INSIGHT

A MONTHLY NEWSLETTER OF THE SPECIAL NEEDS LIBRARY OF NORTHEAST GEORGIA

The Special Needs Library of Northeast Georgia is a part of your public library and the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, serving Banks, Barrow, Clarke, Elbert, Franklin, Greene, Gwinnett, Habersham, Hancock, Hart, Jackson, Jasper, Madison, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Putnam, Rabun, Stephens, Walton and White counties. We do not endorse any product or service mentioned in this newsletter.

800-531-2063, 706-613-3655

Email:mailto:specialneedslibrary@athenslibrary.org

Staff: Stacey Chandler, Lavern Gordon, Claudia Markov, Pete Hayek

JUNE 2004

Celebration!!

You are invited to join the celebration of the 10th Anniversary of Helen Keller Deaf-Blind Awareness at Simpsonwood Center in Norcross, Georgia, on Saturday, June 26, 2004, from 4:00 pm to 11:00 pm. The cost will be $22 for each adult/teen, $11 for children under 12 years old and free to children age 3 or younger. The cost includes the program book, food, celebration and awards. The speaker, Jamie McNamara, Executive Director of the American Association of the Deaf-Blind in Silver Spring, MD, will speak about self-determination, empowerment and self-advocacy. This celebration is open to anyone who supports deaf and blind individuals, professionals, family members of deaf/blind children or adults, visitors, and friends. For directions, room reservations, and/or registration, contact Mark Gasaway at 770-471-5178 (or TTY: 770-270-1537). No registration at the door.

Summer Reading Program

Our summer reading club for children ages preschool - seniors in high school will begin on June 1st. All of our younger readers should watch for a special summer reading club packet to arrive in the mail with details. We will monitor your reading through the months of June, July & August and will award a free T-shirt for reading 12 books or more throughout the summer. Call with summer reading requirements for school assignments and don't forget to read some fun books for leisure reading too.

National Braille Press

National Braille Press has a new online presence, where you can: order books online, subscribe to Children’s Braille Book Club, sign up for Readbooks, browse their textbook catalog, visit their National Braille Test Center, tour their Plant and get a price estimate, read about their history and staff, and support their mission. Just go to http://www.nbp.org/. Visitors can raffle to win a beautiful silver Braille alphabet bracelet.

**The following paragraph was submitted by one of our patrons who strongly recommends book clubs. Here is what she writes:

Hooked on Books: By Judy Presley

I was eleven years old when someone gave me the book, “To Kill a Mockingbird”. >From that day forward I was hooked on books. Reading was one of my favorite pastimes. When I could no longer read the written word I signed up with the talking book program; that was hundreds of books ago. Last year I thought it might be fun to join a book club and share my love of books with other people. My first concern was that I wouldn’t be able to get the books that the club was reading. That turned out not to be a problem. My Athens Special Needs Library has searched near and far to accommodate me. My next concern was the age old problem of how to get there. I got the name of a member who lived near me and asked for a ride. She was happy to give me a ride. Now, someone in the club always calls before every meeting to make sure I have a way to get there. It has been so much fun this past year discussing the authors, plots, and characters of the different books. I’ve made a lot of new friends, and it has led to other social outlets. I would urge anyone who is hooked on books like I am to seek out a book club and join. You’ll find there are clubs in almost every community.

Advocacy Class at VISTAS Center

The June Advocacy class at VISTAS will feature Dr. Jon Forche, an Optometrist at the Five Points Eye Center. Dr. Forche specializes in low vision evaluations and rehabilitation optometry. The presentation will include an explanation of various eye conditions, an update of available treatments and state of the art vision equipment. The class is scheduled for June 17, 2004, at 10:00-11:00 a.m., at the VISTAS Center, 337 South Milledge Avenue, Suite 122. There is no charge for the class. For more information, call (706) 583-8001.

Patron Recommendation

One of our patrons has recommended the following book for job seekers of all ages. It is RC 47596, Career Smarts: Jobs with a Future by Martin Yate. It has a lot of information, tips, and quizzes to find the right type of employment you are suited for. Call to request this book today!

Interesting Website:

www.fema.gov/rrr/assistf.shtm This is a website about assisting people with disabilities in a disaster.

Growing Up in Small Town America

Life in small town and rural America is depicted in these books selected by Reader Advisor Ginny Ryan. Most are biographical memoirs. Some are fictionalized accounts of the life and culture of small towns.

Bobby WorldWide Approved