DBInews July 2005 * A publication of DeafBlindInfo.org. Sponsored by Minnesota Department of Human Services Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division. To subscribe, e-mail DBInews-subscribe@yahoogroups.com * Contents. - DeafBlind Advocacy Project Ends. - HumanWare Releases New Braille Communication Tool. - Get Paid For Writing Articles! - Post Your Announcements For Free. * DEAFBLIND ADVOCACY PROJECT ENDS. Paul Deeming, former DeafBlind Specialist. DeafBlind Advocacy Project. The DeafBlind Advocacy Grant project ended on June 30th. I will now consult (advise) DHHS and Dept. of Human Services on DeafBlind issues, but I will not be doing advocacy and problem solving, the DeafBlind Expo, and other activities of the grant. Also, I will not be in the DHHS office, and my former email address and phone numbers will not work after June 30th. (paul.deeming@state.mn.us and 651-297-1384) My new job will be Program Manager at DeafBlind Services Minnesota (DBSM). I have been working there part-time for past six months but now will be full-time. I am excited about the future of DBSM because I believe we will grow and provide more services to DeafBlind people. My new contact info is: DeafBlind Services Minnesota 1936 Lyndale Avenue South Minneapolis, MN 55403 612-362-8454v 612-362-8422 tty 612-362-8437 fax pauld@dbsm.org The Minnesota Dept. of Human Services and Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division provided funding for The DeafBlind Advocacy project since the fall of 2003. I am very happy with the success of this grant project. During the past two years, the project has made a positive effect. How? By providing DeafBlind consumer advocacy and problem solving services, and by helping Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services Division and the Minnesota Department of Human Services to understand DeafBlind people better, and by influencing changes in the Minnesota Medical Assistance (MA) program with better assessment for the needs of DeafBlind people regarding MA services. The project's successes also included: * Helping 12 DeafBlind adults with advocacy and problem solving, * Consulting with several families with DeafBlind children and meeting with parent groups, * the DeafBlind Services Expo in 2004 and 2005, with 20 exhibits and 35 consumers attending each year, * the DeafBlind Services Resource Guide, * Providing money for DeafBlind people in Greater Minnesota to be able to afford transportation to the 2005 Expo, * Writing information to help DeafBlind Minnesotans understand the Medical Assistance (MA) system which will be posted on http://www.deafblindinfo.org after DHS approval, * Developing papers for the Minnesota Medical Assistance (MA) with information regarding asking accurate questions about the needs of DeafBlind people so that the DeafBlind are better evaluated for services and funding by county workers, * Did a DeafBlind consumers' needs survey of DeafBlind Minnesotans and their families in the fall of 2003, * Providing training to DHHS staff on how to work with DeafBlind people, * Providing resources (books, CD, DVD) to each DHHS regional office regarding DeafBlindness and DeafBlind people (available for borrowing, similiar to the library), * Coordinating two lunchtime videotape-based workshops to the staff at the Dept. of Human Services about DeafBlind people and their culture, * Writing a training book, "An Introduction to Working with DeafBlind Individuals", which was used in the first year to train DHHS staff and policy analysts. It was a busy one-and-a-half years! I'm proud of the project's successes with help both the State of Minnesota and the Minnesotan DeafBlind community. Starting July 1, 2005, I am excited about continuing to work with the DeafBlind community in my new job as Program Manager at DeafBlind Services Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota. * HUMANWARE LAUNCHES NEW BRAILLE COMMUNICATION TOOL. Press Release. HumanWare launches BrailleNote mPower, the next generation information management system for the blind. Christchurch, New Zealand, 28th June 2005 HumanWare, the world leader in information technology for the blind and visually impaired, today announced the immediate availability of BrailleNote mPower, the next-generation information management system for the blind. Building on the success of the original BrailleNote line of products, BrailleNote mPower offers many new features and a great new look. Key new features in BrailleNote mPower include: € expanded on-board storage to 128MB, € two USB host ports and a USB client port, € great quality stereo sound when listening through headphones, € support for listening to internet radio, € an audio recorder with either an external microphone or a built-in microphone with fully adjustable recording levels, € built-in Bluetooth for connections with cell phones, keyboards and other computers, € and a fast Intel X-scale processor. "Many thousands of people use our existing BrailleNote products in all walks of life, from astrophysics to writing an academic essay, from writing a nation's constitutional court rulings to taking minutes at a school board meeting," says HumanWare's BrailleNote Product Marketing Manager, Jonathan Mosen. "The one thing all these people have in common is that their BrailleNote product empowers them to succeed on equal terms in all walks of life. The BrailleNote mPower opens even more opportunities for blind people around the world to manage information and media efficiently, no matter where they are," Mosen says. BrailleNote mPower offers a powerful suite of applications, operating with Microsoft Windows CE, but written to be used optimally by blind people. A Braille display takes the place of the screen on a regular PDA. Information can also be read out loud using synthesised speech. Models offering Braille or QWERTY input are available, as well as a speech only output version, known as VoiceNote mPower. "As a blind person myself, I'm enjoying the freedom of being able to do my e-mail at a wireless hotspot, or even make a Bluetooth connection with my cell phone in the back of a taxi, and all using an interface that maximises my efficiency," Jonathan Mosen says. "And thanks to BrailleNote mPower, I'm taking fewer devices with me on the road, since the incredible stereo sound and streaming media support means it's my entertainment as well as information source". BrailleNote mPower and VoiceNote mPower models are available for immediate sale at all HumanWare sales outlets. About HumanWare Based in Christchurch, New Zealand, HumanWare designs and manufactures innovative technology for people who are blind and visually impaired. Formed in 1988, and formerly known as Pulse Data International, HumanWare exports approximately 98% of its products worldwide to more than 30 countries. In January 2005, Pulse Data and Visuaide of Canada merged to form HumanWare, one of the world¹s largest companies in the blindness and low vision industries. Sales offices have been established in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, The Netherlands, Australia and New Zealand and the company supports a strong distribution network throughout North America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. * GET PAID FOR WRITING ARTICLES! DeafBlindInfo.org is looking for contributors to monthly editions of DBInews. Submissions must be written by DeafBlind people or be related to DeafBlind culture and community, and be between 100 and 500 words. Upon publication a fee of $25 will be paid. * POST YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR FREE. Minnesota-based DeafBlind organizations may post event announcements here free of charge. To send anouncements for an upcoming month, please send information on or before the last day of every month. * DeafBlindInfo.org is Minnesota's online resource about DeafBlind services and community. This project is sponsored by DHS/DHHSD. Questions? Contact Adrean Clark, webmaster, at comments@deafblindinfo.org .