[accesscomp] Fw: [Portaltutoring-news] Newsletter 2012

"Bob Acosta" <boacosta@xxxxxxxxxxx> · Sat, 15 Dec 2012 08:18:13 -0800

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Ann Parsons" <akp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: <portaltutoring-news@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Saturday, December 15, 2012 4:12 AM
Subject: [Portaltutoring-news] Newsletter 2012

Portal Tutoring
Newsletter, 2012

Web Site:  http://www.portaltutoring.info
Email:  akp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx or:  akp@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Phone:  (585) 244-0477

Letter From the Editor

Welcome to Portal Tutoring's newsletter.  As usual, we have a great
deal to tell you, and we have some new offerings.  You will read about some
new developments in technology; more about Ms. Parsons' continuing
education; and a few necessary announcements.

Portal Tutoring Past and Future

These past several months of 2011 and 2012  have been good ones for
Portal Tutoring.  We've tutored several private students in computer
technology and the use of Humanware's BrailleNote.  Some of these students
have continued their lessons into the New Year.
In August of 2011, we  updated our documentation to continue
to be a private vendor for The New York State Commission for the Blind and
Visually Handicapped (CBVH).  This has resulted in Portal Tutoring's
expansion into teaching Braille to adults.  Although Braille has been in our
curriculum since its inception, no one has taken advantage of this course
until now.  All students wishing to learn Braille are to be tutored
face-to-face.  Portal Tutoring has not modified its Braille curriculum to
allow for distance learning of this skill, though it may do so in future.
We are delighted to be able to provide this service to our clientele in the
Rochester area.
Because of the expansion of our curricula, we acquired four students
from CBVH who needed to learn contracted Braille in January of 2012.  Two of
these students have completed their courses and are now proficient Braille
readers.  In October, we added a fifth Braille student to our list.  In
addition to the Braille students, CBVH asked us to take on another student
who needed training in the use of the Victor Stream and in communication
skills with her laptop.  This contract was completed successfully.
We have completed a summer contract with a school district for AT
Training to be given to one of its students.  The student needed help with
his BrailleNote and his laptop.  This student's school has contracted with
Portal Tutoring to continue what we started in the summer throughout the
coming academic year in 2013

NVDA Screen Reader:

The NVDA Screen Reader, Non-Visual Desktop Access, has been
available for some years, but Portal Tutoring has not explored this free
software until this year.  We have done some preliminary work with this
screen reader, and have found it to be a most responsive and well-designed
tool for computer users.  If you or someone you know has a computer and is
on a tight budget, NVDA may be your best access solution.  It is free, and
it works well with the most commonly used computer programs for Windows.
Portal Tutoring is prepared to begin offering training in this screen reader
for anyone who desires it.

GW Connect

Do you use Skype?  Are you having trouble accessing Skype's
features?  Then, worry no more!  GW Micro, makers of the Screen reader named
Window-Eyes, has created an accessible version of Skype by using Skype's
tool kit for program developers.  You do not need to run Window-Eyes or even
Regular Skype on your computer.  Simply download GW Connect from
http://www.gwmicro.com, install it, sign onto Skype and create a username
and password.  You will be Skyping in no time.  If you need help, Portal
Tutoring offers a brief one-hour class in using this handy application.

Cost Of Private Tutoring Raised

As you are aware, the economy has been slow of late, and prices have
risen for everything from bread to BrailleNotes.  Therefore, Portal Tutoring
has had to follow suit.  Starting on January 1, 2012, the price for private
tutoring from us is now $25.00 per hour.  New private students will be
charged at this new rate.

Books And Book Readers

Recently, Humanware announced their newest DAISY player, the Victor
Reader Stratus-M.  This is a desktop player that allows one to play CD's,
thumb drives and SD cards.  It is modeled on the old Victor Reader Classic
Plus.  The buttons on it are virtually the same, and if you are familiar
with the Classic Plus, you should have no difficulty in adapting to this new
player.  One of the Stratus' best features is its text-to-speech voice.
This is the internal voice that allows you to play e-text content.  This
voice is much improved over that of the Victor Reader Stream.  The speaker
on the Stratus is akin to the one on the NLS DTBM, so one can count on
receiving excellent audio playback quality.  It sells for approximately
$450.00.  Portal Tutoring is pleased to offer training in the use of The
Victor Reader Stratus and  the Victor Reader Stream, made by Humanware, as
well as, the NLS DTBM.

Group Training

During the past several months, Portal Tutoring has conducted group
training for teachers and students in schools in New York State.  These
trainings were given in order to acquaint both teachers and students with
the new Apex BrailleNote from Humanware and the Pac Mate from Freedom
Scientific.  The training sessions were successful, and Portal Tutoring
looks forward to a similar opportunity in December of this year as well as
during 2013.

Editorial By Ann Parsons

Since beginning my exploration into the world of teaching Braille to
adults, I have become increasingly aware of the importance of Braille to
those who are blind and visually impaired.  As one who was born blind, I
learned Braille as a child when others were learning how to read print.
Therefore, my use of Braille parallels that of any child who is taught to
read print in first grade.  I began using it for all the things which other
children use print:  reading books, taking notes, writing to friends who
were blind, labeling records and clothing, and on and on.
As an adult, I use Braille every single day.  I use it just as any
sighted person uses handwritten notation:  to label everything from clothing
to spices, keeping notes on students, printing material for my students to
study, printing material written on the computer for better proofing,
keeping addresses and phone numbers, keeping an appointment calendar and
more.  While I have been teaching my first student, I find myself
continually saying, "When you get better at this, you will be able to.".  It
is true.  When a person learns Braille, he or she can begin to use it in the
same way that a fully sighted person uses a pen and paper.
This seems logical to most of us, but there is a growing feeling
among educators and other professionals that if you use a talking computer,
you have no need for Braille.  As a Braille user and a professional
educator, I am here to tell you that This is not so.  A computer cannot go
with you to the store like a hard copy grocery list.  A computer cannot be
attached to each item of clothing you own.  A computer cannot be used to
take down the occasional note or phone number you might need in a pinch.
No, only Braille can do this for you.  Only Braille can be used without
electric power and without being inside.  Smart Phones are beginning to do
this, but nothing can take the place of being able to "see" the letters and
numbers under your fingers and to know a document's formatting, its spacing,
its spelling and syntax.  I am correcting this document on my BrailleNote in
Braille, as I write.   nothing takes the place of being literate.

Continuing Education Opportunities

In its continuing search for materials and training opportunities to
enhance the value of Portal Tutoring to its clientele, Ms. Parsons, Portal
Tutoring's sole tutor and CEO participated in several webinars.  Most
recently, we attended a webinar given by Larry Lewis of Flying Blind.  The
subject of the webinar was how to link a cell phone or an Ipad to a Braille
display.  Other continuing education opportunities included:   webinars by
Accessible World, The Hadley School in Winnetka, IL, EASI, and a visit to
Utica to attend the New York State Convention of ACBNY.  All these
opportunities were taken so that Portal Tutoring can offer, you, our
students the best training possible.

Thank You

We would like to thank all our patrons for using us for your
training needs.  We continue to serve you, our students to the best of our
ability.  If you have questions about anything in this newsletter, Braille
or computer technology for the blind or visually impaired, don't hesitate to
contact us.  We'll answer your questions or find someone who can.
Unsubscribing:  If you no longer wish to receive our newsletter,
please contact us at the above email address or by calling us.  We will
immediately remove your name from our list.

Ann K. Parsons,
tutor, CEO

Ann K. Parsons
Portal Tutoring
akp@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://www.portaltutoring.info
"All that is gold does not glitter,
Not all those who wander are lost." JRRT

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