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In recognition of the 20th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), Bookshare announced a free membership opportunity for all Americans with qualifying print disabilities, regardless of age or student status. With this offer, Bookshare celebrates efforts towards inclusion and equality for Americans with disabilities resulting from this act.

Individuals with print disabilities including visual impairments, physical disabilities, or severe learning disabilities are invited to sign up for a free membership, good for 20 book downloads per month for 3 months. The promotion begins on August 1 and runs for 30 days. This 20-3-30 free trial creates an opportunity to try accessible books without an upfront commitment to a year-long membership. More information is available on the Bookshare website.

The Library for the Blind of Montenegro was founded in 2006. The founder of the library is the government of Montenegro, which finances Library’s work through the Ministry of Culture. The Library has a Public Institution status and it is located in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro. More information is available in the Library for the Blind of Montenegro entry on the DAISY Consortium Members page.

Time: Tuesday, August 24, 2010 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM MDT

During this webinar on August 24th, 2010 the following topics will be covered:

• How to add students and teachers to school rosters
• How to get memberships for home use and students in transition to post-secondary education
• How to get memberships for students moving into the workforce
• And more information about new books, new training and new ways to stay connected!

Space is limited.

Reserve your Webinar seat now at https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/171974507

Dolphin Computer Access today announced the appointment of Dave Salisbury as Account Manager for the UK and Ireland. Best known to many people as 'Dolphin Dave', Dave returns to Dolphin's Worcester offices following his previous employment at Dolphin's sales office for more than 9 years.

As a close friend of many organisations and individuals in the visual impairment industry, Dave's appointment to this pivotal customer facing role signals Steve Bennett's ambition to reignite the close working relationships between Dolphin and its software users throughout the UK and Ireland.

Steve said "We are thrilled to have Dave back at Dolphin"

Dave's extensive product knowledge and great sense of humour, enable him to work with our customers to identify the optimum speech, magnification or Braille solution which will further their independence."

Dave began his Dolphin career in 1998 following a spell at the Foundation for the Communication for the Disabled, now known as Abilitynet. Working on the road for more than nine years, Dave worked closely with specialist charities, large corporate employers and supporting people who are blind or partially sighted in their local area.

In 2007, Dave moved to work for Dolphin's sister company Software Express, now known as Dolphin Computer Access North and the home of Dolphin Guide.

Commenting on his reappointment, Dave said;

"My roots are at Dolphin, and it feels right to be returning to a company that I know puts the needs of customers first. I am really looking forward to working with the loyal Dolphin software users, in addition to meeting some new faces."

To contact Dave Salisbury email dave.salisbury@dolphinuk.co.uk, call 01905 754 577 ext 234 or mobile 07968 562 511.

At the invitation of the 4th International Convention for Rehabilitation Engineering and Assistive Technology 2010 (i-CREATe), i-CREATe and ITU (International Telecommunications Union) will co-organize a one-day workshop on Accessibility in Shanghai, China, on July 23rd, 2010. The event will promote awareness of the rights and the needs of persons with disabilities in terms of access to Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) and focus on the standardization work in the field. An overview of the United Nations Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRDP) and its impact on the ITU work will be presented, along with some case studies of implementations in the Asia-Pacific region. Mr. Hiroshi Kawamura, President of the DAISY Consortium will be one of the distinguished presenters. More information is available on the ITU website.

A Department for Education (DfE) project has created electronic versions of over 100 commonly used textbooks which will be available from late September to every learner with a print impairment (including dyslexia and visual impairment). Schools and local authorities should check the list of books that can be ordered through RNIB before producing textbooks themselves for the 2010/11 school year.

The textbook files are provided in Word 2003 format at the request of schools in the project. They have been deliberately designed to be appropriate and flexible for students with a print impairment. They can be read as they are by the learner using a computer to change the settings (for example the background colour and font size), with access technology, or can be converted by staff or learners into large print, braille or audio.

Many of the books also include descriptions of images including pictures, graphs and diagrams to help visually impaired learners.

These files were created by a year long pilot project funded by the DfE, led by the Dolphin Inclusive Consortium. The project delivered electronic versions of the textbooks needed by around 40 print-impaired learners aged 11-14 in nine schools. One legacy from this project is to make these files available to all print-impaired learners in the UK.

For a full list of all the textbooks available please visit www.rnib.org.uk/textbooks

Each CD will include a selection of converter and playback tools to help you and your learner use the electronic version.

Each textbook title will cost £2.99 (this price is to cover RNIB's distribution costs only) and includes postage.

We expect all of these files to be ready by late September. However many of them will be available before then. If you urgently need a title before then please contact us and we will try to help.

From September teachers or support staff will need to complete a Purchase Order and Declaration which will be available to download shortly from www.rnib.org.uk/textbooks or you can contact RNIB on 0303 123 9999. The Declaration will ask for your details, confirmation that the learner has a print impairment and that a print copy of the book requested is already owned. Once we receive both the completed Purchase Order and Declaration we will send you the electronic version of the textbook(s) on a CD together with converter/reading tools.

For further information on the terms of using these electronic textbooks please visit www.rnib.org.uk/textbooks

For more information on the DfE Accessible Resources Pilot Project please see www.mytextbook.org

The pilot project will come to an end in December and will not create any more electronic textbooks. Those involved in the project are very excited about what it has achieved and will be working on recommendations for the future provision of textbooks for print-impaired learners in discussion with the Department for Education.

The pilot project will be evaluated to inform future recommendations. We will get in touch with some schools in the autumn to find out how the files worked for you and your print -impaired learners.

Dolphin's very own Kate Christodoulou is urging everyone to look through their loft for "goodies" to donate to their local Cancer Research UK shop.

Kate's clear out of her own attic turned up clothes, pictures, DVDs and ornaments which have now been donated to the Worcester Cancer Research UK shop.

"Shops like this one help fund the pioneering work of Cancer Research UK scientists, so it is vital they have a constant new supply of stock to sell."

Kate has spent the last year battling breast cancer, and has under taken both chemotherapy & radiotherapy treatment before finishing her treatment in May.

Dolphin is delighted to have Kate back at work with us, in a part time role, & the Dolphin team were eager to sponsor Kate when she took part in Cancer Research UK's "Race for Life" in June. In total Kate managed to raise a huge £725 in sponsorship.

Dolphin would like to thank the Worcester News for allowing us to reproduce their photo & aspects of their story.

Learn more about how to donate goods to Cancer Research UK and locate your nearest store from the Cancer Research UK website.

Nuance DAISY2Go is a player/viewer for books that conform to the DAISY 2.02 specification, for phones utilizing S60 3rd Edition. DAISY2Go is a part of the Nuance Accessibility Suite, and it has been optimized for Nuance TALKS, to allow for easy alternation between audio and textual content. It is free for users who own a license of TALKS&ZOOMS Premium Edition. Learn more on the Nuance website.

Universities, colleges and government agencies supporting individuals with print related disabilities and vision impairments can now ensure equal and timely access to accessible print materials thanks to a partnership between the Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC) and Dolphin Computer Access.

Announced during the 33rd Annual Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) 2010 conference in Denver, Colorado, the partnership marks the beginning of a strategic relationship designed to empower organizations to deliver the full range of alternative formats to individuals with learning disabilities, low vision and blindness; including large print, Braille, DAISY and MP3. More information is available on the Dolphin Computer Access website.

Universities, colleges and government agencies supporting individuals with print related disabilities and vision impairments can now ensure equal and timely access to accessible print materials thanks to a partnership between the Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC) and Dolphin Computer Access.

Announced during the 33rd Annual Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) 2010 conference in Denver, Colorado, the partnership marks the beginning of a strategic relationship designed to empower organizations to deliver the full range of alternative formats to individuals with learning disabilities, low vision and blindness; including large print, Braille, DAISY and MP3. 

An initiative of the Board of Regents University System of Georgia, AMAC's mission is to improve system wide services for students with print-related disabilities. Housed at the University of Georgia in Athens, AMAC supports and trains post-secondary institutions and government agencies to produce and deliver alternative text accommodations.

Providing cutting edge software tools for the creation and dissemination of alternative formats, Dolphin Computer Access is best known for its DAISY creation expertise delivered in their internationally adopted solutions; Dolphin Publisher to create human narrated DAISY or convert to Braille, large print, MP3 and DAISY formats using EasyConverter. 

Access to high quality and timely alternative formats is at the heart of a student's educational success, as Christopher M. Lee, Director of AMAC explains.

"Access to high quality and timely alternative formats is critical for every print impaired student. Without this access many students are simply unable to read, an essential element of any program."

Vice President for Dolphin Computer Access, Charlie Hamilton explains how this partnership demonstrates Dolphin's commitment to supporting those responsible for creating the alternative text accommodations.

"The team at AMAC is built around many years of practical experience in the creation and delivery of alternative format information.  Working together, Dolphin and AMAC aim to strengthen and share their expertise with professionals tasked with creating Braille, large print, DAISY and MP3s in universities, colleges and government departments.  Product support for Dolphin’s software tools will form one element of this practical assistance.  Advice on sourcing content, creating sustainable workflows, timely delivery and product training will also be readily available."

The new partnership demonstrates both organizations commitment to strengthen the provision of alternative format materials to individuals with vision impairments and learning disabilities.  The partnership's first joint resources are due to be available in October 2010.

Editor Notes:

Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC)

The Alternative Media Access Center(AMAC) is an initiative of the Board of Regents University System of Georgia with a mission to improve system wide services for students with print-related disabilities. Housed at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, AMAC has expanded its services nationwide to include all types of post-secondary institutions and other government agencies. As a membership organization committed to removing social and academic barriers to individuals with physical, sensory, and print-related learning disabilities, AMAC strives toward ensuring that all individuals with print disabilities have equal and timely access to print materials at an affordable cost.

http://www.amac.uga.edu/index.php

Dolphin Computer Access

Dolphin Computer Access is one of the largest companies in the computer access industry, with over 60 employees in offices in the USA, UK and Sweden and dealers in over 30 countries worldwide.  The company offers a complete range of software solutions, including screen readers, screen magnifiers, DAISY talking book players and alternative format creation tools. Recent innovations include EasyConverter, a single piece of software that enables even a total beginner to create Braille, large print, DAISY talking books and MP3s.  More information about Dolphin is available at: www.YourDolphin.com.

Hazel Shaw - Group Marketing Manager
hazel.shaw@dolphinuk.co.uk
www.YourDolphin.com 
+44 1905 754 577 ext 218
+44 7989 444 541

Dolphin Computer Access Inc.
231 Clarksville Road,
Suite 3,
Princeton Junction,
NJ 08550
USA

1. Bill Gates — help me like this guy

The July issue of AccessWorld is now available on the American Foundation for the Blind website.

This issue features:

• Editor’s Page - An overview of the "Back to School" issue
• Seven Days with the iPad: An Accessibility Evaluation, by Darren Burton - A look at iPad’s accessibility features
• Refreshabraille Portable Braille Display and Keyboard: A Product Evaluation, by Deborah Kendrick - A review of the new APH braille display
• A Review of the Eye-Pal SOLO and Eye-Pal SOLO LV from ABiSee, Inc., by Morgan Blubaugh and Lee Huffman - ABiSee offers two new reading solutions
• A Review of Window-Eyes Classroom Training, by Deborah Kendrick—We review Window-Eyes training sessions
• Educational Resources and Tips from AFB’s Information and Referral Center, by Tara Annis and Lee Huffman - AFB’s information and referral specialist provides tips for students, teachers, and caregivers
• Getting Ready to Go Back to School: Assistive Technology Considerations for K-12 Students, by Ike Presley - A primer on using assistive technology to get the most out of school
• AFB CareerConnect Brings Innovation to Training for Teens, Young Adults, Adults, and Professionals, by Joe Strechay, Detra Bannister, and Scott Truax - A guide to AFB’s resources for students and professionals
• Navigating Higher Education with Visual Disabilities, by Marc Grossman - A guide for new or returning college students

AccessWorld® is the American Foundation for the Blind’s technology magazine.

Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic (RFB&D®), the provider of educational audio textbooks, announced that its members now have access to the new Victor Reader Stream CD Edition portable DAISY/MP3 player from HumanWare.

This device combines HumanWare’s Victor Reader Stream with a special CD player accessory, enabling people who do not have a personal computer to easily transfer a DAISY-formatted audiobook from CD into a portable audio playback device – without the use of a computer. More information is available on the RFB&D website.

Colin Shales first memory of Dolphin Computer Access is a dim and distant Sight Village exhibition in 1998; back in the days when Sight Village was held in the Queen Alexander College buildings and you needed to be an intrepid explorer to find your way around unaided.

However, Colin's first Sight Village was a little different to other peoples:

"Sight Village was the start of big things for me. My sight loss had only just been diagnosed and I was on my first fact finding missions. I am devil for a nice gadget and Sight Village definitely delivered.

"That first year I entered Dolphin's 'Champagne SuperNova' competition, and won! A bottle of bubbles and a copy of SuperNova version 1.01 were mine. I even featured in the Splash newsletter, for those that remember that far back."

12 years on and Colin is still a SuperNova user and will again visit Sight Village. However this year will be another first for Colin, as he is attending as a member of the Dolphin team. Fresh from the Royal National College in Hereford, Colin now works in the marketing department of Dolphin and concentrates on making Dolphin products easy to use.

In celebration of Colin winning the Champagne SuperNova competition at Sight Village 1998, Dolphin is pleased to be running the same 'Champagne SuperNova' competition in 2010!

Simply enter the free prize draw on the Dolphin stand and you too could win a bottle of Champagne and a free copy of SuperNova.

Sight Village is open to all members of the public between 10 am and 4 pm on the 13th, 14th and 15th July in the New Bingley Hall, Birmingham.

Download the Sight Village brochure in the DAISY format (download file size is 40MB)

What seminars are Dolphin running during Sight Village?

July 6, 2010, Palo Alto, CA – Bookshare, the largest online accessible library of copyrighted content for individuals with print disabilities, today announced a milestone – surpassing 100,000 qualified members around the world. Bookshare’s Publisher program also crossed a substantial milestone, with more than 60 publishers from a wide range of publishing sectors agreeing to contribute digital files to Bookshare for worldwide distribution. These files expand Bookshare’s library with current popular fiction and nonfiction titles, academic and scholarly works, textbooks, and educational materials. More information is available in the Bookshare press release.

During the recent East Midlands Efair (organised by the JISC Regional Support Centre for the East Midlands) Dolphin ran a competition for one lucky visitor to win a copy of EasyTutor on the Dolphin Pen.

Congratulations to Kevin Martin, pictured chatting with Rachel Bagust of Dolphin, who won EasyTutor on the Dolphin Pen.

The JISC Regional Support Centre for the East Midlands is one of 13 RSCs covering the UK. There job is to support the development of e-learning and Information Learning Technology in FE, Sixth Form and Specialist Colleges, Adult and Community Learning, Work Based Learning, Offender Learning and aspects of Higher Education in supported learning providers across the East Midlands.

Learn more about EasyTutor.

Learn more about the JISC Regional Support Centre for the East Midlands

The Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind is New Zealand's primary provider of vision-related habilitation and rehabilitation services to blind and partially sighted people. Additional information is available in the Royal New Zealand Foundation of the Blind (RNZFB) entry in the list of DAISY Members and Friends.

It's not often Dolphin has a strange unexpected visitor to its head office, but today marks the exception as Dolphin seems to have been adopted by a run away Peacock.

Somehow Peacock Computer Access just doesn't have the same ring to it, so think we will stick to Dolphin Computer Access.

On a serious note our new friend has been wandering around the Dolphin car park for the last few hours, so if anyone is missing a Peacock in the Worcester area, please give us a call.