Tax Assistance for People with Disabilities
Another tax season is at our door! The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has provided information about the online tax products and services available for taxpayers with disabilities.
Last year more than one million accessible forms and publications were downloaded, in large part because organizations representing people with disabilities actively promoted their availability.
You can go to the IRS Accessibility page to download forms, publications, and other products, and you can check out tax-related videos in English and American Sign Language on the IRS YouTube page. The IRS highly recommends checking the website often as it is continually growing the number of products accessible to people with disabilities.
Please contact Maureen Goulder, 804-916-8850, if you have any questions or need any additional information.
Mark Your Calendars for the 2014 AFB Leadership Conference in New York City
The 2014 American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conference (AFBLC) is scheduled for February 27–March 1 at the Brooklyn Bridge Marriott. Conference attendees can take advantage of a low group rate at the centrally-located hotel and join colleagues new and old for three days of informative and thought-provoking sessions led by leaders in the field. Visit the American Foundation for the Blind Leadership Conference page for the latest information on this conference, which draws hundreds of professionals from across the country and around the world.
The 3rd Annual M-Enabling Summit to be Held June 9–10, 2014, in Washington, DC
The only global conference and showcase exclusively dedicated to accessible and assistive mobile solutions for seniors and users of all abilities, the fastest growing user group in the mobile market place.
The Summit provides an opportunity to network with over 600 high-level government and industry leaders in an environment dedicated to cutting edge technology, solutions, and the sharing of innovative ideas.
Held in cooperation with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the 2014 Summit is a must-attend event for anyone participating in this fast expanding market
In the spotlight at the 2014 Summit:
- Mobile and social media leap forward in accessibility
- Mobile at the center of smartphone development
- The next generation of wearable gear
- Opportunities for users of all abilities with BYOD (bring your own device)
- Adaptive user interfaces
- Market opportunities for new services for seniors and people with disabilities
- How leading corporations promote consumer apps for users of all abilities
Window-Eyes to be Free for Microsoft Office Users
GW Micro, Inc. recently announced that it is partnering with Microsoft to make Window-Eyes available to users of Microsoft Office at no cost. Window-Eyes is a screen reader that enables people who are blind, visually impaired, or print disabled to access Windows PCs via speech and/or braille.
GW Micro and Microsoft have collaborated on this global initiative, available in over 15 languages, to enable anyone using Microsoft Office 2010 or later to also use Window-Eyes for free.
"This significant change in the way we are doing business reflects the changing perception of accessibility and also technology in general. Rather than wait for the world to change, Microsoft and GW Micro are leading the way," said Dan Weirich, Vice President of Sales and Marketing for GW Micro. Weirich believes this technology can help millions of people gain access to their PC, and that providing Window-Eyes free of charge will open a whole new world of assistive technology to many people.
"By partnering with GW Micro in this endeavor we are demonstrating Microsoft's ongoing commitment to provide all of our customers with the technology and tools to help each person be productive in both their work and personal lives." said Rob Sinclair, Chief Accessibility Officer for Microsoft.
Eligible customers, using Microsoft Office 2010 or higher, will be able to download a full version of Window-Eyes. The website provides download instructions as well as additional details about this offer.
For more information please contact Dan Weirich, 260-489-3671
