Preventing Falls Among Older Adults

The CDC has a portion of their site dedicated to preventing falls among older adults. Check it out at http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/preventingfalls/

They have two publications available, for free:

Preventing Falls: What Works A CDC Compendium of Effective Community-based Interventions from Around the World (go to http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/preventingfalls/CDCCompendium_030508.pdf)

and

Preventing Falls: How to Develop Community-based Fall Prevention Programs for Older Adults (go to http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/preventingfalls/CDC_Guide.pdf)

You can download them online in PDF format, or you can order one copy of each document (for free) to be snail mailed to you at http://wwwn.cdc.gov/pubs/ncipc.aspx

Taken from the website:

We want a society where older adults can live to their full potential. While falls are a threat to the health and independence of older adults and can significantly limit their ability to remain self-sufficient, the opportunity to reduce falls among older adults has never been better. Today, there are proven interventions that can reduce falls and help older adults live better, and longer.

Ideas to light up your dog!

The Fred's Head Companion blog mentions some cool ideas and gadgets that you can use to light up your guide dog (or any dog for that matter!) when you're walking at night, to help improve safety. Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/65b5yx

Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 Released

GW Micro has released new version of their popular screen reader: Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1

Taken from http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes/Beta/:

"Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 is now available for download. For detailed information regarding the features and enhancements of Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1, please read through the Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 Readme."

"NOTE: Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1 only supports Windows 2000, XP, 2003, and Vista (32-bit only). You must already have a working copy of Window-Eyes 6.1 installed (retail, demo, eval, and payment plan versions are all supported) before installing Window-Eyes 7.0 Beta 1."

You can see a press release about the new version at http://www.gwmicro.com/Window-Eyes/

If anyone out there has tried the new version, feel free to post a comment with your thoughts!

Guide Dogs for the Blind and HumanWare launch new education initiative with Victor Reader Stream

I recently received this email from HumanWare:

Longueuil, Quebec (June 25, 2008) -- Guide Dogs for the Blind and HumanWare are pleased to announce the Victor Reader Stream will become an integral part of the curriculum at Guide Dogs for the Blind in the early fall of 2008. The Victor Reader Stream players will allow students attending Guide Dogs for the Blind to read and navigate through class materials, providing them with unprecedented access to materials on campus and beyond.

"All information will be in the DAISY format (digital accessible information system) which can be read by the Victor Reader Stream," says Michael Hingson, president of The Michael Hingson Group, technical consultant for the new program. "When played on the Victor Reader Stream, the recorded data can be navigated much like a print book, allowing the reader to move from chapter to chapter, section to section or jump directly to any page."

Over the past three years Guide Dogs for the Blind has been conducting a total make over of their training program, especially concerning how information is presented to their students. Now with the addition of the Victor Reader Stream students will have all needed documentation available at their finger tips at any time.

"The Victor Reader Stream offers blind people an enhanced reading experience and we are excited to see it used in a true educational way at Guide Dogs for the Blind," says Gerry Chevalier, Victor Reader Product Manager at HumanWare. "This is the first time we have seen the Stream be fully integrated into any educational environment."

The Victor Reader Stream which normally sells to blind users for approximately $330 will be available to Guide Dogs students for $150 to take home following class. All general take home materials from GDB, including all state access legislation concerning guide dogs, information about traveling internationally with guide dogs such as access rules and regulations from many countries will be contained on the Victor Reader Stream.

About Guide Dogs for the Blind
Established in 1942, Guide Dogs for the Blind provides enhanced mobility and quality of life to people who are blind through lifetime partnerships with Guide Dogs. This non-profit organization, headquartered in San Rafael, Calif., is the largest school of its kind and has produced more than 11,000 partnerships across the United States and Canada. Services are provided free-of-charge to those it serves, and relies entirely on private donations. Please visit www.guidedogs.com or call toll free 800.295.4050 for additional information.

About HumanWare
HumanWare www.humanware.com is the global leader in assistive technologies for vision, including products for the blind and visually impaired. HumanWare's products include BrailleNote, the leading productivity device for blind people in education, in business and in their personal lives; the Victor Reader product line, the world's leading digital talking book players; and myReader2, the new version of HumanWare's unique "auto-reader" for people with low vision.

# # #

Contacts:

HumanWare Canada
Nicolas Lagace
(450) 463-1717
nicolas.lagace@humanware.com


Guide Dogs for the Blind
Denise St. Jean
(415) 492-5544
dstjean@guidedogs.com

How to Create a Word Press Blog (Podcast)

If you ever wanted to get started blogging, but just didn't know how, then this one's for you! Blind Cool Tech has a free tutorial on how to create a Word Press Blog. The podcast by Erin Edgar lasts about 25 minutes. Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/4aopsy

It looks like this will be the first of a series of podcasts about this topic.

Happy Blogging!

P.S. If you start a new blog, be sure to give me the link! :)

ALA Pre-Conference and Conference Program – Accessible formats for ALL Kinds of Readers

The American Library Association Annual conference in Anaheim is almost here! Are you trying to find accessible formats of the ALA Pre-conference and conference programs? Check out http://www.combinedbook.com/ala/ala_readhowyouwant_main.htm

Taken from http://www.combinedbook.com/ala/ala_readhowyouwant_main.htm:

"Read How You Want is happy to offer to you the American Library Association Annual Pre-Conference and Conference Program in multiple accessible formats! Our award winning technology converts standard-formatted books into 7 different EasyRead formats as well as Braille, DAISY and e-books."

Books speak volumes as decor

Have you read the article Books speak volumes as decor? You can find it online at http://tinyurl.com/54symg

From the article:

"Instead of storing those books spine-out, in a typical rectangular bookshelf, experts and designers recommend creative arrangements, re-imagined shelves and unconventional uses for bound volumes..."

"The Italian company Nobody & Co designed a Bibliochaise -- a chair that can also hold about 16 feet of books... "

Hmm... wonder how some of these ideas and arrangements would work (or not work!) for libraries!

What are your thoughts?

Victor Reader Stream Version 2.0 is coming! Find out all the details!

The Victor Reader Stream is one of the digital players people can use with the NLS Digital Download/Talking Books Project (BARD).

I recently received the following email from HumanWare [ca.support@humanware.com]:

Dear Victor Reader Stream Customer:

HumanWare will soon release software version 2.0 for the Stream. We are pleased to introduce version 2.0 on the Accessible World Tech Talk online webinar June 23. Our thanks to Accessible World for hosting this event. Details follow.

HumanWare Unveils What's New In Victor Reader Stream 2.0 on Tek Talk Monday, June 23, 2008

The Accessible World News Wire, Indianapolis, Indiana USA

Attention Victor Reader Stream users.

Tech Talk is pleased to welcome back Gerry Chevalier, Victor Reader Product Manager from HumanWare to update us on the latest news for the Stream. Gerry will focus on the exciting new features and improvements in software version 2.0 the most comprehensive software upgrade yet released for the Stream. Past Tech Talk presentations on the Stream have been very popular and an excellent way to learn first hand from HumanWare about the advances to this versatile DAISY, NISO, and MP3 player and voice recorder. If you are a Stream user you won't want to miss this Tech Talk session. There will be time for open discussion and questions after Gerry's presentation.

For More Info on the Stream visit HumanWare at:

http://www.humanware.com/en-canada/products/dtb_players/compact_models/_details/id_81/victorreader_stream.html


Date: Monday, June 23, 2008

Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m. Eastern and elsewhere in the world Tuesday 0:00 GMT.

Where: TekTalk Conference Room at: http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

or

http://www.accessibleworld.org. Select the TekTalk room, enter your first and last names on the sign-in screen.

All Tech Talk training events are recorded so if you are unable to participate live at the above times then you may download the presentation or podcast from the Tech Talk archives on our website at http://www.accessibleworld.org.

All online interactive programs require no password, are free of charge, and open to anyone worldwide having an Internet connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound card. Those with microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and others in the virtual audience.

If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download and then run. A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms.

Sign up information for all Accessible World News Wires and discussion lists are also available at our website: http://www.accessibleworld.org.

Media Contacts:

Robert Acosta, Chair, Planning Committee
818-998-0044
Email: boacosta@pacbell.net
Web: http://www.helpinghands4theblind.com

Pat Price, Founder and Events Coordinator
The Accessible World Symposiums
Vision Worldwide, Inc.
317-254-1185
Skype: patprice1
Email: pat@patprice.org
Web: http://www.accessibleworld.org

HumanWare Contact Info:

Australia: au.sales@humanware.com
Tel: +61 2 9686 2600

Canada: ca.info@humanware.com
Tel: 1-888-723-7273

UK and Europe: eu.info@humanware.com
Tel:+44 1933 415 800

USA: us.info@humanware.com
Tel: 1-800-722-3393

National Forum on Disability Issues featuring The 2008 Presidential Candidates

Side note: It sounds like this event will also be webcast, if you cannot attend in person....

Taken from http://www.aapd.com/News/election/080423aapd.htm:

The National Forum on Disability Issues, featuring the 2008 Presidential Candidates (invited) is a historic, nonpartisan forum on national disability policy to be held on July 26, 2008 in Columbus, Ohio. The venue allows us to welcome well over a thousand Americans with disabilities and their friends and family (registration required) to attend the event, and to commemorate the 18th anniversary of our civil rights law, the Americans with Disabilities Act. The forum will feature time slots for the presidential candidates to individually present their visions for the future of disability policy in America followed by questions by Judy Woodruff, news anchor and journalist ("The News Hour with Jim Lehrer"), who will act as the Moderator.

This presidential candidates forum builds on the success of our November primary-focused forum in New Hampshire, where the disability community made history with its first-ever disability presidential candidates forum with participation from seven presidential candidates, five of them in person.

Attending the Forum

The Conference & Technology Center in Columbus, Ohio will accommodate large numbers of attendees, but registration is required. Registration will close when our capacity is reached. Please only register if you are certain you can attend this event in person. Please print your confirmation screen after you successfully register and bring it with you to the forum as proof of registration.

It's "not your grandmother’s library"

There's an article in the Kansas City Star about change in libraries - It's Not Rocket Science, it's library science, and it's broadening in scope with new offerings. You can read the article at http://www.kansascity.com/entertainment/story/641615.html

From the article:

At the front of the room, Taiwanese dancers twirled to lilting music, dipping and sliding as they rang tiny silver bells.

Watching from the back of Kirk Hall at the downtown library, Maribel Patterson washed down grilled chicken satay and vegetable spring roll with a sip of Merlot.

She shook her head. “Gee, when I was growing up, my library just had books. Things change, I guess.”

Few things have changed more than the public library. Once pigeonholed as a place for reading and reflection, modern libraries have busted out of their book-lined cage.

They have coffee shops and salsa dancing, script readings, film series, Ethiopian food tastings, alternative fashion shows and classes that teach everything from yoga and Pilates to chess.

In March, a Harry Potter band called the Remus Lupins flew in from the coast to perform at the Plaza branch.

“Not your grandmother’s library,” understated Henry Fortunato, Kansas City Public Library’s director of public affairs.

Americans pick print books over ebooks

I guess it's official.... Americans pick print books over electronic contenders... for more info, check out the article at http://tinyurl.com/5526v3

Taken from the article, "It seems the comfort of curling up with a printed book is still hard to beat. Even as electronic formats for reading have become more readily available, 82 percent of Americans prefer reading printed books, according to a Random House/Zogby poll..."

The Victor Reader Stream: More Than an iPod for the Blind

Have you read the article The Victor Reader Stream: More Than an iPod for the Blind? You can find it at http://tinyurl.com/62ulj6

It is a nice review of the Victor Reader Stream, and explains what services you can use the Victor Reader Stream with (such as the NLS Talking Books Digital Download Project - see my previous blog posts at http://tinyurl.com/5uq7gx and http://tinyurl.com/6ltavj
for more info on the free program).

Cool contest for young artists living with disabilities (ages 16 - 25)

Thanks to the eSight Community News Blog at http://www.tabinc.org/blog/, I learned about a cool contest for young artists living with disabilities, ages 16 - 25. The grand prize is $20,000! How cool is that?

You can find the entry instructions at http://tinyurl.com/3pn4dg

The homepage for the contest is at http://tinyurl.com/4fxt4x

The website states,

"A National Juried Exhibition for Young Artists with Disabilities, Ages 16 – 25

Deadline: Friday, July 11, 2008, midnight (MST)

Grand Prize: $20,000
First Award: $10,000
Second Award: $6,000
12 Awards of Excellence: $2,000

Sponsored by VSA arts with generous assistance from Volkswagen of America, Inc.

VSA arts is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1974 by Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith to create a society where all people with disabilities learn through, participate in and enjoy the arts. VSA arts provides educators, parents, and artists with resources and the tools to support arts programming in schools and communities. VSA arts showcases the accomplishments of artists with disabilities and promotes increased access to the arts for people with disabilities. Each year millions of people participate in VSA arts programs through a nationwide network of affiliates and in more than 60 countries around the world. VSA arts is an affiliate of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts."

Free Webinar: Accessibility of Next Generation Web Applications: An Overview of Web 2.0

Taken from the EASI website at http://easi.cc/clinic.htm:

Free Webinar: Accessibility of Next Generation Web Applications: An Overview of Web 2.0
Thursday, June 19, 2PM EASTERN
Presenter: Jared Smith from WebAIM

The term "Web 2.0" is being used to describe new methods of using the web, innovative technologies, and next generation web applications. AJAX, blogging, wikis, content aggregation, tagging, and mashups are just a few components of "Web 2.0". Even if we have not reached a new version of the web, these new technologies and ways of using the web represent a significant change. Despite the issues that Web 2.0 technologies may have on accessibility, the very nature of these applications can potentially result in much higher levels of accessibility for people with disabilities. This session will provide an overview of what Web 2.0 is, how it can impact users with disabilities for good and for bad, and some approaches and techniques for addressing accessibility.

To register for the free Webinar, go to http://easi.cc/forms/web2008.htm

Family Connect: for parents of children with visual impairments

Here is a resource to share with your family, friends, and patrons.... It's called FamilyConnect. It's an online resource for parents, grandparents, and caregivers of children with visual impairments. There are lots of message boards, and there is a directory of available services organized by state.

The website states at http://www.familyconnect.org/parentsitehome.asp?SectionID=81, "FamilyConnect is an online, multimedia community created by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) and the National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI). This site gives parents of visually impaired children a place to support each other, share stories and concerns, and link to local resources. The site also features a mom-authored blog, inspiring video testimonials from families, and articles authored by parents and experts in the field of blindness on multiple disabilities, technology, education, and more. From the personal to the professional, families will find all the resources they need to raise their children from birth to adulthood."

Be sure to share this important and FREE resource with others! Check it out at http://www.familyconnect.org/

Assistive Technology Survey - your help is needed!

At the eSight Community News blog (see http://www.tabinc.org/blog/archives/2008/06/assistance_need.html), I learned there is a survey being conducted about "how individuals with disabilities make decisions before they purchase assistive technology."

The eSight blog states, "They are interested in responses from individuals with any type of disability. This is a completely anonymous survey that has passed IRB (Institutional Review Board) approval.

Specifically, they are interested in:

• how users receive or find information regarding AT before a purchase and their level of participation in and satisfaction with the process; and
• who is involved in the AT purchase decision, and (c) primary funding sources of AT."

You can take the survey at http://tinyurl.com/63uy5n

Did you ever wonder what it sounds like to have hearing loss?

Thanks to a blog post on Teaching Learners with Multiple Special Needs (see http://tinyurl.com/3vdzy2), I learned about a website where you can find out what it sounds like to have a hearing loss (and also tinnitus).

To find out how it sounds (or perhaps doesn't sound!), check out Hear-it's webpage at http://www.hear-it.org/page.dsp?area=244

Be sure to listen to the "normal hearing" one first...

A $20,000 prize!

Found on the eSight Community News Blog at http://www.tabinc.org/blog/archives/2008/06/louis_braille_t_1.html

Have you invented a product or method that uses the sense of touch to convey information?

If so, we invite you to apply for the Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation. The Prize will be awarded to an individual or group of individuals who contribute to innovation in the field of tactile literacy for blind people. The Prize can be granted for a new educational method; a new tactile literacy product; or a new technological advance.

In any of these areas, the innovation must demonstrate some aspect of tactile literacy. Tactile literacy refers to any product, method, or service that has the effect of increasing access to information through the sense of touch.

The $20,000 prize is provided through support from The Gibney Family Foundation and National Braille Press. The deadline to be considered for the Prize is June 15.

For more information about the Touch of Genius Prize and previous winners, please visit www.touchofgeniusprize.org.

Questions? Please contact Stephanie King at 617-266-6160 ext. 47 or GeniusPrize@nbp.org.

Web Browser for Children with Autism and Autism Spectrum Disorders

Thanks to the Teaching Learners With Multiple Special Needs blog post (see http://tinyurl.com/62grb6), I learned that a special web browser was recently created for children with autism. It is called the ZAC Browser. Check it out at http://www.zacbrowser.com

The website states it is free to install, and compatible with Windows Vista, XP, 2000, ME, and 98.

Let's Play! A Guide to Toys for Children with Special Needs

Let's Play! A Guide to Toys for Children with Special Needs

The American Foundation for the Blind has partnered with the Toy Industry Foundation and just released Let's Play! A Guide to Toys for Children with Special Needs. You can view the guide at http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?SectionID=82.

The AFB website states, "Every day, parents ask professionals for advice on buying toys for their children. Often, shoppers are wary of buying toys for special needs children. However, selecting a toy for any child begins with two steps: first, learning what the child is interested in, and second, assessing his or her skill level. Let's Play: A Guide to Toys for Children with Special Needs is a helpful educational tool designed to assist with this selection process. After reviewing this guide and doing your homework, we encourage you to visit toy shelves (both online and at your local retailer) and sample the great products designed to excite, engage and enthrall your child. Experience with them the joy and happiness of play!

With support from the Toy Industry Association, Inc.™ and its members, the Toy Industry Foundation™, in partnership with Alliance for Technology Access (ATA) and American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), has researched and tested hundreds of toys in an effort to offer you a comprehensive guide to the best toys for children of all ages with all types of special needs and interests. Toys included in this guide were tested by over 100 "toy experts"—children with a variety of special needs. ATA and AFB selected the featured products based on the toy's play value for children with special needs. Whether shopping for a three-year-old, visually impaired child or a ten-year-old with developmental disabilities, Let's Play is an excellent resource for finding the perfect toy."

***Additional note from Talking Books Librarian... while it is not specifically a toy guide, you can also find some cool toys at Independent Living Aids

I've linked directly to the toy page here.

Free online course - How can people age 50+ help your non-profit organization?

The Temple University Center for Intergenerational Learning is offering a free online course - Capturing Experience: How People 50+ Can Help Your Organization. The course appears to be targeted to non-profit organizations.

So, if you are looking to develop or enhance programs and work experiences (paid and unpaid) for those age 50+ at your library or organization, you may want to explore this free course. Not to mention... the baby boomers/those age 50+ are a largely untapped volunteer resource...

The course homepage states:

Are you interested in learning more about:

• who today's people 50+ are and what they want?
• ways to develop compelling opportunities that are appealing to diverse groups of people 50+?
• strategies for marketing to and recruiting the growing 50+ population?
• ideas for placing, supporting and retaining people 50+ in your organization?

You can get to the course at http://cil.templecil.org/

Article: Electronic Device Stirs Unease at Book Fair

Have you seen the NY Times article Electronic Device Stirs Unease at Book Fair?

Check it out at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/02/books/02bea.html

(hint... Amazon.... Kindle...) And if you've been under a rock and never seen the Kindle, here it is....

Greetings from the White House... birthdays, anniversaries, births, and more...

Did you know you can get free greetings sent to your family from the President/White House?

One of the most popular greetings is the birthday cards for those 80 or older... but greetings are not just limited to those for older adults....

You can request a baby's birth greeting (within one year of the birth), a birthday greeting (for those 80 or more years of age), a wedding greeting, or an anniversary greeting (50th anniversary or greater).

For more information, go to http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/index.html#
and click on "guidelines" under the "invitations and greetings" section. You can complete your request online, via snail mail, or by fax.