[Njabs-talk] NJABS Conference Call Minutes for May 16, 2010

[Benjamin Vercellone]

NJABS Conference Call Minutes for May 16, 2010

8:03 PM: NFB Pledge read by Greg Rivera.

8:04 PM: New Business:

Evelyn said:

We are raising money for the Race for Independence.

NJ Student Soldiers is our team.

There are 11 people signed up now.

Check it out at www.raceforindependence.org 
<http://www.raceforindependence.org>

We raised $3380 already.

Exciting opportunity for future teachers of blind students.

Email will be posted on list serve.

Application attached.

8:06 PM: Greg Rivera, Board member, introduces David Denne from the 
Apple Accessibility Department.

He likes how it feels as a blind person working for Apple.

There are no problems with the people.

Interview process was not a problem at all.

It was very accessible.

Most of what had to be done was available electronically.

The iPhone will only work on GSM networks.

This is because of hardware limitations.

The iPhone uses a sim card, which is for the GSM Network.

He was introduced to apple and thought he liked it.

Voiceover is the screen reader on

all versions of the Mac,

the iPhone 3GS not including the 8 Gig version,

the iPod Touch not including the ones with the smallest capacities,

and the iPad.

the iPhone's and iPod Touch's that don't work simply don't have enough 
power for Voiceover.

Training materials are not required with Voiceover.

Voiceover is easier to learn than Jaws, and the user is given 
instructions in the beginning.

He met a man from Apple while he was working at a computer lab using 
voiceover.

They arranged an interview.

This is how he got this job.

Voiceover operates the same between the different versions of the Mac.

On touch screens, Voiceover works by gestures.

Example:

flicking in a direction with a finger does one thing, and there are 
other motions that do different things.

Some people who are more into hearing will do better with Voiceover.

People who are more tactual learners may have a harder time because a 
touch screen feels the same all over, and the feedback is by voice.

There is however support for Braille displays with Macs.

There may be Braille display support for iPhone soon as well, but David 
was not sure of this.

There is also magnification with Apple products.

it is called Zoom.

Apple believes in universal access.

Their products can be used by people with bad motor skills and who are 
hearing impaired also.

8:39 PM: David finished talking and left the call.

You may contact David Denne at:

mailto:dvddenne at gmail.com

Be sure to call in for the important June Conference Call.

If you call and hear music, you called too early.

You must hang up and call again.

No conference calls for July or August.

We will probably meet for a call only for board members at the end of 
August.

Attendance was taken.

Members present:

Evelyn Valdez - President.

Shafeka Hashash - Vice President.

Benjamin Vercellone - Secretary/treasurer.

Greg Rivera - Board member.

Melissa Hurff - Board member.

Jesica Scannell.

Priscilla Garsis.

Elisabeth Morgan.

Danielle Dibello.

Jason and Jeremy.

Danny Romero.

Brian Macke.

8:40 pm: announcements from students.

Danny Romero said:

Camp Marcella is up and running again.

Blind teens can now attend camp Marcella in the summer.

There are scholarships available and funding for everyone.

Contact Danny Romero at

mailto:dcromero314 at gmail.com

Ben Vercellone said:

In case it was not mentioned in this call already, voiceover does not 
cost anything extra after purchasing an Apple Product.

Respectfully submitted,

Benjamin Vercellone

NJABS, Secretary