Sterling Creations Blog

Are you looking for a product or service that can help to make life easier
for you or a family
member or friend? Not sure where to look?
Well, we have a nifty piece of info to share with you this week.
Enjoy!
The Sterling Creations team

+++++++++++++++
ReadEasy+
ReadEasy+ is compact, Fast, accurate and easy to use, the ideal reading
machine!
What is the ReadEasy+?
ReadEasy+ is an easy to use all-in-one portable device that reads to you.
ReadEasy+ will read practically any printed text out loud within seconds, in
a clear human sounding voice.
Simply line up your document or book against the right hand edge of
ReadEasy+’s case, press the “Capture” button and within a few seconds your
print material is being read out loud to you.
Who is the ReadEasy+ For?
ReadEasy+ is for anyone who needs quick, easy and accurate access to printed
material.
ReadEasy+ has an intuitive and tactile design that makes it an ideal
solution for people with all levels of vision from low vision to total
blindness.
The one button operation of the ReadEasy+ makes it suitable for people of
all ages whether you are 4 or 104!
ReadEasy+ could be the perfect reading system for you if:
A. You find it difficult to read with a magnifying glass.
B. You would like to be more independent and be able to read your own
documents (mail, newspapers, bills, etc).
C. You have a learning disability such as dyslexia and benefit from
listening to text read to you out loud.
D. You find reading with a video magnifier (CCTV) too difficult because you
can’t fit enough characters on the screen to read at your desired pace.
E. You find the constant movement of text on a video magnifier’s screen
makes your eyes fatigued or gives you a nauseous feeling.
F. You already have a reading machine but wish it was faster, more accurate
and had more features, (available with additional feature packs).
G. You have a degenerative eye condition and would like a system that is
suitable both now and for the future.
What are ReadEasy+’s Benefits?
ReadEasy+ features many benefits over other scanner and digital capture
reading machines including: Ease of use: ReadEasy+ is so easy to use. A
single button press is all it takes to start reading your document. The six
tactile in built controls are all that are required to access ReadEasy+’s
main features.
A. Accuracy:
ReadEasy+ uses the latest camera and recognition technology to ensure it is
as accurate as possible, even on complicated newspaper layouts or curved
surfaces like cans of food.
B. Quality of speech:
Using the latest natural sounding voices, together with a custom designed,
integrated, 6 watt RMS stereo speaker system, there is no better sounding
reading machine.
C. Speed:
ReadEasy+ reads your document to you in just a few seconds, (typically 5-6),
which means less waiting and more reading!
D. Stylish and practical design:
A stylish, all aluminium case together with a folding, retractable camera
and integrated carry handle, ReadEasy+ fits anywhere in your home and can be
easily transported when on the go.
E. Footprint:
Occupying just 8.6 x 4.7 inches, (220 x 120 mm), of table area, ReadEasy+ is
extremely compact and 75 percent smaller than the previous versions.
F. Weight:
ReadEasy+ is the world’s lightest free standing reading machine at just 5.4
lbs, (2.45 kg), making it easy to take with you or pack away.
G. Versatility:
Read almost any surface, flat or round. ReadEasy+’s camera allows it to
capture deep into the spines of books without flattening them, as well as
reading 3D objects like cans or prescription bottles.
H. Low Vision model:
If you benefit from reading magnified text in high contrast then the
ReadEasy+ LV is just for you. The ReadEasy+ LV offers additional features
that benefit users with low vision including being able to output captured
text to a monitor so you can see the text as it is read aloud.
I. Advanced Feature Packs available:
The Optional Keypad Feature Pack (for the ReadEasy+) and the Touch Screen
Feature Pack (for the ReadEasy+ LV) greatly increases the capabilities of
each device (e.g. saving, importing, exporting, bookmarking documents and
large print text output to an interactive touch screen).
ReadEasy+ Features
ReadEasy+ lets you read more easily than ever before.
The ReadEasy+ is Easy to Setup. ReadEasy+ is designed to be simple to set
up and pack away. Just lift the camera head straight up until it stops and
then pull it out towards you. To pack away, just complete the same steps in
reverse!
The ReadEasy+ is Easy to Use
With a specially designed tactile keypad, comprised of just 6 buttons,
ReadEasy+ is incredibly simple to operate:
The ReadEasy+ is Versatile
ReadEasy+’s uniquely designed camera allows extremely thick books to be
photographed and read accurately, without the need to flatten them, which
can damage the book’s binding.
In addition, because of the advanced software used by the ReadEasy+, even
round objects such as cans of food can be read aloud.
You can use ReadEasy+ for reading:
A. Letters and mail
B. Bank statements and bills
C. Books and novels
D. Magazines
E. Newspapers
F. Cans of food
G. Product packaging
H. Product instructions
I. Recipes
J. And much more!
The ReadEasy+ is Compact and Transportable
ReadEasy+ has one of the smallest footprints of any reading machine. It
occupies far less table space than previous scanner based systems – just 8.6
x 4.7 inches (22 x 12 cm).
ReadEasy+ is also the World’s lightest free standing reading machine at just
5.4 lbs, (2.45 kg). It has an integrated and easy-to-grip carry handle that
allows you to move the ReadEasy+ from room to room.
Move it from the living room to the kitchen to read your recipes as you
cook. From the office to the bedroom, to listen in bed. The ReadEasy+ is so
compact and lightweight, you can even take it on vacation with you!
The ReadEasy+ Supports Multiple Languages and Auto Language Switching.
ReadEasy+ is the first stand-alone reading system available with automatic
language detection. The ReadEasy+ is highly intelligent and allows
sentence-by-sentence switching making it the perfect tool for learning and
reading in multiple languages.
ReadEasy+ includes one free language Voice Pack. Additional language packs
can be obtained at time of purchase or at a later date. You can purchase
additional language packs from GW Micro or your local distributor.
Supported languages include: Catalan, Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish,
French, Gaelic, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Norwegian, Polish,
Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Spanish, Swedish and Turkish.
ReadEasy+’s Included Accessories
ReadEasy+ includes the following standard accessories:
Durable high contrast mat for use with dark and highly reflective table
surfaces.
Comfortable over the ear headphones for private listening with in-line
volume control
Comfortable over the ear headphones, High contrast capture mat, Keypad
Feature Pack for ReadEasy+
The Keypad Feature Pack is for individuals who want to enable additional
ReadEasy+ features such as more refined navigation control, file management,
and more! The Keypad Feature Pack includes a customized keypad that connects
directly to the ReadEasy+.
The ReadEasy+’s tactile keypad features 22 buttons in total. These are
arranged in a row of 4 buttons along the top of the keypad for advanced,
menu based functions, and a block of 18 keys underneath them, in 4 columns
for the remaining features. The play / pause button, in the center of 8
surrounding navigation buttons, has a raised tactile bump making it easy to
find.
The ReadEasy+ Keypad Feature Pack also comes with a clip on keypad overlay.
The overlay reduces the number of buttons that are accessible to just 10,
giving individuals easy access to the most popular features of the Keypad
Feature Pack.
The Keypad Features Pack adds advanced functionality to the ReadEasy+
including support for: multiple page documents, saving, loading, importing,
exporting and bookmarking of documents.
ReadEasy+ LV
For individuals with low vision, the ReadEasy+ LV is the ideal choice for
you!
What is the ReadEasy+ LV?
The ReadEasy+ LV includes all of the features of the ReadEasy+ as well as
the Keypad Feature Pack. In addition, you can connect a monitor to the
ReadEasy+ LV and view captured text as it is being read to you. ReadEasy+ LV
gives you the freedom to adjust the size, color and contrast of the captured
text to create a customized view that meets your specific needs. This lets
you see the text as well as read it at speeds much faster and text sizes
much larger than traditional video magnifiers.
With a monitor connected to the ReadEasy+ LV, you can also use it just like
a video magnifier or CCTV to instantly magnify anything you put under the
camera. The ReadEasy+ LV also comes with a USB trackball that allows you to
move around your document or magnified image, start/stop reading, interact
with onscreen menus, adjust magnification and more.
Touch Screen Feature Pack for ReadEasy+ LV
The Touch Screen Feature pack adds touch screen support to the ReadEasy+ LV.
You will need to connect a compatible touch screen monitor (not included) to
the ReadEasy+ to use the Touch Screen Feature Pack. Just tap the word on the
screen with your finger to start reading or scroll and zoom with intuitive
touch gestures!
Specifications
ReadEasy+
A. Time to read: approximately 6 seconds
B. Camera resolution: 5 megapixels
C. Speech synthesizer: Nuance Vocalizer
D. Dimensions (W x D x H):
A. 8.7 x 4.7 x 10.2 inches
B. 22 x 12 x 26 cm
E. Dimensions with camera extended (W x D x H):
A. 8.7 x 10.4 x 16.5 inches
B. 22 x 26.5 x 42 cm
F. Weight: 5.4 lbs (2.45 kg)
Keypad Feature Pack Additional Specifications
A. Document storage: approximately 100,000 pages (160 GB hard drive)
B. Multi-capture speed: up to 20 pages per minute
C. Supported file formats for exporting documents: Adobe PDF, Image (BMP,
JPEG, PNG, TIFF), Microsoft Word (DOC and DOCX), MP3, Open Document Format
(ODF), plain text (TXT), Rich Text Format (RTF)
D. Supported file formats for importing documents: Adobe PDF, Image (BMP,
JPEG, PNG, TIFF)
ReadEasy+ LV Additional Specifications
A. Magnification range (real-time image): up to 32x
B. Magnification range (captured image): virtually unlimited
C. Visualizations: image, overlay, column, horizontal, vertical and word
D. Enhanced color options: customizable (64 combinations)
Warranty
GW Micro offers a two-year warranty on the ReadEasy+, starting from the
purchase date. The warranty covers labor and materials.
Pricing and Ordering
For pricing information or to order the ReadEasy+, please call GW Micro at
(260) 489-3671 or visit our Reading Systems product catalog page.

https://www.gwmicro.com/Catalog/Reading_Systems/

To check for a local distributor in your area, please use the Find a Dealer

http://www.gwmicro.com/Find_a_Dealer/

If you have any questions about the tips posted in Dan’s Tech tips, please
contact Dan at the following email address:
dthompson5@mchsi.com
_________________________

Hello everyone and welcome to our insightful Sterling Creations weekly
feature.
Each Wednesday, we will be bringing you an article of interest as it
pertains to the topic of accessibility and we hope you can use it to become
more familiar with this particular area.
This has become a rapidly growing and very important area and why?
Because the number of consumers in this market is growing and will continue
to do so for the forseeable future.
Governments, corporations, and individuals are paying more attention.
Please read on.
The Sterling Creations team

+++++++++++++++
Phone For Blind Uses Braille
By ELLSON A. QUISMORIO
March 10, 2012, 4:06am
MANILA, Philippines – Girly Perando, Janiena Roxanne Dirain and
Kristine Emy Matabang call it their “baby.” But it could very well be
the most valuable companion a blind person could ever have.

The three computer engineering students have come with a “Braille Cell
Phone” for the blind with a dedicated “Wearable Obstacle Detection
System.”

Last month, the device won for the three Mapua Institute of Technology
students the grand prize in the 8th Smart Wireless Engineering
Education Program (SWEEP) Innovations and Excellence Awards.

The specialized mobile phone allows the user to receive and “read” text
messages via the centuries-old Braille system in the form of a
small rectangle containing two columns of three dots each. Placed on top of
this rectangle is a traditional keypad.

“The phone vibrates when it receives a text message. The message can be read
(by character) with the dots, which raise automatically,”
explained Girly, 21.

Incoming and outgoing calls are facilitated through a headset. Like a normal
mobile phone, the Braille phone also uses a subscriber identity
module (SIM) card and is rechargeable.

The main console is quite bulky and must be worn over the shoulder through a
sling bag. But then, it is more than just a communication
device.

Hardwired to the console is a four-inch-long sensor, which by design is
attached to a walking stick-a necessity for blind or
visually-impaired individuals.

“If the sensor detects that there is something in front of the person,
or is about to bump into something (like a wall), the phone vibrates
and gives off a buzzing sound,” said Janiena, 21, as she waved her
hand in demonstration.

The sensor, the students said, can detect an object as far as five meters
away.

The overall concept and design earned the all-female group P500,000 in
cash as top prize in the competition. Twenty-year-old Kristine said
building the phone was not easy. “We took it one step at a time. We
tried to finish one phase before moving on to the next,” she said.

But more than cash prizes and accolade, the three want their “baby” to
realize its full potential to be a useful tool for the blind.

Ayra Panganiban, the group’s adviser, recalled her initial reaction
upon hearing about the Braille phone. “When I saw that their target
the visually-impaired, and that this device would end up helping a lot
of these people, I told them to go for it,” she said.

Panganiban said the challenge now is to design and build a more
compact Braille phone, with wireless connectivity to the walking stick
sensor. Voice recognition would also be useful feature.

Dr. Felicito Caluyo, the dean of Computer Engineering in Mapua, said
the school is now moving forward with the students’ achievement with the
Braille phone.

“We’re now in the process of looking for additional investors so we
may be able to produce more Braille phones to be donated to beneficiaries,”
Caluyo said. He noted that some foreign investors, particularly from Canada,
have expressed interest.

Apparently, some blind or visually-impaired individuals who sampled the
Braille phone during its testing phase can hardly wait to get one of their
own.

“They asked us if the phone was out in the market already. They seemed
to like it. The feedback was good,” Girly said.

Dad left me a little over 24 years ago and to this day I miss him as if it
were only yesterday when he left. At his funeral, I eulogized him as
someone who was not just my dad, he was my friend. He left me an invaluable
legacy, knowledge. He understood my needs and never failed to come through
for me.

I was the unexpected baby; born eight hours after my twin brother. Mom
never knew that she was having twins and when she and dad were told that I
was on the way, just imagine their surprise and then they discovered that I
was blind! They never faltered as parents and my dad remained a constant
source of knowledge for me.

As early as I can remember, he would read to me; story books, newspapers,
and selected articles of interest. He taught me all about Religion,
politics, economics, plus much more. He helped me to become a passionate
and compassionate Human Being. He taught me respect, how to treat others,
but most of all, he instilled courage and motivation into me.

Dad taught me my alphabet, taught me how to count, and he was constantly
challenging my mental strength and capacity. He taught me how to ride a
bike and we often raced along the beach either on foot or on our bikes. He
taught me how to swim, to fly a kite, and he often played cards, football,
and cricket with me. He even took me fishing and placed those delicate
little butterflies in the palm of my hand. Dad probably wished that I would
remain his little girl for ever but that was okay. I grew up and he was
still my dad.

Dad was my hero; a gentleman to the end, and someone who was never afraid to
help others. He was loyal to his friends and family, a leader in his own
right. He was gentle, firm, and loving. Most of all, he never stopped
encouraging me to reach for the stars and had faith in my abilities as a
blind person. Rest in peace dad! Till we meet again.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate inviting you to go
out there and share my blogs with the rest of the world. Visit www.nfb.org
to learn more about how sighted parents interact with their blind kids.

Feeling overwhelmed by all of the technology around you? Well, do we have a
great article for you to read!
Today it is all about how to use 10 simple Google tips.
Enjoy!
The Sterling Creations team

+++++++++++++++
Ten Simple Google Search Tips

1. Use the “site:” operator to limit searches to a particular site.

This is a very useful feature.

It’s particularly handy because many site’s built-in search tools don’t
return the results you’re looking for, and some sites don’t even have a
search feature.

If someone was looking for WWD posts about GTD, for example, I could try
this search:

GTD site:webworkerdaily.com

(By the way, the letters gdt stans for Gizmo Daily Tips.)

2. Use Google as a spelling aid.

entering a word into Google is a quick way to see if you have the right
spelling.

If it’s incorrect, Google will suggest the correct spelling instead.

http://webworkerdaily.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/picture-5.png?w=607&h=354

http://webworkerdaily.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/picture-5.png?w=607&h=354

Additionally, if you want to get a definition of a word, you can use the
“define:” operator to return definitions from various dictionaries (for
example, define: parasympathetic).

3. Use Google as a calculator.

Google has a built-in calculator – try entering a calculation like 110 *
(654/8 + 3)

Yes, your computer also has a calculator, but if you spend most of your day
inside a browser, typing your calculation into the browser’s search box is
quicker than firing up your calculator app.

4. Find out what time it is anywhere in the world.

This one’s really handy if you want to make sure that you’re not phoning
someone in the middle of the night. Just search for “time” and then the name
of the city.

For example, try:

time San Francisco

5. Get quick currency conversions.

Google can also do currency conversion, for example:

100 pounds in dollars

It only has the more mainstream currencies, though – if you’re trying to see
how many Peruvian nuevos soles your dollars might buy, you’ll be out of
luck.

If you would like to convert minor currencies, be sure to be specific about
the country.

So, if you want to find out how many nuevos soles your dollars might buy,
you could try:

100 dollars in Peruvian nuevos soles

6. Use the OR operator.

This can be useful if you’re looking at researching a topic but you’re not
sure which keywords will return the information you need. It can be
particularly handy in conjunction with the “site:” operator. For example,
you could try this search:

GTD OR “getting things done” site:webworkerdaily.com

7. Exclude specific terms with the – (hypen) operator

You can narrow your searches using this operator. For example, if you’re
looking for information about American Idol but don’t want anything about
Simon Cowell, you could try:

“american idol” -cowell

8. Search for specific document types.

Google can search the web for specific types of files using the “filetype:”
operator.

If you’re looking for PowerPoint files about GTD, for example, you could
try:

GTD filetype:ppt

9. Search within numerical ranges using the .. operator.

Say, for example, you want to look for information about Olympic events that
took place in the 1950′s, you could use this search:

Olympics 1950..1960

10. Area code lookup.

Need to know where a phone number is located? Google will let you know where
it is, and show you a map of the area, too. For example:

415

http://webworkerdaily.files.wordpress.com/2010/04/picture-6.png?w=607&h=354

If you have any questions about the tips posted in Dan’s Tech tips, please
contact Dan at the following email address:

dthompson5@mchsi.com

_________________________

Greetings! I’m Christian Robicheau, assistant editor at

http://www.sterlingcreations.ca.

I hope that everyone is enjoying their weekend and today, I bring you an
introspective editorial by our president Donna J. Jodhan.
I hope you find this interesting reading.
Enjoy the rest of your weekend.

+++++++++++++++
30 years later
By Donna J. Jodhan

On April 17 1982, the Canadian Charter of Rights was finally brought home to
Canada. It was supposed to have marked the beginning of a new era for this
country but in retrospect; it would be interesting to ponder whether or not
anything significant has changed since then. Or: Whether or not the home
coming of the Charter of Rights has helped in any way to improve the lives
of blind and partially sighted Canadians.

In some instances some would say that technology has helped to improve our
lives; the advent of the Internet and the efforts of Apple and the late
Steve Jobs plus a few more mentionables. However, these two factors are not
really made in Canada stories or Canadian solutions.

Societal attitudes have definitely changed over the last 30 years and now
blind and partially sighted persons can easily say that in comparison to 30
years ago, society appears to be more open minded towards us; what we can do
and how we can do it. However, there are many of us who feel that the
changing of attitudes is not being affected quickly enough.

True it is that the job market may be a wee bit more open to us and that
educational facilities are much improved for us but the burning question is
this. Are these changes enough for us as a community to say that we are
closer now to equality than we were 30 years ago? That we are being treated
more equally and that more people are looking at us as contributors to
society rather than persons who need to be contributed to?

The one sobering piece to this puzzle is that Canada is not alone when it
comes to this perspective. Almost all of the developed world is guilty of
still treating us as not being fully equal to the mainstream person and it
only gets worse when you look down the line to the developing world and then
to the third world arena. So, could we really answer the question as to
whether or not our Charter of Rights has really made a difference in the
lives of blind and partially sighted persons?

In late 2006 I felt it necessary to launch a Charter challenge against the
Canadian Government over their inaccessible websites. In late 2010 I won a
landmark decision on behalf of all blind and partially sighted Canadians but
the Canadian Government has since appealed. If we use this as an example I
for one would say that we as a community are still having to fight for our
rights.

I’ll leave you to draw your own conclusions.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and weekend.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would
be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna’s blogs and editorials.
Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all

http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com

Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures

http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm

Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility

http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog

A monthly editorial on issues on diversity

http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca

Are you looking for a product or service that can help to make life easier
for you or a family
member or friend? Not sure where to look?
Well, we have a nifty piece of info to share with you this week.
Enjoy!
The Sterling Creations team

+++++++++++++++
Smartphone App Launches Accessible Loyalty Cards

A smartphone app offering digital versions of shop loyalty
cards will open up card schemes to many disabled people for
the first time, its developer has said.

The “mClub” app from print and digital directories company
Yell – which is free to download -allows retailers to offer
deals such as “buy nine cups of coffee, get the 10th free”
without using a physical card. A pilot service – available for
both the Apple iPhone ( http://bit.ly/pDmUyC )
and Android phones
( http://bit.ly/rfB9u6 )
- has been launched in London, Plymouth and Reading, with a
BlackBerry service due to be released in the next few weeks.

Although the service was not originally designed for use by
disabled people Artur Ortega, senior accessibility developer at
Yell, told E-Access Bulletin this month that when he saw the
idea presented internally he immediately saw the potential
benefits for disabled people, and was able to influence the
design process.

“Before, it wasn’t possible for blind people to use loyalty
cards,” Ortega said. “You couldn’t find the right card in your
pocket, and you didn’t know how many stamps were on it. The
app is also useful for someone who has reduced mobility in
their hands and who might have problems getting a card out of
their pocket or wallet.”

Once the app is running, loyalty points are added for each
participating retailer either by swiping it near a terminal on
Android phones using near field communication, or by
scanning a QR code (a square bar code) using the iPhone.
Although there is a beep emitted when the app is successfully
swiped, the lack of near-field communication on an iPhone
was a limitation for blind users unless helped by a shop
assistant, Ortega acknowledged.

Running the app itself was not too hard for blind users, with
iPhones coming pre-installed with VoiceOver text-to-speech
functionality and Android phones able to run similar software
such as the Mobile Accessibility suite from Code Factory, he
said.

This kind of approach, combined with geo-location
technology, is implemented in the new smartphone version of
the company’s home page www.yell.com, which is hugely
liberating for disabled people, Ortega said. “If I need a taxi, I
can find one immediately and then call the taxi using the same
device, I don’t have to copy telephone number – it’s two clicks
away. Or I can order a table in a restaurant – it’s a huge
advantage for blind people or people with reduced mobility.

“Before, you had to call someone and ask them to put you
through to the restaurant. If the line was busy you had to call
again and ask them to look it all up again.”

Hello everyone and welcome to our insightful Sterling Creations weekly
feature.
Each Wednesday, we will be bringing you an article of interest as it
pertains to the topic of accessibility and we hope you can use it to become
more familiar with this particular area.
This has become a rapidly growing and very important area and why?
Because the number of consumers in this market is growing and will continue
to do so for the forseeable future.
Governments, corporations, and individuals are paying more attention.
Please read on.
The Sterling Creations team

+++++++++++++++
Cell Phone Accessibility
Website with Information on Cell Phone Accessibility
by by Susanne Croasdaile
NOTE FROM DAN:
When going to the site shown at the end of this article, when using a
screenreader, press the letter h to reach ” Guides / How Tos/”
Here is where starts the main content. I found it very informative and
accessible using SA, Window-eyes and JAWS.

Accesswireless.org is a site created by “CTIA-The Wireless Association,” an
international nonprofit membership organization representing the wireless
communication industry.
One of the things they focus on is wireless accessibility for individuals
with disabilities. Check out their guides “for consumers with disabilities
to search for accessible wireless products and services”:

http://accesswireless.org/Find/Guides-How-Tos.aspx.

Click this link to visit http://www.Accesswireless.org
Article Source:
The Assistive Technology Blog

Ah! To be a kid once more or I should say it like this! To dream of when I
was a kid! Those happy times when my dad and my older brother Robert used
to read to me. What fun I used to have; imagining as they read to me. Dad
and Robert have since passed away but their voices reading to me when I was
a kid will always live on in my mind.

When I was a kid, I was unable to read print because of being blind and true
to form my family came through for me. Dad and Robert would read to me;
from those treasured story books and fairy tales. As they read, fairies
came to life in my mind. I was the little princess going off with the
handsome prince. I was the little girl getting into all kinds of trouble.
I was the little fairy waving my wand and carrying out acts of magic and
good deeds. When they were finished reading and long after the lights were
out, I would lie in bed and imagine the stories all over again.

Some times I would day dream in class and even imagine that I could read
these treasured story books for myself but when I grew tired of imagining I
would conjure up dad and Robert reading to me. I could practically zone
everything else out as their voices came clearly into my mind and o how I
treasured these special times. I could hear them reading about the fairies
flying around, the witch getting up to her nasty tricks, and the handsome
prince saving the princess in distress.

Then I would go home and run to my room where I would look for my treasured
story books. I always put them in the same place after dad and Robert had
finished reading to me the previous night. Blind kids of today continue to
enjoy reading books but now they can do it all by themselves; listening to
them on MP3 or Daisy books. If you would like to learn more about how blind
kids read story books then visit www.aph.org.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a
terrific day and urging you to go out there and share my blogs with the rest
of the world.

Looking to keep up with the latest and greatest news?
Feeling overwhelmed by all of the technology around you? Well, do we have a
great article for you to read!
Today it is all about how to start your day on the bright side.
Enjoy!
The Sterling Creations team

+++++++++++++++
Start Your Day With News From The Brighter Side Of Life.

I took a break from mainstream news a few years ago, when I read that taking
a break from news can help lower stress. I’m still enjoying my break from
the headlines and have discovered that I like good, interesting, or happy
news. Without further ado, I present a few sites that deliver good news of
all kinds.

Happy News

http://www.happynews.com/index.aspx

Excellent range of articles. This is the site visit the most.

Gimundo: Good News Served Daily

http://gimundo.com/home.aspx

I like the weekly featured article and best of the web sections.

Good News Network

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/

This site has a fairly global focus. The newsletter is great, and free.

They have a subscription service that delivers news everyday to your
computer, I get the weekly newsletter and read the site articles free.

Optimist World

http://optimistworld.com/

This site has a wider focus that the others – it includes “daily good news
headlines, inspiring stories about charities, positive corporate social
responsibility activities, sustainable travel, optimistic stories from the
world of sports, and so much more.”

Site available in English, German, French, Italian and Spanish

Get Good News Every Day

If you have any questions about the tips posted in Dan’s Tech tips, please
contact Dan at the following email address:

dthompson5@mchsi.com

_________________________

Greetings! I’m Scott Savoy, managing editor at
http://www.sterlingcreations.ca and welcome to the merry month of May.
Today, I am delighted to bring you an editorial by our esteemed president
Donna J. Jodhan and she focuses on being able to choose the right
technology.
Enjoy!

+++++++++++++++
Choosing the right technology
By Donna J. Jodhan

In so many cases, employers need some guidance when it comes to ensuring
that they choose the right technology to suit the needs of their blind and
partially sighted employees. The one major factor to keep in mind is this:
Each blind and/or partially sighted person is different and as a result,
their needs are also different. No two blind and/or partially sighted
persons are exactly the same. There is a false perception that blind and
partially sighted persons may probably have the same needs. This is false
and should be addressed here.

There are varying degrees of blindness. That is, one person may have a
different level of vision to someone else. Being described as blind may
vary from someone with absolutely no vision to someone with enough vision to
read large print texts and of course there is a wide range of levels in
between.

Some blind people use Braille while others do not. Some blind people are
able to use screen magnifiers while others are unable to do so. Some people
work faster with screen enlargers while others work faster with screen
readers.

This is a lot for employers to digest but in the final analysis, blind and
partially sighted employees are the best experts when it comes to choosing
the right technology for themselves.

I’m Donna J. Jodhan wishing you a terrific day and weekend.
To reach me, please send an email to info@sterlingcreations.ca and I would
be delighted to send you an electronic copy of our latest newsletter.

Here is a complete list of where you can view Donna’s blogs and editorials.
Donna Jodhan! Advocating accessibility for all

http://www.donnajodhan.blogspot.com

Weekly features on how to increase your success with your business ventures

http://www.sterlingcreations.com/businessdesk.htm

Weekly articles and editorials on issues about accessibility

http://www.sterlingcreations.ca/blog

A monthly editorial on issues on diversity

http://www.diversityintheworkplace.ca