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2018 ACB Indiana-Ohio Convention

Register for the 2018 ACBI-ACBO Joint State Convention: November 2-4

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American Council of the Blind of Indiana

5 days ago

American Council of the Blind of Indiana

INDIANAPOLIS (Sept. 19) – Two years ago, staff at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites set out to do something few museums had done before: find a way to make a museum accessible and welcoming to people who are visually impaired or blind. But, when a visit to most museums includes seeing objects, reading information and navigating indoors and out, how can that be done? The answer was found in technology. Specifically, an app. On Sept. 19, the Indiana State Museum unveiled the Indiana State Museum Guide, a new app specially tailored to people who are blind or visually impaired. “As we started working on renovations to our permanent galleries, we realized that we wanted to think beyond the standard accessibility guidelines and give people who are blind or visually impaired a way to navigate the museum independently,” said Leslie Lorance, new media manager at the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. As visitors walk through areas of the museum, an audio tour guides them to different artifacts or interactives, providing descriptive information about each stop on the tour. Specific audio instructions, tactile maps and floor guides create guideposts which make it easier for visitors to navigate the museum.Greg Meyer, a member of the Indiana ADA Steering Committee, is visually impaired himself, and he participated in a focus group to help develop the app. He said the app is good not only for the visually impaired, but also for the greater Indianapolis community – particularly older folks or children who may not be able to read yet.“The app is great for anybody who wants to listen instead of having to try and read things,” he said. “I see this app as being a valuable tool for all of us, however we want to use it.” Right now, the app features tours of the museum’s two newest galleries – Frozen Reign and First Nations – as well as three of the museum’s cultural galleries. More tours will be added to the app as the permanent experiences undergo renovations over the next several years. Creation of the app not only underscores the museum system’s commitment to inclusion, but also specifically to creating one-of-a-kind experiences that can be enjoyed by diverse audiences. “We are always looking to provide the best possible experience for all of our visitors,” said Cathy Ferree, president and CEO of the Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites. “The museum saw a need for this in our community, and we are thrilled to be at the forefront in this area.”The app is available for download through the app store for iPhones and Androids. The museum also has iPods available that are pre-loaded with the app for free rental during a visit.# # #The Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites is located in White River State Park in the heart of downtown Indianapolis. It is Indiana’s museum for science, art and culture, offering a place where you can celebrate, investigate, remember, learn and take pride in Indiana’s story in the context of the broader world. Even the building is a showcase of the best Indiana has to offer in architecture, materials and sculpture. Easy and convenient parking is available in the attached underground garage. … See MoreSee Less

3 weeks ago

(Title) American Council of the Blind of Indiana and Ohio Convention Aims to Broaden Participants Experience and KnowledgeThe activities, speakers and even the venue have been selected to maximize the potential for having fun while learning how to “Race to Success.”From Friday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 4 at the Waterfront Hotel and Conference Center, the convention will include several opportunities to have new experiences, including a “Kiss the Bricks” tour of the nearby Indianapolis Motor Speedway and Museum. Attendees may also choose to participate in an instructor-led adaptive sports and water aerobics session in the hotel indoor pool and work up their appetite for a pizza social mixer to socialize with new and old friends. They can also drop by the Exhibit Hall to speak with businesses and organizations offering services, information, and demonstrations.The keynote speaker will be Peter Berg, who serves as the Technical Coordinator for the Great Lakes ADA Center in Chicago. Topics for workshops include becoming conflict confident, vision research and clinical trials, Windows 10 for the visually impaired, tips for being prepared for emergencies, and techniques for personal safety, including a hands-on demonstration. The dinner banquet speaker is Trisha Zorn Hudson, who has excelled as a Paralympics gold and all-time medalist in swimming with over 50 medals despite being visually impaired. Attendees will also have a chance to interact with Trisha on Sunday morning at a breakfast “Table Talk.”There will be time to relax in the domed atrium and partake in an "Open Mic Night at the Waterfront" to share songs, live music and stories, listen to a live audio description of a comedy show, and bid on a wide variety of specially selected items. Proceeds will benefit the local and Indiana and Ohio state chapters of the American Council of the Blind.To receive the discounted room rate, reservations must be made by Oct. 5. Attendees are asked to register by mail or online at acb-indiana.org by Oct. 15. The full program and list of exhibitors are available online or by email or mail upon request.The Indiana and Ohio state chapters of the American Council of the Blind are non-profit service organizations that serve to improve the lives of blind and visually impaired residents of their respective states. The organizations have joined together to create a larger annual convention, taking turns hosting the event. For further information or inquiries, call (317) 759-1672, email barbara.salisbury@att.net or visit http://www.acb-indiana.org. … See MoreSee Less

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American Council of the Blind of Indiana: Seeing the Future

acb-indiana.org

Hi all, Barbara Salisbury, Cindy Brooking and I had a meeting at the Waterfront Hotel where our joint convention will be held in November. You would be amazed at the wonderful changes that are being m…

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Participate in research study on use of camera-based assistive technologies by visually impaired

Indiana University Bloomington researchers are conducting a study to understand the use of camera-based assistive technologies by people with visual impairments. Participate in this study by taking part in a 15-20 minute online survey or a 30-60 minute interview over the phone or …

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