<html><head><meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"></head><body dir="auto"><div dir="ltr">1-17-2025 Braille And Tech Report</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Hello, Everyone,</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">First off, the braille and tech commitee wishes every one a happy mew 5, and we hope you enjoyed the holidays! While it's only January, we have a lot to cover this month.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">1. If anyone needs to contact me with questions, concerns, etc, you can either reach out to me, or, reach out to Nada or Kathy, or Pat, and they can put you in touch with me, or give you my information. I'll do my best to help with whatever I can, however I can. If I'm not sure of the answer, I'll either try and find it, or, point you in the diffection of resources that will be helpful for you.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">2. We have 3 pieces of OLBPD./NLS. news:</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">First, due to a tight production schedule, and not having the funds, there will be no Nov./Dec. issue of Talking Book Topics. The Jan./Ieb. issue is in production, and, the web version should be available right now. All other formats should be available on Feb. 2nd.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Second, IMLS. grants have been reinstated, including the funding for NLS.! Barring no appeals, etc, regarding the permanent injunction blocking the clossure of the IMLS. it should stay that way.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Third, I know there's talk, woffry etc were another shutdown on Feb. 1st. However, I do have some news that should bring every one some relief. While most agencies are innly i-arded through Jan. 30th, the legislative branch, which the NLS. and Library Of Congress are under, are fully funded through the full foweral fiscal year!</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">All of this can be found in the 2026 Winter issue of the OLBPD. dimensions newsletter. You all will be receiving an email regarding this newsletter in your inboxes at 1 PM. if you are on Akron inr Ohio Talk. Nada, Kathy, and Pat also have this email. You can read the newsletter in MP3 audio, BRF. format, which requires refreshable braille display, or, you can download it in large print as a DOCX. file. If you wish to get signed up for the newsletter, you can send an email to:</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">olbpd@cpl.org</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">with your name, and your email address. You can call them at:</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">1800 362 1262</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">3. Apple user guides for its sroducts available in BRF. format! if you'd like to get copy of one for your product, you can go to Apple's Accessibility Support page at:</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Accessibility Support - Official Apple Support</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Then, navigate by heading until you hear the heading "Braille user guides"F there, you can see the download them to read.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">4. TTJ. Tech Services will be offering some free courses. They are offering Isad For All Computing which starts Feb. 19th, the !uns through May. I have sent you all an email that talks about this class, gives the registration link, and any other things you will need to know.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">I will say that if you want to take this course, you must have at least a basic knowledge of VoiceOver. The class will be Mondays and Wednesdays from 2-4 PM. along with some Tuesday sessions. All classes are recinrded, and posted to their YouTube. An email will be sent out today at 1 PM.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">There will be a technology showdown Wed. Jan. 28th, at 8 PM. on Zoom. This will be a debate-style debate class.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">They will also have mini-courses on the Apple TV. which will be on Mondays and To, the Apple Watch, and, smart homes.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">TV. 21st centry is starting next week, Jan. 19-28, from 2-3:30 PM.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">On Feb. 2nd and Feb. 4th, that 2 PM. they will be having a mini-c.rse on HomePods and smart homes.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">They will be having an Apple Watch café Feb. 9th Feb. 11th from 2:30-3:30 PM.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">There is no registration required to attend the Apple Watch Café, HomePods the smart homes, the TV. for the 21st century mini-course, and the technology showdown.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">After that, from Feb. 16th, to May 27th, they will be hosting their Ipad for all computing course.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">This course is free, but, registra is required.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">All of the things that I mentioned above, are free, and hostow on Zoom. All sessions will be recorded and posted to their youTube channel. You will receive emails about Ipad for all computing course, which will have every thing you need to know, including the link for registration. You can also find their class schedule, and the Zoom links for the Apple Watch café, TV. for the 21st century mini-course, and, the HomePods and smart homes mini-course, on their website:</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">www.ttjtech.biz</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Once you go there, click on the free resources link, and, find the link that says class schedule, and click on it.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">Here is a direct link if prefer:</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">https://ttjtech.biz/class-dates</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr">There will also be a More With The Mac training hosted by SturItUp. Starting in Feb. videos will be uploaded to their YouTube channel. This way, you can listen to them at your own pace. You will receive an email about this as well.</div><div id="AppleMailSignature" dir="ltr"></div></body></html>