The American Foundation for the Blind Unveils Enhanced Website Redesign
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) launched a redesign of its main website, www.afb.org, earlier this month. The new design offers a more interactive, engaging experience, making it easier for visitors to locate information on everything from accessible technology to raising a child with visual impairments to webinars on the latest research in the blindness field.
Like the former AFB website, the new afb.org is fully accessible to people with vision loss. Visitors can change colors, font, and font size to increase content readability.
On the new site, visitors will find:
- Improved navigability via a cleaner design, more dynamic content, and a new information architecture
- Slideshows that highlight news, events, and resources on living with vision loss
- New and enhanced ways to engage with AFB through public policy campaigns and various social networking channels, including blogs and message boards
- Robust and dynamic landing pages for key programs, including the AFB Center on Vision Loss and AFB Press
- The ability to easily share content by e-mail, Facebook, or Twitter
- A vibrant and supportive community on AFB's award-winning family of websites, including VisionAware, FamilyConnect, CareerConnect , and AccessWorld
2012 AFB Leadership Conference and Florida AER State Conference
Incredible Views, Extraordinary Impact
Registration is now open for the joint 2012 AFB Leadership Conference (Previously known as the Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute) and Florida AER Conference.
Tradewinds Island Resorts
St. Pete Beach, Florida
May 4–5, 2012
(Pre-conference on May 3)
Come hear experts in the field, such as pre-conference keynote speaker Dr. Karen Wolffe and conference keynote speaker Kevin O'Connor, as they lead informative and enlightening sessions on topics such as:
Leadership: Facing current and future challenges
Technology: Looking at what's new and on the horizon
Education: Meeting the needs of the visually impaired
Rehabilitation: Implementing cutting-edge tips
We thank our event partners:
- Florida Association of Agencies Serving the Blind
- Florida Division of Blind Services
- Florida School for the Deaf and the Blind
- Florida Instructional Materials Center for the Visually Impaired
Visit us online at www.afb.org/AFBLC12.
ZoomText 10.0.1 is Released!
The first update in the ZoomText 10 cycle is available! Already own version 10? Then this is a free update for you! If you've got ZoomText set to download updates automatically, you're good to go — the next time you launch ZoomText it will install the update for you. Otherwise, just go to the Help menu and choose "Check for Program Updates…".
So what's in this update? ZoomText 10 is now available electronically in Czech, Danish, Dutch, Finnish, French, German, Italian, Norwegian, Slovak, Spanish and Swedish.
In addition, Ai Squared has optimized the ZoomText Camera feature to provide faster video performance on systems equipped with a multi-core processor. Controls have also been added in the ZoomText Camera dialog providing manual selection of the camera video frame rate, allowing you to balance overall camera and system performance.
AI Squared has made further improvements for iTunes and Java Access Bridge support, and has fixed a whole bunch of bugs.
Ai Squared plans to have the CD version ready mid-February. To order your copy, call 800-859-0270 or you can go online and contact your local dealer.
American Foundation for the Blind Scholarship Program 2012
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) administers seven post-secondary education scholarships for up to 11 deserving students who are legally blind:
Delta Gamma Memorial Scholarship—One scholarship of $1,000
- Undergraduate or graduate study in the field(s) of rehabilitation and/or education of people who are blind or visually impaired.
Ferdinand Torres Scholarship—One scholarship of $3,500
- Undergraduate or graduate study in any full-time program in any field.
- Applicants need not be US citizens, but must reside in the US. Preference given to New York City metropolitan area residents, and new immigrants to the US.
Gladys C. Anderson Memorial Scholarship—One scholarship of $1,000
- Undergraduate or graduate study in classical or religious music.
- Applicants must be female.
Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship—One scholarship of $500
- Graduate study in any full-time program in any field.
- Applicants must submit evidence of economic need.
Paul W. Ruckes Scholarship—One scholarship of $1,000
- Undergraduate or graduate study in engineering or in the computer, physical, or life sciences.
R. L. Gillette Scholarship—Two scholarships of $1,000 each
- Undergraduate study in a four-year degree program in literature or music.
- Applicants must be female.
Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship—Four scholarships of $2,500 each
- Undergraduate or graduate study in the field of rehabilitation and/or education of people who are blind or visually impaired.
Visit the AFB scholarships website for further information and to fill out the application.
Please direct questions and comments to: American Foundation for the Blind Information Center, (800) 232-5463, afbinfo@afb.net
The National Federation of the Blind Offers 30 National Scholarships
To recognize achievement by blind scholars, the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) annually offers blind college students in the United States the opportunity to win one of 30 national scholarships worth from $3,000 to $12,000. See the NFB scholarship website for the rules on eligibility, requirements for documentation, and an online application form. Membership in the NFB is not required. The 2012 NFB Scholarship Program begins November 1, 2011. Application deadline: March 31, 2012.
