Tune in on Saturday, July 3, 2010, as ACB Radio World presents the 60th Anniversary Celebration of Enchanted Hills Camp.
This 6-hour special will feature interviews with camp alumni and staff.
The celebration will begin at 10 a.m. and conclude at 4 p.m. (Pacific Time). Listeners can call in and be put on the air by contacting Dan Kysor at 916-812-1542.
The broadcast will also be streamed live at www.acbradio.org/world.
The following two employment opportunities are open at ILRCSF. Both positions are open until filled.
Admin Assistant Job Description
Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter to Jessie@ilrcsf.org.
Independent Living Resource Center San Francisco (ILRCSF) is a disability rights advocacy and support organization. Our mission is to ensure that people with disabilities are full social and economic partners, within their families and within a fully accessible community. ILRCSF’s mission is achieved by: systems change; community education; partnerships with business, community organizations and government; and consumer directed services. We work to empower individuals and community, so that all people with disabilities have as full, productive and independent lives as they so chose.
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education have sent a letter to colleges and universities about the use of electronic book readers that are not accessible to students who are blind or have low vision. The letter points out a serious problem with some of these devices that do not have an accessible text-to-speech function. Requiring use of an emerging technology in a classroom environment when that technology is inaccessible to an entire population of individuals with disabilities–individuals with visual disabilities–may constitute discrimination prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504).
–from Disability.gov
“Technology is the hallmark of the future, and technological competency is essential to preparing all students for future success. Emerging technologies are an educational resource that enhances learning for everyone, and perhaps especially for students with disabilities. Technological innovations have opened a virtual world of commerce, information, and education to many individuals with disabilities for whom access to the physical world remains challenging. Ensuring equal access to emerging technology in university and college classrooms is a means to the goal of full integration and equal educational opportunity for this nation’s students with disabilities. With technological advances, procuring electronic book readers that are accessible should be neither costly nor difficult.”
–excerpt from letter
The U.S. Department of Justice and the U.S. Department of Education have sent a letter to colleges and universities about the use of electronic book readers that are not accessible to students who are blind or have low vision. The letter points out a serious problem with some of these devices that do not have an accessible text-to-speech function. Requiring use of an emerging technology in a classroom environment when that technology is inaccessible to an entire population of individuals with disabilities–individuals with visual disabilities–may constitute discrimination prohibited by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (Section 504).
–from Disability.gov
“Technology is the hallmark of the future, and technological competency is essential to preparing all students for future success. Emerging technologies are an educational resource that enhances learning for everyone, and perhaps especially for students with disabilities. Technological innovations have opened a virtual world of commerce, information, and education to many individuals with disabilities for whom access to the physical world remains challenging. Ensuring equal access to emerging technology in university and college classrooms is a means to the goal of full integration and equal educational opportunity for this nation’s students with disabilities. With technological advances, procuring electronic book readers that are accessible should be neither costly nor difficult.”
–excerpt from letter
The LightHouse looks forward to this technology arriving at Disneyland in California!
Disney Unveils First-of-its-Kind Outdoor Audio Description Technology for Guests with Disabilities. (Complete article at the Access Tech News blog.)
LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla., June 22, 2010 – Beginning June 27, guests with visual disabilities will be able to explore Walt Disney World theme parks in a whole new way through an enhanced Disney-designed device that provides detailed audio description of outdoor areas and fits in the palm of a guest’s hand.
“Disney Parks have long been at the forefront of providing accessibility for guests with disabilities,” said Greg Hale, chief safety officer and vice president of Worldwide Safety and Accessibility for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. “We are pleased to build on this legacy with new technology that enables us to do something that has never been done before – provide rich audio description in moving rides and outdoor environments.”
Link to a demo of the outdoor environment audio description: http://ncamftp.wgbh.org/disneyareadx/MK_AreaDX_Demo_Short.html
If you do not receive this listing in your inbox every Thursday, join the distribution list by emailing bberenson@old.lighthouse-sf.org
This listing is compiled by the Resource Center at the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired. It is compiled weekly as a service to the blind and visually impaired community of Northern California. If you have a meeting or event information that would be appropriate for inclusion in this list, please email info@old.lighthouse-sf.org. This list will be updated every Thursday. Information for each Thursday’s listing must be submitted by the Tuesday prior to publication.
Download this file to read the listing: Northern California Entertainment and Recreation listing June 25 2010
The Jules Stein Eye Institute at University of California, Los Angeles is seeking clinical research volunteers. Dr. Michael B. Gorin is conducting a nationwide study of genetic and other risk factors that contribute to the development of age-related macular degeneration (also known as Age-Related Maculopathy). Individuals or members of their family may be eligible to participate in this observational study (this is not a treatment trial) which does not require that individuals travel to UCLA, but allows individuals to participate through a confidential and secure website. Individuals will be required to give 1 saliva sample or have their blood drawn (20 ml). Photographs of the retina will be covered by the study.
The study is looking for:
1. Individuals from 49 to 65 years old who have/had a least one parent with macular degeneration. Spouses or partners will be included.
2. The parent(s) who have Age-Related Macular degeneration or have a first-degree relative with the disease (siblings).
If an individual wishes to learn more about this study, they can go to the following website and read about the study with complete anonymity (and even send questions to the research coordinators).
https://jseiclinres.jsei.ucla.edu/garm/
Call Dr. Michael B. Gorin or a research coordinator at 1-800-286-8581 for more information.
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing seeks public comment on efforts to make U.S. currency accessible to people with vision impairments. In a notice published in the Federal Register on May 20, the Bureau outlined potential actions to be undertaken and posed specific questions to the public. The Bureau is proposing to add a raised tactile feature to indicate currency denomination and to improve visual access through larger numbers, higher contrast, and more distinct color schemes. In addition, the agency is also considering a supplemental program to provide currency readers free to those who need them and to explore emerging technological solutions to further improve accessibility. These actions are based on a study of the issue previously commissioned by the Bureau and stem from a ruling in a court case filed by the American Council of the Blind.
The notice specifically seeks public input on criteria for tactile and visual features, including the type and location of tactile features, the size and contrast of numerals, impacts on cash handling industries and equipment, the currency reader program, and other topics. The notice, which includes instructions on submitting comment, is available through the online edition of the Federal Register at www.gpoaccess.gov/fr/index.html. Comments are due August 18. For further information, contact Ellen Gano of the Bureau at (202) 874-1200.
Bryan Bashin, LightHouse CEO, and Josh Miele, scientist and LightHouse board member, discuss the digital divide when it comes to many new smartphones.
Smartphones Flunk for Blind Users
Blind users see digital divide in new generation phones
Smartphones can be pretty clueless when it comes to blind or visually impaired users.
For millions of consumers with normal vision, smartphones offer almost effortless conference calling, e-mailing and Internet browsing. They make it easy to find a gas station, a rental car or a recipe. Vast music libraries and video games are expected features for a device with a $200 to $600 price tag, although some people stay prefer to continue playing on computers, since they can use their favorite hardware as the logitech g105 gaming keyboard, and play games more advanced games that are just for the computer such as overwatch and get overwatch boosting from different online sites.
But for many in the blind and visually impaired community, the absence of physical buttons on most smartphones makes interactions with some devices virtually impossible.
A message from Marin Center for Independent Living:
This July 26th marks the 20th anniversary and passage of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The Marin Center for Independent Living (MCIL) is encouraging everyone to come out and celebrate! MCIL will be hosting a Hawaiian Luau Barbecue on July 16th from 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. (located at the Red Cross Bldg. across from MCIL).
The event will include live music, an ADA keynote speaker, free food and drinks. Wear your best Hawaiian shirt or getup because MCIL will be awarding door prizes for the best-dressed participant!
Please RSVP via phone.
Jessie M. Sandoval, J.D. 415-459-6245, ext. 27
