This is part of the Brejcha Personal and Disability Resource Site at http://www.netreach.net/~abrejcha, and after reading this page you can Click here for a Menu, or if you came here from my screen magifier page, you can go back to my home page by clicking on my site name above. But for now, Welcome to my page on:
== BLIND & VISUAL IMPAIRMENTS
Updated July 3, 2008 but some revisions are coming.
Recommended Books:
Joseph J. Lazzaro (at http://www.joelazzaro.com), who is the Manager: of the Assistive Technology Group for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Information Technology Division (at http://www.Mass.Gov/ITD , has three excellent books on Assistive/Adaptive technology::
Next, I want to post a link to a petition on Real Equal Employment Access for the Blind
And then, on to Discussion Lists, Gopher sites, Magazines, Newsletters, Usenet News Groups, and Worldwide Web, though I will begin with the latter as this is a web resource site..
== World Wide Web
An excellent site is Blind Links at http://www.seidata.com/~marriage/rblind.html . And a resource-rich pair of sites are (linked here): Camera Obscura and the companion page on Blindness-Related Resources on the Web and Beyond. These pages house links to a superb collection of sites on education, legal resources, medical information, products, services, and much more.
For other sites, check out:
The American Council of the blind is at http://www.acb.org
The American Health Assistance Foundation at http://www.ahaf.org has an excellent page on Macular Degeneration at http://www.ahaf.org/macular/about/maabout.htm with resource and research information
A to Z to Deafblindness is now at http://www.deafblind.com
Blazie Engineering and Henter Joyce are now Freedom Scientific at http://www.freedomscientific.com and produces the amazing Braille 'n Speak and relatated products, Jaws and other screen reading products, and MAGic magnification software..
Blind Links at http://www.seidata.com/~marriage/rblind.html is an excellent site with good links.
Blinded Veterans Association is at http://www.bva.org or 800-669-7079
The Blindness Resource Center at the New York Institute for Special Education at http://www.nyise.org/blind.htm has a superb collection of resources
Braille Transcription UK at http://www.brailletranscriptionuk.co.uk is an English transcription company.
Cornucopia of Disability Information at http://codi.buffalo.edu is just that with solid resources as befitting a university maintained site (University of Buffalo, New York) and it has an excellent Vision Impairment resources page .
Dancing Dots at http://www.dancingdots.com - Dancing Dots Braille Music Technology, L.P., was founded in 1992 to develop and adapt music technology for the blind.
Esmerel's List of Blindness Related Resources at http://www.esmerel.htm has two great pages -- with resource sites and products.
Henter Joyce and Blazie Engineeribg are now Freedom Scientific at http://www.freedomscientific.com and produces the amazing Braille 'n Speak and relatated products, Jaws and other screen reading products, and MAGic magnification software..
Hot Braille at http://www.hotbraille.com is "...an online service that sends free Braille in the mail. Anyone can enter an address accompanied with a message, which we will translate, emboss, and ship free of charge via the USPS..."
Human Ware, Inc at http://www.humanware.com makes the Braille Note, a portable Windows CE based Braille pad input note taker with modem, e-mail, and voice output, which connects to embossers, CDROM drives and monitors for display to sighted individuals.
Internet Resources for the Blind at http://www.oeser.net/blind.htm is an excellent site offering just that.
Lexicon Publishing. An English Braille Transcription Company in Staffordshire, England. A web site is pending but E-Mail Judy Anderson at transcriptionuk@yahoo.co.uk, or write/phone to 43 Dundee Road Etruria, Staffordshire, ST1 4BS, England, phone: 44 country code from USA, 017 82 289710 "...Braille material can be produced from print, computer disk or email. We can accept material in most MS Word, RTF, WP and plain text files..."
K12academics.com Blindness page at http://www.k12academics.com/blind.htm , this site page has a number of good links to check out.
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped at http://www.loc.gov/nls has a number of useful links on finding publications in Braille and audio.
Natural Eyecare.com at http://wwwnaturaleyecare.com under "Eye conditions" has links to important information
Prevent Blindness America at http://www.preventblindness.org is an excellent site with a variety of resources.
Recording for the Blind & Dyslexicat http://www.rfbd.org ic serves people with "print disabilities" those who can't effectively read standard print because of a disability.
The Royal National Institute for the blind in London is at http://www.rnib.or.uk
Screen Magnifiers Home Page at http://www.magnifiers.org () is a must-visit site for people looking for screen magnification. Here you will find information about screen magnifier software for MS-DOS, Microsoft Windows, OS/2 and Macintosh. The site offers reviews and downloads - including demos, freeware and shareware products. On the download page you can also download some alternative mouse software, screen review utilities and the last version of Microsoft Active Accessibility.
Tactile Vision is the English language version of a new Russian vision system for the blind.
Talking Signs, Inc. at http://www.talkingsigns.com only has a few systems in place yet, but is expanding to provide verbal descriptions and directions for the blind and viusually impaired via a small receiver worn by the user.
United States Association of Blind Athletes is at http://www.usaba.org or 719-630-0422
The U.S. National Federation of the Blind is at http://www.nfb.org and files are available at ftp://nfbcal.org and ftp://nfb.org
Vision Outdoor at http://www.visionoutdoor.de is a German site (bilingual English and German) "...founded 2006 with the goal to develop and guide unique tours for blind and visually impaired people."
Web Text Reader is at http://www.webtextreader,com and is "the fastest and easiest way for those with visual impairment or reading difficulties to access vital information on the Internet."
XP Sccreenreader is operated by Claro Software Ltd. in England. It is a linked initiative to provide innovative software for blind, partially sighted and other computer users. The Thunder Screenreader is available free for home use from partner site www.screenreader.net
Other resources and information follows here:
News Note: The Dobelle Institute at http://www.artificialvision.com in Zurich, Switzerland develops an artificial eye: (also check out "Tactile Vision" above)
Likely to go on sale in Europe in late 2001 in a limited quantity), Dobelle's system consists of a small, head-mounted video camera, a subnotebook computer and an electrode implanted in the brain. The resolution is on par with an old-style video game, but compared to a cane or guide dog, it may provide agreater degree of independence for many willing to undergo an extensive trainng process. The system discriminates objects against backgrounds, and allowed the test subject to distinguish large block letters.
This information from Popular Science magazine and The Philadelphia Inquirer
Note for text-dependent browsers: Since web sites may not all adequately support screen readers, I am including the full University of Washington information on discussion groups and mailing lists, edited to clean up minor irregularities and errors. I have also included assorted web sites for this disability I have found. Note: As sites and groups/mailing lists change unpredictably, there may be listings here that are no longer available. Notification of any such dead links is appreciated. Just E-Mail me.
== Discussion Lists
Aster-l is for discussions of the AsTer (Audio System for Technical Reading). To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to: listproc@u.washington.edu . In the body of the message, write "subscribe aster-l firstname lastname". To post to the list, write to: aster-l@u.washington.edu .
Blindad is a forum for announcing new products of interest to the blind. To join, send a message with a blank subject line to: listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu . In the body, write "subscribe blindad firstname lastname." to post to the list, write to blindad@sjuvm.stjohns.edu .
Blind-l focuses on computer use by and for the Blind. To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to listserv@uafsysb.uark.edu . In the body of the message type "subscribe blind-l firstname lastname". To post to the list, send a message to blind-l@uafsysb.uark.edu .
Blindfam is for all family members to discuss effects of blindness on family life. To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to: listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu . In the body of the message type "subscribe blindfam firstname lastname". To post to the list, write to: blindfam@sjuvm.stjohns.edu .
Dacs is a list for those interested in making Windows more accessible. To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to: listproc@trace23.waisman.wisc.edu . In the body of the message type "subscribe dacs firstname lastname". To post to the list, write to dacs@trace23.waisman.wisc.edu .
Deafblnd is a list concerning deaf-blindness. To subscribe, send a message to Bob Moore at str002@ukcc.bitnet .
Dvs-s is for students and teachers in the field of visual impairment. To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to: listserv@listserv.arizona.edu . In the body write "subscribe dvh-s firstname lastname". To post to the list, write to: dvh-s@listserv.arizona.edu .
Guidespeak exists to discuss access by blind users to the graphical user interface. To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to listserv@vm1.nodak.edu. In the body write "subscribe guispeak firstname lastname". To post to the list, write to: guispeak@vm1.nodak.edu .
Gw-info is a list run by GW Micro for discussion of their products. To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to: listserv@gwmicro.com . In the body write "subscribe gw-info firstname lastname". To post to the list, send a message to: gw-info@gwmicro.com .
HANDS is a support list primarily aimed at blind high school and college students. Pretty much anything goes as long as members feel the need to discuss it. We don't encourage political announcements or commercials, but if they happen they happen. The main thrust of the list is to let blind students exchange techniques for dealing with student life and to allow them to vent their frustrations, but we've been known to discuss a good movie or book from time to time too. To subscribe to HANDS, type the command SUBSCRIBE HANDS firstname lastname in the BODY of an emessage, and send it to: Listserv@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU
Lowvis is a low vision discussion list. To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu . In the body, write "subscribe lowvis firstname lastname". To post to the list, write to: lowvis@sjuvm.stjohns.edu.
Midi-mag concerns the use of MIDI by blind people. To join, send a message with a blank subject line to request-midi-mag@netcom.com . In the body, write "subscribe midi-mag firstname lastname". To post to the list, write to: midi-mag@netcom.com .
Nabs-l is sponsored by the National Alliance of Blind Students, and fosters discussion of concerns common to all students with visual impairments. To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to listserv@postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu. In the body, write "subscribe nabs-l firstname lastname". To post to the list, write to: nabs-l@postoffice.cso.uiuc.edu.
A directory of blind and visually impaired Internet users, and a collection of blindness-related textfiles, are available by e-mail or ftp. For information, write to Phil Scovell at philscov@netcom.com.
Rplist is for discussing retinitis pigmentosa in particular and degenerative visual impairments in general. To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to listserv@sjuvm.stjohns.edu . In the body of the message write "subscribe rplist firstname lastname". To post to the list, send a message to rplist@sjuvm.stjohns.edu .
The Seeing Eye in Morristown, NJ, Now has a discussion list for graduates and friends. To join, send a message to buddy-admin@scs.tamu.edu with your e-mail address and an explaination of why you want to join the list.
Skyclub-l is a moderated list of the Canadian National Institute for the blind with a new topic for discussion each week. To join send a message with a blank subject line to skyclub-l-request@io.org. In the body, write "subscribe." You will receive more particulars.
Blazie Engineering has two lists where users can receive information on or discuss their popular line of products for the blind. To receive announcements, send a message with a blank subject line to listproc@blazie.com . In the body, write "subscribe announce-list firstname lastname". To join the product discussions, send a message with a blank subject line to listproc@blazie.com . In the body, write "subscribe support-list firstname lastname".
Optacon exists to discuss the future of the jeopardized Optacon. To join, send a message with a blank subject line to listproc@blazie.com . In the body, write "subscribe optacon firstname lastname." to post to the list, write to optacon@blazie.com .
Tech4blind is a low-noise mailing list under the auspices of the DO-IT program, seeking to link people with technology-related questions with those with answers. To subscribe, send a message with a blank subject line to: listproc@u.washington.edu . In the body, write "subscribe tech4blind firstname lastname". To post a question or announcement to the list, write to: tech4blind@u.washington.edu .
Webwatch-l is a list for sharing information and advocacy regarding accessibility on the World Wide Web. To join, send a message with a blank subject line to majordomo@teleport.com . In the body, write "subscribe webwatch-l." To post to the list, write to webwatch-l@teleport.com .
== Gopher
The gopher server at hawking.u.washington.edu contains a section devoted to blindness-related resources. Among the holdings (with alternate sources for the information given in parentheses) are the following:
== Magazine:
Dialogue - Blindskills, Inc., P.O. Box 5181, Salem, OR 97304-0181. Phone: 800-860-4224. E-mail: blindskl@teleport.com. Web Site: http://www.blindskills.com. Quarterly large print magazine covering visual impairments, with articles, fiction and resources. Available in Braille, 4 track cassette, disk, and large print editions.
== Newsletters
The blind news digest is an electronic newsletter appearing periodically which contains questions, responses, and information. To subscribe or submit information, send a message to: wtm@bunker.shel.isc-br.com .
Computer Users' Network News is published bimonthly by Blind Service Association of Chicago, and is available at http://www.rit.edu/~easi .
== Usenet Newsgroups
Alt.comp.blind-users is an open forum for topics related to computer use by the blind.
Alt.support.glaucoma concerns this cause of blindness.
bit.listserv.blindnws duplicates the blind news digest.
============================================
Back to Organizations and Resources
Back to HOME PAGE
Back to MENU