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Giving presentations can be a challenge when you can not read print. Many blind people use braille notes or memorize what they want to say. If you don't use braille, or find memorizing too challenging, this demonstration from Bruce Gardener will show you how to use a Victor Reader Stream as an audio teleprompter.

The Professional Development and Research Institute at Louisiana Tech University has started a blog that they hope will be a useful resource for anyone who works with blind children and adults. These are some of the topics that the blog will cover.

• The latest research on blindness to help you to better answer questions
  from educators and the general public, which will improve the opportunities
  available for blind students and professionals;

• Methods for teaching braille and cane travel that will increase the
  effectiveness of instruction, allowing blind people to lead active, truly
  independent lives;

• Philosophy-rich speeches and articles leading the public to see blind
  people as equal participants in their training, education and employment;

• Perspectives from current students and alumni about why they find it
  rewarding to teach blind students and adults, encouraging others to join the
  growing profession; and

• Interviews with experienced professionals, which will create nationwide
  networking opportunities for teachers of the blind that will foster
  collaboration on the latest, research-based instructional methods.

On the website, there are ways to subscribe either via RSS or email.

If you're looking for an in depth look at Windows 8 and you use JAWs or WindowEyes, ATI is offering two online courses that provide an overview of the operating system and how to use your screen reader with the new features of Windows 8. The courses include 4 pre-recorded lectures as well as a copy of the textbook. There are also periodic tests that students can opt to take. Each course can be purchased for $225.

There is a new site that hopes to be the place where anyone can come to get all the resources they need to learn about blindness and ways to adapt. Blind Wiki has a large list of resources so far, and they are continuing to add more. They also ask that users should submit resources that they don't already have listed.

If you're looking for career tips, job seeking pointers, employment advice and career connect updates, then the new Career Connect blog is for you. The first post features Lesson Plans for Professionals and is the first in an upcoming series.

If you have wanted to become a beta tester for IOS, but feel like you don't know enough, join Jonathan Mosen on Saturday July 6 to learn all that you need to know.

According to the webinar description, some of the topics that will be covered include:

Becoming legally entitled to run iOS betas
Downloading the latest build
Taking precautions before you take the plunge
Reporting bugs, being a beta tester who adds value
Your obligations under Apple’s Nondisclosure agreement (NDA)

The webinar will take place at 3 PM EST or 1900 UTC

If you can't attend the live webinar, you will be eligible for a copy of the archive. Purchase your spot today for $19.95.

AI Squared is offering a number of free webinars this summer. The first one is on Tuesday June 25. It will cover the ZoomText for Mac Reading Tool. Other webinars this summer include: an introduction to ZoomText for Windows 8, ZoomText Image Reader advanced tips, and an overview of ZoomText University. If you can not attend the webinar when it's happening, then you can access the recorded version at your own convenience. If you plan to attend any of these, you will need to sign up in advance to access the live events.

Camp can mean a lot of things for people. For some, it's the place where you met your best friend, and for others it's the place where you learned new skills. There are a number of summer camps around the country that cater to the blind and visually impaired. Some camps are only for children and others even serve adults. The Brailleworks blog provides a great list of options to choose from. Maybe this is the summer that you'll choose to go to camp.

Technology demonstrations can be a great asset when they are done properly. This past weekend Jonathan Mosen put on his first webinar to teach people how to do demos like a professional. If you didn't catch the webinar live, you can still purchase the recording. Some of the topics covered include: tools for the mac an PC, microphone considerations, what to communicate, and how to get the best exposure for your demo. It's available as a download for $19.95.

There are a number of resources available that offer tips on how to get a job, but most of them are not from the perspective of the visually impaired. Action For Blind People, a UK non-profit has put together a set of videos that provide tips and tricks to getting a job when you have a visual impairment. Some of the topics include: deciding when and how to disclose your disability, the do's and don'ts of applying for a job, and where to look for work. The library of videos is continuing to grow so return to the site periodically for updates. Happy job hunting.

Apple has recently launched a telephone number for accessibility related questions and technical support. The toll-free number is (877) 204-3930.
Representatives are available to assist with iOS inquiries Monday-Friday 6 am to 11 pm, and Saturday and Sunday 6 am to 10 PM central time. For all other products, specialists are available 8 am to 10 PM central time, 7 days a week. This number can also be used to file accessibility bug reports, according to the representative we spoke with.

Talks, one of the leading mobile phone screenreaders will soon be releasing version 5.0 with support for a host of new devices.
In a recent podcast found on BlindMind.net we heard a 40 minute interview discussing some of the new features being offered in the upcoming release. Check out the interview for yourself by navigating to the blog and please let us know what you think by leaving a comment.

Are the olympus line of digital audio recorders really accessible? In a recent podcast, done by some wonderful folks in Australia, we find out about the accessibility features built in to the Olympus DM420 and DM520 respectively. These small and sleek digital recorders feature enhanced voice guidance and superior recording quality along with extended battery capabilities and increased built in memory capacity. Please navigate to the link above and have a listen to the demonstration featuring accessibility and let us know what you think.

The Assistive Technology Industry Association offers this list of exhibitors scheduled to appear at their new Chicago conference later this week. Over 100 companies will be represented including most assistive technology companies for the blind, though curiously Serotek is not on the list. It will be interesting to see how this new conference is received and whether it will adversely affect attendance for the Orlando conference next January.

Serotek has been busy this year rolling out a wide array of podcasts covering a wide array of accessibility news and technologies, both from Serotek and other companies. Of note, the Serotalk Tech Chats are now hosted on their Accessible Event service, allowing for user interaction and questions via text. Their latest weekly podcast, for example, includes a discussion of the accessibility of upcoming versions of the Pro Tools audio editing software for the Mac, among many other stories.

Handy Tech North America now offers Handy CMS, the new online Contact Management System developed with an emphasis on accessibility. Please navigate to the above link to read more and obtain a trial!

This is a great new website dealing with Bioptic Driving.Bioptic driving is a method which allows persons with soe usable vision to become licensed drivers. Candidates often have good peripheral vision but lack the ability to sometimes see street signs and other objects, according to the Bioptic Driving website. While much debate exists on the safety of this or other driving systems for those with some useful vision, this site may serve as a useful jumping off point. It is sponsored by the Low Vision Centers of Indiana,.

Code Factory has added another mailing list to their portfolio, this time for the Mobile Geo GPS software. This software was recently released for Windows Mobile smartphones and Pocket PC phones and offers accessible turn-by-turn directions and points of interest information. Follow the link on this post to go to the subscription page.

The new issue of Accessworld has been posted to the AFB website. The July 2008 edition has a heavy emphasis on access to mainstream technology, including looks at MP3 players and in-flight entertainment systems. You'll also find the latest news and technology insights. AccessWorld is published bimonthly and is available free on the web.

This is the title of a new blog focusing on accessibility news and updates. Initial topics covered include accessible GPS software, notetakers and PDAs, and screen reader news. It seems to be well-updated so far, and we'll add it to our blogs to watch.