From jose.martinez07 at gmail.com  Mon Oct  3 20:59:08 2011
From: jose.martinez07 at gmail.com (Jose Martinez)
Date: Mon, 3 Oct 2011 15:59:08 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] NFBSA reminder and announcement
Message-ID: <CANAdVS8_higo43Rv-6zHyvN++gn2Bz1dXPjL1nSGTCbSLmLB4g@mail.gmail.com>

To all members,

Please note that this month?s meeting and Braille class will be back
at the Bordon Building,

4241 E. Piedras.

On October 15, from 10:30 to 2:30 pm.

Also, for all those individuals planning to attend the State
Convention and are wanting chapter assistance. The deadline to have a
copy of your hotel reservations to either Bryan or myself is October
15.

For information on the state convention go to:

www.Nfb-texas.org

Thanks

A.	Z.
President



From pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com  Tue Oct  4 22:13:13 2011
From: pdonahue2 at satx.rr.com (Peter Donahue)
Date: Tue, 4 Oct 2011 17:13:13 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] Braille Class Phone Gathering
Message-ID: <000301cc82e2$d01ef010$9e010b43@yourfsyly0jtwn>

Hello everyone,

    There will be a Braille class telephone gathering this Thursday night, 
October 6, 2011 at 7:30 P.M. If you wish to participate on the call, please 
dial (605) 477-2100. When prompted, please enter the access code of 677371#. 
This conference/gathering will be recorded. We will recap Lessons 1 and 2 
from the last class and take any questions anyone may have. In addition, I 
want to talk about the Braille class discussion list, and I want to talk 
about the Braille Readers Are Leaders contest that starts on November 1. 
Registration for the contest began this past Saturday.

    I also want to remind everyone about the upcoming Braille class on 
October 15 at that time, too, so please remember to mark your calendars.

    Please let me know one way or the other whether or not you will be 
participating on the call on Thursday. You can reach me either by responding 
to this email or by calling (210) 826-9579 evenings.

    In the meantime, all the best for a good two days, and we will talk 
Thursday night!

Mary Donahue, Braille Class Lead Instructor

"Will you come and awake our lost land from its slumber
      And her fetters we'll break, links that long are encumbered.
      And the air will resound with hosannas to greet you
      On the shore will be found gallant Irishmen to greet you."
Will You Come to the Bower
Traditional Irish Folk Song




From jose.martinez07 at gmail.com  Wed Oct  5 13:51:01 2011
From: jose.martinez07 at gmail.com (Jose Martinez)
Date: Wed, 5 Oct 2011 08:51:01 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] U.S. Representatives Stearns
 and Bishop Introduce Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act
In-Reply-To: <auto-000030295063@mailfront4.g2host.com>
References: <auto-000030295063@mailfront4.g2host.com>
Message-ID: <CANAdVS9SkYKCrJFLHb7=NALhj9SY6eczKVVdwgrkm5r8-Ym15A@mail.gmail.com>

A large step has been taken!

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Freeh, Jessica" <JFreeh at nfb.org>
Date: Wed, 05 Oct 2011 03:44:18 -0500
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] U.S. Representatives Stearns and Bishop
Introduce Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE



CONTACT:

Chris Danielsen

Director of Public Relations

National Federation of the Blind

(410) 659-9314, extension 2330

(410) 262-1281 (Cell)

<mailto:cdanielsen at nfb.org>cdanielsen at nfb.org




U.S. Representatives Stearns and Bishop Introduce
Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act




National Federation of the Blind Commends Action



Washington, D.C. (October 4, 2011): Congressman Cliff Stearns (R-FL)
and Congressman Tim Bishop (D-NY) today introduced the Fair Wages for
Workers with Disabilities Act of 2011 (H.R. 3086).  The bill would
phase out Section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), which
allows employers holding special wage certificates to pay their
workers with disabilities less than the federal minimum wage.



Dr. Marc Maurer, President of the National Federation of the Blind,
said: "The Fair Wages for Workers with Disabilities Act is a
long-overdue effort to correct an injustice written into a law meant
to protect all American workers from abuse and exploitation.  Workers
with disabilities were excluded from the protections of the Fair
Labor Standards Act because of the false belief that we cannot be as
productive as Americans without disabilities.  Courage and creativity
are required to replace the misguided benevolence that has
historically shaped policies toward people with disabilities with
real opportunity for our equal employment and full participation in
the workplace.  We applaud Representatives Stearns and Bishop and we
hope that a significant majority of their colleagues possess the
courage and creativity to end over seventy years of exploitation of
people with disabilities."



"Simple fairness and decency require that workers with disabilities
receive equal pay for equal work," said Congressman Stearns.  "I am
asking all of my colleagues to join me in this historic effort to end
wage discrimination against workers with disabilities once and for all."



"Ensuring that Americans with disabilities receive equal pay for
equal work is more than a matter of basic fairness, it's a
long-overdue acknowledgement of the value disabled Americans
contribute to our workplaces every day," said Congressman Tim
Bishop.  "I hope all of my colleagues will support this bipartisan
effort to correct over seventy years of injustice."



For more information about the Fair Wages for Workers with
Disabilities Act and the National Federation of the Blind, please
visit <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org.







###




About the National Federation of the Blind

With more than 50,000 members, the National Federation of the Blind
is the largest and most influential membership organization of blind
people in the United States.  The NFB improves blind people's lives
through advocacy, education, research, technology, and programs
encouraging independence and self-confidence.  It is the leading
force in the blindness field today and the voice of the nation's
blind.  In January 2004 the NFB opened the National Federation of the
Blind Jernigan Institute, the first research and training center in
the United States for the blind led by the blind.



From jose.martinez07 at gmail.com  Fri Oct  7 13:04:06 2011
From: jose.martinez07 at gmail.com (Jose Martinez)
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 08:04:06 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] Fwd: [Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: It is time to fight for
 Fair Wages for People with Disabilities, H.R. 3086
In-Reply-To: <auto-000030589212@mailfront4.g2host.com>
References: <auto-000030589212@mailfront4.g2host.com>
Message-ID: <CANAdVS90C1+426CKhJd+wiWxez5DP6yy-d+hsMydZxW5=MwfTA@mail.gmail.com>

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: David Andrews <dandrews at visi.com>
Date: Thu, 06 Oct 2011 20:23:54 -0500
Subject: [Nfbnet-members-list] Fwd: It is time to fight for Fair Wages
for People with Disabilities, H.R. 3086
To: nfbnet-members-list at nfbnet.org


>
>It is time to fight for Fair Wages for People with Disabilities,
>H.R. 3086.  <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
>"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />
>
>
>
>We need to mobilize and gain quick cosponsor support.  Call and/or
>schedule meetings with your Member of Congress immediately and
>express your support for H.R. 3086, the Fair Wages for People with
>Disabilities Act of 2011.  Our success is dependent on our efforts
>to respectfully educate all Members of Congress so that they
>understand the true employment capacity of people with
>disabilities.  Many of our talking points are listed in the Findings
>section of the Fair Wages for People with Disabilities bill.  The
>text of the bill can be found at:
><http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3086:>http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/z?c112:H.R.3086:#.
>If you secure an opportunity to speak with the Member or the
>appropriate staffer, begin the education by sharing the following
>three points with them:
>
>
>    * The Tools Exist for Competitive Employment of People with
> Disabilities.  Most people still believe that people with
> disabilities cannot be competitively employed at or above the
> federal minimum wage.  Rehabilitations services, employment
> strategies, and adaptive technologies make it possible for people
> with even the most significant disabilities to obtain employment at
> the federal minimum wage or higher.
>
>
>    * It is Illogical for Doubters to Provide Training and/or
> Employment.  For years, those entities that have doubted the
> capacity of people with disabilities to be competitively employed
> have been responsible for providing employment at subminimum
> wages.  This is extremely backward logic.  Employers that cannot
> provide the proper training and support for people with
> disabilities to obtain competitive employment at competitive wages
> should not be providing training or employment for people with disabilities.
>
>
>    * Removing the Misconception of Incapacity Provides More
> Employment Opportunities.  Employment of people with disabilities
> at subminimum wages supports the misperception that people with
> disabilities are not productive enough to earn competitive
> wages.  This misperception is the largest barrier to the real
> employment of people with disabilities.  By eliminating the legal
> contention that people with disabilities lack capacity for
> competitive employment, it is affirmed that when given the proper
> training, support, and opportunities, people with disabilities can
> be competitively employed in a variety of vocational environments
> at competitive wages.
>
>
>
>We need you to schedule visits in your local districts immediately
>and to make your calls to the Member's local and D.C. offices right
>now.  If they are willing to cosponsor, refer them to the following staffers:
>
>
>
>Office of Representative Cliff Stearns (Republican, Sponsor)
>
>James Thomas, Legislative Director/O&I Policy Coordinator
>
>Phone: (202) 225-5744
>
>
>
>Office of Representative Tim Bishop (Democrat, Lead Cosponsor)
>
>Joanna Sara, Senior Legislative Assistant
>
>Phone: (202) 225-3826
>
>
>
>After you have had your visit or made your call, please provide me
>with the following information:
>
>Which Member of Congress?
>
>Which State?
>
>Who did you speak to?
>
>
>
>Ask the question, "Will the Member cosponsor the Fair Wages for
>People with Disabilities legislation?"  What was their response?
>
>(  ) I was only able to express my support.
>
>(  ) The Member would like to co-sponsor
>
>(  ) The Member needs to research the issue.
>
>(  ) The Member can not support this legislation.
>
>(  ) Other: Explain________________________________
>
>
>
>Please contact me if you have any questions.  Also, feel free to
>refer the staffers directly to me (my contact information is at the
>end of this e-mail).
>
>
>
>We have been working toward this goal since the founding of our
>organization.  The time is now for us to fight for Fair Wages for
>People with Disabilities, H.R. 3086.
>
>
>
>Sincerely,
>
>
>
>Anil
>
>
>
>Mr. Anil Lewis, M.P.A.
>
>Director of Strategic Communications
>
>
>
>"Eliminating Subminimum Wages for People with Disabilities"
>
><http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Fair_Wages_For_Workers_With_Disabilities.asp>http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Fair_Wages_For_Workers_With_Disabilities.asp
>
>
>
>NATIONAL FEDERATION OF THE BLIND
>
>200 East Wells Street at Jernigan Place
>
>Baltimore, Maryland 21230
>
>(410) 659-9314 ext. 2374 (Voice)
>
>(410) 685-5653 (Fax)
>
>E-mail: <mailto:alewis at nfb.org>alewis at nfb.org
>
>Web: <http://www.nfb.org/>www.nfb.org
>
>



From jose.martinez07 at gmail.com  Fri Oct  7 21:24:16 2011
From: jose.martinez07 at gmail.com (Jose Martinez)
Date: Fri, 7 Oct 2011 16:24:16 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] NFB Chapter Meeting
Message-ID: <CANAdVS9OxV-WZgqXvXGw=LAoUOxBL3r0V4Ni3HtXKNqoftCYKg@mail.gmail.com>

?	NFB Monthly Chapter Meeting

Come join the NFB local chapter at this months meeting at our
temporary location!

Date: Saturday, October 15,

Time: 1:00 to 2:30 pm

Location: Bordon Building
4241 E. Piedras
(At the corner of Centerview and E. Piedras)

Agenda,

? Local and national updates,
?	Update on meet the blind month
?	Legislative update
? Discussions on blindness related issues
? Committee row call,

The National Federation of The Blind is the voice of the nation?s
blind and leader in blindness related projects such as The Blind
Driver Challenge. For more information go to:

WWW.NFBSATX.ORG



From jose.martinez07 at gmail.com  Fri Oct 14 14:54:40 2011
From: jose.martinez07 at gmail.com (Jose Martinez)
Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:54:40 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] Fwd: [NFBT] Book it Now! NFBT Convention Block of Rooms
 released on Oct. 25
In-Reply-To: <CAOhjnCq-sTQJK7y1FJNtfThMVneiozA_5QvF-TTZLxm6McM6fw@mail.gmail.com>
References: <CAOhjnCq-sTQJK7y1FJNtfThMVneiozA_5QvF-TTZLxm6McM6fw@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CANAdVS_kX_ThYyLxRkPXtrK2v_8-6DbhcF=NUm1EOz1NoJ4+Pw@mail.gmail.com>

Just as a friendly reminder. Your hotel confirmation is due by
tomorrow so you can be able to utalize the chapter help.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Kimberly Aguillard Flores <kimberly.aguillard at gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 14 Oct 2011 09:39:20 -0500
Subject: [NFBT] Book it Now! NFBT Convention Block of Rooms released on Oct. 25
To: members at nfbtx.org

Friends,

Please do not delay a minute more! If you are planning to attend our
state convention, 1. good choice, and 2. if you have not already
booked your hotel room, please do so immediately. Reference the
National Federation of the Blind of Texas in order to secure our
amazing rate of only $75 per night, plus the required 15% local taxes.

To reserve your room, phone (512) 451-5757 or (888-300-6273).

Our preregistration is also up and running, so if you haven't signed
up through our website, do that now and save a few dollars too.

Thanks so much!

Kimberly

_______________________________________________
Members mailing list
Members at nfbtx.org
http://nfbtx.org/mailman/listinfo/members_nfbtx.org



From braille at satx.rr.com  Tue Oct 18 01:28:45 2011
From: braille at satx.rr.com (Mary Donahue)
Date: Mon, 17 Oct 2011 20:28:45 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] I'm Up and Running Again with New Computer and Email
Message-ID: <4E9CD64D.6020106@satx.rr.com>

Hi everyone,

     Just a quick note to let you all know that my computer was set up 
Saturday afternoon and evening. Pete installed Mozilla Thunderbird today 
so I will have a backup email program. Lord willing, tomorrow the issue 
with Office 2010 will be resolved, too. In the meantime, carry on, and 
have a great evening!

Mary Donahue, List Moderator




From jose.martinez07 at gmail.com  Mon Oct 24 17:26:06 2011
From: jose.martinez07 at gmail.com (Jose Martinez)
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:26:06 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] A Touch Screen Braille Keyboard coming soon
Message-ID: <CANAdVS8mdONsSUGZfxWntA0Ay=238P0x_4yba4V5J-iReMzvqw@mail.gmail.com>

Feature Writer Alena Roberts - A Touch Screen Braille Keyboard Coming
to a Tablet Near You

The ability to use a touch screen as a blind person is amazing, but it
is still quite difficult to type efficiently. IOS devices like the
iPhone can have a physical blue tooth keyboard or braille display
attached to them, but this adds extra cost and requires extra space
for traveling. What if instead, the blind could write using a braille
keyboard on the touch screen itself? Well now, a team at Stanford
University has come up with a way to do this.

According to the lead designer, to use the braille keyboard the person
simply places their eight fingers on the touch screen once. The touch
screen then recognizes that the person wants to type using braille. As
long as the person keeps their fingers close to where they started,
they can start typing and the program will adjust to movements in your
finger position. If you want to get a drink of water or move your
hands to do something else, simply put eight fingers back on the touch
screen and tap once and you can start typing again.

This project could be a way to increase braille literacy because the
software will be built into the device. Braille displays and
notetakers cost thousands of dollars which puts them out of reach for
a majority of the blind community. If a braille keyboard was available
on a tablet PC, then far more people would have access. The next step
should be building in braille output, but that will be more of a
challenge.

To learn more about the project, listen to this episode of the market
place tech report:
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/www_publicradio/tools/media_player/popup.php?name=marketplace/tech_report/2011/10/17/marketplace_tech_report20111017_64

You can also watch this YouTube video presented by Standford
University: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABfCXJSjAq0



From jose.martinez07 at gmail.com  Mon Oct 24 17:26:09 2011
From: jose.martinez07 at gmail.com (Jose Martinez)
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 12:26:09 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] A Touch Screen Braille Keyboard coming soon
Message-ID: <CANAdVS_uKog8oq4VGN_vZzB5u0c9xyLRCzjjMku0s3TxhMJieA@mail.gmail.com>

Feature Writer Alena Roberts - A Touch Screen Braille Keyboard Coming
to a Tablet Near You

The ability to use a touch screen as a blind person is amazing, but it
is still quite difficult to type efficiently. IOS devices like the
iPhone can have a physical blue tooth keyboard or braille display
attached to them, but this adds extra cost and requires extra space
for traveling. What if instead, the blind could write using a braille
keyboard on the touch screen itself? Well now, a team at Stanford
University has come up with a way to do this.

According to the lead designer, to use the braille keyboard the person
simply places their eight fingers on the touch screen once. The touch
screen then recognizes that the person wants to type using braille. As
long as the person keeps their fingers close to where they started,
they can start typing and the program will adjust to movements in your
finger position. If you want to get a drink of water or move your
hands to do something else, simply put eight fingers back on the touch
screen and tap once and you can start typing again.

This project could be a way to increase braille literacy because the
software will be built into the device. Braille displays and
notetakers cost thousands of dollars which puts them out of reach for
a majority of the blind community. If a braille keyboard was available
on a tablet PC, then far more people would have access. The next step
should be building in braille output, but that will be more of a
challenge.

To learn more about the project, listen to this episode of the market
place tech report:
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/www_publicradio/tools/media_player/popup.php?name=marketplace/tech_report/2011/10/17/marketplace_tech_report20111017_64

You can also watch this YouTube video presented by Standford
University: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABfCXJSjAq0



From braille at satx.rr.com  Mon Oct 24 19:13:21 2011
From: braille at satx.rr.com (Mary Donahue)
Date: Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:13:21 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] A Touch Screen Braille Keyboard coming soon
References: <CANAdVS_uKog8oq4VGN_vZzB5u0c9xyLRCzjjMku0s3TxhMJieA@mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <48A0596452D243A3B5F13B1B29318C4C@valuedcf71de43>

Hello everyone,

    Being able to enter Braille via a touch screen is only half of the 
equation. For such a device to be of any use you need both Braille input and 
output. I'll applaud these guys for trying but they need to develop a 
solution that allows one to enter Braille with a touch screen and then be 
able to proofread what they've written hence the need for simultaneous work 
on both touch screen Braille input and tactile Braille output devices which 
will be cheaper than current Braille display technology. JMO.

Peter Donahue

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jose Martinez" <jose.martinez07 at gmail.com>
To: "San Antonio Texas Chapter Mailing List" <Nfbsatx at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 24, 2011 12:26 PM
Subject: [Nfbsatx] A Touch Screen Braille Keyboard coming soon


> Feature Writer Alena Roberts - A Touch Screen Braille Keyboard Coming
> to a Tablet Near You
>
> The ability to use a touch screen as a blind person is amazing, but it
> is still quite difficult to type efficiently. IOS devices like the
> iPhone can have a physical blue tooth keyboard or braille display
> attached to them, but this adds extra cost and requires extra space
> for traveling. What if instead, the blind could write using a braille
> keyboard on the touch screen itself? Well now, a team at Stanford
> University has come up with a way to do this.
>
> According to the lead designer, to use the braille keyboard the person
> simply places their eight fingers on the touch screen once. The touch
> screen then recognizes that the person wants to type using braille. As
> long as the person keeps their fingers close to where they started,
> they can start typing and the program will adjust to movements in your
> finger position. If you want to get a drink of water or move your
> hands to do something else, simply put eight fingers back on the touch
> screen and tap once and you can start typing again.
>
> This project could be a way to increase braille literacy because the
> software will be built into the device. Braille displays and
> notetakers cost thousands of dollars which puts them out of reach for
> a majority of the blind community. If a braille keyboard was available
> on a tablet PC, then far more people would have access. The next step
> should be building in braille output, but that will be more of a
> challenge.
>
> To learn more about the project, listen to this episode of the market
> place tech report:
> http://marketplace.publicradio.org/www_publicradio/tools/media_player/popup.php?name=marketplace/tech_report/2011/10/17/marketplace_tech_report20111017_64
>
> You can also watch this YouTube video presented by Standford
> University: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABfCXJSjAq0
>
> _______________________________________________
> Nfbsatx mailing list
> Nfbsatx at nfbnet.org
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/listinfo/nfbsatx_nfbnet.org
> To unsubscribe, change your list options or get your account info for 
> Nfbsatx:
> http://nfbnet.org/mailman/options/nfbsatx_nfbnet.org/braille%40satx.rr.com 




From braille at satx.rr.com  Tue Oct 25 21:50:15 2011
From: braille at satx.rr.com (Mary Donahue)
Date: Tue, 25 Oct 2011 16:50:15 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] stuff for the list
In-Reply-To: <4EA6F63B.1010305@carrtronics.com>
References: <4EA6F63B.1010305@carrtronics.com>
Message-ID: <4EA72F17.4040809@satx.rr.com>

On 10/25/2011 12:47 PM, Daniel Carr wrote:
> Hi Mary,
>
> Below is that I was taking about
> could you it to the list?
>
> Thank You,
> Daniel
> Carrtronics Inc
>
> subject: The Hot Tamales is selling homemade Tamales
>
> Hi All,
>
> The Hot Tamales is selling homemade Tamales for $7 a dozen.
>
> They are making pork, chicken, bean and Chili Tamales
>
> Call Hot Tamale Christina at 210-291-2896
>
> Pass this on.
> They are very good.
>
>




From jose.martinez07 at gmail.com  Fri Oct 28 02:04:31 2011
From: jose.martinez07 at gmail.com (Jose Martinez)
Date: Thu, 27 Oct 2011 21:04:31 -0500
Subject: [Nfbsatx] Secret Santa Request
Message-ID: <CANAdVS_YaFiJtO17O3VzsNHFx0Rpf1=zXqVXg92br8voKDZA0A@mail.gmail.com>

Dear Members,

If you plan to attend our Christmas celebration and plan to be apart
of the secret Santa, we would like to know so that we can make sure to
have your name in the list so people can draw names at our next
meeting.

So please let Denise or Athalie know in the next week if you are
planning to participate.

Athalie:
210-445-1174
Denise:
210-838-1395

Thank you

A. Z.