blind_html [Fwd: Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for the Blind]
- From: Nimer <nimerjaber1@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: blind_html@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 09:27:07 -0700
-------- Original Message --------
Subject: Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for the Blind
Date: Tue, 17 Feb 2009 08:54:23 -0600 (CST)
From: Fred's Head Companion <fredshead@xxxxxxx>
Reply-To: Fred's Head Companion <fredshead@xxxxxxx>
To: nimerjaber1@xxxxxxxxx
Fred's Head Companion - American Printing House for the Blind
<http://www.fredshead.info/>
Link to Fred's Head Companion <http://www.fredshead.info/>
The Saw That Automatically Retracts When Sensing Skin
<http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Er/FredsHeadCompanion/%7E3/541747653/saw-that-automatically-retracts-when.html>
Posted: 17 Feb 2009 08:40 AM CST
if you value your fingers, especially your thumbs and you are a blind or
visually impaired carpenter and/or use table saws, then you'll want to
check out the SawStop table saw.
This "handy" device senses the presence of skin by using the fact that
the human body can absorb electrical charge. The SawStop is designed to
stop within 5 milliseconds of sensing that change, and will cause at
most a very superficial nick. It's not cheap, but it's a cool idea that
more companies should incorperate into similar products, bringing the
price down. But until we can regrow limbs, it's probably worth every penny.
Click this link to learn more about the Contractor Saw Featuring SawStop
technology <http://sawstop.com/contractor/contractor_features.php>.
Lowering Screen Resolution Makes Vista Easier to See
<http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Er/FredsHeadCompanion/%7E3/541710125/lowering-screen-resolution-makes-vista.html>
Posted: 17 Feb 2009 07:41 AM CST
Every now and then we have a tip just for the visually impaired readers
of Fred's Head. This is one such tip.
Today's computer monitors with wide screens will in most cases shrink
icons and websites to minimal size for better resolution, sometimes
making everything very hard to see and read, especially for the sight
impaired.
The easiest way to make everything a little bigger is by lowering the
monitors screen resolution just a bit. These instructions are for the
Windows Vista operating system.
1. Right click on any empty area of your desktop (the first screen
you see once the computer is turned on and booted).
2. This will bring up a menu with several options, select the last
one which is personalize, this will bring up a larger menu.
3. Choose "Display Settings" where you will then find a slider bar
with xxxx by xxx pixels.
4. Hold the slider button with your mouse button pressed and slide it
towards the left once.
5. Select apply at the bottom left of the window, this will then make
everything a little bigger. You may repeat as needed until you
become comfortable with the screen resolution.
Tip: A good monitor resolution is when most websites fill your screen
without having to scroll horizontally.
1. Right click anywhere on your desktop.
2. Select personalize.
3. Hold the slider button with your mouse button pressed and slide it
towards the left.
Helen Keller Stars as Helen Killer
<http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Er/FredsHeadCompanion/%7E3/541202414/helen-keller-stars-as-helen-killer.html>
Posted: 16 Feb 2009 02:35 PM CST
Helen Keller dedicated her adult life to expanding possibilities for
people living with disabilities throughout the world. Now she stars in
her very own comic book.
At the dawn of the 20th Century, twenty-one year old college student
Helen Keller has a dark secret. Science has restored her lost senses and
granted her unimaginable power. Will she use it to protect herself and
her country. or will it destroy them both?
Thoroughly researched, Helen Killer blends a full cast of historical
characters with high octane super-spy action, examining the
extraordinary spirit of one of the most inspiring individuals of the
twentieth century. Written by Andrew Kreisberg who has written for such
tv hits as "The Simpsons," "Boston Legal" and "Eli Stone." This is the
first fully illustratedbook by Matt Rice, a talented up and comer of
whom big things are expected.
The First Four Issues are Now Available
Issue #1
1901: Helen Keller, with the aid of a fantastic device, invented by her
friend and mentor, Alexander Graham Bell, regains her sight and hearing
as well as near super-human strength and agility. Helen is enlisted by
the Secret Service to protect President William McKinley who has been
targeted for assassination by Anarchists. As a deeper conspiracy to
destroy America unfolds around her, Helen discovers that her new
abilities come with a dark and terrifying price.
Issue #2
Secret Service agent Helen Keller, with the aid of a device which has
restored her lost senses, and her partner Jonah Blaylock have traveled
to the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo to protect President McKinley
from Anarchists. As Helen learns to master her new powers, the assassin
is moving into position.
Issue #3
At the dawn of the 20th Century, twenty-one year old college student
Helen Keller has a dark secret. Science has restored her lost senses and
granted her unimaginable power. Will she use it to protect herself and
her country... or will it destroy them both? Thoroughly researched,
Helen Killer blends a full cast of historical characters with high
octane super-spy action, examining the extraordinary spirit of one of
the most inspiring individuals of the twentieth century.
Issue #4
With the Omnicle now in the hands of Elisha Grey, a powerless Helen
Keller races to New York City to stop him and his fellow Anarchists from
destroying America's wealth. But to defeat Grey, Helen must embrace her
dark self. To save the country, will she have to sacrifice her soul?
/WARNING! This comic contains adult themes and may not be appropriate
for all audiences/.
Click this link to visit the Helen Killer website to learn more about
this exciting comic book series: http://www.helenkillercomic.com
<http://www.helenkillercomic.com>.
Complete Streets
<http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Er/FredsHeadCompanion/%7E3/541173327/complete-streets.html>
Posted: 16 Feb 2009 01:49 PM CST
Complete streets are designed and operated to enable safe access for all
users. Pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and transit riders of all ages
and abilities must be able to safely move along and across a complete
street.
Creating complete streets means transportation agencies must change
their orientation toward building primarily for cars. Instituting a
complete streets policy ensures that transportation agencies routinely
design and operate the entire right of way to enable safe access for all
users. Places with complete streets policies are making sure that their
streets and roads work for drivers, transit users, pedestrians, and
bicyclists, as well as for older people, children, and people with
disabilities.
Since each complete street is unique, it is impossible to give a single
description of what one might look like. But ingredients that may be
found on a complete street include sidewalks, bike lanes (or wide paved
shoulders), special bus lanes, comfortable and accessible transit stops,
frequent crossing opportunities, median islands, accessible pedestrian
signals, curb extensions, and more. A complete street in a rural area
will look quite different from a complete street in a highly urban area.
But both are designed to balance safety and convenience for everyone
using the road.
Many streets where people bicycle or walk are incomplete. Our states,
cities, counties and towns have built many miles of streets and roads
that are safe and comfortable only for travel by motor vehicle. These
roadways often lack sidewalks or crosswalks, have lanes too narrow to
share with bicyclists, and make no room for transit riders and no
accommodation for people with disabilities. A recent federal survey
found that about one-quarter of walking trips take place on roads
without sidewalks or shoulders, and bike lanes are available for only
about 5 percent of bicycle trips . Another national survey of
pedestrians and bicyclists found that the top complaints were the lack
of sidewalks and bikeways - essentially, incomplete streets.
Few laws require states to build roads as complete transportation
corridors. In 2000, the US Department of Transportation advised states
receiving federal funds that "bicycling and walking facilities will be
incorporated into all transportation projects unless exceptional
circumstances exist." But by their own admission, fewer than half the
states follow this federal guidance. Many highway improvements add
automobile capacity and increase vehicle speeds, but do nothing to
mitigate the negative impact this usually has on bicycling and walking.
Streets without safe places to walk and bicycle put people at risk.
While nine percent of all trips are made by foot or bicycle, more than
13 percent of all traffic fatalities are bicyclists or pedestrians .
More than 5,000 pedestrians and bicyclists die each year on US roads.
The most dangerous places to walk and bicycle are sprawling communities
with streets built for driving only.
Roads without safe access for non-drivers become barriers. About
one-third of Americans do not drive , so complete streets are essential
for children and older Americans, as well as people who use wheelchairs,
have vision impairments, or simply cannot afford a car.
Click this link to learn more about Complete Streets and how you can
help create them: http://www.completestreets.org
<http://www.completestreets.org>.
US Home Loans for People with Disabilities and Seniors
<http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Er/FredsHeadCompanion/%7E3/381623706/us-home-loans-for-people-with.html>
Posted: 16 Feb 2009 01:36 PM CST
For people who have a disability and those with low income, finding a
home loan can be a daunting task. Owning your own home is considered a
fundamental right by most people, a natural progression into the world
of independent living.
One in three Americans living with disabilities lives below or at the
poverty level. That makes millions of people with disabilities living
under socially and financially acceptable conditions.
Disabled World <http://www.disabled-world.com> is trying to make finding
a reputable home loan lender a little easier by listing both government
public and private institutions that lend money for home purchases and
down payment loans to people with disabilities and very low income
earners. They have created a list of national, state, and local programs
that offer mortgage assistance and other types of housing aid to help
better serve those with disabilities. There are a number of
organizations listed that can provide guidance and information about
buying a home. Click this link to visit Disabled World's >/First home
owners guide to mortgages/ page
<http://www.disabled-world.com/loans/ushomeloans.shtml>.
DisabilityHelpSite.com Helps People Find Needed Benefits
From the site:
"The disABLED have many needs which challenge their lives. People with
disabilities face financial needs, mobility issues, lack of quality
housing, as well as struggling with prescription medicine costs. There
is help available. Government disability benefits, assistive technology
devices, and special housing funds are all benefits which are available
to the disABLED. I'll help you find those benefits."
Click this link to visit http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com
<http://www.disabilityhelpsite.com>.
Women: at greater risk of blindness
<http://feeds.feedburner.com/%7Er/FredsHeadCompanion/%7E3/541162022/women-at-greater-risk-of-blindness.html>
Posted: 16 Feb 2009 01:26 PM CST
Two thirds of all people who are blind or visually impaired are women,
according to the Women's Eye Health Task Force
<http://www.womenseyehealth.org/index.php>. Age, nutrition,
hormone-related issues and access to information and treatment are all
factors that put women at greater risk for vision impairment. However,
the Internet can help people learn about steps to help better protect
vision. At the Web site of Lion's Eye Heath Program -- Lehp.org
<http://www.Lehp.org> -- women can learn how to spot the risk factors
for eye diseases, get free eye health educational materials and find
medical eye care, including where to get free medical care in any community.
In 2001, a major epidemiological survey was conducted, which revealed
that women bear a greater burden of blindness and vision loss. Of the
common eye diseases, dry eye syndrome, autoimmune diseases, and certain
forms of cataract are intrinsically more prevalent in women than in men.
In industrialized countries, age-related afflictions such as macular
degeneration and cataract affect women more often than men because women
tend to live longer. In developing countries, infectious diseases such
as trachoma are more prevalent in women, and, in some areas of the
world, women have less access to medical care.
It has been estimated that three quarters of blindness and vision loss
is either preventable or treatable. You can optimize your eye health by
practicing a healthy lifestyle, having regular eye exams, and protecting
your eyes from injury. For more information on blindness, and how it
effects women, visit the site of the Lion's Eye Heath Program by
clicking this link: http://www.Lehp.org <http://www.Lehp.org>. You may
also wish to visit the Women's Eye Health Task Force by clicking this
link: http://www.womenseyehealth.org/index.php
<http://www.womenseyehealth.org/index.php>.
Women's International Linkage on Disability
D-WILD (Women's International Linkage on Disability) is an international
e-mail list group for WOMEN with disabilities and WOMEN allies. Women
from different countries exchange experiences, information and ideas on
issues related to women with disabilities.
When you post to this list, you are reaching disabled women from around
the world. D-WILD is co-managed by two volunteers, Barbara Anello, a WWD
from North Bay, Ontario in Canada and by Rebecca, a young WWD from
Madison, Wisconsin in the USA. "While some members wouldn't mind male
members on our group some other members have been abused by men or just
don't feel comfortable discussing some issues openly with male members
around. We just want to have a little place where all women can feel
safe to share ideas and feelings. So, you must be female to join but you
don't need to be disabled to join. A disability can be physical or mental."
Click this link to learn more about the Women's International Linkage on
Disability by visiting this website: http://www.geocities.com/dwildgroup
<http://www.geocities.com/dwildgroup>.
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