Inclusion of materials in this publication is for information only; it does not imply endorsement of any product by the Diabetes Action Network of the NFB.
Adaptive Computing Equipment
Freedom Scientific is a powerhouse adaptive equipment maker for the blind and
visually impaired computer user. A union of Arkenstone, Blazie Engineering,
and Henter-Joyce, Freedom Scientific offers screen magnifiers (including MAGic),
talking attachments (including JAWS software) for your computer, scanner/reading
machines like the new SARA, Braille printers and much more. Whether you need
adaptive software or hardware, check them out: Freedom Scientific; telephone:
1-800-444-4443; Web site: www.freedomscientific.com
Dry Skin Care
People with diabetes frequently have dry skin. Borage DiabetiCare, by Shikai,
contains an important omega-6 fatty acid, gamma-linoleic acid, or GLA. Diabetes
can impare the body’s ability to make enough GLA, so Borage DiabetiCare
provides GLA directly to the skin. To locate a retailer near you, please call
DiabetiCare Labs; telephone: 1-888-544-3427, or visit their Web site: www.diabeticarelabs.com
Diabetes Supplies
American Diabetic Supply, Inc., will ship your diabetes supplies to your door.
They handle all insurance claims and provide free delivery. People with Medicare
and/or private insurance (no HMOs) may receive supplies at no further cost.
For information, contact: American Diabetic Supply, Inc., 400 S. Atlantic Ave.,
Suite 108, Ormond Beach, FL 32176; telephone: 1-800-453-9033, ext. 200; Web
site: www.americandiabeticsupply.com
Do You Need Braille Labels?
If you need specialty Braille labels prepared for your personal use, free of
charge, contact: Labels For Literacy; telephone: 1-866-325-2235; email: [email protected];
Web site: www.labelsforliteracy.com
Adaptive Catalog
Active and Able, from Buffalo Grove, Illinois, offers a selection of adaptive
equipment, much of it for coping with blindness and vision loss. There are a
number of items that talk or beep. We regularly review most national catalogs,
and there are selections here not encountered elsewhere—and competitive
prices. Contact: Active And Able, 333 Lexington Drive, Buffalo Grove, IL 60089;
telephone: 1-877-229-9993; Web site: www.activeandable.com
Low Vision Glasses
If you are dealing with low vision, and could benefit from wearable glasses
with 2x magnification, you should check out Humanware’s MaxTV glasses.
They’ll help you with television, long distance viewing, and other activities.
Contact: Humanware; telephone: 1-888-204-7921; Web site: www.humanware.com
Healthy Cookbooks
JoAnna Lund, the author of our regular “Healthy Home Cooking” feature,
writes healthy cookbooks. They are simple, “common folks” recipes,
and all contain both complete nutrient counts and diabetic exchanges. There
are three titles: Fast, Cheap, and Easy; Grandma Jo’s Soup Kettle;
and Fresh From the Hearth. Price is $10 each, or $25 for all three.
There is no shipping charge. Contact: Healthy Exchanges, PO Box 80, DeWitt,
IA 52742; telephone: 1-800-766-8961; Web site: www.healthyexchanges.com
Computer Instruction on Tape
Lorri Mulraney wants to help teach visually impaired people computer skills.
She has audiocassette tapes about using Windows (98 and XP), MS-Word, Excel,
email and Internet, and more. Her tapes cost $10 per hour. Contact: Lorri Mulraney,
714 North avenue F, Humble, TX 77338; telephone: 281-446-2427; email: [email protected]
Carry Your Diabetes Supplies
Peacock Products makes a big (9” tall x 13” wide x 3.5” deep;
expandable to 6” deep) diabetes carrying bag. Use the front of the bag
for your regular items; the back is subdivided for diabetes items, like your
meter, lancet, syringes, strips, even a special pocket for used tissues and
strips. And they’ll stay put; no more reaching for a pen and coming up
with your lancing device. You can use it as a purse, or as a man’s carry-all
bag/satchel. It’s available in beige canvas ($89.95) or in tobacco-brown
leather ($159.95). Purchase online from Peacock Products, www.mydiabeticbag.com.
Talk is Cheap, or Should Be
Independent Living Aids is an experienced and reliable source for a great many
low-vision adaptive devices. Many of them speak, helping you perform daily tasks
without sight, and most are quite inexpensive. For a free catalog, contact:
Independent Living Aids, Inc., PO Box 9022, Hicksville, NY 11802; telephone:
1-800-537-2118; email: [email protected]
Tape Recorder Repairs
If you have an APH or other tape recorder/player needing repairs, Magnetic Tape
Repairs, from Louisville, Kentucky, could be good for you. They’ll check
your machine out, estimate repairs, and do their best to keep the total repair
cost under $100. Pack your troubled machine carefully, insure it (APH machines
and others designed to play NLS-format tapes can be sent as “Free Matter
For The Blind”), and send to: Magnetic Tape Repair, 601 Baxter Avenue,
Louisville, KY 40204; telephone: (502) 587-1848.
Low Vision Optometrists
The International Academy of Low Vision Specialists is a consortium of optometrists
interested in serving people who have diminished vision. They are ready to advise
you on appropriate treatment and assistive devices. Contact: Richard Shuldiner,
OD, FAAO, telephone: 1-888-610-2020.
Low-Vision Bible Materials
Prayers & Psalms for Today is a large-print CD-ROM of Christian material,
including selections from the Episcopal Prayers and Thanksgivings, Prayers for
the Sick, Prayers for Use by a Sick Person, and the Book of Psalms. Set in APhont,
a special font developed by the American Printing House for the Blind (APH),
the text is formatted to print out in 20-point, on 8.5” x 11” pages.
It is also readable, from the CD, with adaptive computers or electronic notetakers
for the blind. There is no charge, but donations are appreciated. To order a
copy of the CD-ROM, please send self-addressed 6x9-inch envelope, with three
39-cent stamps attached (four stamps if the envelope is padded), to: Ann Dahlen,
1900 6th Avenue, Apt. 513, Rock Island, IL 61201; emails: [email protected]
or [email protected]
GUIDEPOSTS Magazine in Braille
Popular Christian magazine GUIDEPOSTS is now available in Braille,
at a reduced price of $36 per year. Contact: Clovernook Press, in Cincinnati,
Ohio; telephone (513) 728-6227; email: [email protected]. You can also
order the magazine in large print at www.dailyguideposts.com.
Banquet Address
Last year, at the National Federation of the Blind annual convention in Louisville,
Kentucky, NFB President Dr. Marc Maurer gave the Banquet Address, titled “The
Edge of Tomorrow.” This address is available, free of charge, in large
print, Braille, and audiocassette, or downloadable (in “RealAudio”
format), from the NFB Web site: www.nfb.org. This speech, and others by President
Maurer (and much more!), are available from the National Federation of the Blind
Materials Center, 1800 Johnson Street, Baltimore, MD 21230; telephone: (410)
659-9314, open 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. EST, weekdays.
Information About the Voice
Voice of the Diabetic Has Moved
At the end of January, 2006, the Voice editorial office moved to larger
quarters in Columbia, Missouri. We are now located at:
Diabetes Action Network
National Federation of the Blind
1200 West Worley
Columbia, MO 65203
Our phone: (573) 875-8911, fax: (573) 875-8902, and email: [email protected] remain the same, and we look forward to hearing from you.
No More “Postage Due”
To hold down costs, the Voice is sent via “bulk mail.”
As you’ve noticed, postage rates just went up. It costs us more to get
Voice of the Diabetic to you, and to everybody else who needs it.
You can help us by keeping us up to date on your address. If we use an outdated mailing address, the post office will not forward your copy of the Voice. Instead, they will return the Voice to us marked “postage due.” In addition, the “bulk mail permit” on each copy does NOT permit you to re-mail copies free. Again, those copies will be returned to the Voice marked “postage due.”
Help us make best use of limited funds and stop wasting money on “postage due.” Make sure we have your current address, and let us know if we should discontinue. Contact: Voice of the Diabetic, 1200 West Worley, Columbia, MO 65203; telephone: (573) 875-8911; email: [email protected]
Articles Needed
If you have diabetes, are a family member or friend of a diabetic, or a health
professional with an interest in diabetes, we invite you to submit an article
for publication in the Voice of the Diabetic.
Our philosophy regarding diabetes is positive. Do you have an inspiring, enlightening story? We, the Diabetes Action Network of the National Federation of the Blind, seek to show people they are not alone, and do have options, regardless of diabetic complications. If you have experienced ramifications, others, who may be facing the same side-effects, could benefit from what you have to say.
Perhaps you have not experienced complications—your unique insight, coping strategies, and lifestyle can still inspire others. Are you a relative, a friend, or a health professional? More than 355,000 Voice readers could benefit from your story.
For information and article submission guidelines, contact: Voice of the Diabetic, 1200 West Worley, Columbia, MO 65203; telephone: (573) 875-8911.
Subscription Changes
To switch from standard print to tape, or to receive both formats,
free of charge, contact us at the Voice of the Diabetic Editorial Office,
now located at: 1200 West Worley, Columbia, MO 65203; telephone: (573) 875-8911;
or email: [email protected].
Voice of the Diabetic is offered absolutely free to any interested person upon request. Readers may receive the publication in standard print, on audio cassette for the blind, or in both formats. To begin receiving the Voice, please complete the subscription form (or a facsimile), and mail it to the editorial office. You can also receive the Voice and other benifits by becoming a member of the Diabetes Action Network at a cost of $10 per year.
Yes! I would like to subscribe and receive 4 quarterly copies at no cost to me.
Please select one of the following formats: Standard Print
I would like my copies on 4 track audio cassette tape for the blind—requires a “talking book” machine.
I am interested in distribution in my community and would like to discuss the opportunities. Please contact me to review.
Name __________________________________________________
Address ________________________________________________
________________________________________________________
City____________________________________________________
State __________________________________ Zip _____________
Email __________________________________________________
Telephone ______________________________________________
Please Note: We have a special bulk-mailing permit that we use to ship the Voice to you at low cost—it does not allow for free remailing. The Post Office requires you place first class postage on any Voice you mail to others.
Subscriptions are free upon request, but cost us about $20 per year. Your charitable donations are most welcome.