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FEATURE 2005 Gift Guide Compiled by Karen Lynn Thomas My thanks to Carol McCarl and DIALOGUE columnists Dana Nichols, Kelsey Reams, Diana Braun and Nolan Crabb for their product recommendations and assistance in compiling this shopping guide, which is packed with lots of got-to-have-it, can't-live-without-it, practical gifts for everyone on your list who has a vision impairment. They're so good you'll probably want to buy a gift or two for yourself. Prices are approximate. See shopping details for ordering information. Ott-Lite VisionSaver Lamps, $60 and Up Environmental Lighting Concepts, Inc. When you have low vision, glare-free lighting is critical. Ott-Lite lamps reduce eyestrain and come in floor, desk and magnifying models. Ott-Lite lamps are available from LS&S Group, Independent Living Aids, Office Depot and other retailers. Talking Pedometer, $14.95 Independent Living Aids The goal is 10,000 steps a day. Learn if you go the distance at the touch of a button with this talking pedometer, which includes a talking clock and alarm. Modified Sony 4-Track Cassette Player-Recorder, $89.95 LS&S Group, Inc. Still a must-have, this compact, 4-track recorder/player is perfect for recording meetings or class lectures and playing audio books from NLS and RFB&D. AC adapter included. Requires four AA batteries not included. Micro-44 Voice-Activated Microcassette Recorder, $49.99 Radio Shack Diana Braun says this tiny recorder can be slipped into a purse, backpack or briefcase for recording quick notes, directions or last-minute instructions. Web Eyes, $24.95 ION Systems, Inc. Is the small print on Web pages difficult to see? Web Eyes may be the solution. The program becomes part of the Internet Explorer toolbar, allowing you to enlarge and reformat the text for easier reading. Voice Announce Caller ID with Call Waiting ID, $62.95 LS&S Group, Inc. Kelsey Reams loves this talking caller ID, similar to the unit she obtained from her telephone company. "The box allows me to customize the announcement for 50 different phone numbers. So, for example, when my parents call, my daughter's voice says, 'It's Granny and Papa!'" Talking Desk Top Calculator, $18.95 Independent Living Aids This talking calculator adds, subtracts, multiplies, divides, calculates percentages and has a large display and volume control. It requires two AA batteries.
Magna Wonder Knife, $39.95 Independent Living Aids Carol McCarl's favorite kitchen gadget, this knife allows for uniform slicing of cheeses, breads, etc. The Magna Wonder Knife is available in both right- and left-handed models. Hamilton Beach Brew Station 12-cup Coffeemaker, $49.99 Target Never burn your fingers again on a carafe with this one-hand dispenser coffeemaker that makes great coffee. Add an electric coffee grinder and a pound of Costa Rican coffee beans, and you are all ready to warm up cold winter days. ShinGard-The Dishwasher Open Door Alert, $29.95 Independent Living Aids Dana Nichols says this is a shin-saver. "It beeps when the dishwasher door is open!" Device requires three AAA batteries. Braillable Labels, $10 Independent Living Aids These labels with attached elastic bands are great for labeling canned goods, freezer packages and other items. Color Clothes Braille Markers/Tags, $29.95 Independent Living Aids Using brass safety pins, these machine washable print/braille tags can be easily attached to clothes labels to identify color and pattern. Match Makers Tactual Color Identifiers ($39.95), are another option, especially for people not familiar with braille. Standard Perkins Brailler, $640 Perkins Online Store No matter how high-tech the world becomes, nothing can replace the Perkins Brailler. Consider purchasing the Dymo Tape Holder, $26, an accessory for the Perkins Brailler that allows you to produce labels in contracted braille. Use clear, half-inch Dymo Tape, $4.50, to label everything from file folders to medication bottles. Large Print Month-At-A-Glance Calendar, $5 The Lighthouse of Houston Start the year off right with this 11x17-inch calendar in 36 point. #2 E-Z Read Slate, $22.25 Perkins Online Store The ultra portable, take anywhere, slate and stylus combo is a favorite of both Carol McCarl and Dana Nichols. This postcard slate has special pins so the braille can be read without removing the paper from the slate. Fits easily into a purse or briefcase. Braille Desk Calendar, $35 Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted Center for the Visually ImpairedKeep track of your dates and appointments with this 5-1/2 x 8-1/2-inch braille desk calendar, which has two days per page and dividers for each month. Annual refills are $29.50. Slim Line Folding Cane with Super Mileage Roller Tip, $35 California Canes This is a folding cane that is lightweight and has a roller tip for smooth motion. California Canes are available in both high reflective and glow-in-the-dark models. String Signature Guide, $3.95 Independent Living Aids Ensure that your signature lands in the right spot with this handy signature guide, which features a string that allows you to keep your signature straight and easily form letters that go below the line. BrailleNote, $4,995 HumanWare Group Carol McCarl likes this small personal digital assistant with speech and braille output that doubles as a refreshable braille display when connected to a PC. Children's Braille Book Club, $100 National Braille Press Join NBP's children's book club and receive a new print-braille book every month for 13 months and a print-braille Winnie-the-Pooh calendar. You may also sign up to receive monthly notices and only purchase the books you want. Low Vision Essentials Kit, $9.95 Independent Living Aids This useful kit contains plastic writing guides for letters, envelopes, checks and your signature as well as a 20/20 pen, bold line paper, assorted bump-ons for marking items and a pocket Amsler Grid card. A New Computer, Prices vary depending on features Check sites like www.bestbuy.com, www.jr.com and www.dell.com for the best deals on top brands. Whether you purchase a new desktop or notebook, consider upgrading to a USB-powered wireless keyboard and headset. See Nolan Crabb's article "Top Tech Tools" in the May-June 2005 issue of DIALOGUE at www.blindskills.com for information and resources about purchasing assistive technologies. AI Squared, Freedom Scientific and GW Micro, three of the most well-known manufacturers of screen magnifiers and screen readers, are listed in shopping details. Do you need a screen magnification program for your new PC, or can you use the built-in accessibility features from Microsoft? Kelsey Reams offers the following tips for computer users with low vision. "If Santa brings you a new computer this year, be sure to check out the accessibility features built into the Windows operating system. We have Windows XP, and my husband was able to make the computer very "Kelsey friendly" by invoking several of these features. For example, he made the screen colors high contrast, the icons large and the mouse pointer big and black. Best of all, he opened a magnifier that can be set anywhere from 2X-9X. I can pull the magnifier up and down like a window shade, so it occupies as much or as little space as I like on the screen." For more information about how to take advantage of special features, visit www.microsoft.com/enable/. Click on "Guides by Impairment" and choose "Visual Difficulties and Impairments." NEW YORK TIMES LARGE TYPE WEEKLY, $78 The New York Times Store Enjoy reading articles featured in the TIMES, including the crossword puzzle, in an easy-to-read 16-point type. A subscription is $78/year or $39/6 months. A free sample issue is available upon request. READER'S DIGEST LARGE PRINT FOR EASIER READING, $27.96 Reader's Digest Online Store One of the most loved periodicals of all time, READER'S DIGEST is read the world over. Subscribe on cassette from the American Printing House for the Blind. Seiko Talking Desk Clock, $24 Independent Living Aids With Seiko quality, this clock has three alarm sounds, a snooze button, an hourly chime function and volume control. "I bought my Seiko 27 years ago and it's still working," Carol McCarl says. Clock requires two AA batteries. Men's and Ladies' Braille Watches, $45 and Up Independent Living Aids Ensure that you are always on time with an attractive new braille watch available in several styles. Talking watches are also available. OpenBook Scanning and Reading Software, $995 Freedom Scientific A favorite of Carol McCarl, with a compatible scanner, OpenBook software turns your PC into a reading machine. "I can read three-quarters of my mail independently with OpenBook," Carol says. Teeny Tiny Talking Alarm Clock and Radio, $14.95 Independent Living Aids Perfect for people on the go, this talking clock radio has a large display and speaks its setting functions. Radio requires three AA batteries. Book Port, $395 American Printing House for the Blind This portable, go anywhere, gadget plays digital audio files and reads electronic texts you download from your computer. Shopping Details AI Squared 800-859-0270 or www.aisquared.com American Printing House for the Blind 800-223-1839 or www.aph.org California Canes 866-332-4883 or www.californiacanes.com Elizabeth Pierce Olmsted Center for the Visually Impaired716-882-1025, ext. 240 or 1170 Main Street, Buffalo, NY 14209-0398 Environmental Lighting Concepts, Inc. 800-842-8848, Ext. 400 or http://www.ottlite.com/Cms/newhome.aspx Freedom Scientific 800-444-4443 or www.freedomscientific.com GW Micro 260-489-3671 or www.gwmicro.com HumanWare Group 800-722-3393 or http://www.humanware.com/en-new_zealand/home Independent Living Aids 800-537-2118 or www.independentliving.com ION Systems, Inc. 800-983-6397 or www.webeyes.us The Lighthouse of Houston 713-284-8466 or www.houstonlighthouse.org LS&S Group, Inc. 800-468-4789 or www.lssproducts.com National Braille Press 888-965-8965 or www.nbp.org The New York Times Store 800-631-2580 or www.nytimes.com/nytstore/publications/ Office Depot 800-463-3768 or www.officedepot.com Perkins Online Store 877-473-7546 or https://support.perkins.org/ Radio Shack 800-843-7422 or www.radioshack.com Reader's Digest Online Store 800-756-7372 or www.rd.com Target 800-591-3869 or www.target.com Do you have a favorite product or service not on the list? Send your suggestions to us at dialogue4u@blindskills.com. We'll include recommendations in future issues. |