Vision Webletters…a short update from Vision World Wide to share with your friends and colleagues, who can request their own free copy by sending a message to info@visionww.org
Webletter - October 2001In This Issue:
1. New Job Opportunities A number of new job opportunities have been posted on the Vision World Wide Website at <http://www.visionww.org/jobopp.htm> You will want to check them right away as several have fast approaching application deadlines. The positions include: a) Office Manager
At ACB National Office 2. Opening the World of Music… Dancing Dots Announces New Braille Music Curriculum. Dancing Dots, developer of GOODFEEL, the world's first braille music translator, has taken another step in the advancement of music opportunities and independence for blind and low vision students and professionals worldwide. Working with author, Richard Taesch of the Southern California Conservatory of Music, Dancing Dots has published "An Introduction to Music For the Blind Student: A Course in Braille Music Reading" to meet the basic need of blind music students: to become literate in music braille. "Every blind and visually impaired person, young or old, deserves at least a chance to learn and experience music through the braille system," says Dancing Dots founder and president, Bill McCann. "With this new curriculum, we hope to provide a resource that gives the same opportunities to learn music that have always been available to sighted people." No prior experience needed. One of the main benefits McCann sees to the new curriculum is that it is flexible and equips the mainstream educator with no prior experience with braille to teach and learn music braille. "Braille music has traditionally been taught as the sighted musician views it from print music," says McCann. "This course differs in that it is a true instructional course-curriculum in music fundamentals (music reading, theory, etc) using the unified braille music code as the medium. Print music is included for the convenience of the sighted teacher or tutor." Colleagues in the field of braille music instruction agree on the value of the curriculum to sighted teachers and tutors. "Sighted teachers, who are not braille literate, can now guide blind students in their musical education. In the process, both the student and the teacher learn the braille music code," says David Simpson, a music educator of the Braille Institute of America. Lessons and Supplemental exercises are applications of the course that has been the official curriculum at the Southern California Conservatory Of Music - Braille Music Division for over five years. Taesch, the author of the curriculum has chaired the Guitar Department at the Conservatory since 1976 and is certified by the Library of Congress as a music and literary braillist. Inclusion and independence. "Too often, basic music appreciation classes have only been accessible by children who could read the printed music that is handed out, or only by the blind children who displayed a 'good ear' in music", says McCann. "We've tried to take away the barrier that braille music is 'too hard to teach or learn', so that all students can receive music instruction in class with everyone else. This is a step forward in literacy for the blind. Literacy can lead to independence which is a key to success." "An Introduction To Music For The Blind Student" has a retail price of $299 for three print and four braille volumes. Further information on ordering the course in braille music reading is available by contacting Dancing Dots, Braille Music Technology at 610-783-6692. 3. Blind-Novel-Tees Has Introduced A New Product Line New hats, T-shirts, and nightshirts with 4 new designs are now available with free shipping in the U.S.A. The hats and T-shirts are available in 2 colors and Medium, Large, and Extra-Large sizes. The nightshirts are only available in dark gray and one size that fits all. The wording includes such phrases as: a) Blind People
Feel Better Price Range: $15 to $22. To order or for more information, contact:
4. Download an Exclusive Online Resource "The Assessment Compendium of Instruments for Assessing the Skills of Individuals with Visual Impairments" can now be read and/or downloaded. This on-line tool is designed to help professionals choose the appropriate instruments for assessing people who are visually impaired. Go to: http://www.lighthouse.org/assessment/. 5. Telesensory Offers Low Vision Resource Guide Through the research of the National Eye Institute (NEI), a division of the National Institutes of Health in the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, it was discovered that although many government and voluntary agencies offered resources for people with visual impairment, most of the general public was unaware of these services, and in many cases information about them was difficult to obtain. The NEI also found that people with low vision who weren't aware of available assistance were much more likely to suffer profound lifestyle, physical, economic, social and psychological consequences. Part of the reason for this was that after learning that their eye condition was untreatable, low vision patients did not receive information about where to go for help. Meanwhile, the Telesensory Corporation came to the same conclusion as the NEI and decided to do something about it. Working with professionals in the eyecare and low vision fields, Telesensory has developed a Low Vision Resource Guide in attempt to deliver crucial information about resources at the time it is needed most - right after a person is diagnosed with low vision. For your free copy, call 1-800-804-8004 or go to http://www.visionww.org/library.htm and click on the "Free Guide" icon.
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Updated December 8, 2001
