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GUILD BRIEFS - March 2008
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. March New Visions Locations
2. Guild Crochet Class
3. Gardening with Vision Loss
4. Tech Exchange - Exploring Microsoft Vista and Office 2007
5. Guild Job Readiness Training Program
6. Large Print Calendar Printing Error
7. Welcome Back Lauri
8. Guild Briefs Readers' Survey
9. Victor Reader Stream Offers Audible.com Books
10. Amazon.com to Be Fully Accessible
11. Cell Phone that Reads to the Blind and Dyslexic
12. New ZoomText Released
13. Virtual Visual Impairment Conference
14. Free Tax Preparation
15. Stem Cell Research Meeting
16. Win Free Children’s Braille Books
March Calendar
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1. March New Visions Locations
The Guild’s popular New Visions workshops will be hosted by the Elmhurst Public Library in Elmhurst and the Bernard Horwich JCC in Chicago. If you or someone you know is new to vision loss, New Visions can help. See calendar items for dates and times. Contact Kathy Austin at 312-236-8569 or kathya@guildfortheblind.org.
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The Guild welcomes back Donna Palicka of Sister-ARTS Studio. Donna will demonstrate crochet basics. Practice wool will be provided. Crochet hook and yarn available for purchase from instructor. Free. March 4 and 18, 6:00-8:00 pm. Attendance at both sessions is recommended. Contact Polly Abbott at 312-236-8569 or polly@guildfortheblind.org.
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Gardening is a rewarding hobby that promotes a healthy lifestyle. Even if you have vision loss, you can still create and care for a garden, small or large. The program will be held at the Guild. Free. Sat., April 5 at 10:00 am. Contact Kathy Austin at 312-236-8569 or kathya@guildfortheblind.org.
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4. Tech Exchange - Exploring Microsoft Vista and Office 2007
March’s Tech Exchange will explore the new Vista operating system and Office 2007. Tue., March 4, 4:00 – 6:00 pm. All levels of computer users are welcome to attend to learn more about adaptive technology. Contact Kathy Austin or David Flament at 312-236-8569.
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5. Guild Job Readiness Training Program
Applications are now being accepted for the Guild’s Job Readiness Training Program, which begins March 3. If you want to be considered for this 3-week course, please contact Lauri Dishman at 312-236-8569 or lauri@guildfortheblind.org. For those not ready for the March program, it will be repeated again in both May and June.
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6. Large Print Calendar Printing Error
There is a printing error in some of the large print wall calendars in the month of August. Please check to see if your calendar shows August 1 as a Friday in 2008. If not, you have a misprinted calendar and can contact Brian at 312-236-8569 or brian@guildfortheblind.org for a replacement.
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The week of February 18, we welcomed back Lauri Dishman from maternity leave. For those who hadn't heard, baby Grayson Loch Gordon is doing splendidly.
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8. Guild Briefs Readers' Survey
The Guild will be conducting a phone survey to gather readers' comments and suggestions about Guild Briefs. This survey will be conducted in April and we are currently seeking volunteers to help us call our readers to solicit their opinions. If you are interested in helping out, please contact Cheryl Megurdichian at 312-236-8569 or cherylm@guildfortheblind.org.
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9. Victor Reader Stream offers Audible.com books
Victor Reader Stream, the pocket-sized MP3 player designed for people with vision loss, now can play the popular Audible.com books. Current users will need to upgrade their player to software version 1.1 to play these books. For more information, visit www.humanware.com.
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10. Amazon.com to Be Fully Accessible
The National Federation of the Blind and online retailer, Amazon, have announced that Amazon.com will be fully accessible to computer users with vision loss by June 30.
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11. Cell Phone that Reads to the Blind and Dyslexic
K-NFB Technologies has announced the availability of K-NFB Reader, the smallest text-to-speech reading device. K-NFB Technologies has loaded its Symbian operating system onto a specially-designed Nokia N82 cell phone. The Reader turns text or photographed documents into speech. In addition to identifying currency, it also allows users to read anything that is photographed, such as a restaurant menu, a phone book or a fax. Cost: $2,100. For more information, visit: www.knfbreader.com/products-
mobile.php.
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Ai Squared recently released ZoomText USB, a portable program on a USB memory drive that fits in your pocket. The drive enables users to install and run ZoomText wherever and whenever needed without having to purchase additional licensing. Just plug in the USB drive and, if ZoomText has already been installed on the system, immediately use the software. If ZoomText hasn't been installed, a low-vision-friendly setup program launches for a quick installation. Visit www.aisquared.com or call 800-859-0270.
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13. Virtual Visual Impairment Conference
OcuSource EXPO 2008 is a year-long virtual conference on visual impairment. This web-conference offers participants interactive online presentations, exhibit "booths," and online entertainment events. The conference offers a series of monthly events, kicking off March 26. Visit: ocusource.com/main.cfm?page=vision&topic=osexpo.
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The Center for Economic Progress is offering free tax preparation for families earning less than $40,000 or individuals earning less than $15,000 until April 15. The Center has 39 sites throughout the Chicago area. For more information, visit www.centerforprogress.org or call 312-630-0273.
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15. Stem Cell Research Meeting
The Foundation Fighting Blindness presents Dr. David Gamm of the University of Wisconsin at Madison, who will discuss stem cell research on such diseases as retinitis pigmentosa and macular degeneration. Sun., March 2, 1:00 pm, Feinberg Pavilion of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, 251 W. Huron, Chicago. Contact Jay Popek at 708-652-4614.
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16. Win Free Children’s Braille Books
Seedlings Braille Books for Children is offering a chance to win free children’s braille books. The entry form can be found at www.seedlings.org, click on "Special Projects," then on "Anna's Book Angel Project" or call 800-777-8552.
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Sun., Mar. 2, 1:00 pm: Foundation Fighting Blindness presents Dr. David Gamm.
Mon., Mar. 3: Job Readiness Training, a 3-week program at the Guild.
Tues., March 4, 10:00 am: New Visions Introductory Presentation at Bernard Horwich JCC, Chicago. For all New Visions workshops, contact Kathy Austin at 312-236-8569 or kathya@guildfortheblind.org.
Tues., March 4, 4:00 pm: Tech Exchange--Exploring Microsoft Vista and Office 2007. Contact Kathy Austin at 312-236-8569 or kathya@guildfortheblind.org.
Tues., Mar. 4 and 18, 6:00-8:00 pm: Crochet class at the Guild.
Thurs., March 13, 1:30 pm: New Visions Introductory presentation at Elmhurst Public Library, Elmhurst.
Wed., March 19, 26, April 2 & 9, 9:30 am: New Visions Workshop at Bernard Horwich JCC, Chicago.
Thurs., March 20, 27, April 3 & 10, 1:30 pm: New Visions Workshop at Elmhurst Public Library, Elmhurst.
Sat. April 5, 10:00 am: Gearing Up for Spring Gardening at the Guild.
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