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November 29, 2006

Say It All with JAWS® 8.0 and RealSpeak™ Solo

Media Contact:
Brad Davis
Blind/Low Vision Group
800-444-4443 or 727-803-8000
www.FreedomScientific.com

(St. Petersburg, Florida, November 28, 2006) - The latest version of JAWS for Windows® makes using screen reading technology easier on the ears.

The Say All feature in JAWS 8.0 allows users to immediately switch from the current Eloquence synthesized voice to the more natural-sounding RealSpeak Solo voices from Nuance that are included with each JAWS 8.0 license.

"While the responsiveness of Eloquence is still preferred for general navigation and use of applications, it is a real pleasure to have these great sounding voices when listening to a book or longer passage," said Eric Damery, Vice President of Software Product Management.

JAWS 8.0 was released November 17, 2006, and information has been posted to the Freedom Scientific Web site. All single and multi-user Software Maintenance Agreement (SMA) holders will receive the upgrade by the first week of December.

In addition to the available languages that RealSpeak Solo provides, JAWS 8.0 also includes support for Internet Explorer 7 (IE 7), along with the new Microsoft Office Word 2007 and Microsoft Office Excel 2007, scheduled to release this quarter.

"The initial feedback from users who have experienced JAWS 8.0 with IE 7 has been outstanding," Damery said. "The combination of navigation and improved responsiveness, along with some of the newly added features in IE 7 and Mozilla Firefox®1.5 and 2.0, are really helping to improve the user experience while browsing."

The JAWS 8.0 package includes the RealSpeak Solo, SAPI 5 synthesizer CD. All the user has to do to install the voices is load the CD in the CD-ROM drive and follow the simple instructions to complete the installation. For English speaking markets, there are seven English voices included and two Spanish voices. Distributors will provide languages to other markets as they become available.

JAWS 8.0 also includes updated training material on CD, on the Web, and even an updated Getting Started that ships in all new packages. DAISY training material users will benefit from:

You can now play, pause, fast forward, and rewind the DAISY material using FSReader, without having to switch applications.

New DAISY books have been added for AlternateSayAll and SmartWordReading. The former describes how to adjust the RealSpeak Solo voices that are included with JAWS 8.0. The latter describes how JAWS 8.0 improves the reading of alphanumeric strings of text, phone numbers, equations, and more.

The Basic Training material has been updated to reflect all changes in JAWS 8.0.

See the full list of new features on the What's New in JAWS 8.0 Web page.

To check the status of your SMA, visit www.FSActivate.com and enter your JAWS serial number.

Those who wish to purchase an upgrade to JAWS 8.0 or renew an SMA may contact Freedom Scientific Sales or a local authorized dealer.

About Freedom Scientific Freedom Scientific is the world's leading manufacturer of assistive technology products for those who are blind and vision impaired and products for the special education and learning disability markets.

Freedom Scientific® and JAWS® for Windows® are registered trademarks in the United States and/or other countries. The names of actual companies and products mentioned herein may be the trademarks of their respective owners.

Freedom Scientific, Blind/Low Vision Group
11800 31st Court North

Posted by Nancy at 11:19 AM | Comments (0)

November 28, 2006

The Carroll Center for the Blind Implements HiSoftware's Hi-Caption Studio for Distance Learning Program

Solution Enables Center to Caption Hundreds of Multimedia Files for Accessibility Compliance

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--HiSoftware , a leading provider of software, services and managed operation solutions that monitor and optimize Web content, quality and regulatory compliance, announced today that The Carroll Center for the Blind located in Newton, Mass., has implemented HiSoftware's Hi-Caption Studio to create and test captioning of multimedia files for the Center's Carroll Tech Web-based distance learning program. Hi-Caption allows the Center to quickly and easily caption hundreds of audio and video training files for Section 508 compliance.

Brian Charlson, vice president of computer training services at The Carroll Center for the Blind, said, "As an organization that serves the needs of the blind and the visually impaired, it is extremely important that we provide complete access to our services and materials for all users and instructors. Hi-Caption not only provides us with the technology necessary to ensure that our multimedia courses meet the highest standards in accessibility compliance, but is also easy to understand and does not require programming skills. Without Hi-Caption we would have to manually caption hundreds of files."

Carroll Tech is the effort of a dedicated group of individuals who work at The Carroll Center for the Blind. While the Center offers onsite technology courses, Carroll Tech was formed to assist blind and visually impaired individuals around the world through the use of training classes on the Web. Instruction is offered in access technologies such as screen readers, screen magnifiers, Braille embossers, note-takers and scanners. Each course is comprised of text, videos, exercises, quizzes and chat sessions.

Carroll Tech offers Web-based courses in Microsoft Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint, as well as training on using any of a number of Braille, speech or large print devices. An average Carroll Tech course is comprised of 12 lessons, with each lesson consisting of three to five videos, and also includes audio. Developers at Carroll Tech initially used Hi-Caption Studio to caption multimedia for its beginner series of courses, which consisted of much longer videos than would be used for a typical course. Hi-Caption allowed the developers to interactively and easily create formatted captioning files, without having to learn the code behind it, but with the power of making the code accessible. Hi-Caption also allows developers at Carroll Tech to immediately test the files as they are developed. As new content is developed for updated courses, Carroll Tech is also using Hi-Caption to caption videos for those new courses.

"The Carroll Center for the Blind is a well-respected organization whose goal is to provide services and technology for assisting those individuals who are blind or visually impaired," said HiSoftware President and CEO, Kurt A. Mueffelmann. "We are pleased to be working with the Center to help further its mission of being on the forefront of technology to provide universal accessibility."

About Carroll Center for the Blind

The Carroll Center for the Blind, located in Newton, Mass. is a private, non-profit agency that serves persons of all ages who are blind or visually impaired. Throughout its 68-year history, the Center has pioneered innovative methods for blind persons to gain independence in their homes, in class settings and in their work places. New and evolving technologies, combined with time-tested adaptive methods, individual attention and personalized care and therapies developed by the Carroll Center's professional staff have provided the blind community with many opportunities for success and independent living.

About HiSoftware

Founded in 1998, HiSoftware is a leading provider of software, services, and On-Demand solutions that test, repair, monitor and enforce Web content, quality, and regulatory compliance. The company's solutions empower content developers, Web site architects, and executives to work collaboratively to create and manage corporate Web standards for accessibility, privacy, security, search engine optimization (SEO), site quality and performance, branding, competitive intelligence, and application transaction testing (AppTest). HiSoftware's customers boast many of the world's largest public and private sites including US and international government agencies and Global 2000 companies such as Gateway, HP, California State University, US Department of Transportation and Microsoft Government. For more information about HiSoftware visit www.hisoftware.com.

Posted by Nancy at 09:38 AM | Comments (0)

November 22, 2006

EnableMart is Hiring

EnableMart is the worldwide leader in assistive technology distribution. With customers in all 50 states and over 45 foreign countries, EnableMart provides over 3,000 assistive technology and assistive living devices from over 200 manufacturers. Their mission is to market, promote, and distribute innovative technology based products and services that promote independence, enhance productivity, and change the lives of individuals with disabilities.

EnableMart is currently looking for experienced, career oriented applicants who desire a position in a fast-paced but fun work environment.

If you are interested in learning more about employment opportunities at EnableMart please send any inquiries and/or your resume to jobs@enablemart.com.

Posted by Nancy at 10:25 AM | Comments (0)

November 21, 2006

Lift, Inc. Seeks Information Technology Specialists in Austin, Texas; San Jose, California; and Raleigh, North Carolina

Lift, Inc. is an award-winning national nonprofit corporation that trains, hires, and places information technology specialists who have physical disabilities. They currently have three openings. Please help spread the word among your networks.

For further information, or to make a referral or an application, please contact:

Ronald P. Kozberg
Executive Vice President
Lift, Inc.
Liftinc@aol.com

Posted by Nancy at 12:23 PM | Comments (0)

November 20, 2006

Give the Gift of Accessibility

The holidays are upon us, and Serotek is celebrating with gifts to make these special days more accessible. From November 15 to December 31, 2006, we are giving any new customer that purchases System Access Mobile for $499 their choice of a free year of access to the FreedomBox Network or a free 512 MB U3 key at no additional cost. That’s an extra special reason to give the gift of accessibility anywhere this season.

System Access, Serotek’s da Vinci Award winning accessibility software, is simple, intuitive, and powerful. There's no need for hours of classroom study to use it. It's easy to install System Access Mobile on your choice of U3 smart drive or CD-R; choose the media that works best for you. Insert your smart drive or CD into any Windows XP computer you encounter, and your digital world becomes accessible in seconds.

With System Access's remote access features, your digital world includes your home computer and the computers of other FreedomBox users for which you may provide training and support. It doesn't matter whether the remote computer is running System Access, JAWS, or Window-Eyes; it's easy to remotely access it as if you were sitting in front of it. With remote access to computers running other screen readers, there's no better time than now to give System Access Mobile a try.

When you buy System Access Mobile for $499 between now and December 31, you can choose to receive a free year of access to the FreedomBox Network. This online portal brings you a large selection of news, entertainment, shopping, forums, chat rooms, and many more features, all tailored to the blind community. You’ll wonder how you ever did without it. Or choose a state-of-the-art, U3 smart thumb drive, the most convenient way to enjoy accessibility anywhere. Plug it in, and System Access Mobile is ready to go. Each gift has a retail value of more than $125.00 – a fine topper for the holiday shopper.

But don’t wait. Call your Serotek dealer today or call us at 1-866-202-0520. To get your free gift you must purchase System Access Mobile between November 15 and December 31, 2006.

So enjoy the holiday season the accessible way, with gifts from Serotek Corporation, the accessibility anywhere people.

Happy holidays!

Posted by Nancy at 03:24 PM | Comments (0)

National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Service's 23nd Class Moves to Las Vegas

Renee DiFlavio, VP of Employment and Education announces that the next class of the National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality Service, a program of the Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted Center for the Visually Impaired, begins January 22, 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

They are currently accepting applications of visually impaired people as well as people with other physical disabilities for admittance into the program which is designed to prepare individuals for careers in the hospitality industry. DiFlavio states "we have been recruiting students from the Las Vegas area for over 3 years and approximately six months ago we were approached by the Blind Center of Nevada and the Nevada Department of Employment, Training & Rehabilitation asking us to bring our training program directly to them..."

The National Statler Center for Careers in Hospitality prepares people with physical disabilities and/or visual impairments for exciting careers in the hotel, travel, and customer service business. Since 1999, more than 200 people have graduated the program; more than 85% of our graduates are placed.

For more information on the Statler Center contact mmest@statlercenter.org
or visit www.statlercenter.org

Posted by Nancy at 09:43 AM | Comments (0)

November 17, 2006

Online courses from experts in Disability, Workplace & Employment Support Practice

The Employment and Disability Institute (EDI) at Cornell University's ILR School now offers online professional development courses and certificate programs in Disability, Workplace & Employment Support Practice. Each course consists of interactive multimedia presentations and downloadable PowerPoint course materials. You can take an ediONLINE course from your office, the comfort of your own home or anywhere you choose with access to the Internet and a phone.

Apply Certificates toward your Rehabilitation Counselor Re-certification.

Register online at www.edi.cornell.edu

Improve your staff's effectiveness and success in supporting the employment outcomes of people with disabilities with courses in:

First Certificate Program starts December 11, 2006.

The Certificate in SSA Work Incentive Knowledge & Utilization consists of the following 6 courses:

For More Information and Course Registration: Visit us at www.edi.cornell.edu/edionline/edionline.cfm for all certificate and course descriptions, pricing, and registration.

About Cornell University and the ILR School:

The ILR School at Cornell University is recognized globally as the preeminent institution for the study of employment-related issues. The Employment and Disability Institute in the ILR School has been a purveyor of research, training and technical support on disability and workplace issues since the mid-1960s and is known for developing leaders who improve policy, practice and the lives of individuals with disabilities.

Contact Information:

Employment and Disability Institute Cornell University ILR School 201 ILR Extension Building Ithaca, NY 14853-3901
Phone: 607-255-9364
Fax: 607-255-2763
TTY: 607-255-2891
Email: sds7@cornell.edu

Posted by Nancy at 10:54 AM | Comments (0)

November 15, 2006

JAWS 7.10 Automatic Update Now Available

The second automatic update for JAWS 7.10, released on November 8, 2006, contains fixes for issues we addressed for our 7.10 customers. It also includes minor modifications for Microsoft Internet Explorer 7. While the previous JAWS 7.10 update works well with Internet Explorer 7, it is recommended that anyone installing Internet Explorer 7 also update to the latest JAWS 7.10 update.

Note: This update is intended for Windows XP and Windows 2000 users, especially those who have updated to Internet Explorer 7. It does not install on Windows 98 or Windows Me.

To install this update on a computer with JAWS 7.10 and Windows XP, open the JAWS Help menu and choose Check for Updates. If you do not have Windows XP,or the automatic update is unavailable to you, please download the full version of JAWS 7.10.500 from: http://www.freedomsci.com/fs_downloads/jaws.asp and install it to update your software.

The following is a list of items that were fixed in this update:

[source: http://www.freedomsci.com/fs_products/software_jaws710update.asp]

Posted by Nancy at 05:22 PM | Comments (0)

November 13, 2006

New Resources Celebrate The Inclusion of People With Disabilities During International Education Week

November 13, 2006- How important is it that the next generation of young people with disabilities knows how to live and work beyond national borders? The U.S. Congress has declared 2006 The Year of Study Abroad, recognizing that staying competitive in the global economy means having workers with the experiences and cross-cultural skills and language ability to work globally. The National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange (NCDE) celebrates International Education Week, November 13-17 with the launch of our redesigned website http://www.miusa.org/ncde. Our website offers many features for people with disabilities exploring the world of possibilities that come with having an international exchange experience in one’s educational and/or professional background.

New Features:

The NCDE is administered by Mobility International USA and sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State. To learn more about how to participate in ECA fellowship programs, see our new resources sheets online at: (for non-US citizens) and (for US citizens). For more information about International Education week visit http://iew.state.gov/.

For more information on the NCDE contact:

National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange
Tel/TTY: (541) 343-1284 Fax: (541) 343-6812
Email: clearinghouse@miusa.org
Web: http://www.miusa.org/ncde

Street and Mailing Address: 132 E. Broadway, Suite 343, Eugene, Oregon USA 97401

Posted by Nancy at 10:33 PM | Comments (0)

November 08, 2006

Technology Fair 2006: Tuesday, November 21 at Carroll Center for The Blind, Newton, MA

Date: Tuesday, November 21, 2006
Time: 9:30 am to 4 pm
Location:


Telephone:
(617) 969-6200

Free event, no reservation required!

Seminars: Workshop space is on a first come availability.


Vendors:

Posted by Nancy at 10:38 AM | Comments (0)

The Washington Center For Internships and Academic Seminars, A Scholarship Program for College Students with Disabilities

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars is pleased to announce it will continue to help increase employment for students with disabilities through an academic internship program. Through a partnership with the U.S. Department of Labors Office of Disability Employment Policy, The Washington Center is working to help students develop leadership skills and gain valuable work experience in public service. The Washington Center will complement students professional experience with solid academic training for credit from highly qualified instructors. In addition, students will be exposed to community, national and international leaders through workshops, seminars, lectures, embassy visits and networking events held throughout the course of each semester. The American Association of People with Disabilities (AAPD) will offer technical guidance and support to the program.

The Washington Center is able to provide a total of 50 competitive scholarship awards in the amount of $8,500 for each eligible undergraduate student with disabilities interested in working in the executive, judicial or legislative branches of the federal government during the fall 2006 and spring 2007 semesters (scholarships are not available in the summer).

WHO SHOULD APPLY?

Applicants Must:

ADA defines a person with a disability as a person with a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities OR a person that has a record of such impairment OR * a person that is regarded as having such impairment

Application Materials Include: Official transcript;

  • Two letters of recommendation;

  • A letter from your campus disability services office, a vocational rehabilitation office OR a physician treating you for your disability confirming the fact that you have a disability;

  • Resume;

  • Two writing samples;

  • Completed application form ;

  • Campus sponsorship agreement (students must receive academic credit for the experience); and

  • Application fee of $60.00.

    Applications are available at: http://www.twc.edu/students/how_to_apply.shtml. Please contact The Washington Center if you require the application in an alternate format. The application for the scholarship is the same as the regular application.

    IMPORTANT DATES - Spring 2007 Internship Program

    • Application due date: November 15, 2006

    • Spring semester begins: January 18, 2007

    • Spring semester ends: May 5, 2007

    INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITIES

    All students will be placed in the executive, legislative, or judicial branches of government.

    Sample placements include:

    • U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

    • U.S. Department of Homeland Security

    • U.S. Department of Treasury

    • U.S. Department of Labor

    • U.S. Department of Agriculture

    • U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

    • General Services Administration

    • Office of Personal Management

    • U.S. Department of Defense

    • U.S. Department of Commerce

    • U.S. Department of Justice

    • U.S. Department of Education

    • Small Business Administration

    • Congressional Members Offices (House & Senate)

    ALL MAJORS SOUGHT

    WHAT DOES THE SCHOLARSHIP COVER? The total scholarship award is $8,500 that would go toward covering TWCs total program and housing fees. This money can be combined with state scholarship awards available through The Washington Center, which range from $1,800 to $4,000 per student. Eligible students would be able to combine these awards and have a remaining amount to cover additional living expenses. Please visit http://www.twc.edu/disability_services.shtml for more information.

    ACCOMMODATIONS

    Workplace The Washington Center will work with the government agencies hosting the interns to ensure reasonable accommodations are provided to students who may need them to successfully complete their job duties.

    Student Housing

    The Washington Center provides all students accessible housing during their participation in the program in Washington, D.C. The Washington Center will work with students on a case-by-case basis to ensure accommodations are met. Our housing facilities offer shared facilities in apartment buildings in Northern Virginia and Maryland. They are located in well-lit, high traffic areas that provide secure and comfortable surroundings. The apartments are fully furnished, and provide local telephone and basic cable service, 24-hour front desk, and laundry facilities.

    Academic Training The Washington Center will work closely with students with disabilities to assess and provide accommodations (physical and programmatic) for students to complete the academic requirements of the program.

    Local Transportation The Washington Center housing facilities are within close proximity to the subway system. The Washington Center will work with each student on a case-by-case basis to provide an orientation to and information on how to utilize public transportation to arrive at their place of employment and all Washington Center functions in a timely manner. The Washington Center will provide mobility training when and if necessary. In addition, The Washington Center will conduct an orientation to answer questions about transportation, general accessibility issues, accommodations and internship sites.

    PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS

    • Enrollment in an academic course provided by The Washington Center (there are over 20 courses to select from);

    • Completion of a portfolio that documents students internship experience and reactions to the Washington Forum sessions; and

    • Approval to receive academic credit for the program from students home institution

    For more information contact Ms. Roshni D. Lal, The Washington Center for Internships & Academic Seminars. Phone: 202-336-7567, or email: roshniL@twc.edu. You can also visit us on the web at http://www.twc.edu.

    Posted by Nancy at 09:44 AM | Comments (0)

    November 07, 2006

    DOL Announces New Credential for Workforce Development Professionals Who Work with Youth

    ODEP and the National Collaborative on Workforce and Disability for Youth (NCWD/Youth), announced a new credential, the Youth Services Endorsement, recognizing the knowledge, skills, and abilities of youth service practitioners. The credential was recently approved by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP), and it will be added to the association's Certified Workforce Development Professional program.
    Learn more about this at http://www.nawdp.org/certification.htm

    Posted by Nancy at 06:40 PM | Comments (0)

    November 05, 2006

    Creating Our Future: On Campus and Beyond

    The National Educational Association of Disabled Students (NEADS)
    celebrates its twentieth anniversary at their conference: Creating Our Future: On Campus and Beyond.

    This year's conference will be an exciting opportunity for students, consumer advocates, service providers, employers and all others interested in exploring key issues of equal access to post-secondary education and employment opportunities for students and graduates with disabilities. They will welcome delegates from across Canada and around the world.

    The event will take place at the Delta Ottawa Hotel and Suites, in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, from November 10th-12th, 2006.

    NEADS will once again provide a live audio broadcast of their conference workshops taking place on Saturday November 11 and Sunday November 12.

    Consult the schedule located at http://www.neads.ca/conference2006 for more details. Note that the times listed are Eastern time. The audio broadcast is completely free of charge, and will be available in English and French.

    You will need a computer with either speakers or a headset. You will also need to download free software such as Windows Media Player or WinAmp.

    If you would like to listen into the conference workshops, register at http://www.nows.ca/conference/en/online.php

    If you are unable to listen in, but would like to be informed once the Conference audio and presentations are archived online, email conference2006@neads.ca

    Posted by Nancy at 06:29 PM | Comments (0)

    November 03, 2006

    EEOC: Workers with Disabilities Have Less than 1% of US Federal Jobs

    The latest numbers from the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission show that workers with disabilities make up less than 1% of the federal work force.

    Stephen Barr says, "The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission plans to sponsor educational events and seminars aimed at reversing the steady decline in the number of federal employees with severe disabilities"

    Read "EEOC Moves to Stem Decline in Disabled Workforce".

    Posted by Nancy at 06:41 PM | Comments (0)

    November 01, 2006

    Success Stories of Latinos with Disabilities Working in Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles

    The latest issue of the Proyecto Visión newsletter is now available online. It includes articles about a Pennsylvania performing arts program for youth with disabilities, a Spanish-language support group for people with Traumatic Brain Injury in California, and success stories of Latinos with disabilities working in Miami, Chicago and Los Angeles.

    El ejemplar más reciente de Proyecto Visión está ahora disponible electrónicamente. Incluye artículos sobre un programa de artes escénicas de Pensilvania para jóvenes con discapacidades, un grupo de apoyo en español para personas con lesiones cerebrales traumáticas en California e historias de éxito de latinos con discapacidades que trabajan en Miami, Chicago y Los Angeles.

    Posted by Nancy at 05:46 PM | Comments (0)

    Course in Excel by The Hadley School for the Blind

    Get Organized With the Help of Excel!

    Whether at home or at work, excel spreadsheets can be a useful tool. The Hadley School for the Blind has a new course that will show you how to create and use spreadsheets. This tuition-free course is available in braille, large print and online and enables you to practice working with spreadsheets at your own pace in the privacy of your own home.

    This course shows how simple it can be to use a spreadsheet, said Amy Salmon, Hadley instructor for the course. You may begin to wonder how you ever did without this program!

    This course introduces the basics of working with Excel spreadsheets in five lessons. Before you begin the first lesson, a short section familiarizes you with keystroke orientation and setting up a course folder for storing files. The first lesson describes Excel and introduces some essential commands. Lesson two shows how to enter and edit information, including a quick method for entering the current date and time. Lesson three explains how to use various functions and formulas in calculating results. Lesson four provides practice in cutting, copying and pasting data; inserting and deleting rows and columns; and formatting cells. Lesson five discusses creating and managing databases.

    Prerequisites for this course include the following: familiarity with the computer keyboard, ability to type, basic math skills, access to a computer with Windows 95 or a later version, Excel software, 1995 version or later and word-processing software (e.g., Word, Notepad, etc.). This course is open to students in the Adult Continuing Education and High School Programs. Contact Student Services today to enroll in this course. To do so, please call 800.526.9909.

    Contact Information:
    Student Services
    The Hadley School for the Blind

    Phone: 800.526.9909 or 847.446.8111
    Fax: 847.446.0855

    Email: student_services@hadley.edu

    Founded in 1920, The Hadley School for the Blind is the largest, worldwide distance educator of persons who are visually impaired. Hadley offers 100 tuition-free courses to eligible students. The school's 10,000 annual enrollments are from all corners of the United States and more than 100 countries. Courses are available to students who are visually impaired, family members, and professionals. Visit us on the Web at www.hadley.edu

    Posted by Marten at 12:42 PM | Comments (0)