Share the Vision

Share the Vision!

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

E-mail Quarterly Newsletter – Summer 2004

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

Senate Passes IDEA Reauthorization!
Four key provisions benefiting students with visual impairments were included in the Senate’s bill to reauthorize the IDEA, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004:

Timely provision of textbooks in the national instructional materials accessibility standard, through the establishment of a National Instructional Materials Access Center.

In developing an Individualized Education Plan (IEP), schools should consider instruction in functional performance skills, orientation and mobility, and the use of assistive technology devices, including low vision devices as well as braille for students who are blind or visually impaired.
Transition services beginning at age 14; services are to be age-appropriate and based on assessment of education, training, employment and, if appropriate, independent living skills.

Funding will continue for video description of educational media that is of educational value.

The difference between the Senate and House bills will need to be resolved by a conference committee. The Senate incorporated their version of the bill, S.1248, into the House version, H.R. 1350, and passed H.R. 1350 in lieu of S. 1248. For more information about the reauthorization of the IDEA bill, go to http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d108:H.R.1350:.

On Thursday, June 10, 2004, NYSSB participated in an AER sponsored telephone conference entitled, "An Evolving IDEA -- A Moving Target." Three topic presenters briefly outlined the major issues under consideration, and participants asked questions of the panelists by phone. AER members can request a copy of the conference proceedings by going to the AER web site at www.aerbvi.org. Not an AER member? The same web site has a link to join or rejoin!

Technology Training Opportunity in Buffalo!

The New York State School for the Blind (NYSSB) is sponsoring a 1/2 day training from 9AM-12 noon on Tuesday, 6/29/04, at SUNY Buffalo in electronic book access using devices such as: the Plextalk™, the Victor and Book Port™. They will accept the first 10 applicants. Please RSVP as soon as possible to Sumana Silverheels at (716) 829-3141 x108 or email her at: ssheels@buffalo.edu. For information about the APH Book Port™, Plextalk™ and Victor talking book players, see page 5.

The BookCourier from Springer Design, Inc. is yet another digital talking book reading device. Designed for those who are visually impaired or those with disabilities that make reading difficult, BookCourier is a portable, convenient, and economical tool for listening to electronic text, digital files, and music. BookCourier frees you from cumbersome equipment such as cassette players and tapes, or bulky Braille transcriptions for your reading needs. Just download files from your PC or the Internet using the supplied transfer software and you're on your way.

BookCourier includes a built-in MP3 player; a built-in voice recorder; fast forward and fast reverse controls; bookmarks, and other smart navigation controls; a sleep timer and clock; plus easy-to-use controls for adjusting volume, reading speed, and more. And if you have a question about a feature, BookCourier's built-in talking help and talking user guide are immediately at your service.

Powered by 2 AA batteries, BookCourier uses CompactFlash® storage for files (up to 2 GB). The device also has a plug-and-play USB connection for transferring files from the PC using the supplied PC software. Finally, BookCourier is shipped with earphones and a pocket clip. For more information about BookCourier, go to http://www.bookcourier.com

Finding Technology Funding Believe it or not, funding for school technology is plentiful! Corporations, foundations, donors, and even local, state, and federal government agencies have funding they're eager to put in your hands. The trick is in knowing where to find it, how to ask for it, and how to play by the rules when you get it. With support from Dell, the editors of eSchool News have assembled a list of resources at http://www.eschoolnews.com/resources/reports/grants that should facilitate your search for grants and funding.

The PDF Converter will allow users who have difficulty writing to complete forms in Microsoft Word and then print the form(s) for submission.

The PDF Converter functions as a plug-in with applications such as Microsoft Word, Outlook, Windows Explorer and Internet Explorer. Users can view and edit PDF files in Microsoft Word, without the need for Adobe Acrobat while retaining the layout of the original PDF document. For more information on this product visit: http://www.scansoft.com/pdfconverter.

Forecast of Funding Opportunities Under the Department of Education Discretionary Grant Programs for Fiscal Year 2004 This document lists all programs and competitions under which the Department has invited or expects to invite applications for new awards for fiscal year 2004 and provides actual or estimated deadline dates for the transmittal of applications under these programs. The lists are in the form of charts organized according to the Department's principal program offices at the following link: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/find/edlite-forecast.html. This Department of Education site provides information on grant competitions that are currently open: http://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps

New Items on the VESID Special Education Policy Publications Web Page:
http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/home.html

1) "Are you the Parent of a Child with a Disability?"

2) Extension of the Provision of Locally Selected Assessments: Supplemental Guidelines for Participation of Students with Disabilities in State Assessments,

3) Clarification of the Use of Teachers of the Speech and Hearing Handicapped Working for §4410 Programs

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

Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) Fact Sheets are designed to inform the public about important topics that impact children and youth with disabilities. At the request of OSEP, National Longitudinal Transition Study-2 (NLTS2) data along with data from other national studies (e.g., the Special Education Elementary Longitudinal Study, or SEELS) is incorporated into brief reports on varying topics. Fact sheets now available include Special Education: Serving Children Earlier, Providing Expanded Services (July 2003); Standardized Testing among Secondary School Students with Disabilities (April 2004); Read these at: http://www.nlts2.org/reports/osep_factsheets.html

Guidelines and Application for approval of NEW Extended School Year (July/August) Programs and/or Services for Eligible School Age (5-21) Students with Disabilities, July/August 2004 can be found on the VESID web site at the following link: http://www.vesid.nysed.gov/specialed/publications/policy/esy-schoolage2004.htm.

DO-IT is:

- People with disabilities successfully pursuing college and careers, including challenging fields in business, science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

- Resources to promote the use of accessible electronic and information technology and universal design.
- Publications and videotapes for you to reproduce and distribute at presentations and exhibits.
-Resources for K-12 educators, postsecondary faculty and administrators (The Faculty Room), librarians, employers, and parents and mentors.
- Programs that maximize the independence, productivity, and participation of people with disabilities.
- Co-sponsor of AccessIT, the National Center on Accessible Information Technology in Education.
- Accessed by visiting http://www.washington.edu/doit

The latest edition of The Lighthouse International EnVision newsletter -- dedicated to issues that affect children and young adults with impaired vision -- focuses on the fine line between fostering independence and ensuring safety. But you can't read it without registering online! So go to http://webletter.lighthouse.org/cgi-bin5/DM/y/maWS0F28Vn0BVa0BelR0BD.

Pico Pocket-sized Video Magnifier was created by Telesensory for convenience, with a custom case and wrist strap, small enough to fit into a pocket or purse. View pill bottles or price tags in full color, black on white or white on black. Magnification at 5X and a rechargeable battery make this magnifier both functional and portable. For more information or a free demo, call (800) 804-8004 or visit http://www.telesensory.com/Pico.

Three great ways to enjoy SCRABBLE® on your PC! Play classic SCRABBLE®, take on the timer in the new SCRABBLE® Rack Attack, or challenge yourself with SCRABBLE® Blast. To download SCRABBLE®, go to:
http://www.shockwave.com/rd/cr.cgi?k=114054850&c=879&w=1&d=4079.
To play the new SCRABBLE® Rack Attack, go to:
http://www.shockwave.com/rd/cr.cgi?k=114054850&c=879&w=1&d=4080.
To download SCRABBLE® Blast, go to:
http://www.shockwave.com/rd/cr.cgi?k=114054850&c=879&w=1&d=4081.
Save with the SCRABBLE® Pack. Buy all three - SCRABBLE®, SCRABBLE® Rack Attack and SCRABBLE® Blast for just $39.95 – and save $20 at:
http://www.shockwave.com/rd/cr.cgi?k=114054850&c=879&w=1&d=4085.
To play Zuma, a fast-paced action puzzle game online (no download required), copy and paste the following URL: http://www.shockwave.com/rd/cr.cgi?k=114054850&c=879&w=1&d=4086.
Take a Summer Break and save $5 at the Shockwave.com Store, located at:
http://www.shockwave.com/rd/cr.cgi?k=114054850&c=879&w=1&d=4089.

For TVI’s Only
(Suitable for Sharing!)

Technology Tutorials by Katie Beaver!

Free online tutorials, designed by Katie Beaver at the University of Buffalo (UB) Center for Assistive Technology (CAT), designed to be used with JAWS® for Windows, BrailleNote, and ZoomText® Xtra are available at http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/Tutorials.php. Each tutorial includes step-by-step instructions to print out and/or display as a slide show for group instruction, and practice exercises let you practice and master new skills using actual classroom examples.

Visit UB’s video tutorials site link at http://cat.buffalo.edu/refreshablebraille/training.php to see training on the Braille Note in action! A CD tutorial on JAWS for blind users and an Adobe Acrobat format tutorial for sighted instructors of blind students is available at
http://cat.buffalo.edu/refreshablebraille/video/jaws.php.

The tutorial for ZoomText® Xtra is available at
http://atto.buffalo.edu/registered/Tutorials/zoomtext/index.php. Check out these and many more useful resources (including tutorials for Word, IntelliKeys, IntelliTalk and Write:Outloud, as well as links to other tutorials and a link to obtain Duxbury’s SimBraille font) from the UB/CAT web site.

Primary Analogies Booklets from National Braille Press (NBP) Analogies are commonly used on standardized tests these days, but young blind children seldom get a chance to study them. That's because analogy books geared to very young children use pictures. They show a picture of a bat and a picture of a baseball player along with other images to match up. For blind students, we can just put the pictures into words! As they solve and create analogies, students actively process information, make important connections, use information and skills to identify relationships, construct relationships and generate new knowledge, and improve understanding and long-term memory.

National Braille Press’ "Primary Analogies" set of three booklets are produced in large print, uncontracted and contracted braille - all on the same page - so students can read along with their teachers or parents (much like the NBP "Primary Phonics" booklets). The set covers Grades K-3. For more information or to order, go to http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/ANALOGY.html, or send payment to: NBP, 88 St. Stephen Street, Boston, MA 02115-4302, or call (800) 548-7323 or (617) 266-6160 ext 20, or email your order to orders@nbp.org. Check out these and other National Braille Press books online: http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/publications/index.html.

On the Road to Independence: Transition Tips for Students

The Job Accommodation Network (JAN), a service of the Office of Disability Employment Policy at the U.S. Department of Labor, facilitates the employment and retention of workers with disabilities by providing information on job accommodations, self-employment, and small business opportunities. Visit the JAN site at: http://www.onestops.info/article.php?article_id=229

The George Washington University HEATH Resource Center researches summer campus programs for students with disabilities annually. A list of resources has been compiled for students with disabilities who are interested in exploring ways to prepare for college and enhance college performance. The list is available at: http://www.heath.gwu.edu/PDFs/2004SummerPreCollege.pdf

Working Together for Successful Transition: Washington State Adolescent Transition Resource Notebook This make-your-own notebook is a tool for transition from adolescence to adulthood for young adults with special health care needs and disabilities. This web page includes instructions for creating the notebook, as well as links to Microsoft Word documents for the various sections: http://depts.washington.edu/healthtr/notebook/default.html.

AVIVA (Audio-Visual Internet Voicing Appliance) is a simple non-computer appliance with talking menus for people who want access to multimedia information from the Internet and electronic media such as DVD movies, MP3s, CDs or electronic books. A listener may purchase the type of Internet access and range of subscription content that best suits them (including pay-to-listen content options). The IRIS (Internet Radio-Reading Information System), consisting of a receiver just for Internet Audio Radio Reading Service access to journals and magazines and newspapers, without a CD drive costs about $250, and the full AVIVA with CD drive, USB, Ethernet and telephone connections is about $550, plus an average of about $10 per month to subscribe to various pay-to-listen options. For more information, please contact: Talking Solutions Corporation, 255 Washington Street, Suite 100, Newton, MA 02458-1611, call (617) 969-7500 or visit their web site at http://www.talkingsolutionscorp.com

Student, Parent and Family Page

Hey, What’s Cooking? A Kitchen Curriculum for the Parents of Visually Impaired Children by Franziska Naughton and Sharon Sacks
"New parents of a visually impaired child frequently leave the child in the bedroom because it is a safe place." … "The kitchen, with all its equipment, is not a safe place"..."The visually impaired child, more than others, needs to enjoy and learn from the kitchen smells, kitchen textures, kitchen sounds, and kitchen tasks. In the kitchen curriculum we have attempted to put together suggestions to help parents keep a visually impaired child in the kitchen with them." Check out this great new link at http://www.tsbvi.edu/Education/hey-whats-cooking.htm.

For A Limited Time Get The E-text Reader Free
The E-Text Reader uses digital voices for reading documents on your computer. It gives you the ability to change voices, read at any speed, insert highlighting and bookmarks, change font types and sizes and make notes into the document you are reading. The E-Text Reader can read any document in Standard Text, MS Word, RTF ("Rich Text Format") and HTML formats. The price is only $29.95, but for a limited time you can obtain the e-text reader free! For a video demonstration, information on system requirements, a free download, or to order the E-Text Reader, go to http://www.premier-programming.com/elib/etext_reader.htm.

ADI, Audio Description International supports and advocates increased use of Audio Description (AD) in a variety of media around the world. The members of AD International are both professional and amateur Audio Describers, AD consumers, and those interested in promoting the use of AD (See a list of AD organizations around the world at http://adinternational.org/ADIorgs.html).

College: You Can DO-IT! This open-captioned and audio-described video presentation is designed for high school students with disabilities preparing for college. Check it out at the following link: http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/college.html

Learn and Earn: Supporting Teens - parents, teachers, and mentors encourage teens to participate in work-based learning: www.washington.edu/doit/Video/learn_support.html

"Success is not measured by the heights we attain but by the obstacles we overcome."

NYSSB Graduation and Awards Ceremonies

On Thursday, June 17, 2004, NYSSB held its 2004 Graduation and Awards Ceremonies. Our three 2004 graduates processed into the gym with Pomp and Circumstance, where they were greeted and applauded by our Superintendent, Jennifer Ervin, pictured here at the podium, along with their fellow classmates, families, teachers and other NYSSB staff members and members of the community.

One of our younger students led the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by a rendering of "America the Beautiful" on the guitar by one of our graduates. Special music continued by several other students, followed by the presentation of diplomas by our Board of Visitors President, Elaine Powers.

Many awards were given to NYSSB students, beginning with the Victor Wagner Memorial Awards for improvement in civic, community and physical education skills. The Heather Christine Sy Memorial Spirit Award was presented by Heather’s parents to the student who expresses a spirit that is most infectious and appreciative. The Willard A. Genrich Memorial Award was presented to the NYSSB student who exemplifies high standards through the successful achievement of her goals. The Batavia Kiwanis Club presented awards to students making contributions to residential living, and to those showing the most improvement in the use of adaptive switches, swimming, telephone skills, braille skills, and O&M skills. They also presented monetary gifts to this year’s graduates.

The Posmantur Memorial Award, Batavia Lioness Awards, Batavia Lions Club Harold P. Kruger Awards, Genesee County American Legion Awards, Raymond P. Malone Memorial Award, Town of Niagara Lioness Awards, Mary Corra Scholarship Awards, and the Genesee County American Legion Auxiliary Awards were presented to students in various categories, including showing improvement in various areas of communication and listening skills, music, tolerance of medical procedures and taking medications, academics, independent living skills, recreation and community skills, occupational and physical therapy and eating skills and vocational skills. Congratulations to all!

A Focus on APH’s Book Port™, Victor and Plextor®’s Plextalk™ Electronic Book Readers
Book Port™ is a book-reading device from the American Printing House for the Blind (APH) consisting of a small portable unit with a keypad, earbuds, and accompanying software. It allows the user to download and read electronic text files as well as web pages sent from Internet Explorer and translated, contracted braille files with synthetic speech or digital recorded books (including those in the new DAISY digital talking book format) with human speech! Book Port™ includes a USB connector and a CompactFlash® card slot for removable mass storage. Book Port™ allows audio note taking on material you read. Users can navigate within and among files by letter, word, sentence, paragraph or page, setting multiple bookmarks. There is a choice of synthetic speech voices, and the pitch, speed and volume are variable. Book Port™ requires a Pentium®166 MHz or faster processor with Windows® ME or higher, 64 MB of RAM and 15 MB hard disk space and a CD-ROM drive to install the software. It is available from APH on Federal Quota funds!

The Victor digital talking book player http://www.rfbdnj.org/victor.html#anchor28495 only plays "DAISY" compatible books, such as Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic’s (RFB&D's) AudioPlus^® books. The Victor can perform a variety of functions, including locating the page you wish to read, placing bookmarks, and adjusting the playback speed.

The Plextalk™ PTR1 is a battery powered portable text player/recorder, with extensive Daisy, MP3 and standard music CD playback features as well as stand-alone recording capability. Record class lectures or an entire conference proceeding using a built-in microphone or optional external microphone. Record up to 90 hours on a single recordable CD, and during the recording you can create heading and page navigation points for quick and easy navigation later. It also works as a standard external CD-RW drive when attached to a PC with a USB interface. Via a USB connection, you can transfer your recordings into a PC, and then using Plextalk™ Recording Software edit or reorganize the recording for easier use later.
Other features include: bookmarks, advanced direct page or heading navigation, adjustable playback speed, and more. For more information about Plextalk™, go to the following Plextor® link at http://www.plextalk.com/plextalk_portable.html.

Calendar of Upcoming Events

June 25-27 > Guiding Eyes for the Blind O&M Seminar, Yorktown Heights, NY. Contact Bev Klayman (800) 942-0149 or (914) 245-4024, or e-mail bklayman@guidingeyes.org or go to the web site at www.guidingeyes.org

July 13-18, 2004 > AER – Where Dreams Come True! 2004 AER Biennial International Conference, Buena Vista, FL (877) 492-2708 www.aerbvi.org

STV Postscripts: *

AFB eNews is a new, monthly, online publication from the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) containing timely updates of AFB’s activities, programs, and initiatives so that you can stay informed and get involved. In-depth feature articles will cover current critical issues involving blindness and visual impairment. To subscribe, go to AFB’s newly redesigned web site at www.afb.org or contact Brent Hopkins, Editor, AFB eNews, by phone (212) 502-7676 or e-mail bhopkins@afb.net.

Camp: Beyond Summer This video presentation shows how to add Internet experiences to summer camp programs that fully include children and youth with disabilities. The presentation is open-captioned and audio-described to assure access to the content for viewers who are deaf or blind, respectively (Run Time: ~9:58 minutes). View it at: http://www.washington.edu/doit/Video/camp.html.

Share the Vision! is published quarterly by the New York State School for the Blind (NYSSB). Subscription is free and articles and suggestions are always welcome. Archived issues of the newsletter are found at www.vesid.nysed.gov/lsn/resourcetoolbox.htm.

Editor:
Judi Piscitello (585) 343-5384, Option 1 ext. 427
E-mail jpiscite@mail.nysed.gov.
FAX: (585) 344-7026
NYS School for the Blind
2A Richmond Avenue
Batavia, New York 14020

In providing Share the Vision! to its readers, the School for the Blind does not endorse any products or services to which the newsletter refers. The State Education Department does not discriminate on the basis of age, color, religion, creed, disability, marital status, veteran status, national origin, race, gender, genetic predisposition or carrier status, or sexual orientation in its educational programs, services, and activities.

Portions of this publication can be made available in a variety of formats, including braille, large print, or audiotape, upon request. Inquiries concerning this policy of nondiscrimination should be referred to the Department’s Office for Diversity, Ethics, and Access, Room 530, Education Building, Albany, NY 12234.

AERNET Subscribers: Please make use of this NEW address, aernet@lists.aerbvi.org, when posting messages to AERNET.

Is it Braille or braille? Many have asked about the capitalization of the word Braille/braille. The APH, NLS, JVIB and other AFB published materials use the lower case b. Webster's New World Dictionary of American English © 1988 gives the spelling with a capital B and then says [also b-]. Rod Brawley, Manager of the Clearinghouse for Specialized Media & Technology at the American Printing House for the Blind, commented recently: "We just went through this with our Braille Reading Standards Task Force. If the word is used as a noun or an adjective, we use "Braille". If it is used as a verb, we use "braille". "Please braille the document for me." (verb) "The transcriber is brailling the book now." (present progressive) "The Braille document is formatted well." (adjective) "Braille is important." (noun) "Children prefer to read Braille." (noun).

The National Braille Press (NBP) web site states: "The word "braille" can be capitalized or not; both are correct according to Webster's Dictionary. In most of our literature, we at NBP do not capitalize the word so that it may appear the same as the word "print."

Debbie Willis at APH was taught to capitalize Braille: 1) when used as first word in sentence, 2) when used in reference to Grade 1 (uncontracted) or Grade 2 (contracted) Braille, 3) when used in reference to Louis Braille, 4) when used as part of a title (of article, book, product).

What is a PortaBook? Check it out at the NBP site:
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/publications/portabook.html#1

*…Good to the last dot!