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Guild for the Blind
Phone: 312-236-8569 Fax: 312-236-8128
www.guildfortheblind.org
GUILD BRIEFS – May 2009
"Guild Briefs" is made possible in part by grants from the Dr. Scholl Foundation and donations by Guild members.
Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30 am - 4:30 pm. 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
CONTENTS
1. Vision Loss Workshops
2. Considering a Guide Dog?
3. Support Group for Loved Ones
4. Cell Phone Workshop
5. Victor Reader Stream Workshop
6. Learn to Shop with Peapod
7. Career Networking Club
8. Guild Briefs Audio Version
9. Learning to Use Newsline
10. Cell Phone News
11. Internet Explorer 8 Launches with New Accessibility Features
12. Read How You Want
JUNE CALENDAR
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1. Vision Loss Workshops
If you know someone with vision loss, the Guild’s New Visions program can help make the adjustment easier. Introductory presentations will be offered at Swedish Covenant Hospital and Maine Township Senior Center during June, with the full four session workshops in July. Workshops on independence without driving and medication management will be offered in Barrington, Highland Park, Westchester and Arlington Heights. See June calendar dates and times. Contact Kathy Austin at 312-236-8569 or kathya@guildfortheblind.org.
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2. Considering a Guide Dog?
The Guild is hosting a workshop for those considering getting a guide dog. You will have an opportunity to work with a guide dog in a real life situation. We will also provide information about this special partnership and explain the responsibilities of having a guide dog. Free. Fri. July 10, 1:30 pm. Contact Kathy Austin at 312-236-8569 or kathya@guildfortheblind.org.
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3. Support Group for Loved Ones
The Guild is offering a support group to help family and friends feel more confident and less anxious when offering support to their loved ones with vision loss. Beginning July 29, this group will meet for 15 weeks on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 to 7:30 pm. Topics include coping strategies, human guide techniques, communication skills and managing stress. Free. Contact Lauri Dishman at 312-236-8569 or
lauri@guildfortheblind.org.
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4. Cell Phone Workshop
The Guild is offering its popular workshop on adaptive technology for cell phones on Sat., June 6, 10:00 am to 12:00 pm. The workshop will cover both speech and magnification options, descriptions of programs available, where to get them, the cost and what service providers are offering. There will be guest speakers to demonstrate the technology. Free. Contact David Flament at 312-236-8569 or davidf@guildfortheblind.org.
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5. Victor Reader Stream Workshop
The Guild is offering "Welcome to the Victor Reader Stream," our introductory workshop teaching the essentials of operating this powerful device on Wed., June 17, 1:30 to 3:30 pm. Free. You may also purchase the Stream for $349 which includes a 4 GB memory card, no sales tax and no shipping if picked up at the Guild. We accept VA purchase orders and DHS vouchers. Contact Kathy Austin at 312-236-8569 or kathya@guildfortheblind.org.
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6. Learn to Shop with Peapod
The Guild is offering its "Introduction to Online Shopping with Peapod" course. Students will learn how to navigate the site, browse the aisles, make and use a shopping list, search for products and place an order. Sat., Aug. 1, 10:00 am - 2:30 pm. Free. Contact David Flament at 312-236-8569 or davidf@guildfortheblind.org.
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7. Career Networking Club
Baggage Handling—How to Handle Red Flags in Your Job History. An in-depth discussion about how our professional skeletons can act as barriers when trying to put our best foot forward. We’ll look at how to address those issues so we can be more productive in the job search. Free. Thur., June 11, 1:30 - 3:30 pm. Contact Lauri Dishman at 312-236-8569 or lauri@guildfortheblind.org.
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8. Guild Briefs Audio Version
The Guild is partnering with the National Federation of the Blind, Illinois Chapter to post our Guild Briefs on their Newsline service. This partnership allows us to offer you current and past issues of Guild Briefs through the convenience of your phone. Newsline also provides free access to over 250 local and national newspapers from any phone. You must be a Talking Books subscriber with an active status to use Newsline. If you would like to sign up, contact the Guild for an application, Harold Washington Library (Chicago residents) at 312-747-4001 or Voices of Vision (suburban residents) at 630-208-0398. You must have a letter from an eye care professional stating you are legally blind to qualify for this program. This enhanced audio version will replace Guild Briefs on audio tape, which we will cease offering with this issue.
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9. Learning to Use Newsline
The Guild is offering a workshop on using NFB Newsline on Tue., June 9, 1:30 pm. A representative from Newsline will be on hand to sign you up for the service. Contact Kathy Austin at 312-236-8569 or kathya@guildfortheblind.org.
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10. Cell Phone News
Google has developed software that makes the touch-screen T-Mobile G1 more accessible. In addition, Verizon has announced the availability of TALKS for Verizon Wireless -- a new assistive technology offering audio feedback for messaging, dialing, e-mailing, Caller ID, adding and editing contact entries, writing documents and browsing the Internet. Users can adjust the volume and the rate of speech. TALKS, with the Moto Q9c, is $249.99 after mail-in rebates and with a two-year contract. Existing customers interested in TALKS, call Verizon Customer Service at 800-922-0204. These and other phones will be discussed at the Guild’s June 6 cell phone workshop.
Click here to read article.
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11. Internet Explorer 8 Launches with New Accessibility Features
The Internet is easier to use with accessibility settings and features in Internet Explorer 8. Internet Explorer 8 has better compatibility with assistive technology products and new and improved accessibility features including Caret Browsing, Accelerators, and Zooming to make Internet navigation easier than ever. Enhanced keyboard access is also available. Visit:
http://www.microsoft.com/enable/products/ie8/.
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12. Read How You Want
HumanWare and ReadHowYouWant, a digital publishing company, are partnering to help readers discover the book-reading device and the format that's right for their reading needs. ReadHowYouWant offers thousands of books in accessible formats, including 24 pt. large print, braille and DAISY files at
www.readhowyouwant.com/. HumanWare provides playback devices to use with braille and DAISY files at www.humanware.com/en-usa/home.
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JUNE CALENDAR
Tues., June 2, 4:00 pm: Guild Tech Exchange. Topic: What’s new in the Guild’s Consumer Product Center? Contact Kathy Austin at 312-236-8569 or
kathya@guildfortheblind.org.
Sat., June 6, 10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Guild Cell Phone Workshop.
Click here to read article.
Tues., June 9, 3:00 pm: New Visions introductory presentation at The Hallmark, Chicago. For all New Visions and Next Steps programs, contact Kathy Austin at 312-236-8569 or
kathya@guildfortheblind.org.
Tues., June 9, 1:30 pm: Learning to use Newsline.
Click here to read article.
Thur., June 11, 1:00 pm: Next Steps - Independence Without Driving at Barrington Area Council on Aging.
Thur., June 11, 1:30 - 3:30 pm: Baggage Handling—How to Handle Red Flags in Your Job History.
Click here to read article.
Fri., June 12, 10:00 am: Next Steps - Independence Without Driving at Highland Park Senior Center.
Wed., June 17 at 10:15 am: Next Steps - Medication Management at The Moorings, Arlington Heights.
Wed., June 17, 1:30 pm: Victor Reader Stream workshop.
Click here to read article.
Thur., June 18, 10:00 am: New Visions introductory presentation at Swedish Covenant Hospital, Chicago.
Thur., June 18, 9:00 am – 3:45 pm: Integrating GPS Technology into Independent Travel at the Chicago Lighthouse. Call (312) 666-1331
Fri., June 19, 10:00 am: New Visions Introductory presentation at Maine Township Senior Center, Park Ridge.
Wed., June 24, 1:00 pm: Next Steps - Independence Without Driving at Westchester Village Hall-Aging Well Group.
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