Indiana Assistive Technology Blog

Easter Seals Crossroads is one of 26 Microsoft Accessibility Resource Centers (MARC) in the United States, and the only one in Indiana.  This center provides quarterly trainings on how to use the accessibility features built into Microsoft.  These features were designed with consideration towards disabilities such as low vision, wrist injury, and hearing loss.

The next training is scheduled for Friday, April 23.  For more information or to register, please contact Carol Girt at (888) 466-1314 or cgirt@eastersealscrossroads.org.

Movie theater popcorn, credited to gennierobot from flickr

Going to see a movie is a great way to spend an evening with friends, family, or a date.  The cushioned seats, dark surroundings, smell of popcorn, and in-your-face large movie screen have a way of capturing your undivided attention and exciting the senses.  Theaters across the nation have continually improved conditions to try and please a wide array of audiences by providing food and drink, a variety of different films available at one time, comfortable seating, and more.  Thanks to MoPix, now even deaf or blind audiences can enjoy the experience!

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If you read this blog regularly, you have probably read a lot of articles about computer access for individuals who are blind, such as this one on CAPTCHAs, digital books, information on web site accessibility with IBM, voice over options on the iPhone, and many more.

You might have also read about technologies for people who are Deaf, such as captioning videos on Youtube, video relay services, and monitoring devices for those with partial hearing loss.

However, what resources are available to individuals who are Deaf AND blind?

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To access Closed Captions, click on the “CC” in the lower right corner of the video.

Having trouble seeing the video?  Click here to be redirected to our YouTube page.

Click here to see our archived videos.

This year’s INARF Conference is titled INARF 2.0: Intellectual Stimulus Package. The event will be held at the Sheraton Indianapolis Hotel and Suites from March 10-12, and 29 exhibitors will be present.

Participants can expect to network with over 500 of their peers, increase their knowledge through various education sessions, and learn about products and services available to people with disabilities.

To register or learn more, visit the INARF website.

VictorReader Stream

The VictorReader Stream is a portable DAISY player about the size of a pack of playing cards.  It has an SD card for storing books, files, music, voice recordings, and podcasts.  You can download your books and MP3s or transport them via USB.  The Stream is completely voice-guided for the visually impaired.

Sounds great!  Let’s test out some basic functions.

The Stream holds a charge of approximately 15 hours.  However, if it isn’t charged you can simply plug it into a socket and use it from there.  To turn it on, you need to locate the power button on the left side of the device and hold it down for a couple of seconds.  The green light on the front will come on and you will hear a “Beep” followed by a voice greeting.  To adjust the volume, use the arrows on the left side, below the power button.

VictorReader Stream side view

To access the User guide, hold down on the 1 button.  This guide is helpful in getting started (especially if you cannot see the manual).  You can skip through the manual by using the right arrow key, or the 6 button.

Normally you’d press 1 to access the Bookshelf, but since I don’t have any books saved on this device, I’m going to instead learn how to create notes for myself.  On the right side of the device, you will notice a button with a red dot (similar to a “Record” button you might see on a VCR or video camera).  When you hold down on this button, a voice will say,”Start recording.”  You can then record a voice message.  When you are finished, you release the button and a voice will say,”Stop recording.  Note 1 created.”  Each note is given a number which you can find using the 4 and 6 buttons.

If you had a book saved on the device, you can access bookmarks you’ve placed by pressing the little check-mark button on the front of the device.  The button with the moon symbol will activate “Sleep” mode, and it will offer to sleep longer the more you press it.

These are just a couple of basic features the VictorReader Stream contains.  It is very easy to use once you’ve played around with it a little.  I also found this guide to be very helpful.

Try it out for yourself by signing up at our INDATA Loan Library!