Monitor Miniatures

Monitor Miniatures

Braille Monitor
April 2015

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Monitor Miniatures
News from the Federation Family
Accessibility of Common Core Assessments
As students participate in PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career) and Smarter Balanced assessments this spring, we ask that parents, students, and teachers take time to complete the NFB’s Common Core assessment online survey. In particular we want to know when and where accessibility and accommodation failures happen so that we can help ensure that any problems are fixed. Please take time to complete this important survey.
To learn more about the Common Core State Standards, PARCC, Smarter Balanced, and the NFB’s efforts regarding each, see the NFB’s Common Core State Standards Testing Accessibility webpage, which can be found at <https://nfb.org/common-core-state-standards-testing-accessibility>.
Fair Wages Now:
Many readers will remember that at the 2013 convention of the National Federation of the Blind we heard from Harold and Shelia Leigland. Sheila was a former employee of Goodwill who decided she would not work for the low wages they paid. Harold wanted better wages but was still working for Goodwill.
Recently Joy Breslauer, president of the National Federation of the Blind of Montana, sent the following note to President Riccobono:
“I am writing to bring to your attention an email I received this morning from Sheila Leigland, one of the delegates from the National Federation of the Blind of Montana with whom you met on January 27. You may remember that her husband, who is blind, currently is employed by an entity which holds a special wage certificate allowing him to be paid subminimum wages.
Sheila gave me a few more background details to include in her email below. I send it to you with her permission.
‘My husband had a thirty-minute timing at work last July that raised his wages from $4.33 an hour to $7.61 an hour. He had a timing yesterday that took over four hours, and as a result of that timing he is now making $2.75 per hour for the next thirty days, a training wage. A committee of fourteen people revised the way the timing was done. The timing consisted of doing tasks that he does not normally do on his job. He has requested a new timing based on these results. In this timing he was to place five toys in each bag, and he was to find toys that have at least some way in which they were alike or could be matched together. There were items that he couldn't identify, and even some people with vision had no idea what they were. We believe the timing is discriminatory. I don't know of any nondisabled person who would accept this kind of treatment. He has requested another timing, and they have proposed doing a timing to see how many Beanie Babies he can place in bags in thirty minutes. If he doesn't receive an appropriate timing, he will be deciding what his next step will be. He only gets twelve hours at work as it is, and that barely covers his transportation costs, especially at $2.75 an hour. This is an excellent example of why Section 14(C) of the Fair Labor Standards Act needs to be totally abolished.’”
Sachin Dev Pavithran Elected Chair of the US Access Board:
The US Access Board unanimously elected Sachin Dev Pavithran as its new chair on March 11. Pavithran of Logan, Utah, is program director of the Utah Assistive Technology Program at Utah State University's Center for Persons with Disabilities. He was named to the Access Board by President Barack Obama in 2012.
"It is an honor to chair an agency that has done so much over the years to make equal access for people with disabilities a reality," Pavithran stated. "Our buildings, transit systems, and information and communication technologies are more accessible and inclusive because of the work of the Board and the guidelines and standards it has established."
In addition to his membership on the Access Board, Pavithran serves on the Association of Assistive Technology Act Program's national board, Senator Orrin Hatch's (President Pro Tempore) Disability Advisory Committee, the Research and Development Committee of the National Federation of the Blind, and the National Multicultural Council of the Association of University Centers for Disabilities.
The Board also elected as vice chair Sue Swenson, who serves as acting assistant secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services at the US Department of Education. Board officers serve for a term of one year.
The Board is structured to function as a coordinating body among federal agencies and to directly represent the public, particularly people with disabilities. Half of its members are representatives from most of the federal departments. The other half is comprised of members of the public, appointed by the President.
In Brief
Notices and information in this section may be of interest to Monitor readers. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the information; we have edited only for space and clarity.
Computers for the Blind:
Computers for the Blind (CFTB) is a volunteer-based nonprofit organization that strives to provide high-quality refurbished computers with accessibility software that will enable a person who is blind or has low vision to use his or her computer to complete the same tasks as sighted persons. We are celebrating twenty-five years of service to the blindness community and have shipped over 7,400 computers throughout the country.
Who qualifies? People with visual impairments that make it impossible to use computers unless they have screen readers or screen magnification installed qualify. They have to be committed to learning how to use the computer as well.
What kind of computers do you distribute? Depending on donations, we ship Pentium 4 or Dual-Core - 2GHz computers. The minimum configuration that is shipped is:

Processor - 2GHz, 2GB of RAM, 80 GB hard drive
CD-R/RW and DVD-ROM, sound card, speakers, and broadband network card
Keyboard and mouse
For those with low vision, 17-21 inch LCD monitor; for people who are blind, 15-17 inch LCD monitor

For a list of all software included go to our website <http://www.computersfortheblind.net/weprovide.html> .
Do computers come with any screen-reading software? CFTB Computers have the following software included:

NVDA (Nonvisual Desktop Access) – screen reader software
JAWS trial version – screen reader software
MAGic without speech fully licensed version by Freedom Scientific valued at $395
Typeability Demo version – typing tutorial.

What is the cost to the blind person? The processing fee is as follows:

$110 – Desktop with monitor and all the items listed above. No cost for shipping.
$160 – Laptop computer with all the items listed above.
Computers generally ship within one week of receiving the processing fee.

We accept purchase orders from state agencies that can purchase the computers for the price above.
Do you offer any training? We do our best to pair recipients with mentors or service providers if they believe they need training.
Scholarships Available:
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) administers a scholarship program for deserving students. Each year individuals who are legally blind can apply for financial awards to support their post-secondary education. Seven scholarships are offered through this program with a potential of eleven recipients. The application can be filled out online at <www.afb.org/scholarships.asp>. The 2015 scholarship program began on February 1 and will end on the deadline of May 31, 2015. If you have questions or comments, contact: Tara Annis by telephone at (800) 232-5463, or email at <[email protected]>.
Monitor Mart
The notices in this section have been edited for clarity, but we can pass along only the information we were given. We are not responsible for the accuracy of the statements made or the quality of the products for sale.
For Sale or Trade:
I am selling a PAC Mate Omni QX400. I am asking $500 or would be open to trade for the right equipment. Things for which I would trade include a Braille Lite 40, an older Braille embosser, a netbook with carrying case, or a couple of Braille ’n Speaks with disk drive. Contact Melody Edwards or Charles Leanza by phone at (336) 293-7450, or by email at <[email protected]>.
Beginner Music Courses Taught Completely “By Ear”:
At Music for the Blind we have beginner courses for over a dozen musical instruments. These courses use no Braille, no print, no music, and no video. This format allows almost anyone to start playing a favorite musical instrument right away with only a standard CD player.
Come to our website to hear sample lessons from these courses and see how easy it is to learn this way <http://www.musicfortheblind.com>, or call us at (888) 778-1828.
NFB Pledge
I pledge to participate actively in the efforts of the National Federation of the Blind to achieve equality, opportunity, and security for the blind; to support the policies and programs of the Federation; and to abide by its constitution.

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