Share the Vision!

The New York State School for the Blind (NYSSB) Resource Center

E-mail Quarterly Newsletter – Autumn 2004

(See archived issues in the tool box at http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/resourcetoolbox.htm.)

 

Providing Textbooks in Accessible Formats: “Quark” is Not a Duck Sound! 

 

Quark is simply one brand of print layout software commonly used by textbook publishers.  The files used by publishers to produce textbooks contain the text of the book as well as the complicated layout information required to not only make the book “look pretty” with text arrangement, text boxes, and graphics, but also make it possible to protect the copyright of the book.  Quark files are publisher files produced in the Quark format.

 

Your first step in obtaining a textbook in braille or another format is to do a search on Louis or have Lisa do a Louis search for you.  If Louis doesn’t list it, check for other sources on the Internet or request a search from a service such as BAS http://bas.wisc.edu (see page 4).

 

Finding eBooks on the Internet, published in braille and large print by the National Braille Press, describes how to obtain public domain books, how to purchase accessible books from companies that produce them, and how to get books in accessible formats from sites like Web-Braille and BookShare.  It also contains information about digital talking books and various file types http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/EBOOK.html (see also Fred’s Head article on “Finding eBooks On the Internet” at (http://www.aph.org/fh/index.html).  Find more eText resources at The Blind Bookworm site: http://www.panix.com/~kestrell/sources.html.  Don’t let the acronyms get you crazy; RFB&D has a great digital audio glossary of terms at https://custhub.rfbd.org/glossary.asp#APlus.

 

If a textbook is not available from APH or from online sources, and you need it in an accessible format, you can request the publisher’s file in order to translate it into the desired medium.  APH lists publisher contacts for braille-related materials at http://sun1.aph.org/louis/braillepub.html or you can contact Julia Myers (jmyers@aph.org).  Information about alternative formats can also be found at http://snipurl.com/9435.

 

Let’s say your student needs a high school level textbook published by McGraw-Hill.  Obtaining the publisher's file requires a written request from the disability services center of the school.  The request should state that there is a student with a certified disability registered for a course in which they are required to use and have purchased a McGraw-Hill textbook.  The request should include the author, title, copyright and ISBN of the book, as well as the mailing and email address of the disabilities service center.  It can be emailed to Bonnie_Beacher@McGraw-Hill.com or faxed to Bonnie Beacher at (212) 904-2346.  Once you obtain the file, APH will pay nonprofit agencies that use certified transcribers $50 for any textbook file (below college level) copyrighted post 1993 (see http://www.aph.org/louis/reposinf.htm)! 

 

If the publisher’s file is in QuarkXPress, which can’t be used with your braille translation program, the Quark files can be converted by contacting the Contract Administration Department at APH (800-223-1839 or email contract@aph.org).  There are 3 levels of options, from unedited (“quick and dirty”) at $.75 per print page, cover to cover, to 100% cleanup with a ReadMe file at $4 per print page.  Federal quota funds can be used.  If APH is backed up and you want it fast, contact Sharon von See svonsee@techadapt.com at Tech Adapt.

 

ICADD format publisher files can be read by braille translation software when the markup tags are correct.  ICADD files can be opened in Word or any text editor and stripped of the tags, if necessary.

 

Once an electronic (e-text) file is obtained that can be used with braille translation software, the conversion can be made to paper or refreshable braille or speech.  Braille ready format (.brf) files can be loaded into any notetaker and read by its speech synthesizer or by using the refreshable braille display.  Duxbury (.dxb) files can be opened with Duxbury and back-translated in order to read the book on a desktop computer with the screen reader of the student’s choice.  (See also http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?DocumentID=1286)

 

 

NetSupport School is a classroom instruction, monitoring and polling tool, enabling teachers to train students in the computer lab simply and effectively.  For more information on NetSupport School, go to http://www.netsupport-inc.com.

 

 

 

 

Turn cassettes into CDs

To convert the audio on your cassette from analog to digital, you need a standard
tape player and a sound card with line-in.

First connect your tape player to your sound card's line-in terminal with a 1/8- inch mini jack.   Next, install Musicmatch Jukebox and set it to record the line-in channel as a WAV file.  Then press Play on your tape deck and Record on Musicmatch.  Now you can burn your WAV file to CD or convert it to MP3.  If you need to clean up your audio tracks to get rid of pops and hisses, use Magix audio cleaning lab or Roxio Spin Doctor, included in Easy Media Creator, Easy CD & DVD Creator, and Toast.
 

 

 

From the CSE Chair

 

This page is devoted to items that may be of interest to CSE Chairpersons and BOCES and district administrators.  Your submissions and comments are welcome!    - The Editor

 

Verizon Awards Over $400,000 for Literacy

Seventeen New York state nonprofit organizations received a combined $418,230 in literacy grants July 22 from the Verizon Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Verizon Communications. Verizon invited nonprofit organizations earlier this year to submit proposals to help address literacy and programs supporting English as a second language and basic computer literacy skills.

The awards included $25,000 to the Educational Products Information Exchange Institute for an internet-based literacy program serving 19 Long Island school districts and several community-based organizations; $25,000 to the Queens Child Guidance Center to expand a reading program for students with low literacy skills; and $35,000 to the Highbridge Community Life Center Inc. to support an after-school literacy program that will serve 660 students and adults in the Bronx.

"These grants reaffirm Verizon's commitment to support projects that will improve literacy rates in our communities," said Paul Crotty, group president of Verizon New York and Connecticut. "Increasing literacy awareness in today's technology-driven world is a necessity, not a luxury."

Last year, 116 nonprofit organizations in New York benefited from Verizon Foundation literacy grants totaling more than $2.3 million.  AFB and Verizon's National Campaign for Literacy, Textbooks, Transcribers and Technology specifically supports the needs of students with visual impairments: http://www.afb.org/Section.asp?DocumentID=1857.

 

NIMAS Improves Textbook Accessibility Students with disabilities can anticipate faster access to curriculum materials now that the U.S. Department of Education (ED) has formally endorsed a voluntary national publishing paradigm known as the National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard (NIMAS).  NIMAS will make it easier to convert traditional textbooks into formats such as Braille or text-to-speech. For more info on NIMAS, go to: http://www.cast.org/NFF/NIMAS/### and http://snipurl.com/8nmy.

 

 

 

You CAN Take It with You: A Review of Three Portable CCTVs can be found online in the July issue of AccessWorld ^®, http://www.afb.org/afbpress/pub.asp?DocID=aw050405. 

AccessWorld^® evaluates three portable CCTVs: the Traveller  (by the Tieman Group), the Olympia  (by Telesensory Corp.), and the Pico   (also by Telesensory).

 

The Traveller and the Olympia are lightweight, compact CCTVs, while the Pico is a handheld device that can fit in a pocket or purse. Find out which unit will work best for your student’s needs.  Another article in the July issue, entitled, “How Do I Read Thee? Let Me Count The Ways,” describes a series of five projects designed to put new and emerging reading formats into the hands of patrons who are blind or visually impaired.  All of the projects focus on formats and devices used for reading Digital Talking Books.  A third article provides a review of the Book Port and BookCourier electronic book reading devices.  Sign up for AccessWorld Extra, a free e-mail newsletter of additional content.  To be added to the AccessWorld Extra list, send a message to accessworld@afb.net.  Please be sure to include your name and e-mail address.

 

Download MathPlayer for free!  

Design Science MathPlayer™ enables Internet Explorer to display mathematical notation in web pages.  It is based on MathML technology and requires Internet Explorer for Windows version 6.0 and later.  Design Science makes MathPlayer available for free in order to foster the adoption of MathML in the math, science, and education communities.   MathPlayer enables Internet Explorer to display and SPEAK mathematical notation embedded in HTML and XHTML web pages using MathML.  Its new features include math-to-speech technology, compatibility with screen reader software used by the visually impaired to read web pages, increased cross-browser compatibility via XHTML support, and improved mathematical formatting.  MathML is an XML-based language for representing mathematical notation standardized by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in 1998.  Learn more about MathPlayer at http://www.dessci.com/en/products/mathplayer.

 

 

For TVI’s  Only

(Suitable for Sharing!)

 

‘Need a QUALITY Braille Transcriber?

 

Many of you are aware of the Northwest Vista College Braille Transcription Program.  Now there are NVC graduates who are NLS certified, talented, and looking for work.  If your district or BOCES will need to have materials brailled now or during the year, e-mail Vivian Seki, the program coordinator (see below), with the details and contact information.  Vivian will pass the information on to her graduates.  Interested transcribers will then contact the district or agency directly.  These transcribers have portfolios that demonstrate their skills and range of abilities.   Prices must be negotiated with the individual transcriber.

 

Vivian J. Seki

Braille Textbook Transcriber Program

Northwest Vista College

3535 North Ellison Drive

San Antonio, TX 78251

(210) 348-2081

Fax (210) 348-2264

vseki@accd.edu

 

REMEMBER, braille can be transcribed electronically from anywhere. The transcriber does not have to be physically close to the school.   Districts can e-mail the electronic files for worksheets, documents, etc., or fax a copy and the transcriber can e-mail back the braille files to be embossed in the district.  Turnaround time can be relatively quick.

 

Or if you need bigger items such as textbooks, ancillaries, etc., the logistics of getting publisher files or hard copies of the materials to the transcribers can be worked out between the transcriber and the school or agency.

 

Please encourage districts to go for quality and not for "cheap".  Materials are not accessible and are not in compliance with 504 if they are full of errors or incorrectly formatted!  Now there is no excuse.  Qualified transcribers are available!

 

Now that we have a program and trained folks, we need to prove that these folks are highly valued professionals, earning a living wage by providing a desperately needed service.  When others see the benefits, we will have more training programs and more transcribers, and NO MORE BRAILLE SHORTAGES!

 

On the Road to Independence: Transition Tips for Students

 

 

Focus II is a web-based assessment designed to assist students with career and educational plans.  You can log into Focus II at http://www.focuscareer.com/register/genesee.cfm, create a user account (the required key code is gen2250), and work through the program.  The various sections of FOCUS II will help you to assess the student’s interests, values, and educational preferences.  In addition, you will be able to help the student obtain career information on the jobs/occupations s/he is considering, take stock of career and educational planning needs, and assess the student’s interests, work values, leisure activities and educational preferences.  Discover and explore occupations, educational programs, and career paths that satisfy the student’s personal attributes.  Map out career and educational goals, action plans and personal development needs.  For more information about the Focus II program, please contact Sue Marschke (e-mail shmarschke@genesee.edu or call 343-0055, ext. 6417) or call the Genesee Community College Career & Transfer Center at (585) 345-6888, or email the Center at CTC@genesee.edu.

 

CAREERS & the disABLED is the nation's first and only career-guidance and recruitment magazine for people with disabilities who are at undergraduate, graduate, or professional levels. Each issue features a special Braille section.  Fall, Winter, and Spring editions are published each year.  To subscribe, go to http://www.eop.com/subforcd.html.

Student, Parent and Family Page

 

Providing Effective Services for Blind and Visually Impaired Students in Higher Education

The proceedings of this pre-conference seminar of the Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD) 2004 Conference can be found online at http://www.umt.edu/dss/ahead/ahead%202004.htm as a great resource for transitioning students into college.  It includes the development of accommodations and services that create access, self-determination, and self-reliance for the students and the college community. This includes accessible materials development, academic assistance, orientation and mobility issues, accessibility for technical issues such as mathematics, and science and music courses, as well as electronic text (e-text) production and an overview of current hardware and software – what it does, and what it costs.  The seminar addresses partnerships with rehabilitation service agencies for and consumer groups of the blind and how to accommodate blind and visually impaired students who are unprepared with blindness skills for higher education.  It also provides lots of great links to other resources and vendors.

 

Awesome Library at www.awesomelibrary.org has links to over 18,000 online resources in a variety of educational topics, including Science, Math, and English, with separate indexes for teachers, kids, teens, and parents.  Emerging Technologies at www.emtech.net has a search feature with links to over 15,000 resources, including Homework Help, Teacher Tool Kit, Art and Music Education, Maps and Charts, and Parent Resources! 

Badger Accessibility Services (BAS) is a web-based service at the University of Wisconsin–Madison to assist public school systems in locating and creating accessible audio and electronic text documents and web pages http://bas.wisc.edu.  The BAS audio and electronic text searching service allows educators to submit web requests for accessible audio and text media from sources including but not limited to RFB&D, Library of Congress, Internet Public Library, Project Gutenberg, BookShare, CAST eText Spider, On-Line Books, and Net Library.  For a fee of only $5 per book, BAS will provide a list of sources within 72 hours.  In addition, BAS will assist customers when requesting electronic files from publishers that don’t have documents formatted in an appropriate E-text format.  BAS will also convert the publisher’s print layout to usable E-text.  BAS also offers conversion of standard print text (books, texts, reading packets, etc.) to E-text via an OCR scanning process.  Files can be provided in RTF, Word, PDF, Kurzweil 1000/3000, or Text formats.  BAS can also convert standard 2- and 4-track audiocassettes to CD and/or MP3, AND, the BAS web design team specializes in creating accessible web design templates and web pages for individuals or departments within the educational community.

 

No Child Left Behind through Access Technology:  The National Center on Disability and Access to Education (NCDAE) and the Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) have recently launched separate initiatives to make education stakeholders aware of the issue of the need for accessible technologies: http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/reports/accessibletech/index.cfm.

 

T.R.E.A.T.S., AKA Technology Resources for Education's Assistive Technology Solutions online newsletter, is available in HTML format at: http://trecenter.org/treats/treats-news.htm

 

Kurzweil and High Speed Scanning Training Videos Available Online!  Go to http://www.indiana.edu/~iuadapts for details!

 

PDF to Braille Conversion Frustrated by those inaccessible Adobe Acrobat files?  There are ways to convert them into braille, LP and speech-accessible formats.  Request your copy today of a Word file on “PDF Conversion” by e-mail to jpiscite@mail.nysed.gov.

 

XML to Braille Conversion  Computers to Help People, Inc. announces the alpha version of a new braille translator optimized for technical material.  The program, called xml2brl, accepts both XML and plain-text files and produces "brf" files suitable for printing directly on a braille embosser or for reading on a braille display. It handles a wide variety of XML files, including those exported from Microsoft Word as XML.  At present, it runs only on Linux, but a Windows port is planned.  It is Open Source and free software.  To read more and download xml2brl, go to www.chpi.org/whatsnew.html.

 

Public Domain Books Online An interesting list of college level texts - about 437 books - released for free public online access by University of California Press is at http://texts.cdlib.org/escholarship/titles_public.html. The site also provides linking assistance and a spreadsheet.  Other sites hosting free online books include E-Editions - University of Nebraska Press at http://www.nebraskapress.unl.edu/e_editions.html,

Baen Free Library at http://www.baen.com/library,

Hoover Institution at http://www-hoover.stanford.edu/publications/books, and

Project Gutenberg at http://www.promo.net/pg.  

 

Watch your mail for news of upcoming NYSSB trainings!

 

 

*Links to Accessible Science Instruction:

www.tsbvi.edu/recc/science.htm RECC (Resources for the Expanded Core Curriculum) – Science

http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/Manual2.doc Adapting Science Experiments

http://barrier-free.arch.gatech.edu/Lab/index.html

http://barrier-free.arch.gatech.edu/Lab/accom_vision.html

http://www.washington.edu/doit/Faculty/Strategies/Academic/Science Accessible Science Labs

www.boreal.com video link microscope, etc.

http://www.cellsalive.com video and computer-enhanced biology images

http://www.chpi.org/tbcfly.htm braille & eText science materials

http://lawrencehallofscience.org/cml/saviselph/equip.html SAVI/SELPH

easierways@aol.com talking thermometers, etc.

www.wrsgroup.com health & science models

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/aso A Science Odyssey

http://membership.acs.org/C/CWD/TeachChem4.pdf chemistry for students w/disabilities

http://www.asu.edu/aad/manuals/sta/sta402-18.html lab accommodations

http://sciences.aum.edu/phs/chris2.html chemistry accommodations

http://www.enc.org/resources/records/full/0%2C1240%2C026104%2C00.shtm chem. accommodations

http://www.dlese.org/dds/catalog_DLESE-000-000-001-358.htm chemistry accommodations

http://www.rit.edu/~easi/easisem/easisems.html

http://www.as.wvu.edu/~scidis/vision.html#sect4 science accommodations online course

http://www.scitechdaily.com great science site!

http://www.tiresias.org science accommodations

http://www.icad.org/websiteV2.0/Conferences/ICAD96/proc96/gardner5.htm TRIANGLE: Non-Speech Audio for math and science applications

Resources for Copyright Information, Literacy, Educational Media & Multimedia, and more, at http://halldavidson.net/downloads.html.

(LOL) Lots of Links!

 

 

*The science links above were gathered from our Word file, “Lots of Links,” updated daily.  This file contains an alphabetical listing of many web resources that you may find useful on behalf of students with visual impairments.  It can be electronically searched by keywords to find hotlinks related to the topic of your choice. To request your free copy, please contact Judi Piscitello at jpiscite@mail.nysed.gov.  Also, please note that a much older version of this file is located on the Resource Center's web site, but it is currently in the process of being revised by our web mistress.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

 

October is White Cane Awareness Month!

Oct. 15, 2004 > White Cane Safety Day!

Contact Judi Piscitello for info. & poster or go to http://www.lionsclubs.org/EN/content/vision_services_whitecane.shtml or for New York State’s White Cane Law, go to: http://www.nysgtsc.state.ny.us/peds-vt.htm

 

Oct. 17-19, 2004>NYSAER Conference, Syracuse, NY (716) 648-1506, email mmoyer@worldnet.att.net or www.nysaer.org/conferences%202003.htm

 

Oct. 21-23, 2004 > NBA Conference, Memphis, TN.  (585) 427-8260, e-mail nbaoffice@compuserve.com or www.nationalbraille.org/NBA-Events.htm

 

Nov. 18-20, 2004&g