[IL-Talk] Fwd: Great Resources for You During The COVID19 Crisis

[Leslie Hamric]

I thought this would be useful information for us from Second Sense.
Leslie

Leslie Hamric
Cello and Braille Music Teacher
Board member of National Federation of the Blind Performing Arts Division

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Second Sense <kathy.austin at second-sense.org>
> Date: March 26, 2020 at 3:31:45 PM CDT
> To: Leslie <lhamric930 at comcast.net>
> Subject: Great Resources for You During The COVID19 Crisis
> Reply-To: Second Sense <kathy.austin at second-sense.org>
> 
> 
> Making Sense: April 2020
> For more information about any of the articles or to register for any of the Second Sense programs, please call us at 312-236-8569.
> 
> These articles are not an endorsement by Second Sense.  Editor: Kathy Austin
> 
> Please note: Screen-reader users -- you can use the quick key letter "H" to navigate article by article.  You can also use your screen reader's headings list keystroke for a list of article topics.
> Quick Links:
> Second Sense
> Second Opinions Blog
> Jalapenos in the Oatmeal Blog
> Twitter
> Facebook
> Dear Leslie,
> Here's your April 2020 issue of Making Sense.  We hope you find it informative.  Please feel free to share it with friends.
> To Our Readers
> We hope you are all well during this critical time. To say this is an interruption in our lives is an understatement. Like all of you, we are abiding by Governor Pritzker’s order to stay at home.  As of this writing, this order runs through April 7.  Please know that we are monitoring the news closely and when we get the word that it is safe to resume our normal services, we will notify you.  Our general voice mail at 312-236-8569 will have updated information on our reopening.  Staff members will be in contact with those clients whose services were cancelled due to COVID19 when it is safe to do so.  Updated information will also be distributed through our Facebook and Twitter pages, list servs and this newsletter.  Our Facebook and Twitter pages also have information you may find helpful during this trying time.  We are anxious to get back to providing the services that help you remain independent.  Please be safe and stay well.
> 
>  
> 2020 Census
> While our previously scheduled Second Sense Census Response Days have been derailed due to COVID19, we still encourage everyone to respond online or by phone to your Census invitation.  If you are responding online, it is recommended to use Internet Explorer (latest version) and the JAWS screen reader.  To respond online, visit 2020census.gov and click on the “respond” button.  If you do not respond to your Census invitation, you will receive an in-person visit from a Census worker at your home.  These visits are scheduled to begin in May, barring complications from COVID19.  To learn more about why responding is important, visit our recent Second Opinions blog post.  Please do your part and be counted!
> Getting Around During Stay-At-Home Orders
> While we are all doing our best to abide by the government’s orders, there are still times where we will need transportation — to a medical facility, grocery store, pharmacy or veterinarian.  Your paratransit services are considered essential services and will be running.  Paratransit services are asking that you practice social and physical distancing and proper hygiene when riding in vehicles.  You should also make sure to check that your destination is open before booking a ride and to reconsider all unnecessary travel.  B aware, too, that ride times may be affected during this time.  For Chicago TAP riders, effective March 23, Pace will waive the $3.00 fare.  Riders still must swipe their TAP cards, but no money will be taken from accounts.  You are still responsible for any charges over $30.00 and any city of Chicago taxes.  To sign up for alerts regarding northern Illinois Paratransit services, visit http://pacebus.com/.
> Need Sighted Assistance?
>  If you don’t have access to sighted assistance you normally count on, you can use Aira for free for five minutes.  Aira agents are specially trained to assist individuals with vision loss.  Your privacy is protected, so this service is especially helpful in reading credit card numbers or other personal and sensitive information.  If you are a college student and have to interact with a new platform, Aira is offering you free access until the end of the spring semester, May 2020.  BeMyEyes, also a great app for getting the assistance you may need, is useful for checking on the thermostat, reading food labels, locating lost items or tasks that may take longer than five minutes.  Both apps are free and can be found in the Apple App Store.
> Free Books You May Need
> National Braille Press (NBP) is offering free digital downloads of three book titles that may come in handy during Covid19:  Navigating Healthcare When All They Can See is that You Can’t by Deborah Kendrick, Getting Visual Assistance  with an iPhone by Judy Dixon and Dinner Delivered: Accessible and Easy Ways to  Receive Meals  Direct to Your Door by Kim  Loftis and Chris Grabowski. All are available as free digital downloads in Word, eBraille or DAISY formats.  Hard copy braille or USB drives are half price.  This offer is good through April 30.  Visit NBP’s digital download page to order.
> Hadley Discussion Group
> We can’t physically attend a support group in-person, but we can still stay connected with others.  Try out Hadley Institute for the Blind’s Discussion Groups.  You can join by computer or telephone right from home.  A wide variety of topics are sure to spark your interest —technology, creative writing, cooking, gardening and travel are just a few of the areas of discussion you’ll find there.  Best of all, the conversations are archived so you can listen later if you can’t make the live discussion. 
> Microsoft Office App Gets Good Reviews
>  Many of us are working from home for the first time, trying new platforms and ways to access the information we need to continue to work.  You may want to check out the new Microsoft Office app.  The free app offers Word, Excel and PowerPoint and has received good reviews for accessibility from AppleVis.  You can check out their review which includes a link to the Apple App Store page.
> Take a Break from the News
> Audio described programming has increased significantly in the past years.  The Audio Description Project, sponsored by the American Council of the Blind (ACB), has an extensive list of audio-described content.  Their master list includes cinema, DVD, streaming, TV titles and where to find them.  The listing was updated in February 2020.
> Don't Forget to Exercise!
> While we may all be stuck inside practicing social and physical distancing, you’ll want to make sure you get in some exercise.  Exercise helps our immune system function better, relieves stress and helps to burn off some of those extra calories we are all eating to pass the time.  The BlindAlive Eye Free Fitness MP3 audio exercise files are still available as a free download.  Choose from cardio, yoga, weights, relaxation and meditation – everything we need right now.  
> Free Children's Books from Audible.com
> For as long as schools are closed, Audible.com is offering streaming of their children’s’ book collection for free.  Books can be streamed to your desktop, laptop, phone or tablet. Browse through titles for all age groups from little listeners to tweens. Select your title and press the start listening button!
>  This Just In!
> Freedom Scientific is offering a free, special license to anyone with a valid personal email address in the U.S. and Canada for JAWS, ZoomText or Fusion.  You must be running either Windows 10 or 7.  No remote assistance is provided. The licenses are valid through June 2020.  Visit this Freedom   Scientific webpage to enter your email address
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