abba Community News
The Social Security Administration has developed a program to provide auto for people who need it when researching information on their Website. We know that SSA has become committed to providing accessible accommodations to individuals with vision loss. Therefore, as they improve and move more closely to becoming more conscious, let’s give them some appreciation for this great innovation.
BROWSEALOUD is an assistive technology purchased by SSA. It was purchased for the public to download a plug-in that makes SSA’s website (www.socialsecurity.gov) talk.
In order to use BrowseAloud, you have to:
BrowseAloud has been approved by the Office of General Counsel and Security. It can be used by people with various challenges:
Mild visual impairments – the text can be enlarged as the voice speaks Dyslexia – a highlighted “ruler” guide moves as the voice speaks Low reading skills – the reader listens to the voice as it reads the text/paragraphs Helpful to the public who use English as a second language BrowseAloud also translates words on a website into French, Spanish, Italian, and German, making content easier to understand, Converts text to MP3
BrowseAloud is available to publicize for outreach and PR activities. Many assistive devices cost thousands of dollars. (JAWS, etc). SSA offers this FREE to the public.
Games and Game Options
301/501/701/901
(double in, double out,
league, 25/50 point bull)
Count up:
(double in, 25/50 point
bull)
Cricket
(Quick / Classic cricket /
Cut-throat, double in)
Around The Clock
Five Dart Golf
(9 hole / 18 hole)
Baseball
Killer
(3/5/7/9 lives, double in)
Training Mode
Dart
Master
Fully accessible talking dartboard
http://audiodartmaster.com
Features
Dartboard, power supply, three sets of darts, mounting hardware, toe board and a computer CD with instructions (also available on the I board and web site.)
Wall StandA portable frame that allows the dartboard to be used against a wall without putting screws in the wall. (Can be made free-standing as a custom request.)
Audio Customization 100.00We can customize the greeting for you and record the name of eight players in a human voice. (You can add as many players as you wish with a robot voice.)
ShippingDetermined by location.
Safety'"The Audio Dart Master uses standard soft-tipped darts, available at sporting goods stores. The darts have a flexible nylon tip that bends, if it hits a hard surface. Though some kind of accident may be possible, this type of dart has been used in homes and recreational facilities for years without any known problems.
IndependenceExcept for maybe helping to find lost darts, there is no need for a sighted person to mount, configure or play the Audio Dart Master. All the rules are spoken, and the menus are simple.
Learning the skill of throwingdarts is the sole challenge for new players. This makes the game perfect for recreational areas where people congregate during idle time. Sighted and non-sighted players can play together on nearly equal footing, with the most experienced players having the advantage.
Have you been longing for the sound of a ball crashing through pins and having a friend yell out, "Strike!"? are you eager to combine fun with competition? well, the time is now and the sport is bowling!
Yes, even you can start your own bowling league and be sanctioned with the American blind bowling Association. below is a video depicting a brand new league recently started in Ashville North carolina.
http://www.wlos.com/shared/newsroom/features/potw/videos/wlos_vid_92.shtml Here are tips on bowling both as a totally blind bowler and as a partially sighted bowler.
Bowling blind or as a partial
Participants in the Carolina Bowling Alliance tournament this past weekend demonstrated that you don't have to be able to see the bowling ball to roll a respectable score.
About 100 alliance members from the Carolinas, Virginia and Florida - people without some or all of their sight - took part in the Sportsman Shoot Out, a head-to-head elimination event held on the Grand Strand for the first time. Bowlers from the Carolinas bested those from Florida.
Lonnie Cunningham of Greensboro, N.C., placed first in the men's partially sighted division with a score of 176. Shirley Williamson of Durham, N.C., placed first in the partially sighted women's division with a score of 147. James Benton of Raleigh, N.C., placed first in the blind division with a score of 102. In the fully sighted division for volunteers or relatives who wanted to get in on the fun, Sandy McDaniel of Daytona Beach rolled 147 and second place winner Mike Stitly of Daytona Beach rolled 138 - neither score as high as Cunningham's.
Benton, the alliance's outreach coordinator, said he was lucky to have scored better than John Hardin of Daytona Beach, Fla., who took second, with a score of 69. "He'd competed in several sets and just got tired," Benton said with a chuckle. "If he hadn't, I would have been in trouble."
Like many alliance bowlers, Benton got hooked on the sport while at school in Raleigh. He agreed the game is sight-driven, but hearing the sound of 10 pins tumbling when a bowler throws a strike is a thrill. "To hear a strike is as good as seeing it," he said. And playing the game is a great confidence builder, Benton added. Being able to aim a ball down a lane and knock out pins helps build self-esteem. "The confidence you build allows you to take on things that you want to do," he said. Benton said he learned that lesson from his grandfather who lost his sight because of a World War I injury. "He didn't let that stand in his way," Benton said. "He always said that if you want to do something, just do it. We have taught people to bowl and as they gain confidence in the game, that confidence changes their lives." The confidence Benton has gained led him to compete for the N.C. School for the Blind, attend St. Augustine College for three years, study computer technology and work for 10 years with a national hotel firm. Now he works for a Raleigh community rehabilitation program for visually impaired workers.
Ginger Rush, the Carolina Bowling Alliance's secretary, is married to a man who was born blind. But Mike Rush has been a bowler since his high school days in Colorado. Like others, the confidence he gained from his game allowed him to move beyond basic education. He took advantage of technology that opened the use of computers to the blind. After working in the reservations department for two national hotel firms, he's now employed by Sears in the department that routes repair technicians to appliance and other equipment service calls in Southeastern states. The alliance members might not be able to see perfectly - or at all - but their bowling scores look just like anyoneelse's at your average bowling alley, ranging from 40 pins to as high as the 170s, Benton said. "In fact, one of our members, Hubert Evrette of the Raleigh Outlaws team, scored a 227 yesterday," he said. Visually impaired bowlers need little extra equipment to enjoy the game. Metal rails act as guides so bowlers can find the center of the lane and the foul line.
Just like with sighted bowlers, Ginger Rush said, "You see a variety of bowling styles." The only difference is that instead of watching to see how many pins go down, these players are listening. You can tell the player scored a spare or a strike because his or her shout is louder than the pins falling, she said.
Lawrence Carter, 53, was born with congenital glaucoma, and when he was 2, had to have his right eye removed because of blindness and painful internal pressure. He graduated from the N.C. School for the Blind despite undergoing corrective surgery that preserved sight in his right eye. He attended North Carolina's A&T State University, learned to drive and worked a variety of jobs. Though he has since lost all of his sight, he hasn't lost his zest for the game. "I love to come out to these tournaments," Carter said. Early on, he figured out mourning for his loss of sight was the easiest way to chase off friends and acquaintances he had made throughout his life. He just tries to count his blessings. "I have a wife who loves me, a 25-year-old daughter that I'm proud of, friends, family, a house I can say is mine and not the bank's. Life is good. If you're not happy with things like that, you might as well grab some dirt and cover yourself up," he said. And Sunday, he was hoping to count his winnings, too, having won $125 last year. "Maybe today is my lucky day," Carter said. "I figure I might just be able to do it again."
Or call James Benton at 919-755-0700 or 919-740-2398.
Link to the story:Normal, IL 3/15/11 - En-Vision America, Inc. has announced a new program to aid the blind and visually impaired in obtaining accessible prescriptions. Under their Pharmacy Freedom Program, eligible individuals may obtain a free ScripTalk Station patient reader that will allow them to access their prescription label information. Participating pharmacies attach a small RFID label to each prescription, containing all printed information. This provides a safe, private and independent way for the blind and visually impaired to manage their medication regimen, as well as helping pharmacies to comply with ADA regulations in serving their patients. Interested individuals may contact En-Vision America to get their free reader and provide pharmacy details. Pharmacies concerned with meeting the needs of their special needs patients may also contact the company for more information about the program.
ScripTalk Station is a cutting-edge technological solution for prescription medication information access. It has been adopted by the Veteran's Administration for use in their facilities across the country. ScripTalk utilizes RFID (radio-frequency identification) and TTS (text-to-speech) technologies to allow those that cannot read their prescription labels a way to access the information. It is the only product on the market to provide full label information in a manner that meets ADA, FDCA and HIPAA regulations.
David Raistrick, Vice-President, says "We are pleased to be able to offer this new program to sight impaired folks in the U.S. Now safety and peace of mind are free for patients when taking potentially dangerous medications!"
En-Vision America, Inc. is a company providing high-tech products aimed at solving problems for those with visual or print impairments. Located in Normal, Illinois, En-Vision America has successfully introduced several voice-enabled products such as i.d. mate Summit, the talking bar code reader, and ScripTalk, the talking pharmaceutical reader. Originally founded by Philip C. and David B. Raistrick in 1996, the cornerstone of the company was based upon one single premise: To provide customers with greater independence through technology.
For additional information contact:
Design and Content of this web site C 2007-2011 En-Vision America, Inc. "i.d. mate", "i.d. mate Summit", "i.d. mate OMNI", and "ScripTalk" are Registered Trademarks of En-Vision America, Inc.
Bad news for the Chicago Peace Breakers
On Monday July 11th The bowling alley where we bowled was struck a major blow when heavy winds and rain caused a tree to collapse into the roof of the bowling alley causing it to cave in. The city immediately condemned the building and ordered it to be torn down. no one was allowed in.
With this happening we have lost all our equipment including 12 rails and some of our member’s equipment. As of today we have not decided what we are going to do to start all over again. Please pass word around to the rest of the association of our loss.
Robert R, McDonald
Alliance of Disability Advocates, Center for Independent Living, is seeking to hire a Youth Peer Advocate to assist with Youth Transition Services and to provide Peer Mentoring and Support for youth and young adults with disabilities. This individual will work closely with the current Youth Advocacy and Outreach Specialist. Qualified individuals with a disability ages 25 and under are encouraged to apply.
Position: Youth Peer Advocate
Duration: Full-time position
Hours: Office Hours 9 am to 5 pm, with some flexible hours
Status: Nonexempt Position
Supervisor: Youth Advocacy & Outreach Specialist
Salary: Commensurate with successful applicant's qualifications
Training: Training will be provided
Responsibilities:
Search Committee
Alliance of Disability Advocates, Center for Independent Living, is an equal opportunity employer.
The White House
Office of the Press Secretary
For Immediate Release
July 26, 2010
Executive Order - Increasing Federal Employment of Individuals with Disabilities By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, and in order to establish the Federal Government as a model employer of individuals with disabilities, it is hereby ordered as follows:
Section 1. Policy. Approximately 54 million Americans are living with a disability. The Federal Government has an important interest in reducing discrimination against Americans living with a disability, in eliminating the stigma associated with disability, and in encouraging Americans with disabilities to seek employment in the Federal workforce. Yet Americans with disabilities have an employment rate far lower than that of Americans without disabilities, and they are underrepresented in the Federal workforce. Individuals with disabilities currently represent just over 5 percent of the nearly 2.5 million people in the Federal workforce, and individuals with targeted disabilities (as defined below) currently represent less than 1 percent of that workforce.
On July 26, 2000, in the final year of his administration, President Clinton signed Executive Order 13163, calling for an additional 100,000 individuals with disabilities to be employed by the Federal Government over 5 years. Yet few steps were taken to implement that Executive Order in subsequent years.
As the Nation's largest employer, the Federal Government must become a model for the employment of individuals with disabilities. Executive departments and agencies (agencies) must improve their efforts to employ workers with disabilities through increased recruitment, hiring, and retention of these individuals. My Administration is committed to increasing the number of individuals with disabilities in the Federal workforce through compliance with Executive Order 13163 and achievement of the goals set forth therein over 5 years, including specific goals for hiring individuals with targeted disabilities.
Sec. 2. Recruitment and Hiring of Individuals with Disabilities.
Sec. 3. Increasing Agencies' Retention and Return to Work of Individuals
with Disabilities.
Sec. 4. Definitions.
Sec. 5. General Provisions.
Washington, DC, August 10, 2010: - The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) applauds the U.S. Senate for passage of the "Twenty-first Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act" (S. 3304) by unanimous consent on August 5, 2010. COAT especially thanks Senator Pryor (D-AR), who introduced S. 3304, as well as co-sponsors Senators Kerry (D-MA), Dorgan (D-ND), and Conrad (D-ND). Passage of S. 3304 was also supported by Senators Hutchison (R-TX), Ensign (R-NV), and Schumer (D-NY).
S. 3304 requires captioned television programs to be captioned when delivered over the Internet, requires video description on television for people with vision loss, allocates $10 million per year for communications equipment used by people who are deaf-blind, ensures emergency information is accessible to individuals who are blind or have low vision, and provides for accessibility of advanced communications such as text messaging, email and web browsing on mobile devices, among several other provisions.
"The U.S. Senate takes us a huge step forward for accessible technology," said Jenifer Simpson of the American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD), a COAT founding member. "They have given Americans with disabilities access to smart phones, other advanced communications technology, and video programming," she added.
"We are delighted that S.3304 ensures the availability of captioning for television programs on the Internet," said Rosaline Crawford of the National Association of the Deaf, another COAT leading organization. "Our community was left behind as television moved to the Internet, and S. 3304 takes a big step in the right direction," she added.
"Video description for television programs - the narration of visual elements during pauses in dialogue - is essential in this day and age," said Eric Bridges of the American Council of the Blind, another COAT leader. "More importantly, I thank the U.S. Senate for ensuring that we will now have access to the same emergency information everyone else has been seeing on television for years. Unbelievably, up until now, all the FCC has required is an audible tone on television to alert people who are blind or visually impaired that they should go seek out emergency information somewhere else. Having equal access to emergency information increases the safety of our community and will save lives!"
Among the other provisions in S. 3304 are requirements for accessible user controls for televisions and set-top boxes, and easy access to closed captioning and video description. Mark Richert of the American Foundation for the Blind, another leading COAT organization said: "The Senate's action last week brings people with vision loss so much closer to the access they deserve to advanced communications equipment and services, such as text messaging, email, and web browsing. These technologies aren't luxuries; they are essential tools for learning, working and participating in community. The U.S. Senate's leadership will bring people into the digital world, people who have been left out and left behind when industry fails to design accessibility into their products and services. S. 3304 will encourage companies to innovate to make advanced communications accessible on smart phones and other devices."
S. 3304 will now go to the House of Representatives.
About COAT: The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology,
or COAT, founded in March 2007, is a coalition of over 310 organizations
that advocates for legislative and regulatory safeguards that will
ensure full access by people with disabilities to evolving high speed
broadband, wireless and other Internet protocol (IP) technologies. More
information is available at
http://www.coataccess.org
or by e-mail to
info@coataccess.org
Elisa M. Gonzalez
Training and Outreach Coordinator
Computer/Electronic Accommodations Program (CAP) Visit us online at
www.tricare.mil/cap
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