News at a Glance
New Text-to-speech Cell Phone
Technology Announced
Kurzweil Technologies, a joint venture
with the National Federation of the Blind, has announced a new text-to-speech
cell phone that allow the user to read mail, receipts, handouts and
many other documents wherever they happen to be.
The Mobile Reader Product Line from knfbReading Technologies, Inc,
is a major advancement in portability and functionality of print
access for the blind, the vision impaired and those with reading
difficulties. It is being billed as the smallest text-to-speech reading
device available on the market.
This is a truly pocket-sized solution to reading on the go, enabling
users to take pictures of and read most printed materials at the
push of a button. Vision-impaired users hear the contents of the
document read in clear synthetic speech, while users who can see
the screen and those with learning disabilities can enlarge, read,
track, and highlight printed materials using the phone’s large
and easy-to-read display. The combination of text-to-speech and tracking
features makes interpreting text much easier for individuals with
learning disabilities. ![]()
Source: www.knfbreader.com, www.gizmag.com/k-nfb-cell-phone-solutions-for-the-blind/8722
Soundless Super Bowl Commercial
Breaks Barriers
The idea for this Super
Bowl commercial was a little different: no celebrity, no hip tune — no sound at all. And
it was to feature two people “speaking” to each other
using American Sign Language (ASL) while drinking Pepsi and eating
Fritos.
This idea came from Clay Broussard, a PepsiCo employee without disabilities
who is a member of ENABLE, the company’s employee-resource
group for people with disabilities. Because the general market rarely
showcases advertising for people with disabilities, the idea may
sound like more of a public-service announcement than a commercial
for the Super Bowl. But “Bob’s House”— while
silent— is a commercial sure to be the talk of the nation.
Broussard remembered
a common problem people who are deaf face when searching for an address and people in the neighborhood
don’t speak ASL. He came up with the idea for “Bob’s
House” and then ran it by other ENABLE members. They loved
the idea so much they decided to make the demo tape themselves.
In the spot, two men who are deaf drive through a suburban neighborhood
where it’s dark and tough to see the home addresses. Compounding
their trouble is that neither can remember which house is Bob’s.
As they quarrel in ASL, the driver gets the bright idea to honk the
car horn. After he honks a few times, lights in the homes turn on
and Bob’s neighbors stick out their heads. Once the pair sees
the house that remains dark, they know it’s “Bob’s
House.” ![]()
Source: www.diversityinc.com
Down Syndrome Organization
has Concerns
About New Prenatal Testing Policy
A new policy with biased
connotations towards babies with Down syndrome is being criticized.
The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)
recently expanded on its position regarding invasive prenatal diagnostic
testing for Down syndrome. The main recommendation (Practice Bulletin
88) is “invasive
diagnostic testing should be available to all women … Maternal
age of 35 years alone should no longer be used as a threshold to
determine who is offered screening versus who is offered invasive
testing.” Although the guideline states “prenatal
diagnosis is not solely performed for assistance in the decision
of pregnancy termination,” the implication is that a baby with
Down syndrome is a bad outcome that should be avoided.
The National Down Syndrome Congress (NDSC) believes that individuals
with Down syndrome have innate worth and should be treated with dignity
and respect. The NDSC calls upon ACOG to require that all patients
be given information that accurately reflects the realities of a
life with Down syndrome.
“Our goal is not to limit a woman’s access
to prenatal screening,” says a NDSC press release, “nor
to limit her reproductive choices. Rather, it is to ensure the screening
and diagnostic process is done in the context of an informed personal
conversation with the woman’s doctor, during which balanced
information is given about the reality of Down syndrome today. In
this way, we hope decisions can be made based on knowledge and not
fear.” ![]()
Source: National Down Syndrome
Congress
Mental Health Help for Returning
Vets
The Minnesota National Guard has been selected to be
a part of a TriWest Healthcare Alliance pilot program that will provide
on-site mental health consultation, education and referral at no
cost to soldiers. Licensed mental health professionals will be
stationed in 22 Minnesota Army National Guard armories around the
state to further support the 2,600 men and women who have recently
returned from Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment. In addition, LinkVet,
a veterans helpline for Minnesota veterans and their family members,
was recently launched. The toll-free line provides information
referrals, immediate crisis intervention and psychological counseling
24 hours a day, seven days a week at 1-888-LINKVET.
Source:
NAMI MN
Sanford Everyday Hero Winner
Mathew
Sanford, an adaptive yoga instructor recently featured in Access
Press, is now a finalist in the 6th Annual Volvo for Life Awards,
a grassroots campaign that recognizes and rewards everyday heroes
across America. Because of receiving enough votes, Sanford’s
nonprofit Mind Body Solutions will now receive $25,000, and he
still has a one-in-three chance of winning another $75,000. A panel
of judges will decide the final winners.
Matt’s powerful message about the mind-body connection, the
work of his non-profit, and his memoir Waking: A Memoir of Trauma
and Transcendence has inspired and enhanced the lives of thousands.
Mind Body Solutions has just completed a 2-year strategic plan and
this generous donation will further their work transforming trauma
and loss into hope and potential.
Source: www.mindbodysolutions.org ![]()
