The Fred's Head blog contains tips, techniques, tutorials, in-depth articles, and resources for and by blind or visually impaired people. Fred's Head is offered by the American Printing House for the Blind. It was voted best blindness-related blog three years in a row by BlindBargains.com.
The website for the US Blind Tandem Cycling Connection provides an online resource for blind and sighted cyclists to team up for a bike ride. By creating a profile, riders can search for either a sighted pilot or a blind/visually impaired stoker in their local area. Profile questions help riders match up based on riding experience and cycling goals. Tandem experience is not necessary. The website provides a tutorial to teach the basics to new pilots and stokers.
The US Blind Tandem Cycling Connection endeavors to increase the participation of individuals who are blind/visually impaired in the exhilarating sport of tandem cycling. Their vision is that everyone with a visual impairment has the opportunity to experience tandem cycling, with its’ feeling of freedom and sensation of speed.
The USB-powered HoverCam X500 uses a digital camera to take a snap shot of a document and is designed to replace the much bulkier traditional flatbed scanner. It takes a snapshot of the document placed beneath its lens in a split second, much like a camera, as opposed to the more drawn-out method of traditional scanners and takes up much less desktop space than a flatbed. The manufacturer, California-based Pathway Innovations and Technologies, says the HoverCam’s capabilities make scanning, faxing, emailing, archiving and organizing files a quicker, neater and more enjoyable experience.
Documents are filed automatically in RIA format (Rich Internet Application), which is based and developed on Adobe Air 2.0 technology, making it very flexible.
There's an anti-skew program built-in and documents scanned on a black background can be trimmed automatically, too. Images can be dragged and dropped into folders of your choice and PDFs can be created instantly. Its compact design makes the HoverCam even more functional in today's office. The beauty is it works equally well with over-sized and irregular documents as it does with regular or smaller sized documents. High throughput scanning is also possible with this device where some traditional scanners struggle to cope.
There are two models to choose from: HoverCam X300 (2MP, maximum resolution of 1600 x 1200 (150dpi equivalent) – good for home use, and the HoverCam X500 (5MP) which has a maximum resolution of 2544 x 1936, or 600dpi equivalent. More often than not, 300dpi is good enough quality to publish, archive, etc.
HoverCams come with HoverCam Flex software that links HoverCam to a workstation or the internet to allow easy sharing of digital scans to social networks or private back-ups.
Having a built-in microphone allows the HoverCam to be used as a visual presenter in conference rooms or classrooms, and also works with Skype to allow real time video shows and teleconferences, even in low light.
The company also produces the HoverCam CardPro, a device that scans, stores and organizes your business cards like “a digital rolodex”, say the manufacturers. The CardPro can extract the business card information for use in other documents or applications.
The home-use HoverCam HoverCam X300 sells for US$139.99. The office-use X500 sells for US$199.99 and the HoverCam CardPro is listed at US$79.99.
Tactile signs are a common means of communication used by people who have both sight and hearing impairment. Some methods of tactile signing are Hand-Over-Hand, Tracking, Tracing, Co-active signing, Braille signing etc. These are based on standard systems of Deaf Manual Signs. These signs are ideal for schools, colleges, offices, hospitals and public places that get a lot of human traffic.
MyDoorSign.com manufactures high quality signs that are durable as well as affordable. Tactile Touch Signs available at the store are compliant with all of
the relevant ADA regulations, and will make a facility more accessible to hearing and sight impaired people. This store provides a huge selection of tactile signs like Braille Signs, Accessibility Signs, Fire Exit Signs, Elevator Signs, Mounting Bases, and many more. The online store also offers 185 stock products for Tactile Signs.
The Tactile Touch Braille Door signs include various Braille Signs and Accessibility Signs. All Braille signs are available in 16 different colors and use Grade 2 Braille that complies with California Braille specifications. This standard is also valid nationwide. The online store offers unparalleled and sturdy Braille designs like Spanish Braille Signs, Glow Braille Signs, In Case of Fire Signs, Custom Braille Signs, etc.
All the office door signs are manufactured from top quality materials and are highly resistant to almost any climatic condition. They provide easy customization of engraved, ADA door signs. The shipment of orders over $50 is free throughout the United States.
Here's a program that could be helpful for those just starting to experience vision loss. It will read a variety of documents, but it's not a full-fledged screen reader.
Balabolka is a Text-To-Speech (TTS) program that works with all computer voices installed on your system. Text can be saved as a WAV, MP3, OGG or WMA file.
The program can read clipboard content, DOC, RTF, PDF, ODT, FB2 and HTML files. A portable version of the program is available.
The idea is simple: When you set your status on LinkedIn you can now tweet it as well, amplifying it to your followers and real-time search services like Twitter Search and Bing. And when you tweet, you can send that message to your LinkedIn connections as well, from any Twitter service or tool.
LinkedIn has always been about helping you to build your professional identity on the web. The many elements that make up your online professional brand range from your LinkedIn profile to the many professional conversations you’re a part of.
Now you can amplify those messages by broadcasting them to your audience on Twitter.
How does LinkedIn work with Twitter?
On LinkedIn
Want to share some interesting ideas about an industry-specific article you’ve just read with an even broader audience? Or how about letting people view your Twitter account name on your LinkedIn profile? Begin by joining your LinkedIn and Twitter accounts in just a few clicks. All you need to do is check the Twitter box under your Network Updates box on the homepage and follow a few simple steps.
Clicking through the setup process will allow you to specify the Twitter account that you’d like to sync and/or display on your LinkedIn profile.
On Twitter
As a professional online and in the real world, you’ll often find articles or think of ideas that would be useful to share with your Twitter followers and your LinkedIn connections. It’s about sparking interesting conversations. Now you can share from anywhere. As part of the setup process, you can choose to either send all your tweets or select tweets from Twitter back to LinkedIn as a status update.
If you pick the latter, don’t forget to add the #li or #in hashtag to every relevant tweet you’d like to send back to LinkedIn. Here’s a good example:
#in on Twitter to post as your LinkedIn status
Include #in with any tweet to post as your LinkedIn status
Link your LinkedIn and Twitter accounts today to add a new dimension to your professional conversation.
We're always on the lookout for games and toys modified with braille. This product comes to us from the Seen From The Heart blog and was posted by Carter.
From the blog:
"I bought this off of Amazon.com the other day, and decided to check it out before I posted about it. I was slightly concerned it was junk, but we really like it. It's sold out on amazon though! I don't know if they are getting more or what. They can also be found on this website, hopefully, some of those places have websites.
Basically, this is a popular puzzle toy from Korea.
There are several different versions, and one of them has braille on it. You move the pieces around the column to get them in rows, or to create a certain pattern. It's basically like a rubix cube, only a different shape. (Since rubix cubes are easier to come by, you could just braille one of those. Mark all of the reds with a "1", orange with a "2", or you could associate a letter to each color. You could even spell a name or something else personal.)
Anyway, we do like this toy. Our daughter is much too young for it, but we had fun doing it. At first I had trouble getting the pieces to move easily, and was frustrated. But, once we had moved all of the pieces, they started moving easier. They click into place, so a blind person would be able to hear when they have them lined up, and when to make a new "move."
I think it is a neat little trinket, and would be perfect for long car trips, or whenever you want to keep your little ones occupied for awhile."
"American History in Video provides the largest and richest online collection of video available for the study of American history, 2,000 hours and more than
5,000 titles on completion. The collection's wealth of video and multiplicity of perspectives allow students and scholars to see, experience, and study
American history in ways never before possible
.
Indexing and searchable transcripts synchronized to video give the ability to drill down in seconds to find the footage of interest from thousands of hours
of video. This collection is an exclusive collaboration with the A&E Television Networks and features some of their most important documentaries and series
from The History Channel, A&E Network, and Biography. Historical coverage ranges from the lost colony of Roanoke through the 1988 Vicennes Affair in
the Persian Gulf; biographical coverage ranges from eighteenth century figures such as Benedict Arnold and Daniel Boone to modern day figures such as Thurgood
Marshall and Helen Thomas.
Several types of video footage have been chosen to provide a well-rounded collection for historical study:
Documentaries from key partners such as The History Channel and others provide long-term perspectives on historical events, historical people, and key turning
points in American history. These documentaries often incorporate contemporaneous footage and photographs; feature interviews with citizens, newsmakers,
and other witnesses to history; and make the knowledge, expertise, and enthusiasm of numerous scholars, historians, and researchers readily available. Judicious reenactments of historical moments, particularly with the Civil War, help students visualize important aspects of history, such as the impact
of military strategies and tactics on historical outcomes.
Newsreels, routinely shown before feature films in movie houses, were the only way for citizens to see American and foreign events and news during the pre-television era. With contemporaneous footage and coverage of a wide variety of stories, from war and politics, to fashion and sports, and more, newsreels remain a valuable window on American history, society, and culture. American History in Video is the only source where the entire series of United News (governmental newsreel
from the Office of War Information) and Universal Newsreel (commercial newsreel from Universal Pictures Company, Inc.) stream in full online. Forthcoming
in Spring 2009 are complete sets of Semantically Indexed and searchable Release Notes, the original documentation provided for each newsreel release in
each series.
Public affairs video from series like Longines Chronoscope (Columbia Broadcasting System) were usually created to provide contemporaneous analysis on issues of the day. Through interviews and debates with politicians, diplomats, and a range of foreign and American experts and leaders in a variety of fields,
these videos shine a light on the topics, issues, and people considered newsworthy, as well as the received wisdom, in a given time period.
Archival footage adds another critical dimension to historical analysis, with coverage of events and people for an often more specific purpose than other�types
of video.
One of the features of Hulu is a collection of old news segments and entire news programs from NBC. Hulu calls this collection of segments and programs the NBC News Time Capsule. Included in the line-up are Kennedy's inauguration, the first Today Show, and the first Apollo 11 Moon Special.
Teachers of US History may find the videos in the NBC News Time Capsule to be helpful in teaching lessons on 20th century US History. Teachers of media studies may also find the videos useful for lessons on changes in reporting and improvements in broadcast production over the last fifty years.
Ed Bot over at ZDNet has a list of some cool shortcuts for Windows. These are mostly for Windows 7 but may work in Vista and XP as well.
"The shortcuts I’m referring to involve the shell command, which is curiously undocumented in the Windows 7 Help files or on Microsoft’s web site. The idea is to give Windows programs and users access to common locations using the Windows shell, Windows Explorer. The syntax is simple—you type shell, followed by a colon and the name of the shell folder location. That list of folder locations is hard to memorize, with lots of inconsistencies especially in regard to spacing. For example, the shell shortcut for the shared Downloads folder is shell:CommonDownloads, whereas the equivalent shortcut to the shared Documents folder is shell:Common Documents. And the command will not tolerate typos. If you add a space in the former or leave out the space in the latter, the shortcuts won’t work. The good news is that these commands are not case-sensitive, so you can ignore the sometimes odd capitalization.
Despite the syntactic challenges, these shortcuts are very useful for some tasks. They’re especially good for fast typists who don’t want to move their hands from the keyboard to do a bunch of mouse movements. If that’s you, tap the Windows key to open the Start menu with the insertion point already positioned in the Search box. Then type shell: followed by the location."
You've just started school and you need a lock for your locker. What do you usually do? I'll bet you buy a lock from the campus bookstore or the local hardware store and the first thing you do is ask a friend to read the printed code so you know how to unlock the thing. Does this sound familiar to you? "Excuse me, but I just purchased a push button padlock. Can you please tell me what my combination is?" If you have to ask someone what the combination is, then your security may be compromised.
APH to the rescue! The traditional push button padlock is now accessible. You can finally have a combination that is known only to you. Each lock comes with two large print/braille cards listing the combination, along with large print and braille instructions. Buttons eliminate the worry of losing a key. Just push five buttons and presto, you're in! Use at school, work, or home.
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
Flash Padlock USB Drive
Now, if you like this type of lock for your locker or backyard gate, how about taking the same idea and putting it on a USB thumb drive?
The Corsair Flash Padlock drive is available in a 1GB and a 2GB model for those of you who need serious file storage. The Flash Padlock offers a feature you won't see elsewhere.
The front of the drive has a five button keypad that allows you to set your own, custom pin number of up to ten digits long. A hardware-enabled auto-lock
function secures the drive each time you unplug it from your PC once you choose a pin number.
Once the drive is secure, the data on the drive can't be accessed unless you know the pin number. The drive won't even be recognized by Windows when plugged
into a computer without entering the pin number. No software is required on the attached computer for the Flash Padlock to work and it is compatible with
Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems.
This is a statement that I preach to my clients every day. If you improve your customer service to special needs consumers then there is no doubt that you will accomplish some very astounding benefits such as:
You will increase your revenues,
You will expand your customer base,
You will improve your business image,
You will become the darling of your industry.
Why you ask?
By improving your overall customer service to special needs consumers, you will show that you truly understand your consumers. You will also show that you are not just thinking of today, but also tomorrow and way beyond. You will show that you are listening to what your consumers are demanding and not tell your consumers what they should be demanding as too many companies tend to do. For make no mistake about it! As the years roll by, special needs consumers are going to be making up more and more of your consumer base and who are those special needs consumers that I dare to mention?
Seniors, those afflicted with disabling diseases, the blind and visually impaired, those who are hard of hearing, those afflicted with cognitive and learning disabilities, the physically challenged, the print disabled, those whose first language is not English, and? Yes, those busy professionals, the single parents, and parents with young children. You see, many, many consumers with special needs for you to improve your customer service to. Be nice to them and they will keep coming back to you and you know what? Their loyalty will be undying.
One last suggestion: With more and more persons becoming victims of loss of sight, it would not be a bad idea for companies to make themselves aware of the types of products and services that will be needed. Learning now will certainly help to avoid many unnecessary incidents in the future. Get to know more about the types of technologies that blind and sight impaired consumers use, how you can make your websites more accessible to them, and the types of services that they need in order to remain happy customers.
If you've been wanting to get in on the portible MP3 player craze here's some software that will be of use.
Rockbox is an open source replacement firmware for mp3 players. It runs on a number of different models and allows those MP3 players to have their own screen reader. Players currently supported include:
Archos: Jukebox 5000, 6000, Studio, Recorder, FM Recorder, Recorder V2 and Ondio
iRiver: H100 and H300 series
Apple: iPod 4th gen (grayscale and color), 5th gen (Video), Nano and Mini 1st/2nd gen
Accessible Electronics, a recent entrant in the accessible MP3 market, has relaunched their website to improve accessibility. The new site offers the ability to purchase their selection of media players modified with the Rockbox software. Weekly specials and accessories are also available.
Do you travel with an umbrella? If yes, the following tips will help to keep you and those around you safe during those rainy days.
Use the Right Umbrella: Carry an umbrella that is appropriate for your use and proportionate to your body size. There is no rule saying you can’t own more than one umbrella: a small one for your use alone and a larger version when you are walking together with another person.
Avoid Umbrella Rage: They say it’s a jungle out there on the streets … and rainy days are even worse. Some call it “umbrella rage” as children and adults alike do battle on crowded streets, using their umbrellas as the weapon of choice. Whenever you see another person approaching, tip your umbrella away from them the other person to avoid colliding your umbrellas. Be sensitive to how the metal or plastic points sticking out at every fold may poke someone in the body or, worse, in the eye. Rain or shine, utilize just half the width of the sidewalk when walking in a group, so others can easily pass by. Depending on how wide the sidewalk is no more than two or three people should ever walk abreast.
Learn the Dance of Umbrellas: For a taller person, when you encounter another person using an umbrella, raise your umbrella up so a shorter person may pass by without colliding with your umbrella. Likewise, if you are a shorter person, lower your umbrella closer to your head. The end result is a well choreographed “dance of umbrellas” down the street, each umbrella being raised or lowered in graceful motion, avoiding all conflicts, collisions, and pokes in the eye.
Keep It Closed and Dry Inside: It is customary to close your umbrella before entering a building. Remove any excess water by gently taping the tip of the umbrella in front of the building a couple of times. The first question upon entering should be where you may place the wet umbrella to avoid further dripping. Make use of the carrying case that came with your umbrella, or the disposable plastic bags that many office buildings and stores provide, to cover your wet umbrella while indoors.
Park Umbrellas with Care: Be mindful of where you place your umbrella. If no umbrella stand is provided, set your umbrella upright with the tip on the floor beside you. In trains, planes, and automobiles, lay it on the floor near your feet, not on an empty seat where other people may sit on it or the puddle it leaves behind. Keep your umbrella away from walkways where someone might trip over it.
Carry Cautiously: It continues to amaze me how oblivious people are about the physical space they occupy. When not in use, always hold your umbrella vertically, with the pointed end down. Do not tuck it under your arm horizontally with the ends sticking out ready to stab someone.
Look Both Ways and listen carefully Before You Open: Be mindful of who may be standing nearby when opening your umbrella. Open it with care, noticing whether your umbrella will poke someone.
Just Enjoy Windy Days: When the wind is so strong that your umbrella is in jeopardy of being turned inside out, simply forget it. Tilting your umbrella into the wind only obstructs your forward vision and, more times than not, doesn’t help much, anyway. Rather, brave the elements in a good rain coat with a hood. Try to remember that a little water never hurt anyone (except, of course, the Wicked Witch of the West).
BONUS: Prevent Umbrella Loss: Folks at any lost-and-found department will tell you they have hundreds of unclaimed umbrellas in storage. If you forget your umbrella somewhere, you may have a chance of someone returning it if you tape your telephone number and/or email address to the very top of the umbrella’s main strut above the handle, where it will least likely get wet and come loose.
Parents and Visually Impaired Infants (PAVII) is a pack of print materials designed to help parents of infants who are visually impaired become involved as primary members of the intervention team. Includes:
Parent Assessment of Needs: Help identify home-based goals for infants.
Parent Observation Protocol: Covers parent observation of self and child through videotaping.
PAVII 'How-To' Papers on Assessment: Home-based assessment information.
The Art of Home Visiting: Responsibilities of a home visitor and issues in the home visit process.
Getting Ready for School: The learning environment, family factors, child factors, school district factors, expert input, and educational rights.
Learning Together: A Parent Guide to Socially Based Routines for Visually Impaired Infants: Help a baby learn during everyday activities (also available separately).
Materials come bound in a sturdy three-ring notebook. Recommended ages: birth to 3 years, primarily for parents.
AudioOwl offers an extensive collection of high quality public domain audio books. They are helpfully organized by genre, including children and teen/young adult. You can browse by genre, or search the entire site by author, title, or key words. A selected book can be “previewed” before deciding to download it. In other words, you can listen to the reader.
AudioOwl offers two download options. A book can be added to iTunes as a podcast. Or, the book can be downloaded in a zipped folder that contains an MP3 file for each chapter, for use with any MP3 player. It is worth noting that some of these files are quite large and require considerable download time.
I mentioned the high quality of the audio books from AudioOwl, and it really is excellent. I previewed samples from a variety of genres, and in every instance the quality of both the reading and the recording was top notch. This should come as no surprise because AudioOwl is making use of recordings from
LibriVox, where each book is read by a volunteer.
Additional features of the site include audio books in multiple languages, links to other resources about the work, and a brief summary of each book. Readers/listeners are encouraged to review and rate the audio books on AudioOwl.
So you want to purchase some flowers for a friend. That's very nice! Let's make sure your flowers are sending the right message and that they are appropriate for your situation. Here are tips on the etiquette of flowers:
A great article "How Well Do You Know Your Floral Etiquette?" by LD Lewis is at http://www.couplescompany.com/Features/Flowers/default.htm. It describes several meanings to various flowers, including a most interesting one, called Shepherd's Purse, described as "the ultimate gift to a woman from a man as it says, "Everything that I am and everything that I own I give to you."" Boy! My first reaction was to run out to the local flower shop and purchase these for my wife. When I looked it up (under "E" for Everything), I discovered to my surprise it was nothing like what I envisioned to be a beautiful, delicate flower. Believe it or not, it's a weed!
Know Your True Flower Colors: Along with the type of flower itself, choosing the right color is equally important. Flowers such as daisies, carnations, and chrysanthemums, come in many colors. When giving flowers as a gift, be sensitive never to give white flowers in Asia and most other countries, as it symbolizes mournful and unhappy occasions, because white is the color worn and used at funerals. In Asia red symbolizes life and happiness. On the other hand, in Mexican folklore, red flowers cast spells and white flowers lift spells.
Give the Correct Number of Flowers: Also consider the number of flowers you give, as what is appropriate varies from place-to-place. In the US a dozen flowers is appropriate and customary. In Europe and elsewhere even numbers are considered inappropriate. Almost everywhere, the number 13 is considered unlucky. In parts of Asia, never give a gift having an association with the number 4 (it sounds similar to the word death). Giving a single flower is generally reserved for lovers.
Present Flowers with Panache: In most countries, it is the custom to present a bouquet of flowers unwrapped, to display its full beauty upon presentation. When taking flowers to others (to a party or hospital, for example), giving a bouquet is on my list of gifts to avoid. It is often disruptive to the party host and in many areas of the hospital are not allowed. Here are two alternatives to consider: Bring flowers already displayed in a vase of their own, or arrange for a floral arrangement to be sent ahead. For a party, contact the host/hostess ahead of time and ask for their favorite florist, what colors are best, and if he or she has any preference on the kind of flowers they like. I promise this is one gift everyone will enjoy and remember. Sending flowers a day after a party is a wonderful thank-you gift. Be sure to check with the hospital about their flower policy before bringing or sending flowers.
Know that Flowers are Appropriate: Many funeral and memorial service announcements list charity donations in lieu of flowers. It is important to respect the family's wishes in this regard. It is appropriate to send the family flowers to their home a day after the service as a nice gesture of sympathy.
Be an Equal Opportunity Flower Giver: Men enjoy receiving flowers, too. The difference to keep in mind when presenting flowers to men versus women is in what kind of flowers you give, in what colors, and how they are presented. Keep to stronger, dominant colors, such as yellows and oranges. Do keep the wrapping simple, avoiding lots of ribbons, bows, and frills. While in the US it is customary for flowers to be given by couples, by a woman to another woman, and by a man to a woman. with the emergence of equality, it is no longer inappropriate, thank goodness, for a woman to give flowers to a man.
Be your own secret admirer: Having a bad day? Celebrating a personal victory? Either way, give yourself some flowers. It is an indulgence that won't add body weight, affect your ability to drive, or break your bank account. I recommend it.
Bonus: No matter when the urge strikes you to give someone flowers, the one thing to keep in mind is never to steal them from your neighbor’s garden.
"Men in Black," is an article in an early April 2004 Wall Street Journal publication that discussed how this time of year thousands of young men and women are making their first attempts at looking grown-up by dressing up to attend their proms. It also described the confusion shared by young and mature people alike in knowing what to wear to various parties and events.
Attire, at any age, expresses a person's lifestyle. For prom night, what you wear adds points to your high school "coolness" factor. In the working world, what you wear is an indication of your professionalism. Studies indicate successful people in virtually every business have developed a look and image that says success. Think of clothing as currency used to barter goodwill. Wardrobe conveys messages of status: authority, power, rank; personality: friendliness, dependability, adventurousness; class distinction: upper-, upper middle-, or lower middle-class; character and taste: trustworthiness and good judgment.
An appropriate wardrobe is a strategy for image development equally as important as other business and personal plans.
Begin your process to an appropriate wardrobe, and a good public image, with this primer on what to wear at various parties and events this spring and summer. Feel free to share this information with any teen you know who is selecting a prom night outfit this month.
Black Tie
For men, black-tie denotes a single or double-breasted dinner jacket with a black silk bow tie (properly referred to as a dinner jacket, but commonly called "tuxedo" or "tux.").
For women, an invitation to a black tie event means wearing a long, floor length evening dress or evening separates. A short cocktail dress may be appropriate for some cocktail receptions, summer events, or daytime functions.
At international affairs, men and women are often invited to wear traditional formal attire from their country.
Military personnel wear an equivalent uniform.
NOTE: Gloves are optional. If worn, remove the right hand glove when going through a receiving line.
Black Tie Optional
Black tie optional is a term created to allow guests (primarily men) to choose whether to wear formal clothes described above or informal attire described below. It is not an open invitation to dress in whatever a person wants.
Choices for men are a tuxedo or a dark suit, white shirt, and evening tie. Nothing else! No light colored suit, or sport coat.
For women the choice of a floor length gown, evening suit, or short cocktail dress are all acceptable.
Business Casual
An American term invented by the fashion industry to promote a style of clothing that included a sport coat (such as a blue blazer), a white or colored shirt, tie, slacks, and loafer-style shoes. This allowed men more flexibility in their clothing choices than simply wearing a business suit to work every day. Over time this term has been used and abused to an indistinguishable level, having no true definition.
Corporate America, in an effort to increase productivity and morale, created Casual Fridays. The original intent was to demonstrate to the staff that owners and management of companies were flexible to the changes in modern business environments, by allowing staff to dress "down" one day a week.
Regrettably, studies show this strategy has backfired. Instead of building morale and encouraging work productivity, business casual opened a Pandora's box to mass confusion on what to wear to work on Fridays. Recent studies show a direct correlation to the diminished amount and accuracy of work produced on Fridays versus any other day of the week. As a result, more and more companies are moving back to one style of dress for all regular workdays.
Casual
There are degrees of casual ranging from OK for business to OK for gardening at home. The trick is to dress appropriately for the activity.
Casual Dress: For both men and women casual denotes sports attire as appropriate for barbecues, patio or pool parties, casual suppers, and sporting events. If you are going to actually engage in a sport, of course, wear the appropriate tennis outfit, swimsuit, etc.
Dressy Casual: Men wear trousers (long or short) and collared shirt, with or without a tie, with a sweater or a sport jacket depending upon the weather. Women may wear either slacks or skirts. Skirts may be mini, short, mid-calf or long, and typically only in daytime fabrics.
Totally Casual: Any attire less than what is described above, should only be worn around the house, to the supermarket, or camping.
Personal Annoyance: With the sole exception of when you attend an event in a domed stadium, baseball caps and other outdoor hats should not be worn indoors-in restaurants, movie theaters, offices, or homes. NEVER!
Formal
Traditionally, before six o'clock in the evening, women wear a late afternoon dress or a cocktail or theater suit.
Men wear a dark suit, dress shirt (traditionally white), and tie.
After six o'clock formal dress means black tie (see above) or white tie (see below).
Informal
The term "semi-formal" also denotes this style of dress, primarily in the evening. This term historically means just a cut under black tie for a moderately formal affair.
Before six o'clock in the evening informal signifies women wear an afternoon dress or dress suit. Men wear a coat and tie, such as a sport jacket with a tie or a dark or light business suit (depending upon the season and geographical location).
After six o'clock in the evening women may wear a very dressy afternoon dress or a short or long cocktail dress or dress suit. Men wear a dark business suit, a dress shirt (typically white), and evening tie.
White Tie
This most formal style of them all is not as often seen in the U.S. It denotes full evening attire for both men and women.
Women don the dressiest floor-length formal gown she can dare to wear. If you wear gloves, remove them to eat, drink, or shake hands.
BONUS FOR COUPLES
When venturing out with a partner, do take time to discuss and coordinate your outfits so that you are both within the same formality range. You want to compliment each other, not look like The Odd Couple. Happy Practicing!
If there was ever a misunderstood item of male clothing, then the bow-tie is that item. Perceived as an accessory appropriate for mockery, relegated from everyday use to infrequent evening wear, the bow-tie is the symbol of a lost generation.
So many people are incapable of tying their own bow tie. A fact which, in itself, shouts of a neglect for a style of necktie which has been ridiculed as much as it has been celebrated; people are as likely to associate the bow-tie with Jerry Lewis as Winston Churchill, and this unhappy result has had a marked effect on the pride of a wearer. Once deemed to be the height of artisan sophistication, if you wear a bow-tie on any occasion other than a black-tie event, ordinary people are likely to expect you to pull a bunch of flowers from your sleeve.
Below are some rules and guidelines about choosing and wearing the daytime bow-tie.
Self-tie
The first rule is that the bow tie you select should be one you tie yourself. No self-respecting man should buy a ready-made bow tie; they are only for children and have the intractable flaw of being too perfect. A real bow-tie is imperfect. Though the Beau spent hours trying to tie his neckwear, discarding the ‘failures’, the key with bow ties is that they should be different every time, thus making the self-tie bow tie one of the most unique accessories in a man’s wardrobe. Sometimes a little fat, sometimes a little too tight, however they are made, they are usually gloriously asymmetric in appearance. This asymmetry has the canny effect of adding an air of old world civility to the wearer. Don’t crave for symmetrical perfection because that was never the point in wearing one in the first place; when you see Churchill’s bow it is loose and characterful, not a stiff cut-out.
Pattern
The other rule with wearing a day-time bow tie is that it must be patterned. Non-patterned bow ties look like black-tie substitutes, so always shop for dots, stripes or paisley. Colours should be sober and darker in tone; forest green rather than apple green and claret rather than blood red. The reason for this is to turn the bow-tie into something which is not screaming for attention, but rather standing, silently still, ignoring the prying eyes and castigating remarks – rather like an Irish Guard on duty outside St James’ Palace. The idea of this simple revolution is to remove the comical bow-tie from the limelight of the Big Top and to forge a new association with the stylish gentlemen of the day.
When to wear it
Bow-ties look youthful when worn properly and they can brighten up almost any outfit. Wear a bow tie with a sharp, slim-fit suit for an on-trend cut with an eccentric dash. Or wear a bow tie with a casual collar and a cable crew neck for a ‘relaxed academic’ look. Bow-ties can also prep-up plain spring outfits of short sleeved shirts, tailored shorts and blazers. The key is to avoid overdoing a look with a bow tie; keep pocket squares to a visual minimum and try not to colour match too much.
one of the best retailers of preppy nostalgia clothing in the world, Ralph Lauren (http://www.ralphlauren.com), has a wonderful selection of bow ties.
Is College turning out to be a bit tricky for you? I do recall that my first year was difficult, if only because there was such a world of experiences and activities to go through. The actual courses weren't that difficult, but if you mixed the obviously daunting aspect of a whole new change of scene with the increased number of responsibilities, then I think we all can agree on what makes College so difficult to begin with.
As a blind student, I learned that networking with other students was the way to go. It helped me get notes, learn my way around campus, I even learned where the best places to eat were located.
Notelog is the place to find, share, and create college notes! Instantly view notes and documents absolutely FREE! Have a question? They have answers! Connect with the fastest growing social network dedicated to notes, knowledge, and know-how! Everyone is an expert at something, share knowledge, answer questions, and earn money. It's that simple!
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Although this might seem like a silly gadget to parents that have perfected the art of parenthood, it might relieve some of the stress on new blind or visually impaired parents.
Instead of worrying about hurting your newborn baby, now you can have a small gadget to help you keep those nails trimmed. Plus, it will work from the infant stage to the point when they become squirming, defiant toddlers.
The battery-operated nail trimmer doesn’t cut away the nails, it oscillates the nails away. It has a total of 4 different pads to work with the device. Two of them are intended for infants, the other two are for toddlers. It comes in a compact case to help you keep all of the pieces together. It is powered by one AA battery.
There are a number of web services like TinyPic.com which lets you share pictures and images on Twitter. But there isn’t any popular web service which would let you share a variety of filetypes on Twitter. At least there wasn't until TwittLoad.
In order to use this service, all you need to do is login to twittLoad using your Twitter ID, type your status message and upload the file. That is all. You will not find an easier way to share files with your friends on Twitter.
Regardless the type of files, twittLoad is always at your service allowing you to host / share files on Twitter. It's a great way to share documents, audio files, videos, anything you can think of.
Here's a quick way to update your Twitter account. You can use a keyword bookmark to quickly post something to Twitter from the address bar in any browser.
This trick works by simply passing the message as a keyword to a specially formatted URL. Once you've hit Enter to run the search, the Twitter submit page will be automatically filled with your tweet, ready to hit the update button.
To create this for yourself, add a new bookmark with a name and keyword of your choice and set the URL to the following, the %s will be replaced with whatever you type after the keyword in the address bar.
http://twitter.com/?status=%s
You can create the same thing for Google Chrome by right-clicking the location bar, choosing Edit Search Engines, and adding a new search engine with the same parameters.
You hear a lot about herbs and spices to flavor the foods you cook. But, do you know the difference?
Basically, the difference between the herb and spice families is that herbs grow in temperate climates while spices come from the tropics. The leaves of herbs usually provide the seasonings, but the leaves of spice plants are seldom used for the same purpose. Herbs and spices accent and complement food, and can enhance the flavor to all kinds of recipes.
Since the strength of herbs and spices varies so much, it can be difficult to know the exact quantities you should use. Start with just a small amount, 1/2 teaspoon of mild herbs and 1/4 teaspoon of strong herbs or spices. Taste and experiment with the amounts used, changing the amount to fit your own tastes.
Essential oils are the source of the characteristic aroma and flavor given off by all herbs and spices. These oils are released either by grinding, as with a pestle and mortar, or by fine chopping. This is one of the reasons that herbs and spices, bought already ground, lose their flavor more quickly than those that are whole seeds or leaves. Replace your herbs and spices as soon as they lose their scent. Keep them away from light by storing in a dark place and in dark, solid containers.
Herbs
Some herbs are so popular or easy to grow that they can be bought throughout the seasons. Parsley is a good example of one of these herbs. These herbs are very easy to grow, and can be planted in window boxes or pots on the patio.
Some of the more popular herbs are parsley, basil, dill, mint, sage, tarragon, savory and thyme. I bet you considered most of these herbs spices, didn't you?
Spices
Spices were an important ingredient used in the Middle Ages. True spices come from tropical plants, not normally grown by the home gardener. They are the seeds of fruits, the fleshy covering of the fruits, the unopened flower buds, the roots, barks or berries. They can be sweet, like nutmeg and cinnamon, or peppery like black pepper, ginger and cloves. When cooking with spices pay attention to the odor as well as the taste buds in determining the exact amount needed for a recipe. Your personal taste will dictate how much of a spice a dish needs.
Many cooks like to purchase "whole" spices and grind them just prior to adding them to a recipe. Spices that are freshly ground are more full-flavored than those that are already ground and put in containers for marketing to grocery stores.
Some popular spices include allspice, cardamom, cinnamon, coriander, ginger, mace, nutmeg, dried peppers (chili, cayenne, Tabasco, paprika), saffron, curry, sesame and vanilla. Again, spices should be stored in a dark , cool cupboard or pantry.
Vanilla, although it is not a "dried" spice, comes from the vanilla bean, which comes from an orchid (of all things). In ancient times, it was used only as a flavoring for hot chocolate, but now is used in many recipes to enhance flavor.
Herbs and spices can be extremely useful in creating delicious meals. Remember to store them properly and replace when their scent becomes weak.
While parts of this site may not be easily accessible to someone using a screen reader, it offers the classroom teacher the chance to teach using the world of sound. Low vision students may not have as difficult a time accessing the site, there is lots of Flash content that could be difficult to figure out for someone who can't see the graphics.
Wild Music is a fun and educational website on which students can learn about sounds commonly heard in nature. Students can listen to the sounds and explore what creates those sounds. Some of the activities students will find include a game of animal audio memory in which students hear sounds and have to match them to each other. Students can find activities such as The Mosquito in which they compare their hearing to the hearing of various animals.
Wild Music is a resource that could be used by both science and music teachers. Science teachers can use the site as an exploration of the sounds animals make and why they make those sounds. Music teachers can explore how the
sounds of nature influence musicians.
I guess when I think about it, the problem of your fly accidentally coming open really only dates back to the invention of the zipper. But even if it's not an "age old" problem, it's still a problem, particularly if it's ever happened to you. So this simple solution created by Lisa Sjövall seems so obvious that you have to wonder why it hasn't been thought of or even incorporated into pants already. (At least I haven't seen it before.)
The ZipHolder is basically an elastic loop that fastens to the pull tag on your zipper. When it's done up, the loop is placed around the button on your fly which prevents the zipper from accidentally coming open. In fact it's so simple there's really nothing else to say, except click this link to purchase the ZipHolder from the SmartaSaker website.
You may also find this video, from the Washington State School for the Blind helpful. If using a screen reader, press space or enter on the first button to play.
We all learned how to tie our shoes at a very early age. I can still remember the old wooden shoe that we used to practice on at the Kentucky School for the Blind.
Did you know that there are all kinds of ways to tie a shoe? After visiting this site, I couldn't believe just how many there are.
Ian's Shoelace Site gives you graphic illustrations, and text descriptions of different ways you can tie your shoes. You won't believe the different options you have.
You may also find this video, from the Washington State School for the Blind helpful. If using a screen reader, press space or enter on the first button to play.
This booklet describes the kinds of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and health benefits for a child with a disability and explains the evaluation of disability claims for children.
A. Folding Shirts
First button every other button and the cuffs, if applicable. To find the top of the shirt, put your hand inside the top of each sleeve. Shake out the shirt holding onto the top of it. Lay shirt face down on a table with the collar to the left. Pull the sleeves out to the sides smoothing out the fabric as much as possible. Bring the body of the shirt close to the edge of the table. Put the index finger side of the left hand next to the collar (right side of shirt), fingers pointing to the shirttail, and fold over right side of shirt. Fold the right sleeve lining it up lengthwise with the shirt. Repeat for left side of shirt. Bring the tail end of the shirt up to the collar to fold in half lengthwise, or fold in thirds by bringing the tail end up one third and then fold again in half.
B. Folding Creased Pants
By holding the bottom of each pants leg put the seams together, making sure the inside seams are touching. Hold the bottom of the legs and put under your chin. Bring the waist of the pants up and fold in half, or hold on to each end and bring hands together.
You may also find this video, from the Washington State School for the Blind helpful. If using a screen reader, press space or enter on the first button to play.
Richard Edwin Hoover Inducted 2002 Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field
Richard Hoover (1915-1986) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He obtained his B.S. degree in 1936 from Penn State and an M.D. from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine in 1950 with post-graduate work at Johns Hopkins Wilmer Institute. He married Lydia in 1959 and they had two sons.
In 1936 he was selected as a teacher of mathematics and physical education at the Maryland School for the Blind where he was known especially for his wrestling teams. He set up the first wrestling tournament among schools for the blind, a tradition that has continued for 40 years. Beginning in 1962 he offered ophthalmological services to students at the Maryland School for the Blind and served on the Board of Directors for the school beginning in 1973.
Richard Hoover has been referred to as the "Father of the Lightweight Long Cane Technique." In 1944 as an army sergeant, he was assigned to the center for the treatment of blinded soldiers Valley Forge Army Hospital. There he developed a successful cane technique, replacing the traditional short wooden cane with a lightweight long cane cut to a prescription length and using the technique of arcing the cane from side to side with the tip touching the ground in front of the trailing foot. He carefully chose additional staff to whom he taught these techniques and who in turn taught them to the blind soldiers. This program has been imitated by many schools and civilian agencies for the blind. University training programs were established beginning in 1960 and eventually certification standards and a code of ethics. In the next 25 years more than 2000 mobility instructors would graduate from 15 university training programs.
Following the war, Richard Hoover entered medical school and became a distinguished ophthalmologist. He was an Assistant Professor of Ophthalmology at Johns Hopkins Hospital and was on the staff of other hospitals in Baltimore and Chief of Ophthalmology at Presbyterian Charity Hospital and Greater Baltimore Medical Center. In spite of a demanding medical practice, he served on many boards, provided consultations to a multitude of governmental, public, and private agencies serving the blind and visually impaired both in the United States and throughout the world. He was in the vanguard of his profession in encouraging the development of services for children and adults with low vision. He also was influential in the development of genetic counseling for families in conjunction with the National Eye Institute. He has been described as visionary, discerning, innovative and revolutionary in his approach to the mobility of the blind.
Plaque sponsored by the family of Richard Hoover
About the Hall of Fame
The Hall of Fame for Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field is dedicated to preserving, honoring, and promoting the tradition of excellence manifested by the specific individuals inducted into the Hall of Fame and through the history of outstanding services provided to people who are blind or visually impaired.
These significant professional colleagues of the recent and distant past are a fascinating cross-section of heroes and pioneers who not only shaped our rich history, philosophy, knowledge and skills, but also give us insights into current and future challenges. These giants shared their personal lives and showed us strategies to ensure that services for blind persons remain unique and specialized. Enjoy their lives and contributions and reflect upon your own list of heroes.
You don't have to be a perfectionist to keep a tidy bed. Your bed will look nice, stay clean, and be the place you would like to sleep. Putting it all together neatly at first will even make daily bed-making easier!
Start at the bottom with a dust ruffle. If your final bed cover does not go all the way to the floor, a dust ruffle will help to keep dust from collecting under the bed while providing a decorative accent. The dust ruffle goes on top of the box spring, covering the box spring and bed frame. They do not require washing as often as sheets, and should stay clean with quick and regular vacuuming.
Put on a mattress pad and any protective coverings (such as a waterproof sheet for a child's bed). Smooth them out, running your hands outward from the middle to remove any creases or wrinkles.
Put the fitted bottom sheet in place. Pull the fitted bottom sheet elastic tightly and evenly over the mattress corners. It helps to work diagonnally from one corner to another, Smoothing from the center, then tucking under the sides.
You can Use a flat sheet instead of a fitted sheet on the bottom, if you don't have any fitted sheets. First unfold the sheet with the wide hem at the top and the narrow hem at the bottom. Spread it out evenly across the bed, tucking in the bottom edge of the sheet. Then pick up the side edge at the bottom corner holding it out while tucking the left part hanging down at the corner, then let the edge fall and tuck it in as well. This is a "hospital corner". Repeat for the other bottom corner, then repeat the entire process at the top. Finally, smooth from the center and tuck in the sides.
Unfold the sheet, wrong side up, with the wide hem at the top and the narrow hem at the bottom. (This will mean the right side of the sheet shows later when you fold down the top over the blanket.) Spread it out evenly across the bed, allowing any extra length to fall at the bottom edge. Tuck in the bottom edge and make hospital corners as in the previous step: Pick up the side edge at the bottom corner and hold it out. Tuck in what is left hanging down at the corner, then let the edge fall and tuck it in as well. Repeat for the other bottom corner.
Put blankets over the sheets. Place blanket(s) right side up with the top of the blanket at the point you wish to turn down the top sheet - about 8 inches from the top of the bed. Tuck in the bottom edge and make hospital corners there. Fold down the top sheet over the top edge of the blanket. Tuck in the sides if you wish to keep the covers tight or if they would otherwise hang out below the comforter or bedspread.
Decorate with a warm comforter. Most comforters are decorative and too thick to tuck in, so simply spread it out evenly over the bed. Run your hands through the middle, removing any wrinkles or creases.
Decorate with a bedspread. This is a final decorative and protective cover that is usually lighter than a comforter. Again, spread it out evenly over the bed and run your hands through the middle to remove any wrinkles or creases. Bedspreads may be removed and gently hung over a rack or chair, or folded down neatly at the foot of the bed for sleeping.
Don't forget the pillows. Put on any under-case pillow covers, then pillow cases. Fluff out the pillows and place them at the top of the bed. If you wish to cover the pillows with the bedspread, fold the spread at the top sheet/blanket line, then put the pillows in place and fold the cover back up over them.
Add accessories. Place additional or decorative pillows on top, and step back to survey your creation!
Undercovers such as mattress pads and pillow covers will help protect your bed and pillows so they last longer. In return they also protect you from allergens and asthma-inducing particles that might collect there.
Use sheets large enough that they won't come untucked and pull out while you are sleeping. This makes the bed more comfortable to sleep in and easier to make up again the next morning.
Tuck in sheets and blankets snugly and smoothly, removing any creases or wrinkles. Folds are both uncomfortable and unsightly.
You can also put the sheets on the bed, upside down, and then fold the top back a foot, so that the top side shows for that one foot. Then tuck in the edges.
Bring the bottom edge of the flat sheet just to the edge of the mattress (with nothing to tuck). This gives you more fabric to tuck in at the top, for a better fit where it is most needed.
Think before giving up on that second sheet. The practice of using only a comforter or duvet without a top sheet makes daily bed-making a bit simpler, but that sheet serves other purposes: protecting the sleeper's skin from rough blankets and covers, keeping blankets and comforters cleaner, and adding a little extra layer of warmth. It's a lot easier to regularly wash a sheet than it is to wash blankets and comforters, and the covers last longer when they are kept clean and laundered less.
You may also find this video, from the Washington State School for the Blind helpful. If using a screen reader, press space or enter on the first button
to play.
Message: How do you lign up a pan on the burners of these new cooktop stoves if you are blind?
I use one of these cooktop stoves and I am totally blind. First of all, you can feel that there is a texture on the otherwise smooth cooktop where the burners are located. You can use this textured area as a guide to place the pan. Once the burner is heated, you canhold your hand several inches above the cooking surface to sense where the heat is eminating from to tell if the pan is situated over the burner correctly. In other words, if you feel excess heat coming from the area to the left side of the pan you know that the pan should be moved a bit to the left. When the amount of heat you feel is pretty much the same all around the pan, it is centered on the burner. You need to do this because sometimes after you have placed the pan on the right spot it can slide a bit while
stirring the contents, etc.
I have heard that there is some kind of device that uses suction cups to delineate where the burners are located on a smooth cooktop, but I cannot remember where one can order it. If you know, please email me at fredshead@aph.org and I'll update this record.
the Electrolux Infinite Cooking System
What if there was a stove that had one large burner? Imagine a stove that won't burn you when you brush up against it. That's something you'd see on Star Trek right? Nope, Electrolux is bringing this technology to us today.
The Electrolux Infinite Cooking System uses something we've all heard of in Science class, but don't exactly remember what it is: induction. Instead of the stove being hot, the pot is. By generating a magnetic field, heat is created only when an electromagnetic element comes into contact with steel cookware.
In short, the pot becomes the heating element while the cooktop remains cool. Induction cooking is precise. Temperature changes are instantaneous and, for the purposes of keeping foods warm, can remain constant indefinitely without over-cooking. As the cook surface remains cool, foods do not burn or stick, making cleanup easy. And, compared to either gas or electric cooktops, energy consumption is significantly less.
The heated surface is only as big as the pot on the surface, meaning it adjusts for different sized pots. Pretty cool.
Another innovation is the "power boost" technology, which heats up extremely fast, but only takes a modest amount of energy. The all-digital controls allow you to set it to auto-shut off, or you can choose from one of the 15 digital heat settings. This could be the only bad thing about the stove. Can blind people use the digital controls?
Along with all these features that make it the envy of pretty much every kitchen, it looks very slick. Completely flat, with shiny edges, and those pretty digital displays. What more could you possibly ask for in a stove? The only scarey thing left could be the price, which was not available at the time of this article.
If you are familiar with induction cooking you know it is the safest. Now Diva de Provence has made it even safer for the 10 million blind individuals in North America by offering a tactile marking kit for its line of induction cooktops. The kit includes a choice of either raised letters or Braille symbols, as well as 3M Bumpons that can be placed on the controls for easier reading and identification.Since Diva cooktops use electromagnetic energy to heat only the cookware, the cooking/burner surface remains cool* to the touch.
The cook top will only reach a maximum temperature of 482° F (as compared to halogen at 1,112º F). The heat from the pan will transfer to the surface and cause it to be hotter the longer you cook.
You may also find this video, from the Washington State School for the Blind helpful. If using a screen reader, press space or enter on the first button to play.
I have so many RSS feeds that I monitor for information about blindness. Occasionally, I'll come to a site that doesn't offer an RSS feed. This really causes me problems, especially if the site contains good information. Now, I can create an RSS feed for these sites, and it's very easy to setup.
Feedity lets you create a fully-functional RSS feed for almost any web page. Simply copy and paste the web page URL into the provided field and click the "Preview" button. In the next step you will be able to preview and refine the generated feed. Once you’re satisfied with the results, proceed to ‘Get feed’ to add the new feed to your feedreader.
Named Learning Express 2009 Toy of the Year, Jishaku demands deft touch, steady hands, and good memory, making it an accessible game for the blind and visually impaired.
Jishaku (Japanese for “magnet”) is a strategy game where players take turns placing game pieces (magnetic stones) on a “game base” fitted with a foam insert topped with holes.
There are three ways to play Jishaku, including “I’m Out!” where players race to be the first to place all of their stones on the board—a deceptively difficult task. Like all magnets, Jishaku stones have North and South poles—but are unmarked; they look like small silver lumps, benign and boring.
But holding one magnet over the game base can make every piece jump. Players feel the magnetic tug on every turn. Learning to use that pull to one’s advantage (e.g. attracting or repelling pieces without pushing them into others) is the key to mastering Jishaku. It’s not only where you place games pieces, but how.
Three Ways to Play Jishaku
Jishaku is a game for two or three players or teams. For games 2 and 3, players should have pencil and paper ready to keep score.
Game 1: “I’m Out!”
Each player starts with nine game pieces (six for three-player games) and takes turns placing one piece at a time into a hole in the game base. If any stones attach to the piece played, that piece and any others connected to it are removed and added to that player’s pile. The first player to get rid of all their stones is the winner and says, “I’m out!”
Game 2: Elimination
Each player starts with nine game pieces (six for three-player games) and takes turns placing one magnet at a time into a hole. Players are assessed one point for each stone that attaches to the piece played (and any other stones that connect) during their turn. The object is to avoid picking up points. All played magnets are left in the base. Play continues until one player has no magnets left, when the board is cleared, points tallied, and a new round begins. The first player to accumulate 10 points is eliminated. Three-player games continue until two players have 10 points, the winner being the surviving player.
Game 3: Roundup
Divide the magnets. Alternating turns, each player places a magnet onto the playing surface until 10 are on the board (nine in three-player games). Players then take turns placing one of their remaining magnets so that it attracts others, scoring one point for each “captured’ piece, not including the piece played.
Round 1 continues until all magnets are captured or one player runs out of magnets, even if the board is not cleared. The first player to capture 12 stones wins.
Jishaku Magnets Tap Hematite’s Healing Power
The primary ore in Jishaku stones is Hematite, which healers in ancient Egypt used to reduce inflammation and treat anxiety. Ancient Romans saw the silvery ore as a talisman. Hematite is used today in “magnetic therapy” and as a “grounding stone” to promote wellness. Replacement magnets (for those that get lost or lose their strength) are available on the Jishaku website.
Few recent board games are as tactile as Jishaku. It’s an ideal game for the blind and visually impaired whose skill at seeing their world by touch might provide an advantage.
Money is an important part of life in this day and age and even though the use of electronic money, such as debit cards, is becoming more and more widespread, it is still very important to be able to identify cash.
Coins can be identified by feeling the size and edges. Quarters are the largest of the commonly-used coins, followed by nickels, pennies and then dimes. You can also tell quarters and dimes by their ridges, and nickels and pennies by their smooth edges.
Bills can be identified by using a special folding scheme. One such scheme is to place ones outstretched in your wallet, fives folded once lengthwise, tens folded once widthwise, and twenties folded twice, once lengthwise and once widthwise. Larger bills and two-dollar bills can be placed in separate compartments of your wallet or purse.
You don't have to use this folding scheme. There are others out there you can learn or you can invent your own. Just remember that it is important to be consistent-- always use the same method so that you don't get confused.
Another possibility is to braille your bills. MaxiAids has a product called the "Click Pocket Money Brailler" that makes brailling money quick and painless. Just insert the edge of the bill into this device and squeeze. It marks denominations of 1,5,10,20,50, and 100 dollars. The Money Brailler is about 1 1/2 inches wide and 3 inches long and comes with a chain to attach it to your key ring. Go to MaxiAids.com for ordering information: http://www.maxiaids.com.
A high-tech solution is the Noteteller 2 manufactured by Brytech, Inc. This is a hand-held portable device that scans bills and announces their denomination in either English or Spanish. It recognizes both the old and new US currency designs. They also make a note reader that recognizes Canadian currency and announces in either English or French. It features adjustable volume, includes a headphone jack for privacy and announces when the 9-volt battery needs replacement. An enhanced model is available
for hearing-impaired users that provides sequences of vibration pulses to indicate the denomination.
See Brytech's website for more details: http://www.brytech.com/noteteller/index.htm.
If you have text reader software on your home computer, you may be able to use your PC to recognize the denominations of your paper money. Open Book is a package that includes "Buckscan", a program that identifies bills. The K1000 package from Kurzweil also recognizes denominations of currency. For more information on Open Book, visit the Freedom Scientific web site: http://hj.com/fs_products/software_openinfo.asp For more information on Kurzweil: http://www.lhsl.com/kurzweil1000/.
iBill
Orbit Research has created the iBill, an affordable Talking Banknote Identifier for the blind and the visually impaired.
At about a third of the cost of existing devices, the iBill offers ease of use and accuracy of the identification of money.
The iBill is an exceptionally convenient and affordable solution that can be used by each and every blind or visually impaired individual. Measuring just 3 inches by 1.6 inches by 0.7 inches, the ultra-slim and compact "key-fob" design provides the ultimate in convenience, allowing it to be carried unobtrusively in a pocket, purse, clipped to the belt or attached to a keychain or lanyard. Among the features that set it apart from other such devices are the extremely high accuracy (better than 99.9%) and the near-instantaneous speed (less than one second in most cases) with which it identifies banknotes.
The iBill is designed with the sole purpose of providing the simplest, fastest and most accurate means to identify U.S. banknotes. Its unique ergonomic design permits easy and intuitive use without the need for any training or practice. Upon insertion of a banknote into the device, its denomination is identified at the press of a button. Based on the user's preference, the denomination is announced by a clear and natural voice, or by tone or vibration for privacy. The unit identifies all U.S. banknotes in circulation and recognizes them in any orientation. Banknotes in poor physical condition are indicated as unidentifiable and are not misread. The unit is also upgradeable to recognize new banknote designs.
The iBill achieves all of this while operating on a single, commonly available AAA battery which lasts for over a year with typical use. Its durable construction and sealed design ensure trouble-free use. The unit is backed by a one-year warranty from Orbit Research, and toll-free customer support.
Specializing in the development and manufacture of products for people with disabilities, Orbit Research's mission is to employ cutting-edge technology to develop innovative and affordable products that are essential for an independent and productive lifestyle. Click this link to learn more: http://www.orbitresearch.com.
BlindDollars.org
Mary Scroggs was left blind in one eye and with limited sight in the other after a car crash several years ago.
Blindness or any form of vision loss can present many challenges especially when it comes to money.
Scroggs has developed a website called BlindDollars.org in hopes of raising awareness about the plight of those who have trouble seeing.
Scroggs says braille currency could carry certain markings for those who are visually impaired.
"We are one of the few countries on earth where money can't be determined by touch," says Scroggs.
She is hoping the website will generate renewed nationwide attention but realizes she may be facing an uphill battle.
You may also find this video, from the Washington State School for the Blind helpful. If using a screen reader, press space or enter on the first button
to play.
There's so much going on in our world today. It's hard to keep up with everything when you can't pick up a newspaper and read the headlines. You don't always have access to a television, especially at the office and radio signals can be difficult to receive in some buildings. You could turn to the internet but streaming video isn't always an option. What good does video do for people who are blind anyway?
CNN has two audio streams that will make keeping up with the news as simple as clicking a mouse. Audio streams of CNN Radio and CNN Television are available and stream via Windows Media. Clicking on the following links will load a page from CNN and the audio should start within a few seconds. If you have a pop-up blocker, you'll want to insure that it is active because of advertisement pages that will try to load. You can also use the podcast link to have hourly news updates delivered to your computer or portible MP3 player.
This comprehensive set of tactile world maps provides an excellent opportunity for developing map-reading skills.
World At Your Fingers features a large tactile reference map showing the major oceans and land masses of the Earth using high-contrast raised surfaces, braille and print labels, and textured lines and areas. It also shows major mountain ranges, rivers, and lines of longitude and latitude.
Four additional maps are included in this set:
Embossed map of the world
Raised-line world map
Sinusoidal ("orange peel") map
Map of Antarctica
A guidebook is included with suggested uses, general principles of map instruction, extension activities, and additional resources. Recommended ages: 8+
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
Printable World Maps
I'm thinking this could be a useful site in the classroom for low vision students. Maybe a teacher could print these off and enlarge them for greater accessibility?
Printable World Map provides over 150 printable maps that you can download. Choose from maps of continents, countries and regions. There are labeled maps, fill-in-the-blank maps and unlabeled maps.
It's a challenge raising a confident child, especially one who also happens to be blind. An East Bay family has created a compelling DVD, sharing their early successes with a powerful message for parents of all kids.
Graciela Tiscareno-Sato and her family are champions of the belief that a disability does not define a Milagro, whose name means "miracle" in Spanish. Milagro survived a premature birth at 25 1/2 weeks. Even though she's blind, her parents committed early on to raise her with as normal a childhood as possible.
Climbing walls, gymnastics -- you name it. Milagro loves movement and exploring the environment around her. As she learns to navigate the world independently, it's not Milagro, her parents worry about.
"I worry about how the rest of the world will try to limit her and what she can do based on just not knowing what blind people are capable of," said Graciela Tiscareno-Sato.
That's why Graciela is on an educational and motivational mission through a DVD they made called Raising the wild and confident blind baby, toddler and preschooler."
The project shares photos and videos from Milagro's first five years of life. And how her parents encouraged physically challenging activities to stimulate her development. Executive director Julie Bernas-Pierce of the Oakland-based "Blind Babies Foundation" says it's stories like these that help advocate a more accepting society.
Most of us have read The Diary of Anne Frank. I know that for at least my generation, it was part of the curriculum for reading when I attended school.
This site looks at Anne Frank for more than just her diary. It looks into Anne Frank, the writer. She wrote short stories, essays, the beginning of a novel and even fairy tales.
To begin your journey, either click Launch the Exhibition or An Unfinished Story at the top of the page. This will open in a new window and it is a fully interactive journey to discover Anne. Here you can experience more of Anne's writing with excerpts from Eva's Dream and Give. I found the exhibition works OK with speech, the buttons are not labeled, but you can click "proceed" at the bottom of the window to move through the various screens. It was a delight from start to finish, especially the audio clips.
But wait! There's more to this site than just the interactive exhibit. You can find navigation on both the top and the side of the page.
Interviews - here you will find interviews, not only with the curators, but also with Anne Frank's cousin Buddy Elias.
Original Writings - here you can see Anne's original writing. You can zoom in and get an up close look at it. If you scroll your mouse over the images, it will tell you what you're looking at from Anne's diary to the pictures that hung on her wall. Get an up close look at those as well.
Web Links - here you will find links to other Web pages about Anne Frank.
Share Your Thoughts - here you can read other peoples' responses to the site and their thoughts on Anne Frank. You'll find comments by teenagers and adults. You can even leave your own thoughts here for others to read on this topic.
This site is extremely well done and very informative. You really learn about the girl behind the diary and her dream of being a writer.
Anne Frank's marvelously detailed personal entries chronicle 25 months of claustrophobic, quarrelsome intimacy with her parents, sister, a second family, and a middle-aged dentist as they hide from the Nazis. (Young Adult)
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
Life After the Holocaust
Life After The Holocaust is an online exhibition by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. It has moving interviews with Holocaust survivors about their challenges of starting life again after World War II.
It's visually attractive, and the audio interviews are closed-captioned. The video plays in a Flash player, audio can be downloaded as MP3 files.
The survivors featured on this Web site describe the vital role of remembrance in rebuilding their lives. After listening to the survivors speak, what are your thoughts about the significance of remembrance and commemoration? Why is it important to study the Holocaust?
"During the 1930s and 40s, the Nazis and their collaborators murdered six million Jews. Hitler's intention was to destroy all Jewish communities, and to build a 'master race' of Aryans. Many other 'non-aryans' were persecuted including Romanies, homosexuals, and the disabled, as well as those who were politically opposed to the Nazis. This terrible moment in history is now known as the Holocaust. It remains one of the most horrific examples in recent European history of indifference, inhumanity, prejudice and genocide."
"Voices of the Holocaust consists of oral history testimonies gathered from Jewish men and women who came to live in Britain during or after WWII. These testimonies are personal, individual, true stories, that describe the hardships of life during Hitler's reign."
"An overview of the people and events of the Holocaust through
photographs, documents, art, music, movies, and literature." Includes a
timeline (accompanied by photos and documents), a guide to the people
involved (victims, perpetrators, resisters, etc.), and suggested
educational activities for elementary, middle and high school students.
"Relive the WW II experience through the memories of those who survived." Site includes: American Home Front, Anne Frank's Story of Courage, Attack on Pearl Harbor, and Hiroshima: A Survivor's Story.
Created by the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the "Voices on
Antisemitism" podcast series provides a "broad range of perspectives about antisemitism and hatred today." With funding from the Oliver and Elizabeth Stanton Foundation, this series contains over 50 conversations with Holocaust survivors, judges from South Africa, and German scholar Matthias Küntzel.
Visitors can browse through the podcasts, subscribe to the RSS feed, and even offer comments on each program. Along the right hand side of the homepage, visitors can view a collection of "Related Links", which include articles from the Holocaust Encyclopedia and detailed subject bibliographies. Additionally, there are guidelines for educators who wish to discuss the Holocaust in their classrooms.
There is so much going on in the publishing industry these days, new ebook readers (each with different features), new formats of books, changes in pricing methods, etc. Accessible books publishing company, ReadHowYouWant, has a blog at www.readhowyouwant.com/blog where you can gather information on the publishing industry as well as accessibility issues. Included in the blog are profiles of publishing partners, technology news updates, book reviews, and more.
ReadHowYouWant encourages readers to become a member of the publishing community by following advancements in technology, and by commenting on blog posts and news stories as often as possible. Publishers and technology companies can send announcements for possible posting to bradi@readhowyouwant.com, and are always welcome to comment on posts as well.
Posts on the ReadHowYouWant blog have included:
Featured Publisher Partner: Basic Health Publications
Scratch Kitten Goes to Sea reviewed by Large Print Reviews
is a family of web feed formats used to publish frequently updated digital content, such as blogs, news feeds or podcasts. Users of RSS content use programs called feed "readers" or "aggregators": the user subscribes to a feed by supplying to his or her reader a link to the feed; the reader can then check the user's subscribed feeds to see if any of those feeds have new content since the last time it checked, and if so, retrieve that content and present it to the user.
input and support in the evolution of Fred's Head are invaluable! Please contact us if you have suggestions for updating an existing article or adding a new article. Email us at fredshead@aph.org.
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