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<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">This note is meant to announce
that a high-profile blindness symposium is to</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">occur in McKenna Hall on the
campus of The University of Notre Dame on</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Fri., 6 March, 2009, from
9:00-5:45.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Please forward to</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">anyone you believe might have an
interest in this, perhaps posting an</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">advisory in any newsletter or
podcast to which you contribute.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Because the greater South Bend,
Indiana, area is reasonably close to</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Chicagoland, southern Michigan,
Indianapolis, and Ohio, a significant number</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">of persons will potentially find
it feasible to attend.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The highest
profile</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">facets of this event are the</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">keynote address by Dr. Marc
Maurer, president of the National</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Federation of the Blind; and the
presence of Olympic gold medal-winning</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">swimmer and entrepreneur Adolph
Kiefer.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Dr. Maurer will be on
center</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">stage roughly from 10:45 A.M. to
12:30 P.M and will speak directly to</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">the enormous gap that remains in
respect to employment of the blind in</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">21st century America.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Kiefer will participate while a paper on
a new</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">swimming</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">navigational aid for the blind is
presented at 3:30 in the afternoon.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Another noteworthy fact is that
this upcoming symposium has been</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">created at Notre Dame and is
being administered by an ND</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">special professional, Dr. Essaka
Joshua, who conducts and supervises</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">academic</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">research in the area of
disability studies.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>So this will be
first and</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">foremost an academic conference
put on by one of North America's most</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">prestigious institutions of
higher learning.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>To that end,
papers about the</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">literary and</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">historical significance of
blindness through the ages will be formally</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">presented by scholars from
universities both in the USA and in Europe.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Athletically-minded attendees and
parents of blind swimmers will be able to</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">see first-hand a brand-new,
highly affordable navigational aid called</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">AdapTap that blind swimmers may
use to keep their bearings in the often</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">confusing and fast-moving</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">environment of a swimming
pool.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Attached to this message are
both a flier</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">and a poster describing the
formal part of this symposium.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>These are</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">official promotional pieces
created at Notre Dame, and both the flier and</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">poster are suitable for immediate
handout or mounted display.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They
are</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">accessible to blind computer
users as well, if opened in any version of</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Adobe Reader or Adobe Acrobat
identified as 7.x or later, in conjunction</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">with either JAWS for Windows or
Window-Eyes screen reading software.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In addition, there is a second
aspect to the March 6 symposium, intended to</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">line up with the practical needs
of teachers or members of the blind</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">community:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Following Dr. Maurer's time in the
spotlight and a brief lunch</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">break, the afternoon will feature
a technology fair that</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">runs concurrently with the last
three paper presentations.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As a</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">part of that tech fair, we will
present four focused seminars of</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">practical and educational
significance to special education teachers,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">vocational rehabilitation
professionals, blind persons, and family members</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">or friends of blind persons.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The lineup for these presentations, as
it</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">stands now, is as follows:</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">2:00 PM:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Select members from the leadership team
of GW Micro, developers of the Window-Eyes screen reading program and
distributors of the Braille Sense notetaker, the SenseNav GPS system, and the
SenseView closed circuit TV, show off the benefits and new features related to
their increasingly robust and popular products. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">3:00 PM:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The Sendero Group, featuring accessible
GPS solutions and</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">other leading-edge portable
technology for the blind.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Enter a
drawing for a chance to win a signed copy of “Crashing Through,” the
inspirational true story of Sendero’s president and adventurer-in-chief Michael
May.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This book, authored by Robert
Kurson, was published by Random House in 2007 and is available in Braille, CD,
cassette tape, and Internet download. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">4:00 PM:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Wade Wingler of the Easter Seals
Crossroads Assistive</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Technology Center in
Indianapolis.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Wade discusses the
new INDATA</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Project making technology
affordable for members of the disabled</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">community who earn a low income
and/or who do not qualify for direct</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">state funding assistance.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">5:00 PM:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Hadley School for the Blind, based in
Winnetka, Illinois.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Hadley has provided distance
learning opportunities in Braille, in</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">large print, and now online, for
nearly 90 years to blind citizens of</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">more than 100 countries.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">In addition to the presenters
listed above, we are expecting</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">demonstration/informational
booths<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>to be staffed by adec Inc.,
Bosma</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Enterprises, Chicago Lighthouse
for the Blind, Cross Roads-Easter Seals, Envision America, Eye Can See, GH LLC,
GW Micro, Hadley School</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">for the Blind, the Indiana
Talking Book and Braille Library, the National</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Federation of the Blind of
Indiana, Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Sendero Group, the Social
Security Administration, United States Association of Blind Athletes (USABA),
among others.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Last but not least, we hope to
get a sneak peek at some experimental</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">navigational technology not yet
released to the general public that is being</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">developed and tested in</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">the nations that make up the
European Union.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At least one of
these</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">experimental devices never has
been seen before in North America.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Attached</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">to this message is a detailed
description of these and all other exhibitors</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">who have agreed thus far to
participate.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>The description is
formatted so</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">that it should open in any
version of Microsoft Word released since the year</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">1998.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Both the academic conference and
the technology fair will be open at</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">no charge to the general
public.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But because space in the
auditorium and</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">demonstration rooms is limited,
registration is strongly encouraged.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">If you wish to attend, or if you
have a question relating specifically to</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">the academic portion of the March
6 program, please send a message to</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><A
href="mailto:ejoshua@nd.edu">ejoshua@nd.edu</A></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">For more information about the
technology fair portion of the afternoon's</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">proceedings, you are encouraged
to write personally to one or both of the</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">co-coordinators: Kane Brolin</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">kbrolin65 @ gmail.com</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>or Lori Miller</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Lori @ asmodean.net</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Sincerely,</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Kane Brolin</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Office:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(5..., Ext. 1</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Mobile:<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>(574)386-8868</P></DIV></BODY></HTML>