be learned through audio books, making easy access to education a right enjoyed by the blind and visually impaired.

Audio books for the blind also provide an opportunity for entertainment. Now, blind and visually impaired people can simply hear a story for pleasure, and the choices are diverse. Thousands of books - all different forms of fiction and nonfiction, contemporary or classic, popular, and more obscure - are available for the enjoyment of blind people.

With all the technological advancements being made, it is easy to forget the people that are an integral part of the equation. Audio books for the blind are an example of technology at its best and most helpful.

The Living Room Candidate

When televisions started to fill every home in America, the politicians realized it was an excellent way to get their campaign messages out and to advertise to the voters. Since the 1950s, television has dramatically changed the way campaigns are advertised. This site is all about the presidential campaigns that aired on television. The timeline on the site starts in 1952 and ends in 2004.

You can browse these campaign commercials by year, Type of Commercial or Issue. You'll find those sections just under the time line. Just click on the button and the menu will expand. You can then choose how you'd like to view it.

You'll also notice that there is a featured commercial section on the other side of the page and right in the middle of the page is the introduction. The introduction covers the history of how presidential campaigns turned to commercials to reach out to the voters.

You can choose to see the Republican ads, as well as, the Democrat ads. You can even see who won the election.

In the Type of Commercial section, you can view by the different types that were used. The types are: Backfire, Biographical, Children, Commander in Chief, Documentary, Fear and Real People. Each category is defined when you click on it and you can see the commercials that fall into each category.

Issue - This section is set up similarly to the Type section. It's divided into issues and they are: Civil Rights, Corruption, Cost of Living, Taxes, War and Welfare. Again, you'll find commercials that serve as examples for each of these.

People who use screen readers will want to skip over the Macromedia buttons at the top of the page and move down to the actual links. The videos stream in either Windows Media or RealPlayer formats. You will have to choose your default player and stream speed before watching the adds. Some of the graphics are not properly labeled, you'll get some strange numbers and letters when listening with your screen reader, but the site is accessible for the most part.

I found this site to be an interesting bit of history. Check it out!

Click this link to visit The Living Room Candidate.

Inaugural Addresses

Hulu's collection of inaugural addresses is another great resource for studying the presidents. Hulu has each inaugural address in its entirety for you and your students to watch online. How cool is that!

Click this link to visit the Inaugural Speeches page of the Hulu website.