Accessible GPS Overview and Comparison

Accessible GPS Overview and Comparison discusses the strengths and weaknesses of GPS, the differences between the various systems and how to best integrate GPS into the wayfinding equation

.

Mike May, Jerry Kuns

Moderator:   Mike Wigle

We've All Gone Digital

Workshop attendees will learn about on-line research and book retrieval tools available in the two major Scan and Read programs. Workshop attendees will see how to transfer material from computers to book readers and notetakers. Various types of digital information (DAISY, NIMAS, etc) will be discussed. Those attending the workshop will see the power of research tools available in the two major Scan and Read programs. They will understand just how portable digital information can be -- literally fitting into a pocket. Those attending the workshop will experience the power of having the same information easily accessed via speech, large print, or refreshable braille.

Dave Wilkinson

Moderator: Melodgy Engle

Assistive Technology for Visually Impaired Students with Significant Additional Impairments

Classroom Suite 4® can be used to develop accessible activities for visually impaired students with significant additional impairments.  I have found 75 activities on the Activity Exchange that are accessible and will hand these out on CD.  IntelliBraille and the excellent products that APH has developed will be discussed

Click here to download the presenter handout #1

Click here to download the presenter handout #2

.

Bruce McClanahan, M.A. Vancouver, WA

Moderator:  Patricia Bolger

Guidelines for the Preparation and Adaptation of Multimedia materials for students who are Blind or have Visual Impairments

These guidelines that review past methods and current trends in technology and media employed in the modern classroom.  Time will be taken to address methods of adaptation while paying close attention proven approaches.  Emphasis will be on theory, but some attention will address tools and emerging technologies.

Sean Tikkun, Madison, WI

Moderator:  Christy Shepard

Miami Lighthouse Music Production Program:  A Live Demonstration of Composing, Recording and Arranging Music by the Blind and Visually Impaired

The Miami Lighthouse Music Production Program enables clients to acquire marketable skills that lead to independence.  This presentation will be a live demonstration of composing/recording music by the blind and visually impaired and covers the program's creation, development and funding and curriculum development for teaching accessible music production hardware/ software. 

Because of the software interface of JAWS and Cakewalk a visually impaired person can arrange and compose music. Because of technology mainstream employment opportunities for the blind and visually impaired include sound engineering, performance, song writing and much more.  The instructional hardware and software required will be demonstrated in this presentation.

Click here to download the presenters handut #1

Click here to download the presenters handout #2

Carol Brady Simmons, Miami, FL,  Harold Cabo, B.S., Miami, FL, Heidys Hernandez

Moderator:Judy Matthew

BrailleNote Apex; Redefining A NoteTaker

Attendees of this session will learn about the BrailleNote Apex's benefits, features and capabilities, along with how to utilize this new device in a professional, personal or educational setting.

Greg Stilson, Madison, WI

Moderator: Ava Carruth

Haptic Glove Increases Access to Mathematics Instruction for Students who are Blind or have Visual Impairments

Data shared from experiments using a haptic glove to increase access to teachers' gestures for math students who are blind. Effectiveness of the technology and skill development by the participants indicate students' speed/accuracy improved when using the glove in a low-pressure environment. Continuing experiments outline potential for inclusive classrooms.

Click here to download the presenters handout

Heidi Cowan, Dayton, OH,

Moderator:  Christy Shepard

Digital Media: Resources for the Blind, Visually Impaired and Print Disabled

This session will present information regarding the use of available digital materials that can provide access to print in a variety of formats and through a variety of players.  Particular emphasis will be placed on the DAISY/NISO standard and resources such as Bookshare and the National Library Service.

Bryan Ayres, M.Ed., ATP, Little Rock, AR, Dawn Wilkinson, M.Ed., Little Rock, AR

Moderator:  John Hernandez

BOSMA Rehabilitation Center Build Your Own Computer

Clients enrolled in the BOSMA Rehabilitation program are eligible to build their own computer, starting with the CPU chip, through final wiring and testing. When the computer is built the client learns how to load the operating system of their choice, and demos of any adaptive programs  they like.

Williams Powell, Indianapolis, IN

Moderator:  Marci Lopez

Freely Available Tactile Map Production Software and Symbols:  Introducing the Development and Resulting Symbol Sets for both Tactile Reference/Street Maps and Tactile Thematic/Socioeconomic Maps as well as Tactile Production Software

In this paper we will present the development, field testing and resulting symbol sets designed for use on tactile reference/street maps and tactile thematic/socioeconomic maps.  In addition, we will introduce our newly-created tactile map production software, TaME, which includes all of our symbology for easy tactile map production.

Click here if you are interested in moderating this session

Amy Lobben, Ph.D., Eugene, OR

Implementing AIM (Accessible Instructional Materials) with Students using Portable Electronic Tools: BrailleNote, VictorReader Stream, and ClassMate Reader

This session focuses on identifying the supports, tools, and instruction for providing AIM (accessible instructional materials) using portable electronic tools, such as the BrailleNote, VictorReader Stream and ClassMate Reader. Emphasis is on using tools to access, participate, and make progress in literacy skills and learning including strategies for effective implementation.   

Click here if you are interested in moderating this session

Donna McNear, M.A., Cambridge, MN, Dominic Gagliano, Chicago, IL

A Tale of Three Operating Systems - Comparing the Built-in Accessibility of Windows 7, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, and Vinux 2.0

Click here to download the presenters handout #1

Click here to download the presenters handout #2

Click here to download the presenters handout #3

Click here to download the presenters handout #4

Click here to download the presenters handout #5

Click here to download the presenters handout #6

Click here to download the presenters handout #7

Click here to download the presenters handout #8

Mike Wigle

Moderator:  Melody Engle

The Nemeth Code Tutorial: The Results of a Two-year, Randomized Field Trial Demonstrating Its Effectiveness

The presenters have developed an interactive software tutorial, which operates on Humanware Group's Apex and Braillenote, for use by students who are blind to learn to read and write the braille code of mathematics. The tutorial was thoroughly evaluated over a two-year period. It was found to be extremely effective.   

Click here to download the presenters handout

Gaylen Kapperman, Ph.D., DeKalb, IL,  Jodi Sticken, M.S., Ed., Burr Ridge, IL

Moderator:  Susan Phillips

The Braille View: Are You Connected?  

 In this episode of the "Braille View", it's social networking from the blind perspective! The presenters will demonstrate techniques for navigating popular sites, describe features helpful to blind users and  explain how to problem solve accessibility road blocks. They will discuss security considerations and what is needed to get connected.

Belinda Lane, B.A., Austin, TX, Becky Browning, B.S. Amarillo, TX

Moderator: Scott Crawford

Twitters, Web Conferences and Blogs, oh my!: The Importance of Participating in an Online Learning Community for Blindness and Visual Impairment

The dissemination of research and richness of information shared in the blindness and visual impairment online learning community depends on everyone's active and responsible participation. Online participation can also reap many rewards for professionals. Join this discussion about enhancing the quality of information shared on the information superhighway

Click here if you are interested in moderating this session

Anne Durham, B.A., Huntington, WV

Moderator:  Sarah Johnson

Keeping Up to Date with Low Vision Technology

Many service providers have expressed difficulty staying abreast of developments in low vision technologies. This presentation will provide a baseline knowledge of this topic, an update on latest devices, and a discussion of strategies to keep abreast of this rapidly changing field. 

Click here to download the presenter handout #1

Click here to download the presenter handout #2

Ike Presley, M.Ed., Atlanta, GA

Modeator:  Marci Lopez

 Mission Possible in the Real World: Adapting Math into Braille

Math is a challenge for any student, but can be especially intimidating for a visually impaired student without adapted Braille materials. The author has assisted schools in setting up Math translation systems and she shares those experiences and tips

Click here to download the presenter handout #1

Click here to download the presenter handout #2

Click here to download the presenter handout #3

Annette Norman, M.Ed., NBCT, Lake Charles, LA

Moderator:  Sandy Smith

Division Education Session: Information and Technology

The division will offer two presentations in one session: “Accessible Captchas” - A growing number of web sites require a person to register for free in order to access the site’s services. In most cases, this registration process requires a user to visually read a scrambled image and type in the hidden message. These images are specifically designed to thwart computer programs from reading them. Some sites offer an audio alternative to the video image but these are often long numbers which are hard to hear and memorize to type later. This session will look at solutions to make these “Captchas” accessible for the blind and visually impaired.“The Accessibility of Cloud Computing” - As people become more mobile and attempt to have access to all of their information from any device in any place, cloud computing has become more prevalent. Cloud computing allows you to store and share files, create group calendars, and do a variety of online collaboration tasks. This session will look at a couple of the major cloud computing systems and their accessibility to large print and speech software

Mike Wigle, Chair Elect, Information & Technology Division

Publish or Perish!: Building the Knowledge Base of the Field of Blindness and Visual Impairment Through Publishing

This presentation helps prospective authors prepare themselves for the journey of publishing in the field of blindness and visual impairment. The presenters, both experienced editors, will explain the process and how to improve the chances of being published. Participants will also have the opportunity to "pitch" their ideas

Click here to download the presenter handout #1

Click here to download the presenter handout #2

Click here to download the presetner handout #3

Carol Farrenkopf, Ed.D., Toronto, ON, Canada, Becky Browning, Natalie Hilzen, New York, NY

Modeator:  Marci Lopez