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November 27, 2008

Serotek releases System Access 3.0

Serotek Corporation continues to raise the bar in the assistive technology industry with its latest software release of System Access 3.0. In this release, there is a great deal to be excited about both for new and existing customers.

The update to version 3.0 will happen seamlessly for existing customers with no need for user intervention. And for new customers, it is not necessary to find and download an installation package. Users can simply log in to http://www.satogo.com or visit www.serotek.com and initiate the automated installation process. In this way, users can begin a trial or create a paid account without any complexity.

Serotek is proud to release the first full-featured screen access product with support for 64-bit operating systems. This support is not only an essential breakthrough for IT professionals working in 64-bit environments in the course of their employment, but for the average consumer as well. Blind individuals can now walk in to any of the increasing number of retail stores who stock their shelves exclusively with machines running 64-bit operating systems, and purchase a new computer without wondering whether or not the machine will be accessible when they take it out of the box. From the smallest Netbook to the most powerful server, System Access delivers fast, reliable, and easy to use accessibility. Remote Training and Support is now better than ever. System Access users have long had the ability to remotely access other users' computers for the purposes of support, training, or just for fun. Now System Access has added a voice over IP feature which allows for crisp and clear voice chat between connected users, eliminating the need to communicate by phone or through third-party VOIP software such as Skype.

Accessibility Anywhere is right at your fingertips with support for the Alva BC640 Braille display. With this light, portable, and fully plug and play Braille display, users can have full access to Braille in all their favorite applications both at home and on the go.

But screen access to computers isn't just for work anymore. It's also for fun, and for those living the accessible digital lifestyle, System Access brings you the most compelling support for iTunes 8 available on the market. And since everyone enjoys playing games, the Serotek team and the team at All In Play have collaborated to bring you a game-playing experience you'll want to return to again and again. All In Play features four games that are appealing to blind and sighted individuals alike, and with all plans being less than $8 per month, the fun is accessible and affordable for all. Combine System Access support for Anagram Tag, Texas Hold`em, Crazy Eights and the classic game of poker with the crisp clarity of the System Access Mobile network chat system and you'll have accessibility and entertainment wherever you go.

And whether you're at home or on the go, you'll always want the ability to keep in touch with friends and family. In addition to Serotek's built-in client supporting MSN Messenger and AOL Instant Messenger, subscribers to the SA Mobile Network can now easily communicate with each other through text or voice. Users can add their SAMNet friends to a list of SA Mobile Network contacts, and have the ability to initiate a text or voice conversation with those friends.

These are just a few of the many exciting features available in the release of System Access version 3.0. If you'd like to see a more comprehensive list of features, you can read what's new in System Access 3.0.

Posted by Nancy at 06:43 PM | Comments (0)

November 26, 2008

eSight's Entrepreneur Spotlight: Mind's Eye Travel

New Schedule for 2009

Custom trips for people with visual impairments.

All trips include a host and a sighted assistant. Additional sighted guides available as needed.

We are guide dog friendly.

$395 deposit per person, due with reservation.

Monthly payments available. Balance due 60 days prior to trip.

Call 207-542-4438 or go to www.mindseyetravel.com for more details.

CLASSIC SOUTHERN CARIBBEAN CRUISE

Seven days on the Caribbean Princess, round-trip from San Juan, Puerto Rico, begins March 1, 2009. Six ports of call—Barbados, St. Lucia, Antigua and Barbuda, Tortola and St. Thomas.

Prices start at $999* per person (double occupancy) and include meals, onboard entertainment, government taxes, and fuel surcharge. Deadline for booking is December 1, 2008.


NEW YORK CITY AND THE ARTS – a Great Mother’s Day Gift

May 13 – 17, 2009

Prices start at $1595 per person, double occupancy. Includes: Deluxe accommodations for four nights and five days in the city that never sleeps, tickets to "South Pacific: at Lincoln Center and "Julius Caesar" at The Theater Breaking Through Barriers (formerly Theater by the Blind), two dinners, one lunch, and tours of the Cloisters, the Metropolitan Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art.

DISCOVER THE COAST OF MAINE – "Ahoy, Mates"

Five days and four nights, July 22 – 26, 2009

Prices start at $995 per person.

Included: Deluxe accommodations in the heart of Camden for four nights, full breakfast each morning, dinners for two nights, one lunch, whale watch, eco tour and windjammer sail.


SANTA FE AND TAOS

Five days and four nights, September 9 - 13, 2009

Prices start at $1195 per person.

Included: Deluxe accommodations in the heart of Santa Fe for four nights, dinners for two nights, one lunch, day excursion to Taos and the 1,000-year-old Pueblo, walking tour of Santa Fe, gallery and museum tours.

Prices subject to change based upon availability. Except where noted, prices are based on double occupancy and do not include airfare, gratuities or alcoholic beverages. A minimum of ten people must be booked to create our groups.

All trips include a host and a sighted assistant. Additional assistance is available as needed. A refundable deposit is required to hold space, balance due 60 days prior to trip. Fees are nonrefundable 60 days prior to trip. Trip insurance is recommended. $395 deposit per person, due with reservation. Monthly payments available.

Call 207-542-4438 or go to www.mindseyetravel.com for more details.

Posted by Nancy at 11:29 AM | Comments (0)

November 24, 2008

Michael Hingson to Serve as National Ambassador for Braille Literacy

Baltimore, Maryland (November 24, 2008): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB), the nation's leading advocate for Braille literacy, announced today that Michael Hingson, World Trade Center survivor and internationally acclaimed public speaker, will serve as a National Ambassador for Braille literacy. As an ambassador, Michael will help advance the NFB's Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, a national initiative to promote the importance of reading and writing Braille for blind children and adults. The Braille Readers are Leaders campaign kicked off in July of 2008 with the unveiling of the design of a commemorative coin to be minted in 2009 in recognition of the two-hundredth anniversary of the birth of Louis Braille (1809-1852), the inventor of the reading and writing code for the blind that bears his name.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "The National Federation of the Blind is pleased to have Michael Hingson as part of this historic initiative to bring Braille literacy to all of the blind children and adults in America who need it. As a unique keynote and inspirational speaker, as well as a user of Braille, Michael will certainly be an enormous asset in spreading the importance of Braille literacy to the masses. There can be no doubt that the ability to read and write Braille competently and efficiently is the key to education, employment, and success for the blind. Despite the undisputed value of Braille, however, only about 10 percent of blind children in the United States are currently learning it. Society would never accept a 10 percent literacy rate among sighted children; it should not accept such an outrageously low literacy rate among the blind. The Braille Readers are Leaders campaign, with the support of influential Americans like Michael Hingson, will reverse the downward trend in Braille literacy and ensure that equal opportunities in education and employment are available to all of the nation's blind."

Michael Hingson said: "It is an honor to serve as a National Ambassador for the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign. Braille is the only viable means for both reading and writing by blind persons and the only true alternative to printed matter. I would never have been able to learn to read and write, much less be successful in the work place, if I hadn't learned to use Braille. As a public speaker and living proof of the power of Braille, I am dedicated to helping the National Federation of the Blind to inspire children and adults across the country to learn Braille."

For more information about the Braille Readers are Leaders campaign and the Louis Braille commemorative coin, please visit www.braille.org .

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen
Public Relations Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen@nfb.org

Posted by Nancy at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)

November 23, 2008

Help Guide Disabled Youth To Career Success

Become a Mentor

As a part of a ongoing initiative to improve employment options of persons with disabilities, Hire Disability Solutions is expanding its mentorship program to include email based mentoring.

Studies have shown that high school students who have been fortunate enough to participate in mentorship programs; increase their overall grade point average, are more likely to attend college and are better prepared to enter the employment arena. Mentoring programs are especially critical to the success of students with disabilities who face the challenge of overcoming seemingly insurmountable odds to achieve their own personal best.

Our email based mentoring program was designed with both the Mentor and Mentee in mind. It allows our mentees to benefit from your wealth of knowledge while allowing you to communicate with your Mentee entirely via the internet, allowing you not only flexibility but the ability to maximize the time you spend with your Mentee.

A commitment of as little as 15 minutes per week allows you to converse with your Mentee via email. As you field career related questions from your Mentee, you will not only help to foster increased communication skills but will also help to guide your Mentee down the path to career success by increasing their self confidence and job readiness.

To join our initiative and to help our young men and women, or for more information on the program, please email Jeff Klare at JKlare@HireDs.com. Please be sure to include your name, company name, title, email address and phone number in the email.

Posted by Nancy at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)

Serotek Announces New Interactive Access Technology Podcast

SeroTalk is both a podcast and blog discussing ways people use access technology to improve the quality of life. The web site is www.serotalk.com, and will feature biweekly productions hosted by Michael Lauf, former creator, host and producer of Handi-Talk, the first interactive internet radio program to discuss the needs of the blind and visually impaired.

The website, podcast and blog will offer a wealth of information on new technologies, useful websites, cool software, education, information and entertainment.

Podcast listeners won't have to wait for each episode to air in order to keep up with the latest happenings in the accessible digital world. Listeners can read and comment on the Serotalk blog, send e-mail to resources@serotalk.com, and even leave voicemails on the toll-free Serotalk line at (866) 997-2522. In this way, listeners can shape the direction of the podcast by sharing their digital lifestyle experiences, and these messages may even appear in a future episode of the podcast.

Persons can instantly receive the latest podcasts and blog postings by adding the following URL to their web browser, RSS news reader or podcatcher http://serotalk.com/feed/

SeroTalk is a production of Serotek Corporation, creators of System Access, System Access Mobile Network, and the free SAToGo screen reader found at www.satogo.com

Posted by Nancy at 04:37 PM | Comments (0)

Google Settlement with Authors, Publishers

Terms of Proposed Settlement Agreement Will Revolutionize Blind People's Access to Books

Baltimore, Maryland: The National Federation of the Blind, the nation's leading advocate for access to information by the blind, announced today that the recent settlement between Google and authors and publishers over the Google Books project, if approved by the courts, will have a profound and positive impact on the ability of blind people to access the printed word. The terms of the settlement that was reached on October 28, among Google, the Authors Guild, and the Association of American Publishers, on behalf of a broad class of authors and publishers, allow Google to provide the material it offers users "in a manner that accommodates users with print disabilities so that such users have a substantially similar user experience as users without print disabilities." A user with a print disability under the agreement is one who is "unable to read or use standard printed material due to blindness, visual disability, physical limitations, organic dysfunction, or dyslexia." Blind people, like other members of the public, will be able to search the texts of books in the Google Books database online; purchase some books in an accessible format; or access accessible books at libraries and other entities that have an institutional subscription to the Google Books database. Once the court approves the settlement, Google will work to launch these services as quickly as possible.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "Access to the printed word has historically been one of the greatest challenges faced by the blind. The agreement between Google and authors and publishers will revolutionize access to books for blind Americans.

Blind people will be able to search for books through the Google Books interface and purchase, borrow, or read at a public library any of the books that are available to the general public in a format that is compatible with text enlargement software, text-to-speech screen access software, and refreshable Braille devices. With 7 million books already available in the Google Books collection and many more to come, this agreement means that blind people will have more access to print books than we have ever had in human history. The blind, just like the sighted, will have a world of education, information, and entertainment literally at our fingertips. The National Federation of the Blind commends the parties to this agreement for their commitment to full and equal access to information by the blind."

"Among the most monumental aspects of the settlement agreement," said Jack Bernard, assistant general counsel at the University of Michigan, "are the terms that enable Google and libraries to make works accessible to people who have print disabilities. This unprecedented opportunity to access the printed word will make it possible for blind people to engage independently with our rich written culture. Moreover, it is refreshing to find accessibility for people with disabilities explicitly included upfront, rather than begrudgingly added as an afterthought."

"One of the great promises of the settlement agreement is improving access to books for the blind and for those with print disabilities," said Dan Clancy, engineering director for Google Book Search. "Google is committed to extending all of the services available under the agreement to the blind and print disability community, making it easier to access these books through screen enlargement, reader, and Braille display technologies."

###

About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind. Please visit our Web site: www.nfb.org .

CONTACT:
Chris Danielsen
Public Relations Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (cell)
cdanielsen@nfb.org

Posted by Nancy at 12:21 AM | Comments (0)

November 19, 2008

Guidelines for the Description of Educational Media

The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) has partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind to forge "guidelines" to equal access for students with vision loss, "Description Key: Guidelines for the Description of Educational Media."

The Description Key guidelines are intended for new and experienced describers, description agencies, media producers and distributors, and others who want to make educational media more accessible.

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

November 18, 2008

AFB Distance Learning Survey Results Now Available

More and more schools, colleges and universities are using online educational tools that students are required to use to obtain course syllabi, access lectures and associated material, participate in class discussions, read course material, and receive grades and feedback from instructors. These popular tools, such as Blackboard, can frequently pose significant barriers to students with vision loss because they do not work well, if at all, with computer programs commonly used by students who are blind or visually impaired to access content displayed on the computer screen.

AFB explored ways in which popular online educational tools can be made more accessible with the help of nearly 100 individuals who recently completed our online survey.

The results are now available. Findings indicated the most important and necessary features of online educational tools present significant problems for those using assistive technology such as screen reading or screen magnification software. In nearly every instance, respondents indicated features that were inaccessible.

Posted by Nancy at 07:20 PM | Comments (0)

Accessible Taxi & Livery Forums: NYC

Members of the Disabilities Network of NYC have selected increasing accessible transportation options as a primary concern for New Yorkers with disabilities. In order to address these issues, the Network is partnering with a "blue ribbon" panel of decision-makers and experts from across advocacy, industry and government to examine the past, present and future of accessible taxi/livery service and to answer YOUR questions at Accessible Taxi & Livery Forums in every borough.

FORUMS will be moderated by the Disabilities Network of NYC.

PANELISTS will include representatives of the City of New York Taxi & Limousine Commission (TLC), the Taxis for All Campaign, Easter Seals, and A Ride For All. TOPICS include the TLC's Accessible Dispatch Pilot Project and will take a solutions-based approach to increasing transportation options for NYer's with physical, visual and hearing disabilities.

All Forums are wheelchair accessible. ASL and CART provided at all locations.

WHEN & WHERE: 6:30-8pm on these dates at the following locations:

Presented in partnership with Easter Seals, City University of New York, Long Island University, City of New York Taxi & Limousine Commission, Taxis for All Campaign, A Ride For All, Brooklyn Center for Independence of the Disabled, Mayor's Office for People with Disabilities and our Disabilities Network Members.

Posted by Nancy at 05:56 PM | Comments (0)

November 17, 2008

October 2008 NOTICE OF CLASS ACTION

This notice contains important information for you:


A federal court has authorized a class action lawsuit against the Social Security Administration (SSA) on behalf of people with visual impairments who require communications from SSA to be in an accessible format in order to participate in the Social Security or SSI programs. The court has authorized two classes: If you have a visual impairment that substantially limits the major life activity of seeing and you (1) apply for or are receiving Social Security or SSI benefits, or (2) are the representative payee for a Social Security beneficiary or SSI recipient, then you are a member of at least one of the two classes. This means that the court’s decision in this case may affect your rights. The case, called American Council of the Blind v. Astrue, No. C05-04696, is pending in the Federal district court in San Francisco, California.

The plaintiffs are asking the court to find that SSA has violated a federal law called the Rehabilitation Act. The Rehabilitation Act says disabled individuals cannot be denied meaningful access to Federal programs and benefits. Plaintiffs, who include the American Council of the Blind, are asking the court to order SSA to provide communications in alternative formats such as Braille, large print, electronic mail, computer disk, and audio recording to make sure that people with visual impairments have meaningful access to SSA’s programs. This case does not include any claims for money damages.

This notice tells you about your right to intervene in this case, submit comments, and how to contact plaintiffs’ class counsel. You do not have to intervene or take any action in response to this notice in order to be included in the class or affected by the outcome of the case. If you want to intervene or have questions about this case, you should contact class counsel listed below at either the toll-free 800 number or the email provided at the end of this notice by December 31, 2008.

The court would like maximum input from the class members. The same number and email may be used to provide class counsel with suggestions about how SSA can effectively communicate with people who have visual impairments. You should give class counsel your comments by December 31, 2008.

Please do not telephone the court, the court clerk's office, or SSA for information about this case. If you require this notice in an alternative format such as Braille, large font print, audio recording or computer disk, please leave your name, request and delivery address at the number or email listed below.

ARLENE B. MAYERSON
SILVIA YEE
DISABILITY RIGHTS EDUCATION
AND DEFENSE FUND, INC. (DREDF)
Telephone: 1-800-348-4232
E-Mail: ssaclassaction@dredf.org

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

November 14, 2008

New Travel Tv Show For People With Disabilities Will Tape Its First Program On A Caribbean Cruise October, 2009

"Traveling Without Trouble" from the producers of "Cooking Without Looking," The First TV Show for People Who Are Blind/Visually Impaired, will tape its first episode aboard the Emerald Princess Oct. 11 to 18, 2009, it was announced by Vision World Foundation, parent company of the two TV shows.

The cruise, a fundraiser event for the Society for Accessible Travel & Hospitality and other organizations, will travel from Fort Lauderdale, FL to Princess Cays, Bahamas; St. Maarten; St. Thomas; and Grand Turk. Cruise passengers will have the opportunity to be a part of the LIVE audience for both "Traveling Without Trouble" and "Cooking Without Looking," now entering its third season.

"This cruise is truly going to be a thrill for us all," says Ren’ee Rentmeester, Creator/Executive Producer of both shows. "Imagine how exciting it will be for cruise passengers to enjoy the relaxing tropical breezes of the Caribbean aboard the elegant Emerald Princess, and also participate in a LIVE taping of a brand new TV show as well as a TV cooking show. It almost leaves you breathless."

After two years of working to create "Traveling Without Trouble," a TV show for people with special challenges who love to travel, Ren’ee found the perfect team of Away U Go Travel and Pisa Brothers Travel, both of New York, and Princess Cruise Lines in California. "The utmost professionalism of these organizations helped us to smoothly navigate the waters for this truly special event," says Ren’ee.

"On each show, we will feature people with different challenges; i.e., blindness, hearing impairment, physical disabilities or multiple sclerosis, or who are required to take special medications such as insulin," says Ren’ee. " Then we will tape them in various travel scenarios, and learn how they overcome their challenges, thereby offering travel solutions for all our viewers." Future shows will be taped in airports, trains, amusement parks, and on public transportation, to name a few.

"Cooking Without Looking" will also be taped onboard the Emerald Princess cruise with hosts Celia Chacon, Sabrina Deaton, Allen Preston and Annette Watkins, all of whom are blind or visually impaired. Several blind audience members will be invited to cook with the hosts during a taping which will air at a later date. Sighted cruisers who want to participate in the cooking will be blindfolded.

"This show is going into its third season on PBS in South Florida, and is popular among sighted, as well as blind and low vision people," says Ren’ee. "Food and cooking have no boundaries."

Nova Southeastern School of Optometry underwrites "Cooking Without Looking"

Media: For more information, please contact Ren’ee Rentmeester at
305.297.5176

Ren'ee Rentmeester
Creator/Executive Producer
"Cooking Without Looking"
The First TV Show Created Especially for Blind/ Visually Impaired People
Promoting Eye Care Awareness for Everyone!

Founder/President
Vision World Foundation

Creator/Executive Producer
"Traveling Without Trouble
A TV Show Which Helps You Overcome Your Travel Challenges
When You Have A Disability

www.visionworldfoundation.net
1-888-290-7005

12410 SW 113 Lane
Miami, FL 33186

Posted by Nancy at 04:49 PM | Comments (0)

Deaf and hard of hearing users vote yes on new radio technology during live captioned broadcast of presidential election

WGBH's Media Access Group provides technology and hosts private demonstration

While millions of U.S. citizens voted in national and local elections last week, some of the nation's deaf and hard-of-hearing citizens were casting important votes on the future of captioned radio broadcasts—new technology designed to enable them to experience live radio coverage for the first time. The results—more than three-quarters of people who are deaf and hard of hearing indicated that they would be interested in purchasing captioned radio displays after watching live demonstrations of the technology last week at seven locations around the United States. The election night broadcast demonstrations were made possible by WGBH's Media Access Group, NPR, Harris Corporation and Towson University.

The telecast leveraged cutting-edge digital HD Radio™ technology to enable people who are deaf to experience NPR's election coverage by viewing live radio content on specially equipped receivers. WGBH's "stenocaptioners" monitored NPR's live coverage and fed instantaneous speech-to-text transcriptions to the participating NPR stations and to NPR's web site.

The broadcast, part of an initiative to make radio more accessible to the millions of consumers with sensory disabilities around the world, was demonstrated at NPR's international headquarters and Towson University in Towson, Maryland, WGBH, and four additional NPR member stations around the United States. During the broadcast, 150 people who are deaf or hard of hearing filled out surveys in person or online to provide feedback on the technology.

"WGBH was thrilled to welcome members of the deaf and hard of hearing community to experience live captioned radio of NPR's election night coverage," said Larry Goldberg, director of Media Access at WGBH. "Our captioning staff and our colleagues at WGBH-FM made magic happen ... and the reaction for users was strong and clear... 'Finally!' and 'When will this be available all the time?' Very soon, we hope!"

Responses to surveys indicated that captioned radio will be a popular broadcast format for deaf and hard-of-hearing users.

"Being able to read the captions enabled me to stay current on the election results. I usually tune out the radio when it's on because it is difficult to understand the dialogue with my hearing loss," said Betsy McCarthy, who participated in the demonstration at WGBH. "This technology would allow me instant access to a broadcast as opposed to taking the extra time to obtain a transcript when one is available."

Demonstration participants also showed a strong desire to rely upon captioned radio in emergency situations - on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being extremely important, they ranked emergency notifications at 9.6 when asked what types of information would be important to receive through captioned radio broadcasts. General news came in second at 8.0.

The survey also included a number of questions regarding format preferences, such as the speed of the scrolling text and the size of the text. The information will be used to improve future captioned broadcasts.

"WGBH did it again! The first to provide TV captioning in 1972 has once again become the first to caption the election results on HD Radio," said Karen Keefe, past president of Association of Late-Deafened Adults, Inc. and president of ALDA of Boston. "An amazing, innovative idea!"

The event was coordinated by the International Center for Accessible Radio Technology (ICART), which is headquartered at Towson University in Towson, Maryland. Founding members also include NPR and Harris Corporation. Towson houses the primary administrative and academic research office for the initiative, NPR Labs in Washington, DC, provides the technology R&D and software development, and Harris Corporation supplies the transmission and research support at its radio broadcast technology center in Cincinnati, Ohio. WGBH served as a technology partner in the initiative.

HD Radio enables station operators to split their broadcasts up into multiple channels, providing several CD-quality channels for their audiences. Through this accessible radio initiative, a small amount of the total data capacity will be used to carry textual data that will be shown live on a screen on new versions of HD Radio receivers, essentially providing a closed-caption transcript of live broadcasts for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

More information on the initiative can be found at www.i-cart.net. In addition to NPR, Harris Corporation, and Towson University, ICART member organizations include iBiquity Digital Corporation, Delphi, NDS, Radiosophy, Helen Keller Institute, Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH (NCAM), Northern Virginia Resource Center for Deaf and Hard-of-hearing Persons, and the G3ict, an Advocacy Initiative of the United Nations Global Alliance for ICT and Development. NPR's Accessible Radio project is funded by a grant from the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation and Research (NIDRR).

About NCAM

The Carl and Ruth Shapiro Family National Center for Accessible Media at WGBH is a research, development and advocacy entity that works to make existing and emerging technologies accessible to all audiences. NCAM is part of the Media Access Group at WGBH, which also includes The Caption Center (est. 1972), and Descriptive Video Service® (est. 1990).


About WGBH

WGBH Boston is America's preeminent public broadcaster, producing such celebrated national PBS series as Masterpiece, Antiques Roadshow, Frontline, Nova, American Experience, Arthur, Curious George and more than a dozen other award-winning primetime, lifestyle and children's series. Boston's last remaining independent TV station, WGBH produces local TV productions (among them, Greater Boston, Basic Black and María Hinojosa: One-on-One) that focus on the region's diverse community, while WGBH 89.7 FM is Boston's NPR Arts & Culture station, offering a rich menu of classical, jazz, blues, news programming and more. WGBH is the leading producer of online content for pbs.org-one of the most-visited dot-org sites on the Internet-a major producer for public radio and a pioneer in developing educational multimedia and new technologies that make media accessible for people with disabilities. For its efforts, WGBH has been recognized with hundreds of honors, including Oscars, Emmys, Peabodys and duPont-Columbia Journalism Awards.


About NPR

Since its launch in 1970, NPR has evolved into a leading multimedia company, award-winning primary news provider and dominant force in American life. NPR produces and/or distributes 1,500 hours of programming weekly, including more than 150 hours of news, information, talk, entertainment and cultural shows for the 800-plus NPR Member stations around the country, attracting 26.5 million listeners weekly. NPR also programs two 24/7 channels for Sirius satellite radio and five 24/7 music multicast channels for digital HD Radio, having served as an industry leader in HD research and development; additionally it produces nearly 90 podcasts, making it the biggest podcaster among American media companies. NPR.org offers extensive original video and audio content, hourly newscasts, concerts and free audio streaming of current and archived NPR programs.

About Harris Corporation

Harris is an international communications and information technology company serving government and commercial markets in more than 150 countries. Headquartered in Melbourne, Florida, the company has annual revenue of $5.3 billion and 16,500 employees-including nearly 7,000 engineers and scientists. Harris is dedicated to developing best-in-class assured communications™ products, systems, and services.


About Towson University

Founded in 1866, Towson University is recognized among the nation's best regional public universities, offering more than 100 bachelor's, master's and doctoral degree programs in the liberal arts and sciences, and applied professional fields. Located in suburban Towson, eight miles north of Baltimore, the university's beautifully landscaped, 328-acre setting offers a pleasant environment for study and a diverse campus life, as well as easy access to a wealth of university and community resources. With more than 20,000 students, Towson University is the second-largest public university in Maryland. As a metropolitan university, Towson combines research-based learning with practical application. Its many interdisciplinary partnerships with public and private organizations throughout Maryland provide opportunities for research, internships and jobs. The university's radio station, WTMD, will soon convert to digital format and will serve as the initial testing ground for the initiative. Towson University is a founding member of the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU); TU President Robert Caret holds the office of president.


Press Contact:

Mary Watkins
617.300.3700
mary_watkins@wgbh.org

Posted by Nancy at 11:20 AM | Comments (0)

November 13, 2008

Blind New York State Employee Unable to Perform Job Due to Inaccessible Software

National Federation of the Blind Assisting In Litigation Against State Crime Victims Board

New York, New York (November 13, 2008): Dawn Whitfield, a blind woman who has worked for the New York State Crime Victims Board for over twenty years, filed suit today in federal court because she is no longer able to perform the functions of her job. The State Crime Victims Board has purchased and implemented software that cannot be used by a blind person and is therefore in violation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a federal law which requires that entities receiving federal funds must have information technology in place that is accessible to blind employees. Because of the new software, which is manufactured by a company called Emerging Soft, Ms. Whitfield has been unable to perform the functions of her job since May of 2008. The National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest and largest organization of blind people, is assisting in the litigation.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind, said: "Like all workers in the twenty-first century, blind people must have access to information technology in order to do their jobs effectively. Without access to information technology in the workplace, Ms. Whitfield does not have meaningful access to her workplace and is therefore experiencing discrimination under the Rehabilitation Act. The National Federation of the Blind will do everything we can to assist her in seeking a remedy for this deplorable situation."

Carl Jacobsen, president of the National Federation of the Blind of New York, said: "The National Federation of the Blind of New York will not tolerate a situation in which hard-working blind state employees are relegated to second-class status because the agencies they work for refuse to follow the law and purchase software that is accessible to them. We are committed to ensuring that Dawn Whitfield and all blind New Yorkers employed by this state have full and equal access to information technology in the workplace."

Dawn Whitfield said: "It is extremely frustrating that I cannot do my job effectively because my agency did not take my needs into consideration when purchasing new computer software, even though I made it clear to my supervisors that I had specific needs as a blind employee and the agency was well aware of the potential problems with this new software. I hope that this situation can be resolved quickly so that I can go back to assisting crime victims in the state of New York with their claims for compensation as I have for over twenty years. I enjoy my work but lately it has become a nightmare; I look forward to being a productive employee of this agency once again."

About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States. The NFB improves blind people's lives through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs encouraging independence and self-confidence. It is the leading force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's blind. In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in the United States for the blind led by the blind.

CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen
Public Relations Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen@nfb.org

Posted by Nancy at 05:36 PM | Comments (0)

November 05, 2008

Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Open Season Begins November 15

The next open season for enrollment in the Medicare Part D prescription drug program is rapidly approaching. Newly eligible Medicare beneficiaries, and current beneficiaries who are considering changes to their Medicare Part D plan, should mark their calendars for November 15. The"open season" will run from November 15 to December 31.

The Medicare Part D prescription drug program is available to all Medicare beneficiaries to help with the costs of medications. Joining a Medicare prescription drug plan is voluntary, and participants pay an additional monthly premium for the coverage.

While all Medicare beneficiaries can participate in the prescription drug program, some people with limited income and resources also are eligible for extra help to pay for monthly premiums, annual deductibles and prescription co-payments. In 2008, the extra help is worth an average of $3,600; in 2009, it’s worth an average of $3900.

To figure out whether you are eligible for the extra help, Social Security needs to know your income and the value of any savings, investments and real estate (other than the home you live in). To qualify you must be receiving Medicare and also have:


You can complete an easy-to-use online application for yourself or someone you care about at . Click on Medicare on the top right side of the page. Then click on "Apply for help with prescription drug costs." To apply for the extra help by phone or have an application mailed to you, call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask for the Application for Help with Medicare Prescription Drug Plan Costs (SSA-1020). Or go to your nearest Social Security office.

And if you would like more information about the Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Program itself, visit www.medicare.gov or call 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227; TTY 1-877-486-2048).

Contact

Everett M. Lo
Social Security Administration's Regional Public Affairs Office in the New York Region

Posted by Nancy at 02:36 PM | Comments (0)

Social Security Looks To The Future

With the end of the year fast approaching, many people are already making plans for the new year — and beyond. As Americans look to the future, so too is Social Security. Recently, the agency recently released its new Strategic Plan with the motto, "Social Security Benefits America."

This five-year plan identifies the challenges Social Security faces and the steps needed to meet those challenges head on. This plan charts the course that will enable us to effectively manage Social Security’s core workloads and work toward long-term enhancements of our service to the public.

There are challenges, such as the backlog of disability claims and the increasing population of retirees due to the aging baby boomer population. To address these and other challenges, the plan concentrates on four specific goals:

The plan also notes the two keys to meeting our goals: Social Security’s dedicated employees and advances in information technology.

Our Commissioner, Michael J. Astrue, has said, "Our workforce is one of our greatest strengths. The challenges we face have not shaken our resolve to provide the vital services Americans depend on. But we will need to rigorously explore and wisely employ new technology. To achieve a strong and modern infrastructure we need to invest in technology. That’s all part of the plan."

Abraham Lincoln once said,"The best way to predict your future is to create it." That’s exactly what we’re doing with this plan — creating our future. This Strategic Plan charts the course we will need to take over the next five years to make our vision a reality. Working together with the President, members of the Congress and our stakeholders, we can provide world-class service for generations to come.

You can read the full text of Social Security’s Strategic Plan online.

Contact

Everett M. Lo
Social Security Administration's Regional Public Affairs Office in the New York Region

Posted by Nancy at 02:33 PM | Comments (0)

Veterans Day And Every Day, Social Security Serves

At Social Security, we honor our nation’s veterans not only on Veterans Day, but every day of the year.

In fact, military service members receive expedited processing of their disability applications from Social Security. Under an agreement initiated by Social Security, the Department of Defense now transmits information to us that allows us to quickly identify military personnel injured in Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom.

The expedited process is available for any military service member who becomes disabled during active duty on or after October 1, 2001, regardless of where the disability occurs. Depending on the situation, some family members of military personnel also may be able to receive benefits, including dependent children and spouses.

If you, or someone you know, were wounded while on active duty in the military, find out more about what Social Security can do by visiting our website designed specifically for wounded warriors . There, you will find answers to a number of commonly asked questions, as well as other useful information about disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Please pay special attention to the fact sheets available on that website, Disability Benefits for Wounded Warriors and Expediting Disability Applications for Wounded Warriors.

You’ll also find links to useful Veteran Affairs websites, such as the "Operation Enduring Freedom / Operation Iraqi Freedom Home" link and the "Veterans ON-line Application" website.

Although the expedited service is relatively new, military personnel have been covered under Social Security since 1957. Even people in the service before 1957 may receive special credit for some of their service. Military personnel are covered for the same Social Security retirement, disability and survivors benefits as everyone else.

A person’s Social Security benefit depends on earnings, averaged over a lifetime. Generally, the higher your earnings, the higher your Social Security benefit. Under certain circumstances, special earnings can be credited to your military pay record for Social Security purposes. The extra earnings are for periods of active duty or active duty for training. These extra earnings may help you qualify for Social Security or increase the amount of your monthly benefit.

To learn more about Social Security for people who have served in the military, read a copy of our publication, Military Service and Social Security. Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) to ask us to mail a free copy to you.

On Veterans Day and every day, we at Social Security salute the service of those who have worn the uniforms of our military.

Contact

Everett M. Lo
Social Security Administration's Regional Public Affairs Office in the New York Region

Posted by Nancy at 11:43 AM | Comments (0)

National Federation of the Blind Brings Braille Silver Dollar to the Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention

Baltimore, Maryland (November 5, 2008): The National Federation of the Blind (NFB)-the country's leading promoter of Braille literacy-has announced the most significant initiative ever launched to support literacy for the blind. The Braille Readers Are Leaders campaign will raise $8 million for Braille literacy programs. The initiative is based on sales of the Louis Braille commemorative silver dollar (to be issued by the U.S. Mint in spring 2009) plus matching fundraising.

The National Federation of the Blind has partnered with Whitman Coin and Collectibles Conventions to promote this initiative among coin collectors. The Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention is one of the nation's premier collectibles shows, open to the public and attracting more than 10,000 visitors three times per year. Whitman also runs a show each Fall in Atlanta.

Visitors to the November 20-22 show at the Baltimore Convention Center will be greeted by large posters featuring the Braille dollar's design. The coin has a portrait of Louis Braille, who invented the reading and writing system that bears his name, and a scene of a blind child reading a book. The word "Braille" is actually embossed on the coin in Braille.

The National Federation of the Blind will have a booth at the convention. Collectors can learn more about this special silver dollar, which is limited to a 400,000 mintage of coins. NFB volunteers will introduce the organization to coin collectors with programs including a Braille reading demonstration. Visitors can sign up for updates about the coin and the Braille Readers Are Leaders campaign and to learn more about how they can support the NFB's mission.

Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind said, "We are pleased to be presenting a preview of the Louis Braille commemorative coin at the Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention. The convention offers us a valuable opportunity to share our knowledge about Braille literacy and information about the first-ever readable Braille coin."

The November 20-22 Whitman Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention has free admission and free educational forums. Members of hobby clubs such as the Baltimore Coin Club, the Maryland State Numismatic Association, and the federally chartered American Numismatic Association will be at the show. Friendly coin dealers are ready to answer questions, so visitors can bring in their coins and paper money and seek free appraisals. "Kid's Korner" activities for young collectors start at 10 a.m. on Friday and Saturday; children age six to fourteen who attend will go home with free coins and prizes.

The show hours are 2-6 p.m. on Thursday, and 10-6 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. For more information on Baltimore Coin and Currency Convention activities, please visit WhitmanExpo.com. For more information on the NFB's Braille Readers Are Leaders program, please visit www.braille.org/.


CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen
Public Relations Specialist
National Federation of the Blind
(410) 659-9314, extension 2330
(410) 262-1281 (Cell)
cdanielsen@nfb.org

Posted by Nancy at 11:39 AM | Comments (0)