Bravo for Pittsburgh! A big step in the right direction, especially with the on-site training. A question, though: why is the equipment only for people with visual impairments? A lot of the same hardware and software is also useful to people with learning disabilities, who make up 15-20% of the population of the US. Will other people with disabilities be welcome to learn the equipment and make use of it? BTW, if you haven't seen it, get your hands on a copy of Accessible Libraries on Campus: A Practical Guide for the Creation of Disability-Friendly Libraries (ISBN 0-8389-8035-X). (No matter what type of library you're in!) It's edited by Tom McNulty of NYU and is a publication of the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL) at ALA. It is available from ALA. Call 1-800-545-2433 and follow the prompt for the Dearborn Distribution Center. Audrey >>> Mark Senk <[log in to unmask]> 10/27 1:09 PM >>> Contact the Carrick branch of CLP at 412 882-3897 or e-mail [log in to unmask] From [log in to unmask] Wed Oct 27 09:43:50 1999 Subject: PGH: public library assistive technology center A "grand opening" ceremony is set for October 28, at 6:30 p. m. at the Carrick branch of the Carnegie Public Library. The following brochure was prepared and lists the software and hardware available to the visually impaired library patron. The visually Impaired Pittsburgh Area Computer Enthusiasts has provided a subscription to Sound Computing magazine and will help with training new users. --- brochure --- Electronic Information Network Assistive Technology Center Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh Carrick Branch Supported by the Library Services and Technology Act Grant Welcome to the Assistive Technology Center The EIN Assistive Technology plan is supported in part by an LSTA grant and capital dollars from the EIN. This includes the establishment of five regional LSTA support centers surrounding the north, south, east, west, and central (being the city of Pittsburgh), that provide a wide array of vision support systems, including large monitors, screen enlargement, text scanning, text to speech, Braille display, and embossed output devices. The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Carrrick Branch is the first LSTA support center. The visually impaired community will receive training at the support center in cooperation with local organizations that deliver this training. "Our greatest training classes of individuals are other visually impaired individuals that volunteer." Elbie Yaworsky, EIN Director Vision Support Systems: Kurzweil 1000 is an advanced PC-based reading tool that converts the printed word into speech for people who are blind or visually impaired. This device combines the most accurate optical character recognition (OCR) and the clearest sounding synthetic speech in a sophisticated reading tool. Kurzweil 3000 advanced reading system for students and adults with learning disabilities. This program provides both an auditory and visual presentation of scanned text and images. This easy-to-use system can be used as a compensatory aid for people with learning disabilities or as part of a remedial reading program. PowerBraille 40 is a 40-character, 8 dot Braille display for PB40 notebook or desktop computers. Click any TouchSensors above one of the Braille cells to move the mouse pointer or cursor to a new location for editing. Juliet Pro and Juliet Pro 60: Braille embosser. Juliet PRO, with a 56 character embossing line and 55-character-per-second speed, includes singe sheet tractor for laser labels and letterhead, along with ET Speaks. ET Speaks comes up talking automatically and makes using the embosser easier as well as reading the computer screen and playing audio files. Juliet PRO and PRO 60 can both combine text and new high resolution graphics on a single page without stopping. MAGic (Magnification in Color) is screen magnification software that enlarges a PC screen from 2 to 20X! MAGic maintains type-through access in both text and graphics mode and allows the user to set preferences for all magnification attributes. JAWS is a program which enables 4 of the computers to read the screen. Other 8 Gateway PC Workstations with large screen monitors Hewlett Packard laser printer 2 Flatbed scanners Cassette player Training through VIPACE organization. Email: [log in to unmask] The Electronic Information Network exists to expand the ability of Allegheny count public libraries to increase their Impact Outreach Service To their community by utilizing information technology. The EIN is a collaborative project of the Allegheny County Library Association (ACLA), Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and the Commission on the Future of Libraries in Allegheny county. "Linking the Libraries of Allegheny County" www.einpgh.org/ein/ VICUG-L is the Visually Impaired Computer User Group List. To join or leave the list, send a message to [log in to unmask] In the body of the message, simply type "subscribe vicug-l" or "unsubscribe vicug-l" without the quotations. VICUG-L is archived on the World Wide Web at http://maelstrom.stjohns.edu/archives/vicug-l.html