Guild Briefs Current Issue

GUILD BRIEFS -- May 2012

Thank you to Horizons for the Blind for the braille transcription of Guild Briefs.

Guild Briefs is made possible in part by donations from Guild members.

Office and Consumer Product Center Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am-4:30 pm.

The following articles are not an endorsement by the Guild for the Blind's editorial staff.
Editors, Kathy Austin and Edwin Hill

Changing Times
Southland Vision Solutions
ZoomText Classes at the Guild
Letter Perfect Handwriting Workshop
New Visions in Your Community
Windows 7/MS Office 2010
Opening Doors Series for TVIs
Memorial Day Closing
Mobility Week at the Guild
Chicagoland Low Vision Fairs
Attention Apple Product Users
Portal Tutoring
Caregiver Support

Changing Times

The Guild will be celebrating 65 years of helping our members live their lives to the fullest. Times have changed and so have we. It is in our nature to constantly adjust and adapt to what our members want and what we see they need. We believe our current programs provide a solid and complementary core of services. But, our name does not reflect what we do or who we are.

After a year-long process, we have selected a new name that embodies our mission. We selected our name as it speaks on several different levels about who we are, who our members are and what we do. We work with our members to help them gain a second sense of self, find a new sense of purpose and rediscover their sense of humor. Our programs also help our members use their common sense, along with their senses of hearing and touch, to learn new ways to do old tasks.

Same services, same staff, same commitment to our members, same sense of belonging – with a new name. Welcome to Second Sense!
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Southland Vision Solutions

We are pleased to host the third annual Southland Vision Solutions at the Marie Irwin Community Center in Homewood on Saturday, May 19 at 9:00 am. Learn about the important professionals you want on your low vision team, how to socialize with confidence and how to enjoy cooking and other hobbies. Visit with representatives from a wide variety of organizations who can provide you with the tools you need to stay active, involved and informed. Free hearing screenings are also available. To learn more about our free expo, call or email Kathy Austin at the Guild.
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ZoomText Classes at the Guild

Beginning Wednesday, May 9, our comprehensive ZoomText course is being taught by David Flament, our Manager of Adaptive Technology Services. The course explores the use of ZoomText in the Windows environment, MS Word, Excel, Internet and email. Classes meet on Wednesdays and Fridays from 1:00 to 4:00 pm for twelve weeks. To register, contact David Flament at the Guild.

Letter Perfect Handwriting Workshop

If your handwriting isn’t what it used to be, we have just the class for you! Our Letter Perfect workshop helps you improve the legibility of your handwriting with skill-building techniques and tools designed especially for this task. To register for Letter Perfect on Monday, May 7 from 10:00 to 11:30 am, call or email Polly Abbott at the Guild.

New Visions in Your Community

Our New Visions program is packed with important resources, available services and tips for coping with vision loss in an interactive three-session workshop. On Wednesday, May 9, 16 and 23 at 1:30 pm, our program visits the Bridgeway of Bensenville. To register or to host a New Visions workshop in your community, call or email Kathy Austin at the Guild.

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Windows 7/MS Office 2010

Are you making the change from Windows XP to Windows 7? Having trouble with the new ribbon menus? We can help! Join David Flament on Saturday, May 12 from 10:00 to 2:30 pm for a special workshop to explore the new Start Menu, the new File Dialogue Box, the Upper and Lower Ribbons and a new method for using keyboard commands. Both screen-reader and magnification users are welcome at this workshop. To register, David Flament at the Guild.
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Opening Doors Series for TVIs

Our Moving Forward with JAWS workshop provides TVIs with hands-on experience with the advanced functions of JAWS. Learn how to navigate the entire computer screen using both the JAWS and PC cursors, change settings using the Start Up Wizard and use the Settings Center to customize other JAWS settings. CPDUs are available and registration is free for Illinois AER members. To register, contact David Flament at the Guild.
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Memorial Day

The Guild is closed Monday, May 28 for Memorial Day. Hello summer!
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Mobility Week at the Guild

June 4-9 is Mobility Week at the Guild featuring presentations relating to getting from Point A to Point B. From canes to dogs to humans, we’ve got you covered! Choose one or all of the following:

Mobility Tools in Action (Wednesday, June 6 at 10:00 am) features product demonstrations of the Ultra Cane and other aids to enhance mobility.

New Dog, Old Tricks (Friday, June 8, at 1:30 pm) provides you with insight into what it’s like to be a part of a guide dog team from the perspective of a newly graduated guide team to experienced guide dog travelers.

More than Just an Elbow (Saturday, June 9 at 10:00 am) prepares you and your sighted companion on proper human guide technique.

Have GPS, Will Travel, Part 1 (Saturday, June 9 at 10:00 am) provides an overview of different GPS options – from mainstream products to programs designed for people with vision loss.

Have GPS, Will Travel, Part 2 (Saturday, June 9 at 1:00 pm) takes you out into the wide open spaces of Millennium Park to test out the various GPS systems.

Reserve your space now by calling or emailing Kathy Austin at the Guild.
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Chicagoland Low Vision Fairs

Take advantage of the information available at three low vision fairs hosted in and around Chicago during May and June. Here is an overview:

The Des Plaines Public Library on Saturday, May 12 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm features the latest in adaptive technology to help improve or maintain independence. Don’t miss Polly Abbott’s vision friendly kitchen products demonstration at this fair. For more information, call 847-376-2793.

CJE Senior Life at 3000 W. Touhy Avenue in Chicago is hosting a senior and people with disabilities event on Friday, May 25 from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. Apply for a reduced fair transit card and learn about other services in the area. To learn more, call 773-508-1000.

DuPage Center for Independent Living is sponsoring the 18th annual Low Vision Awareness Day at the College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn on Wednesday, June 13 from 1:00 to 4:00 pm providing information on educational programs, support groups and technology products. The keynote presentation, “Emerging Trends and Treatments in Vision Rehabilitation,” takes place at 3:00 pm. To learn more, call Pat Byrne at 630-469-2300. Don’t forget to stop by the Guild’s table at all three of these free events!
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Attention Apple Product Users

Applevis.com is a community-based forum where people with vision loss can share and browse existing guides, discussion groups and information on a variety of apps and accessories for iPods, iPads, iPhones and more. To join in the conversation, visit the Applevis website.
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Portal Tutoring

Portal Tutoring is devoted to assisting people with vision loss who want to learn about using the Internet for shopping, employment and leisure, as well as learn about reading and writing braille, using adaptive equipment and using computers with adaptive technology. For more information about their tutoring courses, visit the Portal Tutoring website or call Ann Parsons at 585-244-0477.
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Caregiver Support

MD Support, a non-profit organization for people with Macular Degeneration, has created a handbook providing resources and support for the informal caregiver. The free publication is available in print and online. To order, call Dan Roberts at 816-761-7080 or visit www.mdsupport.org.
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May Calendar

Fri., May 4, 1:00 pm: Magnifier Madness at Mayslake Village, Oak Brook
Mon., May 7, 10:00 am: Letter Perfect at Guild
Wed., May 9, 1:00 pm: ZoomText class begins
Wed., May 9, 16 & 23, 1:30 pm: New Visions at Bridgeway of Bensenville
Thurs., May 10, 12:30 pm: Dining with Confidence at Wheeling Township, Arlington Heights
Sat., May 12, 10:00 am: Windows 7 and MS Office 2010
Sat., May 12, 10:00 am: Des Plaines Library Fair
Sat., May 19, 9:00 am: Southland Vision Solutions Expo, Homewood
Thurs., May 24, 1:30 pm: Letter Perfect at Levy Senior Center, Evanston
Thurs., May 24, 1:00 pm: Moving Forward with JAWS TVI workshop
Fri., May 25, 10:00 am: CJE Senior Life Fair