[Ct-nfb] FW: Information about IRS, SSA, NBP, KNFB Reader and more

Sat Mar 21 13:47:17 UTC 2015

From: Andrea Giudice [mailto:dawgmawm at gmail.com] 
Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2015 5:05 PM
To: Andrea Giudice
Subject: Information about IRS, SSA, NBP, KNFB Reader and more

Hi,

Below is the most recent information I read in the Newsstand section of the
Braille Book Review.  You may have already read it, received it, or may not
care about it.  Please read, share if you feel you know someone who can
benefit and ignore the rest. *smile*  I have separated each item with
dashes.

Andrea

IRS services for people with disabilities 

Hundreds of accessible federal tax forms and publications are available 

for download from the IRS Accessibility web page, located at 

www.irs.gov/uac/IRS.gov-Accessibility. You can choose from large-print, 

text, accessible PDFs, e-braille, or HTML formats that are compatible with 

screen readers and refreshable braille displays.

People who are unable to complete their tax returns because of a physical 

disability or are age sixty or older may get assistance through the IRS 

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) or Tax Counseling for the Elderly 

(TCE) programs. You can find a nearby VITA or TCE location by calling 

1-800-906-9887. Publication 907, Tax Highlights for Persons with 

Disabilities, explains the tax implications of certain disability benefits 

and other issues and is available at www.irs.gov.

-------

SSA launches initiative to address accessibility issues

The Social Security Administration (SSA) recently created a new 

Center for Section 504 Compliance, which will guide the SSA in improving 

its service to individuals with disabilities. Individuals who wish 

assistance accessing SSA programs or have suggestions for accessibility 

improvements can contact the center at 1-844-881-9061 Monday-Friday, 

8:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. Eastern Time. For more information visit 

www.socialsecurity.gov/accessibility/504_overview.html.

EyeNote App helps users identify U.S. currency

As an alternative or supplement to the free iBill Talking Note Identifier, 

a physical currency reader available from the Bureau of Engraving and 

Printing, individuals who are blind may also download the free EyeNote 

app for iOS. The app, developed by the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, 

uses vibrations, speech, and audible tones to identify the denomination 

of currency. For more information visit www.eyenote.gov or e-mail 

eyenote at bep.gov. Individuals interested in obtaining an iBill Talking 

Note Identifier should call their local braille and talking-book library 

or 1-888-NLS-READ (1-888-657-7323).

------

BANA statement regarding Nemeth Braille Code

The Braille Authority of North America (BANA), which is working toward the 

implementation of Unified English Braille (UEB) by January 4, 2016, 

released a statement on November 9, 2014, reiterating that Nemeth Braille 

Code will continue to be used for representing mathematics. According to 

BANA, "As of the implementation date in 2016, UEB, Nemeth, Music, and the 

International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) will be the official codes for use 

in the United States. BANA is providing guidance on how to incorporate the 

Nemeth Code into UEB context with the intent that the Nemeth Code will 

continue to be integral to braille in the United States." The document 

Provisional Guidance for Transcription Using the Nemeth Code within UEB 

Contexts is available for download in both PDF and BRF formats on the BANA 

website at www.brailleauthority.org/ueb.html.

CVS Pharmacy offers talking prescription labels

Customers who are blind or have visual impairments can now receive free 

talking prescription labels when they order prescriptions through 

www.CVS.com. The labels use the ScripTalk system developed by Envision 

America. To request talking labels, call CVS at 1-888-861-4363. General 

questions about the ScripTalk system should be directed to Envision 

America at 1-800-890-1180. 

iOS version of KNFB Reader released

iPhone users can now purchase a compatible version of the KNFB Reader. 

Developed by K-NFB Reading Technology, a joint venture between Kurzweil 

Technologies and the National Federation of the Blind, the app allows 

users to take pictures of printed text and have the words read aloud. 

Among other features, the KNFB Reader recognizes more than a dozen 

languages, uses audible and tactile feedback to help users ensure that 

their phone is held level and centered on the document, and reads 

inaccessible PDFs. It was previously available only on Nokia phones. The 

new version works on iPhones 5 and above, running iOS 7 and higher, and 

costs $99.99. For more information please visit www.knfbreader.com.

New National Braille Press books for iOS users

Two new books from National Braille Press help blind iOS users get the 

most out of their devices. Get the Picture: Viewing the World with the 

iPhone Camera by Judy Dixon provides tips on taking and sharing 

photographs and evaluates hundreds of camera-based apps from the 

perspective of a blind user. Reading Kindle Books on Your iOS Device: 

A Quick Reference Guide by Janet Ingber advises blind users on reading 

e-books. Both are available in hard-copy braille, BRF, Word, and DAISY 

formats. For more information visit www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/GETPIC.html or 

www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/KINDLE.html or call 1-800-548-7323.

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