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Development of the “All Children Can Read” website began in 2006 as part of the work of the NCDB’s (National Consortium on Deaf-Blindness) Literacy Practice Partnership. This group envisioned the creation of a central location to provide information and resources to individual state deaf-blind projects, teachers, family members and related service providers interested in beginning or enhancing literacy instruction for children who have combined vision and hearing loss and children with other complex learning challenges. Following literature reviews of literacy learning for all children, children who are blind or visually impaired, children who are deaf or hearing impaired, children with multiple disabilities and children with deaf-blindness, a set of literacy indicators and corresponding strategies was developed to help guide instructional planning.

Lime Lighter, which produces a readable digital score for people with low vision, and Goodfeel, a music notes-to-Braille translator, are being used in music schools across the world after being tested at Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School in Manhattan.

As the Technology Coach for Educational Vision Services, the program in the NYC Department of Education that serves students in our school system with visual impairments, I have been looking for a way to provide students with low-vision access to large print using the iPad. Our students are registered with Bookshare.org but it has been a stumbling block converting the DAISY formatted books into the epub format that can be read on the iPad. While there are numerous options for our students who are auditory or Braille readers, there has been a large disconnect in taking advantage of technology for our students who require large print and alternate contrast for visual reading.

Click here to download the flyer (PDF) What: Bal-A-Vis-X is a series of more than 200 Balance/Auditory/Vision exercises, of varied complexity, most of which are deeply rooted in rhythm.  These exercises require full-body coordination and focused attention.  The program utilizes beanbags, racquetballs, balance boards, and multiple principles and activities from Educational Kinesiology for crossing midline.  It demands cooperation, promotes self-challenge and fosters self-esteem….and it is FUN! Who Should Attend: Administrators, Principals, Regular and Special Educators, School Psychologists, Teachers, Social Workers, Therapists – OT/PT/SLP, Paraprofessionals, and Parents When:  August 11-12, 2011 Day 1 & 2:  8:00 – 5:00 pm Lunch Provided – 30 minute break Location:   Ridge View Elementary School 117 Green Belt Drive Belgrade, Montana Cost:  Registration Cost - $150 17 hours of instruction Full Two-day attendance required Registration limited to 60 Participants must be over age 18 Contact for More Information:  Denielle Miller 3929 Baxter Bozeman, MT  59718 (406) 587-4970

Click here to download the full Scholarship Application (PDF) If you are profoundly vision impaired and will be attending Montana State University-Bozeman we'd like to help you. The Bozeman Chapter - Montana Association for the Blind is offering a scholarship of $500 to a vision impaired student for the academic year 2011-2012. Eligibility Meets federal definition of legally blind, i.e. <= best correction of 20/200, etc. Attending MSU-Bozeman, or graduate of MSU-Bozeman pursuing graduate program elsewhere. Demonstrates adequate progress to academic goal Demonstrates financial need Former recipients may re-apply Montana high school seniors may apply Application procedure (1) submit required application in acceptable format* (2) do not include letters of recommendation (3) post-marked, or e-mail submission date stamped, by June  20, 2011 (4) received by June  29, 2011 (5) Any received after that date will not be considered. *acceptable application format

At the CSUN International Technology and Persons with Disabilities Conference this week, Google announced that it has added a number of accessibility features to Chrome, Chrome OS, Gmail and Google Drive that should make using Google suites of web apps a bit easier to use for blind and low-vision users. In addition, Google also launched a new sign language interpreter app and keyboard shortcuts for Hangouts for the deaf and hard of hearing, as well as those who can’t or don’t want to use a mouse while using Hangouts.

The goal of the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) is to ensure that every person with combined hearing and vision loss has access to modern telecommunication tools and the training necessary to use them, granting every individual the opportunity to interact with the world as an involved, contributing member of society. The program — promoted by iCanConnect — provides outreach, assessments, telecommunications technology and training free of charge to those who meet federal eligibility guidelines. For more information about the NDBEDP, including the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) consumer guide and eligibility rules, visit www.fcc.gov/NDBEDP

The goal of the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program (NDBEDP) is to ensure that every person with combined hearing and vision loss has access to modern telecommunication tools and the training necessary to use them, granting every individual the opportunity to interact with the world as an involved, contributing member of society. The program — promoted by iCanConnect — provides outreach, assessments, telecommunications technology and training free of charge to those who meet federal eligibility guidelines. For more information about the NDBEDP, including the Federal Communications Commission's (FCC) consumer guide and eligibility rules, visit www.fcc.gov/NDBEDP.

Many talented, creative clients and colleagues have physical limitations, such as blindness or vision impairment, hearing loss or limited hand use or mobility. When you schedule a meeting, do you take potential disabilities into consideration? Accessibility considerations help people with disabilities overcome barriers they may experience in participating fully in your meeting. And, these same considerations can benefit others, especially remote attendees. For example, captioning is useful for people who must attend a meeting from a noisy environment such as an airport. The following list should help you design your meeting and include everyone.

Top Things to Know for Families with ChildrenYouTube embedded video: http://www.youtube-nocookie.com/embed/7BSJmEggpnYInsurance companies can no longer impose lifetime dollar limits on essential coverage limitsJob-based health plans and new individual plans are no longer allowed to deny or exclude coverage for your children (under age 19) based on a pre-existing condition, including a disability. Starting in 2014, these same plans won't be allowed to deny or exclude anyone or charge more for a pre-existing condition including a disability.Parents have new options to cover their children. If your children are under age 26, you can generally insure them if your policy allows for dependent coverage. The only exception is if you have an existing job-based plan, and your children can get their own job-based coverage.An Affordable Insurance Exchange is a new marketplace where individuals and small businesses can buy affordable health benefit plans. Exchanges will offer you a choice of plans that meet certain benefits and cost standards. Starting in 2014, members of Congress will be getting their health care insurance through Exchanges, and you will be able buy your insurance through Exchanges, too.Pregnancy and newborn care, along with vision and dental coverage for children, will be covered in all Exchange plans and new plans sold to individuals and small businesses, starting in 2014.In 2014, if your income is less than the equivalent of about $88,000 for a family of four today, and your job doesn’t offer affordable coverage, you may get tax credits to help pay for insurance.

For years orientation and mobility (O&M) researchers have studied the ways in which individuals with blindness and low vision get around, or navigate. Traditionally, says Dr. Lotfi Merabet, the assumption has been that blind people, especially early-blind children, have cognitive difficulties in representing spatial environments. These cognitive difficulties were presumed to result in impaired navigation skills. However, he notes, new research – involving the use of consumer-oriented audio technology, including gaming – is setting tradition on its ear.

Kira is one of two visually impaired high school students who are testing a new Android app, one designed to assist students like her in mastering algebra, geometry, graphing and other subjects that are particularly hard to comprehend without the aid of normal vision.

Braille Institute is proud to introduce ViA (Visually Impaired Apps), a fully accessible app for iPod Touch, iPhone, and iPad.  ViA has been designed to help identify apps that are useful for adults and children who are blind or have low vision, including those with additional disabilities.  Users can easily sort through the 500,000+ apps in the App Store and locate those that were built specifically for, or provide functionality to, the user with a visual impairment.

The nation's premier special-needs theme park, Morgan's Wonderland opened four years ago based on the vision of philanthropist Gordon Hartman. "I was at a hotel pool with my daughter, Morgan, who was 11 or 12 at the time, when she kept looking over at two other kids in the pool who were tossing around a ball," he recalls. "I knew she wanted to play with them, but because she has special needs she didn't have the communication skills to ask, so she hit the ball. They grabbed it from her and got out of the water." That's the moment the retired homebuilder decided that he wanted to create a place where kids with special needs and those without could have fun together. He traveled around the country, seeking input from pediatricians, families, therapists, and engineers. The result: a 25-acre oasis on the city's northeast side, where every ride and attraction -- from the carousel to the train to the off-road adventure -- can accommodate all children and adults.

Smugglers' Notch Jeffersonville, Vermont Although it's known for its skiing, this resort area offers amazing summertime adaptive programs for kids ages 3 and up. Depending on the need, children may be given a trained camp counselor and can be incorporated into the kids' program to swim, hike, climb the rock wall, and do arts and crafts, or be part of a special-needs group. If they're 6 or older, they can take part in an Autism Mountain Camp that includes horseback riding and sailing. Private swim lessons, which focus on fulfilling a child's sensory needs, are also available.

Morgan's Wonderland San Antonio, Texas

A parent must request, in writing, that their child be assessed by their school district. Assessment areas include social/emotional, academic, occupational, recreational and physical therapy, speech and language, physical education, vision, and hearing. Assessments are determined by the unique needs of each child. The district must provide an assessment plan within 15 days of this request. The district has 60 days from receipt of the signed assessment plan to conduct the assessments and hold a meeting. After the district has completed its assessments, and if a child qualifies, an Individual Education Plan is developed at a meeting with the district assessors and parents. The types of areas discussed at an IEP meeting include results from the assessments, eligibility, goals, related services and placement.