VOLUME 15 NUMBER 2
WISCONSIN COUNCIL OF THE BLIND & VISUALLY IMPAIRED, INC.
Incorporated under laws of Wisconsin in November 1952, the Council is directed by 19 volunteer delegates: ten are appointed by four organizations representing people who are blind; nine delegates at large elected by blind people throughout the state.
The Council is a strong voice for blind citizens of Wisconsin. Its mission is to promote the dignity and independence of people in Wisconsin who are blind and visually impaired by providing services, advocating legislation and educating the general public. The Council is funded through proceeds of endowments established through bequest grants, private gifts from individuals and corporations, and the White Cane Fund campaign. No government funding is received.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COMPUTER LAB OPEN FOR BUSINESS
COUNCIL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
CONTINUES AT STATE FAIR
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BLIND STUDENTS
CAPACITY CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
THE COUNCIL WELCOMES BETSY GRUBA
ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY SPECIALIST
INTRODUCING JERRY MEYSEMBOURG:
DIRECTOR OF BLIND SERVICES
THE MIDWEST ASSOCIATION: SERVING THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE BLIND
TECHNOLOGY - THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON
FROM THE PRESIDENT
By: Virginia DeBlaey
Friday, April 12, was a day of pride and celebration for the WCB and many of our friends. In the afternoon, a ceremony to dedicate our new technology center was held. The event had excellent media coverage. Program highlights included remarks by Madison's Mayor, Sue Baumann, Dane County Executive, Kathleen Falk, and the President of the Madison Community Foundation, Kathleen Voit. A $100,000 grant from the Madison Community Foundation is a major source of funding for this program. Be sure to read the article introducing Betsy Gruba who has recently been hired as the program instructor.
On the evening of the same day, a reception and dinner were held at the Edgewater Hotel to celebrate our 50th anniversary. The festivities were punctuated with music, memories, and the kickoff of the public phase of our $3 million Capacity Campaign. The evening's profit of more than the $15,000 is a worthy beginning toward meeting this goal.
As part of this year's budget, Council members approved funding to hire a summer intern. This position is designed for a blind or visually impaired high school student who lives in the Madison area. For more information, contact Dick Pomo at the Council office.
It's almost that time again--when eight delegates-at-large are elected to serve a three-year term on the Council. At the end of August, or early in September, the eleven Council delegates who are elected by organizations affiliated with the Council will meet to choose a slate of sixteen nominees for Council positions. If you are interested in running, contact me or any other Council member so that your name may be considered. If you would like to submit a one-page letter including the reasons why you would like to serve, send it to Dick Pomo by August 15. Serving on the Council is an enriching and rewarding experience and is also a lot of fun. I hope many of you will take advantage of this opportunity.
LIBRARY SERVICE ALERT!!
During the remaining months of 2002, major changes will be taking place at the Wisconsin Regional Library for the Blind & Physically Handicapped which will impact library service.
During or just after the week of May 28-31, the library’s circulation system will be shut down to transfer all data to our new computer system. While this is going on, books cannot be checked out. We urge all of our patrons to order sufficient reading materials now to cover this gap. Then, during the month of June, the new system will be in test mode, so we ask your patience with any service delays.
Beginning July 1, 2002, the Milwaukee Public Library (which houses the Wisconsin Regional Library) will be remodeling the entrance on Wells Street. All visitors to the Wisconsin Regional Library will need to enter on 8th Street, proceeding along the corridor past the elevator to the double wooden doors on the right. Visitors will turn right through those doors, and walk under the building to reach the Regional Library. A telephone will be located next to the elevator for visitors needing help. For those visitors who need to be picked up afterwards, a bench will be placed inside the 8th Street entrance. Construction should be completed December 31, 2002, when a new accessible entrance and elevator will be unveiled.
For those of you using the Newsline for the Blind, a new phone number has been set up. The new phone number to hear the Chicago Tribune, New York Times, and Washington Post is 800-242-8822.
COUNCIL MEETS
By: Kathy Brockman
On Saturday, April 13, 2002, the meeting was held at the Council Office in Madison. President Virginia DeBlaey welcomed Paul Schroeder as the newly elected delegate from the Badger Association. She thanked everyone for their support following her surgery in February.
In his fund raising report, Gary Goyke stated bequests are ahead of last year, and another large one will be received for the Preiss Scholarship Fund in the near future. It was suggested that several funds should be combined to eliminate high trust fees. Separate records will be maintained for accounting purposes.
In his Executive Director’s report, Dick Pomo advised estimates for carpet installation were received. This will help to reduce noise and improve safety. After the carpet is installed, a decision will be made whether the handrail extension is still needed.
A request was received from the Badger Association to have Marshall Flax provide low vision consultation on a limited basis. Their consultant, Kate Bronson resigned. It was decided to provide these services.
Rhonda Staats, chair, gave copies of her report summarizing the Legislative Committee’s activities since the last meeting. The legislative session ended March 14, and our initiatives will have to be reintroduced next year. The Pedestrian Safety Initiative is not affected by the end of the session, as it does not require action by the Legislature to go into effect. A position paper will be ready for Legislative Day. A number of issues will be covered in other articles.
Jerry Miller accepted a position on the Loans Committee. He has an accounting background which is helpful in providing financial advice.
Bob Hueller, chair of the Fund Development/Public Relations Committee, made a motion to approve the annual White Cane Drive. The committee met briefly earlier in the day to revise the wording of the letter being used for the large mailing being sent around May 15.
Dot Coakley, chair of the Scholarship Committee, stated information is being sent to high school seniors about the Council’s scholarship program. Several other committee chairpersons gave short reports.
Gary Goyke advised the Capital Campaign Committee has been meeting by conference call once a month. He reviewed several presentations to foundations and individuals that will be made in the near future. Several training sessions are planned for volunteers working on the campaign. Funding for the new computer system was obtained from the campaign.
A power point presentation has been developed which can be changed as needed when speeches are given.
Discussion followed on the definitions for two of the Capacity Campaign program shares. Clarification was made so they can be explained to donors and written in campaign materials. The Capital Campaign Committee will be discussing smaller events for the next two years that are intended to reach out to donors interested in helping the Council.
Our next meeting is on Saturday, July 20, in Madison and will be followed by the Milwaukee meeting and awards banquet on Saturday, November 9 and 10. Come and join us if you can; guests are welcome to attend.
ASSISTIVE DEVICES STORE HOURS
By: Sue Barker
Last fall the Assistive Devices “Store” tried something new; it was opened one Saturday morning during October, November and December. Not many people knew about these hours and were disappointed when they learned what they had missed.
This fall we will try again. Our “store” will be opened the first Saturday of October, November and December from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm for your convenience. Please call the Council office to make sure someone is here on the Saturday you plan to stop in.
A new item is the CAN-DO 4 track play/2 track record, hand held tape recorder with sleep switch.
Many of you have purchased full-spectrum (OTT) lamps and have found them very helpful. We are happy to report that the price has gone down for both the table and floor models.
COMPUTER LAB OPEN FOR BUSINESS
By: Dick Pomo
As many of you know, the Wisconsin Council of the Blind has been planning to offer computer training to individuals who are legally blind. We recognize how important the computer has become for so many of us, and want to provide the opportunity to learn about adaptive software and hardware that can increase one’s independence. Reading or sending E-mail, browsing a newspaper, or simply surfing the web, will soon be possible for many more individuals who are blind or visually impaired. We are pleased to cooperate with the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired, and North Central Technical College Visually Impaired Program in providing such services.
Through a grant from the Madison Community Foundation, we were able to hire an Assistive Technology Specialist. Since May 1st, Betsy Binney Gruba has been scheduling classes for individuals who are new to computer use and for those who wish to advance their knowledge and skills. This grant places the emphasis on those 55 and over living in Dane County; we plan to serve others as well.
While the grant enabled us to finally hire a staff person, we must acknowledge two other individuals’ generous bequests which helped purchase equipment for our computer lab. Lloyd P. Foote and J. Oswald Deller will be remembered fondly for their generosity in making our program possible.
The lab itself is modest, but designed to meet a variety of needs. The Council recognizes that no screen reader or print enlargement program meets the needs of all people. We have the capacity to teach the use of scanning programs through a computer or a stand alone scanner. This is a very important option for anyone needing to scan large volumes of printed materials.
Our technology training also includes teaching technology that enables braille users to increase their access to information. One of our major objectives is to provide individuals with information about a variety of adaptive software or hardware that will assist them in making informed decisions in the purchase of computers or related programs.
Whenever you are in Madison, visit our Technology Center and meet Betsy.
COUNCIL ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION CONTINUES
AT STATE FAIR
By: Rebecca Williams
You can probably guess why there will be gold decorations throughout our booth this year at the State Fair, August 1-11, 2002. It’s the Wisconsin Council’s Fiftieth Anniversary, and we’re still celebrating! As usual, many volunteers will be needed to staff our booth and provide accurate information about the Council’s programs and services. We will have a special affiliate display, showcasing many of our represented organizations. We have also purchased an ad in the State Fair Program Book each visitor receives when he or she enters the fairgrounds. “We have a potential of reaching 475,000 people this way,” said Gary Goyke, the Council Fund Development/Public Relations Director.
Bob Hueller, PR/Fund-Development Committee Chairperson, said the booth would be set up in about the same way it has been for the last few years. “We’ll have the usual exhibits like the vision simulator goggles and we’ll be providing people with braille alphabet cards and writing their names in braille,” he explained.
I asked Bob why he felt having a booth at the Fair was important for the Council. “Where else can you have 475,000 people coming to you?” he responded. “It’s a good chance to answer hundreds of questions about blindness and talk about the Council.”
If you are interested in volunteering in our State Fair booth, call the Council Office. Remember, you must feel comfortable talking about the Council’s programs and services, and you should be willing to give at least four hours of your time in the booth. It’s a golden anniversary for us, so help us celebrate and educate at the same time
SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BLIND STUDENTS
By: Sue Barker
Each year the Wisconsin Council of the Blind offers scholarships to blind and visually impaired students in secondary education. This year the Council will offer seven $1,000 scholarships to state residents attending a technical school or college.
Applicants may be students who have just graduated from high school or are returning students at any age. You must have a 2.5 grade point average (GPA) and copies of all high school and college transcripts. Applications must be returned to the Council by October 1st; recipients will be notified by November 1st and will be invited to our Awards Banquet on November 10th in Milwaukee.
If you are interested in an application, contact Sue at the Council office.
CAPACITY CAMPAIGN VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
By: Gary R. Goyke, Development Director
The past few months have been an exciting time for the Council. Not only did we celebrate our 50th Anniversary and dedicate our new technology center, we kicked off the three year public phase of our Capacity Campaign.
We need your help to make the Capacity Campaign a success. There are many ways to be of service. Please take a few moments to consider how you can participate in this important effort. Some ideas are listed below. Please look at this list and call me at the Council office to indicate your interest.
_____ I am willing to speak to a group on behalf of the Council
_____ I am willing to ask organizations such as Lions and Rotary
clubs for a gifts to the Capacity Campaign
_____ I am willing to ask individuals for a gift to the Capacity Campaign
_____ I will organize a mailing in my city or town
_____ I will allow the Council to use my name in its fundraising efforts
Name: __________________________________________________
Address: _________________________ City/Zip:________________
Phone: __________________________ Email: __________________
Your support and help will greatly appreciated!
THE COUNCIL WELCOMES BETSY GRUBA, ASSISITVE
TECHNOLGY SPECIALIST
By: Karen Heesen
In mid April the Council opened its Technology Training Center. This has been a long awaited dream, of which the Council is sure to be very proud.
Ms. Betsy Gruba has been hired to head this area. She will be providing computer training to adults who are blind or visually impaired.
These classes will be geared toward the needs of the individual, to ensure that the consumer does, indeed, receive training which is both relevant and appropriate.
Betsy was born in Oconomowoc, Wisconsin. She is married and has two grown stepchildren. She and her husband presently reside in Hartland.
After graduating from Marquette University in 1992, with bachelor degrees in Business Administration and Finance, Betsy found herself losing vision as a result of Diabetic Retinopathy.
For the past seven years Betsy has had her own computer consulting business. In this role she has helped many different business owners and organizations with their assistive technology needs. Being a visually impaired computer user herself, she is aware of many of the problems confronting those who need adaptive technology; she is dedicated to finding solutions to their problems.
Two of Betsy's favorite hobbies are candle making and gardening. The Council is pleased to have her on the staff. Who knows? With these two added interests, she may prove helpful to some of us in more than just adaptive technology.
APPRECIATION LETTER
Editor’s note: The following letter was received from Carol McCarl, Executive Director of BLINDSKILLS, Inc. and is printed at her request.
To the members and friends of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind:
The high point of the year for me for 2002 thus far was the Gala Celebration of the 50th birthday of the Wisconsin Council of the Blind, which I attended on April 12, 2002. It was a joyous occasion to renew acquaintances with classmates from the fifties and to hear the quality music which accompanied the entire evening.
From beginning to end, the words from Virginia, Dick and Gary exemplified the cohesiveness of this unique organization. The teamwork of members and staff of the WCB has been evident over the years, but it was especially moving for me to witness it in the festive format of this birthday party.
Now I would like to remind you that Blindskills, Inc., is an extended arm of the WCB. By your generosity over the years, you have helped us reach out to visually impaired people all over the U.S. and the world. Let us serve you, too. You already know that we publish the quarterly, “Dialogue” in four formats, but did you know this: On our website you will find many resources at your fingertips. In our archives and current files at BLINDSKILLS, Inc., we have articles on a variety of topics that relate to adjustment to vision loss, employment and many how-to topics. We are experienced with grappling with hard-to-answer situations relating to vision loss. If we can help you, give us a call at 1-800-860-4224.
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak to you on April 12th. It was a grand occasion. I look forward to partnering with you in the future in serving the hundreds of visually impaired people who call us for help.
Sincerely, Carol M. McCarl, Executive Director, BLINDSKILLS, Inc.
INTRODUCING JERRY MEYSEMBOURG: DIRECTOR OF
BLIND SERVICES, PLANS FOR THE FUTURE AT DVR
By: Rhonda Staats
Jerry Meysembourg came to his position as Director of Services for the Blind, at the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation (DVR) in January 2002. His office is located in the Dane County Job Center, 1819 Aberg Avenue, Madison, WI 53704. Mr. Meysembourg has enjoyed a long association with the blind community, dating from his graduation from Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped (WSVH) in 1964.
The role of DVR is to provide a variety of services to people with disabilities to enable them to achieve their employment goals. Mr. Meysembourg is involved with many of these service areas as they relate to blind consumers. As Director of Blind Services, his overall goal is to determine gaps in DVR services to people who are blind or visually impaired, and to identify appropriate service providers to address these unmet needs. Mr. Meysembourg plans to work closely with external agencies to provide services not offered by DVR, such as independent living and orientation and mobility, to enable consumers to achieve independence in work, home, and travel. He has direct responsibility for two areas: supervision of the Business Enterprise Program (BEP), and supervision of six Specialists for Blindness Counselors.
Specialists for Blindness Counselors: DVR is implementing the hiring of six regional counselors with specialization in blindness. They will be located throughout the state in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Madison, Green Bay, Eau Claire, and Superior. They will have responsibilities relating to consumers statewide. As these specialist counselors will cover a wide geographical area, it is projected that they will assist the designated counselors in local DVR offices by filling in the gaps in current DVR programs to improve service delivery to blind consumers. In addition, the specialist counselors will carry a small caseload of individuals who require specialized knowledge regarding issues surrounding blindness. These Specialists for Blindness Counselors can expect to complete training in areas that complement the role of the local designated counselors.
DVR’s primary goal for these specialist counselors is that they will demonstrate consistency in their approach and delivery of service. This philosophy will be extremely beneficial to consumers throughout the state who are blind or visually impaired.
DVR is expecting to provide training to the Specialist for Blindness Counselors in the activities significant to the placement of workers who are visually impaired. It is projected that they will provide networking and outreach opportunities to educate employers about the capabilities of blind workers, raising awareness and reassuring employers that the needed accommodations may not be as significant as they imagine. These six counselors will provide outreach assistance to Wisconsin Job Centers, raising awareness about what it is like to be a blind person searching for employment and assisting job service personnel to acquire skills in relating to blind people. They will provide similar assistance to any external placement agencies partnering with DVR.
The Specialists for Blindness will be able to serve consumers by providing basic information regarding the relationship between the benefits system and employment, helping consumers to make informed decisions about how they can progress to self-sufficiency status.
Business Enterprise Program: The second area under Mr. Meysembourg’s direct supervision is the Business Enterprise Program. With the encouragement and support of DVR Administrator, Charlene Dwyer, the BEP is experiencing an innovative and exciting revitalization. Recruitment is proceeding to fill the vacancies in the BEP management staff. Mr. Meysembourg is working with the Elected Committee of Blind Vendors of Wisconsin and external partners to develop a strategic plan to bring improvements to the program.
Mr. Meysembourg’s tenure as Director of Blind Services at DVR promises to improve employment outcomes for a population who have traditionally experienced chronic under or unemployment. Under the direction of Jerry Meysembourg, we look forward to improved services for consumers who are blind or visually impaired.
THE MIDWEST ASSOCIATION: SERVING THE BEST
INTERESTS OF THE BLIND
By: Rebecca Williams
Before support groups became popular, Wisconsin already had one in a way—an organization made up of people who were blind and visually impaired, their friends and relatives—and it still exists today. It’s called the Midwest Association for the Blind, and it provides an atmosphere in which positive ideas can be shared and sometimes put into affect effect. Besides all that, it’s a social organization where everyone has a good time.
The Midwest Association began its work in Appleton, but its meetings are held five times a year, usually on Saturdays, in a wide variety of locations around the state, reaching out to as many communities as possible. Those who were there for its beginnings remember the fun of riding the train to a Midwest meeting, followed by a dinner and dance. The band was made up of Midwest’s own members, so the price was just right. “They played music you could really dance to,” Janis Atkins remembered, “and they sounded pretty good.”
The Midwest Association was such a strong advocacy group that it became one of the founding organizations to send delegates to the Wisconsin Council of the Blind. These delegates keep Association members updated on Council activities. People who belong to the Midwest Association believe in the capabilities and potential of those who are blind or visually impaired. That’s why Midwest supported the effort to keep the Wisconsin Workshop for the Blind (now WISCRAFT) and the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped from closing.
Besides all these serious goals, Midwest Association members believe in having fun. “I like to go to the meetings,” one member said, “because it’s nice to be able to relax and be with blind people once in a while. No one’s watching to see if you make an awkward move or if you can actually find where you’re going to. There’s an acceptance at Midwest meetings that’s really refreshing.”
If this is such a terrific organization, why has its membership fallen in recent years? President Nona Graves thinks it has a lot to do with the fact that so many young blind students are mainstreamed into the public school system and don’t hear about the benefits Midwest offers. “They just don’t see many blind adults,” she commented. It may take time for some young people to find out that the Midwest Association for the Blind is there for them, but once they come to a meeting, they seem to want to come back. Scott Hegle, who graduated from a public school and who is blind, said, “There’s a special bond that seems to exist between two people who are blind. They understand each other in a way that’s impossible for someone who isn’t blind, and it’s just fun to see how everyone’s doing.” People dealing with recent vision loss or blindness find the Association to be particularly helpful. Many of them rarely miss a meeting.
The June 15th Midwest meeting was held in Janesville. It was followed by an auction. In August, Midwest will meet in Manitowoc on the 17th. On October 19th it will meet in Green Bay. Many people say their favorite meeting is the Christmas gathering in Appleton, where it all began. This year’s meeting, on December 21st, will feature election results, a Christmas auction with baked goods and food items of all kinds, and the most delicious turkey dinner in Wisconsin!
In the months ahead, the Midwest Association’s Board of Directors will be exploring ways to increase membership in the Association. If you have any ideas or are interested in becoming part of this organization, call President Nona Graves at (414) 476-0409. Don’t miss this opportunity to become part of an energetic, dedicated group of people committed to Midwest and to cooperating with, as its collect says, “every agency or organization which has at heart the best interests of the blind.”
STAY TUNED
By: Chris Zenchenko
Many people may be wondering just where all those radio programs I talk about are coming from? Just where are the cassettes, CDs, and internet audio obtained? To answer these questions, I will also be telling you a bit about just where I fit in.
First, for the sake of making things simple, let's look at two types of hobbyists. Most of us get started as collectors. We tape shows off the radio and buy from catalogs or download from the internet. We look for favorite shows and acquire as many as possible. From there, a few move on to adding or improving the quality of the available programs.
We will call this second group archivists. They remain collectors, but they usually have crossed the line from building collections for themselves to building collections for the future. Collecting and preserving audio has special problems. Understanding these problems, and reducing how they affect the future of the material becomes as important as collecting.
So where do the shows come from? Simply put, programs come from tape, wire, and disk. These sources are the ones originally used to provide the programs to listening audiences of the past. The oldest and most difficult of these is the disk. The disks come in many forms. They are big records! The standard vinyl album was just 12 inches, the 78 was a 10 inch and the classic 45 record was 7 inches. Transcription disks range from 7 to as much as 20 inches. The standard was the 16 inch disk. Transcription disks could be mass-produced, or a single copy made on a disk recorded at a local radio station. The mass-produced disks were syndicated programs sold and mailed out to stations all over the country. They were usually recorded at 33-1/3 speed. This was true as far back as 1934 or earlier.
The homemade, or cut, transcriptions are the most interesting because there might be only one copy. These disks were cut on a layer of thin plastic that was attached to a metal or glass surface. The speed is usually 33-1/3, but could also be 78 rpm.
The most difficult disks are glass based. These are mostly from the war years between 1941 and 1946, because metal was needed for the war effort. The glass is extremely fragile and the plastic coating with the audio is thinner than normal. After 55 to 60 years, these disks may be played only once before they break into thousands of small pieces. It takes special turntables, tone arms, cartridges, needles and lots of patience and careful work to recover and save the audio on any disk, but especially the audio from the glass transcriptions.
Magnetic coated wire was also used by some stations for a few years to record and then rebroadcast radio programs. These were usually network programs that the station wanted to play at a different time.
Finally there was tape. Not cassette, but open reel. These reels of tape were used by stations and collectors and archivists since the mid 1940s. The networks used tape for some programs in the 1950s, but many stations and services used disks right up into the 1980s. Tape plays an important role in the hobby because many people copied the fragile disks and wire onto tape when they realized the disks would never survive.
Today we use digital storage instead of tape. This is because tape had problems as a long-term storage system. Using digital storage will enable us to duplicate thousands of times, and if it is computer controlled, the copies are a bit-for-bit duplicate of the original source. What I and a few others are doing is trying to digitally capture the best copies we can find from tape, wire, and disks. These digital copies are stored without changing anything from the captured audio. The work of cleaning and improving the audio with specialized equipment is for the folks who distribute and sell the programs.
Computers and digital storage have caused major improvements in the quality of programs available. Computers and the internet have also mounted their own special threats to audio quality. The only good thing that can be said is that if there is a good digital copy, the damage can be undone. To understand what the internet is doing to the audio, you need to realize that to make the programs small enough to send over the 'net you need to compress the audio. This compression is a one-way process. The digital data taken away during the compression process is gone forever. This is, in many ways, like making 25 generations of tape. With each generation something was lost. With compression of audio it is all lost at once. What we are hoping is that no one ever compresses a show from a good source without first making and storing an uncompressed copy.
That is in fact what my work is all about. I am storing high quality programs in an uncompressed format. I hope that these will be available for cleaning and compressing into forms that people can listen to for many years to come.
Next time, a bit about some "summer replacement programs". Stay tuned.
DOG GUIDE AWARENESS DAY
By: Becky Williams
Dog Guide Awareness Day will be held Sunday, August 4th, from 2 to 6 PM, at the Badger Association of the Blind and Visually Impaired. The address is Buck Hall, 912 North Hawley Road, Milwaukee, WI 53213.
Our Dog Guide Awareness Day Committee has planned an educational, supportive and entertaining afternoon for all dog guide teams and those interested in obtaining a dog guide. Refreshments will be served.
Please RSVP with Committee Chairperson Georgie Heisel at 414-464-9408 by Monday, July 22.
SUPPORT GROUP NEWS
By: Sue Barker
The Visually Impaired Outreach Program (VIOP) of St. Croix County meets in Hudson at the Senior Center. This group holds meetings the 2nd Thursday of each month at noon, followed by the 12:30 to 2:00 pm meeting.
Approximately 10 people belong to this group which has occasional guest speakers. Transportation is provided if needed.
If this group is in your area, contact Tracy Davis at 715-381-4360 to get more information.
In Milwaukee County, the Hales Corners Support Group has been in existence for about one year. This group of 12 members meets the 3rd Monday of the month at 3:00 pm. Residents of Forest Ridge Community Senior Residence and the public are all invited to join.
A presentation of closed circuit TVs was especially informative at a recent meeting, along with round table discussions of daily coping skills for vision loss.
Sue Olson is the contact person for this group at 414-425-1148.
In Grant County, the Platteville VIP Group has a new contact person, Sherry Paulus. She can be reached at 608-348-8817.
This group of 10 people meets the 1st Tuesday of the month at 10:00 am. They have speakers when possible and in May, David Ballmann from the Council was well received.
One member of this group with RP recently had surgery that was recorded for the Discovery Channel and by NBC. A very interesting discussion was held about these events.
The Lancaster VIP Group is currently looking for a facilitator and may attend Platteville meetings. Nancy Nalepinski was contact person for both these groups but has recently retired from these positions.
TECHNOLOGY - THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON
By: Chris Zenchenko
Last time I talked about operating systems and how they relate to your computer and you. This time I am going to take a look at computers in a slightly different form.
Traditionally when you think 'computer', you think of a box sitting on your desk connected to a keyboard and a monitor. This big box is of course just one form of a computer. It is the one most people deal with every day, but it is far from the only 'computer' out there. For the standard things the average person does with a computer there are other options. Since we have talked about the standard desktop, it is now time to look at a few other choices.
Laptops, notebooks, palmtops or handhelds, and notetakers are just some of the portable computing devices out there. Understanding what these devices can and can't do will help you choose something you can actually use. Let's deal with the easy ones first.
Laptop vs. notebook is mostly a matter of size and weight. These computers run the same operating systems as the big boys and that usually means Windows in some form. Notebooks might not have all of their attachments permanently installed. You might, for example, have a special stand on your desk that has a CD reader and the connections for printer and monitor. When you pick up the notebook and walk out the door, you have a unit with the hard disk, keyboard, and a screen only. The rest is left behind to keep it light and to extend the battery life.
The laptop, on the other hand, probably has the CD-ROM drive and all the extras installed and available. What you get is a package with the power of your desktop, but it's heavy and power hungry. Ok, notebooks are usually less than four pounds and may not have CD-ROM and floppy disk drive when away from your desk. Laptop--all you need and between four and twelve pounds.
So what are these palm devices? These are small computers with small screens and operating systems that are not standard. They can do the basics such as e-mail and word processing. They are usually designed to allow transfer of your mail and data to a desktop or full blown computer. One problem here. These computers do not have screen reading software because they do not run some flavor of Windows for their operating system. Because the operating system they do run is usually customized for a specific brand and model, it is not likely we will ever see a reading package.
The answer to this problem came along more than 15 years ago in the form of the notetaker. The first really well known device of this type was the Braille 'n' Speak. Since then several others have come along including the line of notetakers from Artic, and recently Humanware. This last company has put a twist on the device that I will get to in just a moment.
When notetakers came out, they were built and targeted for low vision or blind users. They used a Braille key entry system. Back then there was no such thing as Windows. There were full blown operating systems such as MS-DOS and CP/M, but these were for "real computers". The companies that built the notetakers essentially created their own operating systems for their units. They decided on a set of basic things you might want to do with your notetaker and spent the limited time and space on these functions. Your notetaker could do word processing, keep a calendar, do simple calculations, and store addresses and phone lists. These functions are basically what most people do with their computers anyway.
Then along came the internet, and e-mail. These new functions were almost impossible to add to the specialized operating systems of the notetakers. We saw improvements in products, but the operating system was the clear obstacle. Microsoft saw this in the regular market also, and their answer was a special version of Windows designed for palm devices. Our notetakers were basically palm devices, but none of ours ran this new version of Windows. Because this was true, it was difficult to transfer messages, files, and lists from notetaker to the computers most people now had on their desks.
Humanware was one of the first to introduce a real palm device for the blind that ran the WIN-CE operating system. With their line of notetakers, we now had a way to talk to Windows on our big machines and exchange data in standard formats. It sounds simple, but the change is still coming and the new abilities are just beginning to be explored. Does this mean that your old notetaker is useless? Not if you have continuing needs for what it does. The new features are mainly directed at improving the connectivity of the notetaker to the rest of the computing world.
Now for the bottom line. You have to choose your portable device with the same care and consideration you give to any major purchase.
Questions you might ask yourself include:
- What do I want to do with this device?
- How much does it weigh?
- How long can it run on batteries?
- Then the big one:* How much does it cost?
The cost is mainly controlled by how you interact with the notetaker. The Braille display is the most expensive part of the unit. If you just want voice output, the notetakers range between $1000 and $2000. Add at least $1000 more for a small Braille display, and much more for the 32- to 40-cell models.
To put this in perspective, you can get a laptop or notebook computer with as much memory, disk space, and speed as your desktop for between $1000 and $3000. These will run all of the same programs and screen reading, large print, and other special applications. It comes back to how you plan to use the device.
There is one other aspect to the notetaker vs. PC, and that is standards. If you run Microsoft Word on your notebook computer and need help or training it is no problem. Lots of folks everywhere run the same program. If you need help with the simple word processor in a notetaker only a few people have the same device, plus of course the company who built it. Your choices are limited. Does this mean you shouldn't buy one? Not at all. Just make your choices based on your own needs. Listen to what other people think, but remember it is how you will use the device. It is also how much help you think you will need and where you are likely to get it.
Our tip this time relates to connecting Braille printers to a standard computer. Most computers these days come with a parallel port that has several modes. These modes usually improve the speed and the way the port communicates with the connected printer. Braille printers are several years behind in interface design. They are also slow by nature. It takes time to Braille a page. If you are having problems with your Braille printer missing characters or skipping lines you should make sure the printer port on your computer is set to SPP or standard parallel. This is done through your system configuration, so if you are totally blind, you will need help reading the screen to check the settings.
The port configuration is usually in a section called something similar to "integrated peripherals.”
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
September 25
Macular Degeneration Seminar with UW Madison
Alliant Energy Center
October 5
Badger Association Meeting and Grand Opening
Milwaukee
October 19
Midwest Meeting
Green Bay
October 25
Access to Independence Seminar
La Crosse
November 2
Badger Association Meeting
Milwaukee
November 9
WCB Council Meeting and Awards Banquet
Milwaukee
December 6
Badger Association Meeting and Christmas Party
Milwaukee
December 20
Midwest Christmas Party and Bake Sale Auction
Appleton
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