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In This Issue:
ACBI Officers
President: Dolly Sowder 812.279.1669 sowder@kiva.netVice-President: Gerry Koors 317.251.2562
Secretary: Anne Elliott aelliott@ameritech.net
Treasurer: Don Koors 317.251.2562 dkoors@fssa.state.in.us
ACBI Editor & Webmaster
Pat Price 317.254.1185 pprice@indy.rr.com
ACBI Web Site:
http://www.acb.org/indiana/
This publication is available by e-mail, in large print, audiocassette, on PC Disk, and in HTML format on this website.
President’s Message
by Dolly Sowder
In February I spent 4 days in Houston, Texas for the mid-year president’s meeting of the American Council of the Blind. Chris Prentice, president of ACB of Texas welcomed us and promised warm weather and a little humidity when we come back for the National convention in July. The convention coordinators along with the Texas affiliate have been working very hard to see that we have a great convention. Please keep watching the Braille Forum for more on the convention. I do have a tape and print copy of the lay out of the Adams Mark hotel so if anyone is interested in a copy of it please call me at 812.279.1669 or E-mail me at: sowder@kiva.net.
NLS will produce the book, ACB History in Braille and tape.
ACB has started a Monthly Monetary Support (MMS) program. This program will allow us to donate to ACB monthly through our checking or savings account. Forms are available from the ACB office or me.
The ACB board approved a new logo. It will be a circle with an outer circle around it. In the center circle it will read ACB in print and Braille and the outer circle will have “American Council” around the top and “of the Blind” at the bottom.
Remember to mark your calendar for our state convention to be held September 27 and 28 at the Holiday Inn in Columbus, Indiana.
For those of you with Internet service, ACB of Indiana now has an e-mail discussion and information list. To sign up go to http://www.acb.org/ and tab down to “Join our e-mail discussion and information lists” and then tab to “Subscribe or unsubscribe to indiana-l, the general discussion list for Indiana”, open and follow the directions.
Hope to see you at the State and National conventions.
Don Koors Attends ACB Legislative Seminar
Don Koors, ACBI Treasurer and Immediate Past President, represented us at the annual ACB Legislative Seminar in Washington, DC in March 2002. He and his colleagues addressed the following five legislative issues with their House and Senate members and staffers:
I. MEDICARE REIMBURSEMENT FOR VISUDYNE THERAPY
Issue: In November 2000, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMMS) agreed to allow Medicare to reimburse patients for Visudyne Therapy to treat classic Macular Degeneration. In response to a request from the medical community, CMMS agreed in October 2001 to expand Medicare coverage of Visudyne Therapy to patients with “wet” Macular Degeneration with occult lesions. Shortly after issuing this notice of intent to expand coverage, CMMS took their decision under reconsideration. Four months later, there is still no final decision on this matter.
Proposed Legislative Action: ACB supports Congressional intervention to make this sight saving treatment available to Medicare beneficiaries. We urge members of Congress to contact CMMS Administrator Thomas Scully and HHS Secretary Tommy Thompson and urge them to allow Medicare to reimburse patients with “wet” Macular Degeneration for the cost of Visudyne Therapy.
NOTE: See Visudyne Treatments No Longer Covered By Medicare below as Medicare just ruled it will not provide coverage for Visudyne treatment.
II. FREEDOM TO CHOOSE A WORK SETTING
Issue: In January 2001, the Rehabilitation Services Administration (RSA) issued regulations implementing the 1998 amendments to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. In those regulations, RSA prohibited state vocational rehabilitation agencies from categorizing as “successful case closures” any cases wherein clients are placed in jobs at blind industries, or other facilities where most of the workers have disabilities. RSA wrongfully contends that the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, as amended, requires that in order for an individual to be considered successfully employed, the worker must be placed in a job within an integrated setting, regardless of the worker’s choice to work in a non-integrated setting, the nature of the work being performed, or the wages paid.
Proposed Legislative Action: ACB supports the right of the individual to make an informed choice with regard to the setting in which he/she works, as well as the nature of the work he or she chooses to do. We urge Congress to amend the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 to provide that where a consumer makes an informed choice to work in a non- integrated setting at or above minimum wage with benefits, the resulting employment will be considered a legitimate competitive employment outcome.
III. ACCESS TO TEXTBOOKS
Issue: Most blind children attend elementary and secondary schools in their local communities. Federal laws such as the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act require that local education agencies provide blind children in their schools timely access to the same instructional materials available to their sighted peers. However, current law provides no standards to aid local agencies with the production of books in specialized formats, such as Braille, audio recording and large print. Twenty-six states have enacted their own laws requiring publishers to provide electronic copies of print editions of textbooks. However, these states do not use any consistent file format, and the electronic copies provided by publishers are often not suitable for conversion into specialized formats. The result is that these inconsistent and frequently conflicting state requirements impose burdensome obligations on publishers without actually resulting in more timely production of books in accessible formats for blind school children.
Proposed Legislative Action: ACB has worked with textbook publishers and other blindness organization to craft a proposed bill which should be introduced in both houses of Congress within the next few weeks. This legislation, entitled the Instructional Materials Accessibility Act of 2002, would:
1. require written statewide plans to ensure that students who are blind or have other print disabilities have access to instructional materials in accessible formats at the same time those materials are provided to students without such disabilities;
2. develop a uniform electronic file format for instructional materials prepared by publishers;
3. require publishers to produce a copy of each textbook in the uniform electronic file format and furnish it to a National Instructional Materials Access Center for distribution to schools; and
4. provide capacity-building grants to assist state and local educators in using the electronic files supplied by publishers.
ACB urges members of both houses to co-sponsor this important legislation and ensure its speedy passage.
IV. ACCESSIBLE VOTING
Issue: The House has passed major legislation aimed at helping states and municipalities modernize their equipment and procedures for conducting elections. As we write, the Senate is considering election reform legislation. Supporters of legislation in both houses of Congress have stated that their intent is to insure that voters have confidence in the nation’s electoral processes. No legislation can adequately meet this goal unless it provides incentives for states and municipalities to address the needs of voters who are blind or visually impaired as they update their election processes.
Proposed Legislative Action: ACB supports the language of S565, which provides for a uniform national standard for determining how to make election equipment accessible to people who are blind or visually impaired. We urge both houses of Congress to insure that any election reform legislation sent to the president will include provisions that give blind and visually impaired voters access to a private, independent and verifiable ballot.
V. PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
ACB supports HC-ONR-ES 238 (introduced by Rep. Evans, D-IL) which encourages States to require candidates for driver’s licenses to demonstrate, as a condition of obtaining a driver’s license, an ability to recognize a white cane, associate the use of a white cane with a visually impaired individual, and exercise greatly increased caution when driving in proximity to a potentially visually impaired individual. We urge members of both houses to cosponsor this concurrent resolution and to urge their respective states to implement its provisions.
Mary Plake Named
Involved Volunteer of the Month
When looking for a recipient of its Involved Volunteer of the Month Award, the criteria used by the South Central Association of the Visually Impaired (SCAVI) called for “a committed individual – not just for the short term but also for the long term.” For this award, the committee did not have to look far.
Committed would be a way to describe Mary Plake, a long-time volunteer with the group. She has been a member for about 20 years and has served as its Secretary many of those years.
Her involvement with the group began when she volunteered to take a legally blind friend to the meetings. It only seemed natural that she would herself soon became a member.
As Secretary, she has been faithful in assuming the responsibility of getting the news about the group in the local newspapers and keeping the community aware of the group’s many activities. She also collects materials from various sources to share with others.
Mary Plake’s volunteer services have also extended to other organizations. She has served over 30 years on the local American Heart Association Board and for many years has worked as an instructor and a Blood Services Volunteer with the American Red Cross.
According to a spokesperson for SCAVI, “We believe Mary is truly a worthy candidate and we are proud to honor her with the presentation of our Involved Volunteer of the Month Award.”
Don’t Forget To Shop At Marsh
Through the Marsh Supermarket Community Shopper Program, you can help earn money for ACBI. Here is all you have to do.
Step 1: Register your Fresh IDEA Card at your local Marsh store or online at http://www.marsh.net;
Step 2: Choose to support ACBI by using the ACBI Express Code 310958471.
Once the above steps are completed, Marsh will donate 1% of the purchase price of Marsh brand products to our organization.
**Plus, during special promotions, you will earn additional dollars for ACBI when you purchase products from great companies such as Pillsbury, Campbell’s Soup, Nestle, Edy’s Ice Cream and other National brands.
Make the most of this new fund-raising opportunity!
Non-computer supporters can simply go to the nearest Marsh Supermarket Customer Service Office to sign up. Just give them the ACBI Express Code 310958471.
A Message From Indiana
Attorney General, Stephen Carter
If you are registered for Indiana’s Telephone Privacy List, Indiana Attorney General Stephen Carter offers the following information for your review:
Q: Will the Telephone Privacy law stop all telephone solicitations?
A: No. The Indiana General Assembly did provide exemptions for certain types of calls. Unfortunately, we cannot stop calls exempted by the law. Those calls include:
* Calls made at the express request of the consumer.* Calls related to an existing debt or contract for which payment or performance had not been completed at the time of the call. (e.g., a debt you owe).
* Calls made on behalf of charitable organizations if the calls were made by employees or volunteers of the charitable organization.
* Calls made by real estate brokers or salespersons.
* Calls made by insurance agents soliciting the sale of insurance products.
* Calls soliciting the sale of newspaper subscriptions if the calls were made by employees or volunteers of the newspaper.
Q: What do I do if I receive a telephone solicitation?
A: Don’t hang up. Get as much information as possible before terminating the call. In particular, we need the following from you in order to pursue your complaint:
* Name of the firm making the call.* Date and time of the call.
* Product or service offered.
* Telephone number. (While this is not always possible, please make every effort to get a telephone number).
* Your participation. We ask that you be prepared to testify in court and obtain phone records from your telecommunications carrier.
Q: How do I file a complaint?
A: Filing a complaint is simple. Just visit our website: http://www.in.gov/attorneygeneral, download and complete a complaint form, and mail it to the address noted on the form. If you do not have internet access, you can call 812.355.5915 to request a complaint form. Please note that this number is different than the number used to register for the Telephone Privacy List.
Thank you for reviewing this important information. Your participation as an educated consumer will allow us to make the Telephone Privacy Program a success in Indiana.
Stephen Carter
Attorney General
A Major Victory For
Descriptive Video
On Friday, March 29, 2002, the court has denied the request of the Motion Picture Association et al, to grant a stay and prevent implementation of the FCC’s rule on video description. This action follows a similar refusal by the FCC itself earlier that week.
This means that audio described programming will begin on network television as scheduled, with the quarter that begins on April 1, 2002!! Appreciation goes to the Federal Communications Commission, and the court, for recognizing that we who are blind and visually impaired have just as much right to enjoy the programming on television as everyone else in America. How cool that we are about to see and hear history in the making!
Equipment Needed To
Receive DVS On TV
Now that the FCC has upheld its earlier decision to mandate inclusion of descriptive video on TV, here is the equipment you need to receive DVS (SAP)
To receive DVS on television in your home, a viewer need have only one of the following:
1. A stereo TV with a Second Audio Program (SAP) feature,2. A VCR with SAP, or
3. A SAP receiver that can be used with or without a TV.
To find out whether or not your TV or VCR has SAP capability, consult your owner’s manual. Most TVs or VCRs purchased within the past 5 years are SAP equipped.
To hear the narrated visual descriptions via your stereo TV or VCR, simply activate its SAP feature.
A SAP receiver is a device that is able to tune in, similar to a radio, a SAP channel. It can be used with or without a TV depending on whether or not you want to receive the video picture. These are available either pre-tuned or adjustable.
The following companies produce SAP receivers:
*This device can also receive Radio Reading Services.
Tips for Successful
Television Viewing
Television can be a source of entertainment, relaxation and education and people with low-vision want to enjoy this medium like their fully sighted counterparts. Here are some suggestions for making the experience more pleasurable.
Explore what works best for you. A large remote control can make it easier to adjust the channel and volume on your television.
Medicare Now Covers
Glaucoma Detection Eye Exam
The letter writing campaign promoted by a coalition of eye care organizations, including The Glaucoma Foundation, has paid off now that Medicare beneficiaries over 65 at high risk for glaucoma are entitled to an annual dilated eye examination.
The new benefit, which took effect January 1, 2002, defines high-risk Medicare beneficiaries as those with diabetes, those with a family history of glaucoma, and African Americans. (Given the higher incidence of glaucoma among African Americans, the legislation includes African American Medicare beneficiaries aged 50 and older to include the relatively small number on the Medicare rolls for other disability reasons.)
“This first glaucoma detection benefit under Medicare could save the sight of thousands of seniors,´´ says TGF President James P. Digan. Increasing age is the single largest relative risk factor in developing glaucoma, the leading cause of preventable blindness in the U.S., which afflicts six percent or some two million Americans over age 65.
It is especially important that this benefit covers a dilated exam. The test that measures eye pressure is only one part of a glaucoma examination, and by itself, cannot detect glaucoma. Glaucoma is most often found during an eye examination through dilated pupils, which means drops are put into the eyes to enlarge the pupils so that the eye care professional can see more of the back of the eye. Studies show that the early detection and treatment of glaucoma, before it causes major vision loss, is the best way to control the disease.
Visudyne Treatments No Longer Covered By Medicare
The March 29, 2002 decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to deny national Medicare coverage of ocular photodynamic therapy (OPT) with verteporfin (“Visudyne”) was a reversal of its October 2001 decision to expand the national coverage policy for this treatment.
This March 29 reversal by CMS is particularly troubling given Secretary Thompson’s recent statement in the latest issue of Inside CMS, (March 28, 2002) that “Healthy vision is a shared responsibility among the government, health care providers, community leaders, and the public.
This new ruling will almost certainly result in a greater number of older people losing their vision for lack of access to the best possible treatment for AMD. Vision loss among older people is a prime cause of lost personal independence. Preserving independent living for older Americans should be a higher goal of our public policy. However, only the wealthy will now have access to the sight saving treatment for Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD), the leading cause of blindness in the Medicare population.
This means that 35,000 to 70,000 Medicare beneficiaries will now be denied this vision saving treatment and will lose their sight. That is one out of every four Medicare beneficiaries that will be denied entitlement under the Social Security Act as a result of this non-coverage decision.
Disability advocates in major organizations concerned about vision loss in older Americans are joining together to fight this CMS decision. These include the Academy of Ophthalmology, American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), Alliance for Aging Research, American Macular Degeneration Foundation, Vitreous Society, American Council of the Blind, and others.
For a full description of the decision, refer to the CMS website link http://www.hcfa.gov/coverage/8b3-ee7.htm. The above organizations encourage comparing this decision with the original Decision Memorandum document posted on October 17, 2001 by CMS regarding their intention to reimburse Visudyne for occult lesions.
Contact Lens Solutions
May
Not Kill Harmful Eye Bugs
Acanthamoeba is an important cause of eye infection in contact lens wearers, with wearers of the soft type of lens most at risk. It leads to keratitis of the eye, which can be very painful and difficult to treat, and may eventually cause blindness. Poor lens hygiene is considered to be the main risk factor.
Acanthamoeba are single cell organisms with two life stages: trophozoites and cysts. Disinfectant lens solutions need to be able to kill both types.
A study reported in the British Journal of Ophthalmology indicated that researchers tested three types of disinfectant cleaning solutions for soft contact lenses. One type was a multipurpose storage solution; the other two constituted a one-step and a two-step hydrogen peroxide system. After 8 hours, all types of solution had killed the trophozoites of all strains. But cysts proved more of a problem. The two-step 0.6% hydrogen peroxide solution performed the best, killing virtually all cysts, and some after just 30 minutes. The multipurpose solution was less effective, but killed the cysts of at least some strains. But cysts of all strains were still viable after an 8-hour soaking with the one-step 3% hydrogen peroxide solution.
Hydrogen peroxide solutions are toxic to the eye and must be neutralized. One-step solutions use a catalyst to do this, but the neutralization may be too quick to prevent effective killing of the Acanthamoeba cysts. Consequently, contact lens wearers should choose their disinfectant solutions carefully and take additional precautions to prevent contamination with the organisms such as microwaving, boiling, or frequently renewing their contact lens storage cases.
Choices for Children
Campaign Launched
In an effort to educate policymakers, legislators, and the public about the unique educational needs of children who are blind or visually impaired, parents, consumers, and professionals have joined together in a grass-roots network to promote choices for children by advocating improvements to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) during reauthorization, by defending IDEA from weakening amendments, and by assuring that educational reform represents the best interest of each child.
CFC strives to ensure that children who are blind or visually impaired receive comprehensive education services
It is believed that together members can share their experiences with the successes and shortcomings of the current law and regulations, coordinate the development and dissemination of research, position papers, and updates on the progress of legislation concerning the reauthorization of IDEA, coordinate an active grass-roots network to advocate changes to IDEA, and respond to requests for action in support of CFC’s policy agenda.
The campaign co-chairs are Susan Spungin, Ed.D., of the American Foundation for the Blind, and Herb Miller, of the St. Joseph’s School for the Blind.
To secure more information about becoming a part of this initiative, contact Mark Richert, AER/CFC, 4600 Duke St. – Suite 430, Alexandria, VA 22304. Tel: 1.877.492.2708. E-Mail: markr@aerbvi.org.
Digital Talking Bible
Again Available
Thanks to a special arrangement with the owner of the Road Runner technology, formerly manufactured by Ostrich Software, the Lutheran Braille Evangelism Association (LBEA) is now offering the Digital Talking Bible at a much reduced price.
This Bible is a small electronic text reading device that allows you to read the Bible anywhere and at any time you desire. It weighs just four ounces including the 2 AA alkaline batteries which will power the unit for 40 or more hours of continuous reading. The unit is about the size of a standard audiocassette and about one inch thick. It fits easily in a shirt pocket or purse.
Other Features:
Each Digital Bible includes:
**The Digital Talking Bible is available in the King James (KJV) and the New American Standard (NAS) Versions. The New International (NIV) Version is planned but the availability date is uncertain at this writing.
Cost: A donation of at least $100 payable to LBEA. This includes S/H via U.S. Priority Mail.
To order, send your request with check or money order donation to:
Lutheran Braille Evangelism Association (LBEA)
1740 Eugene Street
White Bear Lake, MN 55110-3312
More information is available from LBEA by phone at 651.426.0469 or by e-mail at lbea@qwest.net.
A New Religion CD
What do William James, Mohammed, Josephus, Moses, Martin Luther, Confucius, Mary Baker Eddy, and John Bunyan have in common? They are all on the same CD with over 70 books.
The Religion CD from Samizdat currently contains the full text (in plain ASCII text) of 78 Books. These include:
Judeo-Christian (by far the largest section)
Moslem
Religions of India
Religions of China
Egypt/Babylon/Assyria
General Works on Religion and Related Anthropology and Myth
While space here does not allow a complete listing of each section, readers might be interested to know that the Judeo-Christian section contains the full text of The King James Bible, The Apocrypha, Josephus (Against Apion, Antiquities of the Jews, Life of Josephus, Wars of the Jews), Legends of the Jews by Louis Ginzberg, Barlaam and Ioasaph by St. John of Damascus, For Greater Things: The story of Saint Stanislaus Kostka by William Kane, Imitation of Christ, St. Augustine’s Confessions, History of the Catholic Church by James MacCaffrey, Jeanne d’Arc: Her Life and Death by Mrs. Oliphant, Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc by Mark Twain, Vanished Aradia: Being Some Account of the Jesuits in Paraguay 1607 to 1767 by R.B. Cunninghame Graham, A Voyage to Abyssinia by Father Jerome Lobo translated by Samuel Johnson, Martin Luther (95 Theses, Augsburg Confession, Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians, Concerning Christian Liberty, Large Catechism, Little Instruction Book, Open Letter on Translating, Smalcald Articles, Treatise on Good Works), John Milton (Paradise Lost, Paradise Regained, Samson Agonistes), John Bunyan (Exhortation to Peace and Unity, Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners, Holy War, Jerusalem Sinner Saved, Life and Death of Mr. Badman, Of the Trinity and a Christian, Of the Law and a Christian, Last Sermon, Dying Sayings, Pharisee and Pilgrim, Pilgrim’s Progress, Life of Bunyan by James Hamilton, Life of John Bunyan by Venables), History of the Moravian Church by J. E. Hutton, The Moravians in Georgia 1735-1740 by Adelaide L. Fries, Book of Mormon, Story of the Mormons: from the Date of Their Origin to the Year 1901 by William Alexander Linn, Science and Health With Key to the Scriptures by Mary Baker Eddy, Ellen G. White (Acts of the Apostles, Desire of Ages, The Great Controversy, Patriarchs and Prophets, Steps to Christ), First Book of Adam and Eve by Rutherford Platt, Howard Chase by Charles M. Sheldon, Serious Call to a Devout and Holy Life by William Law, and Till He Come by C.H. Spurgeon
You can see the complete table of contents of this CD at http://www.samizdat.com/religioncd.html
Cost: $29 Religion CD ISBN 0931968038
Order this unique CD from your local bookstore or online at: http://store.yahoo.com/samizdat.
For more information, contact: Richard Seltzer by e-mail at seltzer@samizdat.com, on the Web at http://www.samizdat.com, or by phone at 617.469.2269.
Joan of Arc: Print-Braille Edition
The print-braille edition of this remarkable book, written by Josephine Poole and illustrated by Angela Barrett, is now available from National Braille Press at just $6.99 – the same price as the print book. It is recommended for Ages 9-12.
Although this true story happened over 500 years ago in France, children are immediately hooked - especially when the truth unfolds into a story as mystical, timeless, and exquisitely written and illustrated as this one. Josephine Poole aims straight for the heart of faith in this amazing story about a 13-year-old girl who hears divine voices. It has also been described as a haunting impression of an era, a place, and an enigmatic human being.
To read more about the book, visit http://www.nbp.org/january02.html.
Order from:
NBP
88 St. Stephen Street
Boston, MA 02115-4302
Or, call and charge it at 800.548.7323 toll-free or 617.266.6160 ext. 20 (Outside the U.S. & Canada.
You can also E-Mail your order to: orders@nbp.org.
A Library of Accessible Books
Remember the Arkenstone and its unique technology that allowed blind and visually impaired individuals to read print? Well, the great people who developed that technology, Benetech, are now making it possible for blind, visually impaired, and print handicapped individuals to read thousands of books in accessible format not available to them elsewhere.
For a one-time start-up fee of $25 and an annual fee of $50, members of Bookshare.org have access to the full collection of copyrighted books. By becoming a member, you will be able to read books that are not available from other accessible book providers. A new library will open up to you.
As a member, you can read to your heart’s content. Whether you read primarily for pleasure, for school, or for reference, you will have access to as many books as you can read* from the Bookshare.org collection. (For practical reasons, however, there is a download cap of 50 books per month.)
A subscription to Bookshare.org is for an entire year. There are no per-book charges or other costs. Once you pay, you don’t need to think about it for another 12 months. And Benetech will send you a reminder when it’s time to think about renewing.
Every member receives a free download of software necessary to read books in the DAISY digital talking book standard. The Victor Reader Soft DAISY player is a software program that enables you to navigate easily by paragraph and pages through the digital books and bookmark locations to return to at a later time. The Victor Reader Soft, Bookshare.org Edition, will only read DAISY books downloaded from Bookshare.org. Reading just couldn’t be easier.
Why not join the free Bookshare.org Discussion Email List, an ongoing forum where you can discuss what you are reading and scanning with fellow members, or offer suggestions about the collection. To subscribe, send a blank email to the following address:
bookshare.org-discuss-subscribe@topica.com
To register or to secure more information, go to http://www.bookshare.org. You will be glad you did!
New Discussion List Launched
for
Librarians & Library Patrons
Library Users of America, a non-profit association, recently announced that it has launched a new Internet discussion list designed for librarians and patrons to share information and ideas about programs and services of all types of libraries as they affect those who are blind or visually impaired. Anyone interested in becoming a part of this highly relevant sharing of ideas and concerns activity may subscribe simply by sending a blank e-mail post to:
librarytalk-subscribe@topica.com
or complete the form on the association’s web site at
http://libraryusers.tripod.com/internet.htm
There is no charge and members can subscribe and/or unsubscribe as they wish.
For more information, contact: Pat Price at 317.254.1185 or by e-mail at pprice@indy.rr.com.
Ray Charles Slots Make
Gambling Accessible
The blind entertainer, Ray Charles, is lending his name to the first series of slot machines for the visually impaired. The Bally Gaming Systems machines, which include audio cues and a Braille button deck, are currently being shipped.
Ray commented, “This makes so much sense because you can be independent and do whatever you want by yourself.“
The slot machine models include an “America the Beautiful”-themed machine featuring the 71-year-old Charles and “The Paylettes.” His recording “America the Beautiful” is 30 years old.
Free Course on
Accessing the Internet
The Internet Fundamentals course taught by Cathy Anne Murtha is aired each Tuesday night on ACB Radio’s Main Menu <http://www.acbradio.org> and takes students from the basics of the Internet through some of the more advanced features of the World Wide Web. Designed to help both JAWS and Window-Eyes users, this course is a comprehensive exploration of the Internet and screen reading software.
These classes are absolutely free. There is no charge to listen in or view the sample pages on the ATI website.
If you are interested in learning more about Windows or Access to the Internet, you are invited to visit http://www.accesstechnologyinstitute.com and check out the “Courses offered by ATI on ACB Radio” link.
Assistive Technology Database
Georgia Tech Center has made available an excellent database of assistive technology products at http://www.assistivetech.net. This site can be searched by function/activity, keyword, product, and vendor. The results list links to detailed information about each product.
VideoTIM: Will It
Replace
the Optacon?
While not yet officially ready for the market, I thought you’d be interested in knowing that a new device similar to the Optacon is being developed in Germany by the TIM-project under the sponsorship of the German Government, Ministry of Labor, and the activities of the cooperating Bergische University of Wuppertal are supported by the ERTOMIS-Foundation.
The TIM-project is concerned with the development and usage of the Tactile-Interactive-Monitor. The VideoTIM is a combination of TIM and a videocam. With the mini-hand-videocam you can look at various things, mostly writings and graphics. The TIM displays all this in realtime as touchable reliefs from lifted dots.
The Mini-hand-videocamera of VideoTIM has a built-in light to illuminate a document. The electronic of VideoTIM automatically works out the ideal brightness.
The picture you look at with the mini-hand-videocamera will be projected in realtime. That means 12 pictures per second are shown on the tactile display “TIM”. The functions of the three buttons above the tactile display are to zoom in or out, or to invert. With the regulator left hand on top of the VideoTIM-device you can adjust your individual bightness - this makes e.g. letters bigger or smaller.
The VideoTIM-Display has an excellent tactile quality. Any pixel can be located exactly. TIM has an array of 256 pixels and a size of 4 x 4 cm. The dotspace is 2.5 mm. Since it uses the piezo electronic dots for its display, nothing vibrates.
The user puts his hand on the VideoTIM-display. He can change between active and passive recognition. Active recognition means moving the hand over the tactile dots and the fingercups recognice the details. The picture appears as a relief. The passive recognition uses the tactile projection. The soft knocking dots stimulate pictures onto the skin of the fingers.
NOTE: This editor has learned that there are a few blind individuals using the VideoTIM in their workplaces in Germany. The initial reaction is very positive. One important feature especially appreciated is that the display does not vibrate.
SCANACAN: A Tool
For Independence
If you are tired of opening the wrong can, embarrassed to find out that you put on a green shirt when you wanted a blue shirt, frustrated when you can’t find the disk or CD or movie you were looking for, and tired of endless waiting for sighted assistance with product identification, you might want to consider having the new Scanacan for Windows at your fingertips. This multi-purpose device is speech-friendly, simple, powerful, affordable, an independent living aid and home management barcode scanning system.
Since just about everything you purchase has a bar code on it, there is no need for labeling grocery items any more, and no excuse for not cataloging all your items that are already barcoded. Now, with the excellent quality commercial Omni Directional Laser Wedge bar code scanner, you can easily identify anything with a bar code on it. SCANACAN For Windows allows you to identify anything with a bar code just by passing it in front of the lense of the scanner. If the item you scanned or entered is not in the database, of 84,000 grocery items, you can add it to the database with just a few key strokes. You can create as many databases as your hard drive will hold. Each database holds up to 2 billion records in it. With the simple one-letter ALT commands, you can quickly and easily enter the data needed to make your grocery shopping much easier. You can purchase clothing bar code labels and create a clothing database with the description, including the color, and manufacturer of your clothes.
Features of this device include the ability to add records, change records, backup the databases, restore databases, scanning quickly, reading instructions, looking up records, opening a new or existing database, printing a list, and more.
SCANACAN For Windows, #SW-28005, runs in Windows 95, 98, ME, or Windows NT. It is easy to install, and uses standard Windows commands.
This includes the Scanacan For Windows software, a grocery database of 84,000 grocery items, a hardware database of 62,000 hardware related items, the JAWS scripts, the manual in text format, on CD-ROM, and the excellent quality Omni Directional Laser Wedge Bar code scanner, a stand and bracket for mounting on the wall, 100 bar code labels, the manual in print, and cassette instructions. Shipping is included within the U.S.A. Cost:. $779.99
SCANACAN PLUS DELUXE For DOS, #SW-28003, includes the SCANACAN Software, a grocery database of 84,000 grocery items, a hardware database of 62,000 hardware related items, the JAWS Scripts, on CD-ROM, 100 bar code labels, manual in print, and on the CD-ROM, cassette instructions, and an excellent quality Omni Directional Laser Wedge Bar code scanner, cables, power supply, a bracket for mounting on the wall, and a stand. Runs in a DOS box under Windows 95, 98, ME, and 2,000. Shipping is included within the U.S.A. Cost: $674.99
SCANACAN FOR WINDOWS UPGRADE, #SW-28004, includes the software on CD-ROM when you already own the SCANACAN Plus for DOS. Comes with cassette instructions, manual in print, and on the CD. 2 lbs. Cost: $150.00.
For more information, contact:
Speech and Braille Unlimited LLC.
Tel: 612.722.8686.
E-Mail: info@speechbraille.com.
Web: http://www.speechbraille.com/SCAN_TXT.htm
Help ACBI Reduce
Newsletter Production Costs
While we want to continue providing this newsletter in the various accessible formats, escalating production costs are becoming a concern of our leadership.
The e-mail edition is the most cost effective way to provide FOCUS. So, if you have access to the Internet, we would very much appreciate it if you would change to the e-mail format. All you need to do is send an e-mail message to pprice@indy.rr.com including your name and e-mail address in the body of the message.
Thanks much for helping ACBI in this way.
Notable Quotes
Daring ideas are like chessmen moved forward. They may be beaten, but they start a winning game.
-- Charles Brower
If Columbus had had an advisory committee, he would probably still be at the dock.
-- Justice Arthur Goldberg
Never mistake knowledge for wisdom. One helps you make a living; the other helps you make a life.
-- Sandra Carey
At every crossing on the road that leads to the future, each progressive spirit is opposed by a thousand appointed to guard the past.
-- Maurice Maeterlinck
Virus is a Latin word used by doctors meaning: “Your guess is as good as mine.”
Love makes the world go ‘round, but laughter keeps us from getting dizzy.
-- Peg Malone
Courage is doing what you’re afraid to do. There can be no courage unless you’re scared.
-- Eddie Rickenbacker
Don’t waste good thoughts on
yesterday
Nor on days yet to come,
But think good thoughts on things at hand
And strive to make things hum;
For now, today, is full of hope
And pleasures we’ll soon taste
If we will concentrate on now
And precious time not waste.
-- Alonzo Benn
Persons interested in becoming a member of this forward-looking and democratic organization need only to send their check for $5, along with the following information:
Name
Address:
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Phone Number:
E-Mail Address:
Occupation:
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Mail To:
Donald Koors
5885 North Central
Indianapolis, IN 46220
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Updated: April 12, 2002