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Access Information News for Monday, August 28, 2023 - Volume 925The Week's News in Access Information A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication Access Information News. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in access information. Subscribers: 10,297 Opt-In Subscribers were sent this issue via email. 26 Premium Subscribers were sent this issue via email. This Week's Featured Advertisement: Access Ready, Inc. Presents "My Friendly Eyes" At 2023 NACDD Conference And Receives Glowing Reviews
At this year's National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD) Conference, held July 26-28 in Orlando, Florida, the Patent Pending breakthrough technology called "My Friendly Eyes" was presented. This largest gathering of NACDD advocates and professionals enthusiastically welcomed this new turn of events aimed at promoting community, independence and safety within the intellectual and developmental disability cohort. Many signed up to provide input into its further expansion as Beta Testers. "The involvement of this group is only fitting since the need was highlighted by them at last year's conference”, said Doug Towne, Chair of Access Ready. MFE is the personal assistance smartphone application designed to provide community, safety, and independence for individuals with intellectual, developmental, and sensory disabilities. MFE transcends the capabilities of traditional mobile assistance software by focusing on the unique bond between those who need assistance and those caregivers who know them best. Learn more today at: https://myfriendlyeyes.com/. Ongoing Distribution Made Possible By Support From: Pneuma Solutions, WayAround, APH ConnectCenter, Access Ready, Inc., Clusiv, NSITE.org, Total Tech Solutions, LLC, Hartgen Consultancy, Carrie on Accessibility, Living Blindfully, Eyes on Success and Empish J. Thomas. Learn more about Sponsorship today at: https://accessinformationnews.com/sponsor.Dear Access Information News Subscriber,Submit your Access Information News Item for free, with timing and placement determined by our editors, here: https://accessinformationnews.com/submit-news. Submit a Sponsored News Item, with timing and placement determined by you, here: https://accessinformationnews.com/submit-sponsored-news.1) Top 5 Most Clicked Access Information News Articles From Last WeekA.) Exploring the Reality of Autonomous Driving for the Visually Impaired | Ed Worrell | OverHere Consulting Imagine sitting behind the wheel of a car and setting off on a journey all by yourself — sounds pretty amazing, right? As someone who can't rely on sight, the notion of autonomous vehicles holds a lot of promise. But before we start planning our road trips, there are a few important factors to consider: B.) Are The Envision Glasses Any Good? | David Redmond | National Council Of Blind IrelandBefore I write this article, I want to make something very clear. As you'll read, I had a very mixed experience with the Envision glasses, but that's no reflection of Envision more generally. Their app is in my view an under-appreciated rival to seeing AI, and others may well have a much better experience with the Envision glasses compared to me, in fact I know some have. This review is simply my opinion of the product, based on my experience using it at a specific point in time. The product may improve significantly down the road, but for now, this is my experience: C.) The Accessibility Features Of DocuSign And How To Make Them More Accessible | Benjamin Roussey | Accessibility.comWith digitization transforming how we communicate, collaborate, and conduct business, ensuring everyone can seamlessly access and use digital tools has never been more essential. DocuSign, a leading e-signature and document management platform, has revolutionized how we handle agreements, contracts, and other vital documents in the digital age. While the platform has made these processes more efficient, they must also be accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. In this article, we'll delve into the accessibility features of DocuSign and how to make it even more inclusive and user-friendly for all: D.) 11 Self-Editing Tips for Blind and Sighted Writers | Empish J. Thomas | Freelance Writer, Disability Blogger and Accessibility ConsultantLast week I attended a writing discussion group for blind and low vision writers and authors. The Hadley Institute for the Blind and Print Impaired hosted this monthly meeting. We shared self-editing tips. When crafting an article, blog post, essay, poem or even a book, editing is critical. Self-editing even more so. I want to present my very best work before I submit to and editor or hit that publish button on a blog post. I am a perfectionist and comb over a piece with nick picking precision. To avoid this I have shortened my self-editing time with the tips below: E.) 10 Things To Know About iPhone Accessibility | Ophthalmic EdgeThe iPhone is quite possibly the most adopted device ever, for people with vision loss. This is because it is accessible out-of-the-box, even if you can't see the screen at all. If there is one good reason to use an iPhone, there are a hundred good reasons. Here are the top 10: 2) Sponsorship Packages Currently AvailableAre you an access-based person, business or organization whose products, services or message would benefit from reaching over 15,000 access information subscribers each week? If so, please consider becoming a Sponsor today for just $100 a month, paid either quarterly or annually. Annual Sponsors receive 5 Featured Advertisements for the year, as opposed to 4, and gain the additional benefit of being able to schedule their Featured Advertisements up to one year in advance. If you've been looking for a way to consistently reach the largest audience of opt-in access information subscribers in the world today, at a nearly negligible price point, please consider becoming an Access Information News Sponsor while packages last. Availability: There are currently 4 Access Information News Sponsorship Packages available. Advertising Benefits: Review a complete list of advertising benefits here: 3) Premium Subscriber UpdatesNext Issue: Premium Subscribers will receive their 3rd Issue of the 60 Most Clicked Access News Articles for July, August and September of 2023 on Monday, October 2, 2023. Back Issues: There are currently 2 back issues available. Premium Subscribers are entitled to all back issues, anytime they sign up. All available back issues will be sent to you via email within 24 hours of purchasing your subscription. Please Join Us: If you would like to support the ongoing weekly distribution of free and unbiased access news while receiving a perfectly formatted and searchable Word Document with each of the 60 Most Clicked Access News Articles of the last 3 months listed neatly within it, please consider joining us today for just $1 a month: 4) Sponsored News Items Now AvailableUse Sponsored News Items to reach the access community when you need to. Whether you are a current Sponsor or not. Current Weekly Subscriber Count: Over 10K. Drive traffic to your access product and service announcements, events, updates or fundraisers using this incredibly cost-effective and easy-to-use advertisement tool. Learn more today at: 5) Follow Access Information News On Your Preferred ChannelIn addition to receiving Access Information News via email every Monday morning at 6:00 AM ET you can also pick up the newsletter and its trending articles on any of the following channels: 6) The Cost of Living With a Disability in America | EsquireThirty+ years after G.H.W. Bush signed the Americans with Disabilities Act, four Americans with disabilities reflect on the struggle to secure a financial future: 7) The Wheelie Peeps: Disability Advocates Protest Illegal Use Of Accessible ParkingThe Wheelie Peeps, disability advocates who were featured in the docuseries PUSH, hosted a peaceful protest in Edmonton on Tuesday to bring awareness and call for municipal authorities to do more when it comes to enforcing who is allowed to park in accessible parking spots: 8) The World Is Going Blind. Taiwan Offers a Warning, and a Cure | Wired: Subscription RequiredSo many people are nearsighted on the island nation that they have already glimpsed what could be coming for the rest of us: 9) Adventures with BeMyAI | Leonie | August 17, 2023Today I was given early access to the BeMyAI beta, a feature that's being added to the BeMyEyes iOS app using ChatGPT4: 10) Brain Implants Could One Day Restore Communication For People With Paralysis | The VergeTwo separate studies show that brain-to-computer interfaces could help decode brain signals into speech faster and more accurately than current tech: 11) Adobe Acrobat's New Accessibility Features | The Accessibility GuyAdobe Acrobat has launched its latest version, packed with innovative features, especially in the accessibility department. The changes start with the menu items, which have been relocated. For example, the tags panel and other essential accessibility elements are now on the far right side of the screen: 12) How Hello Sunshine and Making Space Media's Unscripted First-Look Deal Could Change Hollywood's Disability Narratives | The Hollywood ReporterMaking Space co-founders Sophie Morgan and Keely Cat-Wells discuss why they teamed with Reese Witherspoon's production company, the kinds of content they want their new deal to produce as well as how unscripted is key to reframing — and mainstreaming — disability onscreen: 13) The Controversy Over Unlimited Digital Lending Is Anything But Simple | Dan Moren | SixColors.comThe National Emergency Library, in which the Internet Archive made the titles it had scanned into electronic form essentially without limits, was highly contentious. Publishers, obviously, viewed it as piracy that cut into their bottom line. Authors were heavily divided. Part of what makes it tricky, as this piece does a great job explaining, is that there's a disparity between how the rules are and how people think they should be. The law, as it stands now, is largely against the Internet Archive. That's just the way it is. Whether that law should be changed is a different matter — one that's not going to be solved in the courts, as my good friend and colleague Glenn Fleishman wrote: 14) Take Advantage of the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP) for Low-Income Internet Users | PCs for PeopleIn an era where digital access is necessary, the lack of affordable internet connectivity can create a significant barrier for low-income individuals and families. Recognizing this challenge, PCs for People is proud to be an approved provider for the Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), a federal initiative to narrow the digital divide and provide equitable access to the online world. Take advantage of this opportunity to stay connected and save money: 15) Fundamental Things To Keep In Mind When Developing An Accessible Website | Accessibility.comDoing work on the backend can save you time in the long run, especially when creating an accessible online presence. By doing the work to facilitate a user-friendly and accessible experience, you keep your audience engaged while avoiding pricey lawsuits. Hosting an accessible website broadens your potential customer base while staying in accordance with ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) regulations: 16) OrCam: An Introduction To Amazing Assistive Technology | Douglas Rudolph | Accessibility On The GoWhat is the OrCam? Well, let me tell you. The OrCam is an innovative piece of assistive technology that has seriously been a game changing device for many. Not only is this device amazing for the blind or partially sighted, but it is perfect for those with a number of print based disabilities as well! That being said, I can only speak to its use case for blindness. To make it a little bit more unfortunate, I have only got the experience with the model from I think 2014. That being said, everything I thought then, I still think now! 17) The Kids Who Cannot Advocate For Themselves — Voices In The Wilderness | Award Winning Sight Loss Coach, Advocate and Author Donna JodhanThey are our present and our future and we must protect them at all costs! For if we don't? we are nowhere! 18) Top 10 Picks Best Bathroom Scale For Visually Impaired For 2023The following is a comprehensive guide to buying bathroom scale for visually impaired. If you are uncertain where to start your research, do not worry; we have you covered. The sheer number of options out there makes going through thousands of reviews extremely frustrating. Look over the reviews, then make an informed purchasing decision based on this ultimate guide: ➜ Featured Webinars, Training Courses and EventsSubmit your access information related Webinar, Training Course or Event for consideration within this section using this form: https://accessinformationnews.com/submit-event.August 29, 2023 — August 30, 2023 | Web Accessibility in Mind ConferenceThe second annual Web Accessibility in Mind Conference is presented by WebAIM in partnership with Pope Tech. This virtual conference will provide conference participants with content that will help them mature their practice in digital accessibility. Our goals include: Provide a diverse range of perspectives from a diverse group of speakers. Share solutions to accessibility challenges. Give advice and guidance that helps our participants to actively contribute to providing more accessible digital spaces. Bring together a cross section of public and private sector technology professionals from organizations large and small. The Web Accessibility in Mind Conference will be held online on August 29-30, 2023 from 12pm-5:10pm US Eastern Time (with a one-hour break at 2:10pm) each day. Register: August 30, 2023 | JAWS: Testing for Website Accessibility (Assistive Technology Webinar) | Access Ingenuity10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 5PM GMT August 31, 2023 | FSOpenline | Freedom Scientific5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT on 9/1 September 6, 2023 | WeSpeak AI with Special Guest: Peter Tucic from Humanware Inc.4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 11PM GMT September 6, 2023 | Accessibility Testing with WCAG 2.2 | TPGi9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT September 7, 2023 | Using JAWS Inspect and JAWS Connect for Testing | TPGi9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT September 7, 2023 | Zoom Basics Using JAWS | Computers For The Blind | Marci Duty and Stephen Guerra4:30PM PT, 5:30PM MT, 6:30PM CT, 7:30 PM ET, 11:30PM GMT September 12, 2023 | Case Study: Creating Accessible Cultural Experiences | TPGi9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT September 13, 2023 | Connect 12's New Dictionary Powered By Oxford Languages HumanWare9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT September 14, 2023 | The Many Faces of BARD: Using Your Braille Display to Read Braille BARD Books on Your iPhone4PM PT, 5PM MT, 6PM CT, 7PM ET, 11PM GMT September 19, 2023 | The Accessible Forms Checklist | TPGi9:30AM PT, 10:30AM MT, 11:30AM CT, 12:30PM ET, 4:30PM GMT September 21, 2023 | Inclusive Design 24Inclusive Design 24 (#id24) is a free 24-hour online event for the global community. It celebrates inclusive design and shares knowledge and ideas from analogue to digital, from design to development, from planners to practitioners, and everything and everyone in between: September 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day September 27, 2023 | How to Write an Accessibility Statement | TPGi9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT September 29, 2023 | Blindness and Mental Health Webinar | Accessible Pharmacy9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT October 4, 2023 | FEMA Nationwide EAS Test11:20AM PT, 12:20PM MT, 1:20PM CT, 2:20PM ET, 6:20PM GMT October 13, 2023 | Blindness and Clinical Trials Webinar | Accessible Pharmacy9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 4PM GMT October 24, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 12AM GMT Next Day November 6, 2023 through November 10, 2023 | Accessing Higher Ground | Association on Higher Education And Disability (AHEAD)Accessible Media, Web and Technology Conference. Hilton Denver City Center, Denver, Colorado: November 28, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 11PM GMT December 1, 2023 and December 2, 2023 | Blind Health Expo 2023 | Exhibitor and Attendee Registration Now OpenThe Blind Health Expo is the largest virtual event of healthcare information, products, services, and medication for individuals in the blind, low vision, and disability communities. Exhibitors can: Register for free. Interact with thousands of attendees. Showcase their products and services: December 26, 2023 | Tech It Out | Monthly Hadley Discussion Group5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 11PM GMT ➜ Directories1) Access Information Email Newsletter Directoryhttps://accessinformationnews.com/email-newsletter-directory.html ➜ Sponsor Classified AdsSponsors may submit or update their Classified Advertisement at any time by submitting this short form: https://accessinformationnews.com/submit-sponsor-classified.Sponsor: Access Ready, Inc.
➜ Classified Advertisement: Access Ready Provides Access To The Best In The BusinessIf you need assistance with a new accessible website, document remediation or disability consulting of other kinds, Access Ready can help. We seek out the best in the business and bring them to you already vetted as to quality, professionalism and ability. By going through AccessReady.org to one of our qualified providers, you're not only getting the best, but supporting our advocacy and technological development efforts as well: Sponsor Since: December 13th 2022 Website: https://accessready.org/ 🌐️ Email: info@accessready.org 📧️ Phone: (727) 531-1000 📱️ About: Access Ready Inc. is a certified, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of Access Ready Inc., a nonprofit cross-disability rights advocacy organization, is to promote a policy of accessibility benefiting all people regardless of ability across information and communications technology utilized for two way communications. The purpose of Access Ready Inc. is to educate the public and private sectors of the importance of accessible information and communications technology to the future of all people regardless of ability. To support this education by developing initiatives that promote policies that ensure the creation and maintenance of accessible technologies utilized for two way communications at all levels which allow for easy use by people with the widest range of abilities possible. To develop employment and business opportunities for people with disabilities that support its educational activities in the field of information and communications technology and related areas. To provide consulting and educational services to buyers, developers, and users of information and communications technology that promotes its highest and best use in society. To promote the concept of a technologically accessible society which fosters: Freedom of expression, speech, and worship. Sponsor: Access Ready, Inc.
➜ Classified Advertisement: Access Ready Seeks Guidance On New Accessible TechnologiesWhat Technologies do you see in the market that are not accessible, but should be? What accessible technologies can you imagine that can make the lives of people with all kinds of disabilities better? We will advocate with developers to make existing technologies accessible on your behalf. We will advocate with developers to build new accessible technologies on your behalf. Give us your guidance and support. Your guidance charts our path toward what is most important. Your support funds our efforts on your behalf: Sponsor Since: December 1st 2022 Website: https://accessready.org/ 🌐️ Email: info@accessready.org 📧️ Phone: (727) 531-1000 📱️ About: Access Ready Inc. is a certified, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The mission of Access Ready Inc., a nonprofit cross-disability rights advocacy organization, is to promote a policy of accessibility benefiting all people regardless of ability across information and communications technology utilized for two way communications. The purpose of Access Ready Inc. is to educate the public and private sectors of the importance of accessible information and communications technology to the future of all people regardless of ability. To support this education by developing initiatives that promote policies that ensure the creation and maintenance of accessible technologies utilized for two way communications at all levels which allow for easy use by people with the widest range of abilities possible. To develop employment and business opportunities for people with disabilities that support its educational activities in the field of information and communications technology and related areas. To provide consulting and educational services to buyers, developers, and users of information and communications technology that promotes its highest and best use in society. To promote the concept of a technologically accessible society which fosters: Freedom of expression, speech, and worship. Sponsor: APH ConnectCenter
➜ Classified Advertisement: Prepare For Your Future Today With The All-New APH ConnectCenter's Job Seekers Toolkit!The APH ConnectCenter and NSITE have partnered to update the Job Seeker's Toolkit, an accessible, self-paced, free online training course. The Toolkit includes five sections covering self-awareness, career exploration tools, the preliminary employment process, the interview, and maintaining employment. We are bringing the Job Seeker's Toolkit to a larger audience and in a Learning Management System format for today's learners, at no cost. Visit APHCareerConnect.org to get started with the Job Seekers Toolkit today at: Sponsor Since: November 29th 2022 Website: https://aphconnectcenter.org/ 🌐️ Email: connectcenter@aph.org 📧️ APH ConnectCenter Information and Referral Line: Hours: Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET Facebook (CareerConnect) | Facebook (FamilyConnect) | Facebook (VisionAware) | Twitter | YouTube About: The APH ConnectCenter offers curated advice and resources to assist children, parents, adults, and job seekers who are blind or visually impaired, and their associated professionals, leading to greater independence and success in their lives. Sponsor: WayAround
➜ Classified Advertisement: Have You Tried The Best Way to Label Things if You're Blind or Have Low Vision?WayAround is a smartphone-based labeling app that works with your preferred accessibility settings. You just need the free mobile app and some WayTags ® to label items in the kitchen, garden, closet, office & more. If you want to label something that's inside, outside, wet, dry, hot, or cold, there's a WayTag that will attach securely. WayTags come as stickers, buttons, magnets, and clips. Each of the different styles of WayTags work exactly the same. Simply choose the WayTag that's best for what you want to label. ➜ Label your kitchen, clothing, or medication. Keep adding more WayTags! Use any style of tag, in any order. There's no limit to the number of WayTags you can use. So you can rely on one system to label all your things. Try our Starter Pack to experience ALL of the different types of WayTags! Sponsor Since: November 18th 2022 Website: https://www.wayaround.com/ 🌐️ General Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465 📱️ Business Sales & Support: (888) 898-4465 📱️ Email: connect@wayaround.com 📧️ About: WayAround is the app for your smart device that provides on-demand details about everyday things. The simple tag-and-scan approach lets you quickly and easily identify things around you. It also provides extra details, like how something works or when it expires. The result? Doing more of the things you want, with more confidence and more independence. All the information you want with just a tap of your phone. No more waiting around to ask someone. You need just two things to get started: The free mobile app for iOS or Android and some of our smart WayTags®. Accessible labels for the blind, deafblind, and anyone with vision loss. Your biggest problem isn't poor eyesight. It's that so much of the information in the world is visual. But you shouldn't have to wait around for someone else to get the information you need. Or carry around a bulky, outdated device. There is a better way to get accurate and complete information every time. So you can reduce stress and gain independence. Download The App (Apple): https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/wayaround-tag-and-scan/id1294361140?mt=8 Download The App (Android): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wayaround.wayaround Sponsor: Pneuma Solutions
➜ Classified Advertisement: Summer Shows For Us = Summer Savings for Everyone! 25% Off Anything In Our Store With Code "Show2023", Good Until July 31!With Pneuma Solutions back in action at summer conventions, it is time once again for some unbeatable deals! And you're going to love this one... 25% off anything! That's right, anything! With the only exception being Sero due to its separate purchase process, anything available for purchase in our store via Stripe is 25% off for the month of July! RIM Personal for your machine at home? $74.25! Need to scale up? No problem, your 25% will be applied to the new price! Missed out on the Community Support discount? Never fear, you can still slash $37.25 off the $149 price, making the price $111.75! Scribe scans, credits and subscriptions are also covered. And the best part? You don't even have to pick which item to use it on! Purchase as many items as you need, and use this code on all of them! From now until July 31, you can spend 25% less and receive 100% of Pneuma's best in accessible remote desktop and document remediation! Use code show2023 for 25% off anything in our store til 07/31! Sponsor Since: November 7th 2022 Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ 🌐️ Email Newsletter: Click here to receive periodic news via email concerning Pneuma Solutions products for business, consumers and education. Sales: (866) 202-0520 📱️ Support: (650) 249-1000 📱️ About: Backed by two decades of creating award-winning accessible cloud technologies for people with visual impairments, Pneuma Solutions is the global leader in accessible cloud-based solutions. Pneuma Solutions was founded by long-time accessibility developers Mike Calvo and Matt Campbell. For more information on their individual profiles, click on their respective bio pages. We're proud to be the first company to develop cloud-based accessibility at the network level. Our tools provide organizations, like yours, a way to deliver secure, accessible information right from your network or from our secure servers. You can provide your print disabled consumers, students, employees, and citizens with a multitude of accessible options. Additionally, we offer a suite of cloud-based applications to blind and print disabled consumers directly from our website. Our consumer products are designed to make the day-to-day lives of blind and print disabled individuals more accessible and simpler to manage. Access to information is not a privilege, it's a right. It's also your right to obtain affordable, accessible cloud solutions to serve your end user. When organizations like yours implement our tools, together we help make it a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Want to know more about how we can help you become more inclusive? Contact us here. We'll be happy to discuss how our tools can help with your accessibility needs. Sponsor: Empish J. Thomas
Sponsor Since: August 21, 2023 Website: https://www.empishthomas.com/ 🌐️ About: Hello. I'm so glad you're here. I'm Empish, a freelance writer and blogger specializing in vision loss and disability. I have a deep passion for the disability community and enjoy using my writing skills to bring awareness. Ever since I was a small child I have always been intrigued by the written word. Checking out children's books at my local library to reading the newspaper out loud to my parents, words have always moved and compelled me. Now, fast forward to my adult life. I had a journalism degree with a promising career. But six months after graduation I developed severe headaches and sensitivity to light prompting me to go see an eye doctor for the first time in my life. I was diagnosed with Uveitis in its most aggressive form and within a few years I was totally blind. Despite this diagnosis my love for the written word did not diminish. I had noticed the negative and sometimes incorrect portrayal of the disabled in the news media. I wanted to be proactive in changing that image. Language is powerful and that people with disabilities must tell their own story. This is why I love the Nigerian proverb “Don't let the lion tell the giraffe's story,” because it speaks to my career as a journalist and disability advocate. As we know, the lion is the king of the jungle and rules the animal kingdom. His voice is heard the strongest and the loudest the majority of the time. But there are also other animals too. Ones like the giraffe that have a voice and a story to tell. Their voices are just as important. Just as powerful. Just as valuable. As you review and read my work my goal is to give the giraffe that voice. Topics That Spark Joy As a freelance writer and blogger, I use this site to talk about my life as a disabled person. Like Marie Kondo, you will find blog posts on the things that spark joy. I love reading audiobooks and watching audio described movies. I also love talking about accessibility and how it impacts my life. I include my daily routine. You know those mundane things we all do like grocery shopping, exercising, paying bills, voting and anything else I find interesting. Let Me Write For You Now that you know a little about me, are you looking for a freelance writer? One who can write a captivating story. ONE WITH excellent writing and organizational skills. One who understands the importance of deadlines. Let's chat. Shoot me an email from my Contact Page and let's discuss how I can meet your writing needs. Sponsor: Eyes on Success
Sponsor Since: August 21, 2023 Website: https://www.eyesonsuccess.net/ 🌐️ About: This half-hour weekly podcast and radio program discusses products, services and daily living tips for people with vision loss. It is available through radio reading services across North America, via several internet streaming services, and to everyone else as a podcast. To date, the show has been downloaded in all 50 states in the US and over 100 other countries on all the inhabited continents. Eyes On Success is hosted and produced by Peter Torpey and Nancy Goodman Torpey. Each episode is basically a success story. Some are human stories of visually impaired people's accomplishments in academics, employment, sports or pastimes. Others are descriptions of adaptive aids that enable visually impaired people to achieve things. These include screen readers, magnifiers, navigation aids, and others. In all cases, the focus is on success. Eyes On Success has been airing weekly since January 2011. Prior to January 2013 the name of the show was ViewPoints. Other than the name, nothing has changed. Listening To Eyes On Success You can listen to Eyes On Success on your smart home device by saying “play the Eyes On Success podcast”, subscribe to the podcast wherever you get your podcasts, or listen on Apple Podcasts, iTunes, YouTube or your local radio reading service. Listeners can also follow the show on Facebook and X (Formerly Twitter).Connecting with Eyes On Success Email: To contact us with questions, comments or suggestions for future shows send an e-mail to hosts@EyesOnSuccess.net 📧️. Weekly Announcements: If you would like to receive weekly announcements of upcoming episodes, you can join our low traffic "announcements only" list by sending an e-mail to: EyesOnSuccess+subscribe@GoogleGroups.com 📧️. Email Forum: If you would like to connect with other listeners and share your thoughts about what you've heard on the show, you can join our listener email forum by sending an email to: EOS_Discuss+Subscribe@GoogleGroups.com 📧️ Sponsor: Living Blindfully
➜ Classified Advertisement: Be Informed First. Join Living Blindfully PlusWhether it's a product demo, a hot topic or an in-depth interview, the Living Blindfully podcast is a must-hear to find out what's on the mind of the blind community. Ensure you're among the first to be in the know. Join Living Blindfully Plus to receive episodes three days before they're public. Pay what you can afford or what you think it's worth. Set it and forget it with a recurring subscription which you can cancel any time, or just pay for a single month, the choice is yours. And when you subscribe to Living Blindfully Plus, you're supporting an important resource for the blind community where the global conversation continues every week. Join today and enjoy your Plus benefits immediately. Sponsor Since: May 29, 2023 Website: https://www.livingblindfully.com/ 🌐️ About: Living Blindfully is the podcast devoted to helping you live your best life with blindness or low vision. Sight is a highly dominant sense. If you have it, naturally you'll use it for a lot of things. But if you don't have it, or you don't have as much sight as you used to, it's still possible to live a rich, full life. This podcast is all about how it's done. We discuss tips and tricks, but we frankly discuss the barriers too, ranging from attitudinal barriers to accessibility barriers and more. You'll hear plenty about technology on Living Blindfully, because when blind people have the skills to use it and when the tech is behaving itself, it's key to functional and economic independence. Whether it's a tech question from our community, a handy tip about getting the most from your screen reader, a demonstration of a cool new app for your smartphone, or discussion about a serious accessibility issue that is causing problems, you'll learn about it on Living Blindfully. We geek out sometimes, but we always make a point of bringing people along for the ride and making sense of it all. But technology is simply a tool to help us live blindfully, so our podcast discusses much more. The topics on each episode vary a lot, but it's not uncommon to hear discussion about travel, cooking, relationships, self-care, sleep, history and even politics. After all, blind people have as diverse a mix of interests and opinions as anyone else. While we welcome sighted allies and family members who have an interest in what blind people are thinking and talking about, Living Blindfully is unapologetically for blind people, by blind people. There are other great places to go to learn about how blind people do what we do. But there are few places that proudly cater to the blind community. So, if you're not blind but you're interested in an unfiltered discussion about what's occupying the blind community, you've come to the right place and you're very welcome. Jonathan Mosen is the host and facilitator of Living Blindfully, and often conducts interviews and produces product demonstrations. But you'll also hear from our engaged community of listeners who share their thoughts in writing and in audio. You're very welcome to contribute on anything you hear during the show, or something new that's on your mind. Sponsor: Carrie on Accessibility
Sponsor Since: May 29, 2023 Website: https://carrieonaccessibility.com/ 🌐️ Email: email@carrieonaccessibility.com 📧️ About: Carrie's mission with Carrie on Accessibility (CoA) is to promote accessibility and to empower those, like herself, who are blind and visually impaired. Through her YouTube channel and other social media platforms, she shares videos exploring accessibility and assistive technology, along with other resources and encouragement that can benefit the community. Carrie on Accessibility emphasizes accessibility, which is the path forward to equal access for those with disabilities. Designing with accessibility in mind is incredibly important. WCAG compliance is necessary and right, but compliance does not always equal accessibility. End user testing is the ultimate test. Through Carrie on Accessibility's Accessibility Review, businesses can evaluate the real world usability and functionality of their products and services. Whether you're a content creator, small business owner, startup, organization, or corporation, Carrie on Accessibility can help you push beyond the limits to provide and promote accessibility. Sponsor: Hartgen Consultancy
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➜ Classified Advertisement: The Whispers of Wonderment: Tech and Life Unraveled at 'WeSpeak'Ever wondered how tech changes our day-to-day? Or maybe you're the type who loves exploring new stuff and ideas. If that's you, then the 'WeSpeak' podcast is just your thing! We chat about the big questions in life, the ones that make us all take a moment to think Our latest guest thought it was all about tech talk. But when it ended, he felt like he'd discovered something new. That's the kind of chat we love. It's your turn now! Join us at: Sponsor Since: April 4, 2023 Website: https://blindtech.org/ 🌐️ About: TTS (Total Tech Solutions) is a startup technology company owned and operated in the Dallas Fort Worth area which specializes in offering services for the blind and visually impaired. While this is it's main focus, TTS also caters to the general public. Since its founding, TTS continues to make strides in demonstrating the countless ways blind and visually impaired individuals can contribute in all aspects of the workforce. This is one of the reasons why this company chooses to hire applicants who are visually impaired; to prove that there is a place in society for persons of any type of visual impairment, and to create a positive environment so one can thrive, live life to their fullest potential and to be a positive example to their communities and their families. Shop: BlindShell Classic | Shop: ARxWear | Shop: All Products | Services | Events | About | Contact Us Sponsor: NSITE.org
➜ Classified Advertisement: Back To School! NSITE Training ProgramsLook at our upcoming training programs and job placement opportunities. A few seats are open for the Customer-Centered Communications course, which will start in August. This highly engaging and participatory class is delivered virtually over four consecutive days (four hours per session). Register by the August 1, 2023 deadline! Now accepting applications for in-demand careers in HR and IT with our Sourcing Special Certificate and NSITE IT Essentials (with CISCO) Programs. Additional courses are on our training page and our accessible on-demand programs. (Earn a digital badge for select courses). NSITE can assist with securing financial support for training programs. Learn more today at: https://bit.ly/NSITE-CCC. Sponsor Since: March 6th 2023 Website: https://nsite.org/ 🌐️ About: NSITE provides a continuum of employment services that connect employers with talented, dedicated people who are blind, low-vision, and/or veterans to meet their workforce needs. As you move through the hiring process, NSITE is with you every step of the way to ensure that finding the right employee-employer match is as smooth and seamless as possible. NSITE works with employers to identify potential candidates who are blind, low-vision, and/or veterans. From there, NSITE assists with accessibility needs, onboarding, and training, then prepares both parties for job placement. Our work does not end there; it continues with ongoing support to accommodate changes in accessible technology and employer requirements. NSITE Connect: Linking employers with talented individuals who are blind, low-vision, and/or veterans. Access the NSITE Connect Job Board here.About | Media | Employers | Job Seekers | Training Programs | Job Board | Contact Us Sponsor: Clusiv
➜ Classified Advertisement: Clusiv Is The World's First eLearning Platform Built For And By People Who Are Blind. Our Courses Are Designed To Equip People Who Are Blind Or Visually Impaired For Employment In The Modern Workforce. Learn More At Clusiv.Io.Navigating the employment process can be challenging if you are blind or visually impaired. Technology is difficult to figure out, there is a lot of extra material to learn, and there isn't much quality training available. That's where Clusiv comes in. We help to provide the training you need to succeed in the modern workforce. Our courses teach assistive technology skills and how to apply those skills to many of the business software programs used in the modern workforce, such as email, Microsoft and Google apps, video conferencing, and more. We also teach soft skills such as resume and interview preparation, disclosures and accommodations, internet safety, and financial literacy. Lastly, our training can teach specific career skills, such as becoming an accessibility analyst. Plus, our courses are self-paced. To learn more, visit https://clusiv.io/ and fill out a form with your information. We work with state vocational rehabilitation agencies to provide access to our course content. Sponsor Since: January 16th 2023 Website: https://clusiv.io/ 🌐️ About: As there are many challenges people in the blind community face in employment and education, Clusiv has built the world's first e-learning platform designed for the blind to provide the training, tools, and resources needed to remove barriers to the modern workforce. Our courses teach you occupational and technology skills you need towards employment. Plus, we are working to connect our graduates to internship and job opportunities. Our courses are remote, self-paced, and we provide support throughout your whole journey through our student success team, and even provide lifetime access to our courses so you can keep up to date as technology evolves. You can request Clusiv training through your vocational rehabilitation counselor and fill out the form in the link below on our website. If you are a counselor wanting to learn more about Clusiv for your clients, or an employer looking to hire Clusiv graduates, click the respective link below and fill out a form to get more info. ➜ Person Looking To Enroll In Clusiv Courses ➜ Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor Looking To Learn More About Clusiv For Their Clients ➜ Employer Looking To Hire Clusiv Graduates Sponsor: Access Ready, Inc.
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Sponsor Since: Today Website: https://accessinformationnews.com/ 🌐️ Phone: (855) 578-6660 📱️ Email: news@accessinformationnews.com 📧️ About: Access Information News is the world's leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 15,000 access professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Access Information refers to informational topics that directly affect the lives of people with disabilities. Access Information includes any and all information related to bettering the lives of people who are blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled. Access Information News is a Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication. 4 of 18 Sponsorship Packages Currently AvailableAccess Information News is the world's leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 15,000 access professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Access Information refers to informational topics that directly affect the lives of people with disabilities. Access Information includes any and all information related to bettering the lives of people who are blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled. Access Information News offers a total of 18 Sponsorship Packages which are used to support the ongoing distribution of the publication. ➜ Availability: There are currently 4 of 18 Sponsorship Packages available. All 18 Sponsorship Packages are offered on a first-come, first serve basis. ➜ Waiting List: If you would like to become an Access Information News Sponsor but there are no sponsorship packages currently available, we encourage you to join our waiting list by sending an email to: sponsorships@accessinformationnews.com 📧️. Once you have joined our waiting list we will notify you the next time a current sponsor decides not to renew. You will then have 72 hours to secure your sponsorship before it is offered to the next sponsor on the list. ➜ Pricing Options: When available you can secure one of these packages for just $300.00 USD for the next 3 months, or $1,200.00 USD for the next year. Annual sponsors gain the ability to schedule all 4 of their Featured Advertisement dates up to one year in advance. ➜ Access Information News Supporters:We couldn't do it without you! Thank you for your support!
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Volunteer Publisher Since: November 7th 2022 Location: Mayfield Heights, Ohio Time Zone: Eastern Standard Time (EST/EDT) (GMT-5/GMT-4) In addition to serving as Publisher for Access Information News Aaron also serves as Publisher for the Top Tech Tidbits Publication and is also the President and Senior Project Management Professional for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. As Publisher Aaron oversees the weekly distribution of Access Information News on behalf of Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Aaron also serves as a Volunteer Editorial Contributor to Access Information News. Aaron Di Blasi, PMP Publisher (2022-Present) Publisher (2020-Present) Sr. Project Management Professional (2006 - Present) Editorial Contributor #1: John Hanlin (Volunteer)Volunteer Editorial Contributor Since: November 7th 2022 Location: Boulder, Colorado Time Zone: Mountain Standard Time (MST/MDT) (GMT-7/GMT-6) In addition to serving as an Editorial Contributor to Access Information News, John also serves as an Editorial Contributor to the Top Tech Tidbits Publication and is also an attorney-at-law specializing in long-term disability claims for blind and visually impaired persons. John is also a long-time contractor and member of the Board of Trustees at Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. John Hanlin, Esq. Editorial Contributor (2022-Present) Editorial Contributor (2020-Present) Board of Trustees (2006 - Present) Editorial Contributor #2: Jenna Lang (Volunteer)Volunteer Editorial Contributor Since: November 7th 2022 Location: Des Moines, Iowa Time Zone: Central Standard Time (CST/CDT) (GMT-6/GMT-5) In addition to serving as an Editorial Contributor to Access Information News, Jenna also serves as an Editorial Contributor to the Top Tech Tidbits Publication and runs her own advocacy foundation. Jenna also serves as a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) for Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Jenna's son was born blind and she is always seeking new and innovative ways to empower him through technology. Jenna Lang, PMP Editorial Contributor (2022-Present) Editorial Contributor (2020-Present) Project Management Professional (2022 - Present) Editorial Contributor #3: David Woodbridge (Volunteer)
Volunteer Editorial Contributor Since: February 6th 2023 Location: Central Coast, New South Wales, Australia Time Zone: Australia Eastern Standard Time (AEST/AEDT) (GMT+10) In addition to serving as an Editorial Contributor to Access Information News, David is also the National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor for Vision Australia where he has worked since 1990. Over this time he has assisted people who are blind or vision impaired in their home, education, and work settings to take advantage of the benefits of using assistive and main stream technology. In the last seventeen years, he has also been involved with evaluating technology for use by people who are blind or vision impaired covering both low and high tech equipment (including Microsoft, Samsung, Google, Amazon, and Apple). David is also one of the key spokespersons for Vision Australia relating to technology. He has been an Apple Ambassador for Apple Australia since 2009 with a group of other Ambassadors / Apple Distinguished Educators (ADE)'s covering the range of Apple's Accessibility solutions throughout Australia. David produces a range of podcasts (since 2011) covering Apple and other technologies which are distributed on his own podcast (http://davidwoodbr.podbean.com). In addition, he also has a regular Talking Tech program (since 2013) which can be heard every Tuesday at 4:30 Eastern Summer Time on Vision Australia Radio Melbourne (available online) or via https://omny.fm/shows/talking-tech-vision-australia-radio David also runs a weekly Tech Monday where people can chat about assistive and main stream technology, share information, and any tips and tricks. David lost his sight when he was 8 years old and had to learn Braille. Since then, he completed high school, went to Sydney University receiving a Social Work degree, spent 4 years drug and alcohol counselling, and then moved into his current job. As a person who is blind, David believes that as a user of the technology that he recommends to others, that he is well situated to look at the strengths and shortcomings of the assistive technology that he comes across in both his professional and personal life, in particular, mainstream technology that is accessible. X (Formerly Twitter): @dwoodbridge In addition to his weekly contributions to Access Information News, David's regularly occurring activities are his weekly tech radio show, bi-monthly exploring tech webinars for Vision Australia, his iSee podcast when something of note grabs his attention, and the weekly Tech Monday chat sessions. David Woodbridge Editorial Contributor (2023-Present) Editorial Contributor (2023-Present) National Commercial Assistive Technology Advisor (1990 - Present) Email: editor@accessinformationnews.com 📧️ ➜ Subscription InformationABOUT:Access Information News is the world's leading not-for-profit access information news publication that reaches over 15,000 blind, low vision, deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, neurodivergent and/or disabled professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Subscribe here. Review the archive here. Access Information News is a Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication. Publisher: Aaron Di Blasi. Contributing Editors: John Hanlin, Jenna Lang and David Woodbridge. Access Information News is a sponsor and reader supported publication. RELEASE SCHEDULE:Access Information News is released every Monday morning at 6:00 AM ET. SUBSCRIBE:Do you, a friend, or colleague wish to receive the Access Information Newsletter? 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QUESTIONS:If you have questions regarding any of the material published in Access Information News please feel free to reach out to our Publisher at publisher@accessinformationnews.com 📧️ or our Editors at editors@accessinformationnews.com 📧️ and we will attempt to provide you with answers as time and knowledge permit. ARCHIVEVisit the Access Information News Archive at: https://accessinformationnews.com/archive.html where you can grab back issues. CONTENT CONTRIBUTORS:Any information for future issues of Access Information News may be submitted online via our Access Information News Item Submission Form at: https://accessinformationnews.com/submit-news or directed to our Editors at: editors@accessinformationnews.com 📧️. 
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