Vision Access
A Magazine by, for and about
People with Low Vision
Volume 16, Number 1
Spring, 2009
Published Quarterly
for Members in 3 Formats
Large Print, 4-Track Cassette and Email
Copyright 2009
by the Council of Citizens
with Low Vision International,
a not-for-profit organization affiliated with the American Council of the Blind
Council of Citizens with Low Vision International
2200 Wilson Blvd. Suite 650
Arlington, VA 22201
1 800 733 2258
www.cclvi.org
info@cclvi.org
Views expressed in Vision Access are those of the individual
contributors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the editor
or of CCLVI. All rights revert to individual contributors upon publication.
Vision Access welcomes submissions from people with low vision,
from professionals such as ophthalmologists, optometrists, low vision
specialists, and everyone with something substantive to contribute to
the ongoing discussion of low vision and all of its ramifications.
Submissions are best made as attachments to email or on a 3.5"
disk in a format compatible with Microsoft Word.
Submissions may also
be made in clear typescript. VISION ACCESS cannot assume
responsibility for lost manuscripts.
Deadlines for submissions are
March 15, June 1, September 15, and December 1.
Submissions may be
mailed to:
Joyce Kleiber, Editor,
6 Hillside Rd., Wayne, PA 19087,
jmkleiber@hotmail.com
Contents
CCLVI is celebrating its 30th anniversary. I am glad that there is a CCLVI. I am the only one on my block, at my office, in my choir, at my gym with low vision. I like knowing other people who have low vision. CCLVI makes this possible. I like reading about low vision. I never saw much in print about low vision until I joined CCLVI.
In his President’s Message on page 5, John Horst invites members to share their experiences. We’d love to hear from you. This is what CCLVI is about.
CCLVI is responsive to its members. Read about Jill Feldman. Jill has never been to a CCLVI convention or even held an office in our chapter. But she has a good idea. Her idea is being realized because she spoke and we listened. See “An Invitation to Talk about Low Vision with Dr. Bill” in this issue. Let us hear your ideas.
As we mark our 30th year, I invite you to tell us how CCLVI has touched your life. I’ll include your thoughts with those of others in an article in Vision Access. Send an email to me, or write to me at 6 Hillside Road, Wayne, PA 19087.
Thanks to all who contributed to this issue.
JMK, 3/3/09.
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During the last two years, the Pennsylvania Council of the Blind Low Vision Committee has been planning low vision seminars for the Pennsylvania State Convention. This has led us to reflect on the dynamics of low vision and how this disability can affect everyday living. I am certain that all of us who have this disability have given a great deal of thought to how we should function on the job, at home with family and friends and in our respective communities. Many of us continue to evaluate our responses when meeting with people who do not know us or whenever we find ourselves in unfamiliar circumstances.
As for me, growing up in a very rural area of Pennsylvania and in a family where religious concerns were primary and where people with similar beliefs were the only ones I was encouraged to associate with, I always tried to function as a sighted person. As most all people with low vision know, we can hide our limited vision much of the time, but there will always be those occurrences when we will be found out and then, feel frustrated or embarrassed. Of course as we mature, we get beyond these feelings and hopefully conclude that it is okay to be a person with low vision. However, we make the choice daily. Should I try to function as a sighted person knowing that in most occasions I will be able to do so or should I let it be known that I am a person with low vision by wearing a tag or by carrying a white cane?
This first scenario requires much concentration and often leads to much anxiety and stress. The second scenario marks us as people with a disability and may result in feelings of inadequacy and negative self esteem. All people with low vision who read this will think about their own experiences and could tell their own story.
VISION ACCESS, our great CCLVI Magazine provides CCLVI members an opportunity to tell about their experience in losing vision or growing up as a person with low vision.
We would like to see our editor receive more such stories from CCLVI members. How did you deal with your experience of low vision at home, in school, on the job and in social settings? Your story may help some one else and you will benefit from telling it.
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This year, 2009, marks the 30th anniversary of CCLVI’s charter as a special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. CCLVI was the idea of two blind gentlemen, Durward McDaniel and L. Eugene Apple. Durward McDaniel was a civil rights attorney and one of the pillars of the American Council of the Blind. He was the first national representative of ACB in Washington D.C. Durward and Eugene were convinced that forming special interest affiliates in ACB was important for building a strong organization. They encouraged the development of affiliates for lawyers, vendors, computer users, secretaries and people with low vision.
At the ACB convention in 1977, people held an organizing meting for CCLV. (CCLV became CCLVI in the early 90s.) In 1978 under the leadership of Dr. Sam Genensky, a constitution was ratified and submitted to ACB. CCLV received its charter as a special interest affiliate of ACB in Grand Rapids Michigan in 1979. In addition to Dr. Genensky, Marvin Brotman, Ira Bossert, Elizabeth Lennon, Carl Foley, and Patricia Price were some of the strong leaders who established CCLV.
We plan to commemorate this anniversary in Vision Access. In our next issue we will feature an article by George Covington, the first editor of CCLV News, the fore runner of Vision Access.
That CCLVI has continued for 30 years demonstrates that it has value for its members. We want to know how CCLVI has touched your life. We will treasure your responses and share them with readers in future issues. Send you thoughts and comments to me by email
jmkleiber@hotmail.com or by mail at 6 Hillside Road, Wayne, PA 19087.
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Coletta Davis has been busy planning the program for CCLVI’s annual Convention. We will meet from July 4 to July 10, 2009 in Orlando Florida. Our theme this year is “CCLVI Celebrates 30 Years.” Here are some of the highlights.
On July 5, Coletta has scheduled a panel discussion entitled “Friends, Lovers, Parents and Kids Living with Vision Loss.” Following this panel, vendors exhibiting their products and services for people with low vision at the convention will showcase their offerings. CCLVI’s Mixer at 4pm gives all of us a wonderful chance to meet and mingle and celebrate. Sunday’s program ends with our dance at 9:30. Dwayne Hodges will be our DJ for this event.
On Monday afternoon, July 5, Roger Petersen will tell us how we can gain up to the minute information about our health concerns from the Health Library, a service that provides information in accessible formats. After Roger’s presentation, we will hear from Dr. James Nolan of Envision. Dr. Nolan will talk about technology and low vision. In the evening we will offer everyone a chance to play at our Game Night.
On Tuesday, July 7, Officer Reginald Roberts of the Orlando Police Department will tell us how to protect ourselves from identity theft. Our business meeting with election of officers and our post convention board meeting will follow.
On Wednesday afternoon, July 8 we will have a workshop about CCLVI’s Project Insight.
Our convention program concludes with Our Farewell Dance following the convention banquet on Friday evening.
We hope to meet and get to know you at our convention in Orlando!
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About a year ago, Jill Feldman, a member of the Delaware Valley Council of Citizens with Low Vision shared a good idea with us. Jill suggested that CCLVI offer teleconference calls to members so that they could learn more about their particular vision conditions. She said a doctor who specializes in low vision could be featured on these calls.
Bernice Kandarian, CCLVI’s Past President, was looking for a way to offer more services to our members. She took Jill’s idea to Dr. Bill Takeshita, a low vision optometrist. Dr. Bill agreed to host the teleconference calls. Dr. Bill is the Director of Optometric Services at the Center for the Partially Sighted in Los Angeles California. Callers will have the opportunity to ask questions about low vision.
Teleconferences are scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month at 8:30ET and 5:30PT and will last for about an hour. The first teleconference will be held on March 17. The next call is scheduled for April 21.
To be a part of these teleconferences calls, dial 866-633-8638 and use the ID# 372455 or (Dr.Bill.)
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CCLVI’s officers and board members met by conference call on January 30, 2009. Kathy Casey’s minutes of our previous meeting were accepted as corrected. Mike Godino’s treasurer’s report was also accepted. Donna Pomerantz gave a legislative report concerning the ADA Restoration Act, DTV and audio description, the Department of Defense’s plans to no longer give priority to Randolph Sheppard vendors, and the Pedestrian Safety Enhancement Act. Catherine Schmidt Whitaker gave her scholarship committee report as. This committee is preparing to process the many applications expected. Coletta Davis reported on her plans for CCLVI’s convention program. Joyce Kleiber agreed to represent CCLVI at the National Eye Institute’s National Eye Health Education Program Conference in Philadelphia this March. Joel Isaac’s website committee is being formed and includes Barbara Milleville, Jim Jirak and Donna Pomerantz. Brian Petraits will join the legislative committee and Lindsey Hastings will accept a committee appointment where she is needed.
The board will next meet on April 10.
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California Council of Citizens with Low Vision, CCCLV
We are having our convention in Sacramento from April 2 to 5, 2009.
On Thursday we are joining with the technology committee of the California Council of the Blind. They’re having Don Glass who represents Bookshare, a company that offers books free of charge for students and for an annual fee to others. We will also learn about the Victor Reader Stream. Then James McCarthy of Freedom Vision will tell us what’s new in products for people with low vision.
On Friday, we will have a joint program with the Committee on Access to Transportation.
Saturday will feature a joint session with the Seniors with Vision Loss Committee. Sue Milrose from Hadley School for the Blind will speak about Hadley’s on line courses and classes offered to sighted people.
For information about this chapter call 800-733-2258.
Delaware Valley Council of citizens with Low Vision-DVCCLV
Our chapter members gathered to share information and support and to enjoy a buffet of Chinese favorites on March 14. For information about our chapter, call 610-688-8398.
Metropolitan Council of Low Vision Individuals-MCLVI
“Looking good, looking close”
Metro chapter’s advocacy profile was even higher than usual during the last week of February. Our chapter was one of many public transportation related not-for-profit organizations, governmental agencies, and private sector companies gathered at New York University for its annual transportation award ceremonies. The chapter was one of the active participants in discussions at the monthly open meeting of the Transit Riders Council of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority. And, our chapter was at the table at the bimonthly closed session of the ADA Advisory Committee to the New York City Parks Department. Also during that week, president Ken Stewart and chapter secretary Todd Walerstein participated in the monthly meeting of the Manhattan Borough President’s Disabilities Task Force, and the quarterly sessions of the Transit Authority’s ADA Compliance Coordinating Committee.
Earlier in February, President Ken Stewart attended his first quarterly meeting as a newly appointed member of the New York State Independent Living Council in Albany. In December he was appointed to that position by the New York State Board of Regents. His presence on the Council’s Board of Directors extends the influence of CCLVI following the completion of two three-year terms served by CCLVI treasurer Mike Godino on the Council which supports independent living centers throughout the State.
For information about this chapter call 845-985-2955.
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Patricia L. Price, a woman whose life exemplifies ability despite disability, died on February 1, 2009. Pat was a capable human being, passionate in her determination to promote quality of life for people experiencing vision loss. Her enthusiasm showed in her voice.
Pat experienced vision loss in her own life. At age 16 a speck of dirt lodged in her iris causing extreme pain. She then became blind for many years and deaf for 5 years. Pat became convinced of the importance of service to others. Pat said “Volunteering is the rent we pay for the space we occupy on earth.” Pat accomplished so many things despite vision loss and other health challenges.
While blind, Pat attended college and earned a Bachelor of Education degree. She then worked in the insurance industry where she had a long and productive career.
After 20 years, Pat regained some sight. Her vision was enhanced by low vision technologies. This led to career advancement as Pat gained a management position for an Indianapolis Life Insurance company. She held this post for 20 years.
Pat worked tirelessly to reach out with information and support to people struggling with vision loss. Pat and George Covington worked together to establish CCLV News, the fore runner of Vision Access. For four years in the early 1990’s Pat Price served as president of CCLVI. She established the CCLVI office and our 800 telephone line. Pat organized a bingo program to help fund CCLVI activities. Pat initiated and got things done.
After concluding her work in CCLVI, Pat began her own organization, Vision World Wide. In this organization Pat continued to provide people with information and support and thus dispel many fears about facing life with limited vision. Thousands of people have benefited from Pat’s lifetime of dedication to this cause.
Pat also served as the webmaster and treasurer of Library Users of America, an affiliate of the American Council of the Blind. She and her husband Marvin founded the American Council of the Blind of Indiana and Pat served in a variety of positions with this group. Pat was vice president of the National Accreditation Council of Agencies Serving the Blind and Visually Handicapped. In the early '90s, Pat completed three terms as national secretary of the American Council of the Blind.
Pat was a member of the Lighthouse International Advisory Committee and chaired a governor-appointed advisory committee at the Indiana School for the Blind. She co-founded and served in a variety of capacities with numerous special interest groups of the American Council of the Blind.
She served as a Virginia M. Woolf Foundation board member. She was the membership chair and treasurer of the Indiana Policyholders Service Association and president of the Indianapolis Insurance Women's Association.
Pat was the first recipient of the Patricia L. Price Distinguished Service Award, an honor given her by the American Council of the Blind of Indiana. The award was created in her name and honors "blind and visually impaired people who have contributed to the improvement of life for their peers." She was named Business Woman of the Year, and was a recipient of the Jefferson Award. In 1982 she received the prestigious George Card Award from the American Council of the Blind for her international outreach efforts. Additionally, she is the recipient of three Sertoma Service to Mankind Awards.
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Members of the Stark County chapter of the American Council of the Blind of Ohio put together a booklet of resources for people losing their vision. A grant from Diebolt Inc. funded the printing of our booklet. Our booklet was printed in October 2008.
I was interviewed by one of the local radio stations about this resource book. My interview was broadcast on two different days, one in December and one in January. After both airings I received over 20 calls requesting booklets.
I also put a press release in 3 local newspapers and only received 4 calls. I plan to ask the papers to run the press release again. Some of the calls came weeks later.
Because of this booklet, our group has 4 new members and several others are considering joining our group. I did call some of the people to whom I sent our booklet and most people thought our booklet was very helpful.
I had given copies of our booklet to ophthalmologists to give to their patients. I called these doctors and learned that they haven't handed out as many booklets as I had hoped. We did received donations from two of the 12 doctors’ offices we contacted.
I gave our booklets to the supervisor of the local office of our state’s Bureau of Services for the Visually Impaired. He has directed his councilors to offer these booklets to consumers. He said that our booklets have been a help to his staff as well as to consumers. He is also sharing our booklets with other supervisors in the state.
I have taken our booklets to the school that has a classroom for students who are vision impaired so that the students can take them home and give them to their parents. I also gave them to the mobility instructor that works with the students to give them to her students.
If your organization wants to develop a similar resource booklet for people in your area, you can obtain a copy of our booklet to use as a model. To obtain a copy send an email to
carolynmu@sbcglobal.net or reach me by phone through CCLVI’s 800 line, 800-733-2258.
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Many disabled taxpayers may be overlooking a valuable tax credit that could increase their federal income tax refunds by as much as $4,824. The IRS estimates that up to one in four taxpayers who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit - or EITC - fail to claim the credit. Are you one of them?
You may qualify if your income was under $41,646 last year and you, or your spouse, worked or received disability retirement benefits under an employer plan and were under the minimum retirement age. The amount of your EITC depends on several factors, such as the amount of your earned income, your filing status, whether you have children and how many, etc. Special rules apply if you have a child who is permanently and totally disabled.
To get the credit you earned, you must 1) file a federal income tax return and 2) claim the credit. Many communities have volunteer income tax assistance sites or local IRS Taxpayer Assistance Centers, which will compute your EITC and prepare your return without charge. To locate a volunteer site, call your community's 211 or 311 number for local services or call the IRS at 1-800-906-9887.
Some states have a similar tax credit, increasing the dollars due eligible EITC recipients.
Find more information about EITC in alternative formats for people with print disabilities at
http:///www.irs.gov. Follow the homepage link to "Accessibility", then the link to "Accessible IRS Tax Products" and select the appropriate link to download accessible forms or publications. The IRS web site provides accessible electronic files in formats including: ASCII Text (.txt), Braille Ready Format (.BRF), and Talking Tax forms in PDF that work with MSAA compliant screen reading software and Braille display devices.
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Editor’s Note: Mary Watkins is the Director of Communications at WGBH in Boston. She spoke about DVS at the October, 2008 Convention of the California Council of Citizens with Low Vision.
Descriptive Video Service, DVS, is a division of WGBH, public broadcasting in Boston. WGBH produces over a third of the programming for PBS stations nationwide and also a third of the web content on pbs.org. We brought description to television after it was being done in Washington DC by Margaret and Cody Pfanstiehl, the true pioneers in this service. They developed description for live plays.
With the advent of stereo television in the late 1980s, we wondered how we could build on what we were doing in terms of closed captioning for audiences who were deaf or hard of hearing, that is, how to make a service for people who are blind or visually impaired to help them enjoy TV a little bit more. Video description is carefully crafted written narration of key visual elements. Once a description script is completed, we hire professional narrators who insert those descriptions into natural pauses in dialogue. DVS started on PBS, then went to DVS home videos, and then it spread to Turner Classic movies. We now provide description for PBS as well as for 4 CBS series and for The Simpsons on Fox.
Several years ago there was a description mandate in place for a short span of time, less than a year. Major networks were required to offer about four hours of video description per week. The 5 most popular basic cable networks were also required to have about 4 hours per week of description. This mandate was fought in the court of appeals, where the networks indicated they would provide description voluntarily if the mandate was repealed. PBS and CBS continue to offer that same level of description every week, and Fox continues to describe the Simpsons. The other networks, as far as we know, do not provide any video description at this time.
We have a three year project to develop solutions to make in-flight entertainment accessible. Individual entertainment systems will soon be available on seatbacks on airplanes. These actually utilize touch screen technology which is completely inaccessible to passengers who cannot see. The content-- entertainment programs and flight information-- is also inaccessible. We came up with a prototype system based on Panasonic technology, which is very popular and used by many airlines. We actually made spoken menus via a navigation device. There are a certain number of buttons on the device (EZ Access, developed by the Trace Center at the University of Wisconsin-Madison) that could potentially be plugged into your seat armrest. This device would allow passengers to navigate around an in flight entertainment system. Navigation through these systems and content will be accessible.
DVS home videos are a much loved effort. We had to end the DVS HV sales effort this year because Hollywood studios have stopped manufacturing videos on VHS tape format. Now we are working to convince studios to include video description tracks on DVDs. Universal studios is offering these. You can find the titles of such DVDs on our website (http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/mag/resources/accessible-dvds.html). Many PBS programs are available with DVS on DVD. Press languages on the menu and you will find audio description. On the packaging there will be a Letter “D)))” with three parentheses following it and the words “Descriptive Video Service.” The “Incredible Hulk” is a movie that is described on DVD.
We are often asked what individual consumers can do to get more DVDs described. If studios heard directly from consumers who would be impacted favorably if they would include a description track, this would help our efforts. We list contact information for Hollywood studios at this page of our site: www.mopix.org
What about description in movie theaters? Bigger chains have made commitments to install captioning and description systems in one auditorium of all new multiplexes. Many theaters are starting to install digital cinema projections systems. These are expensive to install, but actually result in the captioning and DVS technology needed to be LESS expensive.
We do hear from patrons that they sometimes have trouble getting correct information about films access features—what a theater offers in terms of accessibility. There is also sometimes confusion on the part of a theater's staff between headphones used to deliver description tracks and headphones used by hard of hearing patrons to access amplified sound. Because staff turnover at theaters is great, it may be helpful for consumers to give feedback to theater headquarters (contact information is also available at the www.mopix.org site).
We have developed a MoPix Theater Manager’s Guide all about access services, about the community, about the patrons, and the various communication needs the patrons might have. Often the guide is used as part of the training ritual for new theater employees. That is the ideal scenario.
One of our new projects is Access to On Screen Graphic Information that occurs during news broadcasts. This could be weather information, school closings, etc. You can turn this feature on and off when you want to hear that extra stream of information. For more information, and to hear prototype spoken translation of these types of graphics, you can visit the project's web site at: http://ncam.wgbh.org/onscreen/
The 21st Century Telecommunications Accessibility Act has been introduced in House (House Bill 6320). If passed into law, this legislation will reinstitute the description mandates regarding broadcast television and cable networks offering description on their programs. This bill will also require that local cable companies and satellite providers be responsible for getting audio description to viewers correctly and without interruption. It would also require that whatever device is used to distribute and receive video be accessible to all users.
The Coalition of Organizations for Accessible Technology (COAT) includes American Council of the Blind, the American Foundation for the Blind, WGBH and many other national, state and local organizations. Go to http://www.coataccess.org/ to learn about the work of this organization, much of it in the areas mentioned in this article. In the past the description mandates have been opposed by the National Association of Broadcasters, the National Cable Television Association, and the Motion Picture Association of America.
WGBH's Media Access Group created the website dtvaccess.org to address captioning and description problems arising as a result of the transition to digital TV. The information on description is presented based on the types of TV’s and cable boxes used—analogue TV with rabbit ears or roof top antenna, analogue TV with cable or satellite, DTV with rabbit ears or roof top antenna, DTV with cable or satellite.
Most programs produced for national broadcast by WGBH are described. These include NOVA, Masterpiece Theater, American Experience, Arthur, and others. We want the descriptions to be part of the online versions that you can download or stream. Please visit your local PBS station's Web site to access video online.
WGBH is branching out and making programs available on Apple's ITunesUniversity for free. On this medium, “American Experience, Franklin D. Roosevelt” is available with description. The describers did a beautiful job and we hope this is the first of many videos available with description via iTunesU.
WGBH is also pursuing making description available on audio-only versions of programs and movies. We call these “car movies” and hope that main stream audiences will become interested. We co produced a recent version of “The Wind in the Willows” for Masterpiece Classic which is available as an audio-only file with description. It is available at this site: http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/masterpiece/willows/audio.html
WGBH started to work with Disney theme parks several years ago. We sent a team of describers to Disney World to describe the attractions “It’s a Small World,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” and “The Haunted Mansion.” Disney has developed a rugged access device (a bit bigger than a cell phone) which has the ability to display captions and text or subtitles. The headsets that plug into this device give translations in other languages and audio description. They offer this device to blind and visually impaired guests and ask for their feedback. Disney also plans to offer some environmental description at the park to orient guests to Main Street and other areas. These services will also be available in Disneyland in California.
WGBH was hired by Very Special Arts (VSARTS) of Florida to describe a traveling art exhibition by VSARTS students. The description is still available via cell phones (a free call—703 637-6780). We’d like to see a lot more description happening for museums. We are currently working with the Whitney Museum in New York to make the Calder exhibit accessible. The Whitney is in the forefront in trying to make their exhibits accessible to all people with disabilities.
Finally for now, we are working with post graduate science students and professional scientists who are blind or visually impaired to reprioritize how descriptions are created, that is, how these professionals want to hear graphs and images described-- that appear in science related digital talking books. Recommendations and guidelines for providing description in digital talking books are going to be published soon. We will be publishing these guidelines on our Web site shortly (ncam.wgbh.org).
If readers have any questions, WGBH welcomes them via email at
access@wgbh.org, or via phone 617 300-3700.
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By now you probably know the story. Television as we know it was supposed to have died last February 17 with a new invention called “digital” taking its place. It turned out that rumors of the old system’s demise were somewhat exaggerated. The plug will be pulled, but not until June 12. So those who were unprepared last February will have a short reprieve.
The older system is known as “analog.” What’s the difference? This will be a little graphic, but basically, analog is like toothpaste – it comes in a continuous flow – while digital is like bird droppings, and comes in discrete packets. To greatly simplify: in an analog transmission the carrier wave forms a continuous image (or “analog”) of the program being broadcast, while in a digital transmission the program information is sent out in tiny little bits. These bits of data are reassembled in your TV and magically take form as picture and sound.
So why the change? Many reasons. Digital transmissions are more efficient and occupy less bandwidth than analog. The same space that one analog channel uses can accommodate several digital channels. Therefore switching to digital will free portions of the broadcast spectrum for other uses, such as public safety communications (police, fire, and rescue operations). Another reason for the change is broadcast quality. Digital signals, when you can get them, are better quality and even allow for broadcasting in high definition (HD). A third reason is economics. Parts of the newly available spectrum will be auctioned off to broadcasters and providers of wireless services such as wireless broadband. There are huge economic interests pushing for the transition. In short, it’s going to happen and there’s no going back.
So how does this affect you? You may have heard that if you are already a cable or satellite customer, then you don’t need to give it a second thought. That’s true – unless you are interested in keeping your video description.
But first, let’s talk about those converter boxes. The boxes you can get using a coupon from the government have nothing to do with the boxes your cable or satellite company provides. The former are for older TV sets that still receive programming over the air, or as we say, with the good old “rabbit ears.” If you have an older set that has no digital tuner and you are not a cable or satellite customer, then you will need one of these government-subsidized boxes in order to receive programming. But will the box be sufficient? That’s a question to which many won’t know the answer until after the transition. While public service announcements have greatly hyped those boxes, they have mentioned practically nothing about the antennas needed to make the boxes work. And that may turn out to be the dirty little secret of the digital transition.
What many consumers don’t know is that tuning a digital signal is not like tuning in the stations that you’re currently used to. If an analog signal is weak the program will still come through, though it may be snowy or have static. Digital signals are more finicky. They are all or nothing: when the signal is good it is great, but if it’s not just right you will get no signal at all. In addition, the UHF frequencies that digital stations use are line-of-sight and very much subject to interference by objects that get in the way, such as buildings or trees. This means that unless you have access to an outdoor antenna you may be out of luck. People have already been reporting problems with indoor antennas, and many who rely on such antennas are expected to lose at least some if not all of their stations once the transition occurs. Yet for many apartment dwellers, outdoor antennas are simply not an option. This is a problem that no delay in the transition date will fix, and we will have to wait to see exactly just how many it will affect.
So if you have an older TV and no cable service, get yourself one of those converter boxes, try for an outdoor antenna, and pray.
A TV set with a digital tuner that receives programming over the air will not need a converter box. How do you know if your TV has a digital tuner? While few sets made before 2004 have them, if your set is more recent there is a good chance that it has such a tuner, and the newer your set, the better the odds. All current sets have digital tuners, or at least should come with a warning if they don’t.
Now let’s talk about video description, and here is where it gets really interesting. Will you still be able to count on video description after the transition? This is not a simple question, and you may not necessarily be able to rely on what your telephone representative tells you. Just be glad if you manage to find one who even knows what video description is.
A little background: What you now know as SAP (Secondary Audio Program) will no longer exist after the digital transition. It will be replaced by what’s called “associated audio services.” So instead of seeing the familiar choice of “Stereo/Mono/SAP” when you press your SAP button you may see something like “English 1/English 2” or “Service 1/Service 2” or “English/Spanish,” but despite the label the second choice will carry video description when available. There are actually eight possible audio channels under the new system instead of the previous two, but all eight might never actually be used. At this time what you’re likely to see in a video-described digital broadcast will be two channels with the second channel carrying the description even though the label may look strange.
Even though, strictly speaking, SAP (but not video description) will be a thing of the past, some digital TV sets still come with an SAP button on the remote. On most sets, however, the button is labeled MTS, for “Multichannel Television Sound.” Not all digital televisions will have this button on the remote. If you want this feature, it’s important to check before you buy.
How can you receive video description in the digital age?
First, if you are not a cable or satellite subscriber and are using a converter box, be sure to get a box that passes the video description through, because not all of them do. The FCC has prepared a document listing converter box models that support both closed captioning and video description, and you may download it here: http://www.fcc.gov/cgb/consumerfacts/converterboxfeatures.pdf. The document even tells which boxes have a SAP button on the remote.
If you are a cable or satellite subscriber, things are a bit more complicated than you may have been led to believe. I will be speaking now in terms of cable, but as far as I know, for these purposes satellite works the same way.
Your cable provider will want to rent you a box at a monthly fee. In spite of what your cable rep may tell you, not all cable boxes support video description. If you decide to rely on a cable box, make sure you get a model that passes the video description through. If you’re not sure, then get the model numbers of the boxes your provider offers and either call the company that makes the box or download the manual off the net if you can. Don’t just rely on the word of a telephone rep unless you can tell the person is truly knowledgeable.
Now here is something your provider won’t tell you: the cable box is not the only way cable subscribers can get video description. In fact, for visually impaired users it may not even be the best way, because with cable boxes you have to deal with on-screen menus that are not usually accessible. There is another way, which for many users can even make renting a cable box unnecessary.
First, just a little more technical detail. A television tuner is a circuit in your TV that converts the broadcast transmission into audio and video signals you can watch as programs on separate channels. Three types of tuners are used in American TV sets: NTSC, ATSC, and QAM.
- NTSC is the old-fashioned tuner on analog sets. After the digital transition it will cease to be relevant.
- ATSC will replace NTSC and is used to capture digital transmissions over the air. All new TV sets are required by law to have ATSC tuners.
- QAM tuners supplement NTSC and allow your TV to receive unscrambled digital transmissions through a cable but without a cable box. New TV sets are not required to have QAM tuners but most of them do.
If your set has a QAM tuner, you have another and possibly easier way to receive video description. The FCC requires cable providers to continue offering “basic broadcast” stations in unscrambled form. What “basic broadcast” means may vary with the provider but at the very least it will include channels 2 through 13, which cover most programming that is video described. With a QAM tuner you should be able to receive these stations though a direct cable connection to your TV without a box. If basic stations are all you want to watch, you should not even need a cable box. Just hook up the cable to your TV and you’re good to go.
There is both an advantage and a disadvantage to this procedure. The advantage is that if you are accessing stations directly and not through a box, your TV and not the box will process the video description, which means that the MTS (or SAP) button on your TV remote will work. That button will not work if you are using a cable box, which requires you to fiddle with on-screen menus. So by using this direct connection a blind person can turn video description on and off without sighted assistance. Why not just leave video description on all the time? Because on some programs that are not described the second audio channel may still be present but have no audio signal, in which case you will hear nothing at all.
The disadvantage is that you may have to get used to new channel numbers. This may feel weird at first. While cable companies are required to broadcast basic stations in the clear, they are not obligated to keep the same numbers you may be used to. And since, as we have mentioned, several digital channels can fit into the same space as a single analog channel, you may have to deal with sub-numbers. For example, channel 4 may now be channel 20-4 (or channel 20.4), and channel 5 may now be channel 20-5 or something else entirely. (This is why remotes of digital TV sets have a “-” button.) If you are tuning these stations without a cable box, you will have to search through the numbers until you find those assigned to the stations you want to watch. Your cable provider will not supply you with a printed guide to these numbers similar to the guide you get for stations you tune through a cable box. You are on your own, but a little extra effort can pay a big dividend.
Now, you may ask, What if I want all the extra stations that a cable box can give me? You don’t have to give them up to use this method. It is easy to have the best of both worlds, since new television sets come with plenty of inputs. With an inexpensive device called a splitter that you can get from Radio Shack you can split the cable from the wall into two branches. One branch goes to your cable box and the other goes directly into your TV. The TV set can easily toggle between these two sources. This way you can get total control over video description through the direct connection, and all the upper-level stations through the box connection.
So while the digital transition has made life confusing for many of us, it also affords us more viewing options, if we know how to take advantage of them.
We’ve covered a lot of information here, some of which you won’t get from your cable company. Some of you may have questions, and we have a forum available for you to post them. We have a list at Google Groups that is open to members and supporters of CCLVI. Members of this group can post messages to
CCLVI@googlegroups.com. If you are not a member you may write to me at
laflauta@hotmail.com and I will send you an invitation. But please post your questions to the group rather than sending them to me personally, so that all may benefit.
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Editor’s Note: This article is based on research by Mansfield, J. Stephen, Gordon E Legge, and Marc C. Bane. as reported in "Psychophysics of reading. XV. Font effects in normal and low vision." Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science. July, 1996.
These days, people with low vision have more and more materials to read. As our population of senior citizens grows, materials previously available only in small print are now commonly prepared in large print. We need to pay attention to how we format these materials, whether in hard copy or electronic media, to give readers with low vision optimum comfort and efficiency.
Studies by Drs. Mansfield, Legge, and Bane at the University of Minnesota show that certain fonts provide significant advantages to readers who have low vision, as well as to those with normal vision. These researchers tested readers using fixed-width fonts, variable-width fonts (proportional), serif (with tails and curlicues) and sans serif fonts to see how they affected reading speeds and acuities. They found that people with low vision had higher reading speeds and better reading acuities when they used sans serif fonts with fixed width. Although differences in speed and acuities were smaller than for the low-vision group, they found the same to be true for readers with normal vision. They concluded that "choice of font could make a significant difference in both normal and low-vision reading performance."
When you prepare materials, you can enhance reading performance by observing a few simple rules. These rules hold true for both people with low vision and those with normal vision. The benefits may be appreciated more by readers who have low-vision. These rules are:
Employ fonts without serifs (APHont, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica).
- Employ fonts with a fixed width (APHont, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica).
- Use bold letters whenever possible.
- Use APHont, Verdana, Arial, or Helvetica as the default font in electronic media.
- Be sure to provide good contrast between the background color and the print color. (Black on white is good, but for many readers white on black--or yellow on black is better.)
- Make sure the print size is large enough for your reader to use comfortably.
Fancy fonts and italics may look attractive to you. For the reader with low vision, however, they can be confusing and sometimes impossible to read. When preparing materials for readers with low vision, a simple rule of thumb is: the simpler, the bolder, the better.
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Editor’s Note: This article by Elaine Kitchel was reprinted from Technology Update 14 (Fall-Winter 1998): 29-30. Updated 8/2002 (APHont added)
APHont (pronounced Ay'-font), was developed by the American Printing House specifically for low vision readers.
APHont embodies characteristics that have been shown to enhance reading speed, comprehension, and comfort for large print readers. The entire APHont Suite (Regular, Bold, Italic, and Italic Bold) is available free-of-charge on the APH web site.
Features of APHont include
- Higher crossbars.
- No serifs.
- Wider letters.
- Heavier letters.
- Letters more open
- Larger punctuation marks.
APH makes no claim that APHont is an appropriate font for children who are just learning to read.
How to Request APHont: Before downloading APHont, users must validate that APHont will be used by or for people who are visually impaired. Visit
www.aph.org/products/aphont.html to fill out a short verification form. You will then be able to download the font. Click this link for instructions on using APHont on a Mac.
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Editor’s Note: After reading “Affirmation” a poem by Sister Marie LeClerc Laux, SSND, Mike Vogl was inspired to write his poem “Confirmation.”
A small bird’s heart
bursts with Joy
when another
listens to her song.
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Clear notes wafting
from the lake shore
leave indelible marks
on the soul, remind us
that the most beautiful music
is the sound of another’s voice.
Clarion call,
sends a sermonette message
that every moment is a miracle,
and if we wish to sing,
we can find our song, and,
if blessed, someone to listen to it.
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Verizon Wireless announced the availability of TALKS for Verizon Wireless. TALKS is a new assistive technology that converts displayed text into highly intelligible speech for Verizon Wireless customers who are blind or visually impaired. Available initially on MOTO Q 9c smartphones beginning March 15, TALKS for Verizon Wireless supports audio feedback for writing and reading text messages, e-mail and notes.
Powered by Nuance Communications, Inc. (Nasdaq: NUAN), TALKS for Verizon Wireless uses ETI-Eloquence text-to-speech software - similar to other screen-reading packages on WindowsR PC platforms - to offer visually impaired and blind customers instant familiarity and the highest intelligibility. With the TALKS application, the MOTO Q 9c from Verizon Wireless can:
- Read the caller ID of an incoming call
- Dial a number from the phone's Contacts directory
- Add and edit entries in the Contacts directory
- Read and write text messages and e-mail
- Read and write documents using Mobile Office
- Access and compose multimedia message service (MMS) messages
- Use Mobile Internet Explorer to access the Internet
- Control speech volume and rate of speech
"The TALKS application helps Verizon Wireless provide the best wireless experience for our customers who are visually impaired," said Jeffrey Dietel, vice president - marketing operations for Verizon Wireless. "TALKS for Verizon Wireless turns the MOTO Q 9c smartphone into a communications tool that will help customers with impaired vision stay connected to family, friends and colleagues through methods beyond voice calls."
The MOTO Q 9c with TALKS for Verizon Wireless will be available online at www.verizonwireless.com on March 15 for $249.99 after a $70 online instant rebate with a new two-year customer agreement. Existing MOTO Q 9c customers who wish to add the TALKS application should contact Verizon Wireless Customer Service at 800-922-0204.
Customers can learn more about TALKS for Verizon Wireless by visiting
www.verizonwireless.com/accessibility. For more information about Verizon Wireless products and services, visit a Verizon Wireless Communications Store, call 1-800-2 JOIN IN or go to
www.verizonwireless.com.
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Serotek Corporation, a leading provider of internet and digital information accessibility software and services, will launch a new online radio station this week. The station is called SAMNet Radio and can be heard from http://radio.samobile.net/. The name of the station is derived from Serotek's online community, the System Access Mobile Network, or SAMNet. SAMNet Radio will air the best music of the last 40 years, the latest technology news, live and interactive voice chats, and a portal for all to know what is happening in the SAMNet community. Directed at an audience who is blind or has low vision, SAMNet Radio's slogan is "Your station, your community." The station's manager is Michael Lauf, former creator, host and producer of HandiTalk, the first interactive internet radio program to discuss the needs of the blind and visually impaired. "I'm excited to oversee a radio station that specializes in the needs and interests of the visually impaired community," said Michael Lauf, SAMNet Radio station manager, "The combination of music, home-grown podcasts, access technology news and interviews, and interactive talk shows, all on one radio station, will make us like no other entity in the world." The inaugural broadcast will stream live on Wednesday, January 28, from the Internet Café of the Assistive Technology Industry Association (ATIA) annual conference in Orlando, Florida. Those unable to attend ATIA can hear what is happening at the event and stay abreast of news announced at the show. Reactions to the first broadcast will also be discussed during the next installment of Serotalk, Serotek's podcast and interactive blog. For more information about Serotalk, visit http://www.serotalk.com/.
To add the RSS feed for Serotalk to your web browser, news reader or podcatcher, visit http://serotalk.com/feed.
Serotek Corporation is a leading technology company that develops software and manufactures accessibility solutions under the System Access brand. Committed to the mission of providing accessibility anywhere, Serotek began with the launch of the first online community specifically designed to meet the needs of people with visual impairment. Since then, Serotek has introduced several powerful, affordable solutions that require minimal training and investment. For more information, visit
www.serotek.com.
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When a person who is sight impaired places a prescription bottle on the ScripTalk unit, a digitally-generated voice "reads" the prescription label out loud, articulating the drug name, dosage, instructions, warnings and contraindications, pharmacy information, doctor’s name, and more. A thin antennae and microchip embedded within the label are programmed with all the printed information. Because the data is stored in the label itself, it can be used on any size bottle, box, vial, tube or other container.
The result is that people with sight-impairments are able to manage their own medical concerns in a safe and private manner, through a technology-enabled product that is specifically designed to be affordable and very easy to use.
Already installed in all of the Veteran Administration outpatient pharmacies, ScripTalk is recognized by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs as an assistive technology that helps independent-living veterans who are unable to read their own prescriptions.
The simplicity of the ScripTalk design also extends into the pharmacy where a ScripTalk base unit connects to a computer via USB or serial port to interface with existing Windows-compatible software. Pharmacists upload prescription data from standard pharmacy-management software to the ScriptTalk device. With a simple button press, a special radio frequency identification-tagged label is encoded with all pertinent information. At home, the sight impaired patient uses a similar device to hear this information.
En-Vision America Inc., has developed ScriptTalk and will work with your pharmacists to help them initiate this service.
ScriptTalk is light weight and portable, uses a natural voice, comes with an earphone jack for privacy, operates with one touch, reads a label as many times as needed, and has adjustable volume.
ScriptTalk costs $495 for the pharmacy and $225 for individual users.
For more information contact En-Vision America, Inc., by phone at 800-890-1180, by fax at 300-452-3643. Visit En-Vision America on the web at
www.envisionamerica.com.
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The STEP-HEAR™ system provides accurate directional information, thus guaranteeing improved way-finding for people who are blind and visually impaired in accessing transit facilities, transportation, public buildings and other points of interest.
With its simple to use, low-cost design, the STEP-HEAR™ system will enhance the lives of users who are blind and visually impaired across the globe.
The STEP-HEAR™ system is based on Radio Frequency (RF) technology and is comprised of two units: a transmitter/base and a small receiver/activator. Installed at strategic locations, the base sends out a continuous signal. When the activator, held by the user, is within the range of the base, it vibrates and beeps. Pressing a button on the activator will trigger a pre-recorded voice message from the base. This helps the user to obtain information and become oriented toward the location, be it an office, an elevator or a bus.
The STEP-HEAR™ system can be used virtually anywhere: Government & Municipal buildings, Post Offices, Schools and Universities, Museums, Conferences and Exhibitions, Hospitals, Nursing-homes, Banks, ATM machines, Stores, Hotels, Transportation vehicles, Recreational places, and more. Designed with universal recognition, users will ultimately be able to use their activators anywhere in the world, simplifying and enhancing international travel.
Base units available for as low as $130 and activators for as low as $25. Leading organizations for the blind and visually impaired are already coming forward to subsidize the cost of the system.
For information contact Yael Furman, Managing Director, STEP-HEAR Ltd.,
www.step-hear.com,
yael@step-hear.com, Tel. 972-3-5710794, Fax. 972-3-5710680.
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HumanWare released the latest software version of the SmartView Graduate, a video magnifier that helps Students who have low vision fully participate in class. One of the significant improvements in this release is the addition of support for split screens and "zero-delay video" when running in conjunction with ZoomText® screen magnification software.
The split screen functionality lets users see magnified images from the Graduate camera in one half of their computer screen and other applications in the other half. ZoomText® operates normally in magnifying application windows on one side while on the other, the Graduate application completely controls the magnification of camera images. No specific configuration of ZoomText® is required.
With the introduction of the "zero-delay video" architecture in this release, the SmartView Graduate avoids any lag time between an image changing and it being displayed on the computer screen. Without this feature, delays of up to two seconds are common for video magnifiers working in conjunction with Zoomtext ®
Other new features include ability to save four preset views and a simplified installation. Each preset view includes settings for color combinations, image rotation, contrast and brightness. This can significantly reduce the time required to switch between desktop and distant views as all saved parameters for either position can be changed with a simple press of a button.
To help new users get the most from their SmartView Graduate, HumanWare is also announcing the availability of a set of online video tutorials. These videos demonstrate how to setup the unit for optimal use, basic commands, saving images and how to use preset views.
Both the SmartView Graduate software release 1.2 and the instructional tutorials are immediately available for free download on HumanWare's website.
The SmartView Graduate is the perfect companion for any student or traveling professional. It is ideally suited for people with low vision who need to see things on their desk or across the room.
Since the SmartView Graduate gets its power from your laptop's USB ports, it can be used just about anywhere you take your laptop. The SmartView Graduate can be easily operated from your computer keyboard. Zoom-in, change high contrast color combinations and save images with simple keystrokes. The SmartView Graduate's camera easily turns and rotates, allowing the user to view items on their desktop or a whiteboard across the room. Images can be magnified up to 50 times their normal size. The unit can be taken apart and put into a computer bag or its optional case in less than a minute, making it extremely easy to carry.
For more information call toll free 1-800-722-3393 or (925) 680-7100, or email:
us.info@humanware.com
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Editor’s Note: This soup was made in a crock pot and brought to a luncheon at our office.
1 can of tomato soup
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 can of cream of celery soup
1/2 cup cooking sherry
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
5 drops hot sauce
1 quart half and half (can use fat-free)
2 cans crab meat
Blend together and heat in crock pot or on the stove.
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CCLVI gratefully accepts contributions from readers and members to help pay for the costs of publishing Vision Access, the costs related to our 800 line and Project Insight, and for funding the Carl E. Foley and Fred Scheigert Scholarships. Please send contributions to CCLVI Treasurer, Mike Godino, 104 Tilrose Avenue, Malverne, NY 11565-2040. Our Tax ID number is 1317540.
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Resources
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CCLVI Membership Application
Council of Citizens with Low Vision International
An Affiliate of the American Council of the Blind
2009 Membership Application
Name___________________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________
City_________________ State _____ Zip Code _________________
Country ________Phone _________ E-Mail ____________________
Membership Status: I am:
___ New member. ____ Life member of CCLVI.
___ Renewing my membership. ____ Life member of ACB.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Visual Status: I am a:
___ person with low/no vision. ___ fully sighted person.
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
I wish to receive the CCLVI publication, Vision Access in:
___ Large print ___ Cassette ___ E-mail ___ Do not send
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Please send the American Council of the Blind Braille Forum in:
___ Large Print ___ Cassette ___ Computer Disk
___ E-mail ___Braille ___ Do Not Send
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- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Dues Structure (Payable in up to three annual installments):
_____ Individual $15.00
_____ Organization or Agency $25.00
_____ Life Member $150.00
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Payment Due:
$_______ Annual Dues
$_______ Life Membership Dues (full or installment)
$_______ Additional Donations
$_______ Total Amount
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Make check or money order payable to "CCLVI" and send to
CCLVI Treasurer: For Office Use Only:
Mike Godino Date Paid:______ Date of Dep______
104 Tilrose Avenue Check # ______$______ Cash______
Malverne, NY 11565-2024 Ph: 800-733-2258 http://www.cclvi.org
Council of Citizens with Low Vision International
2200 Wilson Blvd Suite 650
arlington, VA 22201
(800) 733-2258
http://www.cclvi.org
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President John Horst (08-10, 1st term)
249 Holly St
Elizabethtown, PA 17022-1621
717 367-6328 h
877 617-7407 w
pcb1@paonline.com
1st Vice President
Richard Rueda
Union City, CA
2nd Vice President
Barbara Milleville
Vienna, VA
Secretary
Kathy Casey
Albany, NY
Treasurer
Mike Godino
Malverne, NY
Past President
Bernice Kandarian
Mountain View, CA
Directors
Coletta Davis
Anaheim, CA
Lisa Drzewucki
Freeport, NY
Lindsey Hastings
San Diego, CA
Jim Jirak
Omaha, NE
Jessie Johnson
Jacksonville, FL
Jane Kardas
Ukiah, CA
Brian Petraits
Indianapolis, IN
Donna Pomerantz,
Pasadena, CA
Fred Scheigert
Alexandria, VA
Editor Joyce Kleiber
Wayne, PA
Webmaster
Joel Isaac
Rancho Palos Verdes, CA
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