Tag: voice dream reader

CCB-GTT calls for the week of April 3-9, 2022.

You are invited to the CCB’s GTT Zoom meetings where we focus in on the technology needs and concerns of Canadians who are blind or low vision. The calls will take place over the accessible Zoom Conference system, which will allow participants to dial in using their landline phones, smart phones, or computers. You will find the Zoom link and phone numbers below the meeting listings. Please pay special attention to the “(NOTE)” notation after some of the meeting listings. Different zoom platforms are used for different meetings, and some require preregistration.

(Information on how to Join the various meetings is located towards the end of this document)

—

CCB-GTT OPEN TECH CHAT

Monday, April 4, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Description: Bring your questions, tips, tricks, and curiosity to this lively weekly discussion of all things high and low tech.

—

CCB-GTT WORKSHOPS, mobile banking (Group 1)

Monday April 4, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Instructors: Kim Kilpatrick and David Greene

Description: We start a series of workshops on mobile banking. Are you afraid to use mobile banking? Learn how to:

  • Check accounts
  • Pay bills
  • Deposit cheques
  • Make e-transfers and more

These workshops continue to be by registration only. See more details and how to register in our workshops section below.

—

CCB-GTT MAC USERS GROUP

Tuesday, April 5, 2022, 2:00 PM Eastern/11:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Wayne Antle

Topic: General Mac Q and A.

Our presentations start at 2 PM Eastern. We open the room for people who would like a little extra help with their Mac at 1:30 pm Eastern, 10:30 am Pacific.

(NOTE): Registration required. To register, please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT BACK TO BASICS CALL

Wednesday April 6, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Description: Join us for our monthly “Back to Basics:” call.  Have a question that you have always been afraid to ask? There are no silly questions here. Come and join us for another enlightening session.

—

CCB-GTT WORKSHOPS, mobile banking (Group 2)

Wednesday April 6, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Instructors: Kim Kilpatrick and David Greene

Description: We start a series of workshops on mobile banking. Are you afraid to use mobile banking? Learn how to:

  • Check accounts
  • Pay bills
  • Deposit cheques
  • Make e-transfers and more

These workshops continue to be by registration only. See more details and how to register in our workshops section below.

—

CCB-GTT BRAILLE DISPLAY USERS GROUP

Thursday April 7, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Topic: General Q and A.

Description of group:  If you are using an electronic Braille display, come join us to ask questions, share tips and tricks, and get the most use out of your device.

(NOTE): Registration required. Please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT OPEN CHAT

Friday April 8, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Hosts: David Greene and Shelley Morris

Topic: Sharing our stories

This week we are joined by Ian White from the CCB Toronto Visionaries to share his story.

—

CCB-GTT WORKSHOPS, Voice Dream (Group 4)

Friday April 8, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Instructors: Kim Kilpatrick and David Greene

Description: This is our final week for our last group of participants in our Voice Dream Reader workshop series. We thank everyone who joined us for this extremely popular series of workshops.

More info: www.voicedream.com

Remember to suggest topics for future small group workshops and check out our offerings in the workshop section below.

—

New Upcoming Workshops

Thanks to everyone who has registered and continues to provide suggestions for our upcoming small group workshops.

We have added extra days and times as these workshops are extremely popular.

Once you are registered, you will be notified by e-mail about the date of your workshop.

Please see below for a list of possible topics and how to register.

All these sessions will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays at 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific, for one hour.

We are limiting participation in each group to ten people. This way, everyone gets their questions answered and can help each other in a small group.

The number of participants at these smaller groups will help ensure quality control and meaningful participation by all. We encourage only those individuals with a vested interest in the topic and/or product to participate to help ensure that instruction is awarded initially to those most requiring support.

Pre-register now for the following:

  • Using the Victor Stream for reading books
  • Apple podcasts
  • Victor Reader Stream and podcasts
  • Overcast podcast app
  • Using The channels of seeing AI.
  • Mobile banking
  • Using windows with a screen reader
  • Ride share apps such as Uber and Lyft
  • Microsoft Soundscape
  • Basic Settings on IOS devices.
  • Using Instacart and other shopping apps and services
  • Using the Amazon app

To register for any of these or to suggest other topics, please email gtt@ccbnational.net

—

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

CCB-GTT PODCAST FEED

You can subscribe to the CCB Podcast feed by searching for CCB/Canadian Council of the Blind Podcast on the Victor Reader Stream, or your favourite smart device Pod Catcher. You can use this link to the originating distribution source. https://ccbpod.podbean.com/

CCB-GTT TECH SUPPORT LIST

CCB sponsors a GTT email support list to provide help and support with technology for blind and low vision Canadians. To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Gttsupport+subscribe@groups.io

You will get an email back from the list asking you to confirm your subscription. Simply reply to that email and you are subscribed. You will then receive a second email welcoming you to the list and describing how to use it. You are then ready to post your technology questions and/or answers to the list.

For more information visit: https://groups.io/g/GTTsupport

CCB-GTT BUY, SELL, TRADE OR DONATE LIST

This is a Canadian Group for blind, partially sighted, and deaf-blind folks to buy, sell, trade, or donate previously enjoyed assistive technology.

To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Main+subscribe@ccb-tech-buyselltrade.groups.io

—

Security procedure remains in effect.

When you enter the waiting room before a meeting, please ensure that you give us a recognizable name. If you are calling for the first time or from a land line, please e-mail the CCB’s Receptionist, (Shelley Morris) ahead of time to let us know your name and number so we will let you in. Shelley’s email is: ccb@ccbnational.net

If you need help doing these things or learning to use zoom, please contact us and we can help you.

How to Join Meetings:

You can participate by phone or Internet from wherever you are:

All calls listed above can be accessed via the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/9839595688?pwd=N01yeERXQk4rWnhvNCtHTzZwdXcwQT09#success

Meeting ID: 983 959 5688

Password: 320119

Alberta One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+15873281099,9839595688#

BC One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+17789072071,9839595688#

Manitoba One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+12045151268,9839595688#

Montreal One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+14388097799,9839595688#

Toronto One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+16473744685,9839595688#

Direct Dial:

Alberta: +1 587 328 1099

BC: +1 778 907 2071

Manitoba: +1 204 515 1268

Montreal: +1 438 809 7799

Toronto: +1 647 374 4685

Contact us:

For more information, contact:

Kim Kilpatrick, CCB GTT Coordinator

gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 513

David Greene, CCB GTT Accessibility Trainer

Accessibilitytraining7@gmail.com

1-877-304-0968 Ext 509

Corry Stuive, CCB National Program Coordinator

Corry.gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 550

CCB-GTT calls for the week of March 27, to April 2, 2022.

You are invited to the CCB’s GTT Zoom meetings where we focus in on the technology needs and concerns of Canadians who are blind or low vision. The calls will take place over the accessible Zoom Conference system, which will allow participants to dial in using their landline phones, smart phones, or computers. You will find the Zoom link and phone numbers below the meeting listings. Please pay special attention to the “(NOTE)” notation after some of the meeting listings. Different zoom platforms are used for different meetings, and some require preregistration.

(Information on how to Join the various meetings is located towards the end of this document)

—

CCB-GTT OPEN TECH CHAT

Monday, March 28, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Description: Bring your questions, tips, tricks, and curiosity to this lively weekly discussion of all things high and low tech.

—

CCB-GTT MAC USERS GROUP

Tuesday, March 29, 2022, 2:00 PM Eastern/11:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Wayne Antle

Topic: General Mac Q and A.

Our presentations start at 2 PM Eastern. We open the room for people who would like a little extra help with their Mac at 1:30 pm Eastern, 10:30 am Pacific.

(NOTE): Registration required. To register, please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT PRESENTATION CALL

Wednesday March 30, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Topic: Streaming services, what are they and how do you use them?

Description: Some people prefer physical recordings and others love the streaming services now available to play music, podcasts, movies, TV shows, etc. Do you use streaming services? If yes, which do you use? Apple music, Google music, Amazon Prime, Netflix, others? If not, why not? We will discuss what streaming services are, how accessible they are, and share how we are using them. Come and add your voice to another lively discussion.

—

CCB-GTT WORKSHOPS, VOICE DREAM

Wednesday March 30, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Instructors: Kim Kilpatrick and David Greene

Description: This is our last week for this group of participants.

We have enjoyed leading small groups of participants through the Voice Dream Reader application for IOS.

More info: www.voicedream.com

Our small group workshops continue to generate a lot of interest. See information about future topics and how to register in the workshops section below.

(NOTE): Our next series of small group workshops will begin during the first week of April. They will be on mobile banking. If you are interested and have not registered, please e-mail gtt@ccbnational.net . Stay tuned to next week’s call list for a more detailed workshop description.

—

CCB-GTT BRAILLE DISPLAY USERS GROUP

Thursday March 31, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Topic: General Q and A.

Description of group:  If you are using an electronic Braille display, come join us to ask questions, share tips and tricks, and get the most use out of your device.

(NOTE): Registration required. Please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT OPEN CHAT

Friday April 1, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Hosts: David Greene and Shelley Morris

Topic: Sharing our stories

No April fool’s joke! This week we are joined by Ryan Fleury from Canadian Assistive Technology. He is also a fine musician.

—

CCB-GTT WORKSHOPS, VOICE DREAM (second group)

Friday April 1, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Instructors: Kim Kilpatrick and David Greene

Description: For the next two weeks, we will be leading our final small group of participants through the Voice Dream Reader application for IOS.

More info: www.voicedream.com

Remember to suggest topics for future small group workshops and check out our offerings in the workshop section below.

—

New Upcoming Workshops

Thanks to everyone who has registered and continues to provide suggestions for our upcoming small group workshops.

We are adding extra days and times as these workshops are extremely popular.

Once you are registered, you will be notified by e-mail about the date of your workshop.

Please see below for a list of possible topics and how to register.

All these sessions will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays at 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific, for one hour.

We are limiting participation in each group to ten people. This way, everyone gets their questions answered and can help each other in a small group.

The number of participants at these smaller groups will help ensure quality control and meaningful participation by all. We encourage only those individuals with a vested interest in the topic and/or product to participate to help ensure that instruction is awarded initially to those most requiring support.

Pre-register now for the following:

  • Using the Victor Stream for reading books
  • Apple podcasts
  • Victor Reader Stream and podcasts
  • Overcast podcast app
  • Using The channels of seeing AI.
  • Mobile banking, (Next up, starts in early April)
  • Using windows with a screen reader
  • Ride share apps such as Uber and Lyft
  • Microsoft Soundscape
  • Basic Settings on IOS devices.
  • Using Instacart and other shopping apps and services
  • Using the Amazon app

To register for any of these or to suggest other topics, please email gtt@ccbnational.net

—

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

CCB-GTT PODCAST FEED

You can subscribe to the CCB Podcast feed by searching for CCB/Canadian Council of the Blind Podcast on the Victor Reader Stream, or your favourite smart device Pod Catcher. You can use this link to the originating distribution source. https://ccbpod.podbean.com/

CCB-GTT TECH SUPPORT LIST

CCB sponsors a GTT email support list to provide help and support with technology for blind and low vision Canadians. To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Gttsupport+subscribe@groups.io

You will get an email back from the list asking you to confirm your subscription. Simply reply to that email and you are subscribed. You will then receive a second email welcoming you to the list and describing how to use it. You are then ready to post your technology questions and/or answers to the list.

For more information visit: https://groups.io/g/GTTsupport

CCB-GTT BUY, SELL, TRADE OR DONATE LIST

This is a Canadian Group for blind, partially sighted, and deaf-blind folks to buy, sell, trade, or donate previously enjoyed assistive technology.

To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Main+subscribe@ccb-tech-buyselltrade.groups.io

—

Security procedure remains in effect.

When you enter the waiting room before a meeting, please ensure that you give us a recognizable name. If you are calling for the first time or from a land line, please e-mail the CCB’s Receptionist, (Shelley Morris) ahead of time to let us know your name and number so we will let you in. Shelley’s email is: ccb@ccbnational.net

If you need help doing these things or learning to use zoom, please contact us and we can help you.

How to Join Meetings:

You can participate by phone or Internet from wherever you are:

All calls listed above can be accessed via the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/9839595688?pwd=N01yeERXQk4rWnhvNCtHTzZwdXcwQT09#success

Meeting ID: 983 959 5688

Password: 320119

Alberta One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+15873281099,9839595688#

BC One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+17789072071,9839595688#

Manitoba One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+12045151268,9839595688#

Montreal One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+14388097799,9839595688#

Toronto One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+16473744685,9839595688#

Direct Dial:

Alberta: +1 587 328 1099

BC: +1 778 907 2071

Manitoba: +1 204 515 1268

Montreal: +1 438 809 7799

Toronto: +1 647 374 4685

Contact us:

For more information, contact:

Kim Kilpatrick, CCB GTT Coordinator

gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 513

David Greene, CCB GTT Accessibility Trainer

Accessibilitytraining7@gmail.com

1-877-304-0968 Ext 509

Corry Stuive, CCB National Program Coordinator

Corry.gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 550

CCB-GTT calls for the week of March 20, to 26, 2022.

You are invited to the CCB’s GTT Zoom meetings where we focus in on the technology needs and concerns of Canadians who are blind or low vision. The calls will take place over the accessible Zoom Conference system, which will allow participants to dial in using their landline phones, smart phones, or computers. You will find the Zoom link and phone numbers below the meeting listings. Please pay special attention to the “(NOTE)” notation after some of the meeting listings. Different zoom platforms are used for different meetings, and some require preregistration.

(Information on how to Join the various meetings is located towards the end of this document)

—

CCB-GTT OPEN TECH CHAT

Monday, March 21, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Description: Bring your questions, tips, tricks, and curiosity to this lively weekly discussion of all things high and low tech.

—

CCB-GTT MAC USERS GROUP

Tuesday, March 22, 2022, 2:00 PM Eastern/11:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Wayne Antle

Topic: General Mac Q and A.

Our presentations start at 2 PM Eastern. We open the room for people who would like a little extra help with their Mac at 1:30 pm Eastern, 10:30 am Pacific.

(NOTE): Registration required. To register, please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT PRESENTATION CALL

Wednesday March 23, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Topic: Which smart speaker/voice Assistant is best?

Description: Many of us are using one or more smart speakers or assistants on our devices. Do people prefer Amazon, Google, Apple, or Microsoft assistants? What are the pros and cons of these assistants? How and when do you use them?

Come and add your voice to another lively discussion.

—

CCB-GTT WORKSHOPS, VOICE DREAM

Wednesday March 23, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Instructors: Kim Kilpatrick and David Greene

Description: For the next three weeks, we will be leading small groups of participants through the Voice Dream Reader application for IOS.

More info: www.voicedream.com

We have had a lot of interest in these workshops. See information about future topics and how to register in the workshops section below.

—

CCB-GTT BRAILLE DISPLAY USERS GROUP

Thursday March 24, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Topic: General Q and A.

Description of group:  If you are using an electronic Braille display, come join us to ask questions, share tips and tricks, and get the most use out of your device.

(NOTE): Registration required. Please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT OPEN CHAT

Friday March 25, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Hosts: David Greene and Shelley Morris

Topic: Sharing our stories

This week, we introduce you to Valerie Collicott from Ottawa. Valerie is executive Director of WISE (women’s initiatives for safer environments).

—

CCB-GTT WORKSHOPS, VOICE DREAM (SECOND GROUP)

Friday March 25, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Instructors: Kim Kilpatrick and David Greene

Description: For the next three weeks, we will be leading small groups of participants through the Voice Dream Reader application for IOS.

More info: www.voicedream.com

We have had a lot of interest in these workshops. See information about future topics and how to register in the workshops section below.

(NOTE): Individuals accepted into this group have now been notified.

—

New Upcoming Workshops

Thanks to everyone who has registered and continues to provide suggestions for our upcoming small group workshops.

We are adding extra days and times as these workshops are extremely popular.

Once you are registered, you will be notified by e-mail about the date of your workshop.

Please see below for a list of possible topics and how to register.

All these sessions will take place on Mondays, Wednesdays, or Fridays at 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific, for one hour.

We are limiting participation in each group to ten people. This way, everyone gets their questions answered and can help each other in a small group.

The number of participants at these smaller groups will help ensure quality control and meaningful participation by all. We encourage only those individuals with a vested interest in the topic and/or product to participate to help ensure that instruction is awarded initially to those most requiring support.

Pre-register now for the following:

  • Using the Victor Stream for reading books
  • Apple podcasts
  • Victor Reader Stream and podcasts
  • Overcast podcast app
  • Using The channels of seeing AI.
  • Mobile banking
  • Using windows with a screen reader
  • Ride share apps such as Uber and Lyft
  • Microsoft Soundscape
  • Basic Settings on IOS devices.
  • Using Instacart and other shopping apps and services
  • Using the Amazon app

To register for any of these or to suggest other topics, please email gtt@ccbnational.net

—

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

CCB-GTT PODCAST FEED

You can subscribe to the CCB Podcast feed by searching for CCB/Canadian Council of the Blind Podcast on the Victor Reader Stream, or your favourite smart device Pod Catcher. You can use this link to the originating distribution source. https://ccbpod.podbean.com/

CCB-GTT TECH SUPPORT LIST

CCB sponsors a GTT email support list to provide help and support with technology for blind and low vision Canadians. To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Gttsupport+subscribe@groups.io

You will get an email back from the list asking you to confirm your subscription. Simply reply to that email and you are subscribed. You will then receive a second email welcoming you to the list and describing how to use it. You are then ready to post your technology questions and/or answers to the list.

For more information visit: https://groups.io/g/GTTsupport

CCB-GTT BUY, SELL, TRADE OR DONATE LIST

This is a Canadian Group for blind, partially sighted, and deaf-blind folks to buy, sell, trade, or donate previously enjoyed assistive technology.

To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Main+subscribe@ccb-tech-buyselltrade.groups.io

—

Security procedure remains in effect.

When you enter the waiting room before a meeting, please ensure that you give us a recognizable name. If you are calling for the first time or from a land line, please e-mail the CCB’s Receptionist, (Shelley Morris) ahead of time to let us know your name and number so we will let you in. Shelley’s email is: ccb@ccbnational.net

If you need help doing these things or learning to use zoom, please contact us and we can help you.

How to Join Meetings:

You can participate by phone or Internet from wherever you are:

All calls listed above can be accessed via the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/9839595688?pwd=N01yeERXQk4rWnhvNCtHTzZwdXcwQT09#success

Meeting ID: 983 959 5688

Password: 320119

Alberta One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+15873281099,9839595688#

BC One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+17789072071,9839595688#

Manitoba One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+12045151268,9839595688#

Montreal One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+14388097799,9839595688#

Toronto One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+16473744685,9839595688#

Direct Dial:

Alberta: +1 587 328 1099

BC: +1 778 907 2071

Manitoba: +1 204 515 1268

Montreal: +1 438 809 7799

Toronto: +1 647 374 4685

Contact us:

For more information, contact:

Kim Kilpatrick, CCB GTT Coordinator

gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 513

David Greene, CCB GTT Accessibility Trainer

Accessibilitytraining7@gmail.com

1-877-304-0968 Ext 509

Corry Stuive, CCB National Program Coordinator

Corry.gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 550

CCB-GTT calls for the week of March 6, to 12, 2022.

You are invited to the CCB’s GTT Zoom meetings where we focus in on the technology needs and concerns of Canadians who are blind or low vision. The calls will take place over the accessible Zoom Conference system, which will allow participants to dial in using their landline phones, smart phones, or computers. You will find the Zoom link and phone numbers below the meeting listings. Please pay special attention to the “(NOTE)” notation after some of the meeting listings. Different zoom platforms are used for different meetings, and some require preregistration.

(Information on how to Join the various meetings is located towards the end of this document)

—

CCB-GTT OPEN TECH CHAT

Monday, March 7, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Description: Bring your questions, tips, tricks, and curiosity to this lively weekly discussion of all things high and low tech.

—

CCB-GTT MAC USERS GROUP

Tuesday, March 8, 2022, 2:00 PM Eastern/11:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Wayne Antle

Topic: General Mac Q and A.

Our presentations start at 2 PM Eastern. We open the room for people who would like a little extra help with their Mac at 1:30 pm Eastern, 10:30 am Pacific.

(NOTE): Registration required. To register, please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT PRESENTATION CALL

Wednesday March 9, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Topic: Battle of the screen readers

Description: What screen readers do you use and why? We will discuss the pros and cons of Jaws, NVDA, Voiceover, Talkback, and Narrator. Join our lively discussion and share your screen reader preferences, tips, and tricks with the group.

—

CCB-GTT WORKSHOPS, VOICE DREAM

Wednesday March 9, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Instructors: Kim Kilpatrick and David Greene

Description: For the next several weeks, we will be leading small groups of participants through the Voice Dream Reader application for IOS.

More info: www.voicedream.com

We have had a lot of interest in these workshops. See information about future topics and how to register in the workshops section below.

—

CCB-GTT BRAILLE DISPLAY USERS GROUP

Thursday March 10, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Topic: General Q and A.

Description of group:  If you are using an electronic Braille display, come join us to ask questions, share tips and tricks, and get the most use out of your device.

(NOTE): Registration required. Please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT OPEN CHAT

Friday March 11, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Hosts: David Greene and Shelley Morris

Topic: Sharing our stories

This week, we introduce you to Carol Deason from Ontario and hear her entertaining story.

—

New Upcoming Workshops

Thanks to everyone who has registered and continues to provide suggestions for our upcoming small group workshops.

Please see below for a list of possible topics and how to register.

All these sessions will take place on Wednesdays at 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific, for one hour.

We are limiting participation in each group to ten people. This way, everyone gets their questions answered and can help each other in a small group.

The number of participants at these smaller groups will help ensure quality control and meaningful participation by all. We encourage only those individuals with a vested interest in the topic and/or product to participate to help ensure that instruction is awarded initially to those most requiring support.

Pre-register now for the following:

  • Using the Victor Stream for reading books
  • Apple podcasts
  • Victor Reader Stream and podcasts
  • Overcast podcast app
  • Using The channels of seeing AI.
  • Mobile banking
  • Using windows with a screen reader
  • Ride share apps such as Uber and Lyft
  • Microsoft Soundscape
  • Basic Settings on IOS devices.
  • Using Instacart and other shopping apps and services
  • Using the amazon app

To register for any of these or to suggest other topics, please email gtt@ccbnational.net

—

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

CCB-GTT PODCAST FEED

You can subscribe to the CCB Podcast feed by searching for CCB/Canadian Council of the Blind Podcast on the Victor Reader Stream, or your favourite smart device Pod Catcher. You can use this link to the originating distribution source. https://ccbpod.podbean.com/

CCB-GTT TECH SUPPORT LIST

CCB sponsors a GTT email support list to provide help and support with technology for blind and low vision Canadians. To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Gttsupport+subscribe@groups.io

You will get an email back from the list asking you to confirm your subscription. Simply reply to that email and you are subscribed. You will then receive a second email welcoming you to the list and describing how to use it. You are then ready to post your technology questions and/or answers to the list.

For more information visit: https://groups.io/g/GTTsupport

CCB-GTT BUY, SELL, TRADE OR DONATE LIST

This is a Canadian Group for blind, partially sighted, and deaf-blind folks to buy, sell, trade, or donate previously enjoyed assistive technology.

To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Main+subscribe@ccb-tech-buyselltrade.groups.io

—

Security procedure remains in effect.

When you enter the waiting room before a meeting, please ensure that you give us a recognizable name. If you are calling for the first time or from a land line, please e-mail the CCB’s Receptionist, (Shelley Morris) ahead of time to let us know your name and number so we will let you in. Shelley’s email is: ccb@ccbnational.net

If you need help doing these things or learning to use zoom, please contact us and we can help you.

How to Join Meetings:

You can participate by phone or Internet from wherever you are:

All calls listed above can be accessed via the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/9839595688?pwd=N01yeERXQk4rWnhvNCtHTzZwdXcwQT09#success

Meeting ID: 983 959 5688

Password: 320119

Alberta One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+15873281099,9839595688#

BC One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+17789072071,9839595688#

Manitoba One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+12045151268,9839595688#

Montreal One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+14388097799,9839595688#

Toronto One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+16473744685,9839595688#

Direct Dial:

Alberta: +1 587 328 1099

BC: +1 778 907 2071

Manitoba: +1 204 515 1268

Montreal: +1 438 809 7799

Toronto: +1 647 374 4685

Contact us:

For more information, contact:

Kim Kilpatrick, CCB GTT Coordinator

gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 513

David Greene, CCB GTT Accessibility Trainer

Accessibilitytraining7@gmail.com

1-877-304-0968 Ext 509

Corry Stuive, CCB National Program Coordinator

Corry.gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 550

CCB-GTT calls for the week of February 27, to March 5, 2022.

You are invited to the CCB’s GTT Zoom meetings where we focus in on the technology needs and concerns of Canadians who are blind or low vision. The calls will take place over the accessible Zoom Conference system, which will allow participants to dial in using their landline phones, smart phones, or computers. You will find the Zoom link and phone numbers below the meeting listings. Please pay special attention to the “(NOTE)” notation after some of the meeting listings. Different zoom platforms are used for different meetings, and some require preregistration.

(Information on how to Join the various meetings is located towards the end of this item)

—

CCB-GTT OPEN TECH CHAT

Monday, February 28, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Description: Bring your questions, tips, tricks, and curiosity to this lively weekly discussion of all things high and low tech.

—

CCB-GTT MAC USERS GROUP

Tuesday, March 1, 2022, 2:00 PM Eastern/11:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Wayne Antle

Topic: General Mac Q and A.

Our presentations start at 2 PM Eastern. We open the room for people who would like a little extra help with their Mac at 1:30 pm Eastern, 10:30 am Pacific.

(NOTE): Registration required. To register, please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT BACK TO BASICS CALL

Wednesday March 2, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Topic: Back to basics

Description: Have you wondered for years what a tech term means but were too shy to ask? Do you need a step by step walk through of how to do something on your computer, mobile device, or smart speaker? This is the call for you.

—

CCB-GTT WORKSHOPS, VOICE DREAM

Wednesday March 2, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Instructors: Kim Kilpatrick and David Greene

Description: For the next several weeks, we will be leading small groups of participants through the Voice Dream Reader application for IOS.

More info: www.voicedream.com

We have had a lot of interest in these workshops. See information about future topics and how to register in the workshops section below.

—

CCB-GTT BRAILLE DISPLAY USERS GROUP

Thursday March 3, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Topic: General Q and A.

Description of group:  If you are using an electronic Braille display, come join us to ask questions, share tips and tricks, and get the most use out of your device.

(NOTE): Registration required. Please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT OPEN CHAT

Friday March 4, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Hosts: David Greene and Shelley Morris

Topic: Sharing our stories

This week’s guest is Valerie Reid from Mississauga to share her journey of vision loss.

—

New Upcoming Workshops

Thanks to everyone who has registered and continues to provide suggestions for our upcoming small group workshops.

Please see below for a list of possible topics and how to register.

All these sessions will take place on Wednesdays at 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific, for one hour.

We are limiting participation in each group to ten people. This way, everyone gets their questions answered and can help each other in a small group.

The number of participants at these smaller groups will help ensure quality control and meaningful participation by all. We encourage only those individuals with a vested interest in the topic and/or product to participate to help ensure that instruction is awarded initially to those most requiring support.

Pre-register now for the following:

  • Using the Victor Stream for reading books
  • Apple podcasts
  • Victor Reader Stream and podcasts
  • Overcast podcast app
  • Using The channels of seeing AI.
  • Mobile banking
  • Using windows with a screen reader
  • Ride share apps such as Uber and Lyft
  • Microsoft Soundscape
  • Basic Settings on IOS devices.

To register for any of these or to suggest other topics, please email gtt@ccbnational.net

—

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

CCB-GTT PODCAST FEED

You can subscribe to the CCB Podcast feed by searching for CCB/Canadian Council of the Blind Podcast on the Victor Reader Stream, or your favourite smart device Pod Catcher. You can use this link to the originating distribution source. https://ccbpod.podbean.com/

New This week: Episode 98. Apple VS Android: Pros and cons. Presented by Caroline Toews.

CCB-GTT TECH SUPPORT LIST

CCB sponsors a GTT email support list to provide help and support with technology for blind and low vision Canadians. To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Gttsupport+subscribe@groups.io

You will get an email back from the list asking you to confirm your subscription. Simply reply to that email and you are subscribed. You will then receive a second email welcoming you to the list and describing how to use it. You are then ready to post your technology questions and/or answers to the list.

For more information visit: https://groups.io/g/GTTsupport

CCB-GTT BUY, SELL, TRADE OR DONATE LIST

This is a Canadian Group for blind, partially sighted, and deaf-blind folks to buy, sell, trade, or donate previously enjoyed assistive technology.

To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Main+subscribe@ccb-tech-buyselltrade.groups.io

—

Security procedure remains in effect.

When you enter the waiting room before a meeting, please ensure that you give us a recognizable name. If you are calling for the first time or from a land line, please e-mail the CCB’s Receptionist, (Shelley Morris) ahead of time to let us know your name and number so we will let you in. Shelley’s email is: ccb@ccbnational.net

If you need help doing these things or learning to use zoom, please contact us and we can help you.

How to Join Meetings:

You can participate by phone or Internet from wherever you are:

All calls listed above can be accessed via the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/9839595688?pwd=N01yeERXQk4rWnhvNCtHTzZwdXcwQT09#success

Meeting ID: 983 959 5688

Password: 320119

Alberta One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+15873281099,9839595688#

BC One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+17789072071,9839595688#

Manitoba One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+12045151268,9839595688#

Montreal One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+14388097799,9839595688#

Toronto One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+16473744685,9839595688#

Direct Dial:

Alberta: +1 587 328 1099

BC: +1 778 907 2071

Manitoba: +1 204 515 1268

Montreal: +1 438 809 7799

Toronto: +1 647 374 4685

Contact us:

For more information, contact:

Kim Kilpatrick, CCB GTT Coordinator

gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 513

David Greene, CCB GTT Accessibility Trainer

Accessibilitytraining7@gmail.com

1-877-304-0968 Ext 509

Corry Stuive, CCB National Program Coordinator

Corry.gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 550

CCB-GTT calls for the week of February 20, to February 26, 2022.

You are invited to the CCB’s GTT Zoom meetings where we focus in on the technology needs and concerns of Canadians who are blind or low vision. The calls will take place over the accessible Zoom Conference system, which will allow participants to dial in using their landline phones, smart phones, or computers. You will find the Zoom link and phone numbers below the meeting listings. Please pay special attention to the “(NOTE)” notation after some of the meeting listings. Different zoom platforms are used for different meetings, and some require preregistration.

(Information on how to Join the various meetings is located towards the end of this item)

—

No CCB-GTT OPEN TECH CHAT on Monday February 21st, Holiday in most of Canada.

—

CCB-GTT MAC USERS GROUP

Tuesday, February 22, 2022, 2:00 PM Eastern/11:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Wayne Antle

Topic: General Mac Q and A.

Our presentations start at 2 PM Eastern. We open the room for people who would like a little extra help with their Mac at 1:30 pm Eastern, 10:30 am Pacific.

(NOTE): Registration required. To register, please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT PRESENTATION CALL

Wednesday February 23, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Presenter: Caroline Toews

Topic: Apple VS Android: Pros and cons of both mobile platforms

Description:  Caroline has used both Apple and android phones. She joins us to present on the pros and cons and features and her decision to use an android phone at present.

—

CCB-GTT SMALL GROUP WORKSHOP ON VOICE DREAM READER

Wednesday February 23, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Instructors: Kim Kilpatrick and David Greene

Description: Come and learn how to use the very versatile voice dream reader app to read daisy books, documents, and more. This workshop is currently full. However, if you want to take it in future, please register by e-mailing gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT BRAILLE DISPLAY USERS GROUP

Thursday February 24, 2022, 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific:

Host: Kim Kilpatrick

Topic: General Q and A.

Description of group:  If you are using an electronic Braille display, come join us to ask questions, share tips and tricks, and get the most use out of your device.

(NOTE): Registration required. Please e-mail: gtt@ccbnational.net

—

CCB-GTT OPEN CHAT

Friday February 25, 2022, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Hosts: David Greene and Shelley Morris

Topic: Sharing our stories

This week’s guest is Pierre Castagner who will share his vision loss experience with the group.

—

New Upcoming Workshops

Thanks to everyone who has registered and continues to provide suggestions for our upcoming small group workshops.

Please see below for a list of possible topics and how to register.

All these sessions will take place on Wednesdays at 2:30 PM Eastern/11:30 AM Pacific, for one hour.

We are limiting participation in each group to ten people. This way, everyone gets their questions answered and can help each other in a small group.

The number of participants at these smaller groups will help ensure quality control and meaningful participation by all. we encourage only those individuals with a vested interest in the topic and/or product to participate to help ensure that instruction is awarded initially to those most requiring support.

Pre-register now for the following:

  • Using Voice Dream Reader on iDevices (starting this week).
  • Using the Victor Stream for reading books
  • Apple podcasts
  • Victor Reader Stream and podcasts
  • Overcast podcast app
  • Using The channels of seeing AI.
  • On-line banking
  • Using windows with a screen reader
  • Navigating around the Uber and various other ride share apps.

To register for any of these or to suggest other topics, please email gtt@ccbnational.net

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES:

CCB-GTT Podcast Feed

You can subscribe to the CCB Podcast feed by searching for CCB/Canadian Council of the Blind Podcast on the Victor Reader Stream, or your favourite smart device Pod Catcher. You can use this link to the originating distribution source. https://ccbpod.podbean.com/

CCB-GTT TECH SUPPORT LIST

CCB sponsors a GTT email support list to provide help and support with technology for blind and low vision Canadians. To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Gttsupport+subscribe@groups.io

You will get an email back from the list asking you to confirm your subscription. Simply reply to that email and you are subscribed. You will then receive a second email welcoming you to the list and describing how to use it. You are then ready to post your technology questions and/or answers to the list.

For more information visit: https://groups.io/g/GTTsupport

CCB-GTT BUY, SELL, TRADE OR DONATE LIST

This is a Canadian Group for blind, partially sighted, and deaf-blind folks to buy, sell, trade, or donate previously enjoyed assistive technology.

To subscribe to the email list, send an empty email to:

Main+subscribe@ccb-tech-buyselltrade.groups.io

—

Security procedure remains in effect.

When you enter the waiting room before a meeting, please ensure that you give us a recognizable name. If you are calling for the first time or from a land line, please e-mail the CCB’s Receptionist, (Shelley Morris) ahead of time to let us know your name and number so we will let you in. Shelley’s email is: ccb@ccbnational.net

If you need help doing these things or learning to use zoom, please contact us and we can help you.

How to Join Meetings:

You can participate by phone or Internet from wherever you are:

Except for the CCB-GTT ANDROID USERS GROUP, all other calls listed above can be accessed via the following link:

https://zoom.us/j/9839595688?pwd=N01yeERXQk4rWnhvNCtHTzZwdXcwQT09#success

Meeting ID: 983 959 5688

Password: 320119

Alberta One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+15873281099,9839595688#

BC One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+17789072071,9839595688#

Manitoba One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+12045151268,9839595688#

Montreal One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+14388097799,9839595688#

Toronto One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+16473744685,9839595688#

Direct Dial:

Alberta: +1 587 328 1099

BC: +1 778 907 2071

Manitoba: +1 204 515 1268

Montreal: +1 438 809 7799

Toronto: +1 647 374 4685

Contact us:

For more information, contact:

Kim Kilpatrick, CCB GTT Coordinator

gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 513

David Greene, CCB GTT Accessibility Trainer

Accessibilitytraining7@gmail.com

1-877-304-0968 Ext 509

Corry Stuive, CCB National Program Coordinator

Corry.gtt@ccbnational.net

1-877-304-0968 Ext 550

CCB-GTT Weekly Meetings, September 6 to September 13, 2020 via Zoom

You are invited to the CCB’s GTT Zoom meetings where we focus in on the technology needs and concerns of Canadians who are blind or low vision.  The calls will take place over the accessible Zoom Conference system, which will allow participants to dial in using their landline phones, smart phones or computers.  You will find the Zoom link and phone numbers below the meeting listings. Please pay special attention to the “(NOTE)” notation on some of the meeting listings. Different zoom platforms are used for different meetings and some require preregistration.

—–

A reminder…..Enhanced security procedure in effect.

When you enter the waiting room before a meeting, please ensure that you give us a recognizable first and last name. If you are calling for the first time or from a land line, please e-mail the CCB’s Receptionist, (Shelley Morris) ahead of time to let us know your name and number so we will let you in. Shelley’s email is ccb@ccbnational.net.

If you need help doing these things or learning to use zoom, please contact us and we can help you.

—–

(NOTE) NO CCB-GTT OPEN CHAT ON MONDAY SEPTEMBER 7, 2020

*** Happy Labour Day to all! ***

CCB-GTT PRESENTATION

Wednesday, September 9, 2020, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Presenter, Kim Kilpatrick

Topic, Part 2 of 2, using Voice Dream Reader, Downloading content.

CCB-GTT NATIONAL  CALL

Wednesday, September 9, 2020, 7:00 PM Eastern/4:00 PM Pacific:

For many the first full week in September marks the beginning of the new work/school year. Summer, for the most part, is behind us and it’s once again time to get down to business. Tonight we thought we would assemble and discuss the CCB GTT program. What do you like and what don’t you like? Should we continue with the three a week open chat sessions? What are your thoughts about the “tech” vs “non tech” topics that we’ve enjoyed thus far? What sort of topics and guests would you like to see at future “presentation” sessions? Any thoughts about the future of the National, Beginners and Youth calls? Are you enjoying the Podcasts, should we try and do more? etc. Any and all comments, questions and concerns welcome. All three team members, David, Kim and Corry will be on the line. This is your opportunity to voice your opinion!

CCB-GTT YOUTH ZOOM CALL

(NOTE) New day and Time.

Thursday, September 10, 2020, 8:00 PM Eastern/5:00 PM Pacific

(NOTE) Preregistration required, contact Nolan Jenikov at nolan.gtt@ccbnational.net

CCB-GTT BEGINNERS CALL

Thursday September 10, 2020, Time communicated to invited participants.

(NOTE) Our first group of twelve participants have been invited to this call, We are limiting the group size to a dozen to ensure maximum support. If you are a beginner and would like to be included in the next group, please contact David Green at accessibilitytraining7@gmail.com

 

CCB-GTT OPEN CHAT

Friday, September 11, 2020, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific Time:

host, David Green,

Open discussion, Tech and/or other, Come join the community!

———-

You can participate by phone or internet from wherever you are:

CCB is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

https://zoom.us/j/9839595688?pwd=N01yeERXQk4rWnhvNCtHTzZwdXcwQT09

Meeting ID: 983 959 5688

Password: 320119

Alberta One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+15873281099,9839595688#

BC One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+17789072071,9839595688#

Manitoba One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+12045151268,9839595688#

Montreal One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+14388097799,9839595688#

Toronto One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+16473744685,9839595688#

Direct Dial:

Alberta: +1 587 328 1099

BC: +1 778 907 2071

Manitoba: +1 204 515 1268

Montreal: +1 438 809 7799

Toronto: +1 647 374 4685

For more information, contact:

Kim Kilpatrick, CCB GTT Coordinator

GTTProgram@Gmail.com

David Green, CCB GTT Accessibility Trainer

accessibilitytraining7@gmail.com

1-877-304-0968 Ext 513

Corry Stuive, CCB National Program Coordinator

corry.gtt@ccbnational.net 

1-877-304-0968 Ext 550

CCB-GTT Weekly Meetings, August 30 to September 5, 2020 via Zoom

 

You are invited to the CCB’s GTT Zoom meetings where we focus in on the technology needs and concerns of Canadians who are blind or low vision.  The calls will take place over the accessible Zoom Conference system, which will allow participants to dial in using their landline phones, smart phones or computers.  You will find the Zoom link and phone numbers below the meeting listings. Please pay special attention to the “(note)” notation after some of the meeting listings. Different zoom platforms are used for different meetings and some require preregistration.

PLEASE NOTE…..Enhanced security procedure in effect.

When you enter the waiting room before a meeting, please ensure that you give us a recognizable first and last name. If you are calling for the first time or from a land line, please e-mail the CCB’s Receptionist, (Shelley Morris) ahead of time to let us know your name and number so we will let you in. Shelley’s email is ccb@ccbnational.net.

If you need help doing these things or learning to use zoom, please contact us and we can help you.

CCB-GTT OPEN CHAT

Monday, August 31,  2020, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific Time:

Host Kim Kilpatrick

Come join us with all of your low and high tech questions and tips

CCB-GTT PRESENTATION

Wednesday, September 2, 2020, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific:

Presenter, Kim Kilpatrick

Topic, using Voice Dream Reader. This topic was suggested after the August 26 presentation on the Dolphin Easy Reader app.

CCB-GTT YOUTH ZOOM CALL

(NOTE) NO MEETING SCHEDULED DURING THIS WEEK! The youth program is hoping to expand at a new time. To find out more or give suggestions email Nolan Jenikov at nolan.gtt@ccbnational.net

CCB-GTT BEGINNERS CALL

(NOTE) If you are a beginning learner of IOS, Android, PC, Mac, or other new devices: Have you enjoyed the monthly Beginner’s calls? Would you like them to continue? What topics would you like to see discussed? We  will be having a discussion meeting on this topic. If interested, e-mail Kim Kilpatrick at gtt@ccbnational.net

CCB-GTT OPEN CHAT

Friday, September 4, 2020, 1:00 PM Eastern/10:00 AM Pacific Time:

host, David Green,

Open discussion, Tech and/or other, Come join the community!

You can participate by phone or internet from wherever you are:

CCB is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

https://zoom.us/j/9839595688?pwd=N01yeERXQk4rWnhvNCtHTzZwdXcwQT09

Meeting ID: 983 959 5688

Password: 320119

Alberta One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+15873281099,9839595688#

BC One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+17789072071,9839595688#

Manitoba One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+12045151268,9839595688#

Montreal One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+14388097799,9839595688#

Toronto One tap mobile for Smart Phones:

+16473744685,9839595688#

Direct Dial:

Alberta: +1 587 328 1099

BC: +1 778 907 2071

Manitoba: +1 204 515 1268

Montreal: +1 438 809 7799

Toronto: +1 647 374 4685

For more information, contact:

Kim Kilpatrick, CCB GTT Coordinator

GTTProgram@Gmail.com

1-877-304-0968 Ext 513

David Green, CCB GTT Accessibility Trainer

accessibilitytraining7@gmail.com

1-877-304-0968 Ext 509

Corry Stuive, CCB National Program Coordinator

corry.gtt@ccbnational.net 

1-877-304-0968 Ext 550

GTT New Westminster Meeting Summary Notes, Library and Reading Apps for iOS, November 27, 2019

Get Together with Technology (GTT)

New Westminster Meeting

A Chapter of the Canadian Council of the Blind

in partnership with

Blind Beginnings

Vancouver Community College

And

Canadian Assistive Technology

Summary Notes

November 27, 2019

Theme: Library and Reading Apps for iOS

Presenters: Ryan Fleury, Ryan@CanAssTech.com and Albert Ruel, Albert.GTT@CCBNational.net

Apps Demonstrated and Discussed:

Voice Dream Reader/Writer Download from the AppStore.

4 Apps in This Bundle

Voice Dream Reader: demonstrated how to download audiobooks from Dropbox, the Files App and CELA Library.

Voice Dream Writer: demonstrated how to create documents and save them to VDR and how to use it for following an agenda during meetings.

Voice Dream Scanner: not demonstrated, however mentioned in terms of scanning on the fly or downloading from previously scanned documents.

Voice Pack: US English

Safari Browser, CELA Search and Favourites: demonstrated how to search for and download audiobooks to iOS devices, and how to set the CELA Library to the Favourites list.

CELA Library, Daisy Zipped and Direct To Player: demonstrated how to search for and send audiobooks to the Direct To Player bookshelf.

Dolphin EasyReader, CELA Library Direct To Player Download from the AppStore: demonstrated how to download Direct To Player audiobooks to this app from the CELA Library website.

Reading app for Dyslexia & VI by Dolphin Computer Access Ltd

Audible.ca/com: demonstrated how to use the app to listen to purchased audiobooks from the user’s Library.

Google Play Books download from the AppStore: demonstrated how to use the app to listen to purchased audiobooks from the user’s Library.

Other Audiobook Listening Apps Mentioned:

Amazon Speakers

Google Speakers

Overdrive

Cloud Library

Hoopla

Libby

Kindle

iBooks/Apple Books App

 

For more information please contact your GTT Coordinators:

 

Albert Ruel                   or                             Kim Kilpatrick

1-877-304-0968,550                                    1-877-304-0968,513

albert.GTT@CCBNational.net                   GTTProgram@Gmail.com

 

CCB Backgrounder:

 

The CCB was founded in 1944 by a coalition of blind war veterans, schools of the blind and local chapters to create a national self-governing organization. The CCB was incorporated by Letters Patent on May 10, 1950 and is a registered charity under the provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The purpose of the CCB is to give people with vision loss a distinctive and unique perspective before governments.  CCB deals with the ongoing effects of vision loss by encouraging active living and rehabilitation through peer support and social and recreational activities.

CCB promotes measures to conserve sight, create a close relationship with the sighted community and provide employment opportunities.

 

The CCB recognizes that vision loss has no boundaries with respect to gender, income, ethnicity, culture, other disabilities or age.

The CCB understands in many instances vision loss is preventable and sometimes is symptomatic of other health issues.  For the 21st century, the CCB is committed to an integrated proactive health approach for early detection to improve the quality of life for all Canadians.

As the largest membership organization of the blind and partially sighted in Canada the CCB is the “Voice of the Blind™”.

 

CCB National Office

100-20 James Street Ottawa ON  K2P 0T6

Toll Free: 1-877-304-0968 Email: info@ccbnational.net URL: www.ccbnational.net

 

GTT National Conference Call Summary Notes, How to Search and Download From the New CELA Website, September 11, 2019

GTT National Conference Call.

 

An Initiative of the Canadian Council of the Blind

 

Summary Notes

September 11, 2019

 

 

Please check out the presentation on the CCB Podcast below for more details.

08 GTT National Conference Call Summary Notes, How to Search and Download From the New CELA Website, September 11, 2019:

 

 

What is CELA:

  • The CELA accessible library service for print disabled Canadians provides many services including: downloadable recorded DAISY books, downloadable DAISY eBooks, downloadable Bookshare DAISY eBooks, DAISY books on CD mailed to your home, braille books mailed to your home, print-brailled books for kids, over 150 downloadable DAISY e-text magazines, recorded DAISY magazines by download or mail, and over 40 daily newspapers that can be read online.
  • In early 2019 CELA launched a new accessible website that brings together their collection and that of Bookshare searchable from one place.
  • Many will recognize these CELA services to be the same as those previously provided by the CNIB Library. CELA took over the CNIB Library in 2014 and now serves all print-disabled Canadians not just those who are blind or vision impaired.

 

The Players:

  • In addition to playing CD books the Victor Reader Stratus can also receive direct to player DAISY books over the Internet. The user chooses their book by logging into CELA online and once a book is chosen it is sent directly to the player. For non-computer users, CELA customer service or your local Librarian can set up a reader profile for you and then the CELA computer will choose your books and send them directly to the player or on CD mailed to your home.
  • It is also suggested some may prefer the pocket sized Victor Reader Stream which can accept the direct to player books and perform other online functions Such as getting Bookshare books and listening to podcasts and radio stations.
  • CELA Direct to Player audio books can also be played on your iPhone or Android phone using the free Dolphin EasyReader app.
  • CELA audio books can also be downloaded through Dropbox to iPhones and played using the Voice Dream Reader app.

 

How much does it cost:

  • There is no fee for CELA service or Bookshare service.

 

 

How do I find CELA:

  • Visit the CELA web site for information on all their services or call their customer service at 1-855-655-2273.

 

For more information please contact your GTT Coordinators:

 

Albert Ruel                   or                        Kim Kilpatrick

1-877-304-0968,550                      1-877-304-0968,513

albert.GTT@CCBNational.net                GTTProgram@Gmail.com

 

CCB Backgrounder:

 

The CCB was founded in 1944 by a coalition of blind war veterans, schools of the blind and local chapters to create a national self-governing organization. The CCB was incorporated by Letters Patent on May 10, 1950 and is a registered charity under the provisions of the Income Tax Act (Canada).

The purpose of the CCB is to give people with vision loss a distinctive and unique perspective before governments.  CCB deals with the ongoing effects of vision loss by encouraging active living and rehabilitation through peer support and social and recreational activities.

CCB promotes measures to conserve sight, create a close relationship with the sighted community and provide employment opportunities.

 

The CCB recognizes that vision loss has no boundaries with respect to gender, income, ethnicity, culture, other disabilities or age.

The CCB understands in many instances vision loss is preventable and sometimes is symptomatic of other health issues.  For the 21st century, the CCB is committed to an integrated proactive health approach for early detection to improve the quality of life for all Canadians.

As the largest membership organization of the blind and partially sighted in Canada the CCB is the “Voice of the Blind™”.

 

CCB National Office

100-20 James Street Ottawa ON  K2P 0T6

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CCB Tech Articles, Donna’s Low Tech Tips, Voice Dream Reader, July 29, 2019

July 29, 2019

Meet the Voice Dream Reader, a text to speech app

 

Hi there!  It’s Donna and thank you for allowing me to come into your inbox.

Today, I’d like to talk about the Voice Dream text to speech app.

Let’s meet this product.

 

Meet the Voice dream text to speech app

 

Well, I think you should take a long hard look at the article below and see what you think.  I have this app on my iPhone and I find it extremely helpful.  Enjoy!

 

Voice Dream Reader: Text To Speech iOS App – Release 2.8: Create Your Own Reading Experience

 

http://www.voicedream.com/?p=3271

 

I’m delighted to introduce Voice Dream Reader version 2.8. The new release brings capabilities more advanced than any voice reader on any platform or at any price. The result is a whole new level of flexibility to create your own reading experience.

 

 

http://www.voicedream.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/PronunciationDictionary.png

 

Pronunciation Dictionary

 

Personal Pronunciation Dictionary

 

Don’t like how a voice pronounces a word? Want to skip repeating header text in a PDF document? Release 2.8 introduces a powerful personal pronunciation dictionary. You can tell the speech engine to pronounce a word as if it’s a different word. For example, “lol” can be pronounced as “laughing out loud,” or “MAD” as “M.A.D”, spelling out the acronym rather than saying it as a word. And you can skip any text so they’re not spoken at all.

 

For technically sophisticated users, I offer you Regular Expression or RegEx, a way to express any pattern in text. For example, to skip the chapter-verse numbers in the Bible, you would define a rule to skip RegEx “[0-9]+:[0-9]+”. What you can do with RegEx is limitless.

 

Each language has its own dictionary, and the pronunciation rules work regardless which voice you use, whether the voice is from Acapela or NeoSpeech. If you use TTS more than a few minutes a day, you’ll be very glad to have this feature.

 

Configurable Navigation

 

The other major feature is Configurable Navigation. Version 2.8 introduces a concept called “Navigation Unit,” which can be set to Sentence, Paragraph, Page, Chapter, Bookmark, Highlight, 15, 30, or 60 seconds – basically all important markers in text. In the previous version, the rewind and fast forward buttons go backward or forward by 30 seconds. In the new version, they move the speech cursor backward or forward by any Navigation Unit you set. For example, you can go to the next page in a PDF document or DAISY eBook. Or, go through all your highlighted text one by one. And you can set Navigation Unit on the fly by tapping on the rewind or fast forward button and hold.

 

If you assign rewind and fast forward to the remote control buttons on your headset, you can move around the text without touching your device. Or, you can swipe left or right with two finger and they’re the same as rewind and fast forward. How cool is that!

 

Speaking of gestures, I added a gesture that VoiceOver users have long enjoyed: Double-finger double tap, which is the same as the Play-Pause button. Now you can Play or Pause without exiting full screen.

 

Customers asked to be able to customize their reading experience by setting different speech rates easily: You might want to listen to a book in your native language faster than in a foreign language, and a scientific paper should be read more slowly than a popular novel. In the new release, you can set a default speech rate for each voice, and you can override defaults by setting a speech rate for each article or book. You can adjust the pitch and volume for each voice, too!

 

Better Support for Visual Reading

 

Voice Dream Reader has always supported both visual reading and voice reading and mixing them in a natural and fluid way. The features I mentioned thus far help create a better voice reading experience, but I haven’t forgotten about visual readers. I added a Scroll by Page mode (as opposed to free scrolling), increased the maximum font size to 80, added the option to turn off Word or Line highlighting. And it’ll remember the visual location where you left off in addition to the speech location, so when you open it next time it’ll go right to the text you were looking at before.

 

Here’re the rest of the new features in this release:

 

*        Footer to indicate and set page, percent, chapter, and Navigation Unit.

*        Sort by Date, Title, Author and Size for each folder.

*        New Chinese and Japanese voices from NeoSpeech.

 

And as always, existing customers get these new features for free.

 

In a little more than a year, Voice Dream Reader has come a long way from the early days of being a simple text “player” with one voice. With your support and encouragement, Voice Dream Reader will continue to get better.  Please email me with your comments and ideas for improvements. I love to hear from you.

 

Contact Us:

Support:  support@voicedream.com

General:  winston@voicedream.com

Twitter:  http://twitter.com/VoiceDreamApp

 

Press Contact:

Email:  media@voicedream.com

 

That’s it from me for this week.

If you would like to become a member of  my CCB Mysteries chapter you can do so for the price of $10 annually and in return you will receive unlimited access to either of the following libraries.

Recipes –

http://www.donnajodhan.com/library-recipes.html

Audio mysteries for all ages –

http://www.donnajodhan.com/library-audio-mysteries.html

Or you can subscribe to both for the price of $20 annually.

Now you  can subscribe to “‘Let’s Talk Tips”‘ which is my monthly resource for the most current and reliable informational tips available in the areas of Technology, Nutrition, Media, Business, and Advocacy.

http://bit.ly/ADJSubscribe

 

To contact me, send me an email at info@sterlingcreations.ca and I’ll be happy to respond.

Have yourselves a great day and see you next week.

Donna

 

Voice Dream Scanner: A New Kind of OCR by Bill Holton, AccessWorld

Voice Dream Scanner: A New Kind of OCR | AccessWorld
Author Bill Holton
9-11 minutes

Bill Holton
There is a new player in the optical character recognition (OCR) space, and it comes from an old friend: Winston Chen, the developer of Voice Dream Reader and Voice Dream Writer, both of which we’ve reviewed in past issues of AccessWorld. In this article we’ll start out with a brief conversation with Chen. Then we’ll take a look at the developer’s latest offering: Voice Dream Scanner. Spoiler alert—it will probably be the best $5.99 you’ll ever spend on a text recognition app!
AccessWorld readers who use their phones to audibly read e-Pub books, PDFs or Bookshare titles are likely already familiar with Voice Dream Reader. It works so well with VoiceOver and TalkBack, it’s hard to believe it wasn’t developed specifically for the access market. But according to Chen, “I just wanted to build a pocket reader I could use to store all my books and files so I could listen to them on the go. No one was more surprised than me when I began receiving feedback from dyslexic and blind users describing how helpful Voice Dream Reader was for their needs and making some simple suggestions to improve the app’s accessibility.”
Chen’s second offering, Voice Dream Writer, was also directed at the mainstream market. “Sometimes it’s easier to proofread your document by listening to it instead of simply rereading the text,” says Chen. At the time, Apple’s VoiceOver cut and paste features and other block text manipulation capabilities were,shall we say, not quite what they are today? The innovative way Chen handled these functions made Voice Dream Writer equally useful to users with visual impairments.
Reinventing the OCR Engine
“I’ve been wanting to add OCR to Voice Dream Reader for a few years now,” says Chen. “It would be useful for reading protected PDF’s and handouts and memos from school and work.”
The hurdle Chen kept encountering was finding a useable OCR engine. “There are some free, open source engines, but they don’t work well enough for my purposes,” he says. “The ones that do work well are quite expensive, either as a one-time license purchase with each app sold or with ongoing pay-by-the-use options. Either of these would have raised the price I have to charge too much for my value proposition.”
Last year, however, Chen began experimenting with Apple’s artificial intelligence (AI), called Vision Framework, that’s built into the latest iOS versions, along with Google’s Tesseract, TensorFlow Lite, and ML Kit.
“Instead of using a single standard OCR engine, I combined the best aspects of each of these freely available tools, and I was pleasantly surprised by the results.”
Instead of making OCR a Voice Dream Reader feature, Chen decided to incorporate his discovery into a separate app called Voice Dream Scanner. “I considered turning it into an in-app purchase, only there are a lot of schools that use Reader and they aren’t allowed to make in-app purchases,” he says. As to why he didn’t simply make it a new Reader feature, he smiles, “I do have a family to feed.”
Chen has been careful to integrate the new Voice Dream Scanner functionality into VD Reader, however. For example, if you load a protected PDF file into the app and open it, the Documents tab now offers a recognition feature. You can now also add to your Voice Dream Reader Library not only from Dropbox, Google Drive, and other sources, including Bookshare, but using your device’s camera as well.
To take advantage of this integration you’ll need both Voice Dream Reader and Voice Dream Scanner. Both can be purchased from the iOS App Store. VD Reader is also available for Android, but currently VD Scanner is iOS only.
Of course you don’t have to have VD Reader to enjoy the benefits of the new Voice Dream Scanner.
A Voice Dream Scanner Snapshot
The app installs quickly and easily, and displays with the icon name “Scanner” on your iOS device. Aim the camera toward a page of text. The app displays a real-time video image preview which is also the “Capture Image” button. Double tap this button, the camera clicks, and the image is converted to text almost immediately. You are placed on the “Play” button, give a quick double tap and the text is spoken using either a purchased VD Reader voice or your chosen iOS voice. Note: You can instruct Scanner to speak recognized text automatically in the Settings Menu.
From the very first beta version of this app I tested, I was amazed by the speed and accuracy of the recognition. The app is amazingly forgiving as far as camera position and lighting. Envelopes read the return addresses, postmarks and addresses. Entire pages of text voiced without a single mistake. Scanner even did an excellent job with a bag of potato chips, even after it was crumpled and uncrumpled several times. Despite the fact there is no OCR engine to download, and the recognition is done locally, a network connection is not required. I used the app with equal success even with Airplane mode turned on.
After each scan you are offered the choice to swipe left once to reach the Discard button, twice to reach the Save button. Note: the VoiceOver two-finger scrub gesture also deletes the current text.
Scanner does not save your work automatically. You have the choice to save it as a text file, a PDF, or to send it directly to Voice Dream Reader. You probably wouldn’t send a single page to Reader, but the app comes with a batch mode. Use this mode to scan several pages at once and then save them together: perfect for that 10-page print report your boss dropped on your desk, or maybe the short story a creative writing classmate passed out for review.
Other Scanner features of interest to those with visual impairments are edge detection and a beta version of auto capture.
Edge detection plays a tone that grows increasingly steady until all four edges are visible, at which time it becomes a solid tone. Auto-capture does just that, but since the AI currently detects any number of squares where there is no text this feature is only available in beta. However, if you’re using a scanner stand it will move along quite nicely, nearly as fast as you can rearrange the pages.
You can also import an image to be recognized. Unfortunately, as of now, this feature is limited to pictures in your photo library. There is currently no way to send an e-mail or file image to Scanner. Look for this to change in an upcoming version.
The benefits of Voice Dream Scanner are by no means limited to the blindness community. Chen developed the app to be used as a pocket player for documents and other printed material he wishes to scan and keep. Low vision users can do the same, then use either iOS magnification or another text-magnification app to review documents. It doesn’t matter in which direction the material is scanned. Even upside-down documents are saved right-side up. Performance is improved by the “Image Enhancement” feature, which attempts to locate the edges of scanned documents and save them more or less as pages.
The Bottom Line
I never thought I’d see the day when I would move KNFB-Reader off my iPhone’s Home screen. Microsoft’s Seeing AI gave it a good run for its money and until now I kept them both on my Home screen. But I have now moved KNFB-Reader to a back screen and given that honored spot to Voice Dream Scanner.
Most of my phone scanning is done when I sort through the mail. Seeing AI’s “Short Text” feature does a decent job helping me sort out which envelopes to keep and which to toss into my hardware recycle bin. But Scanner is just as accurate as any OCR-engine based app, and so quick, the confirmation announcement of the Play button often voices after the scanned document has begun to read.
This is the initial release. Chen himself says there is still work to be done. “Column recognition is not yet what I hope it will be,” he says. “I’d also like to improve auto-capture and maybe offer users the choice to use the volume buttons to initiate a scan.
Stay tuned.
This article is made possible in part by generous funding from the James H. and Alice Teubert Charitable Trust, Huntington, West Virginia.
Comment on this article.
Related articles:
• Envision AI and Seeing AI: Two Multi-Purpose Recognition Apps by Janet Ingber
• An Evaluation of OrCam MyEye 2.0 by Jamie Pauls
More by this author:
• Letters, We Get Letters: Receiving Digital Scans of Your Mail Envelopes Using Informed Delivery
• A Look at the New Narrator, Microsoft’s Built-In Windows Screen Reader
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Transferring CNIB/CELA library books on your IOS Device into voice dream reader. 

Several people have asked me for this information. 

By Kim Kilpatrick 

Putting a book from CNIB/CELA library into voice dream reader. 

Some people have found that the direct to player app which CNIB created for I Devices, is not working well and consistently. I have had many problems with it myself. 

It often suddenly declares a service error. And sometimes will only read part of a book. 

So, I still use voice dream reader to read CNIB/CELA library books. 

It has more features in my opinion and is much more stable. 

Voicedream reader can also do many other things. 

With it, you can link it directly to your dropbox and bookshare accounts and pocket or instipaper if you use those services. 

Voice dream reader also allows you to have very high quality text to speech voices. 

It is not a free app, usually costing about 10 dollars. 

Here is its link in the app store. 

Voice Dream Reader by Voice Dream LLC

https://appsto.re/ca/kiXKD.i

There is also an app now called voice dream suite which gives you voice dream reader, voice dream writer (a word processing app) and two very high quality voices for 22 dollars. 

Several people have asked me how you get books directly into voice dream reader. 

I have tried several ways but, so far, this is the easiest one I have found. 

In your IOS app store, download the voice dream reader app listed above and also download the google chrome web browser. 

 Chrome – web browser by Google by Google, Inc.

https://appsto.re/ca/NVp8F.i

Open chrome and in the address field put in the cnib or cela library address. 

http://www.cniblibrary.ca 

or 

http://www.celalibrary.ca

Sign in to your library account. 

Search for the book you wish and make sure the format is daisy zip. 

Double tap on the get it link. 

Double tap on the download link. 

You will then see a page telling you the download size. 

Double tap on the download button and your download will start. 

Near the top of your screen just to the right of a button saying menu, it will tell you the percentage of download completed. 

When it is finished, you will find there download complete. 

It may not beep or make a noise so you need to keep checking that field. 

Now, near the bottom of your screen, you will notice install google drive. 

Just to the left of that is something that says open in. 

Double tap that and choose voice dream reader. 

Note: voice dream reader needs to be installed on your device before you try this. 

Now double tap that and it will open voice dream and put your book there. 

If anyone has other ways in which they move daisy books from cnib or cela library to voice dream, I’d love to know them. 

A few more tips about voice dream and daisy books, you can add bookmarks, you can also move around by headings or percentage. 

To turn on the sleep timer double tap and hold the play button and it will open. 

If you would like me to help you with this, call me at 1-877-304-0968 

Or email 

gttprogram@gmail.com 

GTT Toronto notes all about CNIB/Cela library October 15, 2015. 

This is a great set of notes from the GTT Toronto group.Anyone who is using CNIB library/CELA library service can get something out of these. 

 

 

October 15, 2015.

 

Jason Fayre opened the meeting. He introduced the evening’s guest speaker, Lindsay Tylor, Manager of member services for CELA, Centre for Equitable Library Access. She proposed discussing what CELA is, and how it interacts with the CNIB library, then library services in general. She did a check-in with the group: most people use the CNIB library, a handful use things like Bookshare, commercial services and the public library. The Centre for Equitable Library Access is a non-profit created in April 2014 by Canadian public libraries so that they can offer services for people with print disabilities. Its origin is in the idea that it isn’t just for some to require the use of charitable dollars to access library services. The main point is that public libraries are increasingly accessible. This means that all libraries in Ontario should be able to offer an equal level of access to people with print disabilities. This is especially impactful for people in small communities. CELA also means that anyone with a print disability can access the large collection owned by CNIB, not just people with vision loss. The functional difference with CELA for the user is merely that they will be accessing their material through the public library system. Anyone coming to the CNIB as a new client will interact directly with the public library, and existing clients will be enrolled by CNIB staff.

 

The first goal of CELA is to recognize that one size doesn’t fit all users; one format won’t work for everyone, and people have a range of technical skills. The goal is for pleasure reading and life-long learning, not really academic material. In the publishing world at large, very little is available in alternative format, and there’s a recognized goal of not duplicating material that is already accessible. There are three formats, audio, etext and Braille. For each one there are different delivery methods. Audio is by far the most popular. All of the audio through CELA is in daisy format. This means the books highly structured, and can be accessed by page, heading, and other fine organizational ways. It’s used worldwide. There are two ways of downloading daisy books. The first is daisy zip, which is a bunch of mp3 files with some data files that dictate the organization of the audio. These come in a zipped folder that can be downloaded, then transferred to a portable device. The process of unzipping a file is built into windows. Internet access is required. For those who don’t have internet, daisy books are made available on CD. Most users currently use CDs. You can play the files on the computer itself if you prefer. The second method, the newest, and most convenient, is the direct to player method. There are specialized players Victor Reader Stream and Plextalk are the two main portable daisy players. They come internet enabled, and you can configure them to your internet connection. The player will download books directly from the library site to your player without having to use CDs or zip files. It’s easy.

 

When you get a player, you need to sign up through the public library to access the service, or you call the CNIB or CELA help line and they will walk you through configuring your player with your library account. A technician can send you an SD card which will configure the device for you, or they can walk you through it over the phone. A long standing CNIB library user can call 1-800-268-8818. A CELA user can call 1-855-655-2273. Your local library should have this CELA number. The website is http://www.celalibrary.ca. Players sold in the last 2 years will connect to the internet; an older player may not.

 

Since the spring, aps for Apple and Android devices will do the same thing as downloading with a dedicated daisy player. This can be a cheaper option. Lindsay did a demonstration of the Apple ap. You can peruse the website yourself, or instruct the service to choose books from particular genres and download them. The ap is called Direct to Player, and is available in the Apple App store for Apple devices, and in the Google Play Store for Android. It’s easy to delete books if you’re sent books from your chosen genre that you decide you don’t want. There’s a generous lone period, but eventually the books may disappear from your device because of licensing agreements. You can simultaneously choose particular books, and receive books from your chosen genre. Lindsay demonstrated playing a title off of her phone. There are features for bookmarks, sleep timer etc.. The ap features work very much like those on a dedicated player. Lindsay was asked whether there’s a plan to put a search feature directly into the ap. Lindsay replied that this is one of the most common requests, and that she thinks it’s coming. The ap is free. You have the option to stream or download. At this stage the ap is strictly for audio, not Braille for a Braille display. The first time you open the ap you must enter your library number. The ap is used by both the CELA and CNIB systems.

 

Newspapers are one of the most popular services offered. It’s available online, and it’s simple. Sign into CNIB or CELA, go to the link called News Stand, and over 50 national and international newspapers are listed. Enter on the link, and plain text articles are offered. It’s electronic text. Newspaper specific sites can be difficult to navigate, but this service is much easier, and updated daily.

 

Bookshare is an American service, the world’s largest online library of its kind. 260,000 titles. They work closely with publishers, and have titles that aren’t always easy to find. They’re made available at the same time as the print editions. The books are all etext or synthetic speech, or electronic Braille. Not all titles are available to Canadians because of licensing agreements. Joining on your own is $75 the first year and $50 each subsequent year, but CNIB and CELA members have free access. At http://www.bookshare.org, you must go through a membership process. Scanning your CNIB id card and sending it will qualify as proof of disability. If you don’t have a card you need a signature by a professional. They have their own built in web reader, and Apple ap called read to go which you pay for. There’s an Android ap that’s free. The ap has options around font size for low vision readers. Voice Dream Reader was proposed as a better and cheaper ap option. The voices offered through Voice Dream are outstanding. Voice Dream also works with CNIB and CELA titles. Voice Dream is $13.20. Direct to Player and Read to go are similar. All titles appear on your bookshelf. In Read to Go, you can search Bookshare from within the ap. Lindsay demonstrated the Read to Go ap with its own synthetic voices. It allows you to control the speed of the voice or the size of the font.

 

The topic of DVS movies was raised. Some DVDs are produced with DVS, but many aren’t. CELA does buy DVDs they can find that have it. The CELA DVD collection is popular and well used.

 

It was proposed that links to books in the Digital Times e-newsletter should be made into direct download links. Lindsay agreed this would be very useful, but might be technically difficult to arrange.

It was also suggested that Braille downloads should be in zip files, not downloadable one volume at a time. Lindsay said she would bring this suggestion to others in her department.

In answer to a question on the topic, Lindsay explained that the library’s content comes from local production, international agreements with libraries around the world, and a growing relationship with commercial audio book producers, Particularly Recorded Books. She explained that patrons can request a book either through an online form on the CNIB library website, or by contacting the help line. She said that some priority is given to blind authors who’ve written on the topic of vision loss, but that there isn’t currently a focus on producing works by blind authors in other genres.

 

In closing, Ian White encouraged anyone who isn’t already on the mailing list, to email gtt.toronto@gmail.com in order to begin receiving communications from the GTT list. There are movements towards creating a Facebook page, and a voicemail line to disseminate information. He announced that the next meeting will be on November 19th, and that Brian Moore will be presenting on the topic of GPS solutions.