[Nfbwv-talk] TECHNOLOGY EXPO AT NFBWV STATE CONVENTION

Tue Aug 26 17:44:51 UTC 2014

Sounds like a great tech day.  I was hoping to make it back to WV for the
convention, but I'm not going to be able to swing it this year.  I'm still
getting my sea legs at Yahoo and getting used to life in California.  Paula
and I hope you all have a great convention, and we wish we could be there
with you.

Darren

-----Original Message-----
From: Nfbwv-talk [mailto:nfbwv-talk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Ed
McDonald via Nfbwv-talk
Sent: Monday, August 25, 2014 6:43 PM
To: NFBWV Discussion List
Subject: [Nfbwv-talk] TECHNOLOGY EXPO AT NFBWV STATE CONVENTION

Fellow Federationists,

Below is a news release concerning the Technology Expo and Workshop planned
for our upcoming NFBWV State Convention in Bridgeport. It should give you a
pretty good idea of what's in store, and we hope many of you will plan to
attend.

Needless to say, the release has been written for "public
consumption"--intended primarily for audiences outside the NFB. We hope to
attract some blind persons--from students to senior citizens--who are not
part of the Federation. We also want to reach out to VI teachers,
rehabilitation counselors, and other such professionals in the blindness
field who may wish to learn more about any or all of these technologies.

Thus, we invite all of you to help spread the word by sharing this
information with anyone you think might be interested. We will, of course,
be making it available to news media throughout the state.

Let's all do what we can to help make this a successful event.

Thanks,

Ed

##################################################

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia (NFBWV) will present
"Get Your Hands on It," an expo and workshop on affordable technology for
people who are blind or have low vision.  This half-day event is open to all
interested persons and takes place Friday, September 12, at the Best Western
Bridgeport Inn, Bridgeport, WV, starting at 8:30 AM.

There will be opportunities for persons with visual impairments to get a
"hands-on" introduction to a variety of affordable technologies that enable
them to use Windows and iOS devices by non-visual means.  Apple products
such as the iPhone and iPod come equipped with VoiceOver, a feature that
makes it possible to use the device with synthetic speech.  There are also
several free and low-cost programs that use speech and/or magnification to
read the screen on windows-based computers.

Representatives from the West Virginia Library Commission's Talking Book
services will be on hand to offer assistance with downloading and reading
audio books from a variety of sources.

There will also be demonstrations of a new app that enables Apple users to
"read" print documents.  The KNFB Reader app uses the iPhone camera to take
a picture of the document and convert the text to speech.

In addition to all of these "high-tech" options, the West Virginia Assistive
Technology System (WVATS) will make available a variety of "low-tech" 
devices for people to examine and try out.

"We are surrounded by a cornucopia of accessible technology, and much of it
is available for free or at very affordable prices," expo coordinator Brad
Hodges said.  "The only barrier which holds us back is knowledge.  Our
technology expo and workshop will help you gain both the knowledge to begin
using Windows and Apple access technology for yourself, and help instill the
confidence to see you climb all the way up the learning curve to success," 
Hodges added.

The event begins at 8:30 AM with a "breakfast briefing." Attendees may bring
a continental breakfast to the expo room for an overview of the technology
presentations scheduled for the morning.  Then the room full of work
stations will be open for individuals to "get your hands on" this technology
and learn some basics about how it works.

During the noon hour, a "lunch and learn" will conclude the event with a
panel discussion on the past, present, and future of access technology for
blind and visually impaired individuals.

For more information contact Hodges at 304-523-0369.

"Get Your Hands on It" is the opening event of the 2014 convention of the
National Federation of the Blind of West Virginia.  NFBWV is a state
affiliate of the National Federation of the Blind, the nation's oldest and
largest organization of blind persons.  More information about this and
other NFBWV activities is available at www.nfbwv.org.

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the
characteristic that defines you or your future.  Every day we raise the
expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles
between blind people and our dreams.  You can live the life you want;
blindness is not what holds you back.

--30-- 

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