[Electronics-Talk] Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, November 17, 2022 - Volume 885

[Top Tech Tidbits]

Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, November 17, 2022 - Volume 885 Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday, November 17, 2022 - Volume 885 The Week's News in Adaptive Technology https://toptechtidbits.com/ A Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. Publication https://mvsltd.com/ Top Tech Tidbits. The world's #1 online resource for current news and trends in adaptive technology. Web Version: Read this volume of Top Tech Tidbits online at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/tidbits2022/11172022/. Share: Share this volume of Top Tech Tidbits on Facebook: http://bit.ly/sharetidbits885. Spam Filter: You have received this email from Mind Vault Solutions, Ltd. because you are subscribed to receive the Top Tech Tidbits email newsletter. To ensure that you continue to receive each issue of Top Tech Tidbits as it is released please be sure to add the following email address to your Address Book, Email Contact List, Trusted Sender's List, and/or Safe Sender's List today: enews at toptechtidbits.com. Subscribers: 7,121 Opt-In Subscribers were sent this issue via email. 148 Premium Subscribers were sent this issue via email. This Week's Featured Advertisement: Tech the Halls with A. T. Guys: Holiday Deals, Free Shipping, and More Available Now Our biggest sale of the year is now live, & we have the tech toys to fill those stockings. Plus, use coupon tidbits for free shipping on orders of $79 or more through November 30. The BlindShell 2 just keeps getting better. Now with support for AIRA & Be My Eyes as well as many more apps, but still simple to use with spoken menus, tactile buttons, & a loud speaker. Get a free beep item locator when you purchase a BlindShell 2 while supplies last. Save $5 on our new portable light detector, or grab our accessible power bank to charge your devices on the go. We have the Versa full-size & mini paperless slates, & new FlyBuds with a transparency mode for hearing the outside world. Check out the Shokz OpenComm headset, great when paired with your phone to take calls, Or our new 90-watt Bluetooth speaker, the Stormbox Blast. Save 10% on WayAround stickers, buttons, magnets, & clips. Visit http://atguys.com/tidbits for all of our deals, & don't forget that coupon. Free shipping for U.S. customers. Dear Rolando, 1) Top 5 Most Clicked Tidbits From Last Week A.) iOS 16.2 To Introduce 'Custom Accessibility Mode' With Streamlined Experience For iPhone And iPad (9.6% of all clicks.) This update to the iOS interface, now in beta, seeks to simplify the user experience for users: https://9to5mac.com/2022/11/08/ios-16-2-custom-accessibility-mode/ B.) JAWS Power Tip: Using Smart Glance (9.5% of all clicks.) Courtesy of Freedom Scientific: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/130.html C.) The 6 Best Speech-to-Text Apps for Note-Taking (8.7% of all clicks.) Speech-to-text apps are the best way to take notes on the go. They can also save you time. Here are some of the best ones to use: https://www.makeuseof.com/best-speech-to-text-apps/ D.) Reader Review: azzCardfile Personal Information Manager (PIM) (6.6% of all clicks.) Dear Tidbits Readers. One of the applications that I always loved during these past 15 to 20 years is the azzCardfile Personal Information Manager (PIM) database. Basically its a simple freeform database that can be used for many different things / ideas. For example I have a personal telephone directory. I also have a database file with a lot of tips and tricks that I learned during my life about computers and if you like you can use it as a picture album because it supports the insertion of pictures directly into the cards: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/131.html E.) The 27 Best Mac Apps That Will Make Your Life Easier | Wired (6.2% of all clicks.) MacOS may be the apple of your eye, but some of its stock apps are a little rotten. Take a bite of these third-party apps instead: https://www.wired.com/story/best-mac-apps/ 2) Sponsorship Package Updates There are no Top Tech Tidbits Sponsorship Packages currently available. If you would like to support Top Tech Tidbits by becoming a Sponsor in the future please add your name to our waiting list today by sending an email to our Publisher at the address below. We will add your name to the list, let you know what position you currently hold within it, and then notify you the moment a package becomes available. There are currently four future Sponsors on the waiting list: publisher at toptechtidbits.com ✉ 3) Premium Subscriber Updates Premium Subscribers are entitled to all back issues, anytime they sign up. All available back issues will be sent to you via email within 24 hours of purchasing your subscription. Premium Subscribers will receive their 3rd Volume of the 60 Most Clicked Tidbits for October, November and December 2022 on Monday, January 2nd 2023. If you would like to receive a perfectly formatted and searchable Word Document with each of the 60 Most Clicked Tidbits of the last 3 months listed neatly within it, please consider joining us today for just $1 a month: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/premium-subscribers.html 4) JAWS with Microsoft Office Power Tip: Don't Forget About the F6 Key Courtesy of Freedom Scientific: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/133.html 5) A Beginner's Guide To Mastodon, The Open Source Twitter Alternative | TechCrunch Publisher: We begin this week by riding the elephant. | As Twitter users fret over the direction that new owner Elon Musk is taking the company, masses of users have hopped over to Mastodon, an open source Twitter alternative. Since October 27, when the SpaceX and Tesla CEO formalized his Twitter takeover, Mastodon has gained nearly 500,000 new users, effectively doubling its user base. But what is Mastodon, and should we all be getting our accounts set up? https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/08/what-is-mastodon/?guccounter=1 6) Additional Links For Those Interested in Using Mastodon | David Goldfield | Tech-VI List Here are some links regarding Mastodon as it relates to disabilities and accessibility. First, Mastodon servers are very accessible. Four servers that may be of interest to some in this community are: https://groups.io/g/tech-vi/message/2953 7) Mastodon 4.0 Released | David Goldfield | Tech-VI List This is not a piece of software that most users will be downloading and installing unless they are running their own Mastodon server or, as it's often called, an instance. However, these changes should hopefully be making their way to the various Mastodon servers which are available. This new version includes 43 added features, 30 changes and 72 fixes: https://github.com/mastodon/mastodon/releases/tag/v4.0.0 8) New Training Course From Hartgen Consultancy: Masto-Done; Riding the Elephant! In the wake of the noisy takeover of Twitter, people have been looking for alternatives to the microblogging social media platform. Many of those fleeing or hedging their bets have turned to Mastodon, which has attracted hundreds of thousands of new users since Twitter's acquisition. Like Twitter, Mastodon allows users to post, follow people and organizations, and like and repost others' posts. But while Mastodon supports many of the same social networking features as Twitter, it is not a single platform: https://www.hartgen.org/mastodone 9) A n00b's Guide To Mastodon | Jeremy Littau With Twitter flailing, I spent a week trying to level up my experience on the major social network people are fleeing to. It has a learning curve, but that's why you've got me to help: https://jeremylittau.medium.com/a-n00bs-guide-to-mastodon-806d1b367f2d 10) NVDA 2022.3.2 Released https://www.nvaccess.org/post/nvda-2022-3-2/ 11) How to Find Your Twitter Friends on Mastodon | Wired If you're pondering a move to the decentralized social network, here's how to find the people you know and want to talk to: https://www.wired.com/story/how-to-find-twitter-friends-on-mastodon/ 12) Microsoft Accessibility Nonprofit Tech Accelerator Launches To Supply Technology And Funding Support To Disability Nonprofit Organizations Around The World "The Accessibility NTA is a program that supports disability-focused nonprofit organizations with access to enterprise technology and grants to best serve the disability community." If you are an organization who is interested in applying, there is an online seminar on December 6th 2022 with more information: https://blogs.microsoft.com/accessibility/microsoft-accessibility-nonprofit-tech-accelerator/ 13) About Us, The Unwritten This publication pays disabled writers for their contributions: https://www.theunwritten.co.uk/about-us/ 14) Introducing Our New Interactive Audio Game — Evidence 111 | Applevis My name is Kamila and I am writing on behalf of a Czech indie game development studio Play By Ears. I would like to inform you about the release of our fully-accessible audio game called Evidence 111, launching November 15th 2022 on iOS and Android: https://www.applevis.com/forum/ios-ipados-gaming/introducing-our-new-interactive-audio-game-evidence-111 15) This Modder Sells an Ingenious One-Handed Nintendo Switch Adapter | ReviewGeek After building one-handed adapters for the Xbox and PS5, Akaki Kuumeri now sells a similar attachment for the Nintendo Switch Joy-Cons. The 3D-printed, fully mechanical adapter allows gamers to access the full range of Joy-Con controls using just one hand: https://www.reviewgeek.com/127506/this-modder-sells-an-ingenious-one-handed-nintendo-switch-adapter/ 16) Github Is Experimenting With A New Way To Let Programmers Create Code With Their Voice Inside Copilot This system, now available in VS (Visual Studio) Code, will make it possible to control an IDE (Integrated Development Environment) with your voice. It has accessibility benefits for coders: https://www.theverge.com/2022/11/9/23449175/hey-github-voice-copilot-code-programming-system 17) GitHub's Copilot Takes the Keyboard Out of Coding It seems that Microsoft's love for accessibility is trickling down to GitHub. In a surprise announcement, GitHub says that it's testing a hands-free coding feature for its Copilot software. In time, a simple "Hey, GitHub" voice command will let you write, edit, and navigate code without a keyboard: https://www.reviewgeek.com/136042/githubs-copilot-takes-the-keyboard-out-of-coding/ 18) Hartgen Consultancy Holiday Sale | David Goldfield | Tech-VI List While I personally can't and don't endorse all of the products that get mentioned on the Tech-VI list there are some products that I don't hesitate to endorse and recommend. The products from Hartgen Consultancy definitely fall into that category. I've been a user of Leasey since 2018 and I would not want to use JAWS without Leasey installed. I've also used his scripts for Zoom as well as for Teams and they have definitely enhanced and improved the user experience. I have purchased many of his training courses and I feel that he's one of the finest trainers we have in this industry. I have not been asked to make this recommendation and I have never received any discounts for the products which I have purchased beyond the sales he has offered for all of his customers: https://www.hartgen.org/holiday2022 19) Significant Improvements for Screen Readers Now in Nightly Firefox The nightly builds of Firefox have improvements for screen reader users. If all goes well, they will be in the stable release soon: https://blog.mozilla.org/accessibility/significant-improvements-for-screen-readers-now-in-nightly-firefox/ 20) Overview Of The 6dot Braille Label Maker | Easterseals Crossroads If you're looking for an easy-to-use Braille label maker, check out the 6dot Braille Label Maker from Logan Tech. This portable Braille label maker has a built-in Braille keyboard that supports all grades of Braille in "virtually every language:" https://www.eastersealstech.com/2022/10/27/6dot-braille-label-maker/ 21) Sight Tech Global 2022 Agenda Announced | December 7th & 8th 2022 The third annual Sight Tech Global conference, a virtual, free and highly accessible event on December 7 and 8 convenes some of the world's top experts working on assistive tech, especially AI, for people who are blind or visually impaired. If you don't follow this topic, maybe you should, because a lot of cutting-edge tech over the years — think OCR and NLP — was developed at the outset with blind people in mind, and went from there to more mainstream uses. Register today: https://techcrunch.com/2022/11/11/sight-tech-global-2022-agenda-announced/ 22) New Quick Assist App Will Soon Be Integrated Into Windows Microsoft announced the retiring of the integrated Quick Assist application of the Windows operating system in May 2022. Quick Assist is a remote assistance application, which may be used to get or give assistance. It is commonly used by technicians to provide remote assistance to an organization's workforce: https://www.ghacks.net/2022/11/13/new-quick-assist-app-will-soon-be-integrated-into-windows/ 23) Microsoft Office Is Getting an Updated Look On iPhone The Microsoft Office apps have been around on iPhone, iPad, and Android for years, and every once in a while, they receive a significant update. Now another change is rolling out to the iPhone apps: https://www.howtogeek.com/848116/microsoft-office-is-getting-an-updated-look-on-iphone/ 24) Braille on Android | Devin Prater In this article, I'll overview Android's past support for Braille, and talk about how it's current support works. I'll also compare it to Apple's implementation. Then, I'll discuss how things could be better on both systems: https://write.as/devinprater/braille-on-android 25) Blind Android Users Launches New Discord Server Discord is a free communications app that lets you share voice, video, and text chat with friends and colleagues. It has hundreds of millions of users, making it one of the most popular ways to connect with people online. Join the new Blind Android Users Discord server at: https://discord.gg/GuNVWWGTxx 26) How To Have Your Android Phone's Google Assistant Read Articles Out Loud To You The tool is called "Read it," and it works within Chrome, the Google app, or the Google News app. If you have an Android phone and a web article is pulled up on your browser, you can say, "Hey Google, read it," or "Hey Google, read this page," and it will immediately read the content of the web page as if it was a podcast: https://chromeunboxed.com/how-to-android-read-it-assistant 27) Your iPhone Has 26 New Accessibility Tools You Shouldn't Ignore This is a handy rundown of the latest accessibility features on iOS devices: https://ios.gadgethacks.com/how-to/your-iphone-has-26-new-accessibility-tools-you-shouldnt-ignore-0385071/ 28) The Best Apple Watch for 2022 | PC Mag Can't decide between the Apple Watch Series 8, SE, Ultra, or an older model that's still on sale? We're here to help you figure out which Apple Watch is best for you: https://www.pcmag.com/picks/the-best-apple-watch?taid=636ed3fd61b9590001775547 29) This Bluetooth Chessboard Rekindled My Love of Chess | Wired Publisher: We currently have no information regarding the accessibility of this product but we would be more than happy to publish any that readers might wish to provide. | The Square Off Pro is an internet-connected board you can roll up to take anywhere — and to play with opponents around the world: https://www.wired.com/story/square-off-pro-chessboard-rave/ 30) Thunderbird Supernova Preview: The New Calendar Design In 2023, Thunderbird will reinvent itself with the "Supernova" release, featuring a modernized interface and brand new features like Firefox Sync. One of the major improvements you can look forward to is an overhaul to our calendar UI (user interface). Today we're excited to give you a preview of what it looks like: https://blog.thunderbird.net/2022/11/thunderbird-supernova-preview-the-new-calendar-design/ 31) Latest Accessibility Features That Make Amazon Devices Disable Friendly | Sovan Mandal | Good eReader It has been a constant endeavor at Amazon to offer devices and services that has the widest appeal and application in society. That includes reaching out to those with different forms of disabilities so that they too are able to make the most of the latest Amazon devices. With around a billion people living throughout the world with different forms of disabilities, it makes a lot of business sense as well reaching out to them with the right kind of devices and features, besides of course making things easier for them as well. I discuss here four ways Amazon has made Alexa or its devices more accessible instead of the usual voice commands, something that can be a boon for the disabled and help them be "connected, entertained, and independent:" https://goodereader.com/blog/kindle/latest-accessibility-features-that-make-amazon-devices-disable-friendly ➜ Surveys ✍ Submit your adaptive technology-related survey for consideration within this section using this form: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/submit-survey or locate "Survey Submission Form" within the main menu of the Top Tech Tidbits website. 1) Surveys | APH Closes: Ongoing Surveys help inform APH of the greatest needs in the community so they can gear their efforts toward making sure those needs are met. Ongoing APH surveys can be found here: https://www.aph.org/rd/get-involved/surveys/ 2) Survey | Programming Workspace Accessibility for Blind Individuals Closes: November 17th 2022 A research team composed of blind and sighted scholars at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign is conducting exploratory research on blind individuals' interactions with accessible programming workspaces and their approach towards comprehending and navigating code. In this context, an individual's level of visual impairment is based on The U.S. legal definition of blindness: visual acuity of not greater than 20/200 in the better eye with correction or a field not subtending an angle greater than 20 degrees. The expected value of this study is that we will get a better sense of the following topics based on blind programmers; experiences, which will in turn scientifically highlight the existing accessibility of programming workspaces and the opportunities to improve them to support blind programmers: The common accessibility issues of blind programmers. The patterns of interaction between blind programmers and the accessibility tools used to code. The level of navigability, glanceability, alertability, and discoverability the popular accessible programming workspaces have. Participants' personal information and data such as name, email, age, etc. collected from the interview will be systematically removed from the final results used to conduct analysis in order to make sure researchers will not disclose any of your personal information without your permission as well as skew the analysis. The research team would like to invite blind individuals to participate in an online interview consisting of two sections: a questionnaire regarding past coding experience and an interactive coding session. This will allow researchers to further investigate how blind programmers code and interact with technologies and tools. Participants will receive a $20 Amazon gift card upon completing the one-hour interview and coding activity. Eligible participants for the online interview are those: self-identifying themselves as an individual who is blind; age 18 or older; having any level of programming experience; having familiarity with Python, Java, C++ or C programming languages; having experience with screen readers such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, ORCA, etc. If you are interested in participating, or have a question, please contact our research team at:rshah257 at illinois.edu ✉ 3) Survey | The Byte Size Training Tech Website Feedback Survey Closes: November 18th 2022 This survey is where individuals with disabilities can provide feedback relating to the Byte Size Training Tech website and suggest improvements. Here is a link to the Byte Size Training Tech website at https://bytesizetrainingtech.com: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeJ1gqw4KFOduexJc5HY-nyGrybfODQhGLpJBP9gQ9wVL8swg/viewform?usp=sf_link 4) Survey | PDF User Survey Closes: November 30th 2022 Equidox Software Company provides PDF accessibility software and services and is conducting a survey of blind and low-vision adults who are assistive technology users. The goal is to gain information about the real experience of people who use assistive technology to access PDF documents. Tammy Albee, who created this survey, worked at the NFB national office for four years with Scott White, Director of NFB-NEWSLINE. Ms. Albee now works for Equidox and hopes to submit the results of this survey to the Journal of Blindness Innovation. The information will also be used to advocate for accessibility in government, education, and private enterprise organizations, presented at conferences, and made available on the Equidox website. The survey has 15 questions and will take about 10-15 minutes to complete. All responses and emails will be kept completely anonymous. If you have questions about this survey, please contact Tammy at equidox.co. The deadline for participation is November 30, 2022. To learn more about Equidox, please visit https://equidox.co/. You may complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/nfbaffiliate 5) Survey | Tennessee Specialized Services Survey Closes: November 30th 2022 If you are or were a vocational rehabilitation client in the state of Tennessee, please complete this survey for Blind Citizens of Tennessee. Those who have tried to get basic licensing, assistive technology, orientation and mobility, and braille skills in Tennessee know that our state is a desert of services. This survey will assist the Blind Citizens of Tennessee in their research to determine the need for a standalone training facility for the blind in Tennessee: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd3lOO_LLUTFEZtqb1mrW0LfOiO2ZQwVuw5JwJLpeTE_TZ9tg/viewform?usp=sf_link ➜ Featured Podcast Episodes ✍ Submit your adaptive technology-related Podcast Episode for consideration within this section using this form: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/submit-podcast-episode or locate "Podcast Episode Submission Form" within the main menu of the Top Tech Tidbits website. 1) Blind Abilities Podcast Episode 905: Tech Abilities - Education and Learning, Twitter Accessibility Team is Laid Off, Traveling Blind, BARD Update, and Resources for Learning and Knowledge with Blindness in Mind November 6th 2022 | A Big salute to the entire Accessibility Experience Team formally at Twitter. As part of the takeover at Twitter and all the layoffs, the entire Accessibility Experience Team at Twitter has been laid off. Accessibility Experience Team Manager, Gerard Koen, released a twitter thread acknowledging the members of the Accessibility Experience Team, the work they did and is looking forward to working on accessibility for future companies. We play a voice over rendition of his Twitter thread he posted. In this episode of Tech Abilities the team, and no, Serina has not been laid off, comes together in the Blind Abilities Studio to talk about resources for general knowledge and learning on an everyday basis along with the latest news and tech tidbits from a Blindness perspective. Here are the topics and some links from the show: Wow, Twitter, Hmm. Learning - Where do we get our knowledge? Resources: Freedom Scientific Training Events. Hadley. Perkins. APH Educational R: https://blindabilities.com/?p=7688 2) Reading After Vision Loss: Hadley Presents: A Conversation with the Experts November 11th 2022 | Whether you like to read for enjoyment or need to check your mail, reading is an essential part of your day. We're sharing tips and tricks for how to continue reading, the best low-tech and high-tech gadgets, and the benefits of learning braille: https://hadley.edu/podcasts/hadley-presents-conversation-experts/reading-after-vision-loss 3) Mosen at Large Episode 206: Mastering Mastodon, How Do You Get Started With Ham Radio, And A Fix For The Eset Issues Plaguing Screen Reader Users November 12th 2022https://mosenatlarge.pinecast.co/episode/bd3f4f1e/mastering-mastodon-how-do-you-get-started-with-ham-radio-and-a-fix-for-the-eset-issues-plaguing-screen-reader-users 4) Blind Android Users Podcast Episode 101: BAU Podcast Crew Reflects On The Discussions Held In Episode 100 November 12th 2022 | In episode 101 we first thank our YouTube subscribers for taking us over the milestone of 775 subscribers. Our channel handle is @BlindAndroidUsers. Our YouTube channel can also be found at this link: https://www.youtube.com/@BlindAndroidUsers. First, we show you how to diagnose problems and device care available on Samsung phones. Then the podcast crew reflects on topics that were discussed on our 100-episode celebration in which our listeners had joined us. Topics include: Seeing move assistant and guided frames on Pixel and Samsung cameras. Warren demos it on Pixel 7 phone. Android marriage with Windows. Watch my demo of how to link any Android device to a PC running Windows 10 or 11. The demo is available on YouTube at: https://youtu.be/9Brg2H3ND1A. All about TTS in which we went down memory lane discussing the piko TTS available back in android 2.3.6 days and how some of the TTS may not work after Android 14 rolls out as it will be 64 bit only. And the most important of all, phone speakers and audio. in which we discuss beets audio, the best sounding phone and much more. To listen to this episode, you can visit: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL5iI0uwraRqo9W1sv_ISoOUheGSRlvUDf 5) That Real Blind Tech Show, Episode 103: Twitter, The Technological Hindenburg November 12th 2022 | The entire That Real Blind Tech Show team gets together to discuss the latest goings on at Twitter, Facebook, and Amazon. We discuss the upcoming Sight Tech Global, as Brian will be this year's Host. We also discuss the good and bad from our experiences running Mac OS Ventura: https://thatrealblindtechshow.libsyn.com/episode-103-twitter-the-technological-hindenburg 6) Eyes on Success Episode 2246: Over Every Hurdle November 16th 2022 | "Over Every Hurdle" is the third book in a series whose protagonist suddenly loses her sight and adapts to life as a blind person. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with best-selling author Barbara Hinske and with Julie Rock, Manager, Adult and Transition Services at Foundation for Blind Children about how they interacted to make the series possible: http://www.eyesonsuccess.net/show_notes_2246.htm ➜ Featured Webinars and Training Courses ✍ Submit your adaptive technology-related Webinar or Training Course for consideration within this section using this form: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/submit-webinar-training-course or locate "Webinar / Training Course Submission Form" within the main menu of the Top Tech Tidbits website. 1) New features in JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion 2023 | Freedom Scientific November 17th 2022 | 9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 5PM GMT | Vispero Presenters: Elizabeth Whitaker, Cathy Johnson, and Rachel Buchanan. Summary: We will provide an overview of Fusion Suite 2023, plus discuss and demonstrate new features. Participants will learn how to: Access the What's New pages for JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion 2023. Get started using new features. Download and install the software. ACVREP credits will be available for those who attend the live webinar. Register for this webinar on Zoom: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_I8M3DYvBT0CQ-T-xGXOl4Q 2) Live and Virtual Technology Fair | Carroll Center for the Blind November 22nd 2022 | The Carroll Center for the Blind's in person Technology Fair is back! Attend exciting and informative presentations, visit with assistive technology exhibitors in breakout rooms, and find the products and services you need to live as independently as possible. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the latest products for individuals who are visually impaired. The Technology Fair is free and open to consumers, families, friends, and professionals: https://carroll.org/events/live-and-virtual-technology-fair/ 3) ACB's 2022 Audio Description Awards Gala November 29 2022 | The American Council of the Blind (ACB) proudly announces the second annual Audio Description Awards Gala on November 29, 2022. The Gala will once again celebrate outstanding achievements in audio description in media and expand awareness of its benefits. In recent years there has been enormous success in expanding audio description for audiences who are blind, low vision, or have other sensory disabilities that create barriers to full inclusion in visual media. "The Audio Description Awards Gala will celebrate the best of the best within the art and science of inclusive audio-described media," said Eric Bridges, ACB's Executive Director. "Together we will work to expand awareness of the transformative value that audio description brings to the lives of people with disabilities:" https://acb.org/save-the-date-2022-AD-Awards 4) PDF Accessibility Training for Organizations | Access Ingenuity November 30th 2022 | 10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 6PM GMT | Creating accessible PDF documents is essential for most organizations' digital accessibility process. However, organizations often struggle to get their staff trained and efficient at creating accessible PDFs and other accessible digital content. The first step is identifying document creators within the organization and the types of documents they're developing. Depending on the findings, standard and advanced PDF accessibility training may be required. Join Michael Parker from Access Ingenuity to review lessons we learned from creating digital accessibility training and how to apply them to your organization. Learning Outcomes: Understand the components of a comprehensive PDF accessibility training program. Understand the importance of creating accessible templates and using accessible color palettes. Breaking the training down into manageable chunks - from beginners to advanced users. Meeting ID: 883 8806 6414 | Passcode: 878053 | One tap mobile: +16699009128,,88388066414#,,,,*878053# US (San Jose) | Dial by your location: +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose). Join Zoom Meeting: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88388066414?pwd=RU9tQU02ZDlRVjZzWlpwZHVGZjBSUT09 5) Using JAWS Inspect and JAWS Connect for Testing | TPGi December 1st 2022 | 9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 5PM GMT | Presenter: Charlie Pike, Platform Success Lead Using transcripts of JAWS speech, you can quickly pinpoint accessibility and usability issues. This demonstration will walk you through some simple tests using both JAWS Inspect and JAWS Connect, explaining how these tools can be integrated into your test processes. Register today:. https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-december-1-at-12pm-et-using-jaws-inspect-and-jaws-connect-for-testing/ 6) Blind Health Expo | The Accessible Pharmacy December 2nd 2022 | 7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 3PM GMT | The Accessible Pharmacy Blind Health Expo will be the largest virtual expo of healthcare information, products, services, and medication for individuals who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Join thousands of other attendees and register now for free! https://www.accessiblepharmacy.com/blind-health-expo/ 7) Microsoft Accessibility for Nonprofits Webinar December 6th 2022 | 9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 5PM GMT | If you are part of a disability nonprofit organization, please join us for our Microsoft Accessibility for Nonprofits Webinar on Tuesday, December 6th. In this introductory session, you will learn about: Accessibility Nonprofit Tech Accelerator 2023 grant program that provides selected organizations with technology grants and dedicated specialist staff to support your mission. Access to Microsoft Philanthropies grants and discounts across our nonprofit cloud products including Azure, Dynamics 365, and Microsoft 365 for all registered 501 c3 organizations. Microsoft Accessibility team will share our commitment to disability nonprofit partners, our work on AI for Accessibility & Innovation. Register today for the Microsoft Accessibility for Nonprofit Webinar: https://learning.eventbuilder.com/event/67484 8) The Current Legal Landscape for Digital Assets Accessibility Risks and How to Provide an Accessible Experience for Retail Customers December 6th 2022 | 8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 4PM GMT | Presenter: Matt Ater, Lori Sommerfield, and Kim Phan Join Matt Ater of Vispero, along with Lori Sommerfield & Kim Phan, partners at Troutman Pepper, for a discussion concerning the current state of legal risks for accessibility non-compliance and practical tips for making your retail business digital assets accessible for people with disabilities. We will discuss the current state of website and mobile application accessibility litigation, as well as the increasing threat of enforcement of the Americans with Disabilities Act for digital assets by the U.S. Department of Justice under the Biden administration. Learn how to mitigate legal risks by meeting digital accessibility requirements and creating a usable and accessible retail experience. Register today: https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-december-6-at-11am-et-the-current-legal-landscape-for-digital-assets-accessibility-risks-and-how-to-provide-an-accessible-experience-for-retail-customers/ 9) 2022 Sight Tech Global — Shaping New Technologies to Create a More Accessible World for People with Blindness and Visual Impairments December 7th 2022 and December 8th 2022 | Sponsored by Google, APH, Amazon, Humanware, Microsoft, Fable, LinkedIn, and Waymo, Sight Tech Global is the first global, virtual conference dedicated to fostering discussion among technology pioneers on how rapid advances in AI and related technologies will fundamentally alter the landscape of assistive technology and accessibility. Register for free: https://sighttechglobal.com/ 10) 20 Websites to Bookmark for 2023 | Technology User Group, Maryland State Library December 10th 2022 | 7AM PT, 8AM MT, 9AM CT, 10AM ET, 3PM GMT | Technology keeps changing and so do the websites that are useful in our everyday lives. Find out why these 20 websites are so important for 2023. All events are currently being held via teleconference until further notice. No programs will be held in person. Please dial (319) 527-4994 ☎ at 10 AM ET: https://www.marylandlibraries.org/Pages/Technology%20User%20Group.aspx 11) Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 3: Creative Manual Activities for Christmas | APH December 12th 2022 | 8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 4PM GMT | Christmas is a great time to create crafts. Let's share amazing and fun tactile ideas adapted to visually impaired children: https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-live-sessions/ 12) Basics of Accessibility Testing | TPGi December 13th 2022 | 9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 5PM GMT | Presenter: Aaron Farber, Senior Accessibility Platform Consultant. Accessibility testing is a critical step in delivering a modern online experience. This webinar goes beyond testing checklists to answer the fundamental questions people have when they start testing for web accessibility. For accessibility testing to be effective, organizations must understand what makes a digital experience equal. We'll cover web accessibility, the role and structure of Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG), and how to quantify the risk associated with a guideline. Additionally, we'll discuss the following: How to set the scope for accessibility testing and feel confident you are covering the "right parts" of a website/web application. We'll document mouse-only, keyboard-only, and assistive technology testing plans. We'll delve into how web pages expose "semantics" and the tools to understand if your site is properly conveying its meaning to assistive technology. How to get expert support beyond your team to be sure that your accessibility testing results are accurate and more! Learn how to use the tools, access resources, and receive clear steps to perform a full-scale WCAG audit. Register: https://www.tpgi.com/webinar-december-13-at-12pm-et-basics-of-accessibility-testing/ 13) Training Course: Catching Up with JAWS Chapter 4 for JAWS 2022 and 2023 | Hartgen Consultancy December 14th 2022 | 11AM PT, 12PM MT, 1PM CT, 2PM ET, 7PM GMT | Catching Up with JAWS is priced £35 which is approximately 40 American dollars. Now is your chance to get some high quality training on some of the latest features within the screen-reader JAWS for Windows which have been introduced over the past two years. This follows on from our previous popular training courses on this subject. These training courses are still popular and people are purchasing the older volumes in the series even today: https://www.hartgen.org/catchup4 14) Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 4: Braille Around the World | APH January 4th 2023 | 8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 4PM GMT | Let's celebrate Louis Braille's Day and explore different braille codes around the world: https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-live-sessions/ 15) Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 5: School Aged Numeracy | APH February 1st 2023 | 8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 4PM GMT | Using LEGO Braille Bricks to do math: let's discover some of the many uses of these little bricks to develop numerical and geometry skills, understand symmetry, and much more: https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-live-sessions/ 16) Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 6: Daily Living Activities | APH March 6th 2023 | 8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 4PM GMT | Let's explore daily-living activities using LEGO Braille Bricks and share our best practices, experiences, tips: https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-live-sessions/ 17) 2023 3rd Annual Axe-Con | Building Accessible Experiences | The World's Largest Digital Accessibility Conference March 15th 2022 and March 16th 2023 | Deque Systems, the trusted leader in digital accessibility, has announced the third annual axe-con conference will return on March 15-16th, 2023. With the success of axe-con over the past two years, Deque will continue to host the conference as a free virtual event again next year. Axe-con is an open and inclusive digital accessibility conference that welcomes developers, designers, business users, and accessibility professionals of all experience levels to a new kind of accessibility conference focused on building, testing, and maintaining accessible digital experiences. Keynotes at this year's conference include Molly Burke, speaker, digital creator, author, and advocate; and Gene Kim, a multiple award-winning CTO, researcher, and author: https://www.deque.com/blog/save-the-date-for-axe-con-2023/ 18) Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 7: Music | APH April 5th 2023 | 8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 4PM GMT | Let's discover together how to make music with these famous bricks! Come and share your creative ideas: https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-live-sessions/ 19) Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 8: STEM | APH May 3rd 2023 | 8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 4PM GMT | Have you ever thought of doing science, computing, or technology with LEGO Braille Bricks? Expert guests will join us for an amazing session: https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-live-sessions/ 20) Lego Braille Bricks Live Session 9: Orientation & Mobility | APH June 7th 2023 | 8AM PT, 9AM MT, 10AM CT, 11AM ET, 4PM GMT | LEGO bricks to build plans, visualize routes, it's not new! But with LEGO Braille Bricks you can also create labels, add letters, words... Then it becomes really great: https://www.aph.org/lego-braille-bricks-live-sessions/ ➜ Directories 1) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired App Directory https://www.toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-app-directory.html 2) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Game Directory https://www.toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-game-directory.html 3) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Listserv Directory https://www.toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-listserv-directory.html 4) Top Tech Tidbits Blind And Visually Impaired Podcast Directory https://www.toptechtidbits.com/blind-and-visually-impaired-technology-podcast-directory.html ➜ Buy, Sell or Trade ✍ List your new, gently-used or refurbished item in FOUR (4) consecutive issues of Top Tech Tidbits for just $5.00 USD. Fill out this short form to secure your Buy, Sell or Trade Classified Advertisement today: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/submit-buy-sell-trade or learn more on the Top Tech Tidbits website. 1) FOR SALE: One Buy, Sell or Trade Classified Ad (Just like this one.) Price: $5.00 USD | Description: List your new, gently-used or refurbished item in FOUR (4) consecutive issues of Top Tech Tidbits for just $5.00 USD. | Buy an Ad: Fill out this short 10-step form ✔ to secure your Buy, Sell or Trade Classified Advertisement today. | Learn more at: https://www.toptechtidbits.com/buy-sell-trade.html 🌐 | Top Tech Tidbits Sponsor Classified Ads: Sponsor: LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Adaptations Online Store ➜ LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired Adaptations Online Store Featured Products Revolution Cane Tip: Standard Roller Tip: $14.50 | Locator Dots: Small Pack of 6 (Clear or Orange): $2.00 | NFB Metal Cane Tip: $3.00 | TMAP - On Demand Tactile Street | Map (set of two maps): $25.00 | Ambutech Aluminum Folding Cane: $35.00 | NFB Chris Park Telescoping Cane: $45.00 | BoldWriter 20 Pen (Individual or 6-pack): $2.00 | Bump Dots: Mixed (50 count): $7.00 | Braille Apple Catalina VoiceOver Guide OSX 10.15 (3 volumes) - Latest Manual: $52.00 | SpeedDots iPhone Tactile Screen Protector, Phone Layout: $12.00 | NFB Chris Park 7-Piece Folding Cane: $50.00 | Visit https://adaptations.org/ to learn more today! Sponsor Since: October 1, 2020 Website: https://adaptations.org/ 🌐 Toll Free: (888) 400-8933 ☎ Local: (415) 694-7301 ☎ About: Founded in 1902, San Francisco's LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired promotes the independence, equality and self-reliance of people who are blind or have low vision. Adaptations is your online go-to for tools, technology, and accessible solutions for blind and visually impaired people. Sponsor: American Printing House (APH) ➜ Combine Learning And Gaming For A Fun Braille Adventure With Polly! APH and Thinkerbell Labs are excited to introduce Polly, complete with customizable UEB lessons, songs, games, and stories! Join our waiting list to know when Polly is available: https://www.aph.org/polly-wait-list/ Sponsor Since: July 2nd 2020 Website: https://www.aph.org/ 🌐 Toll Free and Customer Support: (800) 223-1839 ☎ Phone: (512) 895-2405 ☎ Fax: (512) 899-2284 ░ YouTube Video: https://youtu.be/WENRlCNDsxQ 🎥 Free Apps & Actions from APH: https://www.aph.org/free-apps-from-aph/ 📱 About: Since 1858, the American Printing House for the Blind has operated in Louisville, Kentucky as the world's largest nonprofit organization, creating accessible learning experiences through educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are blind and visually impaired. APH believes that the future belongs to everyone. By offering innovative products and services, APH opens up a door of opportunities for lifelong independence and success. Sponsor: GuideLights and Gadgets ➜ GuideLights and Gadgets Holiday Sales Our holiday sales, with some deeply cut prices through December 31st. Leather Purse Blow Out: approximately 6 by 10 inches with a very stylish design; has 6 zippered pockets; and a great half moon pocket on the front. Lots of room for essentials - $20. Hands free leather neck pouch; great for AIRA or Be My Eyes; works great with BlindShell. Front: velcro pocket; two full size phone slots, with a full size pocket on the back; down from $20 to $15. Talking Medical bundle with case and accessible "how to" mp: files on sd card. 2nd gen talking oximeter, infrared thermometer, and BP meter. Tested in doctors' offices - $140.00. Call either Barry or Kae (617) 969-7500 ☎ or (781) 286-1696 ☎ for information or for orders. Director, http://www.GuideLightsAndGadgets.us Sponsor Since: June 25th 2020 Website: http://www.guidelightsandgadgets.us/ 🌐 For Gadgets and Leather Contact Barry at: Phone: (617) 969-7500 ☎ Email: bscheur.gadgetsandtech at gmail.com ✉ For All Things Dog Contact Kae at: Phone: (781) 286-1696 ☎ Email: guidelightdogs at gmail.com ✉ About: Our Scope of Products: We specialize in 3 lines of products, all intended to assist in access to adaptive electronics, enhance experiences for guide dog teams, and offer practical solutions for organization and travel with a variety of leather bags, pouches, and backpacks. Then there are the random products that are included, just for fun! We enjoy working with our customers 1-on-1 to their money is well spent and not wasted on something they may not use. In thinking about our customers and whether we will carry a product our guiding motto is that it must be: practical, affordable, simple, tested, and accessible (the pasta principle) and it seems to work very well. What We Do: We bring our business either via zoom, phone, or to your conference or convention, to give each customer a chance for questions and where possible, "hands on" evaluation of the merchandise. Kae and I test and use each product as blind users before we put it in our catalog. In the case of products for guide and service dogs, our own three guides, Thor, Debra and Melody, are engaged in the process of evaluating the usefulness, durability, and/or fun of the product. We want each of our products to be useful, accessible, affordable, and, whenever possible, fun! Our inventory is constantly changing, so a visit to us is never the same experience twice! Sponsor: A. T. Guys ➜ Pluggable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub If you're like me, you probably have more things to plug into your computer than available ports. That's why we've now added the Pluggable USB-C 7-in-1 Hub. Plug it into your laptop and you will get 3 USB ports, SD and Micro SD card slots, a USBC charging port, and an HDMI video port. It's available now for just $29.95: https://www.atguys.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=28&products_id=331 Sponsor Since: June 11th 2020 Website: https://www.atguys.com/ 🌐 Phone: (269) 216-4798 ☎ Email: support at atguys.com ✉ Skype: atguys ✆ Twitter: https://twitter.com/atguys (@atguys) ✍ Facebook: https://facebook.com/atguys ✍ About: ATGuys.com. Your access technology experts, home for cool gadgets, accessories, and more. Our products are all tested to work great for blind and visually impaired users but also work just as well for anyone. If there's an item you're looking for, or if you have a question, please don't hesitate to send us a message or call (269) 216-4798 ☎. Sponsor: That Real Blind Tech Show ➜ That Real Blind Tech Show Episode 96: We Got More Resolutions, ACB Style! It's a fully packed That Real Blind Tech show lair. Join us as we recap this year's ACB Resolutions. We chime in with all of our opinions about this year's resolutions, and as usual some hilarity ensues. You will not want to miss both AirPods issues that take place on this episode. We are adding do not listen to That Real Blind Tech show on the bus as we are not responsible for the stares you will receive when laughing or cackling like a lunatic! https://thatrealblindtechshow.libsyn.com/episode-96-we-got-more-resolutions-acb-style Sponsor Since: August 11th 2022 Website: https://blindtechshow.com/ 🌐 Email: ThatRealBlindTechShow at gmail.com ✉ Social: Facebook Page | Facebook Group | Twitter Listen: Apple Podcasts | Audible | Google Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube Hosts: Brian Fischler | Ed Plumacher | Allison Meloy | Jenine Stanley Goals: We want to educate you on the latest tech for the blindness community. You'll learn what is worth keeping and what you need to return. Our goals are: To inform, inspire and educate our audience. Feature guests and products that bring you value. Continuously improve and deliver the best content. About: A podcast discussing the good & bad of assistive technology for the low vision & totally blind. No longer focused on just Apple VoiceOver technology. That Real Blind Tech show covers all the fantastic talking tech and gadgets out there for the low vision and blindness community. Common topics include Apple's VoiceOver, JAWS, Microsoft Narrator, NVDA, Amazon Alexa and VoiceView, Google Assistant and Android. Basically, if a device can talk to you, we are going to be talking about it. That Real Blind Tech Show will not only educate you, but it will also make you laugh. Listeners are encouraged to not use treadmills or drink hot coffee while listening to our show, or accidents can and have occurred. Dishes have been broken while listening to That Real Blind Tech Show, and while we are responsible for the laughs, we are in no way responsible for the injuries or bills that pile up. Remember to keep it Real and also don't believe anything you hear on That Real Blind Tech Show. Home | Episodes | Blog | Contact | Subscribe Sponsor: Aira ➜ Webinar: Discovering Aira and Content Creation | October 25th 2022 at 2:00 PM ET Creating content for the ever-expanding media world is a growing profession. During #NDEAM2022 we want to spotlight how blind and low vision people are working in this space. Whether for income or personal brand, these creators integrate visual interpreting into their processes. We'll also get advice from Aira Agents on how to make the most of visual interpreting when creating your content. Join us Tuesday, October 25th 2022 at 2:00pm Eastern time. Register at: https://aira.zoom.us/webinar/register/9116639399059/WN_g9O7k3RaR7mYYT1ODnm0cA Sponsor Since: August 4th 2022 Website: https://aira.io/ 🌐 Download the App: Apple App Store | Google Play Store Plans and Pricing: https://aira.io/pricing/ Phone: NA: +1.800.835.1934 ☎ | AU: +1.800.765.096 ☎ | UK: +0.800.046.5668 ☎ | NZ: +1.800.425.451 ☎ Text Message: NA: +1.858.242.4457 📲 | AU: +61.488.839.767 📲 | UK: +44.149.320.2474 📲 Email: support at aira.io ✉ Social: Twitter | Facebook | LinkedIn | YouTube | Instagram About: Aira's mission is to remove barriers and make the world more accessible with visual interpreting. We provide a live, human-to-human professional assistance service, an accommodation or productivity tool, that enhances independence by delivering on-demand, skilled and reliable visual interpreting for just about any task. Using the powerful combination of a camera and the Aira app on someone's device of 'choice', a professionally-trained agent will assist by visually interpreting what is in the camera's view or on screen, from describing to reading, from explaining to navigating - just about anything, safely and securely. Aira supports a growing range of devices including smart and tactile button phones, desktop computers and soon, wearables. Whether you are involved in the work of business, the work of school or the work of life, Aira enhances everyday efficiency, engagement, and independence. Used by employees and customers of hundreds of organizations including airports, banks, the largest software companies, financial firms, retailers and universities, we invite you to join the community, access the Aira app today and try it for free. https://aira.io/download-and-try-it/ Step One: Subscribe and Download. Pick the plan that lets you explore on your terms and on your time, sign up in a few minutes, and download the Aira app to your smartphone. Plans shown are for the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. Add or cancel at any time. Step Two: Connect with an Aira Agent. On the first call, connect with one of our certified, specially-trained Agents and learn how everything works. Step Three: Real-time Assistance. At the touch of a button, Aira delivers instant access to visual information, when and where you want it. Sponsor: Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore ➜ Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore: Touch Tomorrow in Today's Products Serving blind people since 1999, we're a family-owned, forward-thinking company offering both tried-and-true and exciting new products for blind and low vision consumers. We design and carry self-voicing educational software, Braille supplies, talking gadgets, adapted household items, tactile card and board games, audible toys and gift ideas. Passionate about innovation, we've also created dozens of products from scratch when a suitable solution did not exist. Shop online at http://www.braillebookstore.com/ and enjoy fast, free shipping. Sponsor Since: June 30th 2022 Website: http://www.braillebookstore.com/ 🌐 Phone (Toll Free): (800) 987-1231 ☎ Fax (Toll Free): (800) 985-1231 ░ Email: Sales at BrailleBookstore.com ✉ Hours: 7:00 AM to 3:00 PM, Monday through Friday, Pacific Standard Time. About: Welcome to Blind in Mind, The Braille Superstore. We have been supplying products to blind people and their families since 1999. We offer thousands of Braille books, toys, games, kitchen aids, and talking products. We have unbeatable prices, fast, free shipping, and great customer service! We have tons of Braille books and cool products to choose from; so grab a cup of coffee, relax, and we'll give you a quick tour: Products: ➜ Timekeeping ➜ Housewares ➜ On The Go ➜ Low Vision Products ➜ Toys and Games ➜ Gift Shop ➜ Braille Workshop ➜ Braille Bookstore ➜ Greeting Cards ➜ Copy Center ➜ Computer Lab ➜ Popular Products ➜ New Products If you need some fresh ideas or have questions, you can also check out our Shopping Guides. Sponsor: Fable ➜ Free and Accessible Training for the Tech Sector Fable Pathways helps you gain the skills that you need to work in the tech sector with a free, accessible, and on-demand program. Learn from industry leaders with disabilities to take your career to the next level, like Kelly Ford, Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, who introduces GitHub and VS Code using a screen reader. Spend less time and energy trying to access courses with your assistive technology and focus on the content that matters to you, with Fable Pathways' accessible platform. Sign up today! https://www.fablepathways.com/ Sponsor Since: June 30th 2022 Website: https://fablepathways.com/ 🌐 Email: community at makeitfable.com ✉ Phone: (888) 212-3532 ☎ Extension 810 About: Just like curb cuts help everyone get on and off sidewalks, designing digital products with accessibility in mind helps make the internet more accessible for everyone. Fable is an accessibility platform powered by people with disabilities. Fable connects people with disabilities to accessibility managers, user researchers, designers, and developers to build incredible and accessible user experiences. Opportunities: ➜ Fable Pathways: Fable Pathways is a free skill development program for people with disabilities interested in working in the tech sector. Sign up to take your career to the next level. Courses include "Getting started in web development" taught by Kelly Ford, a screen reader user, and Senior Program Manager at Microsoft, and "Becoming a manager" taught by Fable's Head of Accessibility Innovation, Kate Kalcevich. Instructors are subject matter experts in their fields and have lived experience with disability. Pathways courses are free, self-paced and assistive-technology-friendly. Sign up now at https://fablepathways.com/. ➜ Fable's Community of Accessibility Testers: Work from home to contribute to real changes in digital accessibility and make the internet a more accessible place for everyone. Ever leave a website because it was too hard to navigate? Because it was missing button labels? Because it didn't respond to voice commands? Us too. Our community of testers who use assistive technologies work from home and contribute to real changes in digital accessibility with recognizable brands. Earn money to share your feedback on websites and apps of your favorite brands and work with companies that care. No experience required and no resume required. Fable is looking for assistive technology users in the USA and Canada to work the hours that they want, from the comfort of their own homes. Learn more at https://fablepathways.com/community/. Sponsor: Dolphin Computer Access ➜ Dolphin Friends Program If you work for a non-profit, charity or society that provides services to people with visual impairments, we invite you to take part in our Dolphin Friends Program. Dolphin will outfit your center with assistive technology solutions that can benefit your clients who need to remain independent, are trying to sharpen their technology skills for employment and more. Learn more about becoming a Dolphin Friend: https://info.yourdolphin.com/join-dolphin-friends Sponsor Since: June 9th 2022 Website: https://yourdolphin.com/ 🌐 Sales: https://yourdolphin.com/contact Support: https://yourdolphin.com/contact/support Locate a Dolphin Dealer: https://yourdolphin.com/contact/dealer/locate About: Dolphin designs and builds software that empowers people who are blind or partially sighted to read, work and communicate. We are committed to creating assistive technology that makes workplaces, classrooms and the home accessible and usable for people with visual impairments. Dolphin assistive technology products are designed to improve accessibility and independence on computers, for people with a wide range of vision impairments. This includes screen readers for people who are blind, magnification and audio products for people who have partial sight and low vision. Dolphin also develops technology to assist a neurodiverse range of readers. Accessible reading technology from Dolphin is used by book lovers and students with dyslexia, ADHD and autism, in addition to other print impairments. It provides a way to access books from accessible libraries around the world. Dolphin Products Dolphin Computer Access designs and develops software that enables users to read and access information at home, at work and throughout their education. Dolphin assistive technology products include: SuperNova | GuideConnect | EasyReader | EasyConverter Express | Publisher | ScreenReader. Each Dolphin product empowers users with visual impairments to use computers independently, in ways that suit their sight and experience with technology. Sponsor: Clusiv ➜ Looking For Blind Job-Seekers Wanting To Advance Their Salaries, Careers And Digital Accessibility For The Blind Are you interested in learning new tech skills and working remotely while earning a competitive salary? At Clusiv.io we have created the world's first digitally accessible e-Learning platform built by the blind, and built for the blind. Visit the link provided and request Clusiv through your Vocational Rehab counselor for lifetime access to our e-Learning platform with courses such as Business Applications, JAWS, and more: https://clusiv.io/ Sponsor Since: June 9th 2022 Website: https://clusiv.io/ 🌐 About: We are Clusiv. We are the world's first e-learning platform built for and by blind and partially sighted people. We are a resource to vocational rehabilitation organizations. We are a training platform for individuals with visual impairments who have faced barriers to access and equity in the modern workforce. We are engineering the future of work for accessibility. Learn more by selecting the user path that best describes you: ➜ Discover. I want to learn more about Clusiv. ➜ Potential Student. I want to train with Clusiv. ➜ VR Agency / Counselor. I want to help the people I serve with Clusiv. ➜ Inclusive Employer. I want to hire Clusiv graduates. Sponsor: Double Tap TV ➜ Subscribe to the Double Tap TV YouTube Channel Double Tap TV is a weekly tech show on AMI-tv, (also available on CBC Gem in Canada and YouTube). Each week join hosts Steven Scott (@blindguytech) and Marc Aflalo (@marcaflalo) as they help viewers better understand how technology can assist in everyday life. Its tech from an accessible point of view! The show features interviews with some of the biggest names in consumer tech and features up and coming companies and services. Subscribe to the Double Tap TV YouTube Channel today at: https://bit.ly/321OUEy Sponsor Since: December 23rd 2021 Email: feedback at doubletap.online ✉ YouTube: https://bit.ly/321OUEy About: Double Tap TV is a weekly tech show on AMI-tv, (also available on CBC Gem in Canada and YouTube). Each week join hosts Steven Scott (@blindguytech) and Marc Aflalo (@marcaflalo) as they help viewers better understand how technology can assist in everyday life. Its tech from an accessible point of view! The show features interviews with some of the biggest names in consumer tech and features up and coming companies and services. Sponsor: HIMS, Inc. ➜ Order Now! Get The Most Powerful Android Notetaker Available, the BrailleSense 6 From HIMS. It's Simply The Best. The time is now to get your all-new BrailleSense 6 notetaker, the most powerful and user-friendly notetaker on the market. Running Android 10, with 128 GB of Storage, 6 GB of Memory, and an 8-Core CPU, the BrailleSense 6 is the ultimate braille notetaker. Learn more today at: https://hims-inc.com/product/braillesense-6/ Sponsor Since: September 30th 2021 Website: https://hims-inc.com/ 🌐 Shop All Products: https://hims-inc.com/shop-all-products/ 🛒 Phone: (512) 837-2000 ☎ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5R9NjA1nfWo Sales Email: sales at hims-inc.com ✉ Support Email: support at hims-inc.com ✉ About: HIMS, Inc. is a global manufacturer and distributor that has provided braille, magnification and accessible healthcare devices since 1999. Sponsor: Blind Mice Mega Mall ➜ VIP-3000 Talking Thermostat Now $199.99 from BlindMiceMegaMall.com Control the climate of your home independently! The VIP 3000 is a universal heating — cooling talking thermostat This accessible digital thermostat is specifically designed to offer audio playback of indoor temperature, temperature settings and programming instructions so blind and visually impaired users can independently & precisely manage their indoor comfort. Don't over pay. Read more at: https://www.blindmicemegamall.com/bmm/shop/Item_Detail?itemid=3196066 Sponsor Since: September 23rd 2021 Website: https://www.blindmicemegamall.com/ 🌐 Blind Mice Order Center Phone: (866) 922-8877 ☎ Blind Mice Order Center Hours: 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM CST/CDT (GMT-5) Monday through Friday Mall Directory of Stores: https://www.blindmicemegamall.com/bmm/shop/Directory 🛒 Join The Today's Cheese Newsletter: Join the Today's Cheese newsletter to get Members' Only sales & Unadvertised Specials from the merchants at Blind Mice Mega Mall. You can save money with these unadvertised specials! Send an email to: TodaysCheese+Subscribe at Groups.io ✉ Blind Mice Swap Shop: Sell, Swap, and Buy. The Mice receive calls every day asking if we buy or sell used or unwanted items. The Mice don't sell used products but to help our members, we created the Blind Mice Swap Shop! The Blind Mice Swap Shop is the place for Sellers, Traders, & Buyers to find each other! Do you ... have something you don't want anymore... Post it for sale on the Blind Mice Swap Shop. Got something you just don't use... Post it for sale on the Blind Mice Swap Shop. Got something new to sell... Post it for sale on the Blind Mice Swap Shop. Provide a service that might be helpful to other Blind and Visually Impaired folks... Post it to the Blind Mice Swap Shop. Have an announcement about an upcoming event beneficial to the Blind & Visually Impaired Community... Post it to the Blind Mice Swap Shop. Joining the Blind Mice Swap Shop is free and as easy as sending an email to: BlindMiceSwapShop+Subscribe at Groups.io ✉ About: Welcome to Blind Mice Mega Mall! The Mall with the Blind In Mind! Blind Mice Mega Mall is designed for use with a screen reader and low vision software for visually impaired shoppers. Each store is an independent business owned / managed by a member of the Blind / Low Vision Community. Please browse & shop the merchants at Blind Mice Mega Mall. You will find great items and unique offerings from our merchants. You help the Blind Community every time you make a purchase from any of the merchants at Blind Mice Mega Mall. Every purchase made at Blind Mice Mega Mall gives back to the Blind and Visually Impaired Community. Proceeds from sales fund the MouseHole Scholarship Program, the Cooking In The Dark Show and The Movie Vault. Blind Mice Mega Mall accepts American Express, Discover, Mastercard, Visa, PayPal, Checks, and Money Orders. Purchase Orders From State Agencies are also welcome. Sponsor: Carroll Center for the Blind ➜ Attend the Screen Reader User Tester Training Program at the Carroll Center for the Blind Launch your career in the digital accessibility field! The Carroll Center for the Blind's new 7-week intensive Screen Reader User Tester Training program allows participants to learn and grow their ability to professionally explore, test, and report findings regarding the accessibility of websites, mobile applications, and digital document files using screen readers. Want to learn more? Start your journey to becoming a Screen Reader User Tester by visiting: https://carroll.org/screen-reader-user-tester-training-program/ Sponsor Since: August 5th 2021 Website: https://carroll.org/ 🌐 Phone: (617) 969-6200 ☎ Fax: (617) 969-6204 ░ Shop: https://carroll.org/store/ 🛒 Donate: https://carroll.org/donate ❤ Social: Facebook | Twitter | YouTube | LinkedIn | Instagram About: The Carroll Center for the Blind is the foremost leader in vision rehabilitation services for individuals confronted by the challenges of vision loss. Our mission is to empower those who are blind or visually impaired to achieve independence and to lead a fulfilling life. Established in 1936, the renowned Carroll Center for the Blind has been serving those with vision impairment for over eight decades; we are known nationally as a premier Vision Rehabilitation Center. Located just outside of Boston on a sprawling campus in Newton, Massachusetts, we proudly serve ALL ages and ALL stages of vision loss. With the ongoing promise of improving the lives of people with vision-related problems, The Carroll Center for the Blind has pioneered many innovative services allowing people who are blind or have low vision to learn the skills to be independent in their homes, in class settings, and in their work places. Our services include vision rehabilitation, vocational and transition programs, assistive technology training, educational support, and recreation opportunities for individuals who are visually impaired of all ages. For over 80 years, the expertise of Carroll Center staff has provided help for thousands of blind and visually impaired persons with diverse opportunities for success and independent living. Sponsor: Pneuma Solutions ➜ The Next Generation in Accessibility Need to quickly access a distant computer with minimal fuss? Need to quickly convert image documents into readable text? Today's students and working professionals demand more of their technology. Employers expect more of their workforce. Pneuma Solutions is bridging the gap using the best in machine learning to connect you to your environment when you need it, how you need it. Give us a try, and experience accessibility on a whole new level: https://pneumasolutions.com/ Sponsor Since: June 3rd 2021 Website: https://pneumasolutions.com/ 🌐 Email Newsletter: Click here to receive periodic news via email concerning Pneuma Solutions products for business, consumers and education. Sales: (866) 202-0520 ☎ Support: (650) 249-1000 ☎ About: Backed by two decades of creating award-winning accessible cloud technologies for people with visual impairments, Pneuma Solutions is the global leader in accessible cloud-based solutions. Pneuma Solutions was founded by long-time accessibility developers Mike Calvo and Matt Campbell. For more information on their individual profiles, click on their respective bio pages. We're proud to be the first company to develop cloud-based accessibility at the network level. Our tools provide organizations, like yours, a way to deliver secure, accessible information right from your network or from our secure servers. You can provide your print disabled consumers, students, employees, and citizens with a multitude of accessible options. Additionally, we offer a suite of cloud-based applications to blind and print disabled consumers directly from our website. Our consumer products are designed to make the day-to-day lives of blind and print disabled individuals more accessible and simpler to manage. Access to information is not a privilege, it's a right. It's also your right to obtain affordable, accessible cloud solutions to serve your end user. When organizations like yours implement our tools, together we help make it a more inclusive world for people with disabilities. Want to know more about how we can help you become more inclusive? Contact us here. We'll be happy to discuss how our tools can help with your accessibility needs. Sponsor: Freedom Scientific ➜ Freedom Scientific Focus Blue 5th Generation Refreshable Braille Displays Our world-class refreshable Braille displays deliver efficient Braille input and outstanding output for your PC or mobile device. The robust Bluetooth® connectivity provides seamless use with Windows®, Mac®, iPhones®, iPads®, and Android TM smartphones and tablets. Ergonomic navigation features allow quick, natural hand movements for greater productivity. When used with JAWS® screen reading software, they support our popular Braille Study Mode, an interactive tool for teaching and learning Braille. Learn more today: https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/blindness/focus-blue-family/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=Top%20Tech%20Tidbit Sponsor Since: April 15th 2021 Website: https://www.freedomscientific.com/ 🌐 Email: info at vispero.com ✉ Phone: (800) 444-4443 ☎ Facebook | Twitter | YouTube (Training) About: Freedom Scientific, a Vispero brand, is a leading worldwide brand of assistive technology products for those with vision impairments. We offer products designed to promote independence, allowing blind and low vision individuals the same access to information as their sighted peers. World-renowned JAWS (Job Access With Speech) screen reading software and ZoomText screen magnification software provide users the independence and ability to seek education and obtain or maintain a career after vision loss. Our expansive product line includes both low vision and blindness technology for all aspects of daily living. The wide range of RUBY, TOPAZ, and ONYX desktop and portable video magnifiers are designed for their ease of use and assist with daily activities. Our impressive line of blindness hardware products include refreshable Braille displays and scanning and reading devices, offering many options tailored to fit individual needs. Sponsor: APH ConnectCenter ➜ VisionAware Resources Including the Information and Referral Line? APH ConnectCenter has resources to help blind and low vision people thrive. In addition to the Reader's Digest Getting Started with Vision Loss Guide You can also call the Information and Referral Line with your questions about resources and living with blindness and low vision. https://visionaware.org/ Sponsor Since: March 4th 2021 Website: https://aphconnectcenter.org/ 🌐 Email: connectcenter at aph.org ✉ APH ConnectCenter Information and Referral Line: (800) 232-5463 ☎ Hours: Monday - Friday from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM ET Facebook (CareerConnect) | Facebook (FamilyConnect) | Facebook (VisionAware) | Twitter | YouTube About: The APH ConnectCenter offers curated advice and resources to assist children, parents, adults, and job seekers who are blind or visually impaired, and their associated professionals, leading to greater independence and success in their lives. Sponsor: Humanware ➜ BRAILLIANT Renewed! The NEW Brailliant BI X Series is here! The wait is over! A redefined family of Brailliant refreshable Braille displays has arrived! The NEW Brailliant BI X Series will help you stay connected, download books from many participating online libraries and share information easily with your peers. You will enjoy the intuitive, seamless user experience of KeySoft Lite, the HumanWare flagship accessibility suite designed to make you more productive. Including the Brailliant BI 40X and the Brailliant BI 20X, this is the Brailliant idea you need! http://www.humanware.ca/web/en/newsletter/123020211100-BrailliantBIX-Launch-US.htm Sponsor Since: February 4th 2021 Website: http://humanware.com/ 🌐 Phone (Asia): +61 2 9686 2600 ☎ Phone (Australia): +61 2 9686 2600 ☎ Phone (Canada): +1 888 723-7273 ☎ Phone (Europe): +44 1933 415 800 ☎ Phone (International): +44 1933 415 800 ☎ Phone (Ireland): +01 8307033 ☎ Phone (New Zealand): +027 700 1674 ☎ Phone (United Kingdom): +01933 415800 ☎ Phone (United States): +1 800 722-3393 ☎ YouTube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRWVYiggn-w 🎥 About: HumanWare is the global leader in assistive technology for people who are blind or have low vision. HumanWare offers a wide range of innovative products, including the BrailleNote Touch, first Google certified braille tablet, the iOS compatible Brailliant braille displays, Victor Reader®, the world's leading family of digital audiobook players, the unique Prodigi® family of desktop and portable vision and reading systems, and the ultra-portable explore line of electronic handheld magnifier. Your Name Here 0 of 18 Sponsorship Packages currently available. Top Tech Tidbits is a leading, not-for-profit adaptive technology publication that reaches over 7,100 adaptive technology professionals, educators and enthusiasts, all over the world, each week. Top Tech Tidbits offers a total of 18 Sponsorship Packages which are used to support the ongoing distribution of the publication. There are currently   0   of   18   packages available. 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