Easter Seals Crossroads is one of 26 Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers (MARC) in the United States, and the only one in Indiana.  This center provides quarterly trainings on how to use the accessibility features built into Microsoft.  These features were designed with consideration towards disabilities such as low vision, wrist injury, and hearing loss.

The next training is scheduled for Friday, April 23.  For more information or to register, please contact Carol Girt at (888) 466-1314 or cgirt@eastersealscrossroads.org.

Movie theater popcorn, credited to gennierobot from flickr

Going to see a movie is a great way to spend an evening with friends, family, or a date.  The cushioned seats, dark surroundings, smell of popcorn, and in-your-face large movie screen have a way of capturing your undivided attention and exciting the senses.  Theaters across the nation have continually improved conditions to try and please a wide array of audiences by providing food and drink, a variety of different films available at one time, comfortable seating, and more.  Thanks to MoPix, now even deaf or blind audiences can enjoy the experience!

MoPix (Motion Picture Access Project) was formed in 1992 by Media Access Group at WGBH.  The goal was to provide a way for people with hearing or vision impairment the chance to enjoy movies in public theaters.  The developed The Rear Window Captioning System and the DVS Theatrical.

The Rear Window Captioning System isn’t like the standard captions you typically find on DVDs or on TV, where you can turn them on from the main menu and everyone sees them on the screen.  Instead, this system emits reversed captions from the back of the theater using LED text display.  Movie goers wanting captions are given clear panels to mount to their seats and position so that only they can see the text reflected.  So essentially you would have a mirror positioned so that the text projected from the back of the room is appearing at the bottom of the screen.  These devices are adjustable and do not obstruct anyone else’s view.  Check out this brief video demonstration to get a better idea how it works.

The DVS Theatrical is an audio description service.  People who are visually impaired are given a headset to wear, and during the movie a descriptive transcript is sent to them via FM transmission.  Several visual elements are described to the patron, such as actions, facial expressions, costumes, and more.  The describer waits for breaks in conversation and music so no sounds are overlapping.

These are free services that are available in many theaters throughout the United States and Canada.  If you would like to learn more, I suggest visiting MoPix’s Frequently Asked Questions page.  If you would like to see these services offered in a theater near you, find out how you can be an advocate.

If you read this blog regularly, you have probably read a lot of articles about computer access for individuals who are blind, such as this one on CAPTCHAs, digital books, information on web site accessibility with IBM, voice over options on the iPhone, and many more.

You might have also read about technologies for people who are Deaf, such as captioning videos on Youtube, video relay services, and monitoring devices for those with partial hearing loss.

However, what resources are available to individuals who are Deaf AND blind?

If you’ve never met a person who is deafblind, take a minute to read this web site written by James Gallagher, who gives insight and a personal touch to his disability.  If you Google “deafblind communication,” it’s the first link that shows up.  You can also read about Helen Keller, one of the most famous people in history who was deafblind.

While technology for deafblind individuals is a growing field in technology, we will summarize a few options for independent living:

Deaf Blind Communicator – This product created by Humanware combines three types of communications: face-to-face, TTY, and SMS texting.  A deafblind person would type on the communicator, hand it to a sighted individual who would then type a message and had the device back to the individual who is deafblind.  The message from the sighted individual is then displayed in Braille on the BrailleNote.  The deafblind individual would read the message in Braille, type one back on the BrailleNote, and the Deaf Blind Communicator would send the message to the sighted individual. While the combination of these devices provides communication options, the set costs roughly $6,000. Watch these videos by the BBC and read a more detailed description about the device.

BrailleNote

BrailleNote mPower

DB phone

FaceToFace PC Communicator – A new item, FaceToFace is a product by Freedom Scientific that uses Bluetooth technology with a PAC Mate.  The deafblind individual uses the PAC Mate QWERTY or Perkins keyboard to type a message, while the sighted person uses their computer with the activated Bluetooth technology.  Each party is sending messages back and forth wirelessly up to 30 feet away.

PAC Mate

For local resources and support systems for individuals with deafblindness, contact these places:

Indiana Deaf Blind Services Project at the Blumberg Center (Terre Haute, IN)

Helen Keller National Center North Central Regional Office (East Moline, IL)

Indiana School for the Deaf (Indianapolis, IN)

Indiana School for the Blind (Indianapolis, IN)

Deaf Community Services at Easter Seals Crossroads (Indianapolis, IN)

Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services from Family Social Services Administration

To access Closed Captions, click on the “CC” in the lower right corner of the video.

Having trouble seeing the video?  Click here to be redirected to our YouTube page.

Click here to see our archived videos.

This year’s INARF Conference is titled INARF 2.0: Intellectual Stimulus Package. The event will be held at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites from March 10-12, and 29 exhibitors will be present.

Participants can expect to network with over 500 of their peers, increase their knowledge through various education sessions, and learn about products and services available to people with disabilities.

To register or learn more, visit the INARF website.

VictorReader Stream

The VictorReader Stream is a portable DAISY player about the size of a pack of playing cards.  It has an SD card for storing books, files, music, voice recordings, and podcasts.  You can download your books and MP3s or transport them via USB.  The Stream is completely voice-guided for the visually impaired.

Sounds great!  Let’s test out some basic functions.

The Stream holds a charge of approximately 15 hours.  However, if it isn’t charged you can simply plug it into a socket and use it from there.  To turn it on, you need to locate the power button on the left side of the device and hold it down for a couple of seconds.  The green light on the front will come on and you will hear a “Beep” followed by a voice greeting.  To adjust the volume, use the arrows on the left side, below the power button.

VictorReader Stream side view

To access the User guide, hold down on the 1 button.  This guide is helpful in getting started (especially if you cannot see the manual).  You can skip through the manual by using the right arrow key, or the 6 button.

Normally you’d press 1 to access the Bookshelf, but since I don’t have any books saved on this device, I’m going to instead learn how to create notes for myself.  On the right side of the device, you will notice a button with a red dot (similar to a “Record” button you might see on a VCR or video camera).  When you hold down on this button, a voice will say,”Start recording.”  You can then record a voice message.  When you are finished, you release the button and a voice will say,”Stop recording.  Note 1 created.”  Each note is given a number which you can find using the 4 and 6 buttons.

If you had a book saved on the device, you can access bookmarks you’ve placed by pressing the little check-mark button on the front of the device.  The button with the moon symbol will activate “Sleep” mode, and it will offer to sleep longer the more you press it.

These are just a couple of basic features the VictorReader Stream contains.  It is very easy to use once you’ve played around with it a little.  I also found this guide to be very helpful.

Try it out for yourself by signing up at our INDATA Loan Library!

This Indiana organization provides service dogs to people with disabilities.  What makes it unique from other service animal programs is the fact that these dogs are trained by people in correctional facilities.

ICAN, which stands for Indiana Canine Assistant Network, was formed in 2001 by Sally Irvin, Ph.D.  Each dog undergoes a two year training process before they are placed with an individual.  The program is aimed at assisting individuals with physical and developmental disabilities in becoming more independent in their dally lives as well as build skills for job and life management.  So far the program has paired up 59 people with service dogs.

To apply for the program, individuals must provide information about themselves and pay a one time application fee.  Once the information is reviewed, members from ICAN will conduct an interview and possibly and in-home evaluation.  Every step of the application process is important in ensuring that a service dog would be a good fit for the individual; it is a big decision, after all!

Towards the end of the two year training process, clients with disabilities will frequently visit the offender training their dog at the correctional facility to learn how to work with their new dog via Team Training.  At the end of the Team Training, clients take their service dogs home, but are encouraged to keep in touch with their handlers.

If you’re interested in applying for the program, volunteering, or sponsoring a dog, learn more at the ICAN website or visit their Facebook page (and check out all of the cute puppy pictures while you’re at it).

What: Vanguard/Vantage with Unity Training offered by Prentke Romich Company (PRC)

When: March 19, 2010, from 9:00 am to 3:30 pm

Where: Tri-County Education Center, 599 South Harbour Drive, Noblesville, IN 46062

Why: This hands-on workshop will focus on Unity software such as Vantage, Vantage Lite, Vanguard, and ECO for PRC communication devices.  Participants will be trained on how to use vocabulary programs, customize messages, be given teaching strategies, and more.

How: Register for the event by visiting the PRC website and click on “Training.”  From there, click “Search your state to view training opportunities in your local area,” enter “IN” and then “Add Training.”

For more information, call (800) 848-8008.

Donna Roberts of United Cerebral Palsy Association

The INDATA Project sponsored an Assistive Technology and Cerebral Palsy Training on February 19.  This event was an open invitation to anyone wanting to know more about the available resources surrounding Cerebral Palsy.

Not only was the event well attended with over 60 guests, but we also tested our fancy camera equipment and produced a live stream online!

Donna Roberts from the United Cerebral Palsy of Indianapolis was our first speaker, followed by our own Dr. Chuck Dietzen, the Medical Director at Easter Seals Crossroads, and Wendy Gahimer, an Augmentative Communication Specialist at Easter Seals Crossroads.  We were also fortunate to have vendors from Tobii ATI and Dynavox Mayer-Johnson display their assistive technology devices.

The training was very much a success.  Our attendants were excited to hear about the advancements being made in robotic therapy from Donna Roberts, touched by Dr. Chuck’s stories about patients he’s treated during his career, and had a chance to try out several assistive technology devices during Wendy’s hands-on demonstration.  We also received some very helpful feedback from folks watching our livestream.

Wendy Gahimer demonstrating assistive technology

This was one of four trainings INDATA offers each year.  If you would be interested in attending future trainings, you can follow us on Twitter, friend us on Facebook, or sign up for our email list.  If you have questions or comments, feel free to contact Sara at scroft@eastersealscrossroads.org.

Hotels.com now has a search filter that finds hotels with various accessibility features to narrow your results.  So folks who are preparing to travel and looking for a hotel that they can access with their wheelchair, for example, will be able to do so with ease.  This also means that people with disabilities can take advantage of the same kinds of bargains and reviews offered to the general public when trying to find a hotel.

Accessibility Features search filter on Hotels.com

You can search for hotels under the following accessibility filters:

• Accessibility equipment for the deaf
• Accessible bathroom
• Accessible path of travel
• Braille or raised signage
• Handicapped parking
• In-room accessibility
• Roll-in shower

By utilizing this search filter, I can see that 34 hotels in Indianapolis currently offer accessible bathrooms, accessible path of entry, and in-room accessibility (see image below).

Search results image

Now I can go through the list and determine which hotel I would prefer to stay at, knowing that they will be accessible to me and my individual needs.

Try it out for yourself at Hotels.com!