News updates ...from National Braille Press and others...

Looking for the best Assistive Technology to address the needs of your students?
Take look at the searchable assistive technology listings at the Tech Matrix:
http://www.techmatrix.org/

National Braille Press Books
Just a short list of some books from the National Braille Press:
- Noah's Ark - Print/Braille Picture Book by book by five-time Caldecott Award-winner Jerry Pinkney that tells the story of the great flood; twelve delightful tactiles by tactile artist Ann Cunninghamhttp://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/NOAH.html
- Because Pictures Matter (BPM): A Guide to Using, Finding, and Creating Tactile Imagery for Blind Children by Deborah Kent
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/BPM.html?id=NJURAVc7
- Pathfinder Cards: Mazes (MAZES)
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/MAZES.html
- Touch and Learn Tactile Activity Book (TAC)
http://www.nbp.org/ic/nbp/TAC.html

HumanWare Launches Victor Reader Stream CD Edition
HumanWare is pleased to announce a new model of its popular Victor Reader Stream portable DAISY, MP3 player and voice recorder. The Victor Reader Stream CD Edition combines the worldwide renowned VR Stream and a special CD player accessory. The Stream CD Edition is perfect for people who do not have a personal computer. It is the easiest way to transfer a DAISY book on CD onto one single, portable audio playback device without the use of a computer.
“We have heard from many people who like the portability of the Victor Reader Stream but who do not use computers”, says Gerry Chevalier, Victor Reader Product Manager at HumanWare. “These are customers who receive DAISY CD books in the mail from their library. They tell us they would like to be able to transfer their CD book to the Stream because the Stream would be an ideal player when they are traveling or on the go. However, they also tell us they do not have or want to use a computer. With the Stream CD Edition we are now pleased to offer them a solution.”
Key Benefits:
• Ideal for readers who listen to DAISY CD books and do not use a computer
• Easy to use. Just attach the CD drive to the Stream, load the CD book, and press a single button to copy it to the Stream
• A short Getting Started audio book explains the steps and plays automatically when you power on the Stream CD Edition.
• The Stream CD Edition has the full feature set of the standard Stream so if users want to go beyond just listening to their DAISY CD books they can enjoy other types of books and music and even use the voice recorder. All documentation and tutorials are supplied on the SD card.
What's in the package?
1. One VR Stream with all the usual accessories (rechargeable battery & charger, ear buds, USB cables, documentation CD and a 2Gb SD card)
2. One VR Stream CD player Accessory especially designed to be used with the Stream
The CD player accessory is also available for purchase by existing Stream users who may not have a computer and are relying on others to transfer their CD DAISY books. Only the CD player supplied by HumanWare should be used as other CD drives have been found not to be electrically compatible and can damage the Stream.
For more information visit http://www.humanware.com/streamcd or in the U.S.A.
Call toll free 1-800-722-3393 or (925) 680-7100 or Email: us.info@humanware.com

Free PDF Reader/Converter
(From Dean Martineau's Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday at http://www.flying-blind.com/tidbits2010.html)
Nuance has released a free pdf reader which allows you to convert pdf documents to Word, .txt. .xls or RTF format online, to complete forms and all this in a smaller and, they say, more secure package than Adobe Reader.
http://www.nuance.com/imaging/products/pdf-reader.asp

The Sky's Not the Limit: Astronomy for the Blind and Visually Impaired
(Also from Dean Martineau's Top Tech Tidbits for Thursday at http://www.flying-blind.com/tidbits2010.html)
Great resources for studying astronomy, from Fred's Head at:
http://www.fredshead.info/2005/11/skys-not-limit-astronomy-for-blind-and.html

Making Broadway Accessible for the Disabled
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/02/making-broadway-accessible-for-the-disabled/