Are you familiar with the InfantSEE program? The program website is http://infantsee.org/ . The website states, "The American Optometric Association encourages parents to include a trip to the optometrist in the list of well-baby check-ups. Assessments at six to twelve months of age can determine healthy development of vision. Early detection of eye conditions is the best way to ensure your child has healthy vision for successful development—now and in the future. InfantSEE® is a public health program designed to ensure that eye and vision care becomes an integral part of infant wellness care to improve a child's quality of life. "
The assessments are free, and InfantSEE encourages all infants to be screened. I spoke with an optometrist who participates in this program, and she told me the assessment they do is very comprehensive, similar in scope to ones they do with adults and older children. And yes, it's all free, regardless of income! So, if you know of anyone with a child who would qualify for this free program, please encourage them to visit the website. You can search for local providers who participate in this free program at http://infantsee.org/
Please be sure to spread the word! It just may save a child's eyes!
Monday, March 31, 2008
Friday, March 28, 2008
Article: Exploring Methods of Accessing Virtual Worlds
There is a good article about accessibility of virtual online worlds, such as Second Life, in AFB's March AccessWorld. (Lots of good articles in the March edition... be sure to check out the others too!)
The article is titled Exploring Methods of Accessing Virtual Worlds. You can read it online at http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw090207.
The article is titled Exploring Methods of Accessing Virtual Worlds. You can read it online at http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw090207.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Audio Description Workshop on OPAL (Online Programming for All Libraries)
You might be interested in this upcoming audio description workshop on on OPAL/Online Programming for All Libraries.... (and you don't have to be a librarian to attend... everyone is welcome!)
Here's more info from the email from Tom Peters/TAP Information Services:
Monday, April 7, 2008 at 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time, noon Central, 11:00 a.m. Mountain, 10:00 a.m. Pacific, and 5:00 p.m. GMT/UTC/Zulu:
Here's more info from the email from Tom Peters/TAP Information Services:
Audio description is a great method for making non-verbal visual information (such as digital photographs) accessible to blind and low-vision users. Everyone is welcome to attend this upcoming free online workshop. There is no need to register. See below for details. For links to this and other upcoming OPAL online events, please visit
- Audio Description Workshop
Host: Alliance Library System
Online Location: OPAL Online Auditorium
- This workshop will cover the purpose, techniques, and value of Audio Description (AD), a narrative technique that makes visual images more accessible to blind and low-vision people by producing written and audible descriptions of non-verbal visual information, such as digital photographs, television programs, motion pictures, and live events. Please note: This workshop will last approximately 2.5 hours.
TAP Information Services
1000 SW 23rd Street
Blue Springs, MO 64015
phone: 816-228-6406
email: tpeters@tapinformation.com
web: www.tapinformation.com
1000 SW 23rd Street
Blue Springs, MO 64015
phone: 816-228-6406
email: tpeters@tapinformat
web: www.tapinformation.
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Article about Web 2.0, from an Accessibility Perspective
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)'s March AccessWorld has an article discussing Web 2.0 from an accessibility perspective. The article is titled Untangling the Web - Surfing into the Future: An Introduction to Web 2.0 and is written by Stephanie Bassler. You can find the article at http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw090204
Any comments on this article from those dealing with these Web 2.0 accessibility issues?
Any comments on this article from those dealing with these Web 2.0 accessibility issues?
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Life's a Dance: Governor's Conference on Aging Services in Kansas
The 2008 Kansas Governor's Conference on Aging Services will be held on May 7 - 8 at the Capitol Plaza Hotel and Maner Conference Center in Topeka, Kansas. The keynote speakers will be Frank Burns, Deputy Health and Human Services, Assistant Secretary for Center for Wellness and Community-Based Services, Administration on Aging; comedian David Naster; and Dr. William Thomas.
According to the conference website at http://agingkansas.org/GovConf/govconfindex.htm:
According to the conference website at http://agingkansas.org/GovConf/govconfindex.htm:
"The 2008 Conference theme is Life's a Dance. The goals of the conference are:
- Helping seniors achieve healthier, more active lives through prevention and intervention.
- Making an array of high quality community services and supports available to Kansas seniors and other individuals.
- Enhancing Kansans’ expectations toward person-directed options in the community and in adult care homes."
Monday, March 24, 2008
An interview about Library Camp Kansas!
Thanks to Brenda Hough, I just learned that there is an interview (LISTen: The LISNews.org Podcast -- Episode #14) about Library Camp Kansas at http://www.lisnews.org/node/29572. LISNews website says, "Josh Neff of Johnson County Library spoke with Stephen Kellat and Connie Crosby about Library Camp Kansas. The commentary was presented by Stephen Kellat relative to recent news and contained his analysis."
Be sure to check it out!
Be sure to check it out!
Library Camp Kansas
Last Wednesday I attended Library Camp Kansas at Kansas State University in Manhattan, which was a library "unconference." It was a great success! Check out the Library Camp wiki at http://librarycampks.wetpaint.com/.
The sessions were fun, and there were lots of opportunities for networking with other librarians from Kansas (and even Nebraska and Missouri)! Lots of great ideas were shared, and I think everyone who attended went home with lots of great new resources. Thanks to everyone who helped organize the camp, and also to all the attendees who helped make the camp a great success!
Also, be sure to check out some of the stuff being posted by others who attended Library Camp Kansas at http://technorati.com/search/libcampks08?authority=n&language=en. You can see the photos of the camp on Flickr at http://flickr.com/search/?q=libcampks08. The tag for Library Camp Kansas is "libcampks08".
It sounds like Nebraska and Missouri may be having some library unconferences in the future, so watch the horizon for those, and make plans to attend if you can!
The sessions were fun, and there were lots of opportunities for networking with other librarians from Kansas (and even Nebraska and Missouri)! Lots of great ideas were shared, and I think everyone who attended went home with lots of great new resources. Thanks to everyone who helped organize the camp, and also to all the attendees who helped make the camp a great success!
Also, be sure to check out some of the stuff being posted by others who attended Library Camp Kansas at http://technorati.com/search/libcampks08?authority=n&language=en. You can see the photos of the camp on Flickr at http://flickr.com/search/?q=libcampks08. The tag for Library Camp Kansas is "libcampks08".
It sounds like Nebraska and Missouri may be having some library unconferences in the future, so watch the horizon for those, and make plans to attend if you can!
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Canada Reads
Did any of you follow the Canada Reads 2008? You can read more about it at http://www.cbc.ca/canadareads/. This year's winner was King Leary by Paul Quarrington. The website at http://www.cbc.ca/canadareads/about.html states, "Canada Reads is a week-long radio show hosted by Jian Ghomeshi. In this annual literary bun-fight, five celebrity panelists are asked to defend their favourite Canadian works of fiction. Day by day, books are voted off the list, until one panelist triumphs with the book for Canada to read this year."
To learn more about Canada Reads, check out the FAQ at http://www.cbc.ca/canadareads/about-faq.html. If you missed the Canada Reads debates, you can still listen to them online at http://www.cbc.ca/canadareads/audio.html
To learn more about Canada Reads, check out the FAQ at http://www.cbc.ca/canadareads/about-faq.html. If you missed the Canada Reads debates, you can still listen to them online at http://www.cbc.ca/canadareads/audio.html
Sight Exchange Group - Give and receive items!
Are you familiar with the Sight Exchange group? It's a Yahoo group that helps people easily give and receive low vision-related items, all for free. The direct link to join the group is at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sightexchange/. The Sight Exchange group website states,
"The Sight Exchange group is open to all who want to give and receive items that serve the needs of the blind, low vision or visually impaired population. Whether it's a mobility device, cane, talking clock, book or computer, feel free to post it. Or maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself! Individuals and Nonprofit groups are all welcome to participate!
Things to remember: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate. Everyone must begin by offering an item before requesting an item. Mail items via "Free Matter for the Blind or Visually Impaired" whenever possible
Ideas for your first offer: Children's toys or learning resources in braille that have been outgrown.
Audio books.
Assistive technology or devices no longer in use.
Many other items!
When you join you will receive two email explaning the basic's of the Sight Exchange group and how to get started. Please be sure to read each carefully for more great ideas and information about Sight Exchange!"
There are lots of cool things offered on this group for those with low vision and visual impairments! Also, you can subscribe to the group by sending an email to sightexchange-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. At last check, there were 642 members, so there's lots of opportunities to find and give some great stuff!
"The Sight Exchange group is open to all who want to give and receive items that serve the needs of the blind, low vision or visually impaired population. Whether it's a mobility device, cane, talking clock, book or computer, feel free to post it. Or maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself! Individuals and Nonprofit groups are all welcome to participate!
Things to remember: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate. Everyone must begin by offering an item before requesting an item. Mail items via "Free Matter for the Blind or Visually Impaired" whenever possible
Ideas for your first offer: Children's toys or learning resources in braille that have been outgrown.
Audio books.
Assistive technology or devices no longer in use.
Many other items!
When you join you will receive two email explaning the basic's of the Sight Exchange group and how to get started. Please be sure to read each carefully for more great ideas and information about Sight Exchange!"
There are lots of cool things offered on this group for those with low vision and visual impairments! Also, you can subscribe to the group by sending an email to sightexchange-subscribe@yahoogroups.com. At last check, there were 642 members, so there's lots of opportunities to find and give some great stuff!
Monday, March 17, 2008
News Story: Artwork by Visually Impaired, Deaf Children on Display
Be sure to check out the news story Artwork by Visually Impaired, Deaf Children on Display at http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=59629. It talks about the artwork that South Carolina State Library's Talking Book Services Library is displaying, by children who are visually impaired, blind, or deaf! There is a link to the video for the news story on that page as well.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008
Article: Library Takes 'Talking Books' Digital
The Washington Post recently had an article titled Library Takes 'Talking Books' Digital at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/04/AR2008030402485.html?wpisrc=newsletter. It talks about the NLS transition to digital books and includes a photo of the new digital Talking Book machines. It also talks about the funding issues facing Talking Books.... Be sure to check it out!
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Victor Reader Stream Version 1.2 Released
For all the Victor Reader Stream users out there.... Victor Reader Stream Version 1.2 has finally been released! To get the update, go to http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/support/victor_reader_stream
To see what's new in this version, go to http://tinyurl.com/2dstb4. Briefly, some of the updates include:
-increase in USB transfer speed
-increase in speaker volume
-you can reformat your SD card through the Stream
You can check out the new user guide at http://tinyurl.com/2xs54g.
Looks like this update includes some great new features!! Thanks Humanware!
P.S. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Victor Reader Stream, check out my previous blog post titled Victor Reader Stream Audio Tutorial at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/01/victor-reader-stream-audio-tutorial.html for more info!
To see what's new in this version, go to http://tinyurl.com/2dstb4. Briefly, some of the updates include:
-increase in USB transfer speed
-increase in speaker volume
-you can reformat your SD card through the Stream
You can check out the new user guide at http://tinyurl.com/2xs54g.
Looks like this update includes some great new features!! Thanks Humanware!
P.S. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the Victor Reader Stream, check out my previous blog post titled Victor Reader Stream Audio Tutorial at http://talkingbookslibrarian.blogspot.com/2008/01/victor-reader-stream-audio-tutorial.html for more info!
Blind Planet
Have you heard of the Blind Planet? It's at http://www.blind-planet.com/
The site states its mission as following: "Our mission is to provide the world with a one-stop resource for blindness-related information, podcasts, tutorials, mailing lists, web sites, and almost anything else that would be useful to the blind community."
The website also mentions, "The Blind Planet is a rapidly-growing web site that offers a lot of valuable information for the blind community, and / or for those people who are interested in learning about blindness and how blind people go about their daily lives. Regardless of whether you are blind, sighted, a novice or a professional at technology, or are just searching for help and / or information on a particular topic, you will definitely find the Blind Planet to be one of your favorite web sites very quickly."
Be sure to check it out! The site holds great possibilities for those with low vision!
The site states its mission as following: "Our mission is to provide the world with a one-stop resource for blindness-related information, podcasts, tutorials, mailing lists, web sites, and almost anything else that would be useful to the blind community."
The website also mentions, "The Blind Planet is a rapidly-growing web site that offers a lot of valuable information for the blind community, and / or for those people who are interested in learning about blindness and how blind people go about their daily lives. Regardless of whether you are blind, sighted, a novice or a professional at technology, or are just searching for help and / or information on a particular topic, you will definitely find the Blind Planet to be one of your favorite web sites very quickly."
Be sure to check it out! The site holds great possibilities for those with low vision!
Talking Books on Kansas Public Radio
On February 19, 2008, Kansas Public Radio had a brief news story on Talking Books and a patron from Talking Books. In case you missed it, you can listen to the story online at http://kansaspublicradio.org/newsstory.php?itemID=6501
(February 19 is the day the governor of Kansas signed the proclamation declaring Talking Books week to be March 3 - 8, 2008.)
(February 19 is the day the governor of Kansas signed the proclamation declaring Talking Books week to be March 3 - 8, 2008.)
Monday, March 10, 2008
Free EASI Webinar: Updating NLS Library of Congress Uses of Digital Book Formats
On March 20, 2008, at 2 p.m. Eastern time, there will be a free EASI webinar: Updating NLS Library of Congress Uses of Digital Book Formats. The presenters will be Lloyd Rasmussen, Acting Head, Engineering Section, National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and 3 patrons who have been part of the NLS digital download project. To register for this free webinar, go to http://easi.cc/forms/march08nls.htm
For more information on this and other EASI webinars, check out http://easi.cc/clinic.htm
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Deaf America Reads: “One Book” Reading Promotion Project, March 13, 2008 – March 13, 2010
I received the following email today from Alice L. Hagemeyer, Director of the National Literary Society of the Deaf:
On Thursday, March 13, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon, the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, in partnership with the National Literary Society of the Deaf (NLSD), will be hosting a program entitled, “Researching Amos Kendall: Adventures in Library Research, Literature and Literacy.” In 1856, Amos donated land to support the establishment of the first school for deaf children in the District of Columbia, now a part of Gallaudet University.
The program will be held in the Mumford Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, DC. Stephen Weiner, provost, Gallaudet University, Diana Gates, Reference Librarian, Gallaudet University, and Lance Fischer, retired archivist and co-editor of “The History of the College for the Deaf, 1857-1907" by Edward Miner Gallaudet, will be among speakers. http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2008/08-044.html
At the closing of the program, Ricardo Lopez, president of NLSD and Lois Hoover, board member and artist, will unveil the NLSD’s “One Book” Reading Promotion Project: Deaf America Reads: March 13, 2008 – March 13, 2010. The title selected for “One Book” will be announced at that time. "This is a wonderful opportunity for the national deaf community to get together to discuss the same book during the two-year project,” said Ricardo Lopez.
Julie Bourne, National Association of the Deaf board member who will make closing remarks at the program agrees. “We must emphasize the importance of local and state level deaf-related organizations collaborating with local libraries across the nation to promote books and reading.”
A Sneak Preview: The title selected for “One Book” is “Moment of Truth: Robert R. Davila: The Story of a Deaf Leader,” by Harry G. Lang, Oscar P. Cohen and Joseph E. Fischgrund. 240 pages, illustrated .
About this book and plans for programming in your community, please visit after March 13, 2008
http://www.folda.net/lib/index.html#reading
Submitted by Alice L. Hagemeyer, Director
National Literary Society of the Deaf
www.folda.net/nlsd
On Thursday, March 13, 2008 from 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon, the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, in partnership with the National Literary Society of the Deaf (NLSD), will be hosting a program entitled, “Researching Amos Kendall: Adventures in Library Research, Literature and Literacy.” In 1856, Amos donated land to support the establishment of the first school for deaf children in the District of Columbia, now a part of Gallaudet University.
The program will be held in the Mumford Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Avenue, SE, Washington, DC. Stephen Weiner, provost, Gallaudet University, Diana Gates, Reference Librarian, Gallaudet University, and Lance Fischer, retired archivist and co-editor of “The History of the College for the Deaf, 1857-1907" by Edward Miner Gallaudet, will be among speakers. http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2008/08-044.html
At the closing of the program, Ricardo Lopez, president of NLSD and Lois Hoover, board member and artist, will unveil the NLSD’s “One Book” Reading Promotion Project: Deaf America Reads: March 13, 2008 – March 13, 2010. The title selected for “One Book” will be announced at that time. "This is a wonderful opportunity for the national deaf community to get together to discuss the same book during the two-year project,” said Ricardo Lopez.
Julie Bourne, National Association of the Deaf board member who will make closing remarks at the program agrees. “We must emphasize the importance of local and state level deaf-related organizations collaborating with local libraries across the nation to promote books and reading.”
A Sneak Preview: The title selected for “One Book” is “Moment of Truth: Robert R. Davila: The Story of a Deaf Leader,” by Harry G. Lang, Oscar P. Cohen and Joseph E. Fischgrund. 240 pages, illustrated .
About this book and plans for programming in your community, please visit after March 13, 2008
http://www.folda.net/lib/index.html#reading
Submitted by Alice L. Hagemeyer, Director
National Literary Society of the Deaf
www.folda.net/nlsd
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