Digital Talking Book machine now available for institutions

The digital Talking Book Machine is now available to institutions such as nursing homes, hospitals, schools, senior centers, etc. Institutions registered for Talking Book service can receive up to 6 digital Talking Book machines and up to 24 Talking Books on digital cartridge. Just call our office at 630-1999 or email us at JPLTBSpecialNeeds@coj.net to activate your institution's digital service. Those institutions that wish to receive digital Talking Books but have not registered for the service need to call or email us and an application for institutional service will be mailed to you.

JPL on the Homefront

*This program is available for everyone and not just those affiliated with the military.

Accessible Walt Disney World

The Walt Disney World offers many special accommodations for guests with visual, hearing and physical disabilities. For instance those guests with a visual disability have access to audio descriptions of the resort's many entertainment programs, sporting events, tours and other special events. The audio descriptions are played through a handheld device that can be acquired at the Theme Park Guest Relations office. In addition to the audio descriptions of the resort's attractions, guests with a visual disability also have access to braille guidebooks and braille maps of the resort. Trained service animals are welcome in many areas of the resort. The resort hotels offer rooms and services for guests with disabilities.

For more information about Walt Disney World's accessibility options visit their website at the following address: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/guests-with-disabilities

Vision is Priceless Council

The Vision is Priceless Council provides free vision screenings to children and adults in Jacksonville. They are a volunteer non-profit organization committed to the early detection and prevention of eye disease. If a problem is detected a patient is advised to see an eye care professional for further treatment. Some patients may be eligible to receive financial assistance for their treatment through the Cared Vision Network which is a cooperative effort between the Vision is Priceless Council and local eye care professionals who have agreed to provide their services free of charge. The Vision is Priceless Council attends community health fairs and other events to screen adults and travels to day cares, preschools, schools and libraries to screen children. Their website is very informative and includes a schedule of what locations they will be visiting and what events they will be attending: www.visionispriceless.org They can be reached at 904-308-2020.

Ride Smart

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) in a collaborative effort with ElderSource in Action, Inc. has created a free new program called Ride Smart to assist senior citizens, people with disabilities and those new to using public transportation in gaining experience with all the different modes of public transportation available in Jacksonville. This program is self-paced and begins with one-on-one or group instruction and progresses in a step-by-step process until the individual feels confident enough to travel independently. The Ride Smart program will instruct participants in the use of city buses, Community Shuttles and the Skyway. As part of this instruction, participants will learn how to plan a trip, read and understand route maps and schedules, recognize bus numbers and bus stops, and locate and transfer to other buses. More importantly to people with disabilities is the instruction in boarding and disembarking safely, how to board with a mobility device (such as a wheelchair), and how to secure a mobility device for safe travel. Those interested should call (904) 391-6682 and they will be matched with a trainer suited that individual's needs.

Accessible World

Accessible World is a website that features podcasts, web-conferences and other information relevant to individuals in the disabled community and those that serve them. The podcasts cover new accessible products, services, book reviews, interviews and a host of other informative topics. The podcasts can be listened to live-streaming or downloaded as a .mp3 file. The website also maintains an archive of their most popular series of podcasts. The Conference Rooms section features web-conference discussions on interests such as history, books, healthy living, sports and other topics. Prior to participating in the web-conferencing there is a one-time downloading and installation of a plug-in necessary to participate. A general list of information titled Navigation includes information pertaining to a computer donation program for people who are visually impaired. Here is the address: www.accessibleworld.org.

GOOG - 411

GOOG - 411 is a free, fast and easy way to connect with local businesses. This service can be accessed from any phone (mobile or land line), in any location at any time. GOOG - 411 operates very similar to directory assistance except it is voice activated which should be helpful to anyone with a visual or physical disability. For instance if you want to have a pizza delivered to your home you can call 1-800-GOOG-411 (1-800-466-4411), say your location or enter your zip code on the number pad and then say "pizza delivery". Next you will hear a numbered list of pizzerias from which you can be connected with by saying the corresponding number. If you know which pizzeria you want to order a pizza from you can just say the name of the pizzeria. For more information and a brief tutorial about this service visit the following website: www.google.com/goog411/index.html