My boyfriend and I are planning for a week-and-a-half trip to Orlando next year. There are three reasons. First, my bf hasn't been since 1989 and I haven't been since 1999 (I was there for the Millenium celebration, and his first visit in 1979 was a month after Walt Disney World first opened). Second, we both need a nice vacation, especially with the coming school year (both of us have been out of school for a while). Third, the National Federation of the Blind will have their annual convention in Orlando next year. Oh yea...there's a fourth reason, then: It will be WDW's 40th anniversary celebration year.
In light of all these reasons, we have been doing a lot of research on the accessibility of WDW based on our multiple needs. He has severe allergies to evergreens, so Fort Wilderness was out, and I have chronic pain and mobility impairment that will mean using a wheelchair part-time at the theme parks. These needs were easily met with the wonderful accessibility of Walt Disney World. However, we were not fully satisfied with the accessibility for blind people. Being both legaly blind, navigation and orientation would be important; I also need description to keep up with the visual cues on rides that I would otherwise miss out on. Now we will be completely happy, as not nly does WDW have audio description of rides, they also have audio descriptions of outside areas! No more getting lost, I thought, as I read the article (see below). I'll let the article speak for itself, and I hope you will find as much pleasure in this new access at Disney World as my boyfriend and I will when we go next year.
If you have some vision- click on the link as there are graphics and
pictures showing what the device looks like and such.
Here's the text of this article:
Outdoor Audio Description Technology for Guests with Disabilities
Beginning on June 27, guests with visual disabilities will be able to
explore Walt Disney World theme parks in a whole new way. Using a
Disney-designed Assistive Technology Device guests will now be able to
explore the parks accompanied with an audio description of all the sights.
This easy-to-use device is obtained at any theme park guest relations
window. It is offered at no cost with a refundable deposit. It comes with a
headset and strap so you can hang it around your neck. Disney conducted a
number of focus groups with organizations for the blind to help them create
an easy to understand machine that can be mastered in a few minutes.
I spent an hour today with an Assistive Technology Device (ATD) at Disney's
Hollywood Studios. As I walked from area to area, the ATD would come alive
and vibrate as I passed hidden sensors. Then it would provide me with a
fairly accurate description of my location. For example, it would announce,
"You are on Pixar Place near the restrooms" or "You are in Animation
Courtyard between Voyage of the Little Mermaid and Playhouse Disney." If at
any time I needed a reminder of where I was at, I could push a button and
the ATD would repeat the last announced location.
Another button provided me with a general description of my surroundings.
When the recording finished, I was given the option to hear more information
in six categories. These were (1) a more detailed description of the area,
(2) nearby attractions (3) nearby restrooms, (4) nearby restaurants, (5)
entertainment, and (6) shopping. From these, I could drill down for even
more detailed information.
Another automatic feature of the ATD is Attraction Descriptions. When I
boarded Toy Story Mania, the ATD started automatically and provided me with
a detailed commentary of all the sights along the way. I never had to push
any button.
To give you an idea of what I'm talking about, I've included a short audio
clip from the Haunted Mansion. The first voice you hear is that of the Ghost
Host. Following our disembodied spirit is the ATD voice describing a few of
the sights.
The ATD can also be used by the hearing impaired. Although I did not get to
try this feature, I was told it works in all attractions and the ride or
show's dialog is automatically displayed on the screen.
I spoke with Bob Minnick, Manager - Facility Safety and Accessibility. I
asked him if the ATD could be easily updated as things are constantly
changing at WDW. He told me that Disney partnered with WGBH Boston in the
development of this device. I was assured that all Disney needed to do was
provide a new script to WGBH and an updated recording could be made an
uploaded in very little time. When I asked if these devices would be
available at the resorts, Bob told me that Disney's objective at the moment
is to bring Disneyland online with the ATD. After that, they will assess the
demand and need for further expansion.
Disney has patented and licensed this new technology and is eager to make it
available beyond the theme parks. To that end, it's already being used at
the Coca Cola Museum in Atlanta, The Hall at Patriot Place, and the Dallas
Cowboys Stadium.
Walt wanted Disneyland to be enjoyed by everyone. Through the years, his
company has strived to bring magic to all. Here are a few examples of how
the Imagineers are constantly looking for ways to improve the guest
experience.
In making a drinking fountain wheelchair accessible, it also makes them "kid
friendly." And Braille maps can be found in all four theme parks.
All Walt Disney World transportation is wheelchair accessible - all buses
have hydraulic lifts and the docks all "float" so they are always level with
the watercraft. The buses also have closed captioning, announcing
destinations and other pertinent information.
A number of guest rooms are available with height appropriate vanities and
easy access tubs and showers. Text telephones are obtainable for the deaf.
Swimming pools have sloped entrances so that aquatic wheelchairs can easily
roll into the water. This shallow area also provides toddlers with an area
to splash with safety.
At the golf courses, specially designed carts are available to allow just
about anyone the ability to play a round.
At Blizzard Beach, a special gondola can accommodate a wheelchair for a ride
to the top of Mount Gushmore.
Special viewing areas have been set aside on a first come, first served
basis along the parade routes. Even the Grand Marshal vehicles can
accommodate a wheelchair so just about anyone can be included in the
festivities.
Disney is always looking for new ways to retrofit older attractions. A
special Jungle Cruise boat was updated with a lift for wheelchairs. And
newer attractions are also getting into the act. Since loading and unloading
can take longer in these cases, Toy Story Mania was designed with an
auxiliary loading area so folks can take all the time they need to get
situated.
Many of the live shows offer sign language interpreters. These are presented
on certain days and at certain hours. You need to check with Guest Relations
for exact days and times.
I have to admit, when I attended today's press event, my eyes became a
little misty when I saw all that Disney is doing to bring the magic to
everyone. I take so many things for granted and I was moved that Disney does
not. They strive to include everyone they can.
For more information about touring the parks with special needs, check out
the AllEars.Net section for guests with special needs
as well as Disney's webpage: WALT DISNEY WORLD GUESTS WITH DISABILITIES
Posted by Jack Spence on June 23, 2010 5:00 AM
Showing posts with label National Federation of the Blind. Show all posts
Showing posts with label National Federation of the Blind. Show all posts
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
A Unique Resource For the Blind of the World
The National Federation of the Blind says it best when they call the International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind a “unique resource for the blind of the world.” This center, located at the National Center for the Blind in Baltimore, Maryland reviews technology, both products created specifically for the blind and products created for the mainstream market but which is accessible in one form or another, sometimes completely accessible, either through intentional universal design or by chance (such as the iPod Shuffle, a media mp3 player that is accessible because it has no screen, though the design was intended for people who are doing active exercise and cannot pause to look at a screen. The latest version of the iPod Shuffle, the iPod Shuffle 8.0 is even more accessible, as it has a Voiceover that tells the user the title and author of the song and has a folder feature.)
The staff at the International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind evaluates, demonstrate, and train people in the use of the products they have. If you are able to visit the center, as I did on May 17, they can demonstrate the products in person. While there, I learned about various note takers, testing weights and ease of use. Because of my quickness to fatigue and pain, a note taker that is easy on my body and not too heavy is very important for me. However, I had very little access to the variety of note takers that are available on the market today. Before visiting the technology center, I had only seen three: the BraillePlus, the PacMate, and the BrailleNote, and had not had the chance to test any of them, as they are essential parts of the owners’ lives. So, when I was given the opportunity to visit the National Center for the Blind with a group from my state, I was overjoyed, knowing I would get to see many different note takers and test them. I was in for a surprise!
The technology center tries to have one of every product available that is accessible to the blind in some fashion….that includes two long tables full of note takers and similar electronic interfaces, dozens of ways to print, type, and read Braille, and hundreds of products for reading, writing, and daily living. I had limited time, so I concentrated my time on the note takers there, and had no chance to see the rest.
However, I still have the chance to learn about the other products, as do the millions of blind people who cannot go to the center in person because of distance, finances, or any other reason. The staff can also consult with blind people, professionals, or family members via phone. Some of the questions they get asked often, according to the NFB’s website include:
What do I need to get a blind person on-line and connected to the Internet?
How can I make my website accessible to the blind?
What electronic note taker is “best” for a person who is blind?
The website says they welcome questions, and the staff I spoke to in person was very welcoming and friendly, as well as knowledgeable and helpful. The Center is located at 200 East Wells Street at the Jernigan Place in Baltimore, Maryland. Their phone number is (410) 659-9314, x5. Further, they can be reached via fax at (410) 685-565, or via e-mail at access@nfb.org. For more information about the International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind, visit the NFB's site for the Center.
The staff at the International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind evaluates, demonstrate, and train people in the use of the products they have. If you are able to visit the center, as I did on May 17, they can demonstrate the products in person. While there, I learned about various note takers, testing weights and ease of use. Because of my quickness to fatigue and pain, a note taker that is easy on my body and not too heavy is very important for me. However, I had very little access to the variety of note takers that are available on the market today. Before visiting the technology center, I had only seen three: the BraillePlus, the PacMate, and the BrailleNote, and had not had the chance to test any of them, as they are essential parts of the owners’ lives. So, when I was given the opportunity to visit the National Center for the Blind with a group from my state, I was overjoyed, knowing I would get to see many different note takers and test them. I was in for a surprise!
The technology center tries to have one of every product available that is accessible to the blind in some fashion….that includes two long tables full of note takers and similar electronic interfaces, dozens of ways to print, type, and read Braille, and hundreds of products for reading, writing, and daily living. I had limited time, so I concentrated my time on the note takers there, and had no chance to see the rest.
However, I still have the chance to learn about the other products, as do the millions of blind people who cannot go to the center in person because of distance, finances, or any other reason. The staff can also consult with blind people, professionals, or family members via phone. Some of the questions they get asked often, according to the NFB’s website include:
What do I need to get a blind person on-line and connected to the Internet?
How can I make my website accessible to the blind?
What electronic note taker is “best” for a person who is blind?
The website says they welcome questions, and the staff I spoke to in person was very welcoming and friendly, as well as knowledgeable and helpful. The Center is located at 200 East Wells Street at the Jernigan Place in Baltimore, Maryland. Their phone number is (410) 659-9314, x5. Further, they can be reached via fax at (410) 685-565, or via e-mail at access@nfb.org. For more information about the International Braille and Technology Center for the Blind, visit the NFB's site for the Center.
Monday, March 8, 2010
NFB-Newsline: News at the Touch of a Button
When I first became blind, I found it very hard to keep up with the news each day. At the time, I could use a handheld CCTV (closed-circuit Television that magnifies print) to read the newspaper, but because of formatting and the strain on my eyes, I rarely read the daily paper. In fact, the only time I can remember being really interested about something in the newspaper was when a friend wrote a Letter to the Editor and wanted my opinion on it.
These days, though, I read the Raleigh News & Observer nearly every day, along with a number of others...the Washington Post, New York Times, the Economist, Science News, and newspapers that I would never have access to otherwise, like the Anchorage Daily News and Lexington Herald Leader. Why would I read these, you might ask. Sometimes, the most fascinating news come from local newspapers. I have read articles about a huge variety of topics, from a man who is blind and paralyzed who got a new leash on life through the use of a foreheaad mouse to the problems that Alaskans have with bears wrecking the inside of their cars looking for food...who ever knew? I have never been so informed about the news and interests of people all over the United States and all over the world (the Economist writes news from all over the world, as does the New York Times and several other national magazines).
The NFB-Newsline, sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind, along with state sponsors that vary by state, is a news-by-phone service available to the print disabled (people who are blind, dyslexic, or otherwise unable to read regular print). To get access to the phone service, you must first register. You can call the NFB-Newsline office at 1-866-504-7300 or go to the website www.nfb.org/nfb/Newspapers_by_Phone.asp for more information. It is free to register. Once you are registered, you can access the service at 1-888-882-1629 (there are also local numbers that vary by state). The first time you access Newsline from a phone, you will be required to enter your user ID number and PIN. After that, however, you can simply press 1 on the number pad to login.
When you login, you can access any of the newspapers available. My suggestion is first to press 9 from the main menu, which will take you to the tutorial articles. This will give you a thorough tutorial of what numbers to press when, what features you can access, and how to change the voice type, pitch, volume, and speed. There is also a new feature that allows you to e-mail a single article to your inbox by pressing the pound sign and 9 in rapid succession. You have to have your e-mail address registered with NFB-Newsline, but you can do this when you register for the service.
There is also a way to access NFB-Newsline on the Net. The website is www.nfbnewslineonline.org. I have not tried this service yet, but I was told it is the same as the phone service, except that you don’t have to use the phone to access it (Duh!). So, if you try NFB-Newsline Online, be sure to let me know if you like it!
There are some downsides to NFB-Newsline, though. It's only available to people in the United States and Puerto Rico, and not all newspapers are available. Puerto Rico, for example, has no newspapers on NFB-Newsline, for lack of funding. Puerto Ricans have access to the newspapers from the states, as well as national magazines, but there are no local newspapers available.
NFB-Newsline is a great supplement to other methods of reading the news, such as listening to the news on TV, reading on-line articles, and listening to local reading services. in my area, Triangle Radio Reading Services reads articles from the newspaper and magazines, sales papers for grocery, department, and pharmacy stores, and reads from novels. Other resources for news include magazine subscriptions through the National Library Service or other organizations and word-of-mouth news from family and friends.
Check out the NFB-Newsline. It's free, easy, and informative!
Also look forward to these topics:
Magazines in Accessible Formats
News on the Web: What’s Accessible?
Local Reading Services: Who Has Them, and How Do They Work?
These days, though, I read the Raleigh News & Observer nearly every day, along with a number of others...the Washington Post, New York Times, the Economist, Science News, and newspapers that I would never have access to otherwise, like the Anchorage Daily News and Lexington Herald Leader. Why would I read these, you might ask. Sometimes, the most fascinating news come from local newspapers. I have read articles about a huge variety of topics, from a man who is blind and paralyzed who got a new leash on life through the use of a foreheaad mouse to the problems that Alaskans have with bears wrecking the inside of their cars looking for food...who ever knew? I have never been so informed about the news and interests of people all over the United States and all over the world (the Economist writes news from all over the world, as does the New York Times and several other national magazines).
The NFB-Newsline, sponsored by the National Federation of the Blind, along with state sponsors that vary by state, is a news-by-phone service available to the print disabled (people who are blind, dyslexic, or otherwise unable to read regular print). To get access to the phone service, you must first register. You can call the NFB-Newsline office at 1-866-504-7300 or go to the website www.nfb.org/nfb/Newspapers_by_Phone.asp for more information. It is free to register. Once you are registered, you can access the service at 1-888-882-1629 (there are also local numbers that vary by state). The first time you access Newsline from a phone, you will be required to enter your user ID number and PIN. After that, however, you can simply press 1 on the number pad to login.
When you login, you can access any of the newspapers available. My suggestion is first to press 9 from the main menu, which will take you to the tutorial articles. This will give you a thorough tutorial of what numbers to press when, what features you can access, and how to change the voice type, pitch, volume, and speed. There is also a new feature that allows you to e-mail a single article to your inbox by pressing the pound sign and 9 in rapid succession. You have to have your e-mail address registered with NFB-Newsline, but you can do this when you register for the service.
There is also a way to access NFB-Newsline on the Net. The website is www.nfbnewslineonline.org. I have not tried this service yet, but I was told it is the same as the phone service, except that you don’t have to use the phone to access it (Duh!). So, if you try NFB-Newsline Online, be sure to let me know if you like it!
There are some downsides to NFB-Newsline, though. It's only available to people in the United States and Puerto Rico, and not all newspapers are available. Puerto Rico, for example, has no newspapers on NFB-Newsline, for lack of funding. Puerto Ricans have access to the newspapers from the states, as well as national magazines, but there are no local newspapers available.
NFB-Newsline is a great supplement to other methods of reading the news, such as listening to the news on TV, reading on-line articles, and listening to local reading services. in my area, Triangle Radio Reading Services reads articles from the newspaper and magazines, sales papers for grocery, department, and pharmacy stores, and reads from novels. Other resources for news include magazine subscriptions through the National Library Service or other organizations and word-of-mouth news from family and friends.
Check out the NFB-Newsline. It's free, easy, and informative!
Also look forward to these topics:
Magazines in Accessible Formats
News on the Web: What’s Accessible?
Local Reading Services: Who Has Them, and How Do They Work?
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