Braille Institute

Get excited! April is Library Month at Braille Institute! Celebrate all things literacy, reading and library with us throughout the month and enjoy our online Welcome to Your Library Program on April 7th and free online workshops throughout the month. Visit our web page for Library Month for more information and to register for events. #LibraryMonth #Library #Reading ... https://brailleinstitute.org/library-workshops

Exciting news! Celebrate Library Month at Braille Institute and National Library Week with our Welcome to Your Library Program on Wednesday, April 7, 2-3pm. The program will broadcast live on our YouTube Channel, so you can enjoy it from the comfort of your own home. Fun-filled program includes: Readings by two popular audiobook narrators; A special musical presentation celebrating Jazz Appreciation Month; ... A poetry reading celebrating National Poetry Month; A special guest speaker from the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), who will share exciting news and updates about the service; and more! The program is open to all, so spread the word! It will also be available on YouTube after the initial airing. #LibraryMonth #WelcomeToYourLibrary https://brailleinstitute.org/event/welcome-to-your-library

Sharing some more interesting news in accessibility courtesy of Digital Trends. Action Audio is creating a new way for audiences with visual impairments to follow sports in real-time. Would you be interested in following live sports this way? #accessibility #Sports #technology... https://www.digitaltrends.com//action-audio-soundscapes-f/

Starbucks recently announced they are offering a new service to make their menus accessible to those who are visually impaired by working with Aira. Has anyone tried out Starbucks' new accessible menus yet? #Starbucks #Accessibility https://www.today.com//starbucks-offers-new-service-make-m

Thanks to the The Eastsider LA for checking in with our Los Angeles Center as we reach the year mark of the pandemic. Read their story to find out how we've been helping our students throughout the pandemic. #NoBoundariesInSight https://www.theeastsiderla.com//article_34eb776a-754b-11eb

Here comes another #TechTuesday tip from our LA Technology Instructor, Earth, about the BARD app! Watch the video to find out how to search for and download books in the app if you are a VoiceOver user on a computer. #VoiceOver #AccessibleTechnology #Tech https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rIiFYd2atTQ

We are so excited to share our Braille Institute Child & Youth Johnny Mercer Youth Choir's performance of "All You Need Is Love" by the The Beatles! Our amazing students in the choir have continued to practice online together and perform throughout the pandemic. We're so proud to be able to share their incredible cover of this timeless song! #BrailleYouth #YouthChoir #TheBeatles #Beatles #allyouneedislove All You Need Is Love by The Beatles (original songwriters John Lennon ...& Paul McCartney). Arrangement by Choir Director Scarlett Brais and Piano Accompanist J.R. Calilung. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gSxdA4p5hQ0&feature=youtu.be

We’re back with more Orientation and Mobility trivia for O&M Month! Who became the first blind person to reach the summit of Mt. Everest on May 25, 2001?

Braille Institute staff celebrated Halloween virtually this year! Check out the picture below of our staff from the Anaheim and Laguna Hills Centers in costume. Happy Halloween everyone!

Our LA Technology Instructor Earth is back for another #TechTuesday Tech Tip Video, this one about our digital Library service program, BARD. Find out how to search and download books on the app if you are a VoiceOver user. #Tech #TechTip #VoiceOver #AccessibleTechnology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKxXRDR1Wsg&t=21s

Thank you to everyone who celebrated this year’s Orientation & Mobility Month with us and who participated in our workshops and first-ever Move-A-Thon! Remember you can work with our O&M Specialists at any of our Centers around Southern California any month of the year. Visit the O&M page on our website for more information: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/s/orientation-and-mobility And call 1-800-BRAILLE (272-4553) and ask about Orientation and Mobility to get started at a Center near you.

Meet our next Low Vision Rehabilitation team member - Maria Cruz, Low Vision Occupational Therapist for our Riverside Neighborhood Center! ROLE: The Riverside neighborhood center has been my home for the last year. I provide a unique client-centered consultation to maximize independence with activities of daily living. Qualifications & Background: Licensed Occupational Therapist in the State of California with a Doctorate in Occupational Therapy from Loma Linda University. ...Neurorehabilitation and Geriatrics have been a passion for over 34 years. About Me: I completed my 200-Hour Holistic Yoga Flow Teacher Training program in 2014 and a Restorative Yoga Training online program in 2019. Time on my mat provides me with a grounding holistic physical and mental opportunity to stay present. For more information and to make an appointment, visit our website: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/low-vision-rehabilitation #LowVision

Our Move-A-Thon is coming to a close and we want to thank everyone who took part and made it such a special part of Orientation & Mobility Month! Here's a photo of one of our participants, Dave, who took part in the Move-A-Thon in Wisconsin! #OrientationAndMobility #OAndM #OnTheMove You can still send photos and video of you taking part in the 2020 Move-A-Thon to [email protected] and we will share them on our social media channels as we wrap up O&M Month!

Here’s another O&M tip for Orientation & Mobility month! Did you know you can get bus route information on your phone? Answer: Yes, you can use "Transit," Moovit, GoMetro and other apps to get bus route information.... #OAndM #OrientationAndMobility

Our Move-A-Thon is getting close to the finish line and participants are still out there moving all over Southern California! Here's Move-A-Thoner Mindy out and about with her dog on Balboa Island! #OrientationAndMobility #OAndM #OnTheMove Keep getting your moving in before the competition closes on Friday and send photos and video of you taking part to us at [email protected]!

Here's another one of the participants in our virtual Move-A-Thon! Nadiya is blind and recently received a skateboard for her birthday so she's skateboarding as one of her activities for the Move-A-Thon! #OrientationAndMobility #OAndM #OnTheMove Share your photos with us of you taking part in our Move-A-Thon. Just email us at [email protected]

Did you know that orientation and mobility instruction can also include creating art? The use, of tactile maps, is used to aid in creating a cognitive map in the mind of the visually impaired traveler. Tactile maps have a slightly 3-dimensional aspect so that the reader who is blind or visually impaired can identify various significant features by touch. It is used as an orientation tool to assist with spatial representation between objects. Tactile and large print diagrams ...can be used to represent generic parts of the environment or explain features specific to a given area. Using everyday objects such as tiny stones, cut leaves, and sticks can be used to create tactile landmarks of a new travel area. Glue, puff paint, string and wiki stix are some materials that are used for making handmade raised line maps. There are an infinite number of possibilities for constructing tactile maps. Another way to create art is by decorating your white cane. Some people choose to decorate their white cane to personalize it since it is an extension of themselves. Some choose to decorate their cane by adding decorative beads, charms, bells to the elastic loop that extends out of the grip to personalize it, as well as, to distinguish their cane from others. Others add different colored tape or stickers to the shaft of their cane to customize it. #OrientationandMobility #OnTheMove

We're really excited to share the personal story of another one of our amazing students and their journey with orientation and mobility for O&M Month! Check out our blog to find out the story of Dan, who has taken on walking up to 25 miles per-day since losing his vision. And as you might expect, Dan is also doing quite well in our Move-A-Thon! #OrientationAndMobility #OAndM #OnTheMove https://www.brailleinstitute.org//orientation-mobility-hel

One of the discussions in Braille Institute’s Young Adult Group, hosted by our San Diego Center, focused around voter registration, candidate and proposition research, and voter accessibility. Below is a photo of one of our students, Kammie, getting ready to cast her ballot. This was Kammie's first time voting and she thought it was important for her voice to be heard. #GoVote If you need help casting your ballot for this year’s election, please check out this website: https://www.eac.gov/election-officials/voting-accessibility

LIVE with your Chamber Presents: Say hello to Amy Sand, Regional Manager, Braille Institute! ... Located in the heart of Coachella Valley, the Braille Institu...te's new neighborhood center is more accessible than ever. Their experienced staff and volunteers are happy to assist in maintaining or regaining your independence. They provide free programs and services at the Center or bring them to you through In-Home Services. Sponsored by NBC Palm Springs and the Rancho Mirage Chamber See more

Our LA Tech Instructor, Earth, has another #TechTuesday Tech Tip about the BARD app! Get a download from her on how to navigate the app's player screen in her video. #TechTip #Tech #AccessibleTechnology https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9e674N4ea1c

Meet another member of our Low Vision Rehabilitation team - Melissa Caruso, Occupational Therapy Assistant for our San Diego Center! ROLE: I serve San Diego County and its surrounding areas. I assist with implementing the low vision rehabilitation program providing individualized client care, increasing independence, and maximizing remaining vision for a better quality of life. Qualifications & Background: B.A. in Psychology from San Diego State University, A.S. in Occupation...al Therapy Assistant Program from Grossmont College, and 6 years working in Occupational Therapy. I’ve worked in various settings with a focus on skilled nursing rehabilitation and mental health. About Me: I have an eternal thirst for learning new things, holistic health, savoring delicious food, watching scary movies, spending time relaxing with my family and my black cat, Solo. The best part of my job is seeing the progress made with all my clients and their families. For more information and to schedule an appointment, visit our website: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/low-vision-rehabilitation #LowVision

During our White Cane Day webinar yesterday, many people shared they have named their white cane. This included Handy Cane, Trusty Dusty, Able and Esposo. Do you have a name for your white cane? Share in the comments below!

Sharing some more fun from our Move-A-Thon! Move-A-Thon participant Arlene has covered some serious ground this month. Check her out at the Grand Canyon and walking in Laguna Beach! There's still a week left in the Move-A-Thon and please send any photos of you participating that you would like us to share to [email protected]. #OrientationAndMobility #oandm #OnTheMove

Have you heard about the Sight Tech Global event yet taking place on December 2nd and 3rd? The 100% free and online two-day event is a world-wide, virtual conference dedicated to bringing together the technology pioneers who are applying the latest technology advances to barrier-free navigation, human interaction, and low-friction access to information for people who are blind or visually impaired. Visit the event's site for more information and to see the long list of speakers from some of tech's leading companies and organizations. #Tech #Accessibility #AccessibleTech https://sighttechglobal.com/

Whew!! We're halfway to the Finish Line of our virtual Move-A-Thon! Thank you to everyone participating and entering your progress throughout the month. We hope you are enjoying this event as much as we are and feeling more mobile each day. Keep up the good movement and continue to enter your progress throughout the month. We'll check in again and can't wait to see you at the Finish Line on October 30! #OAndM #OrientationAndMobility #OnTheMove #WhiteCaneDay Here's a couple of photos of Move-A-Thoners! Send photos of you in action in the Move-A-Thon to [email protected]

Today is White Cane Awareness Day! Each year, we celebrate White Cane Awareness Day and beginning in 2019, we have expanded the day into a monthlong campaign raising awareness for and celebration of orientation and mobility and white canes for our Orientation & Mobility Month! At the urging of @NationalFederationOfTheBlind the day was established in 1964 by President Lyndon B. Johnson to raise awareness of people who carry a white cane and continues to grow and grow each ye...ar around the world. #WhiteCaneDay #WhiteCane #OrientationAndMobilityMonth https://www.brailleinstitute.org/white-cane-day.

Did you know there are multiple types of white canes?! Orientation and Mobility Specialist Brianna Pettit shares information on a few different styles and what they are best used for. #WhiteCane #NavigateYourWorld

Want to hear directly from our students about how our free Orientation and Mobility services have improved their lives and helped them maintain independence? Here are three quick testimonials from different students on their experiences with our O&M services for O&M Month! #OrientationAndMobility #OAndM https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L_2VL1lQSnw

Our President, Peter Mindnich, would like to share this personal message with our students, providing an update on all things that have been going on with Braille Institute the past few busy months! #NoBoundariesInSight https://youtu.be/7IVuUKPzFsM