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

NOVMEBER 2004

The Special Needs Library will be closed Thursday, November 25, for Thanksgiving and will also be closed Friday, December 24, for Christmas.

Georgia Statewide Coalition on Blindness

The Georgia Statewide Coalition on Blindness will be meeting on Saturday, November 13, 2004, at the Days Inn Hotel in Rome, Georgia. Registration begins at 8:00 a.m. and the meeting will adjourn around 4:30 p.m. The purpose of the coalition is “to come together to establish positions on all issues concerning blind people in order that we might be able to present a united front to get the best possible service for all blind people in the state of Georgia.” There will be a networking dinner that Friday night (November 12, at 6:30 p.m.). For more information, contact Marsha Farrow at 1-877-667-6815 or Peggy Chavis at (706) 549-1020.

(Used) Electric Scooter for sale

Mary Baker has a Rally Electric Scooter she’s trying to sell for $1000 (original price was $2300). It’s never been outside her home. If you are interested or would like more information, you can contact Mary at (706) 549-2243.

November Advocacy Class at Vistas

Ms. Carolyn McGonagill will be the guest speaker for the November Advocacy Class to be held at the VISTAS Center at 337 S. Milledge Ave., Suite 200, here in Athens. Ms. McGonagill has been the director at Tech-Able for eight years. She began her career as a volunteer at Tech-Able after retiring from Georgia Power. Tech-Able works with individuals with disabilities and their families and support professionals to provide information and access to assistive technology devices through their lending library, demonstrations, training classes and referral system. The meeting will be held Thursday, November 18, at 10:00 a.m. If you have any questions, call Stacey at the Special Needs Library at (706) 613-3655 or 800-531-2063.

Free Training: Braille Literacy Project

A Touch of Braille and VISTAS are sponsoring a free Braille literacy training. The program includes Grade I and II Braille. This scholarship program is based on the following eligibility guidelines:
  1. Individual cannot be a vocational rehabilitation recipient
  2. Individual cannot be a potential vocational rehabilitation recipient
  3. Individual must be eager and self-motivated to learn and use Braille
  4. Individual cannot have previous Braille training (exceptions will be reviewed)
Classes are scheduled to begin in January 2005. Deadline for registration is December 10, 2004. For more information, contact A Touch of Braille at (770) 981-7150 or email atouchofbraille@aol.com

Goal Ball

Michael Barnes is looking for visually impaired and blind individuals who are interested in playing Goal Ball. Goal Ball is played on a gymnasium floor and consists of a heavy ball with bells in it that you roll across the floor. Practice will be every Monday at the East Athens Community Center, starting December 6, at 1:00 p.m. For more information about goal ball or to register, contact Michael Barnes at (706) 353-7463 or email him at SCC02@charter.net.

NLS public web site

NLS is revising the home page of its public web site at www.loc.gov/nls/index.html. The revised page will include, in a prominent location, links to direct services provided by NLS. Web site visitors will be able to access more information about Braille transcribing and proofreading courses available, instructional music materials, and library service for eligible U.S. citizens living abroad. You can find the revised page at: www.loc.gov/nls

New website

There is a new One Stop Resource Site all about Disability Services across the lifespan for families. Check it out! www.parenttoparentofga.org

Between the Goalposts

Grab your stadium blanket and coffee mug and join Reader Advisor Ginny Ryan in the bleachers for some football fun and facts.

Bobby WorldWide Approved