GUILD BRIEFS - DECEMBER 2007"
Guild Briefs" is made possible in part by grants from the Amicus Foundation, Dr. Scholl Foundation and donations by Guild members.
Office Hours: Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Open computer lab available on Saturday by appointment only. If the hours listed above do not meet your needs, please contact us to discuss other arrangements. The following articles do not constitute an endorsement by the Guild for the Blind's editorial staff. --Editor, Edwin Hill Guild for the Blind Phone: (312) 236-8569 Fax: (312) 236-8128 http://www.guildfortheblind.org
1. Beginner Braille Class
2. Crocheting Workshop
3. Resumes and Cover Letters using Microsoft Word® with JAWS®
4. Laptop Loan Program
5. Holiday Shopping at the Guild
6. Braille Calendar Error
7. Discovery Low Vision Confererence
8. Young Professionals Board
9. Guild Wish List
10. Guild Holiday Closing
11. New Consumer Network
12. Microsoft Accessibility Newsletter
13. Hadley Offers New Braille Reading Course
14. New Reading Service
15. Audio Books and More
16. Adapting Your Home
17. VisionAWARE Forum
18. Tactile Map of Canada and US
December Calendar
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1. Beginner Braille Class: The Guild is again offering its popular beginning braille class. Do you need a pencil and paper substitute? Do you want to learn to read the braille on elevator panels, restrooms signs or alphabetize your music collection? A new class will be starting on Jan. 7, 2008. Class runs on Mondays from 1:30 to 3:30 pm for 12 weeks. Free. Contact Polly Abbott at 312-236-8569 or polly@guildfortheblind.org. Return to top
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2. Crocheting Workshop: Would you like to learn to crochet? The Guild is considering offering a crocheting workshop. If the response is sufficient, a workshop will be scheduled in 2008. Contact Polly or 312-236-8569 or polly@guildfortheblind.org. Return to top
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3. Resumes and Cover Letters using Microsoft Word® with JAWS®: The Guild is offering a 3-hour workshop on creating resumes and cover letters using Word® with JAWS®. Learn how to draft a basic resume and cover letter using common formatting tools. Wed., Dec. 5, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, Free. Registration limited to 6. Contact Lauri Dishman at (312) 236-8569 or lauri@guildfortheblind.org. Return to top
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4. Laptop Loan Program: The Guild has a laptop loan program for members associated with our Adaptive Technology and Career Services departments. All laptops have the latest version of ZoomText and JAWS. Free, although a deposit is required to checkout the equipment. Contact David Flament at 312-236-8569 or davidf@guildfortheblind.org. Return to top
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5. Holiday Shopping at the Guild: Surprise your loved one with a Talking Caller I.D. ($27.50). They will know you called. What better way to show that you care? Perhaps you would like more quality time? Consider playing UNO ($12.50) or cards in large print (Jumbo $3.00) or braille ($7.50). Contact Brian Hollandsworth at 312-236-8569 or brian@guildfortheblind.org. Return to top
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6. Braille Calendar Error: There is an error in the 2008 braille calendars that the Guild distributed. The calendar lists Good Friday as March 28 instead of 21 and Easter as March 30 instead of the 23. We apologize for any confusion. The calendars are still available. Contact Brian at 312-236-8569 or brian@guildfortheblind.org. Return to top
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7. Discovery Low Vision Conference: The Discovery Conference will be held on December 6-8 at the Holiday Inn Mart Plaza, 350 W. Mart Center Dr., Chicago. Guild staff will be presenting several workshops on Thursday and facilitating two of the three Saturday sessions, which will include information on technology and basic vision rehabilitation resources. To receive a registration packet, please call us at 312- 236-8569 or visit www.guildfortheblind.org. Return to top
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8. Young Professionals Board: The Guild is forming a Young Professionals Board. If you know someone aged 22-35 who is looking for a great cause to support and likes to plan fundraising events, please have him/her contact Cheryl Megurdichian at 312-236-8569 or cherylm@guildfortheblind.org. Return to top
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9. Guild Wish List: The Guild is currently looking for the following in-kind donations: window blinds for our conference room to provide privacy during meetings or small group counseling sessions, matching side chairs for our reception and product center areas, and AA or AAA batteries to be given to members in their products so they are ready to use when they leave our office. If you would like to donate any of these items or have something else you think we can use, please contact Cheryl Megurdichian at 312-236-8569 or cherylm@guildfortheblind.org. Return to top
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10. Guild Holiday Closing: The Guild will be closed Dec. 24, 25, 31 and Jan. 1. Happy Holidays. Return to top
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11. New Consumer Network: The Center for Assistive Technology & Environmental Access (CATEA) announces the CATEA Consumer Network (CCN), a network of older adults and people with disabilities. Members of CCN test new prototypes, products and services in order to improve them through focus groups, field-testing and surveys. By becoming a member of CCN, you will be among the first to preview new developments in these areas and provide input to make them more usable and accessible. You will receive a newsletter to keep you up to date. Membership is free and CCN studies may provide payments to participants. The CCN is an initiative of Georgia Tech's Center for Assistive Technology and Environmental Access. Visit: www.catea.org/ccn/ccn.php. Contact 800-726-9119 or ccn@coa.gatech.edu. Return to top
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12. Microsoft Accessibility Newsletter: The Microsoft Accessibility Update is a free e-mail newsletter that provides information about accessibility, including options in Microsoft products. This newsletter is managed by the same group that manages the Microsoft Accessibility Web site. To subscribe, visit msdn.microsoft.com/accessibility. Return to top
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13. Hadley Offers New Braille Reading Course: The Hadley School for the Blind is offering a new course, "Experience Braille Reading." The course introduces you to many types of braille texts and helps improve your reading. Contact Student Services at 800-526-9909. Return to top
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14. New Reading Service: ReadThisToMe is a free reading service that allows people with vision loss to have printed documents read to them over the phone. All you need is a phone line and a fax machine. The service is available throughout the U.S. and can handle documents that electronic reading hardware and software cannot, such as handwritten documents or those with complex graphics. Contact 877-333-8847 or visit www.readthistome.org. Return to top
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15. Audio Books and More: AudioForBooks is a website about audio books that contains articles, how-to guides, reviews, a blog and much more. Visit www.AudioForBooks.com. Return to top
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16. Adapting Your Home: The American Foundation for the Blind has updated its Senior Site to include suggestions on adapting your house for comfort and safety. Topics include lighting, organization and contrast. Visit: www.afb.org/seniorsite.asp?SectionID=65. Return to top
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17. VisionAWARE Forum: VisionAWARE is a web site that provides information to enhance quality of life and independence for adults with vision loss, and those that care for them. VisionAWARE offers an on-line forum to ask questions, share daily living hints, and describe available services, helpful devices, new technologies and medical advances. For more information visit: www.visionaware.org/forums. Return to top
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18. Tactile Map of Canada and US: The Princeton Braillists announce the availability of Maps of Canada and the United States. The book features 28 pages of tactile maps and braille key pages. $20. Send check to The Princeton Braillists, 76 Leakbrook Lane, Princeton, NJ 08540. Return to top
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December Calendar
Wed. Dec. 5, 9 am – 12:00 pm: Resumes and Cover Letters with JAWS®. See article above.
Fri., Dec. 21 at 5:15 pm: Blind Services Association Guild Dog User Holiday Party at Bridget McNeil’s Irish Pub, 420 W. Belmont Ave., Chicago. RSVP Allen West (312) 236-0808.
Mon., Jan. 7, 1:30 - 3:30 pm: Beginning Braille class. See article above.
Fri. Jan. 11, 5:30pm: American Council of the Blind Metropolitan Chicago Holiday Party at Ex Chequer Restaurant 226 S. Wabash. RSVP to Maureen Heneghan at (773) 775-3595. Return to top
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