[il-talk] FW: ICBV Office Update December 14, 2018

[davant1958 at gmail.com]

Denise R. Avant, President

National Federation of the Blind of Illinois

(773)-991-8050

Live the life you want.

For more information about NFBI,

go to www.nfbofillinois.org.

 

From: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net> 
Sent: Sunday, December 16, 2018 10:01 AM
To: Kathy Ungaro <icbv at sbcglobal.net>
Subject: ICBV Office Update December 14, 2018

 

ICBV Office Update

December 14, 2018

*1) IAMC Legislative Report 

*2) Social Security announces 2.8% COLA for 2019

*3) Apple's latest mobile software, iOS 12, tightens up security and privacy

issues on iPhones 

*4) Why Commercialization of Rest Stops Affects Everyone

*5) Class Action Lawsuit Charges Compass Group Failed To Disclose Credit Card Fees Prior To Payment 

*6) Lawmakers In New Jersey Want To Ban Cashless Stores

*7) Key differentiators, similarities among the generations 

*8) 4 Unconventional Ways to Better Market to Generation Z

*9) 142 Useful Voice Commands for Siri and The Best Siri Shortcuts to Get You Started  

*10) Second Sense Welcome New Technology Tutors 

*11) This week on Eyes On Success:

*12) Tech it Out on digital assistants

 

**1 IAMC Legislative Report

The House finished Veto Session on Thursday, with the Senate leaving on Wednesday.  Both chambers return on Monday, January 7th to conduct any last minute business before the 101st General Assembly is convened on January 9th. Attached is the 2019 Spring Session Calendar for both the House and Senate.

 

Of the 47 bills that were vetoed, both chambers voted to override the veto of 17 of those bills and they will become law. Of the 28 bills that were amendatory vetoed, both chambers voted to override the amendatory veto of 13 of those bills and they will become law as originally passed. Another amendatory veto was accepted by both chambers and that bill will become law with the new provisions included. All of the other bills that were either vetoed or amendatory veto are now dead. 

 

Here is an update of some of the legislation from Veto Session:

*	SB 2332 (Senator Morrison and Representative Lilly – Governor Rauner vetoed the measure to raise the minimum age to 21 years to purchase cigarettes or other tobacco products. SB 2332 passed the Senate 36-19-0 on an override motion but the House motion to override failed on a vote of 62-45-0.
*	SB 2481 (Senator Hastings and Representative Riley) – Governor Rauner amendatory vetoed the measure that increases the limits on damages in some state Court of Claims cases from $100,000 to $2 million . The bill is aimed at helping families of more than a dozen residents at the Quincy veterans’ home who died of Legionnaires’ disease. The Senate voted 46-8-0 to override the amendatory veto and the House voted 71-36-0 to override. The bill will become law as originally passed.
*	SB 34 (Senate President Cullerton and Representative Hernandez) – Governor Rauner vetoed the measure to create the Voices of Immigrant Communities Empowering Survivors, or VOICES, Act. The Senate voted to override the veto 37-12-0 and the House voted 73-34-0. It will now become law for police in Illinois to certify in a timely manner complaints of abuse or assault filed by illegal immigrants, who can then use such reports in working toward certain citizenship visas.
*	SB 1415 (Senator Cunningham and Representative Currie) – A bill to extend the life of four tax increment taxing districts in Chicago and TIF districts in 6 other communities was approved during Veto Session. The measure passed the House on a vote of 82-22-1 and the Senate gave final approval on a vote of 43-4-0. The bill next goes to the Governor for review.
*	HB 4743 (Representative Ford and Senator Lightford) – Governor Rauner amendatory vetoed the measure that provides that no employer may discriminate between employees by paying wages to an African-American employee at a rate less than the rate at which the employer pays wages to another employee who is not African-American for the same or substantially similar work on a job that requires equal skill, effort, and responsibility and is performed under similar working conditions. The House voted to override the amendatory veto 75-17-0 and the Senate followed suit on a vote of 49-1-0.  The bill will become law as it originally passed.
*	SB 1737 (Senator Muñoz and Representative Hoffman) – Governor Rauner amendatory vetoed the measure that limits the use of short-term health insurance plans to about six months at a time. The plans were meant to serve as a stopgap for consumers between health insurance plans. But new federal rules allow them to be used for a year and be renewed for as long as three years. The Trump administration has said the rule change was meant to help more people get affordable coverage. Consumer advocates, however, sought to limit the use of those plans in Illinois to just six months at a time through the bill. The Senate voted to override the amendatory veto 52-0-0 and the House followed suit on a vote of 89-20-1. The bill will become law as it originally passed.

 

Upcoming Important Dates and Deadlines:

*	January 7 – Next Scheduled Session Day
*	January 9, 2019 – 101st General Assembly Inauguration
*	January 14, 2019 – Illinois Executive Officers Inauguration

 

**2 Shared by Nicky Gacos, NABM President

Social Security announces 2.8% COLA for 2019

The following information is being forwarded by the NJ Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired as a courtesy, in accordance with our continued efforts to share information that may be of interest or of benefit to individuals who are blind and vision-impaired.

 

Social Security Announces 2.8 Percent Benefit Increase for 2019

 

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits for more than 67 million Americans will increase 2.8 percent in 2019, the Social Security Administration announced today.

 

The 2.8 percent cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) will begin with benefits payable to more than 62 million Social Security beneficiaries in January 2019.  Increased payments to more than 8 million SSI beneficiaries will begin on December 31, 2018.  (Note: some people receive both Social Security and SSI benefits).  The Social Security Act ties the annual COLA to the increase in the Consumer Price Index as determined by the Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

 

Some other adjustments that take effect in January of each year are based on the increase in average wages.  Based on that increase, the maximum amount of earnings subject to the Social Security tax (taxable maximum) will increase to $132,900 from $128,400. 

 

Social Security and SSI beneficiaries are normally notified by mail in early December about their new benefit amount.  This year, for the first time, most people who receive Social Security payments will be able to view their COLA notice online through their my Social Security account.  People may create or access their my Social Security account online at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount <http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount> .    

 

Information about Medicare changes for 2019, when announced, will be available at www.medicare.gov <http://www.medicare.gov> .  For Social Security beneficiaries receiving Medicare, Social Security will not be able to compute their new benefit amount until after the Medicare premium amounts for 2019 are announced.  Final 2019 benefit amounts will be communicated to beneficiaries in December through the mailed COLA notice and my Social Security’s Message Center.

 

The Social Security Act provides for how the COLA is calculated.  To read more, please visit  <http://www.socialsecurity.gov/cola> www.socialsecurity.gov/cola.

 

Find additional information here:

SSDI Instructions for Vendors in the Randolph Sheppard Program – 2019

Vendors in the Randolph Sheppard program who meet Social Security’s definition of blindness can usually keep their Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits even if they have very significant earnings.

 

Here are six actions each vendor who gets SSDI should take:

https://blindmerchants.org/ssdi-instructions-vendors-randolph-sheppard-program-2019/

 

**3 Shared by Only Apple group – 

By Jennifer Jolly, Special for USA TODAY 3:00 a.m. PDT Oct. 11, 2018 

Apple's latest mobile software, iOS 12, tightens up security and privacy issues on iPhones.

To get the most out of the updates though, you might have to tweak a setting or two. Here's how to take full advantage of the latest bug fixes and make sure you're keeping your device as safe as you can from hackers and prying eyes.

 

Take advantage of stronger passcodes

Apple didn't change the default lock screen from a four-digit code to six-digit one just to mess with you. The longer your device passcode is, the harder it is to hack. Hackers often use software to cycle through every possible passcode combination - known as a brute-force attack - and since a four-digit passcode has just 10,000 possible combinations, it doesn't take

long for a computer to break right in! If you're still using a six-digit or, heaven forbid, a four-digit passcode, it's time to upgrade to something better. You can make passcodes as long as you want, and you can set it to use numbers and letters or numbers only. I prefer numerical only because then I don't have to mess with the keyboard, but go with whatever works for you. Just know that if you're still using 111111 or 123456 - you're begging to get hacked. Go to Settings > Touch ID & Passcode and enter your current passcode. Then, go to Change Passcode and, from the Passcode Options and set a Custom Numeric Code.

 

Use automated two-factor authentication

Two-factor authentication adds an extra layer of security to all your logins by asking new devices to confirm that they're legit. After you log in to an app or site with two-factor enabled you'll get a text message to your phone number with a verification code, ensuring you're the only one who can access the account.

 

Apple has two-factor support baked right into iOS 12, and it's so incredibly easy to use that it auto-fills the codes for you - so you don't even have to type them in. Go to Settings > Password & Security and then tap Turn on Two-Factor Authentication. Once you do this, your phone guides you through the rest of the setup process.

 

Turn on USB-restricted mode to make your phone even harder to hack One of the most significant security changes in iOS 12 is that Apple made it much harder for iPhone thieves or privacy-snooping meddlers to sniff your phone for information about you. When you plug your phone into a USB device it can do two things: get charged and transfer data. In the past, when you connected your phone into a computer, it asked for verification to keep you safe, but there were still tools that hackers could use to get around that. After seven days without being unlocked, iOS 11 would finally lock down the charging port to prevent any attempts at breaching its security. iOS 12 shortens that time window in a big way. Now, it locks down iPhone's charging port into power-only mode after just one hour after you last unlocked it. To set this correctly, head into Settings > Face ID (or Touch ID) & Passcode and then go all the way to the bottom of the list. There you'll see a toggle for USB Accessories. Make sure this button is OFF (gray, not green). This simple step should prevent any USB devices from trying to break into your phone after just one hour of being locked.

 

Significant locations: On/off?

Your iPhone tracks everywhere you go so it can make location-based features in apps like Maps, Photos and Siri work smoothly. Your phone encrypts the information so nobody should be able to see it but you, but it's pretty creepy the first time you see it, especially if you don't realize that it's tracking you in such a way. It's entirely up to you whether you want to turn it off, or you can clear your saved locations any time. Head into Settings > Privacy > Location > System Services and then tap Significant Locations. Here you can see the locations that your iPhone thinks are most important to keep track of and toggle the feature on or off.

 

Use safari

There are approximately a million web browser options in the App Store, but Apple's own built-in Safari browser comes packed with new features in iOS 12 to help keep your browsing habits more private. Safari now protects against cookies that track you across the internet, following you from site to site and potentially revealing your browsing habits to companies trying to learn more about you. Social widgets on websites - like Facebook logins for comment sections – can sniff out what you're doing even if you don't interact with them. Now, Apple blocks all of those by default and even masks your phone's unique identity so that advertisers don't flood you with targeted ads.

 

Change your copycat passcodes

Using Safari in iOS 12 should put you ahead of the privacy curve already, but your iPhone's password manager has a somewhat hidden feature to keep you even safer. Go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Website & App Passwords and you'll see a long list of all the passwords that iOS knows you use. But it doesn't just list them for you; it also compares them against each other to see if you've been reusing the same password for multiple apps or websites. If it notices a duplicate, you'll see a little warning icon next to the URL or app name. Confession: I pretty much use the same password for everything - so don't feel bad if before now, you have too. The main recommendation here is to use different passwords for every single site. Why? It prevents password reuse attacks - called "credential stuffing" -  and makes it harder for a hacker to break into multiple sites and services using the same username and password. Go to Settings > Passwords & Accounts > Website & App Passwords and enter your passcode. You'll see a small warning symbol next to each account that recognizes a reused password. Then tap Change Password on Website button and change away. Rather than thinking of dozens of different passwords, this is a good time to enable a password manager like 1Password or Dashlane. Or, use a quick trick you can easily remember, such as using a similar password, but with a specific add-on for each unique site.

 

Enable auto updates

Keep your phone in auto-update mode. Apple isn't perfect and every now and again, a privacy or security bug slips through the cracks. Apple is among the best at patching these holes quickly, and if your phone is in auto-update mode, you'll get those patches as soon as they're released. To enable automatic updates, head to Settings > General > Software Update and make sure it's set to ON.

 

**4 From Automatic Merchandiser October-November

Why Commercialization of Rest Stops Affects Everyone

By Emily Refermat, Editor

At first glance, any legislation that opens up new business opportunities looks positive. Proposed bill H.R. 1990 in the 115th Congress by Congressman Jim Banks of Indiana, is one such bill. It would lift the ban on what types of service can be offered at rest stops, sometimes called rest areas, along interstate highways. Specifically, that private businesses could start operating at these facilities in exchange for taking over some of the cost of maintaining them. This is commercialization. Most are not commercialized There are commercialized rest stops or those that allow restaurants, truck stops, coffee shops, etc. in 15 states that were grandfathered in before the ban was made law in the 1950s. Most rest stops, however, only make allowances for businesses that operate under the Randolph-Sheppard Act and Kennelly Amendment to the Surface Transportation Act. The National Federation of the Blind (NFBC) calculated that in 2017, 20 percent of blind entrepreneurs operated vending machines at interstate rest stops under these acts. That is roughly 400 operators that could be displaced by being forced to compete with more established businesses, the NFBC argues. 

 

No operators will benefit 

While opening rest stops to all businesses could arguably provide an opportunity for a vending contract to other operators, in would be short

lived. Restaurants and travel plazas with 24-hour service are the most likely candidates in rest stops if commercialization is approved. Having around the clock access to quick service food and convenience store options would eliminate the need for vending machines of any type on these properties. Therefore, NAMA and a number of other organizations are opposing the bill and encourage operators in the convenience services industry to ask their members of Congress to do the same.

 

Background of H.R. 1990

In February, the Trump administration listed rest stop commercialization as a financing mechanism in its full infrastructure proposal, according to NATSO, the association representing travel plaza and truckstop owners, citing the Bureau of National Affairs. States have been struggling with the costs of rest stop upkeep and are looking for ways to subsidize or remove them from their budgets. Supporters of commercialization believe it will generate additional tax revenue. The opposition argues that commercialization will lead to less tax revenue and reduced employment. Travelers currently need to exit the interstate to visit restaurants and other business, providing jobs and tax revenue. With commercialization, the number of businesses will likely decrease. NATSO shows a statistic that the number of businesses differs greatly if it’s a state that has commercialized rest stops. In Maryland, which has commercialization, the NATSO reported 201 interstatebased businesses in a 100+mile stretch of I-95. In Virginia, which does not have commercialization, there were 858 interstate businesses along I-95. It’s an on-going debate, but for the convenience services industry the impact is negative.

 

**5 Shared by Vending Times

Class Action Lawsuit Charges Compass Group Failed To Disclose Credit Card Fees Prior To Payment by Emily Jed

 

CHICAGO – Vending patron Anthony Oliver has filed a class action lawsuit against Canteen parent Compass Group USA Inc. for allegedly tacking on hidden credit card fees without giving customers the option to decline them before making a purchase.

 

The suit claims that Compass Group's customers at vending machines located in Illinois and other parts of the country are only made aware of the credit card surcharge after they have swiped their credit card and the transaction is processed -- at which point it is too late to cancel the transaction.

 

According to the complaint, Oliver purchased several beverages at Canteen vending machines located in Chicago, IL, last April, which, based on the price displayed on the machine should have cost $1.25 each.

 

However, when he later checked his online bank statement, Oliver discovered that he was actually charged $1.35 for each drink product -- 10¢ more than the price that was displayed on the vending machine.

 

"Nowhere on the machine, or at any point during the purchase process, did Defendant disclose that credit card users would be charged an additional surcharge or that Plaintiff would be charged $1.35 rather than $1.25," the complaint alleges. "Plaintiff and the other members of the class would not have purchased the products that they bought, or would have chosen a different payment method, had they known that

 

The lawsuit seeks class certification and restitution to anyone who has purchased beverages from Compass Group vending machines in Illinois four years preceding the filing of the lawsuit and four years afterward. It also seeks to extend the class action to all U.S. states.

 

The suit also seeks injunctive relief to stop Compass Group to require the company to put notifications on every vending machine specifying the surcharge.

 

“While we don’t comment on pending litigation, we are confident that our business practices are compliant with state and federal law,” said Ann Sheridan, director, Canteen Communications.

 

**6 From Vending Market Watch

Lawmakers In New Jersey Want To Ban Cashless Stores

 

A bill that would require all brick-and-mortar retailers to accept cash will go before the full New Jersey Senate, according to The Inquirer Daily News. The bill would eliminate stores that only accept cashless payments, such as Amazon Go and similar stores that have no way to accept cash. Advocates argue that cashless businesses discriminate against lower income people who are less likely to have credit cards or bank accounts. It also alienates the elderly who are not as comfortable paying electronically.  

 

The bill was unanimously approved by the state Senate Commerce Committee with some exclusions, such as airports and some parking facilities. The state Assembly passed their own version of the bill in June 2018.

 

Other cities considering a cashless retailer ban include Philadelphia, PA, and New York City, NY, according to the article. 

 

Article can be found here: http://www2.philly.com/news/new-jersey-cashless-store-ban-amazon-retailer-20181203.html

 

**7 Shared by NCA SmartBrief

Key differentiators, similarities among the generations by Jaclyn Marks

Consumers are changing and engaging with food in new ways. The population demographics in the US are shifting dramatically from one generation to the next, and compounded by rapid developments in technology, the food experience is becoming more nuanced and individualized. Uncover some key differentiators and similarities among generations when it comes to food based on findings highlighted in Datassential’s four Generations of Change Keynote Reports.

 

For starters, though, let’s make sure we have our definitions clear.

 

Just who are the generations?

Some of Gen Z is still in school, while others are just entering the workforce, but all are digital natives. Overall, they’re an ethnically diverse and socially conscious group known to want more from the food they eat.

Millennials are the largest generation, representing 75 million consumers and 25% of the total US population. They’re currently going through different life stages (though all are adults and 48% have kids), making their wants no longer “one size fits all.” Gen X has reached its peak income-earning years and spends the most on food of any generation. They tend to lean towards authentic yet comfortable foods. Some boomers are now old enough to retire, but many are delaying retirement. They have the most spending power of any generation and generally desire a balance between tasty and healthful foods.

 

What are they mutually interested in?

While animal proteins aren’t going to be eradicated any time soon (comfort foods like burgers and meat-topped pizzas are still fan-favorites across generations), it’s important to recognize that plant-forward eating is a blossoming trend among all generations. Nearly one-third of Gen Z and over a quarter of millennials are limiting meat consumption, and millennials are twice as likely to be vegan compared to the general population. Although being vegan, vegetarian or pescatarian is rarer among Gen X, one in five considers themselves flexitarian and limits meat intake. Boomers are also more likely to consider themselves flexitarians than to follow a completely meat-free diet. However, since taste remains a top want across generations, it’s vital that when offering plant-forward dishes they still burst with flavor and are filling.

 

What are some key differences?

The desire for premium food and beverage options, whether at grocery stores or restaurants, varies among generations. In general, Gen Z consumers aren’t willing to pay more for premium attributes like all-natural or organic. They may simply not have the income to pay more, or they might have grown up with these attributes as a “given,” making them feel like they don’t merit a premium price. Unlike Gen Z, millennials and Gen X are willing to pay more for premium attributes, including organic and all-natural offerings. Boomers, on the other hand, are more likely than the overall population to buy items with premium attributes, but don’t want to pay more for them.

 

When it comes to technology-driven ordering systems (think self-service kiosks or tablets), some generations more readily embrace them than others. Though Gen Z favors personal service at restaurants, they are far more open than the general population to placing orders through a kiosk or tablet, which might signal a future shift towards increased use of technology as this generation ages and dines out more frequently. Millennials are also open to automation (one-third would prefer to place orders with a tablet/kiosk rather than a person), but are more likely to want servers at restaurants. Gen X, however, is much less open to tech-forward ways of ordering – 83% want human servers. That strong preference for human servers may be due to a desire for a more personal touch, perceived ease of placing personalized orders, or because they want to be able to ask questions. Boomers go a step further than Gen X when it comes to the various ordering technologies – they are almost completely averse to placing orders with a kiosk or tablet. They care more about service than the overall population, and likely haven’t had as many encounters with ordering technology since they eat at full-service restaurants more often. When it comes to understanding how kiosks and tablets operate and can improve the service experience by speeding up the process, increasing order accuracy, allowing for greater customization, and more, Boomers tend to need more guidance than other generations. Overall, ordering technologies like kiosks and tablets should be approached cautiously and with a deep understanding of the target market. Having flexibility when it comes to placing orders, such as keeping human servers on staff but also offering the option to use tablets or kiosks, could help operators appeal to a broader consumer base.

 

Jaclyn Marks is a publications specialist at Datassential, a supplier of trends, analysis and concept testing for the food industry. To purchase either just one or all four of the Generations of Change Keynote Reports, contact Datassential managing director Brian Darr at  <mailto:brian.darr at datassential.com> brian.darr at datassential.com .

 

If you enjoyed this article, sign up for GMA SmartBrief, National Restaurant Association SmartBrief and FMI dailyLead to get news like this in your inbox, or check out all of SmartBrief's food and beverage newsletters, as we offer over 20 newsletters covering the industry from restaurants to food retail to food manufacturing.   <http://www.smartbrief.com/restaurant?campaign=ed_Originalslink_food_AS8468> http://www.smartbrief.com/restaurant?campaign=ed_Originalslink_food_AS8468

 

**8 From Keeping in Touch with NAMA

4 Unconventional Ways to Better Market to Generation Z

Syed Balkhi, GUEST WRITER

Move over, millennials: It's all about Generation Z now. Members of Gen Z, meaning those born after 1995, have grown up with the world at their fingertips -- via the internet, of course. And members of this young set prefer to get their information through digital channels and technologies.

 

7 Ways Marketers Can Reach Gen Z

This means that traditional marketing typically fails to move them and that it can be difficult to capture their attention.

 

But just because Generation Z's members may be hard to reach doesn’t mean you should ignore them. In fact, by 2020, Generation Z will account for 40 percent of all consumers in the United States. It’s essential, then, that your business optimize its marketing efforts to better connect with the spending power of this cohort.

 

So, how do you adapt your marketing to attract them? Here are our unconventional ways to better market to Generation Z.

 

Work with influencers.

Generation Z has redefined the word “celebrity.” Young people today are influenced less by traditional celebrities, actors and singers, for instance, and instead favor internet “celebrities” who are closer to their age, and (in their view) more relatable. These internet influencers have become super-popular on social media, making influencer marketing a highly effective strategy to reach the Gen Z audience.

 

For young buyers, spotting a recommendation from a relatable influencer has a huge impact on purchasing decisions; it’s comparable to a recommendation from a friend, which is why it works so well.

 

An example? To show off its latest collection, H&M partnered with Instagram influencer Sincerely Jules, who has 5 million followers.

You may be thinking that you can’t afford to pay an influencer with millions of followers, but that’s where micro-influencers come in. Micro-influencers have 10,000 followers on average and are not only less expensive but more authentic; usually, they have higher engagement than their mega-influencer peers, too.

 

So, look for micro-influencers to get your product in front of a ton of very loyal followers.

 

Encourage entrepreneurship.

Members of Generation Z are 55 percent more likely than millennials to start a business, according to research reported on Small Business Trends. So, if your company wants to capture the hearts of Gen Zers, play to their entrepreneurial spirit. Generation Z wants companies to understand who they are; and they’re more likely to follow and buy from a brand that shares a similar mindset to theirs. Therefore, in your marketing campaigns, inspire and encourage Gen Z's entrepreneurial side.

 

An example? City Girl Coffee Co. attracts a Generation Z audience and promotes entrepreneurship by utilizing hashtags on Instagram like #girlboss, #femaleentrepreneur, #femaleowned and #womenempowerment. You could share your own story of how you started your business to inspire Gen Zers: Create social media images showcasing young entrepreneurs, or choose young business owners as brand ambassadors. Cater your marketing messages to aspiring Gen Z entrepreneurs and you’ll be sure to capture their attention.

 

Full article can be found at:  <https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/321662> https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/321662

 

**9 Shared by Flying Blind LLC

142 Useful Voice Commands for Siri

ComputerWorld provides this list of Siri commands:

http://bit.ly/2E6S0ZA 

 

The Best Siri Shortcuts to Get You Started

This HowToGeek article suggests some Siri Shortcuts in case you haven't yet seen a reason to begin using the Shortcuts feature in iOS 12:

http://bit.ly/2A5FOWz 

 

**10 From Second Sense

Welcome New Technology Tutors

We’re expanding our technology tutoring team to include two new tutors – Emerald and Barb.  Emerald is a master’s degree student at DePaul University studying Human-Computer Interaction.  She can help with magnification products on your iPhone/iPad (Zoom) or computer (ZoomText).  Barb is an experienced VoiceOver user and can help you with a wide variety of features and apps on your iPhone or iPad.  Emerald is at Second Sense on Tuesday mornings and Barb is here on Monday mornings, both by appointment.  Marv and Joe are also available to address any of your technology needs on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Don’t forget, our open lab is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm staffed with lab assistants to provide guidance on whatever you are learning.  One-on-one tutoring appointments with Emerald, Barb, Marv or Joe can be made with our front desk by calling 312-236-8569.

 

**11 This week on Eyes On Success:

 

1848 Expanding Services at APH (Nov. 28, 2018)

The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) recently began managing

several services that were part of the American Foundation for the Blind

(AFB). APH is also growing their efforts in direct consumer sales. Hosts

Nancy and Peter Torpey talk about these changes and what's new at APH with

Dave Wilkinson, Director of Sales and Customer Service.

 

1849 Blindness For Beginners

In her book "Blindness for Beginners", Maribel Steel takes us along her

journey of discovery where sight loss can become a renewed vision of the

possible. Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with her about her transition

from early diagnosis and rejection of being labelled as "disabled" to her

eventual acceptance of and success at making changes in her life.

 

1850 Exploring the World With Aira (Dec. 12, 2018) 

Aira is a service that connects a visually impaired user with a sighted

professional agent who delivers visual assistance anytime and anywhere.

Hosts Nancy and Peter Torpey talk with Jonathan Mosen, Vice President,

Australasia, and Explorer Communications, about some of the new options

being offered, and their expanding availability into public venues.

 

The audio and show notes can be found at: www.EyesOnSuccess.net <http://www.EyesOnSuccess.net>  and the podcast can be found on Apple podcasts. You can also listen to Eyes On success on your smart home device by saying

"play eyes On Success podcast".

 

**12 From Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired 

Our third Tech it Out on digital assistants (Alexa, Siri and Google) was a great discussion on the pros, cons, and helpful tips for using these valuable tools.

 

In case you weren't able to join the call (or tried and found the room was already full), here's a link to the recordings from our YouTube channel.

 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLcIupCht58IdgWQ5hDGeAtx06ng3dw0vl

 

Please know that we have added seats to our virtual room for these calls in to the future. Please join us.

 

Thank you!

Ricky Enger

Hadley Learning Expert

 

 

 

Thank you,
Kathy Ungaro
ICBV, Business Manager
(630)234-4444


Illinois Committee of Blind Vendors
53 W. Jackson Blvd. Suite 502
Chicago, IL 60604

 

 

This message (including attachments) is privileged and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please delete it without further distribution and reply to the sender that you have received the message in error.

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