[Ohio-talk] Cool things to know about from convention

[Rachel Kuntz]

Hello Friends,

 

It was such a privilege to have had the chance to attend this year's
convention. I joined the NFB Cincinnati affiliate a few short months ago and
felt it was time for me to venture out on my own in order to immerse myself
in the NFB culture. At convention, I met some wonderful people and had an
amazing time running from one session to the next. While I enjoyed all
aspects of the convention there are a few things that really stood out that
were not part of the main convention that I thought would be good to share
with the Ohio list. I include them by category in the message below. I hope
that you too get something from my picks for art, recreation, and
technology. 

 

Art

 

The company 3D Photo Works brought 3D replicas of a few famous art pieces to
the convention. The experience of feeling the intricate detail of the "Mona
Lisa" by Leonardo de Vinci was thrilling. I could not believe how this
company made every detail something to touch. It was the first time I fully
appreciated this famous painting. This is something I will remember for a
lifetime. A mission of this company is to make all famous artwork accessible
to the blind. Visit their website to learn more at www.3dphotoworks.com. 

 

Recreation

 

The sports and recreation session offered a variety of cool things to look
into after the convention. My favorite was my introduction to Richard Gibbs
the founder of 64 Ounce Games. His company takes popular board games and
makes them accessible to the blind. Richard is a self-declared board game
junky who has created accessibility kits for hundreds of board games. As
someone who has sat on the side line while my family plays a new board game,
I really am excited to check out what he has available. Here's how it works.
Order a kit for a game that you already own. When it arrives, you follow the
directions to combine the original game with the kit. It is that easy. For
example the kit for the game Apples to Apples are simple clear sleeves
containing braille that you slip the original card into. The kits and tips
to make board games accessible are located on his website at
www.64ouncegames.com.

. 

Technology

 

There was a ton of fantastic new technology on display at exhibit halls and
in sessions. The best part of convention is having a chance to play with the
latest equipment. My top pick was a product called ORCAM. ORCAM is a
wearable device that slips onto the temple of any type of eyewear. It looks
like a Bluetooth headset so you won't look like a cyborg when wearing it.
This little device has a camera which can recognize personal objects as well
as faces and read. I found it to be very easy to use. Check out their
website at www.orcam.com for more information.

 

 

Live the life you want!

 

Rachel Kuntz

937 245-0547 

rachelrkuntz at gmail.com