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Blind News Digest # 1192

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Bill McGarry

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Jan 2, 1996, 3:00:00 AM1/2/96

THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

Issue # 1192

Tuesday, January 02, 1996

Today's Topics:

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NEED INFO ON...
Questions regarding education for the visually impaired
Glenn devices for the visually impaired
Re: Earnings Limit Action Alert
Distance Education Press Relaease
Need ur help for WWW site under construction
Re: HEWLETTPACKARD_NETSCAPE_MICROS.html (fwd)
Updated List/Free ASCII texts
Guides needed for Blind Skiers
Latest TMT Tutorial
CServe ends ASCII access
Fw: DVS Videos available at Blockbuster

******

To subscribe to the Blind News Digest mailing list or have your
thoughts in the next issue, please send electronic mail to
Bill McGarry at any of the following addresses:

UUCP: uunet!bunker!wtm
INTERNET: w...@bunker.shel.isc-br.com
BITNET: blin...@ndsuvm1.bitnet
Fidonet: The Handicap News BBS (141/420) 1-203-926-6168
(300 - 28,800 baud, 24 hours)

Bill McGarry (Moderator)
(203) 926-6187

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Subject: NEED INFO ON...
From: ZZP...@prodigy.com (Thomas Garner)
Organization: Prodigy Services Company 1-800-PRODIGY

I NEED SOME INFORMATION ON THE FOLLOWING TOPICS: MODERN LAWS HELPING THE
HANDICAPPED, EDUCATION FOR THE BLIND, TRAINED ANIMALS FOR THE BLIND AND
DEAF, OR ANY OTHER RELATED SUBJECTS. THANKS A MILLION. PLEASE E-MAIL ME
ASAP. THANKS AGAIN.
-
ZZP...@prodigy.com

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Subject: Questions regarding education for the visually impaired
From: mic...@inforec.win.net (Michael Manuel)

As an information provider, I have been asked to research any known
systems by which visually impaired and blind children are taught
mathematics and foreign languages.
I've browsed the Web and have discovered a great deal of
information on everything to do with blindness except answers to
these specific needs.
I would be most grateful if you could lead me to such areas or even
telephone numbers of people to whom I may speak to discuss this
matter. Thank you for your time.
Michael Manuel

--
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Michael Manuel | mic...@inforec.win.net | Writer, Video
(215) 862-5690 | CIS: 73071,1541 | Producer
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

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Subject: Glenn devices for the visually impaired
From: G...@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU

Happy Holidays!! Glenn device that makes miniature golf, croquet,
shuffle board and games of that sort playavle by those of us who
can not see the target. It produces a beeping tone anis portable. I
guarantee these products for 1 year and sell them for the time
being for $55.00 I of course am about ready to offer this devise
through the catalogues in the near future but thought I should
first offer it to the readers of your wonderful forum. I can be
reached at 941-267-1990.

Glenn A. Sabatka
WSFP-RRS
(813) 432-5580
BitNet: GAS@CFRVM InterNet: G...@CFRVM.CFR.USF.EDU

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Subject: Re: Earnings Limit Action Alert
From: mm...@ix.netcom.com (Mary Fowler )
Organization: Netcom

In <38...@handicap.news> mi...@pacifier.com (Mike Freeman) writes:

|
|Index Number: 38683
|
|From: James Gashel, Director of Governmental Affairs,
| National Federation of the Blind
|
|As you may have heard, the House leadership pulled a "slick" but legal
|maneuver on us on Tuesday afternoon. The bill--H. R. 2684--was scheduled
|to go before the Rules Committee at 2:30 p.m. Throughout the morning on
|Tuesday, Dec. 5, it was beginning to look more and more as though we
|might have enough votes to force a vote on our amendment on the floor.
|In fact, it was beginning to look as though we had a majority of the
|Rules Committee prepared to vote our way for a rule to make a
|linkage-retention amendment in order on the floor.
|

Is this legislation related to blind people only, or to all people with
disabilities? (I'm having trouble wading through all the details.)
Mary

--
On the Internet we do not speak for the commissions.
Mary Marshall Fowler Mayor's Commission on Disabled Persons
James Gonsalves Mayor's Commission on Human Relations
Terry Morgan JG's Assistant
330 19th Street, Suite 50, Oakland, CA 94612-3406
mm...@ix.netcom.com

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Subject: Distance Education Press Relaease
From: rba...@sasquatch.com (Dick Banks, Flex Learning Systems Manager)

Flex Learning Systems - Distance Education with a Difference

Distance Learning with a Difference

Flex Learning systems provides distance education workshops, training,
seminaars, tutorials and short courses over the internet. While many
believe that distance learning should replicate the classroom, we
believe that online courses should maximize the unique features of the
computer and internet. Flex Learning Systems provides learning
experiences that are interactive, personal, practical, focused and
timely. Delivered primarily by e-mail, you can do it any time and
youcan do it almost anywhere. The Flex Learning System mission is to
provide learning opportunities with qualified teachers, to steer you to
the information on the information highway and to put you in the passing
lane.

For information about upcoming Flex Learning System courses, send email to
majo...@sasquatch.com with one line of text saaying: get e_power aboutfls

Bisit Flex Learning System web site: http://www.sasquatch.com/flexlearn
For a human response, send email to: flex...@sasquatch.com

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Subject: Need ur help for WWW site under construction
From: car...@aol.com (CarlosH)
Organization: America Online, Inc. (1-800-827-6364)

Greetings;

I would like to input from readers on appropriate WWW sites to include in
an employment related WWW page for vi / blind workers now under
construction. I have two guiding design requirements:

1. Any listed site must be fully accessible to vi or blind users:

2. URLS can include technology vendors, rehab agency sites and / or
advocacy groups, but employment resources MUST be available at those
sites.
Any recommendations for sites and design considerations will be greatly
appreciated. Upon completion, (mid January) I will post URL

Thanks & Happy New Year

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Subject: Re: HEWLETTPACKARD_NETSCAPE_MICROS.html (fwd)
From: gcam...@hpbs2500.boi.hp.com (Gary Campbell)
Organization: Hewlett Packard - Boise Printer Division

I did some poking around this morning and I think I found out that the
issues include but may not be limited to: (1) the designer doesn't
have much control of the page format when the document is printed--
page breaks, fonts, etc; and (2) browsers do not gracefully handle
unrecognized HTML extensions, such as those extensions for another
browser. I think the efforts involve working with the browser
developers to make them work better with printers, and influencing the
HTML 3C standard so that it works well with printers.

|
|2) Does someone see the disability problems here? I can see where this
|might be an opportunity to try to add some hooks to the printing process to
|make it easier to make a print file into something easier for a screen
|reader or braille program to process.
|
|Anyone got any specific ideas?

If you have a wish list in this area I could try to route it to the
appropriate people.

Gary Campbell
gcam...@mail.boi.hp.com

The above does not necessarily represent the opinion of
Hewlett-Packard Co.

------

Subject: Updated List/Free ASCII texts
From: 7102...@CompuServe.COM (Odile Santiago)
Organization: CompuServe, Inc. (1-800-689-0736)

The following free ASCII texts are available at the
Spectrum Press website as of December 21, 1995.

http://users.aol.com/specpress/index.html

Fiction and Poetry:

Bliss by Katherine Mansfield (from Collected Stories)
Souvenirs From the Bog by Christina Starobin (poetry: opening pages)
A Responsible Woman by Kate Chopin (from The Awakening and Other Stories)
Just Looking, We See by Jacob Wachter (from Nine Stories)
A Blossom in the Sand by Richard McGowan (from Candlelight Tales)
Ulysses by James Joyce (complete)
The Dead by James Joyce (from Dubliners)
Lady Chatterly's Lover by D. H. Lawrence (complete)
In Your Face by Jay Marvin (punk noir poetry: opening pages)
Case Closed by Daniel Vian (avant-garde novel: opening pages)
The Cage by Daniel Vian (avant-garde novel: opening pages)
Linda Baby by Rachel Perez (lesbian novel: opening pages)
Fanny Hill by John Cleland (complete)
Mason-Dixon/Masters-Johnson/Glory-Glory by Doug Tanoury (poetry)

Nonfiction:
The Lady by Emily James Putnam (feminist history: opening pages)
The Claws of the Gods by Howard Rawlinson (nonfiction: opening pages)
Democracy, Language, and Literature by A. de Tocqueville (Ch23 DIA)
Of Age by Michel de Montaigne (from Collected Essays)
Info Japan (information and vital statistics)
Death in Texas by Ann Raney Coleman (journal extract)
War and the Sexes by Ellen Key (a view from the year 1916)

Odile Santiago
=========================================================
Spectrum Press
http://users.aol.com/specpress/
7102...@compuserve.com

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Subject: Guides needed for Blind Skiers
From: jmi...@cass.ma02.bull.com (John Luke Mills)
Organization: Bull Worldwide Information Systems.

Guiding blind cross-country skiers is a great way to meet some really
wonderful people, enjoy the outdoors, and do something good. I
started guiding cross-country skiers with this group two winters ago.
(I like it so much, I spent a whole week in Colorado doing it last
winter and will spend a week in South Dakota this winter!) Guiding is
now the most rewarding part of the whole winter for me. I was stunned
at how differently I saw the world when I had to see for someone else
as well. It was like doubling the volume. I can't express how
rewarding this has been.

Most visually impaired participants seem to find this an extremely
positive experience. For some beginners, it is truly
transformational. I will never forget Suzzie in Colorado. I sat with
her at diner on the first night. She was so shy and drawn into
herself it was almost impossible to have a conversation with her. She
seemed to be having great difficulty simple getting around in this
fairly large resort/hotel. Her facial expressions were sullen.

At the end of the week, it was difficult to recognize her. She was
smiling non-stop, full of energy, extremely outgoing, curious about
EVERYTHING going on around her. She also didn't have any problems
getting around the hotel anymore. It is the most amazing change I
have ever seen in a person.

What more can I say. This is a great experience for both the guides
and the visually impaired participants.

This winter New England Regional Ski for Light is again planning two
weekend long cross-country ski trips. Once again we are recruiting
for new guides. If this opportunity sounds attractive to you, please
contact me using the information after the trip listings. Training is
provided for new guides as needed.

Guides do not need to have any experience working with visually
impaired people, but must have at least intermediate cross-country
skiing skills. Being fairly articulate helps, as most of the guiding
is done verbally.

The following is the major run down on the trips.

1996 WINTER EVENTS

January 19 - 21, 1996 North Conway, NH

We will be staying at the Cranmore Mountain Lodge in North Conway, NH.
We will be skiing at a local ski touring center. The cost of the
weekend, including: Friday night pizza, two nights lodging, Saturday
dinner, breakfast both Saturday and Sunday, box lunches on both
Saturday and Sunday, skiing and all taxes and gratuities, is $125 per
person. Lodging will be 2-4 per room.

February 23 - 25, 1996, Twin Mountain, NH

We will be staying at a new motel close to the ski touring center at
Bretton Woods, NH. The name of the motel is Paquette's Motor Inn in
Twin Mountain. Breakfasts and dinner will be at the Inn. The cost of
the weekend, including lodging, Saturday dinner, breakfast both
Saturday and Sunday, skiing and all taxes and gratuities, is $85 per
person. Lodging will be double occupancy. Lunches are available at
the ski touring center at your own cost.

Transportation will be available by car pooling. You will be contacted
about a week prior to departure to make travel arrangements. It is
assumed that guides will be available to drive unless they otherwise
specifically notify the travel coordinator. Please let us know how
many passengers that you will be able to take. All passengers are
expected to "chip in" for gasoline.

For some reason, many of our seasoned guides have schedule conflicts
this year and are not able to attend the trips. We are in strong need
of guides and are quite willing and able to train new guides.

If you are interested in either or both of these trip, please contact
me as soon as possible. Over the holidays it would be best to reach
me via my home phone at:

(508) 858-3820 feel free to call collect mentioning ski for light.

My US mail addresses is:

John Luke Mills
P.O. Box 586
Nutting Lake, MA 01865

After January 1, I will again be reachable via email at:

J.M...@ma02.bull.com

or my office phone number of (508) 294-3693

Thanks for reading this and I hope to hear from you soon.
--
)
o /
> / )__ __
/ / / ) )
/ ( / ( (
(__/

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Subject: Latest TMT Tutorial
From: phil...@netcom.com (Phil Scovell)

If you prefer not to receive the following occasional
information, please let me know and I will remove your name from
the mailing list.

The latest Talk-Me-Thru Tutorial is called Easy DOS Utilities
and is a collection of eighteen speech friendly, easy to use, DOS
utilities to assist the computer user in accomplishing every-day
DOS application. Unfortunately, many people today are misled into
thinking that once they have entered the Windows Environment, no
longer will they need to know anything about DOS. Nothing could
be further from the truth. Easy DOS Utilities is a tutorial to
assist the blind talking computer user with those every day DOS
applications that one simply cannot overlook or live without.
This tutorial comes with a diskette of freeware and shareware
programs such as a simple file manager, a text viewing utility, a
text editor, file byte calculator, an auto directory selector,
simple file finders, a very simple multiple diskette file copier,
and much more including a demonstration of how to modify your
autoexec.bat file. This tutorial even comes with a quick and easy
install program to make application of these utilities even
easier. Yes, you can purchase a complicated, expensive, and
speech unfriendly program to do your daily DOS operations, but why
bother when the DOS Utilities tutorial makes it simple. The tape
and diskette sell for just ten dollars plus two dollars postage.
All TMT tutorials come with a life time tape replacement
guarantee. Master Card and Visa welcomed. Remember, all TMT
tutorials come with free technical support, days and evenings, six
days a week.
800-484-9586 extension 9579 or 303-936-2188 days and evenings.

Phil Scovell
phil...@netcom.com

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Subject: CServe ends ASCII access
From: sen...@ptbma.usbm.gov (Mark J. Senk WB3CAI)

---------- Forwarded message ----------
>Date: Thu, 21 Dec 1995 11:22:29 -0800
>From: Mike Freeman <mi...@pacifier.com>
>To: Multiple recipients of list <nfb...@lothlorien.nfbcal.org>
>Subject: CServe ends ASCII access (fwd)

The following should interest members of this list.

Mike

------- start of forwarded message -------
>From: Mark Uslan <tec...@igc.apc.org>
>Newsgroups: alt.comp.blind-users
>Subject: CServe ends ASCII access
>Message-ID: <APC&1'0'a4d62e64'9...@igc.apc.org>
>Date: Wed, 20 Dec 1995 05:39:39 -0800 (PST)

CompuServe has announced that they are changing the software used to
access their forums. As a result ASCII access to CompuServe
forums, and eventually all of CompuServe will no longer be
possible. I have protested this change, as have other blind users. I'm
posting this so non-users will know and I hope you will join us in
letting them know how this change will hurt and exclude blind users.
The CompuServe announcement follows.
Jay Leventhal, Technology Center
American Foundation for the Blind
---------------------
CompuServe Forums Run on New Software

CompuServe Forum areas will begin operating on a new software system this week.
Using leading-edge technology, the new software platform will allow Forum areas
to handle more people, messages, and files then ever before, as well as offer
greater flexibility and room for growth in the future. The Forum areas will be
moved to the new system gradually over the coming months. Due to the nature of
the new architecture, Forum areas will no longer be accessible from ASCII or
terminal emulation interfaces once they have been converted to the new system.
Members using these interfaces will receive a message to help them upgrade to a
supported interface. Members using CompuServe Information Manager (CIM)
products, CSNavigator/Navigator for Macintosh, OzWIN and CISComm will not
require interface upgrades. An upgrade for TAPCIS users will be available in
TAPCIS Forum, and other software products, such as Golden CommPass and NavCIS,
are also planning upgrades. For more information on this new technology and how
it will affect the Forum areas, GO NEWFORUM. To access the TAPCIS Forum, GO
TAPCIS.
------- end of forwarded message -------

------

Subject: Fw: DVS Videos available at Blockbuster
From: BLACKB...@delphi.com

> To: Multiple recipients of list BLIND-L
> From: shawn keen on Mon, Dec 18, 1995 3:24 PM
> Subject: DVS videos for rent- (fwd)
Over the past couple of weeks I've read several messages about
DVS Home Videos now being made available at select Blockbuster
Video locations. I thought I would take this opportunity to
explain what DVS is doing with Blockbuster.

Feel free to cross-post this message to any relevant blindness-
related listserve.
Blockbuster Video has agreed to launch a pilot project for which
ten stores across the country have been selected to dedicate a
shelf to accommodate rental of DVS described video titles.
This development is a result of discussions that DVS initiated
with Blockbuster in response to input from many consumers who
told us that they would find the ability to rent DVS videos
from their local video store very helpful and desirable. We're
extremely excited about this breakthrough, and hope you'll help
us let Blockbuster know that this project is a worthwhile
endeavor that should be expanded over time.

Blockbuster will begin the test with 16 described home
videos on the shelf. Titles include children's favorites like The
Lion King, Beauty and the Beast, and Aladdin, as well as a
variety of other interesting titles like Forrest

Gump, Father of the Bride, Star Wars and Schindler's List. DVS
video cassettes will be offered at a reduced rental rate of $2.
This project began on Monday, December 11.
Blockbuster Video locations participating in the project include
one store in Charlotte and Morganton North Carolina, Chicago
Illinois, New York City, St. Louis Missouri, Woodland Hills
California, and two stores in Austin Texas and Denver Colorado.
We urge those of you who live in these areas to stop into your
local Blockbuster Video store and rent a DVS described home
video.
Here's a list of the participating Blockbuster Video stores their
address and phone number:
Charlotte, NC- 1730 Abbey Place 704-521-8020;
Morganton, NC- 114 East Fleming Drive 704-437-1199;
Austin, TX 2719 Guadelupe Street 512-477-3396 and 5520 North
Lamar Boulevard 512-302-3434;
St. Louis, MO 4177 Lindell Boulevard 314-535-5656;
Denver, CO 2466 South Colorado Boulevard 303-691-9811 and 7150
Leetsdale Drive 303-320-1290;
Chicago, IL 2577 North Clark Street 312-880-5688
New York, NY 155 East 34th Street 212-686-0022;
Woodlandhills, CA 21937 Ventura Boulevard 818-713-9990.
As the discussion of DVS videos has unfolded, I've read messages
alerting people to the availability of DVS videos from many
public libraries. You can be sure that we at DVS are working
to encourage libraries to begin carrying as well as to expand
their collection of DVS videos. We see our work with
Blockbuster Video as bringing us one step closer to our goal of
making DVS videos available to you on as wide a scale as
possible, just as nondescribed videos are made available to the
general public.

Consumer feedback has played an integral role in the
development of DVS since its inception, and we're always happy
when consumer suggestions become reality. It happened in 1991
when DVS Home Video was established, and it's happening today
thanks to cooperation from Blockbuster Video. The success
and growth of this project depends largely on those of you who
live in the general vicinity of the Blockbuster Video stores
taking part in this project. We encourage you to rent DVS
described videos and hope that you'll encourage others to do
the same. For more information on our work with Blockbuster

Video, you can email me (Tom Wlodkowski) at d...@wgbh.org.

------

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End of Issue # 1192 of the Blind News Digest

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