Using Accessible GPS for the First Time

In November of last year I started working part time for Sendero Group. I am in charge of their social media, so if you're a fan of their facebook page, or you follow them on twitter, then now you know who is behind all that great content. I have really enjoyed learning more about the company and working with the team. Since I represent them online, it seems important that I learn how to use their products. So starting this week my goals are to learn how to use mobile geo and sendero GPS on the Voice Sense.

I will admit now that as techie as I am, I've never owned an accessible cell phone or PDA. So when I turned on my demo cell phone this week, I realized that not only would I be learning about mobile geo, but I would also be learning about mobile speak. I haven't downloaded the manual yet, but I have a feeling I will get to that point. For now, I am exploring, and seeing what I can learn on my own.

I am proud to say that I have already created a route, and learned how to use mobile geo to tell you where you are as you drive or walk along. Creating a route was quite tedious because I was unsure of all the steps, but I think that now that I understand the process, inputing addresses will be much easier. I really enjoyed having mobile geo tell me where I was when I was on the bus because I now know what streets we use. When I use the city bus, they have a built in GPS that announces every stop, but when I'm using the bus to go to my community college, there is no GPS.

I hope to take you along with me on this journey. If you are a mobile geo or Sendero GPS user, please feel free to give me any tips, and if you're not, maybe these blog posts will inspire you to start using an accessible GPS.

Should Braille Instruction Be Mandatory?

In Nebraska, the state legislature is considering a law that would require all visually impaired children to learn braille. As I've mentioned before, the NFB estimates that only 10% of blind children in the nation are literate in braille. I agree with them that this is a big problem, the question is, will mandating braille instruction solve the problem.

One of Nebraska's state senators, who himself is blind was the person who proposed the bill. If passed, braille instruction would be mandatory unless the parents object. Also, braille instruction would start in elementary school regardless of the child's level of vision loss. This would mean that people like me who could read print at an early age would learn braille early even though I might not need it until later. The belief of the supporters is that early braille instruction will increase reading and writing speed and comprehension, which will in turn make the blind and visually impaired more employable. Although braille is not a requirement for most jobs, 70% of the blind population that has a job knows and uses braille.

The opposers to the bill don't think the law is necessary because it goes against the philosophy that education should be personalized to the child's needs, and the belief that there just isn't enough teachers to fulfill the requirement. The other problem with the bill is that braille instructors would have to be nationally certified through a specific program before they could continue to teach braille.

In this case I feel that both sides have valid arguments. On the one hand increasing braille literacy should be a goal for the nation, but on the other hand, making braille a requirement can't truly be achieved until there is enough instructors. I also don't believe that instructors should have to be nationally certified, especially if they've gone to school to become a teacher for the blind.

The NFB is currently working on a recruitment plan to increase the numbers of teachers for the blind. As someone who is pursuing that career, I hope their campaign is successful, but until we increase the number of qualified professionals, I'm not sure mandating braille instruction is the way to go.

What do you think? Do you feel mandating braille instruction is the solution to the braille literacy problem, or is there another way?

Here is the link to the article discussing this issue.

German Scientists May Have A Way to Restore Sight in the Blind

research is being done around the world to find a cure for retinal degenerative diseases like RP. I've told you about the artificial retinas being created in the states and Australia, as well as the possibility of using stem cells. Scientists in Germany are currently working on developing a micro-chip that will be implanted behind the retina.

Last year researchers implanted the micro-chip into 11 people. Their results were very good. All of the patients were able to identify objects and read letters. The fact that they could read at all is very impressive since most of the other micro-chips are not providing enough vision to do this. The micro-chip has 1500 photo cells, and the surgery only takes 4 hours. In their small number of participants, there was no rejection of the implant. Since the device still needs further study, participants are only allowed to have the implant for a few weeks.

The researchers are hoping that soon they will be able to demonstrate that the micro-chip is safe enough for patients to have it implanted permanently. In fact, they're hoping to have the implant put in over a dozen people this year. If this micro-chip continues to restore people's vision, this could be the answer that those of us with degenerative eye diseases have been looking for.

To read the whole article on the micro-chip, visit this link.

A Look Back at My First Week of Classes

All I have to say is I'm really glad I'm only taking two classes. Although I have spent more of my life in school then I have spent out of it, getting back into the habit of doing homework and being prepared for class is still something that I'm going to have to get used to again. I am happy to report that I successfully made it to my classes the whole week, and I only got lost a hand full of times. Thankfully, people are very helpful and Midge and I are learning more about the campus each day.

Now that I've reassured everyone that I can get to my classes, I'm sure you're wondering how I feel about these courses I'm taking. The answer to that question is that I'm looking forward to learning a lot in my Introduction to Education class, and I'm not looking forward to all of the brain hurting that is going to come from my Math for Elementary School Teachers class. Here's why I feel the ways I just described.

Education, and our educational system is something I'm passionate about. I think this course is going to help me learn more about why we teach children the way we do, and it's going to help me explore my own philosophies to decide what kind of teaching strategies I'm going to want to use with my students.

My math class on the other hand is going to just be tedious. Although the math is not nearly as complicated as my calculus class was, the kind of math we're doing is very spacial, and when you can't see what you're doing, the math becomes that much more challenging. On Friday I did my first set of homework problems with my class assistant and I felt frustrated because I knew that if I could see what the problem was, I would be able to solve it a lot faster. I'm actually considering getting the text in braille for next term even though my nemeth braille skills are not unto par. Just having the diagrams in a tactile form may be enough for me to not feel as overwhelmed. For this term, I will use the method I used when I was getting my undergrad which includes me writing down the problem and solving it on paper. Even though I can't read what I've written, and neither can anyone else, this helps me understand the problem a lot better.

So that's the basic low down from the first week. I'm really grateful for having a lap top computer since my bus gets me to class 1.5 hours before my class every day, and I'm also grateful for having a guide dog because she makes me feel calm when I'm worried about finding our way.

Talking About Going Back to School on "In the Loop"

One of my favorite podcasts that I listen to is a show called In the Loop. One of the reasons I like it so much is because they include interviews with their listeners, and they're always asking for our involvement in other ways. I was one of the featured stories on the show in June of last year, and this past week I got a chance to be on the show again.

The episode this week focuses on what people are going to do in 2010. As I mentioned last week, I am going back to school for the first time in 5 years. My post intrigued the host of the show, so he called me up to find out more about how I was feeling about this transition and what I'm going back to school for. Here is a link to the podcast. You will find my interview at the very end of the show, but I encourage you to listen to the whole thing. If you like what you hear, please consider subscribing to the podcast.

If you're a newer reader, and would like to hear my first interview, this post will help you find it.

Talking T.V. being Talking T.V. Being Unveiled at CES at CES

T.V.'s have lots of features, especially the new ones, but if you're blind you don't have access to many of these features due to inaccessible menus. This issue will soon no longer be a problem though thanks to the partnering of Ocean Blue Software and the Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB). Together they have created the first talking T.V., and they're unveiling this new technology at this year's CES.

This morning I had the chance to watch the demo video. I was really impressed. Based on what I saw, they've done their homework, and this new technology will really help the T.V. viewing experience. One of the best features is the talking guide. The guide lets you know what's on T.V. No longer will the blind have to channel surf and guess what's on, and no longer will they pay for features like a guide without being able to use it.

For now, the talking T.V. will only be sold in the U.K., but the company is hoping that they can bring it to other markets soon. I hope it will eventually come to the U.S. so that I will have a chance to access all of my T.V.'s features.

What do you think of this new technology? Do you think having access to the menus on the T.V. will make watching it more enjoyable?

Returning to School

It's been five years since I had homework, took an exam, or sat in uncomfortable desks, but starting today, I will have to remember what it's like to do all of these things. I got my bachelors degree in 2004. Since then I have tried to get into grad school with no luck. Since it appears that I needed to change my focus, I decided to look into a different masters program. The program that I'm now focused on requires me to take prerequisite courses that were not a part of my bachelors degree. So for the next three terms I will be going to school part time to fulfill those requirements.

Even though my husband works for our local university, the cost of attending OSU would be too high, so instead I'm going to our local community college. Unfortunately, LBCC's main campus is in the next town over. This means that I have to take a long bus ride every day to get to my classes. It's location also has made it more challenging for me to find my classes before the term starts. Yesterday I was able to plan out my routes to get to the two buildings that I will need to get to, but I have no idea where my class rooms are actually located. If I could describe in words how terrified this makes me feel, I would , but I don't think there is an apt way to describe it. Although I wish I were more adventurous, the truth is I "hate" being lost, but I fear that's what at least my first week is going to consist of. Let's just hope that Midge my guide dog can stay focused and help me calm down if we get into a bind.

In the coming weeks I plan to let everyone know how the return to school is going. I'm hoping that the experience will be positive and rewarding. This term I'm taking "Introduction to Education" and "math for Elementary School Teachers Part 1", so if my posts start to have either of these themes you'll know why. Wish me luck.