Announcing Burns Braille Guide: A Quick Reference to Unified English Braille
We're very pleased to announce the recent publication of the revised Burns Braille Guide: A Quick Reference to Unified English Braille, Second Edition, by Mary F. Burns.
Burns Braille Guide is a reference guide to Unified English Braille for translation of print to braille or braille to print for teachers of students with visual impairments and others who have need for braille translation. This revised and updated edition reflects the range of changes introduced in the transition from English Braille American Edition (EBAE) to Unified English Braille (UEB).
Burns Braille Guide is 110 pages long and is now available in paperback for $24.95. The electronic formats, e-books for $17.50 and online subscription for $14.95, will be available shortly.
Coffee House Press Announces Conversion of 80+ Titles Formatted for Visually Impaired Readers
Inspired by a long-time reader, endowed with a grant administered by VSA Minnesota, Coffee House Press has converted more than 80 of their titles for use with screen readers that make text accessible to readers who are blind or visually impaired.
Coffee House Press sought to understand how the blind and visually impaired community accessed reading materials, to add substantially to the materials available, and to overcome current limitations, such as membership and other fees required by existing organizations. Starting the practice of having a text file with an easily navigable internal structure, along with print and electronic versions of Coffee House books, provides greater access to their work and establishes this practice as a responsibility of publishers today.
Special attention was given to poetry titles and prose with innovative forms and, in addition to the most recent titles, backlist titles going back to 1990 have been converted.
Among the titles converted are: Prelude to Bruise by Saeed Jones, winner of the 2015 Stonewall Book Award/Barbara Gittings Literature Award and a finalist for the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award, as well as Dark. Sweet. by Linda Hogan, which offers readers the sweep of Hogan's work—environmental and spiritual concerns, her Chickasaw heritage—in spare, elemental, visionary language. Coffee House Press books formatted for screen readers can be purchased by contacting the press.
Free Community, Culture, and Technology Fair in New York City
On Saturday, October 17th, 2015, the Andrew Heiskell Library, located at 40 West 20th Street, Manhattan, New York City, will turn its library into a hub for representatives from New York's great cultural institutions, premier museums, sports programs, technology vendors, and community organizations, specifically focusing on offerings for people who are blind, visually impaired, or physically disabled. Hear from engaging speakers, have fun with hands-on art, meet people from dozens of organizations, explore tools for independent living, try out cutting-edge access technology, and meet its team of volunteer technology coaches. Organizations in attendance will include: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Lincoln Center, AT Guys, Independent Living Aids, Adaptive Climbing Group, In Tandem Cycling, Touch Graphics, C-Tech, Computer Center for Visually Impaired People, Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, the Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities, the Office of Emergency Management, and many more.
Find them online at talkingbooks.nypl.org, on Facebook, or contact Chancey Fleet, Assistive Technology Coordinator, at 212-621-0627
NYC Coalition on Aging and Vision Launches Website Designed for Those Needing Vision Rehabilitation
About 2.9 million US seniors are affected by vision impairment and the number of seniors with vision loss is expected to double in the next three decades. In response, the NYC Coalition on Aging and Vision launched a website to help older adults with vision loss receive individualized referrals to vision rehabilitation services.
The website, a central resource for both professionals and the public at large, was designed to make it easier for seniors with vision loss to learn about and access the multitude of services offered by the leading vision rehabilitation providers in New York City. The content covers topics such as vision rehabilitation therapy, orientation and mobility training, coping with vision loss, and information about local support groups. It also provides links to numerous articles about living with vision loss.
Despite the documented need, benefit, and availability of resources, rehabilitative services for people with vision loss are largely underutilized, according to the Vision Coalition, whose founding members estimate that far less than 10 percent of those with vision loss access vision rehabilitation services.
The Vision Coalition's mission is to connect elders to these services, and to work collaboratively to reach a larger number of older New Yorkers who would benefit from developing skills that can help them make best use of their remaining vision.
Empowering those with vision loss is of great concern to an increasingly aging population in need of vision rehabilitation services. Presently, over 40 million Americans are 65 years of age and older. It is estimated that by 2030, this number will grow to about 70 million. With this increase, there will come a growing incidence of vision loss due to such conditions as diabetic retinopathy, age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma. Vision rehabilitation services make it possible for older adults to lead more independent and productive lives.
2016 Migel Medals Nominations Now Open
Professional Award nominees should be those whose career work significantly affects services to people with vision loss on a national level. Prospective candidates include, but are not limited to, professionals with specific training and expertise in education, rehabilitation, assistive technology, vision rehabilitation, personnel preparation, administration or related fields. They may work in the public or private sector and their work should span several years.
Lay/Volunteer Award nominees can be volunteers or professionals not employed within the blindness and visual impairment field whose efforts have supported or extended service to people with vision loss. Professionals from these disciplines may include, but are not limited to, those who develop assistive technology equipment and software, health care devices, and improved medical services.
Nominations for AFB's Migel Medals are due by Friday, October 2, 2015, and should be e-mailed to Scott Truax, Program Manager FamilyConnect.
Nominators should send a one-page description of the nominee and his/her accomplishments, or fill out our online nomination form. You must also submit two letters of recommendation with the nomination.
HelpMeSee Expands Leadership Team to Prepare for Simulation-based Surgical Training
In preparation for the launch of its simulation-based training programs in cataract surgery, HelpMeSee has expanded its leadership team with new roles in training and development. The new positions include Daniel Hutter, MD as Chief Instructor, Michael Moore as Chief Instructor Trainer and Steven J. Moore as Senior Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving.
"The HelpMeSee campaign has the ambitious goal of training cataract surgeons at a scale needed to address the severe shortage of well-trained specialists," said Jacob Mohan Thazhathu, President & CEO of HelpMeSee. "Our team will lead the transformation of cataract surgical training for a lasting public health impact."
As Chief Instructor, Dr. Hutter will manage the training of the Manual Small Incision Cataract Surgery (MSICS) Simulation-based Training Program (MSTP) Instructors and instructor training delivery process. He will also qualify as one of the first instructors, mentor the Chief and Assistant Chief Trainers, and participate in the validation of the MSTP systems. His work will include assignments at HelpMeSee's overseas training centers. Dr. Hutter is a board-certified ophthalmologist whose interest in global blindness prevention began when he served as a staff ophthalmologist on the Orbis Flying Eye Hospital. He holds an MD from Jefferson Medical College.
In the role of Chief Instructor Trainer, Michael Moore will provide simulation training, classroom training and courseware development expertise to assist HelpMeSee team members who create and deliver MSICS classroom and simulator training. He will also partner with the Chief Learning Officer, Chief Medical Officer and Chief Instructor to develop systems for recruiting instructors. Michael Moore has extensive experience in aviation training and flight safety management, most recently as Manager — Flight Safety for Viking Air Limited, manufacturer of the DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft.
Joining HelpMeSee as Senior Director of Major Gifts and Planned Giving, Steven J. Moore will play a key role on the development team. In this new position, he will focus on building relationships with both existing and potential major donors while working closely with HelpMeSee's Vice President of Development and Marketing, CEO and Board to expand the campaign's fundraising efforts.
