Welcome to LVC
(Formerly known as The Low Vision Information Center)The Low Vision Center offers its resources without charge, relying entirely upon personal contributions to fund its varied services.
I invite you to browse our web site for more information about our services, as well as
helpful hints for improving your vision. Some examples include:
- Quarterly Newsletters -- FREE
- Links to Other Low Vision Sites
- Quick Tips
- How to Order Low Vision Aids
Terry Eason
Executive Director
LowVisionCtr@aol.com
News and Notes
Reel Abilities film festival, Feb 1-9
Reel Abilities, the disabilities film festival, is Feb. 1 through 9 at theaters in Rockville, DC and Virginia. For a schedule of events and more information go to: http://greaterdc.reelabilities.org/
SATS Schedule for 2012
Montgomery county Libraries have announced the topics for the monthly Saturday Adaptive Technology Sessions (SATS) for the first half of 2012:- January 28, 1-3 pm at the Silver Spring Library: Audible pedestrian signals: a panel discussion with Charlie Crawford, Vice Chair of the Montgomery County Commission on People with Disabilities; Patrick Sheehan, advocate for the National Capitol Area Chapter of the American Council of the Blind; and Bruce C. Mangum, Manager, Transportation Systems Engineering, Montgomery County Department of Transportation. What are audible pedestrian signals, where are they, and what is the status of future placement.
- February 25: Learning disabilities software packages at the Davis Library (Moira Williams of Envision Technology and Speri Silverman, MCPS).
- March 24: Hearing enhancement technologies (speakers and library to be announced).
- April 28: Bookstream Beta vs Firefly Beta - A new way of reading your text - in the Cloud (presented by Kamran Rasul; library to be announced).
- May 19 ( a week early to avoid Memorial Day): Downloading books from Overdrive on the Library's website -- what's available and what to do.
- June 23: Topic to be determined.
- July 28: Back to school overview, a showcase of technologies for K-12 students.
Article about our State Library for the Blind
An article about the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped recently appeared in Urbanite, a Baltimore magazine. It includes quotes from Jill Lewis and other LBPH staff, although Jill says there are some minor mistakes. Follow this link to the article online: http://www.urbanitebaltimore.com/baltimore/reading-into-technology/Content?oid=1467256
LBPH newsletter now available as audio
Library Line, the newsletter of the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, can now be downloaded as a digital audio (MP3) file. To access the newsletter in either text or audio format, go to the "NEWSLETTER" section of the LBPH web site at http://www.lbph.lib.md.us/newsltrindex.html.
Be a JAWS tutor
If you're an experienced JAWS software user and want to help others learn the basics, or resolve a pesky question for a puzzled JAWS user, the Montgomery County libraries want your help. The ability to use JAWS is a key component in getting online, and in many cases in keeping employed, so the library would like to match volunteers with people who need help. If you're interested in either tutoring or in providing short reference "how to" info, please contact Francie Gilman, librarian, by phone at 240-777-0959 or by e-mail at drcinfo@montgomerycountymd.gov.
Can You Host Our Web Site?
The Low Vision Center currently pays a commercial service to host this web site. We hope to find someone willing to donate this service instead. If you know (or work for) a provider of reliable, professional web hosting willing to donate their service to host LVC's web site, please have them get in touch with us. We don't want someone who would invade the privacy of our web site visitors (such as by data mining) or use our web site to distribute their own advertising (such as with pop-up windows or added frames), but we would gladly put a tasteful acknowledgement of the donated service on each page of our site.
Support Groups at LVC
New support groups for people with low vision are now forming at the Low Vision Center. In a support group, you can discuss your challenges, solutions, opinions, and reactions to low vision with others who are similarly affected. If you would like to join a group, please call 301-951-4444 or e-mail LowVisionCtr@aol.com and let us know. Meetings will be scheduled based on the availability of the participants.
