A message from DBTAC:

Celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the

Americans with Disabilities Act!

Join the 2010 by 2010 Campaign!



The 2010 by 2010 Campaign's goal is to collect 2010 "Proclamations of Recommitment" to the mission of the ADA by the 20th anniversary of the ADA--July 26, 2010.



Become part of a nation-wide effort to proclaim a recommitment to

vision and spirit of the Americans with Disabilities

Act--full inclusion of people with disabilities into American life!



Four Easy Ways to Submit Your Proclamation



Ø Simply complete the form http://www.2010anniversary.org/Submit.html . Print the form at: http://www.2010anniversary.org/Proclamation.pdf, fill in the blanks, and FAX to: 573-874-4925

Ø E-mail a copy of the proclamation or your own version of a proclamation to: brinkhoffj@missouri.edu

Ø Proclamations may also be mailed to: 2010 by 2010 Campaign, 100 Corporate Lake Drive, Columbia, MO 65203



Wishing you the best in all of your ADA activities,



DBTAC-Southeast ADA Center (Southeast DBTAC)

A Project of Burton Blatt Institute at Syracuse University

Your Regional Resource Center on the Americans with Disabilities Act

* Address: 1419 Mayson Street, Atlanta, Georgia 30324

* Fax: 404-541-9002

* Local Phone: 404-541-9001 (v/tty)

* Toll-free Phone: 800-949-4232 (v/tty) [AL, FL, GA, KY, MS, NC, SC, TN]

* Email: sedbtacproject@law.syr.edu

* Web: www.sedbtac.org

Announcement from WGBH

The following is an email from the Media Access Group at WGBH about new Disney DVDs.

We are thrilled to announce that three recent DVD and Blu-ray releases from Walt Disney Studios include an optional Descriptive Video Service® track. Disney indicates there is an optional DVS® track on their DVD and Blu-ray titles with a small D))) symbol in a film strip graphic in the bottom third of the back of disc packaging.

The titles are:

The Princess and the Frog, rated G (debuted in stories and through online retailers on March 16)

Toy Story, rated G (debuts in stores and through online retailers on Tuesday March 23)

Toy Story 2, rated G (debuts in stores and through online retailers on Tuesday March 23)

Note: Walt Disney Studios has rereleased the two Toy Story titles on DVD and Blu-ray in advance of the brand new Toy Story 3, coming to theaters on June 18 (and yes, the film will be described).

The full list of DVDs with DVS continues to be updated at this page of the Media Access Group's Web site:

http://main.wgbh.org/wgbh/pages/mag/resources/accessible-dvds.htm

A big thank you to Walt Disney Studios, and to the folks at Sony and Universal for their continued commitment to releases accessible home versions of their movies. We'll keep the good news coming!

The good folks at Disney's home entertainment division would not doubt appreciate any feedback from description fans. Please hit "reply" if you're so inclined and shoot some back to us.

Enjoy!

Mary


--
Mary Watkins
Director of Communications
and Outreach
Media Access Group at WGBH
One Guest Street
Boston, MA 02135
617 300-3700
mary_watkins@wgbh.org
access.wgbh.org

Follow the Media Access Group on Facebook and Twitter (AccessWGBH)

WGBH Boston informs, inspires, and entertains millions through public
broadcasting, the Web, educational multimedia, and access services for
people with disabilities.

Athens Council of the Blind Fundraiser

Come support the Athens Council of the Blind!

Little Kings
223 West Hancock Ave
Athens, GA 30601

April 9, 2010
6:00pm - 9:00pm

The Council asks that you make a donation to the Council as a cover charge.

Digital Machines

We have sent digital players to all patrons who were on our sign-up list. If you have not received a digital machine and are interested in getting one, please call us at 1-800-531-2063.

If you work at or are a member of an organization using Talking Books and would like to upgrade to the digital machine, we can now check them out to our institution accounts. Please contact us at 1-800-531-2063.

DTBM Firmware Upgrades

If you are using the digital Talking Book machine and need or wish to upgrade the firmware on it, please use the following link:

http://www.loc.gov/nls/DTBM/index.html

This webpage will give you a link to the most recent firmware and instructions on how to upgrade your machine.

Dr. Arnall Patz Dies

You may not be familiar with the name Dr. Arnall Patz, but he contributed much to the knowledge and prevention of blindness.

Dr. Patz was born in Elberton, Georgia, and served in the military before discovering the blinding effects of too much oxygen at birth (retinopathy of prematurity), working on the development of the argon lasers that are now used to treat macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, and becoming the director of the Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins University.

To read about Dr. Patz's life and work, please visit www.nytimes.com/2010/03/16/health/16patz.html?ref=health.

Digital Player Case

Executive Products Inc. has designed a carrying case for the new NLS digital player. The case has a strap and allows you to use the player while in the case.

You may view or order the case at www.executiveproductsinc.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=361&products_id=1841&osCsid=14ebd96fb23b48a3097aac1ba35292f3

or you can call Executive Products Inc at 818-833-8822.

Paralymics Begin Today

The Paralympics, an Olympic-type competition for disabled athletes, begins today in Vancouver. For a schedule of events, history, photos, videos, and more, please visit the official website: http://www.vancouver2010.com/paralympic-games/

Digital Machine Sleep Function

Have you ever set your Digital Talking Book Player's sleep function, only to have the book resume just when it's set to turn off? This glitch sometimes occurs when the volume is on the lowest setting. Try turning the volume up one notch before setting your sleep timer to keep the book from restarting.

IRS Documents in Alternative Formats

If you need large-print or Braille 2010 tax forms, please visit www.irs.gov/accessibility or call 1-800-829-3676.

Blind Hiker Tackles Appalachian Trail

Mike Hanson left this weekend to begin an extraordinary task - hiking the entire Appalachian Trail. He plans to finish in 6-8 months, hiking 15 miles per day, and ending at the northern end of the Trail.

Mike Hanson is completely blind.

Follow his journey on his website, www.blindhiker.com.

NFB Braille Reading Pals Club

An announcement from NFB:


National Federation of the Blind
Braille Reading Pals Club

Registration is now open for the New Year beginning April 1, 2010.

The Braille Reading Pals Club is an early literacy program that encourages parents to read daily with their blind or low-vision child (ages infant to seven).

Participating club members will receive:
* A print-Braille book and a plush reading pal
* Monthly parent e-newsletter promoting tips for early Braille literacy
* Quarterly Braille activity sheets for young children
* Braille birthday cards for child participants
* Access to a network of resources devoted to serving parents of blind children

Mission of the Program
* Introduce young children and their families to Braille
* Provide parents literacy strategies to use with their children
* Direct parents to essential resources for promoting success for their young
blind children
* Help parents promote early literacy skills, a love of reading, and a positive
attitude about Braille through daily reading with their blind children

To learn more about this exciting program, or to register, please visit www.nfb.org/readingpals, or call (410) 659-9314, ext. 2295.

Cosponsored by the National Organization of Parents of Blind Children (NOPBC)

Legally Blind Olympian

If you watched Team Canada compete in the cross-country skiing event, you probably saw skiier Brian McKeever. Did you know this Olympic athlete is legally blind?

Mental Floss magazine did an excellent story on him. To read it, please visit http://www.mentalfloss.com/blogs/archives/48570.