Saturday Technology Training Sessions Blog

Fron Top Tech Tidbits:

2012-02-09T06:20:00.000-08:00

In this edition of The Tech Doctor Blog and Podcast, we hear an interview with a prolific mainstream Apple podcaster and committed advocate for Blind Apple users.

http://www.dr-carter.com/?p=93

Accessibility technology Consultant Jerry Berrier will have fun with his iPhone and let you listen in as he demonstrates a variety of fun apps on Tek Talk on GMT 14 February at 01:00.

http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

A second podcast on using NVDA and iTunes is available.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/1625623/NVDA%20and%20iTunes%20Demonstration.mp3

The February, 2012 issue of AccessWorld is now available, including A Review of the IBIS HD Video Magnifier (CCTV), an evaluation of The Readit Scholar, Diabetes and Visual Impairment: An Update on Accessible Blood Glucose Meters, information about AccessWorld App Version 1.8 and more:

http://www.afb.org/accessworld

GW Micro has begun to make available How Do I Do That? video mini-tutorials with fully accessible audio content on particular window-eyes features. The first two free offerings in the series concern how to add an attachment and how to use the ribbon with window-eyes.

http://www.gwmicro.com/Training/Tutorials/

The Veterans Health Administration Section 508 office created an innovative set of tutorials that explains portable document format (PDF) accessibility barriers and provides solutions that address them. The tutorial is "Creating Accessible PDFs with Adobe Acrobat Professional" and it is available at:

http://www.ehealth.va.gov/508/tutorials/pdf/index.asp

The VHA Section 508 office also has training on developing accessible Flash. The course is available at:

http://www.ehealth.va.gov/508/flash/index.asp

SpeechHub is a new set of speech synthesizers, at present, only for NVDA. Several synthesizers and languages are available.

http://www.speechhub.org/

The US Internal Revenue Service offers accessible tax preparation assistance.

http://www.irs.gov/accessibility/index.html

Here is a Youtube video describing what they offer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r4PfzKqpXmg

Kathy Ann Murtha announces the release of two new $75 textbooks: Internet Explorer 9 with JAWS for Windows 13 and Internet Explorer 9 with Window-Eyes 7.5 http://www.blindtraining.com/shop/browsers.htm

This Blind Access Journal podcast is entitled Take Your Favorite Podcasts on the Road: Downcast for iOS:

http://blindaccessjournal.com/2012/02/take-your-favorite-podcasts-on-the-road-downcast-for-ios/

The NFB Access Technology Blog offers reviews of News Apps for iOS devices:

http://www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=922&SnID=1727144647

And DAISY videos from the eBook Accessibility Symposium:

http://www.nfb.org/NewsBot.asp?MODE=VIEW&ID=920&SnID=1727144647

Saturday Technology Training Session February 4th, 2012, 1pm to 4pm, Room 215, Adaptive Services, MLK Library

2012-01-28T14:47:00.000-08:00

Saturday Technology Training Session

February 4th, 2012 1pm to 4pm, Room 215, Adaptive Services, MLK Library
Accessible App Demo and Discussion

It is time again for the quarterly adaptive technology training session on accessible apps for the iPhone and other mobile, gestural devices, hosted by Mark Reumann. Details below:

Presenters:

Mark Reumann – Patent Office

Zuhair Mahmoud – Library of Congress

Don Barrett – Dept of Education

From 1pm to 3pm, this panel will demo and discuss accessible apps, like MoneyReader, Color Identifier and VizWiz. We may also have a brief update on some of the projects initiated at the Product Identification Workshop November 5^th and further developed at the Accessibility Hackathon on Nov 12^th.

Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII)

2012-01-28T14:45:00.001-08:00

http://www.gpii.net/
The purpose of the Global Public Inclusive Infrastructure (GPII) is to ensure that everyone who faces accessibility barriers due to disability, literacy, or aging, regardless of economic resources, can access and use the Internet and all its information, communities, and services for education, employment, daily living, civic participation, health, and safety.

Saturday Technology Training Session January 21, 2012

2012-01-19T06:01:00.000-08:00

The Saturday Technology Training Session on January 21st will feature an informal discussion of the outcome of the recent Accessibility Hackathon, as well as demos and an update on the status of ongoing, related projects.

Saturday Technology Training Session

January 21st, 2011

1pm to 4pm

Room 215, Adaptive Services

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

901 G Street NW

Washington DC, 20001

Our Saturday, January 21st demo and discussion will include the following:

1. A demo by App Developer Zaid Al-Timimi, of a beta version of the Mobile Accessible Book Generator. Powered by The Mashup App, the Mobile Accessible Book Generator allows iPhone/iPad users to create e-books for kids with print disabilities. Originally proposed during the 2011 Adaptive Services Division's Accessibility Hackathon, the Mobile Accessible Book Generator is scheduled for release in the first quarter of 2012. A future version is envisioned to allow users to submit generated books to repositories such as Bentech's Bookshare.

2. A demo by Kevin Johnson and Patrick Timony of some of the other current digital archiving projects and accessible Internet participation applications related to the Accessibility Hackathon and the Adaptive Technology Program.

3. Discussion of future events that could help to build the proposed solutions, including several proposed codeathon events, and the Maker Monday regular meetup at the library.

4. Discussion of a proposed makerspace at the MLK library and the events and activities that could take place there, including skills training, book scanner building, 3D printing, format conversion, and disaster preparedness training and technology development.

The following organizations are currently involved (in no specific order): Adaptive Services Division, LibraryLab, University of Maryland iSchool, OpenForumFoundation, Federal Communications Commission, The Mashup App, Bookshare, VideoWashDC, iStrategyLabs, Bread for the City, Gallaudet Technology Access Program, HAC-DC.

The Accessibility Hackathon was held on Nov 12th, 2011 as a part of DC WEEK’s LibraryTech project (http://digitalcapitalweek.org/projects/library-tech/)and produced a list of product proposals to meet requirements from the user community (http://wikimediadc.org/wiki/Accessibility_hackathon)

Library Lab (http://wikimediadc.org/wiki/LibraryLab) is a demonstration project at the DC Public Library that is designed as a community center for annotation, classification, creation, curation, digitization; education and publication, reading and writing and media production.

Free training is available in the Adaptive Services Division, to teach the basics of using ATs. Networking programs and events on the topic of ATs are coordinated at the library and in the DC area. Here is a list of our current activities:

AT Training Program

Saturday Technology Training Sessions bi-monthly user group

Adaptive Services Interest Group AT professional meet-up

Accessibility DC Monthly meet-up

AccessibilityCampDC Annual Unconference

Adaptive Technology Tips and Hints online AT tutorials

Adaptive Services Internet Classroom - learn ATs on your own

Accessibility Hackathon Project

Maker Mondays

Tech Talk Tuesdays

Audio-Video Archive

Saturday Technology Training Sessions are the 1st and 3rd Saturdays, 1pm to 4pm Adaptive Services Division, DC Public Library, Room 215 Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 901 G Street NW Washington DC 20001.

"Latest mobile phones for visually impaired"

2012-01-13T09:09:00.000-08:00

This is a BBC program -- an overview of accessibility for phones other than the iPhone - Symbian, Android. Title is "Latest mobile phones for visually impaired" There is a transcript halfway down the page if you dont want to listen to the whole thing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b018xs8r

Top Tech Tidbits

2012-01-03T11:13:00.000-08:00

- By visiting the AppleVis blog, you can learn how they are Making it Easier to Find Relevant Content on the AppleVis Site, learn about the campaign to create the AppleVis iOS App Hall of Fame, and discover the appleVis podcast, among other discoveries.
http://www.applevis.com/blog

- Here is an interesting comparison of some of the many digital music services available, of course not taking accessibility into account.
http://t.co/ufwCMCIB

- An organization called the Association of Blind Citizens offers an Assistive Technology Fund to US residents. the Fund provides financial resources to cover 50% of the retail price of adaptive devices or software.
http://www.blindcitizens.org/assistive_tech.htm

-Blind-aid is a Yahoo group where people can discuss blindness issues and make friends. To join, send a blank message to
blind-aid-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

-Tech Access Weekly features short Daily tips podcasts and some longer, comprehensive ones regarding assistive technology.
http://techaccessweekly.com/

Flying Blind, LLC Launches Apple Accessibility Initiative (AAI)

2012-01-03T10:41:00.000-08:00

Flying Blind, LLC will be kicking off 2012 by launching the Apple Accessibility Initiative, or AAI, which is a series of on-site, scalable, and customizable professional development training seminars designed to provide educators of students who are vision impaired with the tools necessary to provide access solutions via mobile iOS-based products within the classroom. Over the past couple of years Apple has done an amazing job of marketing its products to the educational sector of the marketplace. Their approach to providing integrated access via screen magnification, speech, and Braille have afforded vision impaired users comparable access to much of what today's sighted users of mainstream applications have to offer.

As 2011 came to a close Flying Blind, LLC was made aware of a profound need amongst educators of the vision impaired to explore how to appropriately turn Apple touch screen devices into solutions that would enable vision impaired students to independently and efficiently complete tasks within the classroom. The Apple Accessibility Initiative, or AAI, will present educators with all of the integrated access tools available within the Apple operating system, or iOS, as well as a blueprint for how to search for, install, utilize, and maintain all of the appropriate applications necessary to transform these devices into low-cost alternatives to more expensive, traditional means of portable information management.

These fee-based training seminars will be spearheaded by Flying Blind, LLC's founder, Mr. Larry L. Lewis.

Participants in the Apple Accessibility Initiative (AAI) will achieve the following:

· Be introduced to all of the low-vision, speech, and Braille accessibility features available within portable iOS devices.

· Learn how to select and install accessible applications specifically pertinent to their school's curriculum.

· Understand how to search for information, read books, and create/edit/share text and documents with sighted classmates and educators.

· Be exposed to accessible games that might be played between both vision impaired and sighted users of these devices.

please email AAI@flying-blind.com for more info

Planet a11y

2011-12-23T11:38:00.001-08:00

Just as http://blind-planet.org/aggregator aggregates blindness-related blogs, podcasts and RSS feeds into one spot so you can read them all on a single page, Planet a11y is an RSS aggregator which aggregates accessibility-related feeds so you can view them in one place. Be sure to check it out at http://planeta11y.org

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer

2011-12-14T08:42:00.000-08:00

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer

Saturday, December 16. 9am – 5pm

CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer is designed to teach professionals with a duty to act the skills needed to respond appropriately to breathing and cardiac emergencies, including the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) to care for a victim of cardiac arrest. Frank McDonnelly of the American Red Cross is the trainer.

To register:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/viewform?formkey=dExaeURqNWV0bG1DMmJ5TUNGdGgtcGc6MQ

Contacting Organizations about Inaccessible Web Sites

2011-12-06T12:55:00.000-08:00

From: VICUG-L, the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.

I thought some of you might find the documents I reference below of interest as you shop online during the holidays.

I don't know about you, but when I go online during the holidays, I just want to find what I'm looking for and check out without needing any help. But sometimes, by the time I'm done, my holiday cheer is beginning to fade. Trying to use an inaccessible site to buy a gift or make a donation on behalf of a loved one can take time I simply don't have during the busy holiday season.

But if I spend a little extra time to report my experiences to the organizations that run the sites I visit, I believe my efforts will make the Web a better place next year.

As I make my shopping list and gather links to the sites I plan to visit, I'm adding a couple of other links to my collection, so they'll be handy. I'm also setting up an email template or two in advance to help me quickly report my shopping experiences -- both the good ones and the ones that are harder than I might wish.

Why not join me and start off your New Year positively by helping to make the Web a more accessible place?

Find tips about giving accessibility feedback to Web sites by visiting these two Web pages, brought to you by the World Wide Web Consortium's Web Accessibility Initiative:

http://bit.ly/inaccessible1

http://bit.ly/inaccessible2

VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List.

Archived on the World Wide Web at

http://listserv.icors.org/archives/vicug-l.html

CDESK for NLS BARD

2011-12-06T12:14:00.000-08:00

WOULD YOU LIKE AN EASIER WAY TO USE YOUR COMPUTER EVERYDAY?

CDESK by AdaptiveVoice Makes Using Your Computer SIMPLE, with FOURTEEN Easy-To-Use Applications!

- WORD PROCESSING
- EMAIL
- INTERNET BROWSING with SCREEN READER
- DOCUMENT SCANNING with OCR PAGE READING
- ADDRESS BOOK/CONTACT MANAGEMENT
- CALENDAR/APPOINTMENTS
- NLS/BARD/MP3 PLAYER/GAMES
- INTERNET RADIO
- SKYPE AUDIO/VIDEO CALLS
- SPREADSHEETS/CALCULATOR
- NEWS READER

http://www.adaptivevoice.com

TCS Associates

2011-12-03T10:58:00.000-08:00

TCS Associates demoing at STTS this weekend, Braille Pen and Orabis CCTV: www.tcsassociates.com

A list of products: http://www.tcsmarketplace.com/store/pc/home.asp

Maker Mondays

2011-11-25T16:13:00.001-08:00

Building off of the November 12^th Accessibility Hackathon, “Maker Mondays” will be held on the first and third Monday evenings of December, December 5^th and 9^th, from 6pm to 8pm in room 215, Adaptive Services at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. These events will be an opportunity for developers and users of adaptive technologies and web accessibility to get together to discuss and build solutions to accessibility issues. The events will be open to remote participation via conference call and web audio-video. Topics for discussion will include reports back on some of the ideas that were generated at the Accessibility Hackaton, including the Mobile Accessible Book Generator, a 508 Repository, a Mobility/Security working group, a Metro Access vehicle locator app, and various other accessibility fixes. We also plan to experiment with generating an accessible book by scanning and then converting into a number of different accessible formats. During the discussion we will also be experimenting with the AV and remote participation capability of the Learning Lab in room 215 - using Ustream, Talking Communities and Google Hangouts.

Maker Mondays

Monday, Dec 5th

Monday, Dec 19th

6pm to 8pm

Room 215 Adaptive Services

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library

901 G Street NW

Washington DC, 20001

December Events for the Adaptive Services Division

2011-11-25T09:16:00.001-08:00

December 3^rd , Saturday Technology Training Session, 1pm to 3pm, room 215 – Richard Krafsig of TCS Associates demos the Orabis Read-Aloud text reader CCTV, a read-aloud text reader and a magnifier in one device, and the Braille Pen, a Braille display and Braille keyboard that works with iOs devices, as well as JAWS, System Access, Talks, Mobile Speak, has Bluetooth, connects to phone, netbook, PC or PDA, write SMS, does 6 key entry. After the Saturday Session guests are welcome to visit the Open Data Hackathon in the LibraryLab space on the first floor. The Open Data Hackathon is a gathering of citizens in cities around the world to write applications, liberate data, and publish analyses using open public data to show support for and encourage the adoption open data policies by the world's local, regional and national governments.

December 3^rd, Braille Book Club for Kids, 11am to 12pm, room 215

December 3^rd, American Sign Language Story Hour, 11am to 12pm, Children’s Division,

December 3^rd, Deaf Education and American Sign Language, 1pm to 3pm, Great Hall

December 5^th – Maker Mondays, 6pm to 8pm, room 215 – experiment with Talking Communities and other technologies for remote participation, Kevin Johnson, Red Cross

December 6^th – Tech Talk Tuesdays, 6pm to 8pm – Introduction to iPhone, iPad, iTouch and other mobile, gestural accessibility, open to all levels

December 20^th – AccessibilityDC meetup 6:30pm to 8:30pm, room 215

Accessibility hackathon ideas

2011-11-10T06:30:00.001-08:00

Accessibility hackathon

The following is a list of products that have been proposed to be built colaboratively at the Accessibility Hackathon at DC Public Library on Saturday, Nov 12, 2011, 10am to 5:30pm, in the Library Lab space and Room 215. Please send any comments or aditional ideas to patrick.timony@dc.gov . Register at: http://accessibilityhackathon.eventbrite.com/

1. Light weight version of Bookshare for BrailleNote users using the Bookshare API (http://developer.bookshare.org)

2. TTS Twitter client either using Chrome TTS APIs (http://code.google.com/chrome/extensions/tts.html). See example code at http://github.com/gcapiel/ChromeWebAppBookshareReader

3. Searchable Repository of 508 Technology Guides. Jamal would contribute zip of content. Could be done in Drupal or Wordpress.

4. Mobile Accesible Book Generator - Scan a book with your phone, type in, speech recognize or OCR the text, keep the images and output an RTF, DAISY 3 text (http://daisy.org), or EPUB version, which can be submitted to Bookshare and other repositories of accessible ebooks for people with print disabilities. Particularly useful for children's books which have few pages and words.

5. Mobile App that detects when the person in line in front of you has moved. One idea is to check when the iPhone camera comes out of focus.

6. Mobile color identifier that speaks a smaller set of colors (8 or 16?).

7. Accessible version of Tor

8. Accessible fork of privacy tools at http://guardianproject.info using Android's Accessibility APIs

9. Alphabetic keyboard for beginning level VoiceOver users. The QWERTY keyboard arrangement is a barrier for some users.

10. Facetime Audio description network.

11. Face-Name or Voice-Name recognition Quiz for social networks - a system that would train the user to associate either images of a face or recordings of a voice with the name of the person they belong to

12. VoiceOver Math Equations, Audio Description for Video Programming, instead of audio track, have metadata - pause the screen and get an audio description, searchable

13. App for movie description via iPhone, a collection of inaccessible material made accessible using a mobile accessible format conversion station

14. Something that makes Twitter easier to read - automattically read a stream of information to you, using live regions ARIA Web App, a New Tweet comes in announces it automatically

15. Are there any apps that desperately need to be made accessible?

16. non visual mind mapping app -- structure information present non-visual trees, branching tree nodes, windows explorer - folders, nested folders, tree control http://www.informationtamers.com/WikIT/index.php?title=Mind_mapping_for_people_who_are_blind

17. An application that integrates with TheMashupApp, a powerful personal database that could work together with #4, #10, #18 and possibly others.

18. an application that makes audio description non-linear, with text to speech, from educational point of view, tagged, with layers of information

19. QR codes could be used to put in an app or provide info to the iPhone, add contacts to your iphone, a QR code on movie ticket, push description to iPhone, embeded in clothing, various object, specialized information, walking directions, signs specialized info pushed to iphone, tactile identification so you know where it is.

20. Any of various tasks that would help out the Adaptive Technology Program like making an accessible interface for Ustream where all the STTS audio and video is stored, captioning those videos, dragon-recognize Victor-Streamed interviews from the beginning of Accessibility Camp

21. an accessible conferencing solution

22. create accessibility templates, wizards

23. an iphone app for Metro Access that shows the location of all vehicles

24. basic, accessible installation profiles for Drupal, JoomLa!, or WordPress. Initial configuration settings, modules, and themes would be selected so as to maximize accessibility. Documentation would be included that explains why each installation profile was built in the ways chosen. Results of testing on WCAG or ARIA guidelines would be included if possible.

Accessibility Clearninghouse

2011-11-07T07:26:00.000-08:00

As required by the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act
of 2010 (CVAA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has launched a
clearinghouse of information about accessible communication technologies.
The official URL of the Accessibility Clearinghouse is

http://apps.fcc.gov/accessibilityclearinghouse/

Note that the path portion of the URL (after fcc.gov/) must be in all
lower case. An unofficial, possibly friendlier URL that is
a bit shorter and not case sensitive is

http://AccessibilityClearinghouse.info

That URL redirects browsers to the official home page of the Accessibility
Clearinghouse.

Library Tech Project during DCWEEK

2011-10-26T06:37:00.000-07:00

http://digitalcapitalweek.org/projects/library-tech/
DC WEEK is a week-long festival in the US capital focused on bringing together designers, developers, entrepreneurs, and social innovators of all kinds.

Library Tech is a project that includes a series of events at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library that will bring together developers and users from the accessibility community to produce tools that meet community needs.

Please bring ideas for tools to the Nov 5^th Problem Identification Workshop.

Examples of tools that have been built at similar projects or have been suggested for this one:

· An e-reading software for Bookshare books

· A social network for using the FaceTime videophone app for remote audio description

· A captioning tool that uses Dragon Naturally Speaking

· A system that helps broaden the networks of Twitter users in the accessibility community

Saturday Nov 5th, 1pm to 3pm — Accessible App Demo

Saturday Nov 5th, 3pm to 5pm — Problem Identification Workshop

Monday Nov 7th, 6pm to 9pm — Accessibility Hackathon Preparation Session

Saturday Nov 12th, 10am to 5:30pm — Accessibility Hackathon

Details follow:

Saturday Nov 5th, 1pm to 5pm, Room 215, Adaptive Services, MLK Library

Accessible App Demo and Problem Identification Workshop

Presentors: Mark Reumann – Patent Office, Zuhair Mahmoud – Library of Congress, Don Barrett – Dept of Education

Agenda:

1pm to 3pm: demos and discussion of accessible apps, like MoneyReader or Color Identifier

3pm to 5pm: developers host a Problem Identification Workshop, to come up with tools can be built at a Hackathon the next Saturday.

Monday, November 7th, 2011 – 6:00pm to 9:00pm, Room 215, Adaptive Services, MLK Library

Accessibility Hackathon Preparation Session

Speaker: Gerardo Capiel, Bookshare

Agenda:

Gerardo will advise on choosing projects and how to set up the development environment.

He will speak about some related technologies like the Bookshare API:

http://developer.bookshare.org

and the new Google Chrome TTS APIs:

http://googlecode.blogspot.com/2011/10/new-text-to-speech-api-for-chrome.html?showComment=1319148125417#c3671817693482193507

Saturday, November 12, 2011 – 10:00am to 5:30pm, LibraryLab space, 1st Floor, MLK Library

Accessibility Hackathon

Agenda:

With the preparation of the Problem Identification Workshop on Saturday Nov 5th, the Hackathon Preparation Session on November 7th, and the help of organizations like Bookshare, Random Hacks of Kindness, LibraryLab, and the Wikimedia Foundation, we hope to be able to come up with a simple and completable ICT solution to needs that are defined by the user community.

Accessibility Camp DC 2011

2011-10-12T09:59:00.000-07:00

Welcome

Thanks, for coming to register for Accessibility Camp DC, on October 22, 2011.

Date and Location

We are going to have Accessibility Camp DC at the Martin Luther King Library here in Washington, DC, on October 22, 2011, from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Check-in will begin at 9:30 AM once library opens.

The Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Memorial Library is located at:

901 G St NW, Room 215
Washington, DC 20001-4531

General Overview

We are still in the major planning stage for this event and are still looking for volunteers and sponsors. Please e-mail us at info@AccessibilityCampDC.org, if you would like to help or sponsor this event.

This event is going to be run like a typical BarCamp, which is an un-conference, where the people attending are the speakers, please come with a talk or discussion in mind.

Registration for this FREE event to attendees will open on Wednesday August 24, 2011, at noon eastern.

The reason we are holding off opening registration for all the tickets (150) is we are trying to make sure people don't just sign-up to get a spot not knowing what their schedule is going to be in two months and then not show up.

Please follow http://www.twitter.com/AccessCampDC to know what is going on and when registration and other points of interest are occurring.

Talk Ideas

The main idea of this event is to get a whole lot of smart people together to learn and teach each other how to improve the web, software, even mobile applicatins, and make it accessible to all.

Some suggestions for talks we had in mind are listed below. If you have other ideas send them to us or add them to the wiki, once we have that ready.

Section 508 Compliance
Practical Ways to Make Your Website Accessible
Accessible PDF's
Making Flash Accessible
What is WAI-ARIA - (Web Accessibility Initiative - Accessible Rich Internet Applications)
Accessible Video and Transcription
Panel Discussion on “Issues Effecting Individuals with Disabilities on the Web”
Captioning
Mobile Application Accessibility

Schedule

Below is a breakdown of the schedule and how the day will unfold. Would greatly appreciate it if you can make sure you are on time for registration so we can get started on time.

9:30 AM - 10:00 AM - Registration

10:00 AM - 11:00 AM - General announcements about Accessibility Camp DC, sponsors, and then most of the time creating the rest of the event schedule of speakers.

Each talk will be 45 minutes including questions and then attendees will have 15 minutes to get to there next talk. We will be able to have four or five talks going on at the same time if we have enough people willing to talk or be in charge of a discussion.

11:00 AM - 11:45 AM - First set of talks

12:00 PM - 12:45 PM - Second set of talks

12:45 PM - 2:00 PM - Lunch

2:00 PM - 2:45 PM - Third set of talks

3:00 PM - 3:45 PM - Fourth set of talks

4:00 PM - 4:45 PM - Fifth set of talks

4:45 PM - 5:30 PM - Closing remarks, clean-up, and after event wanderings.

DC Center for Independent Living Event

2011-10-12T09:54:00.000-07:00

Bring your IPOD and walking shoes, as the

DC Center for Independent Living celebrates

30 years of service to the community!

When: October 15th, 2011 From 10:00AM-2:00PM

From: 1400 Florida Ave NE(DCCIL) TO:3rd & H ST NE and From: 3rd & H ST NE To: 1400 Florida Ave. NE

**Encourage your family and friends to help DCCIL continue the legacy of breaking down barriers for people with disabilities for another 30 years and beyond!**

• For more information on how you can help, call: DCCIL Main Office: (202)388-0033 TTY: (202)388-0277

Hadley School for the Blind, Lifelong Learning

2011-09-20T09:51:00.001-07:00

As of September 19, the Forsythe Center for Entrepreneurship is open for enrollment. The goal of this new business, entrepreneurship and technology program is to provide individuals who are visually impaired with the knowledge, resources and networking opportunities enabling them to advance in their careers or to successfully launch and grow their own businesses.

Ten courses are open for enrollment as of today:

* Self-Employment with a Minimal Investment

* Business Fundamentals

* Business Communications

* Business Law 1

* Business Law 2

* Business Writing

* Using Excel

* Screen Readers: Listening Skills

* Screen Readers: Web Browsing

* Screen Readers: Formatting Word Documents

Six new modules are also open for enrollment:

* Market Research

* The Financial Plan

* The Marketing Plan

* The Business Plan

* Business Insurance

* Forms of Ownership

Hadley is embarking upon this program, in part, to address the deplorable employment rate among people who are visually impaired. Although statistics vary somewhat, the most reliable data sources suggest that the

under- or

unemployment rate of persons who are blind or visually impaired is 70%-80%.

The program is designed to be practical, relevant and interactive. Courses are open to anyone who is blind or visually impaired, over age 14 and is serious about starting or growing a business. Coursework is offered free of charge and is mostly online.

To learn more and enroll, please visit

[1]http://www.hadley.edu/fce. If you

missed the seminar last week about the Center, you can access it through the [2]Past Seminars. Please contact Tom Babinszki at [3]fce@hadley.edu with any questions.

The Hadley School for the Blind, Lifelong Learning, since 1920 700 Elm Street, Winnetka, IL 60093

800-323-4238

[4]www.hadley.edu

References

1. http://www.hadley.edu/fce

2. http://www.hadley.edu/PastSeminars.asp#3

3. mailto:fce@hadley.edu

4. http://www.hadley.edu/

AT Videos from WebAxe

2011-08-25T06:56:00.002-07:00

Here's a great list of videos and YouTube channels about web accessibility, assistive technology, and more. And from some excellent sources!
http://webaxe.blogspot.com/2011/08/accessibility-videos.html

Adaptive Technology Training Videos from CAP.MIL

2011-08-25T06:26:00.000-07:00

The Computer Electronic Accomodations Program at the Department of Defense has some great AT training videos: http://cap.mil/PublicationsForms/productMaterials.aspx

CAP has a number of resources that can inform you about assistive technology (AT) and ergonomics. Our AT Demonstration videos can provide information about the different types of accommodations and how these solutions help employees with disabilities. We've included links to some helpful AT documents with information about what is available for certain networks and agencies. We also have information about workplace ergonomics to help you set your workspace up in a manner that can help to prevent repetitive stress injuries.

Updated Audio Tutorial for the Victor Stream

2011-08-04T06:05:00.001-07:00

HumanWare is pleased to release an updated audio tutorial for the Stream.

It is available for download from:

www.humanware.com/en-canada/support/vr_stream_documentation

On that page, look under the English heading for a zip download of the audio tutorial files.

This tutorial is very comprehensive , covering basic and advanced features of the Stream. It is approximately 5.5 hours in length with 21 different sections. Here is a list of the topics covered:

01 - Introduction

02 - Player Overview

03 - Bookshelves

03.1 - Exploring SD Card Bookshelves

03.2 - Transferring Content to SD Card Bookshelves

04 - Playback and Navigation

04.1 - Playing and Copying USB External Media

05 - Voice Recordings

06 - Bookmarks

07 - NLS, Stream Activation, and BARD Book Download

07.1 - Transferring a DAISY Book Using Companion

08 - Bookshare Online Books

08.1 - Companion Online Books Menu

09 - Advanced Features, Multi-Level Bookshelf

09.1 - Advanced Features, Music Navigation and Temporary Playlist

09.2 - Advanced Features, Text Search

10 - HumanWare Companion Overview and Installation

10.1 - Book Transfer Window and Companion Menus

10.2 - Companion Transferr of TXT, HTML, DOC, and PDF Files

10.3 - Transfer a DAISY CD Book with Companion

10.4 - Using Companion to Get Software Updates

The download is a zip file of approximately 225MB. If you unzip the Stream Audio Tutorial folder into your $VROtherBooks folder then you can navigate backward or forward through the tutorial sections using the 4 and 6 keys of your Stream.

If you are new to the Stream sections 1 to 6 will help you get started.

Seasoned Streamers may wish to investigate advanced features of section 9. The HumanWare Companion is appreciated by so many that we have devoted the entire section 10 to the features of the Companion. For new or seasoned Streamers alike we believe there is something of interest for all. We hope you enjoy the new tutorial with our compliments.

Indiana Assistive Technology Act (INDATA) Project.

2011-07-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

http://blog.eastersealstech.com lots of videos on assistive technologies

http://eastersealstech.com/

Easter Seals Crossroads has been providing assistive technology solutions in Indiana since 1979. In 2007, Easter Seals Crossroads partnered with the State of Indiana, Bureau of Rehabilitative Services to establish the Indiana Assistive Technology Act (INDATA) Project. The INDATA Project is one of 56 similar, federally-funded projects designed to increase access and awareness of assistive technology.

INDATA core services include: Information and referral, funding assistance, public awareness and education, device demonstration, device loan, and equipment reutilization.

RoboBraille

2011-06-23T07:03:00.000-07:00

What is RoboBraille?

RoboBraille is an e-mail service which can convert digital text documents into either Braille or audio files. It is quick and easy to use RoboBraille. You simply send an e-mail with an attached text document to RoboBraille. Shortly after, you will receive the document back from RoboBraille in the specified format - an audio file, for example.

It is free for non-commercial users to use RoboBraille. http://www.robobraille.org/frontpage

BlindHow

2011-06-23T07:01:00.000-07:00

The NFB of Utah is excited to announce a new website, BlindHow.com.   BlindHow.com allows for community members to view and share video, audio, or written tutorials and information on a myriad of topics regarding blindness and visual impairment.
Topics could include, "How do you use an iPhone with voiceover?" "This is how I put on makeup every day, how do you?"   "How do you mow your lawn?" "This is how I downhill ski."
If you can't find the answer you are looking for, then we want you to ask! If you have something to share, then become a contributor today!   We know that there are many different ways to do one thing. For example, I may iron my shirt one way … and you another! Knowledge is power and sharing is caring! You can make a difference!
http://blindhow.com/

Links from May STTSDC

2011-06-02T14:54:00.001-07:00

AppleVis www.applevis.com
Maccessibility http://maccessibility.net/iphone/apps/
Assistive Technology Tips and Hints http://atthdc.blogspot.com/
Saturday Technology Training Sessions http://sttsdc.blogspot.com/
List of CSUN 2011 resources http://curbcut.net/

VizWiz

2011-06-02T12:15:00.001-07:00

VizWiz Social

www.vizwiz.org

VizWiz Social is an iPhone app that allows blind users to receive quick answers to questions about their surroundings

Now You're Talking!

2011-04-11T10:08:00.000-07:00

Slate Magazine says "Google has developed speech-recognition technology that actually works."

http://www.slate.com/id/2290516/

ReadThisToMe

2011-04-06T09:58:00.000-07:00

A free reading service for the blind and low-vision communityReadThisToMe is a free reading service for blind and low-vision people, powered by volunteers and Internet collaboration. Fax a printed document to them and they will read it. http://www.readthistome.org

NIH Hiring Event for People with Disabilities

2011-04-05T14:27:00.001-07:00

http://www.jobs.nih.gov/disabilitieshire.htm

NIH Hiring Event for People with Disabilities

2011-04-05T14:26:00.000-07:00

http://www.jobs.nih.gov/disabilitieshire.htm

GUIDE DOG ASSOCIATION LAUNCHES INNOVATIVE HOTLINE

2011-04-02T06:57:00.000-07:00

The National Association of Guide Dog Users (NAGDU), the leader in service animal advocacy, has launched an innovative new service. The NAGDU Education & Advocacy Hotline not only offers information about the legal rights of individuals who use service animals, it offers the option to speak with an advocate who is trained to resolve access denials. According to the new federal guidelines that took effect on March 15, 2011, , a service animal is “any dog that is individually trained to do work or perform tasks for the benefit of an individual with a disability”. (28 CFR Part 35.104 & 28 CFR Part 36.104). The new regulations specifically state, “Other species of animals, whether wild or domestic, trained or untrained, are not service animals for the purposes of this definition.” In an effort to further clarify its intent, the Department of Justice specifically states, “The crime deterrent effects of an animal's presence and the provision of emotional support, well-being, comfort, or companionship do not constitute work or tasks for the purposes of this definition.” The new regulations concerning service animals follow this release.

            “We find that most access problems are the result of a lack of information,” says Michael Hingson, the Association’s Vice President who serves as Project Manager for the hotline. “This hotline is an excellent resource for accurate information.”

            The NAGDU Education & Advocacy Hotline currently offers general information about service animals under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA),   as well as specific guidance concerning restaurants, taxicabs, and health care facilities. Callers needing immediate assistance can connect directly to a live trained advoacate. Future plans for the hotline include summaries of each of the state laws concerning service animals, more industry specific information, and guidance in a variety of languages, such as Mandarin and Arabic. The Hotline is available anytime by calling, toll-free, 866-972-3647.

            The NAGDU Education & Advocacy Hotline was created by a grant from the National Federation of the Blind’s (NFB) Imagination Fund, as well as with contributions from the California and Florida Associations of Guide Dog Users. The National Association of Guide Dog Users is a strong and proud division of the NFB. NAGDU conducts public awareness campaigns on issues of guide dog use, provides advocacy support for guide dog handlers who face discrimination, supports effective legislation to protect the rights of service animal users, offers educational programs to school and civic organizations, and functions as an integral part of the National Federation of the Blind. For more information about the National Association of Guide Dog Users, you can visit their website at

HTTP://WWW.NAGDU.ORG

Or send an email message to

Info@NAGDU.ORG

IPhone App - Money Reader and Accessible Devices Listserv

2011-03-09T07:46:00.000-08:00

Look Tel has recently released an IPhone App called Money Reader. It sells for $1.99 in the Apple App store. It reliably identifies U.S. currency from 1 to 100 dollars. You simply open the app and pass it over the money approximately ten or so inches above the bill. This is one we feel we can confidently recommend. At the moment 3 of us all ready have it and have been very impressed with the ease of use and accuracy. It works with either the 3 or 4 series phones.

You can visit the page below to listen to Randy's Demo.

http://www.accessible-devices.com/Apps.htm

You will find the Accessible Devices list archives at:

http://accessible-devices.com/pipermail/a-d_accessible-devices.com/

DC Public Library free computers with classes

2011-03-07T18:00:00.000-08:00

DC Public Library crosses the digitaldivide with ByteBackDC and Cricketnation offering free computers, classes and internet http://j.mp/ftceHG flyers:http://j.mp/guak7R

Retina Chip

2011-03-07T10:29:00.000-08:00

This is approved in Europe and costs $100,000

http://www.cbs.com/cbs_evening_news/video/?pid=IM581FY_skWCF58IerVk5boJ6KooF7Is

Facebook training - March 8th

2011-03-07T10:27:00.000-08:00

Facebook training
Here's some info possibly of interest on an upcoming Facebook webinar:
http://www.freedomscientific.com/training/e-LearningEntrance.asp
Facebook with JAWS and MAGic
March 8, 2011
Are you interested in diving into the world of Facebook to stay
connected with family and friends? Are you apprehensive though about
navigating the Facebook website with JAWS or MAGic? If so, join us for
a look at some basic navigation techniques that can be used to make
browsing Facebook more efficient and less daunting.
Time: 12:00 PM Eastern Time (17:00 GMT)
Webinar: Beginning to intermediate concepts
Cost: No charge
Level: Beginner to intermediate
Length: One hour
Although Facebook is a complex and interactive site, learning some
basic navigation principles will make using it less stressful and more
enjoyable. Learn how to use JAWS and MAGic navigation techniques such
as moving to headings and form controls to quickly locate sections of
the various pages. Utilize the JAWS PlaceMarker feature to easily
return to certain places on a page and learn how to customize settings
specifically for Facebook. These and many more topics will be
demonstrated in an effort to open the world of Facebook up to JAWS and
MAGic users.
NOTE: This Webinar assumes you have already created a Facebook account

Quick Survey on a new product for the Blind and Vision Impaired

2011-03-01T08:22:00.000-08:00

Please help this design team!

At the McDonough School of Business at Georgetown University, a group of MBA students is designing a high-quality talking watch for the blind and vision impaired.

The link below will take you to a 10-question survey asking your opinion about features that should be included in this new product.

Here is the link to the survey:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/FBY826B

Please don't delay!

Responses prior to March 1 will be included in a presentation to key decision-makers regarding this product. Thank you for your input. We look forward to providing a product that delivers genuine value.

Directions For Me

2011-02-19T14:58:00.000-08:00

In its first year, Let’s Move! taught us to pay attention to what we eat. We’ve learned that choosing a bowl of whole-grain cereal with non-fat milk over cheesy biscuits and bacon is a great way to kick off a healthy, energized day. We’ve realized that many times we are offered portions that are bigger than necessary, and we’ve tested delicious, perfectly-proportioned recipes to make at home. And, with the release of 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans last month, we were reminded that consuming less sodium, fats, added sugars and refined grains is essential to a healthy lifestyle.

But, for millions of blind or visually impaired Americans, reading the nutrition information and cooking directions printed on the boxes, cans, jars, bottles and bags at the grocery store has been all but impossible—at least it was before the launch ofdirectionsforme last month.

Directionsforme is an accessible and user friendly website that contains nutritional and product information for over 350,000 foods and appliances. Created by Horizons for the Blind, directionsforme is helping millions of Americans like me to plan healthy menus, cook at home and to pay attention to the foods we consume. A study published in August 2010 by a group of Columbia University professors showed that people who regularly read the nutrition facts labels on the food that they buy have significantly healthier diets and consume less calories, fat, sugar and sodium than those who don’t read the labels.

Thanks to directionsforme, blind grocery shoppers can now plan their trips by carefully selecting foods and brands whose nutrition information they have read and compared. A busy mom who wants to buy healthy snacks can use the website to find out which brand of peach fruit cups has no added sugar and an aspiring Italian chef can find out the appropriate serving size for his favorite brand of pasta.

Directionsforme is also helping American families eat healthy meals together at home, another key component of the Let’s Move! initiative. Planning menus and cooking at home is a fun and healthy way to bring the family together. For sighted cooks, using a microwave to steam broccoli or pureeing vegetables in a blender is as easy as a glance at a user’s manual and the push of a button. Directionsforme now makes those time-saving appliances available to visually impaired chefs with accessible package information for thousands of products.

Let’s Move! has always been committed to including people with disabilities in its healthy lifestyle outreach, whether by cheering on the American athletes at the 2010 Paralympic Games in Vancouver or recognizing the students with disabilities who earned Presidential Active Lifestyle Awards with a special ceremony at the White House. Now, with the accessible nutrition information and appliance instructions on the directionsforme website, blind Americans can more easily pay attention to the food they eat and fully participate in the Let’s Move! call for healthier meals and healthier families.

White House Disability Call

2011-02-10T06:20:00.000-08:00

In order to help keep you more informed, we are hosting monthly calls to update you on various disability issues as well as to introduce you to persons who work on disability issues in the federal government.

This month's topic will be on the President's budget as it relates to people with disabilities.

This call is off the record and not for press purposes.

We strongly urge and ask that you distribute this email broadly to your networks and list serves so that anyone who wants to participate and learn about the President's budget can do so.

Our next call will be Tuesday, February 15 at 1:00 PM Eastern.

The conference call information is below.

Dial in for listeners: United States: (800) 288-8974

Title: White House Disability Call (use instead of code)

Date of Call: 02/15/2011

Start Time: 1:00 PM Eastern

For live captioning, at time of call, log onto:

http://www.fedrcc.us//Enter.aspx?EventID=1710748&CustomerID=321

If you would like to be added to the White House Disability Group email distribution list, please email sfeuerstein@who.eop.gov and provide your name, email address, city, state and organization if applicable.

Braille Readers test at NPR.

2010-12-08T13:12:00.000-08:00

Do you need extra cash for the holidays? Do you read Braille? Towson University and National Public Radio are conducting research that will help design a new product - a Radio Brailler - that will be used by blind and deaf-blind consumers to access radio news and emergency alerts. We are looking for blind and low-vision people who are able to read Braille fluently and comfortably. You will read six short NPR stories on a refreshable Braille display and answer questions about the stories. The Refreshable Braille Display will be provided at the session. Even if you've never read on a Braille display, you can participate – we'll provide a short training session in the beginning if you need it. You will be with us for 2 - 2.5 hours and receive $50 for your time. You will also be asked your opinion of a new Radio Reading Service Radio that we are developing. The session will take place at Nation Public Radio headquarters near Chinatown, in Washington DC the week of Dec 13-17 as well as the following week if need be, scheduled to your convenience. For details, contact the Adaptive Technology Librarian at DC Public Library Adaptive Services Division at DC Public Library.

AccessibilityDC Karl Groves of deque

2010-11-26T12:39:00.000-08:00

http://www.accessibilitydc.org/

November 30, 2010, from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM in room 215, MLK Library, 9th and G NW

Please make sure to register at:

http://accessibilitydcnov10.eventbrite.com/

6:30 PM - 6:45 PM - Welcome everyone.

6:45 PM - 8:15 PM - Join Karl Groves of deque for his talk about the Firebug plug-in FireEyes. Karl will be explaining how the plug-in works and mostly doing this by showing different examples of it working. FireEyes allows the developer or deisnger see live any accessibility issues the page they are on is having.

Here is a short blurb from the deque website about FireEyes.

Worldspace FireEyes is an unprecedented, nextgen web accessibility tool that ensures both static and dynamic content within a web portfolio are compliant with standards such as Section 508, WCAG 1.0, and WCAG 2.0. You can use another tool, but it wonâ€™t be fully JavaScript aware or handle event-based page content, like FireEyes.

Does your site:

Use AJAX, JavaScript, Flash, PDFs, or dynamic content?
Personalize multiple user roles?
Display pages based on user-entered data?
Use a content management system, with or without templates?v
Need to be accessible, secure, and private?

8:15 PM - 8:30 PM - Closing remarks, clean-up, and information about after event wanderings. We will also be looking for more ideas of what talks people want to here and/or give for the next meeting.

Dave Banes Access

2010-11-26T12:06:00.000-08:00

http://www.davebanesaccess.com
Blog on Access Technology from a UK accessibility expert.

Free Assistive Technology Help Line

2010-11-26T08:40:00.000-08:00

The Chicago Lighthouse’s National HelpDesk is an assistive technology support line that helps visually impaired people successfully resolve computer problems.

Operated by Ray Campbell, who is totally blind, he has served people in 48 states, six Canadian provinces, China, South Africa and New Zealand. Assistance from the HelpDesk has been well received around the world. More than 2000 calls have been received.

The service was made possible in April 2005 when The Chicago Lighthouse successfully matched a $41,000 grant from The Boeing Company.

If an issue can not be resolved over the phone, an on-site visit can be scheduled with customer residing in the Chicago metropolitan area.

For more information, contact:
Ray Campbell, Help Desk Technician
(312) 997-3651 (Voice/Relay) or
(888) 825-0080 (voice/Relay)
E-mail: ray.campbell@chicagolighthouse.org
AIM Screen Name: tclhelp

Adapt on Demand

2010-11-26T06:20:00.001-08:00

Adapt on Demand

“The help you need when you need it”

816-721-3145

E-mail: adapt@kc.rr.com

My services include work environment assessment, accessibility testing, purchasing advice,computer training, network setup, virus and spyware removal, and general hardware and software technical support by phone or through E-mail at $20 per incident.

I make this pledge. If I haven’t assisted you to your satisfaction I won’t accept payment. I’m in this to help people first.

Invest in yourself! Contact me soon to discover the ways we can work together to adapt technology toward pursuing your dreams.

Saturday Session 11/20/2010

2010-11-18T07:48:00.001-08:00

WHAT Community Forum

WHEN November 20, 2010

1:00 PM to 3:00 PM, followed by networking

WHERE Martin Luther King (MLK) Library

901 G Street NW, Room 215

For its November community meeting, the Adaptive Services Division of the MLK Library has asked Derek Orr, Director, Office of Disability Rights (ODR) and Denise Decker, member, DC Commission for People with Disabilities (DCCPD), to hold a Forum that will:

Describe the work of the ODR and the DCCPD and
Include a listening session during which members of the disability community will make suggestions, ask questions and provide feedback.

Any commissioners who are available and want to join in this open discussion should plan to attend. The goal of the forum is to share the work of ODR and the DCCPD key projects and activities. We also want to hear issues of interest and concern as well as encourage community involvement.

Disabled-World

2010-10-31T06:59:00.000-07:00

News and Information site, plus videos.
http://www.disabled-world.com/
http://videos.disabled-world.com/

Careers with the Feds

2010-10-21T12:15:00.000-07:00

Find a Job. Get a Career!
Seats are available- register now!
Careers with the Feds: Are you ready to enter the workforce? Interested in changing careers? Have you been discouraged by the federal government hiring process? If you are qualified and ready to work for the federal government, this program is for you! Christine Griffin, Deputy Director of the Office of Personnel Management, will explore the initiatives her office is taking to meet the needs of the federal government. Learn about the latest initiatives to identify, recruit, and hire qualified employees with disabilities. This program is appropriate for anyone interested in a career in the federal service, their families, and vocational service providers.

When: Saturday, November 6, 2010
Where: BWI Marriott Conference Center
1743 West Nursery Road
Baltimore, MD 21099
Time: 1:30PM-5:00PM, but come early to explore
exhibit hall
1:30-4PM: Careers with the Feds: Guidance on USA Jobs, resume and coaching services, and surviving the security clearance process
Christine Griffin, Deputy Director
Office of Personnel Management
4-4:50PM: On-boarding Yourself: How to handle poor performance reviews and manage difficult colleagues
Tom Morris, Morris & Associates
Why: Find a job. Get a career!
Preregistration is required. Go to http://www.regonline.com/MARConvention2010
Choose the ‘employment program’ for $30. Registration fee covers: Instructional materials
Unlimited admission to the exhibit hall
Afternoon refreshments of jumbo cookies, Starbucks, fruit, and soft drink

Good50

2010-10-21T11:47:00.000-07:00

A simple, usable interface to google.
http://good50.com/index.html
This is the organization that made it happen.
http://good50.com/about.html

Career Expo for People with Disabilities

2010-10-19T13:03:00.000-07:00

The Washington, D.C. Career Expo for People with Disabilities will take place on November 19, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building, 1300 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20004.

Many large companies and federal agencies will be attending as recruiters, including Northrop Grumman, CSC Corporation, Sybase, the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Department of Labor, Department of Army, Defense Contract Management Agency, Bender Consulting, Capital One, Department of Defense, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, General Dynamics, Social Security Administration, National Institutes on Health, University of Virginia, Transportation Security Administration, Department of Justice, Department of State, National Science Foundation, and the Farm Credit Administration.
To attend, you must register and upload your resume at www.eop.com/expo

Jobs

2010-10-18T14:58:00.000-07:00

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
2010 CAREER FAIR
FOR PEOPLE AND VETERANS WITH TARGETED DISABILITIES
“Talent Has No Boundaries”
OCTOBER 28, 2010
8:30 AM – 4:00 PM
Hubert H. Humphrey Building
Great Hall
200 Independence Ave. SW
Washington, DC 20201
Participating Partners
Department of Health and Human Services Operating Divisions
HHS Partners
Other Federal Government Agencies
Featured Training and Activities
Disability Cultural Awareness
How to Find a Federal Job using Schedule A and Veteran Hiring Authorities
How to Prepare a Federal Resume
Roles and Responsibilities of Selective Placement Coordinators
Reasonable Accommodations
Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP)
Agency Informational Exhibits
For more information or to request a reasonable accommodation, contact Melanie Lott at: OSDiversity@hhs.gov.
*APPLICANTS AND EXHIBITORS
Register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HHS_Career_Fair_2010
*HHS ONLY
Register at: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HHS_Career_Fair_2010_Training
Registration Deadline: 12:00 Noon, October 27, 2010

NFB Regional Convention

2010-09-23T07:35:00.000-07:00

The National Federation of the Blind of Washington D.C. (NFB of D.C.) invites you to attend our Annual Convention.
October 8 - 9, 2010
Channel Inn
650 Water Street SW

NFB of D.C. is an advocacy organization working to protect and promote the human and civil rights of blind people. We believe that all blind people must be able to participate in every aspect of secular and governmental life. With opportunities, equality and security, we can and will obtain parity with our sighted partners.

In order to achieve our goals, we invite you to join our ranks. Your talents, skills, and wisdom are the tools needed to further the cause for greater understanding and acceptance.
The Theme this year is “United We Stand; Together We All Benefit”.

Come join us to discover how you can make a difference.

Registration fee is $15.00.

Our banquet will be held between 12:00 and 2:00 p.m. Cost is $25.00.

for more info contact the library at 202-727-2142

State Convention for the NFB District of Columbia

2010-09-16T12:26:00.001-07:00

The State Convention for the NFB District of Columbia will be held October 8-9, 2010.
For information on Registration email: NFB.DC01@yahoo.com or call 202 882 8090.
Each year, all of the 52 NFB affiliates hold their own annual state conventions that focus on more local issues. These conventions generally feature substantive blindness-related programming, deliberations on state and local policy matters, administration of internal organizational business, special exhibits of interest to members, and more.
Information on all state conventions, visit the state conventions web page.
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/state_conventions.asp

Adaptive Technology Program Events, Fall 2010

2010-09-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

9/11/10 Arts on Foot, MLK Library, 12noon-5pm Great Hall and second floor east and west lobbies

9/11/10 ACB DC Monthly Meeting

9/18/10 Saturday Session on iPad, iPhone (Mark Reumann), and Disability Awareness (Daman Wandke), 1pm to 4pm Room 215

9/21/10 Web Accessibility Meet-up: Audio Description (Joel Snyder) 6:30-8:30, Room 215

9/25/10 Moving Forward Together DC Partners in Transition and Resource Fair 9:30-5:30, A level

10/2/10 Saturday Session on Adaptive Services to Older Adults - IIB, Lions, TaiChi 1pm to 4pm room 215

10/09/10 AccessibilityCampDC - 9:30am - 5:30pm room 215 and second floor east and west lobbies

10/10/10 NFB DC Regional Convention, Channel Inn

10/12, 10/13/10 George Mason University AT Fair

10/16/10 Saturday Session on Orientation and Mobility - Metro, GPS

10/19/10 Web Accessibility DC Meet-up 6:30-8:30pm, room 215

NFB DC Capital East party

2010-08-09T17:39:00.000-07:00

The National Federation of the Blind of the District of Columbia

Capital East Chapter

Invites you to join us for an evening of music, dancing, fellowship,

fun, food, games and hansom single guys and lovely single women.

Date: Friday, August 20, 2010

Time: 7 – 11 P. M.

Address: 5233 North Capitol Street, N. E.

The Community Room of the North Capital

At Plymouth Apartment Complex

Bring your dancing shoes and a $5.00 donation

contact us before Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Events in August

2010-07-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

Saturday Technology Training Sessions will be canceled in August for vacation.
AccessibilityDC will still meet on the third Tuesday August 17th, 6:30-8:30pm

More Top Tech Tidbits

2010-07-29T08:46:00.000-07:00

Sorry to post so many Top Tech Tidbits, they are just so good.

1) Thunder was perhaps the first free non-Internet-dependent screen reader. Development on it continues with version 2, which works with Windows 7 and Office 2007, and now supports Internet Explorer. the portable version can be installed on any computer. Greek, Polish and Spanish versions are coming. You can visit the blog at
http://theblindblogger.blogspot.com/
and download the screen reader here:
http://www.screenreader.net/

2) Cobra, a screen reader from Baum in Germany, is now at version 9. It claims great stability, use of OCR to access otherwise inaccessible screen elements, and a more reasonable price, 499 euros, or some $625. A 30-minute demo version is available, and it offers speech-braille, speech-magnifier, or full configuration versions.
http://www.baum.de/cms/en/cobra/

3) If you have, or are willing to sign up for, a Windows Live or Hotmail account, you can get 25 GB of free online storage through Microsoft SkyDrive. Gizmo tells us of a freer utility to make your SkyDrive show up as a regular drive on your computer, for easy data transfer.
http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/GhCgwTtBXHM/free-utility-makes-ms-skydrive-even-more-useful.htm
4) Listen to yours truly discuss the current accessibility, promise and challenges of speech recognition such as Windows Speech Recognition and Dragon Naturally Speaking, for the blind, on Tek Talk on GMT Tuesday, 20 July at 00:00.
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

5) On the speech recognition front, JSay version 8 is now available. This package integrates JAWS version 11 with Dragon Naturally Speaking 10.1, and offers full compatibility with Windows 7 32 and 64-bit versions and with all JAWS features including ResearchIt.
http://www.tandt-consultancy.com/
6) The July, 2010 issue of AccessWorld from American Foundation for the Blind is now available, featuring reviews of the iPad, Refresh-a-Braille, I-Pal Solo and I-Pal LV, several articles about access technology in school, and more.
http://www.afb.org/accessworld

7) Members of the free Klango network who are members of Facebook have access to a Facebook client which is said to be much more accessible than the usual one.
http://www.klango.net/

8) Here is a YouTube video showing Window-Eyes' support forr Office 2010.
http://www.youtube.com/gwmicro#p/u/6/5K00QnyPf78
9) Serotek offers 20 interviews with vendors at the American Council of the Blind convention:
http://serotalk.com/2010/07/14/20-interviews-from-acb-2010-convention-in-phoenix-arizona-3/
10) Humanware has announced the availability of Map Manager 2.0.9 and Trekker Maps 3.2 for the Trekker and Trekker Breeze.
http://www.humanware.com/en-usa/support/map_3_2_upgrade

Top Tech Tidbits

2010-07-22T14:22:00.001-07:00

1) If you are eligible for Bookshare and haven't been keeping up with the collection, you will find that they have added hundreds of computer-related publications. Those from oReilly Books may be available to users in Canada, Great Britain and India.

http://www.bookshare.org

2) NFB-Newsline has recently released Podable News, which allows subscribers to download MP3 files of publications and their individual sections, so that they can cobble together a publication tailored to their interests, containing just the preferred sections from different publications. These files are downloaded automatically with free Newsline software, and can be played on the computer (with a media player such as Winamp), copied to an MP3-playing device such as the IPod, or downloaded to some digital talking-book players. More information about Podable News may be found at http://www.nfbnewslineonline.org

3) Here's a source for some free video lectures of university classes:

http://freevideolectures.com/

4) Chip Orange has updated his Window-Eyes scripts for Microsoft Office so that they will work with Office 2010.

http://www.gwmicro.com/sc

5) Ian Humphreys has released BG Crossword Puzzle, his fifteenth accessible game. You can read about it here:

http://www.spoonbillsoftware.com.au/blindgamers.htm

To order the free game, send a message requesting it to games@spoonbillsoftware.com.au

6) David Bales has written another of his free guides, this one discusses how to use Windows Explorer under windows 7. While specifically written for JAWS users, almost all of it applies to users of other screen readers.

http://bit.ly/9m6XRs

7) This Fred's Head post discusses an accessible way to stream Sirius-XM Radio using VoiceOver http://www.fredshead.info/2010/07/sirius-xm-more-accessible-to-visually.html

8) With the ongoing increase in blind iPhone ownership, we'll be mentioning accessible apps that might be of interest to many. Here's a post about an app that lets you print from your iPhone as well as transfer files to and from your computer.

http://www.fredshead.info/2010/07/print-n-share-from-your-iphone.html

9) We have yet to mention the digit-Eyes audio labeling system. This iPhone app will cost $29.95 until July 31. It lets you create audio or text labels so that you can use your phone to identify all manner of products. It also reads millions of commercial bar codes from many countries.

http://digit-eyes.com/

10) Speaking of the iPhone, if you find all these different i-gadgets a little confusing, which does what and which might you want, then listen to Anna Dresner on Tek Talk on GMT Tuesday, 27 July at 00:00.

http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

Remember that all Tek Talk programs, including my recent one on speech recognition, are archived within a few days of broadcast at http://accessibleworld.org/category/site-categories/tek-talk-archives

11) The deadline for applications for this terms courses in the Cisco Academy for the Visually Impaired is almost upon us. If you have good computer and internet skills, and are interested in learning about Building, Maintaining, and troubleshooting PCs or Networks please email for more information on courses offered, pricing, and scholarships.

caviinfo@gmail.com

12) The American Printing House for the Blind is considering making Readers's Digest and Newsweek available for free download. Here is a link to a survey you can complete to show any interest you may have in this idea:

http://weba.im/1v7

13) Viapple-voiceover is a new mailing list on googlegroups for discussing all aspects of VoiceOver on the Apple.

http://groups.google.com/group/viapple-voiceover?hl=en
14) SeroTalk podcast 46 features some interviews from the ACB convention with providers we haven't heard much from before.

http://serotalk.com/2010/07/19/serotalk-podcast-46-acb-2010-convention-highlights/
15) The editor at Gizmo has updated Probably the Best Free Security List in the World http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/TmW2BJZLKv4/probably-best-free-security-list-world.htm
16) Another article that has received an update is Free Collection of Audio and Video Converters http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/uLLuRLP6WAQ/i-love-free-collection-audio-and-video-converters.htm
17) I have no idea if this technique is accessible (let us know if you try it) but here's a Gizmo article entitled An Easy Way to Connect to Any PC Remotely http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/jXH5ltD6zH8/connect-any-pc-remotely-team-viewer.htm
18) Finally, while we're at it, Here's one called Tips and Tricks to Make Full Use of Favorite Links http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/_VytGmS-E00/make-full-use-of-favorite-links.htm
For questions and comments regarding Tidbits, please e-mail Dean Martineau at dean@topdotenterprises.com. Dean Martineau provides adaptive technology training by phone, online, and in person, with flexible arrangements, and at affordable prices.
Would you like to receive text-only versions of the Top Tech Tidbits and Adaptech Insider Newsletters? If so, find the link at the bottom of each Newsletter titled "Update Profile/E-Mail Address", and check this newly-available option.
Feel free to forward individual Tidbits, or the entire tidbits issue, to interested people (but make sure they don't already receive it; a lot do!) When doing this, please have the courtesy to cite your source, perhaps directing them to the tidbits website (see below.)
Tidbits is intentionally concise, and we know a lot of people may not understand some items because little explanation is given. If a particular Tidbit brings up a question in your mind, feel free to ask, and I will try to answer as time and knowledge permit.
Visit the Tidbits archive at http://www.flying-blind.com/tidbits2010.html where you can grab back issues. All that welcome information for future issues can come to me at dean@topdotenterprises.com.
You can subscribe to Top Tech Tidbits on the Flying Blind, LLC Website at: http://www.flying-blind.com. Here you will find an accessibly friendly and secure form into which you can enter your email address, click submit, and begin receiving Tidbits weekly. It's that easy.

Lynda Online Tutorials

2010-07-19T16:39:00.000-07:00

Lynda Online Tutorials
some pay, some free

Online software tutorials - Adobe Microsoft, Apple, and more.
Online Training Library
Lynda.com Software training & tutorial video library.
Online courses help you learn critical skills.
Free access & previews on hundreds of tutorials.
www.lynda.com/
life-long learning. education is power, knowledge creates opportunity, technology should be accessible to everyone.

Job Fair Tuesday

2010-07-19T12:46:00.001-07:00

Diversity Job Fair - Tuesday, July 20 - 10am-3pm - Holiday Inn National Airport - Crystal City.

Tuesday, July 20th

10am–3pm

Holiday Inn National Airport/

Crystal City

2650 Jeff erson Davis Highway

Arlington, Virginia 22202

Dress professionally.

Bring resumes.

Free Resume Screening Provided by Anointed Words.

Treat the event as if it were an interview.

Free Admission to Job Seekers.

Metro Accessible.

Research each company before attending event to best

know the positions open and the requirements to qualify.

White Cane and More Store

2010-06-28T17:19:00.000-07:00

On Wednesday, June 30th, The White Cane and More Store will be relocating to another suite in the same building, in the same office as The Light House for the Blind. New suite is #210.

Address is:
8720 Georgia Avenue, Suite 210
Silver Spring, MD 20910
Phone: 301 589 0866

Gary's Guide

2010-06-18T06:05:00.000-07:00

http://dc.garysguide.org/
GarysGuide.org is the #1 Business Events Calendar in the world covering Technology, Media, Finance, Healthcare, Legal, Biotech, Cleantech & other events and listing a comprehensive collection of conferences, un-conferences, forums, workshops, seminars, meetups, tweetups, mixers, parties and more.

Free Technology Training

2010-06-17T15:11:00.000-07:00

If you know of anyone interested in Free Technology Training, please pass along this information.

The District is joining Microsoft Corp. in a public-private partnership to provide free technology training to more than 10,000 D.C. residents.
Through Microsoft’s Elevate America initiative, the D.C. Department of Employment Services will provide 11,250 vouchers for free online technology training and certification. Any D.C. resident may apply; there are no income requirements.
Please visit http://www.jobs.dc.gov/

Tony Paschal

ICON Community Services

1240 North Pitt St. Ste. LL

Alexandria, VA 22313

703.548.4048 ext. 232

703.548.0198 (fax)

tony@iconservices.org

icon@tonypaschal.com

www.iconservices.org

DC Assistive Technology Resource Center

2010-06-16T15:54:00.000-07:00

DC Assistive Technology Resource Center invites you to attend:

Augmentative Alternative Communication Device demonstration
Date: Tuesday, June 22nd

Time: 1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.

Room: 2B

Speaker: David Goldberg

Company: Tobii ATI (www.tobiiati.com )
This demonstration is about communication devices for individuals who have restrictions on the production or comprehension of spoken or written language. A few of communication devices from Tobii ATI (www.tobiiati.com ) will be demonstrated. They are:
C8 - a speech generating device

C12 with CEye - a speech generating device with eye tracking MyTobbi P10 - a Speech generating device with eye tracking Lightwriter SL40 - the new version of a popular text to speech device

Top Tech Tidbits!

2010-06-03T13:40:00.001-07:00

1) The Applian Technologies for Blind Users site was created by an enthusiastic user of these recording product for Windows pc's.

http://www.applian.com/Podcasts/applian-info.html

2) Jonathan Mosen and Brian Hartgen have developed The Mushroom FM Fun guys Guide to Internet Broadcasting. This is a three-hour 20-minute audio tutorial that will help get prospective broadcasters up and running with all the necessary tools. It is free and available in DAISY and mp3. Choose the Become a Presenter link here:

http://www.MushroomFM.com

3) HandyTech has re-launched the Mobile Access Payment program whereunder U.S. residents can buy Code Factory software such as Mobile Speak and Mobile Geo on one-year interest-free contracts.

http://www.handytech.us

4) Mark Taylor will present a Code Factory live broadcast on Mobile Geo 2.5 on GMT Saturday, 5 June at 17:00.

http://codefactoryblog.wordpress.com/2010/05/30/code-factory-live/

5) This Fred's Head post is entitled "What is Computer Vision Syndrome?"

http://www.fredshead.info/2006/08/what-is-computer-vision-syndrome.html

6) The Tech Doctor podcast begins a series entitled "Windows 7 and Mac OS X: A Head to Head Comparison"

http://www.dr-carter.com/?p=50

7) If you have to use sharepoint at all, here's an excellent article outlining strategies for using SharePoint with a screen reader

http://is.gd/cuDZd

8) The .NET framework is an accessible system both for those wishing to write programs and for those running those programs. Jamal Mazrui has written gotNET to help developers help those running their programs ensure that the necessary version of the free .NET framework is installed on their system.

http://EmpowermentZone.com/netsetup.exe

9) EASI will have free webinars in June regarding hardware DAISY players and the PDF Accessibility Wizard.

http://easi.cc/clinic.htm

They have also begun making their webinar archives available to all.

http://easi.cc/archive/magpie2010/resources.htm

10) Vinux is Linux for the visually impaired, based on Ubuntu 10.04 - Lucid Lynx. It includes a screen reader, screen magnifiers and support for USB braille displays.

http://vinux.org.uk

11) Rigel Technology offers three of its two-hour, $70 trainings during June. These can usually be purchased for the same price on cd if you can't attend in person. All start at 21:00 GMT: Tuesday 8 June: Google This; Thursday 17 June: Dropbox 499; Tuesday 22 June: Microsoft Office 2010. The only way to register for these appears to be by phone at (888) 723-5011 Ext. 1

12) From Gizmo: You can easily create your own customized program launcher just by making smart use of inbuilt Windows features. This two minute tutorial shows you how.

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/94x7GXDYYyA/how-build-program-launcher-taskbar.htm

13) These next few Gizmo items are for the more technically inclined: New Free Sysinternals Tool: RAMMap

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/94x7GXDYYyA/how-build-program-launcher-taskbar.htm

14) Find Out What's Been Causing Your PC to Crash

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/-w6RYKkFDGs/find-out-whats-been-causing-your-pc-crash.htm

15) Blue Screen of Death Survival Guide: Every Error Explained

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/IQCcE9FS02U/blue-screen-death-survival-guide-every-error-explained.htm

16) US owners of the Book Sense can take part in a free 1-hour training on downloading NLS books and placing them on the device. The training will bake place Thursday, June 10 at 11:00 A.M. EDT, 8 A.M. PDT. To register, e-mail jeremy@gwmicro.com placing "BookSense Training Registration" in the subject. The training will afterward be available at:

http://www.gwmicro.com/audio

17) The article "Browse Mode restarting when performing a Google search in Firefox" has been added to the Gw Micro knowledge base.

http://gwmicro.com/kb1118

18) Tobi version 1.0, the DAISY Consortium's open source multimedia production tool, is now available. Tobi produces full-text full-audio Digital Talking Books in the DAISY 3 (ANSI/NISO Z39.86-2005) format.

http://www.daisy.org/tobi

508 Compliance: Stop Enforcing, Start Innovating by Noel Dickover

2010-06-03T06:55:00.000-07:00

Here on some thoughts on Accessibility from Noel Dickover of CrisisCommons:

508 Compliance: Stop Enforcing, Start Innovating

Posted By NoelDickover on March 27, 2009
In 1998, Congress amended the Rehabilitation Act to require Federal agencies to make their electronic and information technology accessible to people with disabilities. Now known affectionately as Section 508, it directs all Federal agencies to ensure that their websites and electronic information are just as accessible to people with hearing or vision impairments so that we don’t create second class citizens when accessing government information.

Enforcing 508 Compliance
This is a laudable approach, but in practice, enforcing 508 compliance has been an uphill struggle, and will continue to be for the forseable future. Here’s a headline from 2007 that explains the basic problem: “Web technologies outpace accessibility law and require a major rewrite of 508 standards“. The pace of innovation always outstrips our standards. This has been and will continue to be an ongoing issue. Complicating things further is in practice, many website efforts start by envisioning fancy interactions only to be stymied later in the development process when they realize their tool of choice isn’t compliant.
Enforcement costs lots of money: Even with the existence of a wonderful site that explains all aspects of 508, many companies now exist in large part for the sole purpose of helping Federal agencies understand and implement 508 compliance. A myriad of different types accessibility checkers have been developed. If you conduct a Google search on 508 Compliance, it returns 394,00 documents. GSA has been tasked with the tough job of enforcing 508, but as late as 2008, found that over 80% of the solicitations for electronic and IT development contained no provisions for accessibility.
~The Right Goal~

Make the Web Fully Accessible to Everyone

Currently the problem frame is that we haven’t been able to enforce 508 compliance standards on Federal websites. Even if we become 100% successful, the best we get is accessible Federal websites. This still leaves large swaths of the internet less accessible to those who are completely blind, color blind, or hearing impaired. The best we can do is “hope” that commercial products and websites test their software for 508 compliance, and that others worry about what is essentially a long tail concern.
~The Solution~

Innovate on the Browser & End-User Hardware Side

We’ve been tackling the wrong side of the equation. Instead of spending millions on education and enforcement, we should instead spend the money and prompting innovation in the browser and specialized hardware. Web accessible innovations in web browsers and associated specialized hardware solutions could make the entire web fully accessible to those with disabilities. My guess is even if we spent 10 million prompting innovation through contests similar to the Wearable Power prize or the DARPA Grand Challenge, we would still be saving lots of money overall. Even if the resultant solutions require subsidies to reduce purchase costs, this would be no different to what we currently do with providing motorized wheelchairs to those who need them.
Examples of Possible Innovations: There could be a variety of innovations that address specific disability concerns. Examples might include:
•Color Transform Browser Plugins for Color Blind users: If someone has red-green color blindness for instance, wouldn’t it be great if the browser automatically changed colors in graphics and text into colors more easily seen? We could imagine a control panel that allowed the user to choose which colors they wanted to see instead.

•Braille Displays that Display Graphics by Converting Each Color into Different Depths: Imagine a blue-yellow-green Venn diagram concentric circle graphic that’s so prevalent in business - only this time the colors are represented as a different height in the braille display. Translating colors into heights make them accessible.

•Automatic Speech to Text Translator plugins: Imagine if YouTube videos and podcasts could automatically create mostly accurate subtitles.

Again, my imagination is limited - I’m sure true innovators could come up with far better solutions.
Federal Accessibility Challenge: The Federal Government should unleash the power of innovation by creating a Federal Accessibility Challenge, where a million dollars is awarded to the best browser solution for each disability category (color blindness, hearing impaired, for instance), and perhaps a three million dollar prize for the best hardware solution for hearing impaired or blind web users. In both cases, the money should be doubled if the solution is an open-source software or open source hardware design.
The bottom line is the goal should be that those with disabilities should be able to get as much benefit and satisfaction out of using the entire web as the rest of us. We should shift the approach from enforcement, and instead spend our energy on innovating.

Assistive Technology Program DC blog

2010-05-10T12:27:00.001-07:00

http://atpdc.wordpress.com/

Game Accessibility Day

2010-05-10T11:56:00.000-07:00

Boston May 25th the 3rd Annual Game Accessibility Day @ Games for Health. Please visit http://bit.ly/9Ck19J for schedule and registration.

Job Fair and Expo in Maryland Friday May 14th

2010-05-10T11:53:00.000-07:00

http://expo.caringcommunities.org/index.php

From Top Tech Tidbits

2010-05-06T10:28:00.000-07:00

Here is a summary of online information about audio-described movies, as offered by the Media Access Group at WGBH: this new sitelists DVS movies available on DVD as well as listing all movies that have ever been described:

http://www.describedmovies.org/

Go here for information about movies offered with description in theaters equipped with Motion Picture Access systems.
http://www.mopix.org/

And type in your zip code, set the search filter for DVS and find the equipped theaters, described movies and accessible showtimes near you here:
http://www.captionfish.com/

Gizmo has updated its Best Freeware List in the World

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/gizmosbest/~3/UmZi2stdCQQ/top-freeware-picks-category-editors.htm

The 4 May, 2010 post on the NFB - Access Technology Blog is entitled iPad First Look
http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Access_Technology_Blog.asp

Jamal Mazrui has consolidated much of his programming effort into a package for developrs of applications called the Homer Application Framework. It is designed to make it easy for developers to build sophisticated applications with a graphical user interface (GUI), and for end users to benefit from the friendliness and power of those applications.

http://EmpowermentZone.com/appsetup.exe

AccessibleWorld podcasts

2010-05-03T12:04:00.001-07:00

Accessible World podcasts. Check out the healthy living podcasts.
http://www.accessibleworld.org/

Tentative Event Schedule for Adaptive Technology Program for May, June and July

2010-05-03T11:48:00.000-07:00

Events coming up in Adaptive Services:

May 15th - STTS: canceled because of AccessibilityCampBoston
May 18th - AccessibilityDC: James Chandler - Accessibility Project Management
June 5th - STTS: Adaptive Sports and Recreation, Health and Exercise
June 14th - DCWeek event 6pm to 9pm
June 15th - AccessibilityDC 6pm to 9pm
June 19th - STTS: Accessible Gaming, Serious Gaming, Game Development, related issues, Mark Barlet
July 10th STTS: Employment

BlindCoolTech IPAD demo and more

2010-05-03T11:11:00.001-07:00

http://www.blindcooltech.com/

Rebuilding the Web

2010-05-03T09:24:00.001-07:00

Blog with articles on accessibility issues. http://rebuildingtheweb.com/en/

Audio Tutorials from Blind Geek Zone

2010-05-02T15:11:00.000-07:00

NVDA and IPAD demos among others
http://www.blind-geek-zone.net/audio.htm

voice-activated wheelchair

2010-04-28T13:17:00.001-07:00

MIT is developing a voice-activated wheelchair. Here's a link from today's Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2010/04/26/wheelchairs_that_listen/

Careers and the Disabled magazine

2010-04-28T12:52:00.000-07:00

Careers and the Disabled magazine

http://www.eop.com/cd.html

Blog on accessible gaming for people who are blind

2010-04-28T08:32:00.001-07:00

http://blindsecondlife.blogspot.com/

Talking Dictionary and Thesaurus for Blind and Disabled Computer Users

2010-04-27T10:04:00.001-07:00

A Simple but effective Talking Dictionary and Thesaurus for Blind and Disabled Computer Users.

http://www.newfreedownloads.com/Home-Education/Teaching-and-Testing/Talking-Dictionary.html

Vision Web Sight

2010-04-15T06:57:00.001-07:00

Good Blog: http://visionwebsight.blogspot.com/

Gospel Extravaganza

2010-04-07T06:11:00.000-07:00

The Capital East Chapter of National Federation of the Blind (NFB) in Washington, DC, is holding its annual Gospel Extravaganza on April 17, 2010 at 5:00 p.m. This event will take place at the Greater St. Paul Baptist Church, 5720 South Dakota Avenue, N.E., Washington, DC.

Maryland Technology Assistance Program

2010-03-18T11:35:00.000-07:00

http://www.mdod.maryland.gov/MTAP%20Home.aspx

Free Accessible Typing Tutor

2010-03-17T09:31:00.000-07:00

Free Accessible Typing Tutor: http://www.typefastertypingtutor.com/accversion.html

FCC Hearing on Broadband Access for People with Disabilities at the DC Public Library March 10th

2010-03-12T14:36:00.000-08:00

Archived Audio-video at the FCC live website: www.fcc.gov/live . Our event was on March 10 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library.

Skype Scripts!

2010-03-12T14:33:00.001-08:00

http://www.dlee.org/

Federal Hiring Event for People with Disabilities

2010-03-08T16:56:00.001-08:00

http://www.usajobs.gov/DisabilityHiringEvent.asp has updated information re 4/26/10 Federal Hiring Event for People with Disabilities.

TELLME

2010-03-04T11:31:00.000-08:00

Check out this voice activated service - 1-800-555-TELL or http://www.tellme.com/

Saturday Session March 6th 1pm - 4pm

2010-03-04T08:01:00.000-08:00

The next Saturday Technology Training Session on Saturday March 6^th will feature a panel discussion on the topic of employment for people with disabilities and mentoring relationships within the Adaptive Technology Community. Gail Snider from Columbia Lighthouse will talk about job preparedness in the first hour and Tony Paschal from ICON Services in Alexandria will again be participating along with a panel of people who are employed and are using Adaptive Technologies at an expert level as part of their job in the second hour. The session will be held in the Adaptive Services Division, room 215 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial library from 1 to 4pm. From 3pm to 4pm refreshments will be served and informal networking is encouraged.

Topics of discussion with include:

Setting up mentoring relationships
Resume Writing
KSAs
Schedule A letters
Dressing for success
Interview skills

All of the Saturday Sessions in March and April will be on the topic of employment including March 6^th and 20^th and April 3^rd and 17^th. All sessions will be from 1pm to 4pm and will have the goal of assisting library customers in their job search.

We would like to develop a curriculum for job preparedness at the library so that volunteers can train Adaptive Technology users on a regular basis.

We would also like to encourage mentoring relationships within the community, so that AT users who are employed and can share their strategies for success can be paired with AT users who are at more of a beginning level and are searching for employment.

We also encourage anyone who has skills with resume writing and and job search to volunteer to work one on one with our customers in the division who are looking for work. Many of our customer only need a small amount of magnification on the computer screen and mentors do not have to know how to use ATs at an expert level. Our only requirement for volunteering to be a mentor is that you have experience with job search and resume building.

The Adaptive Services Division is now open on Monday and Tuesday nights until 9:00pm, which is a great time for people who work during the day, to volunteer to sit down with customers who need job search skills for a 2 hour session training session.

I hope you can make it!

The AccessibilityDC Meetup will be moved from the third to the fourth Tuesday night of the month 6 to 9pm, just for this month, because of the South by SouthWest Conference. So instead of March 16^th the meeting will be on March 23^rd. The topic will be PDF Accessibility. Moe info on this soon!

Patrick

Federal Government Hiring Expo

2010-02-25T05:59:00.000-08:00

JOB FAIR!!!
Federal Government Hiring Expo for Indiduals with Disabilities
All Day - April 26, 2010
Frances Perkins U.S. Department of Labor Building
200 Constitution Ave., NW

Please register and post resume on USA Jobs website before hand.

Agencies will:
1. Review resumes prior to the event
2. Invite prospective candidates for interviews
3. Be looking to hire candidates on site

More information at http://www.opm.gov/ after March 8

ONLY agencies who have openings and are ready to hire will participate.

Pre-Expo webinars on:
• Why Work for the Federal Government?
• Preparing a Resume’ for Federal Employment
• Obtaining Your Schedule A Documentation

Jamal Mazrui JAWS scripts

2010-02-25T05:55:00.001-08:00

Jamal Mazrui has released two powerful JAWS scripts, FxMax for Firefox 3.x http://EmpowermentZone.com/FxMax.exe

and IEMax for Internet Explorer 7 and above http://EmpowermentZone.com/IEMax.exe

which add all sorts of capabilities to these browsers, one of which is easy interface with the Salona service for solving CAPTCHA's.

Attend a KSAs’ “Find & Apply” Workshop

2010-02-04T08:02:00.000-08:00

Learn correct methods to respond to KSAs

Federal government job seekers are welcome!
Register early. There is space for only 55 participants.
To attend the workshop, RSVP to june.dixon@dc.gov by Monday, February 8, 2010.
For additional information, call 202-645-3413.
Department of Employment Services
DOES is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Provider. Language interpretation services are available without cost.
Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request for individuals with disabilities.
Naylor Road Career Center
2626 Naylor Road, SE
Washington, DC 20020
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
12:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Sponsored by the D.C. Department of Employment Services in
partnership with the U.S. Department of Personnel Management
GET IT RIGHT!
Attend a KSAs’ “Find & Apply” Workshop

MetroAccess EZ-Pay

2010-01-28T14:41:00.000-08:00

MetroAccess EZ-Pay is a service designed to provide a convenient way for customers to pre-pay for their trips, thereby reducing the need for fare payments using cash, tokens, and farecards.

With EZ-Pay Online, you can view your balance and add money to your account, as well as view your transaction history.

https://www.eztransport.com/WMATA/MembersPortal/FAQ.asp

Saturday Technology Training Session January 16, 2010 1pm to 4pm

2010-01-15T13:41:00.000-08:00

This is a reminder about the Saturday Technology Training Session on January 16th. Maurice Boyd from the Columbia Lighthouse will talk about Braille Literacy and his experience teaching Braille in the Washington DC area, and Richard Krafsig from TCS Associates will demonstrate the BrailleSense and the BookSense. The BrailleSense is a notetaker and Braille display, and the BookSense is an audio book reader. The time is 1pm to 4pm in the Adaptive Services Division room 215 at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street NW.
Introductions and Announcements – 1:00pm
Richard Krafsig, TCS Associates – BrailleSense and BookSense – 1:30pm
Maurice Boyd, Columbia Lighthouse – Braille Literacy – 2:15pm
Refreshments and Networking 3pm to 4pm
Also, there will be an AccessibilityDC meet-up http://accessibilitydcjan10.eventbrite.com/ from 6:30pm to 8:30pm in room 215 on Tuesday night, January 19th. Leslie Bobbit will be demonstrating the JAWS screen reader.

6:30 PM - 6:45 PM - Welcome everyone.
6:45 PM - 8:00 PAM - This month Leslie Bobbitt will be discussing and demoing the JAWS screen reader. She will be going over information you need to know to use JAWS for testing and occasional use. Even some more advanced items will be discussed. Leslie will also be using some demo pages that are accessible and some that are not accessible to show how best to try and get as much information from them as you can.
8:00 PM - 8:30 PM - Closing remarks, clean-up, and information about after event wanderings. We will also be looking for more ideas of what talks people want to here and/or give for the next meeting.
Saturday Technology Training Sessions are held on the first and third Saturdays of each month, from 1pm to 5pm in room 215, Adaptive Services Division at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G Street, NW, Washington DC, 20001. The meetings are a chance for people who use Adaptive Technologies to get together and share information, learn about Technologies like the JAWS ScreenReader and ZoomText ScreenMagnifier which make the computer accessible to people who are blind or have low vision, and hear demonstrations of new Adaptive Technologies and Services. Some examples of demonstrations from past sessions include accessible cell phones, Dancing Dots Music software, PeaPod online grocery ordering service, and Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind. For more information please contact: Patrick Timony, Adaptive Technology Coordinator, Adaptive Services Division, 202-727-1335 or patrick.timony@dc.gov
The AccessibilityDC Meet-up is on the third Tuesday of every month from 6 to 9 in Room 215, Adaptive Services Division at the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. This meeting is a chance for people who are interested in Web Accessibility to get together and share information. Web Developers who are interested in Accessibility to get together with people who use Adaptive Technology on a regular basis to get together and discuss the accessibility of the Library. Previously this group produced a petition for accessibility of the library that included recommendations for added hours of access that resulted in the Saturday Technology Training Sessions and in a computer in the Science and Technology Division, which is open at all regular opening hours, being upgraded to full accessibility.

Accessible Gaming links

2010-01-06T14:20:00.000-08:00

Accessibile Gaming related links at: http://sttsdc.wordpress.com/

Finding, researching and downloading books, dictionaries and encyclopedias on the net

2010-01-04T07:44:00.000-08:00

Fred's Head article on Finding, Researching and Downloading Books, Dictionaries and Encyclopedias on the Net: http://www.fredshead.info/2006/12/finding-researching-and-downloading.html

Soundaround

2010-01-04T07:31:00.000-08:00

Soundaround http://www.soundaround.org/ is the international interactive audio magazine for blind and partially sighted people.

Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind ceases production of its Braille and cassette versions Nov 09

2009-12-29T16:52:00.000-08:00

Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind ceases production of its Braille and cassette versions in November 2009. http://bit.ly/4MLv8V

Massage Therapist

2009-12-29T16:47:00.000-08:00

Story about Mandy Somer, a massage therapist who is visually impaired.
http://www.ketv.com/news/21694886/detail.html

Mika Pyyhkala from Prague

2009-12-27T15:39:00.000-08:00

Listen to an audio of Mika Pyyhkala ording a cab via SMS using his Nokia cell phone in Prague. http://www.utterli.com/u/utt/u-MTAyODMxNzE

Brice Mellen

2009-12-21T14:41:00.000-08:00

Brice Mellen is a whiz at video games such as Mortal Kombat and is blind.

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2005-07-28-blind-gamer_x.htm