Link Apps: New from Learning Ally

If you are a print-impaired student or adult learner, you are probably already familiar with Learning Ally, the Princeton, New Jersey based repository of over 80,000 volunteer-recorded textbooks and other reading materials used by a quarter of a million students in 10,000 schools across the US. Books are available via download for use with the Learning Ally software for PC, Mac or Chromebook.

Users can also load the files onto a Victor Reader Stream or one of a number of other portable DAISY players. For the past several years, Learning Ally books have also been available for immediate download to iPhones, iPads and Android phones and tablets.

Now, just in time to recognize October's joint Blindness Awareness Month and Dyslexia Awareness Month, Learning Ally has introduced the upcoming consolidation of its apps into what it called Link Apps. Along with the PC, Mac and Chromebook Link apps, Learning Ally Link for iOS is also now available. If you have the original Learning Ally app it will still work; however, it will receive no further updates or support. The Learning Ally Android app is still available from the Play Store.

An Android version of Learning Ally Link is currently in alpha test, and AccessWorld will be sure to let you know when it's released to the public.

Here are a few of the enhancements to the new Learning Ally Link for iOS:

You can now access your LearningAlly.org homepage from directly within the app. There you can search for books and add them to your library, then return to the app and begin the download. You can choose to use cellular data, if you need that title immediately. The app also supports background downloads, so you no longer have to remain inside the app until titles have finished downloading.

Bookmarking has been enhanced to include the ability to add text notes of any length. Like any text on an iOS device, you can either use a keyboard or dictation to compose a note. The previous version only allowed you to edit the title of a bookmark. Bookmarks are now listed by the page number to which they refer. Currently, you cannot edit these titles, though this feature may revert back in a future release. Another planned option is the ability to export bookmarks.

You can set fonts, colors, and voice speed globally, and by individual title.

You can now search your bookshelf by author or title, a handy feature if you're a busy student s with dozens of books on your device. Note: Only title names can be searched. Text within VOICEtext eBooks is not currently searched.

Two major features that are not currently available, and that will not be available in the upcoming Android version are the ability to synch notes, bookmarks, and reading positions between devices. Also not yet available but planned for a future release are in-app connections to Learning Ally's College Success program, which we told you about in the November, 2015 issue of AccessWorld.

You can download the Learning Ally Link app free from the Apple app Store.

The app is free. Membership costs $135 per year.

Center on Disabilities Announces Call for Paper and Proposals for 32nd CSUN Assistive Technology Conference

The Center on Disabilities at California State University, Northridge announced the General Track Call for Papers and Call for Pre-Conference Workshop Proposals for the 32nd CSUN Assistive Technology Conference, opened Thursday, September 8, 2016.

Visit the Conference website for more information about the Call for Papers and the 2017 CSUN Assistive Technology Conference. We strongly encourage you to review the information on submission procedures thoroughly to ensure that your proposals follow the guidelines.

The 32nd CSUN Assistive Technology Conference will be held February 27 to March 4, 2017 at the Manchester Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Diego, California.

Envision Fellowship Program Openings

The Envision Research Institute (ERI) recently announced postdoctoral fellowships for applied research in blindness and visual impairment. Applicants must hold a doctorate degree at the time of award (PhD, MD, OD, OTD) in engineering, computer science, psychology, vision science or related fields. Awards are up to two years in duration. Training and research is conducted at ERI, however the fellow may travel to his/her mentor's institution for up to 6 months to establish the collaboration and receive additional training not available at ERI. Successful research proposals will incorporate Envision's resources in Wichita, Kansas, which include a vision clinic, low vision rehabilitation services, early childhood development center, outreach and clinical education, and employment for the blind and visually impaired.

Envision particularly encourages applications that address topics in cortical visual impairment, visual functioning after ocular trauma and navigation/orientation accessibility technology.

Submit a Letter of Intent and CV toresearch@envisionus.comno later than September 21, 2016.

Letters of Intent should not exceed two (2) pages, and must contain a brief description of the following:

  • Description of the candidate and his/her background
  • Brief description of the intended research project and how it addresses the mission of Envision
  • Proposed external mentor(s) and what new training they would support for the fellow
  • List of topical areas relevant to the research (for guiding appointment of selection committee)
  • Applicant's CV (not part of 2 page limit)

Invitations to apply will be sent on September 28, with applications due on October 26. Awards will be announced by the end of November 2016.

For more information, please review the Fellowship Handbook. Please email program questions to research@envisionus.com.

Six States Receive Nearly $15M in Grants to Expand Employment Opportunities for People with Disabilities

Despite their ability to occupy a variety of jobs, people with disabilities only account for 19.8 percent of the workforce, have more than double the unemployment rate compared to the general population and continue to face barriers finding work. To improve employment opportunities for adults and youth with disabilities, the U.S. Department of Labor recently announced grants totaling $14.9 million as part of the Disability Employment Initiative to six states.

****Grant Recipient****

****Award****

State of California Employment
Development Department

$2,500,000

Connecticut Department of Labor

$2,500,000

State of Idaho

$2,500,000

Massachusetts Executive Office
of Labor and Workforce
Development

$2,500,000

Minnesota Department of
Employment and Economic
Development

$2,500,000

Maryland Department of Labor,
Licensing and Regulation

$2,472,986

Total

$14,972,986

This is the seventh round of DEI funding. Since 2010, the department has awarded grants of more than $123 million through the initiative to 49 projects in 28 states to improve education, training, and employment outcomes of youth and adults with disabilities. More information on the DEI is available here.

DEI funds help refine and expand workforce strategies proven to be successful, and enhance inclusive service delivery through the public workforce system. Improvements include increasing the accessibility of American Job Centers, training front-line AJC and partner staff, and increasing partnerships and collaboration across numerous systems critical for assisting youth and adults with disabilities in securing meaningful employment.

Grantees of this year's awards will use the funds to:

  • Improve employment outcomes and increase the number of individuals with disabilities who earn credentials.
  • Provide more and diversified job-driven training opportunities.
  • Facilitate academic and employment transition among youth.
  • Incorporate flexible approaches to designing and providing training and supportive services, including customized employment strategies to help jobseekers with significant disabilities.
  • Build effective community partnerships and collaborations across multiple service delivery systems and the effective blending and braiding of resources.
  • Promote more active engagement with the business sector.

The grants align closely with the Obama administration's job-driven training principles by requiring multiple workforce and disability service providers, educational institutions and businesses in each state to collaborate extensively to promote the employment of persons with disabilities in career pathways.

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