Disability Information Hub
Author Archives: Linda Cerce
Mattel introduces two first-of-their-kind inclusive Barbie dolls: See the new additions
Mattel announced the two new dolls on Tuesday as part of Barbie’s 2024 Fashionistas Line, an inclusive range of dolls with over 175 varieties of skin tone, eye color, hair color and texture, body types, disabilities and fashions.
The line has represented different disabilities and appearances in the past, releasing Barbies and Kens with mobility aids like wheelchairs and braces, dolls with hearing aids, hair loss and vitiligo. Last year’s line welcomed the first-ever Barbie with Down syndrome.
According to a statement from Mattel, the two newly announced dolls were created in partnership with nonprofit agencies that advocate for those with vision impairment and blindness and people with Down syndrome. Through conversations with members of the communities the dolls represent, the toymaker was able to incorporate accurate details down to the number of lines on the Barbies’ palms.
“We recognize that Barbie is much more than just a doll; she represents self-expression and can create a sense of belonging,” said Krista Berger, Senior Vice President of Barbie and Global Head of Dolls, in a press release. “We proudly introduce a new blind Barbie doll and Black doll with Down syndrome to our Barbie Fashionistas line, reinforcing our commitment to creating products that represent global belonging and inclusivity in the doll aisle.”
Both dolls will be available for purchase starting Tuesday and will also appear in the YouTube series, “Barbie Doll Adventures.”
Barbie Fashionistas 2024: Barbie releases new doll with Down syndrome in new lineup of inclusive figures
First blind Barbie for the Fashionistas Line
Barbie partnered with the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) to create the blind Barbie, consulting on the doll and accessories right down to the packaging. The blind Barbie is the first for the Fashionistas Line, but Mattel also introduced a blind Barbie with its doll inspired by Helen Keller, part of the brand’s Inspiring Women series.
The newest blind doll comes with a white and red cane with a marshmallow tip and a pair of functional sunglasses. “Some blind or low-vision individuals may be sensitive to light,” explained the creators. “…the lens provides additional eye protection.”
Unlike some other models, this Barbie has bendable elbows to allow her to comfortably use her cane. Her eyes are also designed with an “eye gaze facing slightly up and out,” reflecting the appearance of the eyes of some blind or low-vision individuals.
Mattel also consulted AFB on the clothing, design and packaging for the doll, creating a more accessible experience for the children and adults who may be using or shopping for her.
Testing with blind and low-vision children helped designers to land on a sensory-rich outfit for Blind Barbie: a satiny pink blouse and ruffled skirt for a strong tactile experience, a brightly colored, high-contrast hook and loop closure on the back of her top and an elastic waistband on her skirt for ease of use.
The high-contrast elements are more easily viewable for people with low vision, while the hook and loop fastener and elastic waistband make it simpler to change Barbie’s clothes.
The packaging itself was also made more accessible, with new features that will now be implemented on all Barbie Fashionistas dolls moving forward. The new box design includes braille spelling out “Barbie,” strategically placed with the guidance of AFB, and an easier-to-open design featuring a pull tab that opens the back of the box.
“It was an honor to collaborate with Barbie on the development of the blind Barbie doll,” said Eric Bridges, CEO and President of the American Foundation for the Blind, in a press statement. “By increasing representation and promoting awareness about the experiences of blind individuals and those with low vision, our shared goal is to inspire boundless opportunities for everyone, ultimately leading to a world of greater accessibility and inclusion.”
Blind Barbie: Release date, price
The Blind Barbie is available beginning Tuesday both online at the Mattel shop and in major retailers for $10.99.
Black Barbie with Down syndrome
Mattel also introduced another new doll, a Black Barbie who is the second to have Down syndrome. The first was released in April 2023.
This Barbie is the second to be designed in collaboration with the National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS), though this time Mattel went a step further and also consulted a focus group of Black individuals from the Down syndrome community.
The first Black Barbie with Down syndrome was sculpted to accurately depict the physical characteristics of people with the condition, including “a shorter frame, longer torso and low muscle tone.” She also features palms that only have single lines etched in them, a common characteristic of people with Down syndrome.
Her head was also crafted with great attention to detail, creating a face with a rounder shape, smaller ears, flat nasal bridge and eyes that are slightly slanted in an almond shape with white dots in the iris. She also comes with pink glasses, meant to represent individuals with Down syndrome who often experience vision disruption.
The Barbie’s hair and clothes were also designed based on community feedback. Her hair is textured and braided, a request made to Mattel from the Black Down syndrome community, while her blue and yellow dress features a pattern that is associated with the Down syndrome awareness movement. The three arrows in some of the hearts on the dress also “represent the third 21st chromosome that individuals with Down syndrome have.”
“NDSS is thrilled to introduce a second Barbie doll with Down syndrome. Having this doll launched alongside the new Barbie doll with Blindness marks another important step in expanding representationfor the disability community,” said Kandi Pickard, President and CEO of NDSS in a press release. “We are proud to partner with Barbie as they grow to reflect our diverse and beautiful world.”
Black Barbie with Down syndrome: Release date, price
The Black Barbie with Down syndrome is also available beginning Tuesday online at the Mattel shop and in major retailers for $10.99.
Barbie Fashionistas line
The Barbie Fashionistas line was first introduced in 2009 and releases a new lineup of dolls each year. It is described by Mattel as an inclusive range of dolls “designed to reflect the world kids see today.”
The dolls come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes, with plenty of skin tones, hair colors and types, eye colors and shapes, fashion styles, disabilities and more to choose from. The 2023 line included several different Barbies and Kens in wheelchairs, Barbies and Kens with vitiligo, the first doll with Down syndrome and a Ken with a prosthetic leg.
According to Mattel, the Barbie Fashionistas series offers more than 175+ looks. The dolls aim to “advance Barbie’s continued goal of reflecting a multi-dimensional view of beauty and fashion” and enable more children to see themselves in their dolls and “see their world reflected through play.”
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Mattel introduces blind Barbie, Black Barbie with Down syndrome
Surfing for Vision
WHEN & WHERE
- Date: August 17, 2024
- Event check-in 7:30 am to 11am surfing and Fun 9 am- 3 pm
- Location: Long Branch NJ Beachfront
*Google Rooney’s restaurant for landmark
*Rain or shine we are coming together
Click Here for more information on how to register, volunteer and sponsor
DETAILS
Surfer Registration is open to those who are Visual impaired, blind Legally Blind, and those diagnosed with unstoppable vision loss.
*We have had deaf surfers that also suffer from vision loss. This year the event is open to the deaf community, however, you must have your own SSP on site.
$0 registration fee
Please register as a participant, a friend or family guest or a volunteer. You must pre-register prior to the event. A wristband will be will issued at check in. This which will give you free access to the beach.
This will be an awesome day that will provide each participant to have a surfing experience. Feel the wind and ocean spray on your face, hear the beach and ocean sounds, taste the salt in the air, and burn in your mind’s eye the thrill of riding a surfboard. You will be instructed and have someone with you at all times helping our riders experience the thrill of a lifetime.
All that is needed is you and your bathing suit. Expert surfers, water certified safety people as well as lifeguards will be on hand. Life jackets and surfboards will be provided. registration is limited to 100 surfers so apply today.
Christian surfers will be providing free surfing lessons for family members and guests of the participants and the Long Branch Lifeguard team will be taking all out for wave runner pull rides. This is a great day of fun and inspiration for all.
Register Now! Blind Health Expo 2024 Friday, December 6 10:00AM to 4:00PM Eastern Time
Join us for the 3rd annual Blind Health Expo! The Blind Health Expo is the world’s largest virtual expo of healthcare information, products, and services for individuals, organizations, and companies in the health, blindness, and disability communities.
Information for Attendees:
- FREE to attend
- 100% virtual
- Hundreds of exhibitors!
- Vision Healthcare Awards 2024
Learn and discuss with companies and organizations. Click here to register to attend.
For more information, please click here about Blind Health Expo 2024.
Blindness and Mental Health Summit
Thank you for joining us at the Blindness and Mental Health Summit! Please click the link below for the recording, a copy of the transcript, and resources from our speakers and exhibitors.
Click here for Recordings and Resources
If you have any questions, please send us an email.
Sincerely,
Your friends at Accessible Pharmacy
Accessible Pharmacy Services, LLC
Website
1-888-633-7007
John Diakakis, Blind Diner Owner, Featured in Documentary Bendix: Sight Unseen
May 3, 2023
HASBROUCK HEIGHTS, NJ – The Bendix Diner has been featured in several films, TV shows and commercials, including Jersey Girl, Boys on the Side, and The Many Saints of Newark. The diner’s Greek-American owner, John Diakakis, who happens to be blind, has also been featured in documentaries, including the latest, Bendix: Site Unseen, highlighting his unique story.
He “brings customers their coffee and eggs as he cracks disarming jokes, and rings them up on the old-fashioned register,” NorthJersey.com reported, noting that Diakakis “has been legally blind since birth,” and “navigates the narrow space behind the counter of the Bendix Diner with the familiarity of someone who’s been working there for decades.”
“His family has owned the classic eatery decked with chrome and neon since 1985, when his father bought the place,” NorthJersey.com reported, adding that the Bendix diner has operated at the same location since 1947.
“I’m not sure when they notice I’m blind or not,” Diakakis says of his customers in the documentary, NorthJersey.com reported. “Just as I’m walking around, they get it.”
Bendix: Site Unseen was screened at the Ridgewood International Film Festival and the ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York, “which is dedicated to telling the stories of people with disabilities,” NorthJersey.com reported, noting that “the filmmaker, Anthony Scalia, came upon the diner one late night in 2016.”
At about 3 AM, Scalia “was looking for a place to eat” and “the Bendix was the only place that was open nearby,” NorthJersey.com reported, adding that “although the diner was just a few miles from his Lodi home, Scalia had never gone in.”
“A waiter came to the table, and I could tell something was off. Instead of putting the glass of water on the table, he kind of hovered over and waited for me to grab it,” Scalia told NorthJersey.com. “Eventually, I asked: ‘Are you blind?’ He told me, ‘Yeah, and that’s my son working the grill. He just got accepted to Harvard.’”
“Scalia, who works as a freelance editor, had made short documentaries, about Cardy’s Sugar Bowl, an old-fashioned candy store in Lodi, the Lafayette Theater in Suffern, New York, and Clinton Place, a street in Hackensack famous for its over-the-top Halloween decorations,” NorthJersey.com reported.
“I’d made a few short films about people or things in Jersey I thought were interesting,” he told NorthJersey.com. “I grew up five minutes from the Bendix but always passed it by. I thought: ‘Here’s this great story right in my backyard.’”
“The eatery got its name from a nearby aviation parts manufacturer,” NorthJersey.com reported.
“Teterboro used to be called Bendix… There was a Bendix Corporation, other things,” Diakakis says in the film, NorthJersey.com reported. “This run-down diner is the only one that kept the name.”
“Scalia didn’t start filming until 2018, and it took him three years to complete,” NorthJersey.com reported, adding that “over time, as he got to know Diakakis — his history, talents and quirks — the project evolved and didn’t fit into the seven-minute format he had used in his other films.”
“It just didn’t do the story justice,” Scalia told NorthJersey.com. “That’s when I released the idea of what the format should be and let the story take its own shape.”
“Diakakis gained custody of his three sons, Tony, Dimitri, and Michael, when they were young,” NorthJersey.com reported, noting that “the boys grew up at the diner and eventually worked there with him, doing homework during slow times.”
“Tony, the oldest, graduated from Harvard last year,” and “the other two are still in college,” NorthJersey.com reported, adding that “in the documentary, Diakakis performs stand-up at a local comedy club and displays his vast shoe collection — he estimates he owns about 700 pairs.”
Diakakis calls the Bendix “Cheers with food,” NorthJersey.com reported, pointing out that Diakakis “and his family that are the heart of the film.”
“I don’t have two eyes that see, but I have six eyes that see for me,” Diakakis says, NorthJersey.com reported.
The 26-minute film “was screened last fall at several film festivals, including DOC NYC, the largest documentary festival in the country, the Naples International Film Festival in Florida, and Kevin Smith’s SModcastle Film Festival in Atlantic Highlands,” NorthJersey.com reported, adding that “it won the Audience Award and Best New Jersey Short at the Montclair Film Festival in October.”
Bendix: Site Unseen was screened at the Ridgewood International Film Festival on April 27, and at the ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York on April 29 and May 2, and is streaming on the festival’s website until May 3 at https://reelabilities.org/newyork/.
The trailer for the film is available on YouTube: https://bit.ly/3p68J8X.
RWJBarnabas Health Offers Aira Navigation Services For Blind and Low-Vision Employees, Patients and Visitors – At No Cost
The Aira app provides Live, On Demand, Visual Interpretation in English, Spanish and French.
West Orange, NJ, – RWJBarnabas Health announces that it now offers Aira navigation services via a phone application (app) at all of its acute-care facilities for blind and low-vision employees, patients and visitors, at no cost.
Aira (pronounced eye-ruh) is an app-based service that safely and securely connects individuals who are blind or low-vision to live, personal visual interpreter agents. Using a smartphone camera and the free Aira app, agents can view the individual’s surroundings and guide our blind or low-vision users throughout RWJBarnabas Health facilities, in addition to assisting with other tasks where visual information can be useful, in English, Spanish or French.
The utilization of the Aira app across all acute-care facilities is part of RWJBarnabas Health’s steadfast commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility and belonging to improve the health of the diverse patient communities served throughout New Jersey and beyond. This is one of the many ways that RWJBarnabas Health ensures equitable patient-centered care. Through this implementation, RWJBarnabas Health joins a host of other forward-thinking organizations that value accessibility and inclusivity.
“By offering instant access to visual information in real time, the Aira app helps make RWJBarnabas Health facilities easy and safe to navigate for community members who have vision impairment(s) and contributes to an enjoyable experience when in our facilities”, said Jill Anderson, System Vice President, Patient Experience for RWJBarnabas Health.
The service is available free of charge, courtesy of RWJBarnabas Health, when users are in any of the system’s locations. Aira’s trained visual interpreter agents assist with visually interpreting one’s surroundings – describing, reading, (such as medication doses), explaining, navigating – just about anything, safely and securely.
“RWJBarnabas Health is removing barriers and empowering individuals who are blind or have low vision.”, said Suzette Robinson, Vice President and Interim Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer for RWJBarnabas Health. She continued, “We are proud to partner with Aira as it is a wonderful resource to assist with visual guidance and other tasks where visual information is useful.”
ABOUT RWJBARNABAS HEALTH
RWJBarnabas Health is the largest, most comprehensive academic health care system in New Jersey, with a service area covering nine counties with five million people. The system includes twelve acute care hospitals – Clara Maass Medical Center in Belleville, Community Medical Center in Toms River, Cooperman Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, Monmouth Medical Center in Long Branch, Monmouth Medical Center Southern Campus in Lakewood, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center in Newark, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital in New Brunswick, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital at Hamilton in Hamilton, Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Rahway in Rahway, and Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital Somerset in Somerville; Trinitas Regional Medical Center in Elizabeth; three acute care children’s hospitals; Children’s Specialized Hospital, including a network of outpatient centers; a behavioral health center and the state’s largest behavioral health network; two trauma centers; a satellite emergency department; ambulatory care centers; geriatric centers; comprehensive home care and hospice programs; fitness and wellness centers; retail pharmacy services; an affiliated medical group; multi-site imaging centers; and two accountable care organizations.
RWJBarnabas Health is among New Jersey’s largest private employers – with more than 41,000 employees and 9,000 physicians – and routinely captures national awards for outstanding quality and safety. RWJBarnabas Health, in partnership with Rutgers University, is New Jersey’s largest academic health care system. The collaboration aligns RWJBarnabas Health with Rutgers’ education, research, and clinical activities, including those at the Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey – the state’s only National Cancer Institute (NCI)-designated Comprehensive Cancer Center – and Rutgers University Behavioral Health Care.
By Carrie Cristello,
Director of Marketing Communications
The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association Junior Golf Program
Every year, The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association (MABGA) Junior Golf Program holds monthly outings and clinics for boys and girls age 7-21 who are blind or visually impaired. All skill levels are welcome, and the clinics are free.
Sponsored by The Middle Atlantic Blind Golf Association, the Junior Golf Program provides each player with a PGA teacher who will give lessons at a golf course near players’ houses. They also provide the player with golf clubs, golf balls and a golf bag.
Blindness and Prevention of Diabetes
Program Registration Now Open for Medicare and Medicare
Advantage Beneficiaries
Do you have Medicare or Medicare Advantage? Join the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) to get healthy and avoid type 2 diabetes! Our courses are taught by two diabetes lifestyle coaches who are blind and one diabetes lifestyle coach who teaches the course in American Sign Language. Program is free for Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and 100% virtual. Fill out the form below or send us an email to get started.
Available in:
- Alabama
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Illinois
- Kentucky
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- New Jersey
- New York
- Ohio
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- Virginia
- West Virginia
Overview:
- Year-long program
- 100% virtual
- Learn to identify and address barriers to healthy eating and physical activity through weekly peer sessions
Coming Soon! Diabetes Management Program
While this program is for individuals with pre-diabetes, we are currently building a Diabetes Management Program for individuals diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Continue to fill out the form below if you are interested and we will get back to you with more information!
Click the link below, or send us an email to get started:
Erica C. Vaughns NLS Aspiring Leaders Internship Program
The Erica C. Vaughns NLS Aspiring Leaders Internship Program was established in 2020 through an endowment to provide legally blind individuals opportunities to work at NLS in areas of study or interest. It is named in memory of Erica Vaughns, who created and managed the program and was a dedicated NLS employee for nearly 20 years until her death in 2023.
The program runs for 12 to 15 weeks during the summer. Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students and those who have graduated within the past five years from an accredited two-year or four-year college or university are eligible to apply.
Intern Responsibilities
Under the guidance of mentors, interns work on selected tasks and projects within one of the five main divisions of NLS: the Office of the Director, Business Operations Division, Collections Division, Patron and Network Engagement Division, and Program Delivery Division. Visit NLS Authority, Functions and Responsibilities, and Operational Structure to learn more about the functions and responsibilities of each of these divisions.
Typical assignments will assist with the mission and goals of the Library and NLS. These may include but are not limited to:
- Data input and migration of information for the Braille Certification Learning Management System
- Development and scanning of braille music material
- Writing and editing content for NLS-produced material
- Translating written content into various international languages
- Braille proofreading and transcription
- Project management assistance
In addition, interns will be required to participate in orientation sessions about NLS, its network of regional and subregional libraries, and brown-bag discussions.
Areas of Study or Interest
NLS administers a national program that requires staff with a diversity of skills and educational backgrounds. Therefore, NLS seeks interns with a background in fields of study including but not limited to:
- Accounting and Finance
- Audio and Sound Engineering
- Business Administration
- Communications and Media Studies
- Computer Science
- Contracts and Procurement
- Engineering
- Facility Management
- International Languages
- General Studies
- Human Resources
- Information Technology and Accessibility Design
- Library Information Science
- Music
- Policy Analysis and Development
- Project Management
Qualifications and Required Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities
Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students and those who have graduated within the past five years from an accredited two-year or four-year college or university are eligible to apply. In addition, applicants:
- Must be a US Citizen
- Must be legally blind
- Must be able to work remotely
The knowledge, skills, and abilities an intern needs for this program include:
- Knowledge of word processing and spreadsheet programs, such as Microsoft Office Word and Excel
- Knowledge of braille
- Ability to assist in planning, reviewing, researching, and collecting information
Work Schedule and Compensation
During the session, interns work part-time, 20 hours a week. Schedules are flexible and the days and hours worked are determined between the intern and supervisor. Interns for this program serve as a GS-4 Program Support Assistant. The position offers no health benefits or insurance.
Application and Program Period
The NLS Aspiring Leaders Internship Program operates during the summer, between June and September. Applications must be received by the deadline of November 1.
Complete Application Package
A complete application package will include:
- Federal-style resume External
- Cover letter expressing interest
- Most recent transcript, official or unofficial
- Internship Program application
-
How to Apply
A complete application package should be sent to NLSInternships@loc.gov.
Please send your questions concerning the Internship Program to NLSInternships@loc.gov.
NFB-NEWSLINE® A FREE service for those who are unable to read Newsprint!
NFB-NEWSLINE®
It’s more than news—access a world of content in this free audio and Braille service for blind and print-disabled people.
NFB-NEWSLINE® is a free audio news service for anyone who is blind, low-vision, deafblind, or otherwise print-disabled that offers access to more than 500 publications, emergency weather alerts, job listings, and more.
Access Accounts and Content
NFB-NEWSLINE now offers two types of accounts. The traditional full access account or a new limited access account
Content for NFB-NEWSLINE subscribers of the full access account:
- National newspapers, including the Wall Street Journal and USA Today
- Breaking news sources, including CNN, BBC, and ESPN Online
- International newspapers, including Financial Times and Vancouver Sun
- Magazines, including Time, Consumer Reports, Guideposts, and Smithsonian
- State newspapers
- Emergency weather alerts and seven-day forecasts localized to your zip code or GPS location
- The information that scrolls along the bottom of your television screen during emergency alerts
- More than 100,000 job listings from two national job sources
- TV listings localized to your zip code and provider
- Retail ads
- NFB’s national channel, including the ebook Building the Lives We Want, the Braille Monitor, Future Reflections, and presidential releases
NEW: NFB-NEWSLINE now offers a limited access account for children
NFB-NEWSLINE is a valuable resource for blind children to access content for leisure or educational purposes. The NFB-NEWSLINE limited access account provides a restricted level of publications and content. It is a structured set of materials and features recommended for children twelve years old and under. Currently, the limited access account type can only be accessed via the touch-tone phone access method.
Content for Subscribers of the NFB-NEWSLINE Limited Access Account:
- National Federation of the Blind Channel
- Their state specific local channel
- State publications, including their state newspapers
- Animal Tales
- Girl’s Life
- Highlights
- J-14
- National Geographic for Kids
- Stone Soup
- Additional services: retail ads, TV listings, job listings
With the start of the new limited access account, NFB-NEWSLINE now requires parents of subscribers under the age of 18 to complete the account setup process. The parent must select which type of account, either full or limited access (including the Kids Reading Corner), they want their child to have. Parents can change the type of their child’s account at any time. When their child turns 18 years old, the parent will need to contact NFB-NEWSLINE to have the child’s account switched to the full access account.
Special Coverage COVID-19 Information
Get up-to-date COVID-19 information to all eligible subscribers. COVID-19 updates are available in the Breaking News category of NFB-NEWSLINE. This information is being obtained by the system searching the forty-four publications in the Breaking News category for “coronavirus” and displaying the results.
Access the COVID-19 updates using the telephone by pressing 5 from the main menu, then pressing 1 for the Breaking News category, followed by pressing 1 again which will bring you to the virus information. If you are using the NFB-NEWSLINE mobile app, look for the virus information under the All Publications section. The content can be accessed with Braille devices such as notetakers and refreshable Braille displays.
How to Sign Up for NFB-NEWSLINE
Anyone who cannot read printed publications due to vision loss, dyslexia, or a physical disability is eligible to receive NFB-NEWSLINE. Please register by calling your state’s Library for the Blind and Print-Disabled or the National Federation of the Blind at 866-504-7300 to request an application. You may also download and mail an application or complete our online application. After your registration is processed, you will receive a message containing your activation codes and instructions.
Ways to Access NFB-NEWSLINE
After you sign up for NFB-NEWSLINE, you will be able to access it in any of the following ways. If you are a current subscriber, you do not need to create a new account or obtain new codes to use additional methods. Your current codes will allow you to access NFB-NEWSLINE using any method you choose. If you’ve forgotten your codes, please call us for assistance.
iOS Mobile App 3.0 with KNFB Reader Basic
NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile includes these features and much more:
- KNFB Reader Basic, a free version of KNFB Reader with the core functions necessary to quickly scan any printed text – just point, shoot, and read
- The ability to share articles from publications in the breaking news category to social media channels
- Multiple customization options to organize, save, and manage both NFB-NEWSLINE content and documents scanned with KNFB Reader Basic
NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile 3.0 is fully accessible with VoiceOver so that users can hear content read aloud or read it in Braille with a connected refreshable Braille display or notetaker, making the app ideal for blind and deafblind users.
Phone
- Access NFB-NEWSLINE through your phone with the touch of a few buttons
- Create your own favorites list, skip articles or sections, and repeat items you wish to re-read
- Enable the continuous reading mode which allows you to start, stop, and skip articles
- Alter the reading voice by changing the volume, speed, and pitch
For more information, please visit our NFB-NEWSLINE phone instructions page.
Amazon Alexa
- Access NFB-NEWSLINE hands-free on any Amazon Alexa product, including Echo and Echo Dot
- Alter the reading voice by changing the volume, speed, and the voice itself
- Use dozens of voice commands to navigate to sections and articles that interest you
Learn more about the Amazon Alexa family of devices and enable the NFB-NEWSLINE Alexa skill today. For more information, please visit our Alexa instructions page or check out our training video on YouTube.
iOS Mobile App
- Access NFB-NEWSLINE on your iPhone, iPod, or iPad
- Global search function allows you to find articles on specific topics
- Immediate access to breaking news stories
Download the free “NFB-NEWSLINE Mobile” app in the Apple App Store.
Website
- Access NFB-NEWSLINE on a secure, text-only website that is screen-reader friendly
- Easily navigate and search every available publication
- Email a full publication, a section, or single article to your inbox
Visit nfbnewslineonline.org to access NFB-NEWSLINE online.
- NFB-NEWSLINE can email your news, customized job listings, and information directly to your inbox
- Provide us with an email address, choose your favorites, and select frequency (once daily or updates throughout the day)
Please call us at 1-866-504-7300 to set up your NFB-NEWSLINE email service.
Portable Players
- Access NFB-NEWSLINE through many popular digital talking book players
- Portable, plug and play, wireless download for Victor Reader Stream 2nd Generation
- Easily navigate sections and articles with the use of DAISY-standard formatting
Visit nfbnewslineonline.org to learn more.
More Information
For more information, please call us at 866-504-7300 or 410-659-9314, extension 2317, or email us at nfbnewsline@nfb.org.
New Jersey Registry Ready
“Register Ready – New Jersey’s Special Needs Registry for Disasters” allows New Jersey residents with disabilities or access and functional needs and their families, friends, caregivers and associates an opportunity to provide information to emergency response agencies so emergency responders can better plan to serve them in a disaster or other emergency.
The information collected here is confidential and will not be available to the public. The information will be held securely and only used for emergency response and planning.
Why should you register
- To be notified by local officials when an evacuation has been ordered.
- IT MAY SAVE YOUR LIFE!
For Registry Assistance, dial 211 (toll-free) and an operator will assist you in registering.
Alerts – Mobile / Text (SMS) and E-Mail:
NIXLE – Subscribe to the NJ State Police on Nixle Connect
New Jersey residents can register to receive messages by sending a text message with their zip code to 888777 (data rates may apply depending on your plan). Online registration is also available at www.nixle.com.
Links to County Offices of Emergency Management, websites, social media and alert systems: http://www.ready.nj.gov/about/association.html
The first line of defense against the effects of a disaster is personal preparedness. During an emergency, the government and other agencies may not be able to meet your needs. It is important for all citizens to make their own emergency plans and prepare for their own care and safety in an emergency. Registering on this website is not a guarantee that emergency officials will be able to assist you in an emergency.
Microsoft Seeing AI app lands on Android to help blind and visually impaired users
Navigating the world around you is certainly challenging if you’re blind or sight impaired. One tool that can help is a free mobile app from Microsoft called Seeing AI. Designed to alert and inform people about their environment, the app is now accessible to Android users after having been limited to iOS.
In a blog post published Monday, Saqib Shaikh, founder and lead for Microsoft Seeing AI, announced the expansion to Android and highlighted some of the app’s latest features.
Available in the App Store and Google Play, Seeing AI works by identifying and describing people, objects, text, and other elements around you. The goal is to help you better navigate your surroundings and understand documents and other physical items by hearing them read aloud.
First up is text recognition. Fire up the app and hold your phone over a piece of printed or written text. Upon recognition, Seeing AI will start reading the text aloud until it gets to the end.
Next is document recognition. Hold your phone over a full document, and the app will scan and display the words. You can then listen to the document read aloud by playing, pausing, skipping ahead, or going back as needed.
Another handy feature is a barcode reader that will identify and speak information about a product based on the code scan. Next, you can snap a photo of your surrounding environment, and the app will describe the overall scene as well as individual items in the photo.
A people reader will scan a person captured by the camera and then highlight their visual characteristics, adding in their distance away from you. Finally, a currency scanner will analyze a bill or coin to tell you its value.
As part of the transition to Android, the app also sports a couple of recent enhancements.
Scanning a photo now provides richer descriptions of the details captured in the image. Plus, you’re now able to ask Seeing AI more questions about a scanned document. As a few examples, you can learn about dishes on a menu, get the prices of items on a catalog page, or hear a summary of an article.
“There are over 3 billion active Android users worldwide, and bringing Seeing AI to this platform will provide so many more people in the blind and low vision community the ability to utilize this technology in their everyday lives,” Shaikh said in the blog post. “We will continue to work with the community to understand feedback to improve the app. And as additional versions roll out, customer feedback will continue to be critical for new AI-powered enhancements to future versions of the Seeing AI app.”
Shaikh, who lost his sight at the age of seven, said that the Android version and new features were launched in celebration of International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). Seeing AI is now available in 18 languages including Czech, Danish, English, French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Spanish, and Swedish. Microsoft plans to expand support to 36 languages in 2024.
