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Blind Access Journal Posts

Accessibility Evangelism and Unfortunate News From America Online (AOL) Radio

June 7, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Hello Everyone, As an accessibility evangelist, of course, I disagree with any and all those who frequently make statements emphasizing our "smallness" and insignificance in the world at large as a means to justify doing little or nothing about accessibility challenges. Yes. We are very tiny in number in comparison with the rest of the… Finish Reading Accessibility Evangelism and Unfortunate News From America Online (AOL) Radio

Celebrating Our Project Gemstone Winners and Participants

June 5, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Earlier this afternoon, I was pleasantly surprised to learn that I have been counted among the Project Gemstone winners. This Bookshare project was initiated to recognize the work of those of us who validate (edit scanning errors and reformat) content before it is approved and added to the Bookshare collection. Feel free to visit http://www.friendsofbookshare.org… Finish Reading Celebrating Our Project Gemstone Winners and Participants

Announcing SayTools

June 5, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Now available athttp://EmpowermentZone.com/saysetup.exe Over the past few years, I have gained experience with various programming languages and screen reader interfaces. This package consolidates routines I developed that enable a Windows program to speak messages beyond what a screen reader will say automatically via default speech.Direct speech messages, smartly placed, can significantly increase the nonvisual usability… Finish Reading Announcing SayTools

Settlement Agreement Will Ensure Accessibility at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC

June 4, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE – CIVIL RIGHTS DIVISIONFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASETUESDAY, JUNE 3, 2008(202) 514-2007 [Voice/Relay](202) 514-1888 [TTY]WWW.USDOJ.GOV SETTLEMENT AGREEMENT WILL ENSURE ACCESSIBILITY AT THE INTERNATIONAL SPY MUSEUM IN WASHINGTON, D.C. WASHINGTON – The Department of Justice announced today a settlement agreement with the International Spy Museum under the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Working together,… Finish Reading Settlement Agreement Will Ensure Accessibility at the International Spy Museum in Washington, DC

Quiet Cars on the Next Marlaina

June 1, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

The issue of quiet cars is very much in the news these days. And, it is an issue which impacts all of us.On the next Marlaina, I will be joined by Karen Gourgey, ACB New York, and Debbie Kent Stein, National Federation of the Blind of Illinois. These women have been working on the quiet… Finish Reading Quiet Cars on the Next Marlaina

Coming up on Main Menu for the week of June 4 – Music

June 1, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Hello Everyone,   This week’s Main Menu is all about downloading and listening to music on your computer.  Presented by two music enthusiasts, Brian Hartgen and Anna Dresner, this programme demonstrates some of the ways in which you can access music services and software with a screen-reader.   First, you will hear about J-Tunes version… Finish Reading Coming up on Main Menu for the week of June 4 – Music

Serotek Summer Sizzle Contest

May 31, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Serotek’s Accessible Digital Lifestyle is a hot topic and getting hotter. Here’s your chance to add some sizzle to your life by participating in our online survey and enrolling to win a complete digital lifestyle makeover. Here’s what you can win: ASUS 8G 2 pound Netbook PC with 1 gigabyte of main memory and an… Finish Reading Serotek Summer Sizzle Contest

Reminder: Coming Up on Main Menu in a Little Under 9 Hours – CAPTCHA!

May 27, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Hello Everyone,      This announcement represents a friendly reminder for all of you to listen to an important, two hour live Main Menu coming right up later today.   Coming up on an exciting two hour live program, we hear from a panel of technology industry experts all about CAPTCHA (visual verification) and other forms… Finish Reading Reminder: Coming Up on Main Menu in a Little Under 9 Hours – CAPTCHA!

Response to David Pogue: Are Efforts to Acquire Accessibility by the Blind Being Lumped in with Piracy?

May 25, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

May 25, 2008 Dear Mr. Pogue, It is really disappointing to see blind people mentioned categorically in a negative light through your article entitled Can e-Publishing Overcome Copyright Concerns? in the New York Times. Unless there have been piracy convictions in a court of law, you have no absolute proof that those two blind people… Finish Reading Response to David Pogue: Are Efforts to Acquire Accessibility by the Blind Being Lumped in with Piracy?

PDF to TXT 3.0 released

May 25, 2008 • Darrell Shandrow Hilliker

Now available athttp://EmpowermentZone.com/p2tsetup.exe After a few years since version 2.1, I have now updated the program with two substantive enhancements that broaden the range of PDFs from which text can be obtained. If a PDF is locked with a password that you know, type it in the edit box that has been added to the… Finish Reading PDF to TXT 3.0 released