Lesson Plans On The Net

How many times has a teacher helped us get through a tough time? I'll bet that creating those lesson plans is not a simple task. I think we'll dedicate this article to helping all the teachers out there.

The following sites offer lesson plans and tons of other teacher-related resources:

The New York Times Learning Network

Created for students and teachers in grades 3 through 12, The Learning Network is a free news service that provides news summaries, quizzes, and even daily lesson plans.

Click this link to visit the NYT Learning Network: http://www.nytimes.com/learning.

AskEric/EDUREF

More than 2000 unique lesson plans which have been written and submitted to AskERIC (now called the Educator's Reference Desk) by teachers. If you have a great lesson plan you would like to share with educators all over the world, send it in. A wonderful online resource since 1992.

Click this link to AskEric/EDUREF: http://www.eduref.org.

TeachNet

Teachnet offers lesson plans, teaching tools, a daily teacher- oriented cartoon, and email lists for educators. Click this link to visit TeachNet: http://www.teachnet.com.

Surfing The Net With Kids

Barbara Feldman, syndicated newspaper columnist and mother, shares her vision of what's wonderful and educational on the Web for kids. She welcomes parents, kids, teens, grandparents, K-12 teachers, librarians and the incurably curious.

Click this link to visit the SurfNetKids website: http://www.surfnetkids.com.

Lesson Plans and More for US History Teachers

The US History Site provides US History teachers with a good collection of lesson plans, timelines, and images for teaching US History. Teachers will find materials appropriate for use in elementary, middle, and high school classrooms. To make finding resources easy, the US History Site has organized all of their resources by eras and topics that you can browse. You can also search for US History lesson plans through the general search box at the top of the site.

Click this link to find Lesson Plans and more at http://ushistorysite.com.

The File Cabinet

The File Cabinet is a wiki for K-8 teachers. It has links and resources organized by topic and grade level.

If you're a K-8 teacher, you owe it to yourself to check out The File Cabinet: http://thefilecabinet.pbworks.com.

All Eyes on Glaucoma Campaign

From the website:

"Glaucoma is the world’s leading cause of preventable blindness and affects approximately 70 million people worldwide. Many people do not understand the consequences of glaucoma and, more importantly, that its impact can be significantly reduced.

The All Eyes on Glaucoma campaign has been developed to drive public awareness of risk factors for glaucoma and the critical importance of appropriate diagnosis among at-risk populations to slow down the progression of the disease. All Eyes on Glaucoma is sponsored by Pfizer Ophthalmics.

We invite you to explore the All Eyes on Glaucoma Website to learn more about glaucoma and how to best take care of your eye health.

The Association of International Glaucoma Societies

If you visit The Association of International Glaucoma Societies website at http://www.globalaigs.org you are immediately treated to a highly produced musical number entitled Glaucoma Hymn. Here are the lyrics:

"Glaucoma, Glaucoma, Glaucoma
Constricting vision slowly
Halted by progress of science
Vision of a world united
Beyond all science knowing."

Soprano Melanie Greve delivers a near operatic rendition of the above. The Lyrics and Composition were created by Erik Greve, the arrangement done by Tom Löwenthal. You can download an MP3 of the song as well.

The purpose of The Association of International Glaucoma Societies is:

• To further develop an effective world-wide organisation to realise common goals and improve standards for glaucoma management and research;
  
  
• To facilitate and co-ordinate communication and collaboration between Glaucoma Societies, Glaucoma Industries, Glaucoma Foundations and Glaucoma Patient Societies and other organisations in the field;
  
  
• To maintain and update global guidelines for glaucoma diagnosis and treatment;
  
  
• To maintain and update global guidelines on publication and reporting on glaucoma treatment;
  
  
• To classify, review and disseminate information on glaucoma:
  
  
• To improve the awareness of glaucoma;
  
  
• To create a registry of Glaucoma Societies and glaucomatologists;
  
  
• To create a forum for exchange on global glaucoma research, screening, prevention of Glaucoma Blindness and WHO relationships

All correspondence to either:

Prof. Dr. Erik L. Greve, MD, PhD
Office of the Executive Vice President
Berg en Vaart
Cannenburgerweg 17- 19
1244 RE Wijdemeren
The Netherlands
Phone: +31 35 656 3303
Fax: +31 35 656 4543

or

Harbour Village
4672 Riverwalk Village Court 8507
Ponce Inlet, FL 32127
U. S. A.
Phone: 386-304-7890
Fax: 386-304-7890

E mail: GlobalAIGS@cs.com
Web: http://www.globalaigs.org

NonFiction Documentary Videos

NonFiction Videos is a website that features documentary-style videos. You'll find well-known films like SuperSize Me.

The site currently has 125 films in its collection and more films are being added regularly. NonFiction Videos makes it possible to embed high-quality documentary films into your course's blog or website for students to watch outside of your classroom.

NOTE: Some of the videos contain material that you would not want elementary or middle school students to view without supervision.

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

PBS Video Portal

PBS has made videos available on various parts of their website for sometime now. The only problem was that there wasn't one central location for all of those videos.

Well, they've launched a cool video center where you can find all of the PBS online videos in one place.

PBS Video offers videos from the most popular shows including Frontline, NOVA, Nature, and American Experience. For the younger crowd, PBS Kids (http://kids.pbs.org/go/video) offers videos as well.

If you're not sure what you're looking for, but you think PBS has an appropriate video, you can search the PBS Video center by topic.

Click this link to visit http://www.pbs.org/video.

Creating Accessible School Alerts

As a blind parent, I can't stress enough the importance of getting information from my children's school in an accessible format. Both sons bring home a backpack full of printed material that my wife and I have a time trying to get through. There's so much information, and we always want to know what's going on at both schools, it can really take up an afternoon.

I've discussed the fact, with both schools, that there are blind and visually impaired parents with sighted children and that those blind and visually impaired parents have the right to get school information in an accessible format. The problem is that the schools simply don't know how to accomodate us. What is an accessible format? I've never asked the schools to produce braille documents, even though this is my prefered way of receiving written information, but electronic communication is accessible and would work fine.

I am so glad that there are websites that are working to solve this issue, even though they don't realize the accessibility of what they are doing.

Alerts.com

Alerts.com is a free alert/ messaging system for schools to use to communicate important messages to parents, students, and faculty. The Alerts.com system can be used to send messages via email, text messaging, instant messaging, websites, or voice messages. People wishing to receive messages from the school sign up for the method(s) through which they would like to receive messages. The Alerts.com School Alerts system is designed to be used in times of emergency, an unplanned early end to the school day, a weather delay to the start of the school day, or for any other time-sensitive message.

The system does not require schools to download, install, or maintain any software or hardware. Alerts.com's School Alerts system is completely free and not advertisement supported so schools can be certain that parents and students won't be inundated with spam or any other advertising. The system is supported by Alerts.com, American Income Life, and I-Safe.org.

It simply solves the problem of accessibility for parents, students and staff who would have difficulty reading printed material. This is so cool! If you have any pull at your school, schools for the blind included, please talk to your administration about this program and insure that everyone gets the information they need for a successful school year.

Click this link to learn more about the School Alerts program.

Schoohoo

Schoohoo is another free system for sending text and email alerts to parents, students, and faculty members. It can be used to send messages about early dismissals, delayed starts, or meeting times. Schoohoo is available for free to any school regardless of size.

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

Copyright for Educators

Copyright for Educators is a presentation given by Wesley Fryer in February at ITSC. Mr. Fryer's presentation clarifies some common confusions and misunderstandings regarding the use of copyrighted material in the classroom.

The presentation is almost an hour in length, but well worth the time to watch. Click this link to watch Copyright for Educators.

Free OCR Software for Digital Cameras and Smartphones

Before you make the mistake of spending a lot of money on OCR software, you should try TopOCR! This software package is designed to be simple and user-friendly for use with your digital camera or smartphone. Now, wherever you go, you can quickly and easily acquire documents from business cards, newspapers, books and magazines, all without having to carry around a bulky notebook computer and scanner.

TopOCR's Advanced Features include:

• Incredible OCR accuracy, upto 99.8% with a 3 MP camera
  
• No page limits, and no extra downloads or components needed
  
• Handles images with mixed text and graphics (Manual or Auto Zoning)
  
• Tolerates skew and uneven lighting
  
• Multiple text output formats, including searchable PDF and HTML
  
• Able to read 11 different languages
  
• Powerful, easy to use Image Processing with Image Dewarping
  
• Supports Smartphones
  
• Includes built-in, full featured Text and Image WYSIWYG Editors
  
• Post-processing spell checker for all 11 languages
  
• Built-in Text-To-Speech software. How about OCR to MP3?
  
• Includes a built-in multi-lingual text translater
  
• Supports a Command Line Interface and a GUI
  
• Make a high performance document Search and Indexing system
  
• Browser Helper Mode supports creating free audio eBooks
  
• With TopOCR's Web Engine, it's easy to add new features

Click this link to learn more or download TopOCR: http://www.topocr.com/index.html.

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D)

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D) is the only national nonprofit organization that provides recorded and computerized textbooks at all academic levels to people who cannot read standard print effectively because of a visual impairment, learning disability or other physical disability. RFB&D operates 33 recording studios and offices across the country.

RFB&D's extensive library contains a broad selection of titles, from literature and history to math and the sciences, at all academic levels, from kindergarten through postgraduate and professional. RFB&D also offers for nonprofit sale computer and professional books on disk, specially-adapted tape players and accessories.

RFB&D offers individual and institutional memberships, scholarship programs and a custom recording service.

AudioPlus DAISY Books

RFB&D has launched its downloadable access to popular DAISY format audiobooks, AudioPlus, and enhanced 24/7, online member service support.

AudioPlus DAISY format audiobooks feature the full navigation, bookmarking and variable speed control that make DAISY the premiere format of accessible audiobooks. Both AudioAccess and AudioPlus are available through RFB&D’s online customer ordering system.

Once downloaded, RFB&D’s AudioPlus books can be played with DAISY software on a PC, transferred to the memory of a specialized DAISY player or burned to a CD to be played with a DAISY CD player. For complete technical requirements and specifications, visit http://www.rfbd.org/audioplus.

Additionally, all RFB&D members have direct access to 24/7 member service support online or on the phone. This 24/7 online service provides the highest possible quality of member support, including full membership and program support, book catalog support, technical support with equipment operation and audiobook download support for all RFB&D products.

The cost of becoming an individual member is $25 per year, plus a one-time $50 registration fee. Fees for institutional membership vary based on level of membership chosen. Visit the RFB&D website or call their offices for additional membership information.

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D)
20 Roszel Road
Princeton, NJ 08540
Toll Free: 800-803-7201
Phone: 609-452-0606
Fax: 609-987-8116
Email: custserv@rfbd.org
Web: http://www.rfbd.org

Seven Habits of Highly Effective Dog Owners

by Eric Letendre

Here are the seven habits all good dog owners have in common. Follow these steps, provided by the Best Pet Bud blog and you’ll be a highly effective dog owner.

1. Training

   All great dog owners spend some time training their dogs. Training is the best way to communicate with your dog. Your dog has no idea that they are not supposed to pull on leash, to not jump on guests, or to come back when you call them.
   

2. Exercise

   Our dogs spend a lot of time waiting around for us. We go off to work, we’re busy, we have appointments to keep, and our dogs are just hanging out waiting for us to do something with them.

   Dogs are extremely social and want to interact with us. Every dog needs two forms of exercise - mental and physical.
   

3. Good food

   Not all dog foods are created equal. Feeding your dog a good diet is very important. Look at some of the labels on dog food cans. Some of them are loaded with chemicals, dyes, sugar and low grade products.
   

4. Leadership

   Dogs are social pack animals. They survive by living together in packs. In order for that pack to survive they need to develop a social structure with a leader. When your dog comes into the house, you need to become the pack leader.

   By becoming the pack leader your dog will know where they fit in. Becoming the pack leader does not mean that you have to be forceful. It simply means that you need to control the activities that are important to your dog which are sleeping, eating, playing, and social contact.
   

5. Play

   Dogs live to play. Ever watch a group of puppies together? It is one of my favorite things to do. A group of puppies will jump, run, tug, and have a great time together. Playing with your dog is a great way to exercise and bond with your dog. It will also fulfill an important need in your dog.
   

6. Management

   Good management skills are crucial. When a dog is young they usually get into a lot of trouble by chewing, stealing, jumping, etc. The owner, as the leader and teacher, needs to manage the dog’s behavior when they are young. As the dog gets older and learns how to live with us humans, we do not need to manage as much.
   

7. Patience

   Some of the best dog owners I know are the ones who are patient. Having a dog, especially a young one, can be very trying.

Article Source:
http://amazingdogtrainingman.com

Clicker Train Your Dog with Susquehanna Service Dogs

Clicker training is a great way to communicate with your dog and provide positive reinforcement for desired behaviors. It can be fun for both you and your dog!

In clicker training, you use a clicker to mark a behavior your dog has performed, giving him a treat after each click. The click tells the dog that he has done what you wanted him to do. The concept of using a clicker is similar to that of a camera - each click captures a moment of a behavior.

To be successful at clicker training, you must train yourself, as well as your dog. To help you learn how to use clicker training to communicate with your dog and receive the behaviors you want, Susquehanna Service Dogs has a blog with a series of posts sharing some of the basics of clicker training.

Susquehanna Service Dogs breeds, trains and provides service dogs to children and adults with disabilities to assist them to become more independent. They specially train each dog to meet the unique needs of the individual.

Click this link to view the clicker training articles of the Susquehanna Service Dogs blog.
Click this link to visit the Susquehanna Service Dogs website.

Website and Blog for Returning Veterans

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has launched its “Returning Veterans” Website to welcome home Veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts with a social, Veteran-centric Website focusing on their needs and questions.

The Website will feature videos, Veteran stories, and a blog where Veterans are encouraged to post feedback.  The site also will restructure the traditional index-of-benefits format found on other VA pages into question-based, categorized, and easily navigated links by topic. This will allow Veterans to find benefits of interest easily and discover related benefits as they explore.

Click this link to visit http://www.oefoif.va.gov.

You Can be a ConfidentReader

ConfidentReader is an assistive reading software package, designed to help persons with dyslexia to improve both their reading and spelling skills.

The software converts electronic text into speech using a natural-sounding voice, allowing persons with dyslexia to bypass difficulties with text processing issues, while providing them with the capability to obtain written information through sound. The software reads electronic text, speaks what is written, and highlights the material in order to assist the person with associating the sounds they hear with the visual information they are seeing. There is a typing echo feature which recites text back to the person automatically by letter, word, or sentence, so that mistakes in typing are heard and may be corrected immediately.

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

No More Phone Books Please!

As a person who is blind, one of the most wasteful things that gets dropped on my porch is the print phone book. I don't know about the rest of you, but my phone book goes right into the trash. I can't read it and I don't have any furniture that needs to be leveled or is missing a leg, so out it goes.

I hate simply throwing something away, but I have no use for a print book of telephone numbers. I'd like to stop the phone company from sending it to me so I wouldn't have to toss it out.

YellowPagesGoesGreen.org is an organization working to educate consumers and promote the green movement to eliminate the unsolicited delivery of the Yellow and White Pages. This site is aimed at starting a national movement to solicit the White/Yellow Pages industry to proactively stop the delivery of books or to begin moving legislation to mandate this activity. This is similar to the National No-Call Registry that has stopped the unwanted solicitation calls to consumers.

Click this link to learn more about http://www.YellowPagesGoesGreen.org.

Achilles International

Achilles International is a worldwide organization that encourages persons with disabilities to take up running and participate in races with the general public.

The organization, headquartered in New York City, provides aspiring athletes with coaching, training sessions, encouragement, technical expertise, logistical support, and race entry fees.

From its beginning in New York City, the organization has evolved into Achilles International, with chapters throughout the United States as well as in Canada, Norway, Mongolia, Japan, Ecuador, New Zealand, Russia, and South Africa. Achilles International accommodates athletes with many types of physical limitations including (but not limited to): blindness and visual impairment, deafness and hearing impairment, Cerebral palsy, spinal cord injuries, Multiple sclerosis and those with traumatic brain injuries. Achilles team members have competed on crutches, on tethers (for blind runners), in wheelchairs, on artificial limbs and sometimes with no aides at all.

By enabling the disabled to participate in mainstream athletics, Achilles International has, throughout its 26-year history, been one of the vanguards making sports and recreation more accessible, enhancing the personal achievement and self-esteem of countless athletes with special needs. Call 212-354-0300 for more information or visit them on the web at http://achillesinternational.org.

Opening Stages to People with Disabilities

Opening Stages is a quarterly email subscription newsletter published by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and directed at people with disabilities pursuing careers in the performing arts and related fields. The producer is Betty Siegel, Manager of Accessibility at the Kennedy Center.

Opening Stages has been published since 2001. Regular features include interviews with artists, perspectives on relevant issues, listings of resources, and news and notes. All issues of the newsletter are archived on http://www.kennedy-center.org/text/accessibility/opening_stages/index.cfm. To become a subscriber and receive Opening Stages free of charge:

• Click this link to email your request for a subscription to Opening Stages along with your name, email address and snail mail address to access@kennedy-center.org
  
• You can also mail the same information to:
  
  Accessibility Program
  Opening Stages
  The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts
  2700 F. Street, NW
  Washington, DC 20566-0001
  
  
• Fax your request to: 202-416-8802

If you do not want to receive your newsletter via email, you can request a hard copy and receive it in large-print or Braille.

Word PlayHouse Kit

Word PlayHouse provides students with visual impairments the opportunity to participate in classroom activities that focus on phonics, spelling, and phonemic awareness. Use Word PlayHouse to teach beginning phonics and reading skills including letter recognition, braille code recognition, decoding, vocabulary, and spelling skills.

Kit Includes:

• 436 letter tiles in large print with a braille overlay and a Velcro® backing. The tiles include vowels, consonants, blends, diagraphs, word endings, and word families. Tiles containing contracted and uncontracted braille are included for some blends and word families to better meet the needs of all students.
  
  
• A bi-fold felt work board provides a working space for the student. One side can be used for working storage of letters that will be introduced during the lesson. The other side can be used as a working space for manipulating letters and building words, word families, and new spelling and vocabulary words.
  
  
• A storage binder, with five Veltex® covered binder inserts, provides space to organize the many small pieces in the kit.

WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD--Small Parts. Not intended for children ages 3 and under without adult supervision.

Word PlayHouse Kit:
Catalog Number: 1-03562-00
Click this link to purchase the Word PlayHouse Kit from APH.

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

Turbo Phonics Kit

Turbo Phonics is a computer-based, phonemic awareness and phonics program for young students who are preparing to develop reading skills. This program has been specially designed for students who have low vision, but students with typical vision may successfully use the program. Exciting racecar sounds, racing graphics, and student-friendly interface make Turbo Phonics loads of fun when learning to read.

Student performance is tracked in a self-contained database that the teacher may access at any time. The program identifies skills in which the student may need further practice.

This program provides students with simple, high contrast graphics, audio reinforcement, and excitement throughout the interactive program. Students will love Turbo Phonics! Join Elaine Kitchel's 'Guided Tour' at: www.aph.org/webcast

Includes:

• CD-ROM with Turbo Phonics program
• Teacher's Guidebooks in enhanced print and braille
• One Student Activity Book (this is consumable, additional activity books available separately)
• CD-ROM with guidebook/activity book files for accessibility

Turbo Phonics Software:
Catalog Number: D-00100-00

Replacement Items

Turbo Phonics Student Activity Book (Pack of 5):
Catalog Number: 7-00100-01

Turbo Phonics Teacher's Guidebook:

• Enhanced Print (includes CD-ROM of accessible files):
  Catalog Number: 7-00100-00
• Braille (includes CD-ROM of accessible files):
  Catalog Number: 5-00100-00

Click this link to purchase the Turbo Phonics Kit.

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

Click this link to watch Turbo Phonics, with Elaine Kitchel

Transparent CCTV Rulers

These see-through vinyl rulers make it easier to measure items magnified by a CCTV (closed-circuit television). They measure 7" x 1 1/8" are marked with one of six different increments: English 1/8", 1/4", 1/2", and 1"; and metric 1 mm and 1 cm. Rulers are screen printed with black ink on high-contrast transparent vinyl.

Includes:

• Set of six transparent rulers (clear or yellow, depending on which kit you order):
  • 1 each, English: 1/8", 1/4", 1/2", and 1"
  • 1 each, Metric: 1 mm and 1 cm
• Vinyl zipper pouch, made of non-glare, heavy-gauge vinyl featuring a zip-lock closure, 5-hole punched to fit standard 2- and 3-ring binders, measures 7 1/2" x 10 5/8"
• Print and braille instructions

Yellow (set of six):
Catalog Number: 1-03008-00

Clear (set of six):
Catalog Number: 1-03009-00
Transparent CCTV Rulers from APH.

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

PATTER: Preschool Attainment Through Typical Everyday Routines

This curriculum and assessment tool from APH is designed to facilitate skill development by children who are visually impaired in the areas that preschoolers are expected to master through involvement in typical household routines. PATTER is appropriate for use with children with varying degrees of visual impairment, as well as those with additional impairments.

Based on simple task analysis, PATTER breaks down an everyday activity into its component parts and allows for measurement of a child's level of participation during each step. Continuous teaching and assessing through the use of PATTER will help preschoolers:

• Learn basic positional, quantitative, and temporal concepts
• Learn the foundation for complex play skills
• Learn meaningful language
• Participate meaningfully with their families
• Become "doers" who don't develop learned helplessness

Large Print Guidebook with CD and DVD:
Catalog Number: 8-76001-00

Braille Guidebook with CD and DVD:
Catalog Number: 6-76001-00
Click this link to purchase PATTER: Preschool Attainment Through Typical Everyday Routines

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

Student Large Print Edition
4-00000-00 Replacement Items:

Large Print Toss-Away Ruler (24 pack):
Catalog Number: 1-03011-00

GlaReducers (pack of 4):
Catalog Number: 1-03062-00

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

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

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

Lots of Dots: Learning My ABC's and 123's

Learning by coloring is fun!

Lots of Dots: Learning My ABC's

Lots of Dots: Learning My ABC's is an exciting raised-line coloring book designed for future large print and braille readers. It facilitates braille character recognition through repetitive activities designed for young children with visual impairments and multiple disabilities. Each letter of the alphabet has two pages:

• the first page features a jumbo braille cell, with six raised-line open circles. The upper and lower case letters are shown with their braille equivalents, along with a reduced-size cell showing which dots need to be filled in to complete the letter.
  
• The second page shows the letter and a tactile graphic depiction of an easy-to-find object that begins with that letter. The object is depicted in a tactile graphic format, allowing the student to color it in.

Attached to the inside front cover is a plastic stencil of the jumbo cell. This can be folded over the blank pages, allowing the student to practice the braille cell configuration for that letter by tracing or by using the accompanying foam braille chips. Accompanying the book are suggested enrichment exercises for each letter, allowing a child to fully associate the braille letter, the tactile graphic, and the object.

Catalog Number: 1-10000-00
Click this link to purchase Lots of Dots: Learning My ABC's.

Lots of Dots: Counting 123

The Lots of Dots: Counting 123 presents the numbers 0-30 and then integers of 10 up to 90. Each number has two pages:

• The first page features two or three large braille cells. The number is shown with its braille equivalent, along with reduced-size cells showing which dots need to be colored to complete the number.
• The second page shows the number and tactile graphic depictions of easy-to-find objects that begin with the same letter as the number, i.e., five fans, seventeen seashells. The objects are depicted in a tactile graphic format.
• Attached to the inside front cover is a plastic stencil of three large braille cells. This can be folded over the blank pages, allowing the child to practice the braille cell configuration for the number by tracing or by using the accompanying foam braille chips. This book uses uncontracted braille.

Catalog Number: 1-10001-00
Click this link to purchase Lots of Dots: Counting 123:.

Lots of Dots: Coloring the Garden

This book presents a variety of fruits, vegetables, and herbs, and introduces picture building. The book begins with an empty garden. Each page adds a new feature, i.e., clouds, rain, seeds, and plants. Once the garden has grown, a new garden item is introduced on each page for the child to color. The enrichment activities are simple recipes that the child and parents/siblings/teachers can do together. The activities present daily living skills, such as planning, organizing, and food preparation. Trying new foods is encouraged.

This book uses uncontracted and contracted braille, where applicable. To better enjoy this book, children should first complete Lots of Dots: Learning My ABC's and Lots of Dots: Counting 123.

Catalog Number: 1-10002-00
Click this link to purchase Lots of Dots: Coloring the Garden.

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

Work-Play Trays from APH

Durable trays hold objects which might roll out of reach. Trays provide enclosed work space for sorting, matching, classifying, counting. Two sizes and colors:

Large Work-Play Tray (21 1/4 x 13 1/4 inches)

Black:
Catalog Number: 1-03761-00

Yellow:
Catalog Number: 1-03740-00

Small Work-Play Tray (17 x 11 3/4 inches)

Black:
Catalog Number: 1-03751-00

Yellow:
Catalog Number: 1-03660-00

These products requires special handling. Please call APH customer service at 1-800-223-1839.

Divide the work area into two, three, four, or five parts. Note: Dividers are not available for the large tray.

Catalog Number: 1-03770-00
Click this link to purchase Dividers for Small Work-Play Tray (4-pack)

The Jumbo Work/Play Tray is designed to provide learners who have visual impairments and significant challenges with a tool in which they can play, explore, and learn independently. The large size tray (24" x 24") allows ample space for active learning and prevents toys from rolling out of reach.

Can be used with:

• A HOPSA Dress™ or similar device so a child uses his or her feet on the tray
• A swing, hammock, or foam wedge while the child is prone and uses his or her hands on the tray
• A child sitting on the tray

A liner accompanies each tray for additional color contrast. Adhesive foam (included) can be cut and placed on the bottom of the tray to protect floors or prevent sliding.

Black:
Catalog Number: 1-03761-00

Yellow:
Catalog Number: 1-03740-00

This product requires special handling. Please call APH customer service at 1-800-223-1839.

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

Going to College

The following information comes from the Access Ability blog.

Aptly titled, Going to College, a website (developed by Virginia Commonwealth University) proclaims itself “A resource for teens with disabilities.” The site breaks down into three primary areas of focus:

• My Place: Where the student will do some self analysis to identify strengths and learning styles to help in goal setting.
  
• Campus Life: Describing what the student can expect at the college and what professors will expect, as well as accommodations and assistive technology.
  
• Planning for college: How to proactively prepare today for college tomorrow.

Click this link to visit http://www.going-to-college.org.

Disaboom has a directory with over 125 scholarships for students with disabilities. Check it out and see if there are some that fit your needs.

VIPS Video Library

The VIPS Video Library from Visually Impaired Preschool Services is a series of essential videos for parents of young children who are visually impaired. The VIPS Video Library offers practical and proven techniques that foster the development of children who are visually impaired or blind. Geared to parents and educators, these videos offer critical insights and strategies to help a child achieve independence.

• Seeing Things in a New Way: What Happens When You Have a Blind Baby: Catalog Number 1-30024-DVD
• Learning About the World: Concept Development: Catalog Number 1-30025-DVD
• Becoming a "Can-Do" Kid: Self-Help Skills: Catalog Number 1-30026-DVD
• Making Friends: Social Skills and Play: Catalog Number 1-30027-DVD
• Going Places: Orientation and Mobility: Catalog Number 1-30028-DVD
• Through Their Eyes: An Introduction to Low Vision: Catalog Number 1-30029-DVD
• Moving Through the World: Gross Motor Skills and Play: Catalog Number 1-30030-DVD
• Hands-On Experience: Tactual Learning and Skills: Catalog Number 1-30031-DVD
• Successfully Adapting the Preschool Environment: Catalog Number 1-30032-DVD
• Power at Your Fingertips: An Introduction to Learning Braille: Catalog Number 1-30033-DVD
• Full of Hope: Catalog Number Catalog Number 1-30034-DVD
• Growing My Way--Part 1: The Developmental Impacts of Visual Impairment: Catalog Number 1-30035-DVD
• Growing My Way -- Part 2: The Developmental Impacts of Visual Impairment (24 to 36 months of age) Catalog Number 1-30036-DVD

Note: Not available with Federal Quota funds.
Click this link to purchase any of the videos in the VIPS Video Library.

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


APH Shopping Home: http://shop.aph.org

Functional Vision and Learning Media Assessment Kit FVLMA

This assessment tool is useful for practitioners to gather, store, track, and analyze information regarding students' functional vision and appropriate learning media.

The Functional Vision and Learning Media Assessment, written by Rebecca Burnett, Ed.D., and LaRhea Sanford, Ed.D., has been revised and made an APH product. FVLMA fills the need for a user-friendly instrument that provides a framework for systematic and thorough assessment of a student's visual functioning, and the student's needs for adapted educational media. Although not a standardized test, FVLMA has been peer-reviewed by experts in the field of vision and field tested by teachers and students. It was found useful in discovering, recording, and analyzing the needs and progress of students.

FVLMA Includes:

• Practitioner's Guidebook
• CD-ROM containing HTML and .brf files
• An expanded core curriculum yearly screening form
• Protocols:
  • Learning media assessment
  • Functional vision and learning media interviews and observations
  • Functional vision assessment
  • Functional vision and learning media report
• An expanded core curriculum
• If/Then Chart
• Resource List

Recommended Ages: For students who are pre-academic or academic and visually impaired in grades K-12.

FVLMA Kit:
Catalog Number: 7-96151-00

FVLMA Protocols:
Catalog Number: 7-96152-00

FVLMA Practitioner's Guidebook, Print:
Catalog Number: 7-96153-00

FVLMA Practitioner's Guidebook, Braille:
Catalog Number: 5-96153-00
Click this link to purchase the Functional Vision and Learning Media Assessment Kit.

FVLMA Protocols, Large Print

Functional Vision and Learning Media Assessment, written by Rebecca Burnett, Ed.D., and LaRhea Sanford, Ed.D., has been revised and made an APH product. This assessment tool helps practitioners gather, store, track, and analyze information regarding students' functional vision and appropriate learning media.

FVLMA is a user-friendly instrument that provides a framework for the systematic assessment of a student's visual functioning and needs for adapted educational media. Although not a standardized test, FVLMA has been peer-reviewed by experts in the field of blindness and field tested by teachers and students.

Kit Includes:

• Practitioner's Guidebook
• CD-ROM containing HTML and .brf files
• An expanded core curriculum
• An expanded core curriculum screening record
• If/Then Chart
• Resource List
• Protocols:
  • Learning media assessment
  • Functional vision and learning media interviews and observations
  • Functional vision assessment
  • Functional vision and learning assessment media report

Recommended ages: For students who are pre-academic or academic in grades K-12.

FVLMA Protocols, Large Print:
Catalog Number: 7-96154-00
Click this link to purchase the FVLMA Protocols.

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

Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See

APH offers a braille edition of the acclaimed book Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See. This is the inspirational story of Mike May, who was blinded in a childhood accident, but never hesitated to try anything he wanted to experience: driving a motorcycle, hiking alone in the woods, downhill skiing. Later, May decided to have a new stem-cell and cornea transplant procedure that partially restored his vision. Join May on his remarkable journey as he adjusts to his medical miracle, lives with disappointments as well as joys, and engages life with exuberance.

Catalog Number: A-B0606-00
Click this link to purchase Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See.

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

Click this link to purchase Crashing Through: A True Story of Risk, Adventure, and the Man Who Dared to See
from Amazon.com.

Consumable Number Lines

APH's Consumable Number Lines are great for reinforcing beginning number concepts such as counting, sequencing, number recognition, number relationships, addition, and subtraction. Use the blank number lines to provide a concrete representation when introducing fractions, decimals, or negative numbers.

Consumable Number Lines, Large Print:

• 10 blank number lines with numbers 0-10
• 10 blank number lines with 11 points
• 10 blank number lines with numbers 0-20
• 10 blank number lines with 21 points in 2 colors

Consumable Number Lines, Braille/Tactile:

• 5 raised-line tactile number lines with numbers 0-10
• 5 raised-line tactile number lines with numbers 0-20
• 5 blank raised-line tactile number lines with 11 points
• 10 braille embossed number lines with numbers 0-10
• 10 blank braille embossed number lines with 11 points
• 5 braille embossed number lines with numbers 0-20

Large Print:
Catalog Number: 1-03012-00

Braille/Tactile:
Catalog Number: 1-03013-00
Click this link to purchase APH's Consumable Number Lines.

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

Improve Your Wireless Network

With the introduction of APH's Braille+ Mobile Manager, people have been asking about wireless networks for their homes. They've also been asking how to get the most from their network. Here's some tips to insure that you get the best speed and the strongest connection from your network.

1. First, keeping the wireless router in a central place is a good idea. If you had four computers in two different rooms, placing the router somewhere in the middle ensures equal flow to both sides. This also insures good coverage as you walk around with your Braille+.
   
   
2. Contrary to popular belief, a wireless signal is not just sent from the router to the computer or notetaker. It is also sent back from the computer or notetaker to the router. So, even if the computer or notetaker is able to receive the signal easily, it, at times, is not able to send them back as smoothly. That is mainly because of walls or other wireless electronics that may be in the path of you and your router. This can also be caused by the incompetence of the wireless network adapter inside some PCs. Replacing the internal wireless adapter with a USB version (which has an external antenna) can improve this to a great extent.
   
   
3. Sometimes, the area that needs the wireless access is too vast for the wireless router to cover effectively. Hence, the signal strength problem arises again. To combat this, you can use wireless repeaters. Wireless repeaters extend your wireless network further, without you having to install another router. The repeater simply intercepts the signal from the wireless router and extends it further, thus increasing the range of your signal.
   
   
4. Wireless routers can operate on different channels, much like radio stations. Now, by radio, I don't mean Internet radio, but the regular good ol' radio. Sometimes, you can hear one radio station clearer than another. Similar is the case with the wireless routers. The channels they operate on in the U.S. are channels 1, 6 and 11. At times, one channel is clearer than the other, so in case of problems, it's a good idea to change the channels every once in awhile in the wireless router settings.
   
   
5. Wireless routers use the 2.4 GHz frequencies, which means that if you have other wireless electronics in your home that use the same frequency, there's going to be a clash. Although the router will function normally, it might have to work harder to send/receive the signal. Hence, it's a good idea to buy wireless electronics that use other frequency ranges.
   
   
6. As with most applications, it's very important to constantly update the firmware for your router and the drivers for your wireless network adapter or portible device. This will usually improve the performance, as well as, the reliability.
   
   
7. Most of the wireless networks are type 802.11b, but what most people don't realize is that 802.11g is about five times faster. If you are using an 802.11b and in spite of following the above advice, your speed still doesn't improve, then as a last option, consider upgrading to an 802.11g. This essentially means upgrading the router and any network adapters to 802.11g equipment as well. That's certainly bound to show a considerable improvement in your network speed.

Braille Contraction Recognition Kit

New Name, New Components, New Configuration, Same Objective: APH's previous BCR kit (Braille Code Recognition) has changed to Braille Contraction Recognition kit!

New BCR Components:

• Teacher's Manual explains the program, provides suggestions for its use, and suggests additional practice material and helpful hints
• Pretesting and Posttesting Components provide a formal measurement tool

New Configuration:

• Teacher/Student Kit contains one teacher's manual in either large print or braille and one Student Kit in braille
• Student Kit contains same materials as in the kit above, but without the teacher's manual

Same Objective:

• Increase braille reading accuracy
• Increase braille reading rate

Teacher's Kit, Print:
Catalog Number: 1-03251-00

Teacher's Kit, Braille:
Catalog Number: 1-03252-00

Student's Kit, Braille:
Catalog Number: 1-03253-00
Click this link to purchase the Braille Contraction Recognition Kit.

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

Azer's Interactive Periodic Table Study Set

This interactive study set is designed to make learning about the Periodic Table of the Elements accessible to students with visual impairments or blindness.

The tangible materials included with this study set complement APH's Periodic Table of the Elements Reference Chart and allow students to enhance their understanding of concepts consistent with the National Science Standards. Inspired by Samir Azer, a science teacher at the Kentucky School for the Blind, this set can assist in the instruction and demonstration of concepts related to the arrangement of the periodic table, atomic structure, ionic and covalent bonding, and balancing of chemical equations to students who benefit from a hands-on, interactive model. Special attention was given to make the materials tactually discriminable and visually appealing to the target population, yet appropriate for all students regardless of visual acuity.

Includes:

• 294 interactive hexagonal element pieces (a minimum of one per element, as well as polyatomic ions)
• Additional interactive accessories including coefficient, oxidation, and subscript numbers, arrows, plus signs, parentheses, and assessment pieces
• 2 atomic models with accessories
• Storage binder with accessories
• Tri-fold Veltex® board (37" x 24"), used to balance chemical equations and/or display the entire periodic table
• Large Print Guidebook (with CD containing html, brf, txt, and dtb versions and a Word® file of the Skills Checklist). Braille Guidebook available separately.

Note: Some assembly required. Recommended ages: 10 years and up.

WARNING: Choking Hazard-Small Parts. Not intended for children ages 5 and under without adult supervision.

Catalog Number:1-08856-00

Optional Braille Guidebook:
Catalog Number: 5-08856-00

Replacement Large Print Guidebook:
Catalog Number: 7-08856-00
Click this link to purchase Azer's Interactive Periodic Table Study Set.

Periodic Table of Elements Reference Chart: Print-Braille Version

This frequently requested reference item is available in a durable and colorful print/braille version. The chart comes with a reference booklet in print and in braille (also available separately) that contains additional tables listing the elements by name, atomic number, electron configurations, etc. Measures approximately 22 1/2 x 13 inches.

Periodic Table of Elements Reference Chart:
Catalog Number: 1-08855-00

Replacement Items:

Periodic Table of Elements Reference Booklet:

Print:
Catalog Number: 7-08855-00

Braille:
Catalog Number: 5-08855-00
Click this link to purchase the Periodic Table of Elements Reference Chart: Print-Braille Version.

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

Click this link to watch Azer's Periodic Table, with Karen Poppe

The Periodic Table of Videos

Here's a great site from the University of Nottingham, designed for students in Grades 7 to 12. Every element in the periodic table has a video which provides background information, ties in to new discoveries or application to everyday life, and can contain an experiment for better understanding.

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

Technical, Scientific and Mathematical Tables in Braille

Braille copies of more than 400 standard technical, scientific and mathematical tables found primarily in high school and college textbooks are available for purchase from the Braille Technical Tables Bank of the National Braille Association. The collection includes standard tables found in mathematics, computer science, statistics, chemistry, physics, finance, and other subjects.

A great idea for transcribers is to insert these tables into their textbook transcriptions and avoid brailling the standard tables.

Free catalogs are available from NBA. Some of their titles include:
Periodic table of the elements
Mileage chart in kilometers
Powers, roots, and reciprocals table
Dietary allowances
Trigonometric functions, natural and logarithmic table
A brief table of integrals Normal curve, areas and ordinates
Reference tables for general chemistry
Table of metric units of measurement
Table of English units of measurement
Factorials tables
Normal curve, areas and ordinates table
Regression and least squares tables
Statistics tables
Fraction, decimal, and percent equivalents table
Multiplication table
Metric conversion tables
Present value of $1 at compound interest table
Metric system tables of data
Area and volume formulas tables
Conversion table
Table of units of measurement

For more information or to order a catalog please contact:

National Braille Association
3 Townline Circle
Rochester, NY 14623-2513
Phone: 716-427-8260
Fax: 716-427-0263
Web: http://www.nationalbraille.org

Quick Reference Braille Guide

Charlotte W. Ovard's website contains The Quick Reference Braille Guide and Braille and Nemeth Charts, written and designed as tools for the Braille Student or Braille Transcriber and Translator who is already familiar with Braille. These tools serve as quick memory joggers and include examples for Braille rules and symbols.

The Quick Reference Braille Guide is also available in Braille. For a copy of this Guide in Braille, please contact Charlotte W. Ovard by clicking this link: charlotte.ovard@granite.k12.ut.us.

The Quick Reference Braille Guide and Braille and Nemeth Charts can be viewed, accessed, and printed by going to the Braille Rules/Charts Icon on her site at http://teacherweb.com/UT/Granite/VisionBraille-CharlotteWOvard/. For more information, contact:

Charlotte Werner Ovard
Braille Transcriber/Translator
Granite School District
Special Services - Vision Department - Braille
2589 South Main, Room 223
Salt Lake City, UT 84115
Phone: 801-646-4633
Email: charlotte.ovard@granite.k12.ut.us

Virtual Vision Glasses

Do you have enough vision to watch television? Are you uncomfortable sitting so close to the TV in order to see the screen? Do you get in the way of other family members who are also trying to watch the latest movie with you?

If you answered yes to these questions, the Rimax Virtual Vision Glasses may be a solution for you.

The Virtual Vision 3.0 glasses strap to your head and deliver the equivalent view of a 36-inch TV direct to your eyes. The glasses have an internal LCD screen, so not only do you get your very own personal cinema, you also get great picture quality. The glasses also feature a set of stereo earphones that sit snugly in your ears while you're wearing them.

Main Features:

• Mini LCD display
  
• Unique optical system is adapted to replicate a 36-inch screen 2 meters away
  
• Broad adaptability; can be connected to DVD players, Game Consoles or other standard AV products
  
• Supports PAL and NTSC video signals
  
• External battery for complete freedom - up to 8 hours maximum per charge
  
• Easy operation and convenience of portability
  
• Variable volume, brightness and contrast
  
• Can be worn over conventional glasses
  
• Power adapter: output DC 9V stable voltage
  
• Rechargeable Lithium battery: LP900 lithium battery, 7.2V / 900mAH
  
• Compatible with all kinds of audio video devices: can be connected to a TV, a DVD player or a games console

I can think of a variety of uses for this device. How about using it with your computer? Many video cards now offer an optional "TV Out" jack that these glasses could be connected to. No more leaning over the desk to see the monitor!

How about portible CCTVs that send their video to a television monitor. Connect these glasses and really get close to your documents.

Click this link to purchase the Rimax Virtual Vision Glasses from Paramountzone.com.

iTheater: Watch Movies Anytime, Anywhere

Do you wonder how exciting it would be to watch your favorite action movie on a big screen TV? Maybe you have a secret passion for new high-tech electronics? Perhaps there is just not enough room in the living area for the Big screen TV you always wanted?
Well, now you can make your dreams come true with one amazing set of video glasses. To say video glasses is an understatement considering the sound and visual quality the iTheater provides.

It's more of a personal entertainment center. It features an amazing 230,000 pixel resolution along with surround sound. Only weighing 3 ounces it fits very comfortably around the head. So, when you decide to watch that action packed thriller or that touching love story you can just sit back and relax.

Well, now you're probably wondering, "what exactly can I watch with this iTheater?"...Anything you want. With the included RCA cables, just plug the glasses into any number of entertainment devices (portable DVD player, Video iPod, Gaming stations, Computers). DVD's have become quite the hit and with these glasses, you can just plug them into your DVD player and watch a beautiful theater style movie.

Perhaps your passion is video games; then your in luck, it connects right into your gaming station so you can have hours of fun on a 50 inch screen. Perhaps you have a video cell phone or a photo iPod and you would like to see your photos or clips on a huge screen? Then, just plug it in with the special adapter and your ready to go.

Do you need to purchase any expensive or hard to find batteries or power sources? Nope. iTheater comes with a portable power source as well as two "AA" batteries that will keep this entertainment center going for up to 6-8 intense viewing hours. So whether you're on the go or just relaxing at home, the iTheater is ready for you.

Product Specifications:

• Resolution: 320x240 (QVGA)
• 230,000 pixels each LCD
• Color configuration: vertical stripe
• Field of view: 24°
• Eye relief: 20mm
• Exit pupil diameter: 10mm
• Audio: surround stereo
• NTSC/PAL compatible
• 10 foot A/V cable
• Completely portable
• Battery operated: requires 2 "AA" batteries (not included)
• Weight: 3 ounces

Click this link to purchase the iTheater from first STREET.

Vuzix iWear - Virtual Cinema Glasses

The Vuzix iWear line of lightweight multimedia eyewear gives the user a big screen experience by creating a virtual display equivalent to a 62-inch screen viewed from a distance of 9 feet (depending on model).

Ingenious optical trickery allows all Vuzix iWear to replicate the effect of watching a big screen from a safe viewing distance. It's like having a high-quality home cinema grafted on your retinas. These hi-tech specs are 3D enabled for automatic 2D/3D control.

Click this link to see the four models currently available.

Cinemizer Plus

Though meant for the luxury gadget market, this device has obvious accessibility potential for the visually impaired. According to the web site, the Cinemizer Plus’ “image is optically tuned to appear as virtual 45-inch (diagonal) screen, as viewed from six feet away (2 meters)“. This makes the iPhone’s little screen into one much, much bigger.

This video eyewear from Carl Zeiss is your take-along personal video screen. You'll be able to watch any movie stored on your iPod anywhere.

Click this link to learn more about the cinemizer.

Signature Guide For Signing Checks

Knowing where to put one's signature on a check is an ongoing problem--and it is one which can be inconvenient and time-consuming to solve if you have to teach a new person each time to show you where to sign.

Here are three methods that might prove useful:

1. Slip a check into a braille slate with its bottom aligned, or even, with that of the slate. Find the location of a line that can serve as a guide for placing your signature in the right place, then braille a line of dots across the check from the starting point of the signature line to the check's edge. Next put an "up-and-down line" from the signature line to the bottom of the check. Doing this creates a guide to mark the spot where your signature should start. Remember where these two lines meet on the series of checks that comprise this particular book of checks, so you will be able to mark each check appropriately until you finish the book. Then, when you start a new book of checks, remember the printing may be different enough from that of the first that you may need to make adjustments in the positioning of your dotted guidelines. This being the case, be sure to check each book of checks prior to use and to make any adjustments that may be required for your guidelines.
2. Ask a sighted seamstress to unthread a sewing machine and to set the "stitch length" as long as it can be. Then, after sewing along the signature line, instruct her to turn the book at a right angle and to sew down to the bottom edge of the check to where the signature should begin. Someone can do a whole book of checks this way, so a blind person is able to enjoy the independence of signing checks until there are no more left in the book.
3. Make a signature guide by folding in half a piece of heavy weight paper (such as braille paper)--or a piece of thin plastic (should you have such). After folding, the finished product should be at least half of the check high and three-quarters of the check wide--with the fold on the right edge. Have someone cut a rectangular box on the top layer of the guide that corresponds to the signature area of the check. Start the right end of this rectangle at the fold so you will have as long a signature line as possible. Then, slip a check into the folded signature guide, making sure its right edge is straight against the fold of the guide and that the bottom of the check is even with the bottom of the guide. If you position a check in the guide correctly and the rectangle has been cut properly, you can sign within the rectangle and have your signature in the right place.

APH Signature Guide

Aids people who are visually impaired in writing their signatures. Small, pocket-size frame has an opening with an elastic band. The band provides a guide for writing and flexes to allow for the descenders of letters.

Revised guide is made of durable, flexible plastic with the same rubber backing as before to prevent sliding. Measures 4 1/2" x 2 1/4". Recommended ages: 8 years and up.

Catalog Number: 1-03530-01
Click this link to purchase the APH Signature Guide.

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

All Children Have Different Eyes: Learn to Play and Make Friends

This is a beautifully illustrated hardbound storybook about two children with low vision, written for elementary age students.

All Children Have Different Eyes serves as a model for children with visual impairment on how to confidently play and make friends while facing difficult social challenges, such as answering questions about their condition, entering play groups, or handling limitations responsibly. Classmates will learn to become better friends and playmates when they discover why a classmate with a visual impairment sees and plays differently. Parents and teachers will learn how visual impairment affects social interactions.

Over 40 examples and activities transform the engaging stories into an interactive workbook for parents and teachers. A glossary for kids and resources for adults complete this valuable resource.

Learn About:

• Making and keeping friends
• Coping with bullies and other mean people
• Coping with others lack of knowledge
• Coping with mistakes and limitations because of low vision
• Feeling confident even when seeing in different ways than peers see
• How to enter a play group

Large Print:
Catalog Number: 8-00070-00, not available with Quota funds.
Click this link to purchase All Children Have Different Eyes.

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

The Ultimate Reading List

This site, for students in grades 3 to 12, consolidates book and author information from several important book lists, including prize winners and best book sites.

Students can find the names of the books that won awards, the number of books authors have written, biographical information about the author (from Wikipedia), book summaries (usually written by the awarding entity), and other special features, including a lifetime reading list. A section showing books that are on more than one reading list allows selective readers to choose books carefully.

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

Free-of-Charge Audio Literary Works

"The mission of Assistive Media is to heighten the educational, cultural, and quality-of-living standard for people with disabilities and help achieve independence and become better integrated within the mainstream of society and community life in general. "

AM originally formed in 1996 to create spoken-word recordings of material printed in inaccessible formats. Using volunteer readers, they distributed these recordings to libraries for the blind. With the growth of the internet population and the advent of RealMedia® (software that allows internet users to easily access long audio files), Assistive Media launched its service into the web.

Anyone who has access to the internet and a computer with a sound card can now enjoy AM's eclectic mix of interesting and educational articles originally published by independent writers or in reputable magazines like The New Yorker, Harper's, Wired, Scientific American, Atlantic Monthly, and more. All of AM's audio files are copyrighted and used by permission of the copyright holder. Podcasts are also available from their site for any portible MP3 player.

Assistive Media
400 Maynard Street, Suite 404
Ann Arbor, MI 48104-2434
Phone: 734-332-0369
Email: info@assistivemedia.org
Web: http://www.assistivemedia.org

Wired For Books

In order to use this site you need to have RealPlayer which is a free download, you will find the link to download Real Player near the top of the page.

Why would you want to have RealPlayer for this site? Well because you get to listen to famous, and not so famous, people read works of literature.

In the "Kid's Corner" you can listen to the tale of Peter Rabbit, and right next door you could listen to Alice's Adventure's in Wonderland. Not to forget great literary works like Macbeth, The Illiad or the The Aeneid.

There is also poetry from "classic English poems, including poetry by Blake, Burns, Byron, Donne, Herbert, Hunt, Keats, and Shakespeare," to the "Den of Lions" poems, and the poetry of Emily Dickinson.

Not to mention all the wonderful non-fiction and fiction that you can listen to! This site gets an A++ in my opinion for being so diverse, and for bringing so many wonderful poems, and stories together in one place for people to listen to. Wired For Books http://wiredforbooks.org/ .

Lit2Go:MP3 Stories and Poems

Courtesy of Florida's Educational Clearinghouse, here's a website with even more audio for your listening pleasure. Browse the collection by author or title. Each passage comes with an abstract, citation, playing time, word count, and, in some cases, a suggested reading strategy.

Click this link to visit Lit2Go.

Visions of Poets

From the website:

“Listening to a poet reading and discussing his or her work will almost always lead to new insights about a poem. In the Poet Vision Video Series you can see and hear some of the country's most eminent poets, past and present. Allen Ginsberg, Robert Penn Warren, Rita Dove, Lucille Clifton and Stanley Kunitz are among the 12 poets in this series. Five of the 12 have served as Poet Laureate of the United States (the Poet Laureate is selected by the Librarian of Congress).”

Click this link to visit the Visions of Poets page at the Library of Congress website.

Video-Sharing Site by and for People with Disabilities

Webby Talents is a video-sharing site designed by and for disabled people across the world.

This is your chance to tell your story, share your journey, seek encouragement or help someone who is struggling.

Webby Talents is an online community designed to unite persons with disabilities through the posting, sharing and discussion of personal videos.

Organizations could upload a video message to publicize services or events.

Join Webby Talents to learn, share experiences, stories and testimonies. It's Free.

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

Perform Over Fifty File & Data Conversions with CometDocs

CometDocs is a comprehensive file & data conversion tool which lets you do over fifty different conversions online. The site has a user-friendly interface and the process of converting files is easy and quick, simply select the file, pick a conversion method, enter your email address and then click on the “Send” button. Within seconds, you will receive an email with the download link to the converted file.

You can convert 3 pages at a time without registration, signing up for an account will lift all the limitations and won’t require you to enter the email address every time. Some of the more interesting conversions are: PDF to text, PDF to HTML, PDF to MS Word and HTML to RSS.

Click this link to convert a document with http://www.cometdocs.com.

Get Healthy With Yoga

Beginning Yoga for the Blind and Visually Impaired is a dynamic, inspiring five CD set produced by Gretchen Hein, a certified Kripalu yoga instructor and Marty Klein, a blind author and workshop facilitator. The goal of the series is to Help blind and visually impaired folks use yoga to reclaim and sustain strong, flexible bodies as well as help encourage students to find a yoga class in their local communities that will be suitable for them.

The packaging has bold, dark lettering with a contrasting background so folks with low vision can read it. Each CD is numbered with bold markings as well. Gretchen’s descriptions of yoga postures are detailed and focused specifically for blind students while Marty’s comments and insights as a blind man make for an informative and enjoyable learning experience. Each CD has many different tracks to make future programming possible by combining different yoga postures. There are specific tracks on CD #5 to inform prospective yoga teachers how to be thoughtful toward a blind student. Students are encouraged to give this CD to a teacher for their listening before joining a local class.

Yoga is a gentle, low-impact form of exercise and stretching which increases flexibility and endurance and helps to lubricate joints, ligaments and tendons. The Hein-Klein duo has covered everything, from a message to potential yoga instructors about having a blind student in class, to information about orientation to the room and yoga mat, and from pronunciations and different yoga traditions and practices to suggestions about developing your own routine.  

To learn more about Beginning Yoga, click this link to contact Marty Klein at marty830@verizon.net or call him at 845-679-7532. You can also order the set at http://www.blindyoga.net.

PlaySpaceFinder: an Online Playground Locator

If you have just moved to a new town and don't know of any good playgrounds where you can take your kids, PlaySpaceFinder can help. It is a playground locator website launched by a non-profit organization called KaBOOM!.

The site collects and maps over 100,000 playgrounds in the US. The site calls them play spaces because they can include skate parks, field complexes, playgrounds, etc. Users can search for play spaces by location (address, city or zip code) or simply by zooming in onto the location on the map. All listed play spaces are rated and shown with a marker on the map. Clicking on a particular marker displays additional info including pictures, amenities/equipment, comments and user ratings. The site has enough text information to be used with a screen reader. As a site user, you may contribute to the service by submitting new play spaces that aren’t yet on the map and rate play spaces you have visited.

Click this link to visit http://www.playspacefinder.kaboom.org.

WeAreHunted: the Billboard of the net

You can always view the BillBoard charts to find the list of the most popular songs. This data, however, is mostly based on the official sales numbers and radio airtime, and doesn’t take into account most of the music listening activity done online.

WeAreHunted is a service that aims to change that. It aggregates and charts music listening data from various online sources like P2P networks, Torrent sites, blogs, forums, social networks and Twitter discussions. It brings you the most popular 99 songs played online.

You can browse popular songs by day, week, month or year. Songs are presented on a 3×3 grid, click “Next”  on the right to view more songs. You can stream each song directly from the site, download it to your computer or purchase it from iTunes by clicking the “BUY” link. The site is Free, with no registration.

Click this link to see what's hot at http://www.wearehunted.com.

Time for a GoodGuide on the Products We Use

Many products we bring home can contain hazardous elements, can be dangerous to the environment or could have been produced by sweatshop labour. Manufacturers don’t always provide full disclosure on their products, it can be difficult to obtain this information on your own.

GoodGuide aims to change this by bringing information transparency to the products that we use. It provides a  comprehensive guide on more than 70,000 products with ratings, expert recommendations and advice. By using the site, you can find and compare healthy and green products that are safe for your children and family.

Product information is collected from government data sources, academic institutions and non-government data sources. You can access GoodGuide product info from a cellphone by sending text messages or from your iPhone. No sign-up needed, the information is free.

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

Free and Legal Torrent Site for Music

When you hear someone talk about bit torrent, you might immediately think of the illegal download of music or video. Torrents can be used to download lots of material, both copyrighted and licensed.

LegalTorrents hosts downloadable collections from share-friendly creators as well as entire record companies (“netlabels”) who offer their catalogs for free. If you like what you hear, you are encouraged to create an account and donate directly to the artists and labels, or to the site itself, which seeds all of its own Torrents.

If you like music and want to try using a bit torrent as a means to transfer files, this is a perfect site for you.

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

Find-A-Human On The Phone

I understand that in this age of technology it is important for large companies to manage their phone calls. You can't have someone there to answer every call, but man, I hate waiting on hold or going through ten levels of menus before finding someone to talk with. Wouldn't it be cool to know some trick to get you right through the menu systems? If only there was some magic code that could bypass all the hold times and repeated announcements that have you annoyed before you ever get to a live person. There is, and you're going to love this website!

The site is called Get Human, and it contains lists of number sequences that you can enter on your phone keypad to get you quickly to a live person.

Homepage - here you'll find a survey you can fill out for the places you call for customer service. Fill out the Company's name, the number you dialed, how long you were on hold and your overall rating of their service. Their goal with this information is to help improve customer service via phone in the U.S.

Tips - here you will find some tips to, not only getting through to a human faster, but also for getting better service. For example, I didn't know that the phone company charged me for using 411 for information. I learned that I can dial 1-800-FREE-411 to get the same information for free.

Database - this is the part of the site that we all want to bookmark. This is the database of companies and how to get straight through to a human. You'll find the companies name, phone number and what you have to do to get to a human.

Sitemap - this section is a menu. It explains what each section does and provides you a link there.

There's a blog here, too. In it you can find out what drives this site and you can even check out the "About the Blog" link to find out the goal of the blog.

Now you have a weapon to fight the long hold times and the computer-generated menu structures of large companies.

Click this link to Get Human: http://www.gethuman.com.

BRINGO

Tired of dialing 1-800 numbers and not being able to get through to a human who can help you? BRINGO cuts through all of that so you don't have to. That's right, BRINGO has conquered phone trees.

Here's how it works:

1. Find the company you'd like to call by category (credit cards, mortgages, loans, health care)
   
2. Enter your phone # (they will never disclose your phone number to anyone, not even your mother!).
   
3. Wait a few seconds while BRINGO navigates the phone tree.
   
4. When BRINGO calls you back, pick up your phone and you're done. No more phone trees.

How Cool is that! Click this link to get started with BRINGO.

Getting a Human for iTunes Support

1. Call this number: 800-275-2273 [8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Central Time].
   This is the Apple Care Service and Support Line.
2. When you hear the recorded greeting, enter 70. The recording will very likely reject that entry at first. If so, try again.
   
3. When you're prompted to say the product that you need tech support for, say "iTunes".
   
4. When you're prompted to say what type of computer you're using, say "a Windows machine" or "Macintosh".
   
5. When you're prompted to say whether you're calling on behalf of a school, answer "yes" or "no".
   
6. This will get you a live person. Please note: You will need to state the serial number of your iPod before you can proceed.

I haven't tried it because I haven't needed it. If you do, give it a shot and let us know how it works.

ContactHelp.com

Here's a "Directory of customer service phone numbers, support sites, customer ratings, comments, steps to reach a human and recorded customer support phone calls. All updated by our users."

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

How To Use System Restore in Windows XP

Have you ever made changes to your computer that seemed to just mess everything up? You can go back to another time to save yourself and your computer from any further torment.

A great feature of Windows is the System Restore option and it is very easy to use. You can go back to a previous setup without losing your documents, jpegs, emails or other files. It keeps track of changes in your system and automatically creates what are called "restore points." These points allow you to travel back in time to when your system was more stable.

In XP, to bring up System Restore, go to Start/Programs/Accessories/System Tools, then click "System Restore." You must be logged in as the administrator and make sure that you close all programs and save all files. Select the button that says "Restore my computer to an earlier time" and click "Next." The days in bold type are days that have restore points.

Select the day you want and click "Next." Windows will shut down and then restart your computer with the settings from the date you chose.

You can also create your own restore points. Even though System Restore automatically creates restore points, it is a good idea to manually create one when you are making any changes (like installing new programs. To do this, choose the button marked "Create a Restore Point" on the first screen, then click "Next." Give the restore point a name and click "Create." You can make up whatever name you'd like or you could just use the date. It's up to you. The new point will be stamped with the current date and time.

Single Click Restore Point

Single Click Restore Point is a tiny executable that makes it really easy to create a restore point. While logged into an account with administrative privileges, you simply click the .EXE and it creates a restore point for you. The only inconvenience is you lose the ability to individually name your restore points. Every restore point created with Single Click Restore Point is labeled by the date and "Created With SCRP Tool", a more than acceptable compromise if it means you use the restore tool more frequently. Single Click Restore Point is freeware, Windows only.

Click this link to download Single Click Restore Point.

Free Music Archive

On the internet, there are a number of places you can go to get free music, but when it comes to free, legal music, there just aren't as many options. That's why it's exciting when something like The Free Music Archive opens its doors.

The site, a project of WFMU, one of the most popular freeform radio stations in America, aims to provide a platform for free public access to new music. At the FMA, they've created an online archive where there are currently 5000 free tracks available for download in a variety of genres.

The tracks on the site are pre-cleared for a variety of modern-day uses, including pod-safe audio, samples for remixes, music for audio and video productions, and, of course, tracks that you can just add to your latest playlist.

Instead of fearing free downloads (as the music industry typically does), the belief here is that providing free downloads will actually encourage people to purchase music. Although all the tracks on the site are free, there are links that point to full album downloads which are not. FMA users also have the option of "tipping" an artist when they find something they like by sending money to the artist's PayPal account.

Registered users can create friend lists, leave comments, become fans of the content, write blog posts, and create mixes.

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

Convert Any File into a Web Page

Here's a free service where you can upload any file and have it converted into a webpage that anybody can visit.

Your file will become an online resource. It is obviously not going to be converted into a fully-fledged webpage with all the features and functionality that one expects to see, but it will be accessible by all your friends and peers.

The full list of files you can upload to be converted is detailed online. This list includes audio and photo files, programming source code and documents of every kind. Chemical file formats are likewise accounted for, and the same goes for compressed files such as ZIP or RAR archives.

The one limitation is that files should not exceed 15 MB. Other than that, you can upload whatever you want, whenever you want. Every converted file has a unique web address so you can share it with friends and other people on the internet.

Click this link to visit http://www.file2.ws.

Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD)

Beginning Thursday, April 30, 2009.

NLS has hosted a pilot site for the downloading of books for the blind and visually impaired. NLS appreciates all who have participated in the pilot test. Your feedback has allowed them to continuously improve the original site and to look into many expansions, such as the inclusion of braille books. The pilot phase has ended, and a new site has been launched.

Users who know their passwords to the original pilot site will be able to log on to the new site; users who rely on their browsers to remember their passwords will need new ones (follow instructions in Section II). All user accounts have been migrated to the new system, so you do not need to reapply. All materials previously downloaded will remain usable, so you will not need to redownload your reading material.

This message from NLS describes what’s new about BARD and explains what steps must be taken to access the site. Please read the entire message carefully.

Section I. What’s different about BARD:

1. Unlimited downloading. The BARD service will no longer limit the number of books and magazines that you may download. Any account holder may download any item at any time. During heavy demand, however, NLS may limit the number of simultaneous downloads for each account.
   
2. New logon page. The site login uses a form rather than a dialog box. It is the same type of logon found on most internet pages and should be immediately familiar to users of other sites. This is an important note for screen-reader users.
   
3. Better search results. BARD searches will yield more effective results. The use of multiple search terms will return only results containing all of the terms.
   
4. “Most Popular Books” list. By selecting the “Most Popular Book” link from the home page, users may access a list of the top twenty most downloaded books on the BARD service in the last ninety days. Fiction and nonfiction titles will be listed separately.
   
5. Redesigned magazine section. The “Recently Added Magazines” link will now display links to only the most recent issue of each magazine. Magazines older than one year may be accessed from each title’s magazine archive. Links to the archive are at the bottom of each magazine’s page.

Section II. Take the following steps to access the site:

1. You must know your login ID and password from the pilot site to log on to the new site. For all users, your login ID is your email address.
   
2. If you know your login ID and password, you will not need to do anything. Simply access the new site.
   
3. If you have forgotten your password, you must obtain a new one before you can log on to the new site. Since the new site has a different address from the pilot site, you cannot rely on your web browser to automatically log in to BARD.
   
4. If you do not know your password but you are able to automatically log on to the pilot site because your browser knows your password, you must choose a new password. To do so, select the link “Update My Settings” from the site home page. From the settings page, select the first link, “Change Your Password.” Enter your new password twice, and then select the “Change Password” button. Remember this new password to access BARD.
   
5. If you cannot log on to the site because you do not know your password, you may have a new one sent to you. Click this link to access the password recovery page. Enter your email address and then select the “Send Me a New Password” button. A new temporary password will be generated and sent to your email address. Once you retrieve the password, log on to the site and choose your new password. Remember this new password to access BARD.
   
6. If for some reason you are not able to use any of these options, please send a request for a new password to NLSDownload@loc.gov. Because of the large number of requests, please expect your new password within two business days.

Click this link to visit the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) website from NLS: https://nlsbard.loc.gov.