Accessivle World News Wire February 27, 2008
Indianapolis, Indiana USA

I am delighted to announce that the Audio Network will begin this year’s “road to Beijing 2008″ with our first live broadcast of the season this weekend, The 24th Annual USABA Midwest Regional Goalball Tournament, coming from the WMU Student Resource Center in Kalamazoo Michigan.

The tournament, known also as the John Bakos Memorial Tournament, features fifteen of the finest men’s and women’s goalball teams in the USA, playing not only for championship glory, but for qualification for the US National Tournament in Utah later this year, and of course, hoping to catch the selector’s eye for the US national teams bound for the Paralympics in Beijing in September.

We will be bringing you live action from start to finish, courtesy (as usual) of our friends at the accessibleworld.org

We will be online live from 9am EST (2pm GMT, 6am Pacific) on Saturday March 1st, with the whole day’s round robin action, and then we will be back on Sunday from around about the same time, right through to the crowning of the champions in the early afternoon.

The actual schedule has yet to be finalized at the time of writing, but you can keep in touch, and find out how to listen live by going to the following address.

http://sports.pressakey.net/k2008

You will be able to listen to the entire event, live, and free of course, by pressing number 1 from this page, or clicking on the visual link below the audio player. This will take you to the accessible world auditorium. Whilst in the auditorium, during the event, you will hear the commentary, and also be able to text chat with others listening in.  When you enter the room, it asks for your name and a password - you do not have to put a password in, just add your name and leave the password blank.

If you have not used the auditorium before, you must first download a small plugin on your computer. This is available on the page when you press number 1 on your keyboard. It is a small, unobtrusive little program that makes the whole thing work. You only have to go through this operation once. If you have any problems, send an e-mail to us by pressing number 2 on your keyboard.

The team lineups have been announced, and also this page, during the event, will include a full schedule of games, including results and reports on the games, keeping you right up to date with all that is happening.

Women’s teams competing  -

Colorado, Kentucky, New Jersey, GLASA, Illinois, WMU, Kalamazoo

Men’s teams competing -

Kentucky, PABA Venom, GLASA, Illinois, Ontario, WMU Red, WMU Black, NE
Florida

Please pass this on to as many people as possible!

See you in Kalamazoo!

This event is brought to you by Talking Communities - http://talkingcommunities.com - the leader in inovative, accessible web-conferencing and webcasting services.

Winnetka, IL-  Join Seminars@Hadley on Saturday, March 8, at 12:00 p.m. CST, 18:00 GMT, as we discuss gardening techniques useful for people with vision impairments.

This informative discussion will prove helpful whether you have a green thumb or are just interested in getting started!

George Abbott, dean of educational programs and instruction at Hadley, will moderate discussion between two experienced gardeners as they discuss garden planning, choosing and identifying plants, appropriate tools and hardware, and adaptive and safety techniques. Kathy Austin, BGS, is Coordinator of Adult Rehabilitation Services for the Chicago Guild for the Blind and an avid gardener for over 35 years. Kathy has made many adaptations to continue gardening due to gradual vision loss from Retinitis Pigmentosa. Ed Haines, a Hadley instructor for 15 years and an Itinerant Vision Rehabilitation Therapist has 30 years of gardening experience and is currently rehabilitating a 100 year old garden in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Ed also teaches Hadley’s Container Gardening course, available in the Adult Continuing Education and High School programs. This lively discussion will be followed by time for questions

and answers. If you are unable to attend this Seminars@Hadley discussion and you want to learn more about Hadley’s container gardening course, please visit
http://hadley.edu/CourseDetails.asp?course=GAR101 or call 800-323-4238.

Registration is required by going to http://www.hadley.edu/seminar/ and following the “Registration” link. You will receive instructions on how to log in to the seminar.

Please note registration will only be taken online, and not by phone. Please read the technology requirements listed below prior to the seminar.

Technology requirements:
The Hadley School for the Blind uses Talking Communities tcConference software (http://www.talkingcommunities.com) for its popular Seminars@Hadley, interactive seminars on a variety of topics. If you wish to participate in Seminars@Hadley, you must install the appropriate plug-in prior to the first login. To install the plug-in, follow the “Download and install the new plug-in” link on the Seminar Login page.

System requirements: Windows98, ME, 2K, XP or 2003 (XP recommended) system, Pentium 3 500 MHz or better CPU, 512 MB RAM, Internet Explorer 6, 7 or FireFox, JavaScript and cookies enabled in the browser, 56K or faster Internet connection (broadband recommended), full duplex audio device, speakers, and microphone (optional).

If you wish to be permanently removed from The Hadley School for the Blind mailing list, please send your request to unsubscribe@hadley.edu. Do not reply to this message. It was sent from an automated system and replies will not be answered.

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The Hadley School for the Blind is the single largest worldwide distance educator of blind and visually impaired people. Since its founding by William Hadley and Dr. E.V.L. Brown in 1920, all of Hadley’s distance education courses have been provided free of charge to blind and visually impaired students and their families. Today, the school serves more than 10,000 students annually in all 50 states and 100 countries.

Hadley relies on contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations to fund its programs. Visit us on the Web at www.hadley.edu.

Tek Talk Monday, March 3, 2008

Accessible World News Wire:  February 24, 2008
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
You will not want to miss the upcoming Accessible World online Tek Talk training event as Larry Lewis, President of Flying Blind LLC, will be showcasing the entire line of wireless Braille displays manufactured by Baum Retek, a European-based manufacturer with decades of experience developing products for persons who are vision impaired. 

The virtual audience will be taken on a tour of the hardware of these displays and will hear a demonstration of  methods for efficiently using these displays to wirelessly access a PC as well as Mobilespeak-equipped PDAs and Smartphones. 

Additionally, Lewis will discuss how these displays have complimented his abilities to perform a variety of employment-related tasks in a number of settings and will be available to offer suggestions and guidance to participants as to how to incorporate the use of wireless, refreshable Braille into their own technological experiences.
Date:  Monday, March 3, 2008

Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m.
Eastern and elsewhere in the world Tuesday 1:00 GMT.

Where: Tek Talk Conference Room at:
http://www.accessibleworld.org.
or use the Direct Link:
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

All Tech Talk training events are recorded so if you are unable to participate live at the above times then you may download the presentation or podcast from the Tech Talk archives on our website at http://www.accessibleworld.org.

All online interactive programs require no password, are free of charge, and open to anyone world wide having an Internet connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound card. Those with microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and others in the virtual audience.

If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities, http://www.talkingcommunities.com, online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download and then run.  A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms.

Sign up information for all Accessible World News Wires and discussion lists are also available at our website: http://www.accessibleworld.org.

While Skype is an extremely popular way to interact with friends and colleagues world wide, until recently there seemed to be little knowledge as to how
the conversations could be recorded and preserved for future reference. During the upcoming Tek Talk online event, sponsored by the Accessible World, attendees will have
an opportunity to learn just what programs can perform this function.

Rick Harmon, a recognized technology trainer, will discuss and demonstrate Callburner and several other recording methods now available.

Date: Monday, February 25, 2008

Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m. Eastern and elsewhere in the world Tuesday 1:00 GMT.

Where: Tek Talk Conference Room at:
http://www.accessibleworld.org.
or use the Direct Link: http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsc9613dc89eb2

All Tech Talk training events are recorded so if you are unable to participate live at the above times then you may download the presentation or podcast from the Tech Talk archives on our website at http://www.accessibleworld.org.

All online interactive programs require no password, are free of charge, and open to anyone world wide having an Internet connection, a computer, speakers, and a sound card. Those with microphones can interact audibly with the presenters and others in the virtual audience.

If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download and then run. A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms.

Sign up information for all Accessible World News Wires and discussion lists are also available at our website: http://www.accessibleworld.org.

This free event is sponsored by Talking Communities Web Conferencing. http://www.talkingcommunities.com
 

Accessible World News Wire:  February, 2008, Indianapolis, Indiana USA

“We can all be angels to one another. We can choose to obey the still small stirring within, the little whisper that says, ‘Go. Ask. Reach out. Be an answer to someone’s plea. You have a part to play. Have faith.’ We can decide to risk that He is indeed there, watching, caring, cherishing us as we love and accept love. The world will be a better place for it. And wherever they are, the angels will dance,” says author, lecturer frequent Coast to Coast visitor, and Internet columnist  Joan Wester Anderson, guest of Books and Beyond, an Internet talk show sponsored by the Accessible World. Join hostess Bonnie Blose as she talks with this versatile writer about fascinating stories of modern day angels many have shared with her and that she includes in her popular weekly Internet column Where Angels Walk.

Following the interview, a question period will be available for audience participation.

Date:  Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m.
Eastern and elsewhere in the world Thursday 1:00 GMT.

Where: Books and Beyond Conference Room at:
http://www.accessibleworld.org.
or use the Direct Link: 

http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsf44894b5dc56

All online interactive programs are open to everyone worldwide.  There is no direct cost, and no need to register. . NO PASSWORD IS REQUIRED.
 
If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities (http://www.talkingcommunities.com) online conferencing software, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download
and then run.  A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms.

Archives of all events and sign up information for all Accessible World News Wires and discussion lists are available at: http://www.accessibleworld.org.

The Accessible World News Wire:  February 12, 2008 Indianapolis, Indiana USA

Those of you who joined us January 7 for the special Tech Talk featuring the up close look at HumanWare with Gilles Pepin, CEO and Pierre Hamel Vice President of Research and Development may remember that Pierre was unable to complete his presentation due to Internet issues that disrupted the Accessible World broadcast. Pierre has graciously accepted to repeat that presentation for us February 18.

HumanWare has a sound reputation for innovation including products like BrailleNote, Victor Reader, Trekker GPS, Maestro, My Reader and of course the Stream. Here is your chance to learn how that innovation is embodied in the HumanWare product development process. Pierre will describe the R&D activities within Humanware. He will summarize how HumanWare takes a technology concept and the stages that transform it to a final marketable product. Pierre will also answer your questions after his presentation.

After Pierre, we will again be joined by Gerry Chevalier, Victor Reader Product Manager who will give us an overview of the new software version 1.2 for the Stream scheduled for release in mid February. The Stream continues to grow in popularity and HumanWare has been fast-tracking another release of software that directly responds to feedback from the ever growing Stream user community.

Join us to hear Pierre’s insight to HumanWare product development and the latest news of the Stream from Gerry.

Brought to you by http://www.talkingcommunities.com web conferencing services

Accessible World News Wire February 12, 2008
Indianapolis, Indiana USA
The Accessible World is pleased to announce its sponsorship of a special international conference to be held February 18 to 21, 2008 that will address issues involved in on Professional and systematic education of blind people as an important condition for successful operating computer (theory, practice and experience. Participants will include Center for the Blind students, blind people employed in the Centre and blind people from whole Bosnia and Herzegovina.

The seminar program will highlight 26 topics including general computer usage, how to make HTML documents, how to convert document into MP3 format, etc..
Seminar Location:   Centre for the blind in Sarajevo

Conference Languages:  South-Slavic

Time:
Local Time:  08:30,
Universal Time:  0730
USA Eastern:  03:30a.m.

Internet Voice Room:  Slikom
Direct link:
http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rs97b7abfbc5c2
Brought to you by http://www.talkingcommunities.com web conferencing services

Accessible World News Wire:  February 1, 2008, Indianapolis, Indiana USA

Lisa Wingate, guest of this week’s Books and Beyond, an Internet talk show sponsored by the Accessible World, is internationally known for her novels filled with love of family and the importance of memories handed down from generation to generation. Author of nine novels, including the Tending Roses series, she writes not only of the importance of family but the value of place for each of us in the community in which we live. She believes we are all called to add something good to the world, to inspire and uplift, and just as an artist pursues his craft, we, too, must add our colors to the canvas. As hostess Bonnie Blose talks with Ms. Wingate, you will identify with her strong belief that everyone can find importance and strength through family and community.

Following the interview, the virtual audience will have an opportunity to chat with this personable novelist.

Date:  Wednesday, February 6, 2008

Time: 5:00 p.m. Pacific, 6:00 p.m. Mountain, 7:00 p.m. Central, 8:00 p.m.
Eastern and elsewhere in the world Thursday 01:00 GMT.

Where: Books and Beyond Room at http://www.accessibleworld.org or use the
following direct link: 

http://conference321.com/masteradmin/room.asp?id=rsf44894b5dc56
 
All online interactive programs are open to everyone worldwide.  There is no direct cost, and no need to register. . NO PASSWORD IS REQUIRED.
 
If you are a first-time user of the Talking Communities online conferencing software http://www.talkingcommunities.com, there is a small, safe software program that you need to download
and then run.  A link to the software is available on every entry screen to the Accessible World online rooms.

Archives of all events and sign up information for all Accessible World News Wires and discussion lists are available at: http://www.accessibleworld.org.