President: Sarah Calhoun
Editor: Andrea Giudice
Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President: Penny Reeder
Guide Dog Users, Inc. (GDUI) A special interest affiliate of the American Council of the Blind (ACB) since 1972
Toll-Free: 866.799.8436
From the editor: Hello fellow GDUISters
Well, I am off to an inauspicious start to the 2023 issues of Paws! While the loss of internet complicated the timeliness of this issue, I am chalking the remainder of the reason to the fabled “success” of New Year resolutions.
President Sarah, along with my co-editor, Penny, by rights should have thrown up their collective hands by this point, however, they are being their understanding, forgiving, supportive selves.
I am excited about this issue as it has lots of good information- ways to assist researchers, opportunities to increase self-awareness, improve technology skills, treat your dogs to a treat, read about a very interesting experience as shared by a GDUI member, and so much more.
Going forward, as was mentioned at the January board meeting, this newsletter will have a specific realize date. You can look for Paws to be dropping every other month on the fifth. So, enjoy February’s and I’ll catch you again in April! Until then, be kind to yourselves, your guides, and each other!
Sending cyber hugs and wags, Andrea and Super T
From the President:
Hello GDUI members!
Welcome to the first Paws, News You Can Use newsletter of 2023! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday!
The GDUI board of directors met On January 28, 2023, the first board meeting of the year! We welcomed two new board members and two committee chairpersons. Directors Andy Arvidson and Lolly Lijewski and committee chairperson’s Cindy Le Bon, membership and Terry Terlau, special concerns. We are so happy to have them join us and appreciate their commitment to GDUI!
The ACB Leadership Conference will take place this March with a virtual and an in-person component. GDUI board member Liz Bottner will be our representative during the in-person event in Washington D.C. We are grateful and appreciate Liz support and dedication to GDUI.
Please mark your calendar to join the GDUI special membership meeting on Saturday, February 11, 2023, beginning at 1:00 p.m. eastern. GDUI business and Committee chairs will give some updates, then open to the membership. Be on the lookout for the Zoom information!
Congratulations to all new guide dog teams! Whether you have a new partner or not, let us know how you are doing by posting on the GDUI chat list!
Happy tails and trails!
Sarah Calhoun & retired Lakota
GDUI President
Announcement *TIME SENSITIVE!!- HAPPENING FEBRUARY 11, 2023!!
Community call
The California Alliance on Aging and Vision Loss (CAAVL) presents “What You Need to Know About Emergency Preparedness.”
7 pm EST, 4 Pm Pacific
Presenters will be Susanne Hogan, Regional Representative/CA-CSP Coordinator; Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults; and Vance Taylor, Chief, Office of Access and Functional Needs, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services.
Throughout the nation disasters are becoming an increasing part of the landscape, thus making emergency preparedness more important than it has ever been. What can you do to be as prepared as possible should you need to evacuate due to a natural disaster? How can you find out about your local disaster preparedness plan and what are some of the areas in which advocacy efforts are needed? To answer these questions, as well as your own questions and concerns. On Saturday February 11, at 7 PM EST, 4 Pacific,
(Submitted by Robert Acosta, President Helping Hands for the Blind
(818) 9980044
Announcement: Aira Communications
Update on the Prices of Add-on and Purchased Minutes
(Posted February 1, 2023)
You may have noticed in your Aira app that the prices listed for Add-on/Purchased Minutes haven’t changed and still reflect the 2022 pricing. It’s not a mistake. We listened to your feedback about wanting offset pricing for these minutes. You can continue to buy Add-on/Purchased Minutes at 2022 prices through February 28, 2023. Beginning on March 1, 2023, Purchased Minutes will be sold at “offset” prices as follows:
Price List
Bundle name: 25 Minutes
Retail Cost: $100.00 US Dollars, £83.00, $158.00 NZD, $147.00 AUD
Your Cost after Aira’s Contribution: $55.00 US Dollars, £46.00, $87.00 NZD, $81.00 AUD
Bundle name: 50 Minutes
Retail Cost: $190.00 US Dollars, £158.00, $300.00 NZD, $280.00 AUD
Your Cost after Aira’s Contribution: $100.00 US Dollars, £83.00, $158.00 NZD, $147.00 AUD
Bundle name: 100 Minutes
Retail Cost: $365.00 US Dollars, £313.00, $575.00 NZD, $537.00 AUD
Your Cost after Aira’s Contribution: $190.00 US Dollars, £158.00, $300.00 NZD, $280.00 AUD
Timeline
From February 1, 2023 through February 28, 2023, you can purchase Add-on minutes at the 2022 prices.
Beginning on March 1, 2023, we will refer to Add-on minutes as Purchased Minutes and will only offer them at “offset “prices.
To learn more, join us for our February 15, 2023 monthly Explorer call at 3:00 pm Pacific time. It will be streamed live on our YouTube channel and recorded for our podcast feed.
As always, thank you for being part of our community.
Announcement: Book Newly Listed on BARD Can Help Us Care for Our Older Dogs
Thanks to Shirley Manning for sharing this reading tip for all of us who use the National Library Service’s Braille and Recorded Downloads for entertainment and information. Here’s the description provided by NLS:
Good old dog: expert advice for keeping your aging dog happy, healthy, and comfortable DB110240
Lindner , Lawrence; Dodman, Nicholas H; Cummings School of Veterinary
Medicine. Reading time: 9 hours, 48 minutes.
Read by Dwayne Glapion.
Animals and Wildlife
“The human-animal bond is never stronger or more tender than when your dog’s muzzle turns gray and the spring in their step begins to diminish. After spending the better part of a decade or more with this beloved member of your family, making sure your canine friend ages comfortably and contentedly is a natural priority. And no one knows how to ensure healthy aging better than the renowned faculty of the Tufts Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine, who treat more than eight thousand older dogs annually. |Good Old Dog| brings their renowned expertise into your living room, providing you with essential advice on nutrition, health, and caretaking to see your dog through the golden years.” — Provided by publisher. healthy, and comfortable
Article: Short Story P-99
Lisa Gilmartin, December 28, 2022
GDUI member, president GDP Creative Tails writing group and a member of FCB-ACBU
For me, there are few joys better than hiking on the paved trails in the western United States.
The various new smells tantalizing my nostrils, the arid air on my skin, & the sounds of nature, if even in a breeze, absolutely fills my soul. The true thrill, for me, is to be one with nature. Animal encounters are always memorable, welcome or not.
I shared one of these hikes with my twin nieces, Jamie and Jesse, along with my guide Dog, Ravi, in the Santa Monica mountains up to the Griffith Observatory in Los Angeles, California. It was lovely late afternoon on a beautiful January 2020 day. We found a canyon trail starting with a very steep incline. The girls read the posted signs on the bulletin board at the start of the trail for any pertinent information. There was nothing alarming listed. So we started our accent to the steep incline. When a mountain trail is extremely steep, it cuts sharply from right to left & back; this is known as a switchback to hikers. There were many switchbacks on this trail. As we reached the last steep switchback, it plopped us directly into the parking lot of the Griffith Observatory.
By this time, the sun was slipping slowly behind the mountains to the west as we took in the view. Dusk gave way to a beautiful evening sky. While taking it all in through my senses, I could hear howling in the distance. I told my nieces under no uncertain terms, “I’m not going back that way!“
Jamie walked over to a ranger asking, “What is that noise we hear in the distance?”
He told her, “Oh, it’s nothing, just coyotes. “
Really? Nothing? She explained to him that we had hiked from the canyon below to the observatory. She asked if it was dangerous for us to go down the trail in the dark with my guide dog. He assured her that as long as a dog is on a leash, coyotes would not bother us. I was still very skeptical.
When we had our fill of the observatory, it was late. Feeling exhausted, I succumbed to walking down the trail. I thought we’ll just walk quickly down the steep trail to the car in less than 10 minutes to make it easier Since we were unfamiliar with how else to get to the car. We reached our first switchback down the steep trail as we stepped onto the trail. Jesse and Jamie walked ahead of Ravi & me. They used their flashlights on their cell phones to walk quickly back down the pitch-black mountain. trail
Just then, we all heard a little rustling before reaching the second switchback, a very short distance away. Then came an animal noise.
Jesse turned, whispering, “Animal. Turn around.“ We all turned around back towards the parking lot in pitch blackness.
Suddenly I heard a very deep, low guttural sound, GROWL, about 9” in the back of Ravi’s tail! Jamie was already at the top by the parking lot. I thought I was walking fast but I was actually not moving at all!! I was frozen! I noticed my legs felt like cement from my knees to my hips. My brain said, “RUN!” but my legs could not move.
Jesse turned around to see me frozen. Ravi was stopped just looking at me, waiting for me to direct him. The deep growling was getting louder and louder right behind Ravi. As I recall these harrowing moments, I still remember that deep growling behind me as if it had just happened. Growl
Jesse yelled to Jamie, “Jamie, come help Lisa & Ravi!” I thought about what I wanted Jamie to do. I thought I would have her go behind Ravi to protect him and scare this unseen ominous creature. After that thought, the deep growling was so loud, so close behind Ravi, that I realized Jamie could not go behind us. As Jamie ran back to me, she asked me, “What do you want me to do?!”
I Outstretched my left hand, passing her the leash saying, “Take Ravi!!” In a flash, they were gone. Jamie was holding Ravi’s leash as the handle on his harness flailed about. Jesse grabbed my left arm, pulling me up the hill, insisting I move. I was still frozen. The louder, deepening growling was now about 3 feet behind me at this point! I started to feel the hairs on the back of my neck rising. The hairs on my arm stood at attention. I knew this was literally a do-or-die situation. Feeling a tingling, flooding body, I knew I was about to be attacked. In a surprise moment in my sheer terror, I clumsily raised my right arm at a 90-degree angle, waving my hand out away from me, trying to make myself look bigger. I turned my head to the right sounding extremely verbally challenged, as if I had never been able to speak clearly in my life, saying, “leave us alone!”
With that, I seemed to have broken some sort of spell. The hairs on the back of my neck and arms were no longer standing up. My legs started to move!
I was able to race up to the first switch back into the parking lot.
Once in the parking lot, we ran to a Ranger in his 60s. We shared our harrowing close encounters with an animal kind. He asked us what the noise sounded like. I repeated my low deep guttural growling imitation.
Nonchalantly, he shared, “It’s a relatively famous mountain lion called P-99. It has even been photographed by National Geographic in an article.”
Trying my best to be an advocate for hikers, I insisted a sign be put up warning hikers that a mountain lion lives in this canyon. His response floored me. He informed me no signs would be placed.in order to not ruin the natural beauty. I found it incredulous that warning signs will not be placed to warn hikers of P99!
Needless to say, Ravi did not go on any more hikes during that trip, nor did we do any night hiking.
Please realize the need to be very careful when hiking in nature with a guide dog or any pet!
Hikers are out soaking up nature. So are the animal inhabitants looking for the next meal!
P-99 lives in the Santa Monica Mountains. She was captured and tagged and released in September 2021. At that time, it was determined she was female to be 2-3 years old. While my experience in encountering P-99 is embedded in my memory, it IS her home. She is in the category of a puma. If we do not protect our wildlife, we could lose all pumas in this area in a few decades. The balance between personal enjoyment and respecting nature is a delicate one.
Podcasts:
- Central Bark: A Guide Dogs for the Blind Podcast: Careers & Canine Connections with APH (January 26th 2023)
Theresa sits down with GDB Youth Outreach Specialist, Jane Flower, and Richard Rueda from APH CareerConnect to discuss our upcoming collaborative project: Careers & Canine Connections. Geared toward young adults ages 18-24, this FREE week-long workshop will be equal parts fun and future-focused to help prepare attendees who are blind or visually impaired to enter the workforce with confidence and an understanding of how a guide dog might fit into that plan:
- Shame and Vision Loss
(Hadley Presents- Friday, 2/3/2023)
Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for feelings of shame to creep in when we’ve lost some vision. Join social worker Jeff Flodin and clinical psychologist Ed McDaniel, both of whom are visually impaired themselves, as they explore where these feelings come from and how they have worked through them in their own lives.
- The Kevin McNally Show – Be Curious
By Kevin McNally
Everyone has a story! I am pursuing interesting people doing interesting things. As a legally blind musician, traveler, motivational speaker, lawyer, communicator,
and much more, I remain contagiously upbeat and happy. Come with me as we meet new people and share in their stories!
Just a few of the past episodes-
- Choose Your Hard (January 19, 2023)
There is little we have control of in life. However, we do have a few areas where we have a choice.
- Weird Laws- 2023 (January 17 2023)
The world is filled with some very strange laws
- Perspective – 25 ways to be happier this year! (January 06, 2023)
Make 2023 a great year!
- Sighted World: What you know about vision loss is false (March 26, 2021)
The sighted world does not truly understand vision loss. In this episode, I detail the truth of what vision loss looks like.
- Balance and vision loss (September 05, 2022)
Did you know that a person’s balance can be severely impacted by vision loss?
- Low Vision Life: clutter be gone! (April 06, 2022)
Living a life with low vision requires teamwork from people around you.
- Fatherhood and Low Vision (December 27, 2022)
Does vision loss impact fatherhood?
Article: ACB President’s Message, Join Us at the Accessible Currency Rally
by Dan Spoone,
I’m so excited! This year’s in-person portion of the D.C. Leadership Conference will feature a rally in Lafayette Park across from the White House to raise our voices to promote inclusion on our U.S. paper currency. The 2023 D.C. Leadership Conference will offer something for everyone.
The first segment of the conference will feature a four-day virtual conference on the afternoons of Saturday, March 4 through Tuesday, March 7. This segment will include a two-day presidents’ meeting with interactive panel discussions, ACB committee updates and a keynote speaker. We will have a Sunday night “Fireside Chat” and personal interviews with our six new ACB board members who were elected in 2021 and 2022. The second two days will focus on advocacy issues with the legislative seminar. There will again be informative panel discussions, presentations from federal agency representatives and elected representatives. These presentations are always of great value to our members to help us understand the most pressing advocacy initiatives affecting our community. After Leslie’s and my experience with Southwest Airlines over the holidays, we can’t wait to talk with the FAA.
The second portion of the 2023 ACB D.C. Leadership Conference will be our first chance to get together in the nation’s capital in three years. We’re so excited. The in-person segment of the conference will be from Thursday, March 9 through Monday, March 13. The board meeting will be held on Thursday, March 9 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and broadcast on ACB Media. The Accessible Currency Rally will be held at Lafayette Park on Friday, March 10 in the afternoon. Saturday, March 11 and Sunday, March 12 will feature interactive focus workshops in the morning followed by plated lunches with inspiring speakers. These four days will also include a wonderful package of tours with visits to Mount Vernon, the Library of Congress, the U.S. Capitol, the White House Visitor Center and a narrated tour of the of the monuments on the National Mall with opportunities to explore the monuments. There will be a “Network Dine Around” on Saturday night and an opportunity to travel to Capitol Hill on Monday to visit with your state’s representatives and senators.
We strongly encourage everyone to register for the 2023 ACB D.C. Leadership Conference. The registration fee will be $25. There will be an additional $150 in-person registration fee for those attending the in-person segment of the conference. This fee includes the two plated lunches on Saturday and Sunday, the complete tour package, transportation to the rally and a rally reception, and participation in a set of leadership focus workshops. This will be a fantastic networking opportunity for all of our ACB leaders. We look forward to seeing you at the 2023 ACB D.C. Leadership Conference!
For complete information, visit: https://acb.org/2023-leadership-announcement
Resource: Abilibits- Tasty bite size morsels from ABILITY Magazine, abilityJOBS & ABILITY Corps
Zhang Hong was born in Chongqing in 1975 and went blind due to glaucoma at age 21. He found his passion for mountaineering in 2015 and has conquered peaks of great height ranging from 5,800 meters to 7546 meters above sea level. He became Asia’s first blind man to summit Mt. Qomolangma from its south col (dip between peaks).
abilitymagazine.com/chinas-blind-mountaineer-zhang-hong
Article: Happy Valentine’s Day!
Some call it a Hallmark holiday while others just call it hell. Valentine’s Day brings high-stakes expectations no matter your relationship status. If Cupid’s arrow has left you feeling more peeved than passionate this year, why not look to another species to find your Valentine?
10 reasons dogs make better valentines than humans do.
1. Dogs don’t need flowers
If you’ve ever been walking your dog when she’s stopped to smell the roses, you know that while humans see these flowers as a symbol of love, dogs see them as just another thing to pee on. If your Valentine is of the canine variety, consider yourself (and your bank account) lucky. No dog is sitting at home waiting for his human to come bursting in with a dozen overpriced, long-stemmed toilets.
2. They won’t buy you chocolate
If your New Year’s resolution involved cutting extra calories, a heart-shaped box of sugary chocolates isn’t exactly welcome a month and a half later. Some of us are still working off the results of the junk-food frenzy also known as the holiday season and would really rather get some puppy kisses than chocolate kisses at this point. Even if our pups could walk to the store to purchase a V-Day present, they wouldn’t pick out something we’ve repeatedly told them is poison.
3. They’re easy to please in the kitchen
Attempting to get to a human Valentine’s heart through his stomach can be a recipe for disaster. A home- cooked meal can be the highlight of the night, but it’s so hard to get right, especially if you’re used to cooking for canine companions with less discerning tastes. Not all of us have the culinary skills to wow a human date, but it’s guaranteed our dogs will love us even if the can opener is the only kitchen tool we’ve mastered.
4. No reservations required
If you’re the kind of cook only a dog could love, restaurant reservations are definitely required to impress a human date. It doesn’t matter if you’re going to spend 20 bucks on a heart-shaped pizza or drop some serious dough at a fancy five-star restaurant — you need to book way ahead or risk ending up in the drive-thru. Of course, if your dog is your date this V-Day, don’t stress. He’ll totally love a car ride and a value menu cheese-burger.
5. Pups don’t care what you wear
Choosing a dog as your date this Valentine’s Day also means you can say you’re going to slip into something more comfortable and actually mean it. Forget about lingerie or silk ties — your pup loves it when you wear your fur-covered sweat pants. To add extra excitement to your evening, pull your dog-walking jacket out of the closet, and you’ll have your pooch panting in no time.
6. You know what they want
Your dog’s expectations on Valentine’s Day are the same as they are any other day of the year — he wants you to come home, feed him, play with him, walk him, and cuddle him. Having a doggie date is so much simpler than dealing with a human honey. You never have to worry that your heartfelt but inexpensive gift will be met with an extravagant present and a disappointed date. Dogs know that J.Lo was right — love don’t cost a thing (but that doesn’t mean your pup wouldn’t appreciate a new chew toy).
7. Their presents aren’t pricey
Bones and balls are so much cheaper than diamonds and wristwatches, and thanks to the billion-dollar pet industry, dog lovers have near infinite choices when it comes to showing low-cost love for a canine Valentine. From blinged-out collars to heart-shaped satin beds, there are limitless ways to pamper your Valentine on a limited budget. Best of all, no dog is going to ask for a gift receipt.
8. They’ll definitely go to bed with you
For many, the big question on a Valentine’s Day date is this: Will I be spending the night alone? Many people in long-term relationships have found themselves in the proverbial dog house after picking up a last-minute Valentine’s Day card at the gas station, but a dog would never banish you to the couch just because you bought their treats at the last minute. They’re just happy to be in the bed in the first place.
9. Dogs don’t see red — or pink
If the typical Valentine’s Day color scheme of red and pink makes you want to puke, don’t worry — a doggie date won’t care if you choose to forgo the traditional hues on your night together. After all, our pups can’t even perceive pink, so go against tradition, and consider getting your best friend something in shades of blue or brown. I guarantee you he didn’t have his little doggie heart set on a color he can’t even see.
10. They just love us unconditionally
Dogs are everything a good Valentine is supposed to be. They’re devoted, adoring, and never late for a date. While a dog won’t be Instagramming your romantic Valentine’s Day carriage ride or popping the question over champagne, his commitment to you can’t be questioned. They say diamonds are forever, but the love of a dog is even stronger and worth more than the fanciest sparkler in the jewelry store.
Announcement: Surveys
- Closing: April 24th 2023- Survey on Technology Used by Visually Impaired Translators and Interpreters
A visually impaired student in Translation Studies conducting a research for her dissertation would appreciate if blind or visually impaired translators and/or interpreters would fill in this survey about the technology they use to fulfill their translation-related tasks. She is especially interested in the types of technology used and their influence on the translators’ and interpreters’ productivity:
Surveys help inform APH of the greatest needs in the community so they can gear their efforts toward making sure those needs are met. Ongoing APH surveys can be found here:
https://www.aph.org/rd/get-involved/surveys/
- PBS NewsHour Employment Survey (Dots and Dashes: February 6, 2023)
Are you a worker with a disability whose employment opportunities have changed during the COVID-19 pandemic? The PBS NewsHour wants to hear from you. In November, the employment rate for people who reported having a disability hit its highest level since record-keeping began in 2008. Several factors have led to this rise, including more opportunities for remote work, the tight U.S. labor market and the growing number of people with long COVID-related disabilities. Fill out the survey form here.
Resource: Dots and Dashes: (February 6, 2023)
- A historic Indiana lawsuit brought by Disability Rights Advocates, Indiana Disability Rights and the American Council of the Blind of Indiana seeking increased ballot accessibility for voters with print disabilities has settled. As a result of the settlement, the state has agreed to acquire a new remote accessible ballot marking tool that will allow these voters to cast their absentee ballots privately and independently. Voters will be able to access and mark their ballots digitally with their own assistive technology thanks to this tool. Once the ballot has been marked, voters will be able to submit it via email. The tool will be available to voters in time for the May 2023 primary election. Read the Disability Rights Advocates press release:
https://dralegal.org/press/indiana-voting-settlement/
- Where to Find Oscar Nominees with Audio Description
If you’re a movie fan, you probably can’t wait to watch the Oscars on ABC next month. To help you get ready, ACB’s Audio Description Project has compiled a list of nominated films and where to find the ones with audio description. The 95th Academy Awards will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023, at the Dolby® Theatre at Ovation Hollywood and will be televised live on ABC and broadcast to more than 200 territories worldwide. Until the big night, grab your popcorn and choose your own winners! For the list of nominees, and where to watch them with audio description, visit acb.org/2023-oscars-AD-films.
If you like to be entertained and informed, the ACB Audio Description Project (ADP) discussion list is for you! It’s a great way to keep up with everything in the world of audio description (also known as AD), which includes movies, live theatre, museums, educational videos, national parks, and much more. You’ll get updates on the latest films, TV and streaming series, events, and attractions that are providing AD; announcements of AD news; and invitations to share your AD experiences with the ADP advocacy team. You can choose whether to receive each message posted to the list individually or as a weekly digest. Simply send a blank email to ADP-List+subscribe@acblists.org with “Subscribe” in the subject line, and you’re in!
Hadley Presents – Listen Now!
Resource: (News Flash! Pine Tree Guide Dog Users February Monthly News Update)
Pine Tree Guide Dog Users (PTGDU)
“Opening Doors to Independence and Opportunity”
- New Educational Series Features Guide Dogs in Action
Maine’s Pine Tree Guide Dog Users recently launched a free educational series for students and others that provides information and materials about how blind people and guide dogs work together as a team, and how guide dogs use a variety of skills to safely guide their partners.
The series includes a supplemental document for teachers and other presenters; a professionally designed poster and handout of a guide dog team using five different skills; and a two-module lesson plan and worksheet for grades 2-3.
- Helpful hints- Dog Boot Basics
As Maine temperatures drop and snow begins to fall, out comes the rock salt and other harmful chemicals that can damage your dog’s paw pads. Here’s a few boot basics to help keep your favorite canine cozy and safe this winter.
The perfect fit. Dogs front paws are generally larger than their rear ones so be sure to measure all four paws when sizing for boots. Watch this short video to learn how to get a proper fit.
Break in Those Boots. Use your hands to twist, bend and roll your dog’s new boots if they have stiff soles. This helps to speed up the “breaking in” process and give your dog a more comfy fit.
. Add socks. Consider using dog boot socks to enhance comfort, improve fit, wick moisture, provide an added layer of warmth, and make it easier to get boots on. Use them to line rear boots that are too large, or use them to help prevent rubbing caused by straps. (When not in use, be sure to keep these boot liners away from any -sock-loving scoundrels in the household.)
Snug it up. Once the boots are donned, adjust the fit on each boot while the dog is bearing weight on it. Check the tension of the boot straps about 15 minutes into your walk and throughout the trip as needed. It may take a while for your dog to adjust to wearing boots so you may want to try a few brief practice sessions before venturing out. Good luck and happy trails!
- PTGDU Recipe of the Month
A favorite recipe from the guide dog community.
Fidelco Guide Dog’s “Love Me More” Valentine Dog Treats
Prove just how much you love that special canine in your life with these heart-shaped doggie cookies
Note from editor- This sounds tasty enough for me to want for Valentine’s Day!
Dough
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup peanut butter*
2 tablespoons beet powder
1 tablespoon chia seeds
Frosting
Plain Greek yogurt
Beet powder
Bee pollen granules
*use dog-safe peanut butter that contains NO xylitol
Mix dough ingredients in a large bowl. Flour a flat surface and roll out the dough. Cut out heart shapes using a cookie cutter and place on cookie sheet. Bake at 350° for 15-20 minutes. Cool completely. Decorate with Greek yogurt sprinkled with beet powder and bee pollen granules.
Announcement- Great news from Uber
They now have a service animal hotline:
(833) 715-8237
Resource: Top Tech Tidbits (Thursday, February 2, 2023 – Volume 896)
- An Open Letter From Jonathan Mosen: To Amazon’s Audible.Com Division: Please Reinstate Support For HumanWare’s Popular Victor Reader Stream Player For The Blind And Low Vision Community
On the Mosen at Large podcast, HumanWare detailed how a recent release of Audible Sync has broken support for the current generation of the Victor Reader Stream. If you are authorized already, you’re fine, but authorization for new users is broken. This issue extends to lack of support for the third generation of the Stream, which HumanWare expects to release initially to the US market sometime in February. Since this episode was published only a few hours ago, I’ve received a large number of inquiries asking if I would help set up some sort of open letter or petition to Audible about this issue. While I am not a Stream user myself, I am happy to help, because I strongly support blind people being able to access information in the way that works for them. There is no doubt that the loss of Audible support for the Stream will deprive a good number of people of their preferred means of reading Audible books, and some will unsubscribe from Audible altogether. I have now set up an open letter to Audible which you can sign if you wish. I’ve taken care to use a site that is accessible and does not needlessly collect information from you. I have had representatives from Audible on Mosen at Large in the Past. I will use those contacts to ensure the letter gets to the right place, and will also invite Audible on the podcast for comment. If you support this initiative, please spread the word via email lists and social media. Here is the link to the open letter:
https://bit.ly/AudibleStreamSupport
- Seeing AI Version 5.0 for iOS Now Includes Indoor Navigation Allowing The User to Create a Route and Later Follow The Route Using Spatial Audio Cues
What’s New: Indoor Navigation, available on iOS 14 and later, enables you to create routes through a building, and later follow that route, guided by spatial audio cues. For example, create a route from the reception desk to your office, or building entrance to a particular classroom. You can share the route with others, so they can navigate the route later on, using their own device. On the World Channel, when using headphones which support Spatial Audio, you no longer need to look in the direction of the camera. Seeing AI will adjust to the direction you’re looking, so sounds still come from the correct point in the room. Supported headphones include AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro. Improved announcements of people on the World Channel, when using a device with LiDAR. Plus, various bug fixes under the hood:
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/seeing-ai/id999062298
- OneButtonPIN Improves Security For Blind And Low-Vision Users
Researchers at the University of Waterloo and the Rochester Institute of Technology have developed a new authentication method that could help blind and low-vision (BLV) users more securely access their devices. The new method, OneButtonPIN, allows users to input PIN codes using a single large button and a series of haptic vibrations:
https://coolblindtech.com/onebuttonpin-improves-security-for-blind-and-low-vision-users/
- Walking Stick Maps Surroundings And Identifies Grocery Store Items
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have used artificial intelligence technology to enhance the capabilities of white canes:
- Estee Lauder’s Voice-Enabled Makeup Assistant (VMA) App Provides Makeup Feedback To People With Visual Impairment
Applying makeup can be challenging for folks with visual impairment and many times, they have to reply on others to make sure their makeup is right. To help make this process easy without depending on others, Estée Lauder Companies recently launched a voice enabled app that can provide guidance and direction when a person applies makeup:
https://assistivetechnologyblog.com/2023/01/este-lauder-vma-vision-imapirment-makeup.html
- Opportunities to increase your knowledge and skill-set
February 21st 2023- Don’t Hesitate to Communicate, Vispero’s Own Blindness and Diversity Awareness Workshop
9AM PT, 10AM MT, 11AM CT, 12PM ET, 5PM GMT
Presenter- Amy Albin (she/her), HR Intern, Vispero. Amy has been Vispero’s HR intern since September 2022. She will lead a unique workshop to spark open conversations about how sighted and blind/vision impaired people can interact comfortably together. You will learn tools that apply not just to sighted and blind/vision impaired people but also to anyone who is a member of a marginalized group. Whether you are sighted or blind/vision impaired, you will learn techniques to facilitate constructive communication with the diverse people in all areas of your life:
February 22nd 2023- RUBY Handheld Magnifiers: A Vision Solution for Every Situation
(ACVREP CE Approved, Assistive Technology Webinar) | Access Ingenuity
10AM PT, 11AM MT, 12PM CT, 1PM ET, 6PM GMT
Join Ian Ramos from Access Ingenuity with Joe McDaniel from Vispero to discuss the features and benefits of all the RUBY models and the assistance each can give in specific situations.
Did you know there are five RUBY models to help with your low vision needs?
All RUBY models have a crisp, sharp image, high-contrast modes, and built-in LEDs.
The streamlined design means RUBY can go with you anywhere, giving you easy access to photos, letters, prescriptions, packaging labels, and menus, even in a dark restaurant.
With its broad range of adjustable, undistorted magnification, a RUBY video magnifier outperforms a drawerful of traditional magnifiers
Note that everybody is welcome and can benefit from this presentation.
Learning Outcomes: Features of all RUBY models. How to determine the right size for you. How adding speech capability can take you further.
Passcode: 691785
One tap mobile: +16699009128,,85815563463#,,,,*691785# US (San Jose)
Dial by your location: +1 669 900 9128 US (San Jose)
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85815563463?pwd=WENJdjFQcS9rdWtoMm1QeDJwRU9mZz09#success
February 28th 2023- Tech It Out (Monthly Hadley Discussion Group)
4th Tuesday of every month at 5PM PT, 6PM MT, 7PM CT, 8PM ET, 1AM GMT (Next Day)
Learn a few tips about everyday technology from a technology expert, ask your questions, and share your experiences.
https://hadley.edu/discussion-groups/tech-it-out
Resource- Access Information News- The Week’s News in Access Information
news@accessinformationnews.com, https://accessinformationnews.com/
(Access Information News for Monday, February 6, 2023 – Volume 896)
Note From the editor- This info packed resource is new to me. I particularly appreciate the fact that, in addition to being very interesting and formative, its target audience is people with diverse disabilities- not just blindness/low-vision.
- Access Ready Seeks Guidance on New Accessible Technologies
What Technologies do you see in the market that are not accessible, but should be? What accessible technologies can you imagine that can make the lives of people with all kinds of disabilities better? We will advocate with developers to make existing technologies accessible on your behalf. We will advocate with developers to build new accessible technologies on your behalf. Give us your guidance and support. Your guidance charts our path toward what is most important. Your support funds our efforts on your
behalf:
- Ten Things Hospitals Can Do to Be More Inclusive and Accessible- David Goldfield
During the past twelve months I have spent a lot of time visiting and supporting my wife in two different hospitals. I have become keenly aware of how these places often lack accessibility which would make the experience easier and more inclusive for both patients as well as their visitors. I have nothing but admiration and respect for the medical professionals who have done so much to assist and support my wife. The following list is in no way meant as a criticism of the doctors, nurses, surgeons, respiratory therapists and other specialists who have provided support to us. These people should be honored and respected as much as our military and its veterans. Indeed, some of the people I have met in the medical field are true warriors and war heroes and I am in awe of them and what they do. They see death on a regular basis. Many of them are called to save lives. Sometimes they do save those lives. Other times they are unable to do so. I cannot imagine the effect on them of this amazing and necessary work.
That being said I’ve had some ideas of how hospitals could be so much more inclusive. These ideas would not require technology that we don’t already have. Some would require a financial investment but they wouldn’t require new technologies to be designed. While I don’t have time right now to work on this I’d like to help engage in advocacy at a later and more convenient time to see if we can turn some of these ideas into reality:
- Meet The First-Ever Accessibility Engineer at The Washington Post
As some newsroom roles go the way of the dinosaurs, other new jobs are being born. This is the first in an occasional series of Q&As with people who are the first to hold their title in their newsroom:
https://www.niemanlab.org/2023/02/meet-the-first-ever-accessibility-engineer-at-the-washington-post/
- Colorado Woman Combats Norms by Becoming First in Her School To Obtain Black Belt In A Wheelchair
Prior to an injury that I sustained about 6 years ago now that left me with limited mobility I was a practitioner of traditional Korean Taekwondo for almost 15 years. I earned my 3rd Degree Black Belt under the late Grand Master Moo Hwan Kim and during that time taught thousands of students and competed in over a thousand full contact traditional and Olympic-stye Taekwondo sparring tournaments. And I just want to say, from experience, that martial arts families, of all styles and types, are comprised of some of the kindest people that you will ever meet. And more to the point, some of the most understanding with regard to different levels of ability. Everyone thinks that martial arts is about fighting. I certainly did. But it’s really about living. So if you live with a disability, please don’t think that martial arts aren’t for you. They may be just what the doctor ordered. 9NEWS: It is said that less than 10 percent of people who pursue karate will ever obtain their first degree black belt, and it takes years of practice to achieve that accomplishment. Of that 10 percent, one woman at 5280 Karate Academy Foundation in Lakewood, Colorado is defying even more odds. Anita Liuzzi broke barriers by becoming the first person in a wheelchair to earn a black belt at 5280 Karate Academy in Lakewood, Colorado:
- 3D-Printed Braille Playdoh Stampers
Use a 3D printer to create your own braille playdoh stamper from the free file:
https://www.pathstoliteracy.org/3d-printed-braille-playdoh-stampers/
Editor’s note:
announcements and articles, for GDUI- News You Can Use, are culled from a variety of sources; Hence inclusion herein does not imply GDUI endorses, supports or verifies their contents. Information, ideas, or expressed opinions are not advice, therefore should not be treated as such. Factual errors are the responsibility of the listed source.
Sincerely,
Sarah Calhoun, President
Guide Dog Users, Inc.
Andrea Giudice, Editor
Co-editor and GDUI Immediate Past President: Penny Reeder
Paws for GDUI News You Can Use
Visit our web site: https://www.guidedogusersinc.org/
Call us, toll-free, at 866.799.8436
Our Facebook page can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/GDUInc/.
Our Facebook group can be accessed at https://www.facebook.com/groups/GDUINC/.
Our Twitter timeline can be accessed at https://twitter.com/gduinc.
Download or subscribe to the GDUI Juno Report podcast here: http://acbradio.org/gdr.xml
Support GDUI when you use this link to shop at Amazon.com:
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/52-1871119
To join the GDUI-Announce List, visit this link: http://www.acblists.org/mailman/listinfo/gdui-announce
To subscribe to the GDUI Chat list, visit this link: chat+subscribe@guidedogusersinc.org
To subscribe to the (members only) GDUI Business list, visit this link: