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: specialneedslibrary@athenslibrary.org

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

MARCH 2004

Narrator Web Site

In response to patron requests, NLS has created a web site www.loc.gov/nls/narrators/ where the public can learn more about program narrators. Each narrator may decide whether to provide information. So far, narrators working at the American Printing House for the Blind studio and at the NLS studio have provided information, including an audio sample of material that is not copyrighted. As narrators at other studios make information available, NLS will include links to those studios’ web sites.

Great Decisions 2004

Volunteers at the Arizona Regional Library have recorded Great Decisions 2004 for us to send to our patrons. If you are interested in receiving Great Decision 2004, call us here at the Special Needs Library. The Great Decisions Discussion Program is designed to encourage debate and discussion of the important global issues of our time. The program provides materials that help people reach informed opinions on the issues and participate in the foreign policy process. You can find more information about Great Decisions on the Foreign Policy Association website at www.fpa.org.

Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc.

Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc. is a non-profit organization located in Palmetto, Florida, that trains and gives guide dogs to visually impaired and blind persons. One of our patrons recently returned from Southeastern Guide Dogs with her first guide dog! The patron’s name is Lana C. Carder. She has given us permission to list her telephone number if any of you would like to call her and ask about her experience with Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc. She also wanted us to mention that Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc. will be having a Walkathon to help raise money so that they can continue to give blind men and women the opportunity of getting a free guide dog from them. The Walkathon is scheduled for March 13, 2004, in Palmetto, Florida. Ms. Carder will be participating in the Walkathon. She has raffle tickets to sell for the Walkathon. One of the prizes is a 7-day cruise! You don’t have to be present to win if your raffle ticket is drawn. If you are interested in getting a guide dog, participating in the Walkathon, or buying raffle tickets from Ms. Carder, please give her a call at (770) 945-5603. You can also check out Southeastern Guide Dogs, Inc.’s website at www.guidedogs.org.

Learning Disability Information

The Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation have a website for parents of children with learning differences. You can register online to receive their weekly newsletter and other free resources. For more information, go to their website at www.schwablearning.org or contact Schwab Learning, 1650 South Amphlett Boulevard, San Mateo, CA 94402, or call 1-800-230-0988.

Neat Website

Check out the following website for information about affordable assistive technology:www.readingmadeeasy.com

Blind Coalition Meetings

If you wish to receive announcements, minutes and other information regarding Blind Coalition meetings via email, call Kay McGill at (404) 638-0376 or email kamcgill@dol.state.ga.us.

Department of Transportation

The U.S. Department of Transportation has a toll-free hotline for air travelers with disabilities, which is available seven days a week, from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. Eastern Time. The Hotline serves to provide air travelers with disabilities with education as to their rights under the Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA), and with on-the-spot assistance in resolving disability-related air travel problems. Hotline operators are well versed in the ACAA and Part 382 and can also respond to requests for printed consumer information about air travel rights. They provide a variety of services to callers including contacting air carriers and convincing them to accept service animals and electric wheelchairs on board flights, to stow folding wheelchairs in the cabin, and to provide requested assistance. Call the hotline at 800-778-4838 (voice) or 800-455-9880 (TTY).

Tell Me

Tell Me is a free voice activated service which can be accessed via touch-tone phone and enables callers to check the time, get news, weather, traffic and entertainment updates, set up and follow stock portfolios and access a host of other information. Call 800-555-8355.

Scottish and Irish Romances

Cheryl Hassler has compiled a list of romances that feature Irish or Scottish characters or settings just in time for St. Patrick’s Day. Enjoy!!

Bobby WorldWide Approved