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February 28, 2007

NY/NJ Area Premiere, "The Ultimate Gift" on March 6, 2007

Charlotte, NC (PRWeb) February 27, 2007 -- On March 6, one of the nation's best-known champions for the visually impaired, Jim Stovall, will be in New York City to partner with organizations that aid the blind in presenting a first-ever event for this unique audience.

Stovall, the author of the best-selling novel, "The Ultimate Gift," will offer a showing of the movie based on his book at the famed Empire Theatre in New York City for an audience of blind and visually impaired persons in that vicinity. The event is being called the Narrative Premier of "The Ultimate Gift" and, according to Stovall, is the first time this audience has been invited to view a movie prior to its release to the general public, which is slated for March 9.

For this event, the movie will feature a narrative tract designed to run without interrupting the original dialogue or sound effects by inserting description only where there is a pause in audio. Minimal description is inserted so as to be helpful without distracting the audience from the flow of the program. This feature, currently available for scores of television and movie presentations, was introduced by Narrative Television Network, which was co-founded by Stovall. The American Life Channel (cable), a long-time supporter of "accessibility" for the blind, is partnering with Stovall in promoting the event.

Also at the center of activity around this event are a number of key organizations: the American Foundation for the Blind; Lighthouse; the American Council for the Blind; the Computer Center for Visually Impaired People at Baruch College (Cuny); and VISIONS Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired. As NYC's only community center specifically for the blind and visually impaired, VISIONS is getting word out to the 3500, mostly lower income, people it serves. "Our folks couldn't be more excited about attending a screening and the opportunity to dialogue 'face to face' with other people about ways to make life more meaningful," says VISIONS Executive Director Nancy Miller. "It's a rare and truly fantastic occasion for all of us."

Stovall has been actively involved in many of the decidedly "novel" events surrounding the pre-release of "The Ultimate Gift" starring Oscar-nominee 10-year old Abigail Breslin together with veterans of the stage and screen James Garner, Lee Meriwether, Brian Dennehy and rising star Drew Fuller.

The film tells the story of a young man, Jason, (Drew Fuller) who stand to inherit an unimaginable fortune if only he agrees to accept 12 tasks - or "gifts" - from his recently deceased grandfather (Garner). The challenge results in a journey of discovery in which Jason receives a crash course on life that reveals the relationship between wealth and happiness.

The movie has spawned a movement, of sorts, that encourages discussion around a number of life values, with an emphasis on the "gift" of giving. The movie is making headlines across the country with its screenings to benefit charitable organizations, with a reported $25 million in donations to efforts ranging from literacy and youth initiatives to the building of hospitals. The $10-million independent film was underwritten by the Stanford Financial Group, a Houston-based wealth management company, and has drawn nods of approval from such well-respected persons as Steve Forbes, Paul Harvey and Robert Schuller.

As to why this movie and why this audience, Stovall is clear: "As a blind person myself, it was imperative that I include those like me in this movie and this message. The ability to enjoy and discuss a first run movie with others is a real cultural thing. The inability to do that brings further separation between the visually impaired and others. This was an ideal opportunity to invite the constituency we've built through narrative TV to be part of this nationwide movement."

About the Movie

The nationwide release of the movie, "The Ultimate Gift" will be marked by a premiere event at Phillips Place Cinema in Charlotte on March 7. The film was produced by Rick Eldridge, President of Charlotte's Film Foundry and is the first of a steady stream of films coming out the of the recently announced Independent Producers Alliance (IPA). Headquartered at the Film Foundry, IPA is an effort to help filmmakers fund and distribute their products in the most efficient and effective manner, according to Eldridge. "The Ultimate Gift" is one of four IPA films expected out this year.

About the Narrative Television Network

Since 1988, NTN has been a leader in making television programming and movies accessible to our nation's 13 million blind and visually impaired people and their families. NTN uses a technique in which the voice of a narrator is added to the existing programming sound track without interfering with any of the original audio or video. Over the years, NTN has received top honors from the American Council of the Blind, as well as the American Foundation for the Blind, for its pioneering work. Currently NTN provides accessible programming for a number of broadcast and cable networks.

Posted by Nancy at 04:45 PM | Comments (0)

Income Tax Assistance for People with Disabilities, March 15: NYC

VISIONS, The Disability Network of New York City, Foodchange, and IRS will cooperatively sponsor a tax preparation event this March.

On March 15th, there will be an information seminar and Q & A hosted by the IRS to explain new rebates and recent changes that you may be eligible for when filing taxes. The seminar will be offered on March 15th at two different times, 10:30 am – 12:00 pm and from 4:30 – 6:00 pm in the VISIONS at Selis Manor auditorium.

Additionally, tax preparers will be available, by individual appointment, from 11 am – 7 pm on March 15th and March 20th to assist in filing your taxes.

Taxpayers seeking to have their tax returns prepared during this event need to reserve a timeslot by calling 646-486-4444 ext. 18 and will need to bring the following:

All income documents: these may include W-2’s (from work), Forms 1099 (identified as 1099-SSA, 1099-INT, 1099-G, 1099-Misc, 1099-R, and 1099-DIV), or any other source documents received showing interest or unearned income.

Identification: A photo ID (e.g.; a non-drivers license, or a half-fare pass from MTA with your picture), Social Security card or other official document displaying a Social Security Number (SSN) and Name (necessary for Taxpayer filing return and Spouse, if applicable), and Social Security Cards of any dependents being claimed.

A copy of last year’s return is helpful as well. If you would like your refund deposited into a savings or checking account, please provide a “voided” check and/or a deposit slip with your account number.

Posted by Nancy at 10:37 AM | Comments (0)

February 27, 2007

e-Access '07: Technology for All - 2 May: London

Access to Technology by People with Disabilities

Date: May 2, 2007
Location: New Connaught Rooms, London

E-Access Bulletin's third annual conference and exhibition on access to technology by people with disabilities is aimed at helping all organisations, public and private sector, draw up progressive policies on accessibility. If your organisation provides information and services on the web, via mobile phone, digital TV and radio or in any other digital format, awareness of these issues is of vital legal, ethical and commercial importance.

Speakers include:

The event is supported by Ability Magazine and the RNIB.

Attendance normally costs 195 pounds plus VAT for public sector and 295 + VAT for private sector delegates, but if you book before 12 March you will receive a 50 pound discount. Don't delay, book today! For more information and to register visit: http://www.headstar-events.com/eaccess07/ And for sponsorship and exhibition opportunities for your organisation please contact Claire Clinton on 01273 231291 or by email at: claire@headstar.com

Posted by Nancy at 01:27 PM | Comments (0)

Simi Linto Book Reading & Signing "My Body Politic" in NYC

Initiative for Women with Disabilities Elly & Steve Hammerman Health & Wellness Center @ NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases Presents: "My Body Politic" A Memoir Reading and Book Signing Presentation by Simi Linton

SIMI LINTON is a prominent activist and author of numerous articles about disability. She holds a Ph.D. in Psychology from New York University, is the author of Claiming Disability: Knowledge and Identity (NYU Press, 1998), and is the founder of Disability/Arts, an organization that works with artists and cultural institutions to help shape the presentation of disability in the arts and to increase the representation of works by disabled artists.

Website: http://www.similinton.com

Date: Wednesday, March 21 st, 2007

Time: 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Location: 13th Fl Cafeteria

RSVP 212-598-6429 by March 16th, 2007


NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases is located at 301 East 17th Street, New York, NY 10003 and is fully accessible.

Please notify them if a sign language interpreter is needed by March 9th, 2007.

Posted by Nancy at 01:13 PM | Comments (0)

Concepts & Experience of Disability - NYU School of Social Work

Date: Thursday, April 12, 2007

Time: 9am – 1pm

Fee: $40 including breakfast, NYU SSW Alumni: $30 and NYU SSW Students: $20


This conference will explore the interaction of the individual and the environment from the personal, medical, social, psychological, spiritual, and employment perspective. Several individuals with disabilities will describe and reflect on their personal experience as a person with a disability. Professionals who work with persons with disabilities will provide the perspective of a clinician working with persons with disabilities. This workshop will provide the audience the opportunity to explore disabilities as they are experienced by persons with physical and sensory disabilities and severe mental illness. The social model of disability will be the context in which the learning will take place. Discussion and interaction will be encouraged.

REGISTRATION

Please complete our registration form: http://www.nyu.edu/socialwork/our.programs/workshops.html. The completed form can be either faxed or mailed along with payment. Fax: 212-995-4172.

Mail: 1 Washington Square North, New York, NY 10003, Attention: Priany Hadiatmodjo. Make checks payable to NYU Social Work. If you have any questions please contact Priany Hadiatmodjo, Training Specialist: 212.998.5963 or priany@nyu.edu For further information please visit our web site: www.nyu.edu/socialwork.

4 CEUs will be offered.

Posted by Nancy at 01:01 PM | Comments (0)

Social Security Programs Benefit Screening - Eligibility Tool

Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) is a tool that an individual can use to determine if they might be eligible for benefits from any of the programs Social Security administers and other benefits programs.

The tool screens for eligibility for Medicare, Social Security Disability, Social Security Retirement, Social Security Survivors, Special Veterans and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits.

Posted by Nancy at 12:46 PM | Comments (0)

Disability through a Whole New Lens: A Conversation with Lawrence Carter-Long

When: Thursday, March 1 @ 6:30 pm

Where: The Graduate Center, CUNY 365 Fifth Avenue, 9th Floor, Skylight Room Free and open to the public. Refreshments served!

For more info, call: 646.344.7316

With increasing visibility and expanded opportunities for social mobility, disability rights advocates, educators and allies have unprecidented ways to reshape public perception of disability. Join us for an exciting exploration of how community events, media exposure (including interviews) and unique projects like the disTHIS! Film Series are being used to shift attention toward more strategically useful and interesting ideas about disability.

About the speaker: Lawrence Carter-Long is the Founder and Curator of the groundbreaking disTHIS! FILM SERIES and the Director of Advocacy for the DISABILITIES NETWORK OF NYC. As a commentator, Lawrence been featured on dozens of media outlets including NBC's THE TODAY SHOW, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO and CNN. He has facilitated workshops on effective communications and presented lectures across the nation on diverse topics ranging from media relations to disability rights to animal advocacy.

Directions: The CUNY Graduate Center is located on Fifth Avenue between 34th and 35th Streets, the building is two blocks east of Penn Station, one block east of Herald Square, and two blocks west of the 33rd Street and Park Avenue station. The closest subway station, located at 34th Street and Avenue of the Americas, is served by the B, D, F, N, R, and Q trains.

Posted by Nancy at 10:59 AM | Comments (0)

February 21, 2007

Small Donations Wanted for Blind Women in Africa

Greetings from Ghana!

I am an American teacher of the blind visually impaired working/living in Ghana, West Africa. For the past 3 months, I have started several disability-related projects, including one with the Blind Women’s Association (BWA) from the town of Wenchi.

Wenchi has an unusually high number of blind and visually impaired people living there as many years ago the local high school created a resource room for the visually impaired. Several of the women who graduated from the high school met to form the BWA. The main goal of the BWA is to obtain employment opportunities for the unemployed and underemployed.

About two months ago, I was invited by the women to attend a meeting. The women had drawn up a very impressive proposal for developing business opportunities for the neediest seven women of the group. The BWA selected the seven women because the government does not provide welfare; they have no jobs and no working husband or family member to support them. Most have resorted to begging on the street. However, compared to the general population, most of the women have a higher education level than their sighted peers.

BWA’s plan is to procure enough money to purchase kiosks or metal containers so that each woman may a start small business selling items such as: soap, powder, lotions and/or snacks. Currently, the group is researching options for micro-loans in order to purchase the goods to fill the store. However, in order to qualify for a micro-loan, borrowers must already own land, some equipment, a small structure or other type of asset. This is why I am writing to members of the blindness community, to ask for your assistance in donating a small amount of money to the BWA so that they may purchase 7 kiosks for each woman (the cost of one kiosk is about $600). One hundred percent of your donation will go directly to the seven women in need.

If you are interested in making a small donation, please email me and I will forward you the contact information of the blindness organization which has agreed to collect money for the BWA.

Also, for those of you sighted folks, please go to the following website to see a photo of the seven women and an example of a kiosk which will be used for the businesses that they are hoping to start. Please go to: http://blindwomenwenchi.blogspot.com

Thank you so much for your interest. Your dollar goes a long way in Africa.

Sincerely,

Wendy Olson,
TBVI
wendysueolson@yahoo.com

Posted by Nancy at 05:34 PM | Comments (0)

Learn About Blindness, Online

For Immediate Release (Winnetka, IL) Learning about blindness can be a mouse-click away with the help of a course through The Hadley School for the Blind.

"Blindness Basics," is an interactive, tuition-free Web course that allows a person to apply knowledge of the blindness field to real-life situations. The course is open to students in the Professional Education Program and acts as an orientation for anyone working within a blindness organization.

This accessible e-learning course presents important information about blindness in various formats. In Lesson 1, many misconceptions about blindness are addressed, in addition to successful techniques for interacting with visually impaired people. Computer simulations give students the opportunity to decide what words or actions are appropriate in various situations. Lesson 2 presents the history, relevant laws and attributes of the service delivery and educational systems of the blindness field, through radio interviews. Magazine articles in Lesson 3 explain the stages of adjustment and common causes of visual impairment, as well as the characteristics of deafblindness. Finally in Lesson 4, journal articles present how persons who are visually impaired can become self-sufficient and independent.

"The interactive aspects of this course help students make the information their own in an enjoyable way," said George Abbott, Hadley's Dean of Educational Programs and Instruction. "Anyone who works in a school, agency or other organization involved with people who are visually impaired can benefit from this course."

CONTACT: 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

### Editor's Note: The Hadley School for the Blind is the 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. Today, the school serves over 10,000 students annually in all 50 states and 100 countries. Hadley relies on contributions from individuals, foundations and corporations to fund its programs. For more information, please call 1-800-323-4238 or visit us at www.hadley.edu.

Posted by Nancy at 09:55 AM | Comments (0)

Workshop in Cambridge, MA: Seven Steps to Success: Changing Careers When You Have a Disability

Americans now change careers three to four times in a lifetime. The steps to a successful career change are basically the same for all job hunters with some interesting variations for those with psychiatric and/or physical disabilities. This workshop will cover the seven steps necessary for a successful career change. The steps include:

For people with disabilities there are additional issues related to disclosure, accommodation, work/health balance, and medical benefits. Participants will leave with an overview of the career change process and a step-by-step plan to move forward to their next career.

Although there is no fee to attend this workshop, registration is required. Space is limited.

Date: Wednesday, April 4, 2007, 2 pm - 4pm

Address:
Career Source Career Center
186 Alewife Brook Parkway (in the Fresh Pond Shopping Center) Cambridge, MA 02138

To Register: Email Larry Elle at Larry@resourcepartnership.org or call Larry Elle at 617-661-7867 ex. 251.

http://www.resourcepartnership.org

Posted by Nancy at 09:39 AM | Comments (0)

February 16, 2007

Friday, March 23rd: Career Expo at The New Yorker Hotel In New York City

New York City’s Career Expo For People With Disabilities, 2007, has a strong diversity of companies and government agencies that have signed up to participate, including: Bloomberg, Defense Logistics, Department of The Army (Civilian), Hsbc Bank, Home Depot, The Intelligence Community (Bronze Sponsor), IRS, Memorial Sloan Kettering, National Credit Union, Naval Surface Warfare Center, New York Life, Public Service Electric & Gas, Raytheon (Silver Sponsor), Social Security-OESP, Time Warner Cable, U.S. Department of Energy, and the U.S. Department HHS Centers for Medicare & Medicaid.

Details: The Careers & the disABLED Magazine's Career Expo will take place in New York City at the New Yorker Hotel, which is located at 481 8th Ave. on Friday, March 23, 2007, from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Pre-register at:

http://www.eop.com/exporegistration.html

Posted by Nancy at 10:51 AM | Comments (0)

Accessible Web Courses and Web Conferences in March

EASI is providing 3 opportunities to expand your knowledge about accessibility in online courses, online Webinars and conferences. One is fee-based while 2 are free to anyone.

Barrier-free E-learning is EASI's fee-based, month-long course for march, (Part of the Certificate in Accessible Information Technology). Accessibility on the Web can be confusing and for non-technical types even overwhelming. However, EASI has help for information technology staff, instructional design staff disabled student support staff and faculty. Most of the Web accessibility standards relate primarily or exclusively to the provider of the courseware management system you will probably be using. Only a limited set of accessibility issues relate directly to most course content posted inside those systems. Even with these issues, most of them can be achieved with careful use of the authoring tools already being used by content providers.

This Barrier-free E-learning course will provide a borad understanding and background and then go in considerable detail on how to use common authoring tools like Microsoft Word to create accessible content.

Read the syllabus and register online at: http://easi.cc/workshops/bfel.htm
The first free event is a Webinar looking at what makes online conferencing systems accessible to people with disabilities and which features creat problems. EASI wants to demonstrate the new system it will be using, and we want people to come and share their views and experiences. With a topic this broad, we can't know everything! Join us at Tuesday, March 13 at 2 PM, but register early at: http://easi.cc/clinic.htm

Posted by Nancy at 10:23 AM | Comments (0)

The New York Times Company and Monster Worldwide Form Strategic Recruitment Advertising Alliance

Alliance Creates Unsurpassed Local Market Presence and Online Recruitment Reach Across 19 Top Newspaper Web Site Leaders, Via Co-Branded Career Sites

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 14, 2007--The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT) and Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNST) today announced a strategic alliance, combining the Times Company's market-leading news and local Web sites with Monster's leading online recruitment expertise and services. Under the terms of the deal, 19 of the Times Company's newspaper Web sites, including The New York Times, The Boston Globe, the Worcester Telegram & Gazette and its award-winning newspapers throughout the southeast and California, will co-brand their online recruitment advertising Web sites with Monster. The alliance will create an exciting new presence with rich local relevance and broad online reach in the careers market, supported by the combined brand recognition and marketing strength of both companies.

The enhanced and expanded New York Times Company-Monster co-branded career sites will provide job seekers and employers with the features and functionality of the Times Company's existing online job sites, combined with Monster's collection of innovative, market-leading career tools and content. In addition, recruiting professionals will now enjoy both local and national job posting capabilities through Times Company and Monster sites, along with access to the world's largest resume database, which grows by more than 40,000 resumes each day. The co-branded sites will begin to appear in March.

"The combination of technology, reach and expertise created by this strategic alliance is extraordinary," said Janet L. Robinson, chief executive officer, The New York Times Company. "Together with Monster, The New York Times Company will significantly increase our presence in the online recruitment space as we continue to provide quality solutions and considerable value for employers and job seekers."

"This new relationship between Monster and The New York Times Company combines two world-class brands to jointly deliver greater value for both career-seeking consumers and for employers seeking talent," said William Pastore, president and chief executive officer, Monster Worldwide. "The alliance significantly advances Monster's strategy to provide highly localized online recruitment and career services, allowing Monster to leverage its expertise and full range of solutions in conjunction with the Times Company's award-winning local news outlets and powerful distribution presence."

The alliance will create the overall online recruitment leader in Boston, where Monster will join with BostonWorks.com, the recruitment Web site for Boston.com, New England's leading news site and one of the nation's biggest regional Web sites, with four million unique visitors each month (Source: Nielsen // NetRatings, December 2006). The new BostonWorks.com-Monster site will combine BostonWorks.com's leading 16% share of the Boston market's online job postings with Monster's 9% share (Source: Wanted Tech). In New York, The New York Times-Monster site will capitalize on NYTimes.com, the Number 1 most-visited newspaper Web site in the U.S. (Source: Nielsen// NetRatings, December 2006). Monster's significant Web traffic will complement the Times Company, which is the ninth most-visited parent company on the Web in the U.S., with 44.2 million unique visitors per month (Source: Nielsen//NetRatings, December 2006).

The Best of The New York Times Company and Monster for Both Job Seekers and Employers

The co-branded sites will be designed to help employers and staffing organizations better target and more efficiently place recruitment advertising to reach both local and national talent. Recruiters new to Monster will benefit from its suite of tools designed to streamline and expedite the hiring process. Monster's existing recruiting customers will also have the opportunity to cross-advertise in the Times Company's print properties. To enable this, Monster will introduce a new "click-to-print" feature that will provide current online recruiting clients with a simple method to reverse-publish their job listings as print ads in Times Company newspapers.

On the consumer side, more job candidates will be able to take advantage of Monster's advanced search and match technology, enabling them to identify both local and national opportunities. Monster's new capabilities allow seekers to easily expand their searches using the new "More Jobs Like This" feature, or fine-tune searches based on criteria such as salary range, years of experience or the distance of jobs from a targeted ZIP code. The new co-branded sites will also feature local employment news and information, career advice and guidance, and more.

About The New York Times Company

The New York Times Company (NYSE: NYT), a leading media company with 2006 revenues of $3.3 billion, includes The New York Times, the International Herald Tribune, The Boston Globe, 15 other daily newspapers, nine network-affiliated television stations, two New York City radio stations and 35 Web sites, including NYTimes.com, Boston.com and About.com. The Company's core purpose is to enhance society by creating, collecting and distributing high-quality news, information and entertainment.

About Monster Worldwide

Monster Worldwide, Inc. (NASDAQ: MNST) parent company of Monster(R), the premier global online employment solution for more than a decade, strives to bring people together to advance their lives. With a local presence in key markets in North America, Europe and Asia, Monster works for everyone by connecting employers with quality job seekers at all levels and by providing personalized career advice to consumers globally. Through online media sites and services, Monster delivers vast, highly targeted audiences to advertisers. Monster Worldwide is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the NASDAQ 100. To learn more about Monster's industry-leading products and services, visit www.monster.com. More information about Monster Worldwide is available at www.monsterworldwide.com.

This press release can be downloaded from www.nytco.com

CONTACT: For The New York Times Company:
Catherine J. Mathis, 212-556-1981
mathis@nytimes.com

or
Paula Schwartz, 212-556-5224
schwap@nytimes.com

or
Abbe Serphos, 212-556-4425
serphos@nytimes.com

or
For Monster Worldwide:
Danielle Perry, 978-461-8366
danielle.perry@monster.com

or
Rich Teplitsky, 646-402-3323
rich.teplitsky@monsterworldwide.com


SOURCE: The New York Times Company

Posted by Nancy at 09:33 AM | Comments (0)

February 14, 2007

Buy, Sell And Trade Assistive Technology

AT Bay is a new Florida-based website where people can buy, sell and trade assistive technology (AT for short). If your organization has used assistive technology devices stored for lending out or donating, list them on AT Bay.

If you are interested in listing equipment for selling or trading go to:
http://atbay.faast.org/

AT Bay is a program of the Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, Inc.

Posted by Nancy at 11:45 AM | Comments (0)

Spring Career Teleconference Series

Steven Rothberg, President of CollegeRecruiter.com and Jason Alba, Founder of JibberJobber will sponsor a teleconference series featuring Susan Strayer, former corporate HR professional, recruiter, career coach and author of The Right Job, Right Now: The Complete Toolkit For Finding Your Perfect Career. The series is designed to reach out to job seekers during the spring job search season.

The Spring Career Teleconference series is completely free to any and all job-seekers and will feature Susan covering the most important, burning issues for any job seeker:

"Help! I still don't know what kind of career I want."

Wednesday, February 28 at 8:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. CT, 5:00 p.m. PT)

"How do I start my job or internship search?"

Wednesday, March 14 at 8:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. CT, 5:00 p.m. PT) or Monday, March 26 at 8:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. CT, 5:00 p.m. PT)

"How do I prepare to start my new job or internship?"

Monday, April 9 at 8:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. CT, 5:00 p.m. PT) or Wednesday, April 25 at 8:00 p.m. EST (7:00 p.m. CT, 5:00 p.m. PT)

Registration for job-seekers is easy and free!

Visit http://www.jibberjobber.com/teleseminar/ to register and submit your job-seeking questions or concerns ahead of time.

Each interactive teleconference will last 45 minutes and will break for live questions as well.

Posted by Nancy at 10:11 AM | Comments (0)

"Where the Blind Work," a New Employment Resource

The National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division is creating a new accessible and easy to use resource covering the various types of employment that the blind are engaged in and how they do it. This new resource is called "Where the Blind Work" and it will be hosted on the NFB's Jernigan Institute's web pages. The format will be unique to other existing resources; there is never enough good information out there on the employability of the blind.

The target audiences who will benefit from this resource are:

To accomplish this goal we want to collect as many employment descriptions as we can. We want the widest range of jobs represented as possible And not stop at having just one example of each. After all, not only do we all not like doing the same thing, but we all wouldn't do a job the same way. Additionally, to make this resource tool the most effective and user friendly, its setup must follow a strict format. The result then will be that the readers of this resource can be assured that in going from description to description, they will know where to expect to find certain specifics and it will not be a lot of work to get the information being sought.

Who should fill out an employment description form? First, our definition of blind is a person who functions at some level of visual deficit, noticeably different than the visual norm and requires the use of an alternative technique to carry out the duties of the job. Second, we are looking for a person who is now or has in the past been employed. Thus, you may fill out a form for any or all the jobs you have ever worked.

Please e-mail the completed form to Robert Leslie Newman at newmanrl@cox.net

Once the description is received, members of the National Federation of the Blind Writers' Division will check them through for any needed minor editing and categorize them into career groupings.


Employment Description Form

Guideline 1- The total length of a completed form cannot exceed 1,000 words.

Guideline 2- The employment description must follow these five questions:

Question 1. What is your name and job title?
Note: If you are open to being contacted, consider registering with NFB LINK; this innovative program pairs individuals seeking information or advice with experienced Federationists.

Question 2. What do you do on your job?
Note: Tell of the basic things that any worker would be required to do on this job; any specialized blindness alternatives appear in the next question.

Question 3. To what extent are you blind and what special adaptations do you use on the job?
Note: In respect to your blindness, consider naming the condition. Otherwise briefly describe it your way. As for the adaptations, speak of the common sense things you do, to the more formal low vision and/or non-visual alternative methods and/or equipment you will use to perform the duties of your job.

Question 4. What are the qualifications to enter this job position?
Note: Tell if there is prior experience needed or special training or education or certificates required , etc. Mention where you might go employment-wise from here.

Question 5. What influences did you have along the way which aided you to be successful?
Note: Did you have a mentor? Did participation within a consumer group aid you? If so, explain.

Posted by Nancy at 09:50 AM | Comments (0)

Freedom Box Demonstration February 20 at Carroll Center: Newton, MA

Join CEO and founder Mike Calvo from Seroteck Corporation to explore the latest innovation in automatic accessibility featuring the award winning System Access and the FreedomBox Network.

This amazing software package is easy to use, portable and reasonably priced. This package can be run on any Windows XP or Vista computer from a USB memory stick or CD and truly requires no other special software to reside on the computer to make it possible to use.

Public computers are as easy to use as your own home computer. Learn how to send email, write letters, use Microsoft Office, experience digital entertainment -- All in a product that fits in your pocket and takes hours, not months, to learn.

This demonstration will take place on February 20 from 1:00 PM until 3:00 PM at the Technology Center at the Carroll Center. Reservation not required.

Posted by Nancy at 12:48 AM | Comments (0)

February 13, 2007

2007 Interim Updates of the Red Book

The 2007 version of the Red Book is currently in production. Please check frequently for updates on status.

Here is an update with appropriate earnings levels and other figures that apply for 2007.

Posted by Nancy at 11:05 PM | Comments (0)

Tax Assistance for Individuals with Disabilities and the Hearing Impaired

Special tax assistance is available for persons with disabilities. If you are unable to complete your return because of a physical disability, you may obtain assistance from an IRS office, or Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program ( VITA, ) sponsored by IRS. For further information on available IRS services, refer to Topic 101 (Volunteer tax assistance, toll free telephone, walk-in assistance, and outreach programs) or refer to Publication 910 (PDF), Guide to Free Tax Services.

Telephone assistance for the hearing impaired is available for individuals with TTY equipment. The toll–free number for this service is 1–800–829–4059. Hearing impaired individuals that do not have this equipment may be able to obtain access through the federal or state relay services.


Braille materials for the visually impaired are available at any of the 142 regional libraries in conjunction with the national library service for the blind and physically disabled. To locate your nearest library write to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Library of Congress at 1291 Taylor Street, NW, Washington, D.C. 20542. Available materials are limited to Publication 17, Your Federal Income Tax, Publication 334, Tax Guide for Small Business (http://www.irs.gov/publications/p334/index.html), and Forms 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ (materials include instructions and tax tables).


For additional information on these subjects and other areas that may affect persons with disabilities, refer to Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons with Disabilities (http://www.irs.gov/publications/p907/index.html).

Posted by Nancy at 10:57 PM | Comments (0)

Workforce Innovations conference: Kansas City, MO - July 17-19, 2007

This year's Workforce Innovations Conference will take place July 17-19, 2007 in Kansas City, MO. The conference explores how businesses, education and workforce systems and others can collaborate to break down boundaries and create a competitive advantage.

Posted by Nancy at 09:42 PM | Comments (0)

February 07, 2007

Tap a Talent Reservoir – What Companies Need to Know

Two free NBSA Disability Courses for Employers help employers understand all they need to recruit, hire and retain people with disabilities. The courses - one for Executives and another for Managers - dissolve myths about workers with disabilities, reducing fears about hiring, training and dismissal, and also provide practical advice on procedures such as developing company-wide disabilities standards.

Posted by Nancy at 12:10 PM | Comments (0)

Serotek Introduces Remote Access and Remote Incident Management Packages

New Remote Packages Remove Barriers
for Blind and Visually Impaired Professionals

Minneapolis, Minn. - January 31, 2007 - Serotek Corporation, the leading provider of Internet and digital information accessibility software and services, today announced the release of Remote Access Manager (RAM) for network administration, training and technical support within the enterprise, and Remote Incident Manager (RIM), for field technical support.

RAM is an accessible software package that enables remote control of computers on an enterprise network through a secure server. For performing operations such as remote server administration, remote troubleshooting and repair, remote desktop access and operation, and remote training, RAM allows personnel, both sighted and visually impaired, to work from any authorized location.

"RAM extends career paths by removing the barriers that make it difficult for visually impaired people to provide technical, administrative, and training services over private or public computer networks," said Mike Calvo, CEO, Serotek Corporation, "all at a cost comparable with installing firewall or anti-virus software."

RIM allows field technicians to take complete control of potentially distant end-user computers over an organization's network or the Internet. Once connected, the technician and the user share the same workspace on the end-user's computer, so they can work with the same applications and documents or exchange text and files. While connected, the technician can also watch the end-user and demonstrate how to perform required tasks or avoid common problems. RIM has no per-seat license fee, so organizations can proactively deploy it to thousands of end-users, allowing immediate assistance with a single click or keystroke should an issue arise.

"RIM makes location irrelevant for most technical support tasks so there are no trip charges or multi-location staffing requirements," said Calvo. "Essentially, a competent individual or small team can serve numerous remote users while cutting costs and improving quality of service."

RAM and RIM provide similar functionality; both provide fully accessible remote desktop control. However, whereas RAM is designed for use by enterprise IT staff, RIM is designed for field technical support providers. In addition, RAM requires a license for each remotely accessible computer, while RIM does not.

The client component of both RAM and RIM features System Access, Serotek's portable Windows access software. While the IT professional or technician hears speech output, sighted users are given no direct indication that the IT professional or technician is visually impaired. RAM and RIM also work with third-party screen readers on remotely accessible machines; this makes them useful for remote configuration and troubleshooting of third-party screen readers.

"We're deploying the Remote Incident Manager in all of our client locations," said Steve Barclay, director of customer care, Aroga Marketing Group, Canada, "and already we're hearing its praises from technicians and clients alike."

The state of Florida has committed to 500 seats of the RAM package, in an effort to make the entire state accessible for the visually impaired and physically challenged. "We are currently pilot testing the remote access solutions from Serotek," said Adam Gaffney, MIS manager, Florida Division of Blind Services, Department of Education, "The technology is very promising and the support from the company is excellent."

Both RAM and RIM can operate in a Microsoft Systems Management Server environment, can be entirely self-contained within an organization's network, serve an unlimited number of computers, and are compatible with Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Vista systems. Both products are now available for purchase, and interested organizations may request additional information or a free trial from Serotek by calling (866) 202-0520.

Serotek Corporation

Serotek Corporation is a leading technology company that develops software and manufactures accessibility solutions under the brand name FreedomBox. Committed to the mission of providing accessibility anywhere, Serotek launched the FreedomBox family of products and services and the FreedomBox Network, an online community specifically designed to meet the needs of people with disabilities. Serotek provides powerful, affordable solutions that require minimal training. In 2005 the company was awarded the prestigious da Vinci award for innovation in universal accessibility by the National Multiple Sclerosis Association. For more information visit www.freedombox.info.

Aroga Marketing Group, Inc.

With offices in Vancouver, Edmonton and Montreal as well as representatives across Canada, Aroga has been serving the needs of Canadians with disabilities since 1987.

Florida Division of Blind Services

The mission of Florida Blind Services is to ensure blind and visually impaired persons living in Florida have the tools, support, and opportunity to achieve success. Programs include services for blind and visually impaired persons of all ages. The Florida Division of Blind Services operates under the Department of Education.

Posted by Nancy at 11:26 AM | Comments (0)

Bridges to Employment Conference Save The Date, June 13-15, 2007 Miami, FL

Exploring Career Opportunities for Latinos with Disabilities

The Bridges to Employment Conference is a national event that brings employers, jobseekers and Latino and disability service providers together to help connect Latinos with disabilities to employment opportunities.

The program features a unique mix of informative workshops and roundtables that address topics including the effects of recent legislation on jobseekers, employers and service providers; assistive technology in the workplace; disability employment rights; employer narratives about how to recruit/employ people with disabilities; financial literacy and asset- building for jobseekers, and more.

The conference registration fee is $150. Scholarships are available to cover the registration fee for low-income/unemployed Latinos.

Program and speaker details will be available shortly on www.projectvision.net.

Who: The conference is put on by Proyecto Visión, national technical assistance center on employment funded by the Department of Education's Rehabilitation Services Administration based at the World Institute on Disability, in partnership with Best Buddies and Presenting Sponsor AT&T.

When: June 13-15, 2007

Where: Radisson Miami Hotel 1601 Biscayne Boulevard Miami, Florida 33132 (800) 333-3333 toll-free (305) 374-0000 main http://radisson-miami.com/


www.projectvision.net (866) 367-5361 (toll-free)

Posted by Nancy at 11:13 AM | Comments (0)