The Beacon Issue 2, 2006 A publication of the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired (ABVI)-Goodwill Industries of Greater Rochester, Inc. The Honorable Louise M. Slaughter Recognized as JWOD Congressional Champion ABVI-Goodwill recently honored Congresswoman Louise M. Slaughter as a JWOD Congressional Champion. The Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Program provides employment and job training for people who are blind or who have other severe disabilities. The JWOD Champion Award is presented to members of Congress who demonstrate commitment and support of the JWOD program and the training and employment opportunities it provides for people who are blind or disabled. Congresswoman Slaughter becomes the third elected official from the State of New York to receive this distinction. “Congresswoman Slaughter has been very supportive of ABVI-Goodwill and the JWOD Program, and has been a leading advocate for people who are blind or who have other disabilities,” said A. Gidget Hopf, President and Chief Executive Officer of ABVI-Goodwill. “Congresswoman Slaughter has embodied the spirit of this award for years, and it is a pleasure to present her with this prestigious honor in recognition of her efforts on behalf of people with disabilities.” Today, over 600 community-based agencies across the nation work to increase the number of people who are blind or have other severe disabilities employed on federal contracts under the JWOD Program. Nationally, over 40,000 people who are blind or have other severe disabilities are employed or receive job training through qualified community-based organizations such as ABVI-Goodwill as part of the JWOD Program. The results are high quality products and services for the federal government and greater independence for people with disabilities. Business Leaders Program Offers a Unique Combination of Education, Experience and Upward Mobility National Industries for the Blind (NIB) has expanded the universe of career choices for people who are blind or visually impaired through its Business Leaders Program. Launched in 2003, this unique program is designed specifically to prepare individuals who are blind for careers in business, and to provide the educational and employment opportunities needed to transform high-potential employees into capable leaders and successful business people. One component of the program is Business Management Training (BMT) which provides qualified employees from NIB and its associated agencies the opportunity to pursue formal business skills development through a customized, intensive certificate program developed exclusively for NIB by the University of Virginia Darden Graduate School of Business Administration. This career-focused program targets employees who are blind at all levels and offers a chance to enhance one’s opportunity for career growth and upward mobility. ABVI-Goodwill’s Rehabilitation Teaching Manager, Sharon Schwalm, was a graduate of the inaugural class of the BMT program and found the experience to be invaluable to her career path. NIB’s Business Leaders Program also offers two other opportunities. The Fellowship for Leadership Development is a two-year salaried, rotational program with opportunity to work in up to three different locations within the NIB network of associated agencies. Fellows enter a rigorous, on-the-job developmental program to sharpen their business management and leadership competence. The Leaders at all Levels Program is an on-site training offered to NIB-associated agencies, providing easy-to-deliver modules that focus on the fundamental qualities that affect overall operations and effectiveness of businesses and leadership. “NIB and its associated agencies employ people who are blind or visually impaired at all levels within our organizations and have developed proven programs that provide for upward mobility and career development,” said A. Gidget Hopf, President & CEO of ABVI-Goodwill. “This enhances the economic independence of people who are blind or visually impaired and leads to further integration into the economic mainstream of society.” From the President… I think it’s important from time to time to highlight the increasing national prominence ABVI-Goodwill is receiving on many levels. Our agency’s growing national reputation for leadership, service excellence, and collaborative partnerships to respond to community needs are all reflections of the commitment we have as an organization to be exceptional in everything we do. For example, our Call Center has become one of the premiere programs of its type in the Northeast, consistently demonstrating ongoing excellence in operations, technology, training, contract procurement, corporate and community partnerships and, most importantly, in offering challenging and rewarding career opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired. As you will read in this edition, our reputation in the Call Center industry grew even stronger after the successful national Call Center Conference we hosted in March, which was attended by representatives of 23 agencies across the country. Also highlighted in this edition is our participation in a recent visit to Washington, D.C. to advocate on behalf of increased employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired. The highly favorable reception we received from each of our legislative leaders, and the commitment of support and assistance they each expressed, was a further testament to the recognition and positive reputation we have at the federal level. In March of this year, I was honored to make a presentation to the Committee for Purchase from People who are Blind or Severely Disabled, the independent federal agency charged with oversight of the Javits-Wagner-O’Day (JWOD) Program. The JWOD Program provides employment and job training for people who are blind or who have other severe disabilities. I had the opportunity to review the many accomplishments ABVI-Goodwill has made in developing a wide variety of employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired, the value of the JWOD program to the agency’s mission, and the commitment of our organization to fiscal stewardship and accountability. With the JWOD Program undergoing intensive federal review, this was a unique opportunity to position ABVI-Goodwill as one of the leading agencies in the country committed to full compliance with JWOD policies and procedures. Finally, as an executive of ABVI-Goodwill I am actively involved with many national organizations working on behalf of people who are blind or visually impaired. I am currently a member of the Board of Directors of National Industries for the Blind (NIB), the Board of Directors of National Association for the Employment of People who are Blind (NAEPB), where I also serve as Vice President for Public Policy, and a Trustee of the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). It is an honor and privilege to be able to make a contribution to these highly regarded organizations and to positively influence policy and strategy on a national level. ABVI-Goodwill has become a respected and valued organization at many levels, and it is an accomplishment in which we are all very proud. It is also something that we do not take lightly, and we will continue to work diligently to maintain and strengthen that reputation in the months and years ahead. From the Medical Director… Children deserve the best education we can give them to help them grow, develop and achieve their maximum potential. Vision plays an essential role in this development. Here at ABVI-Goodwill we try to maximize the visual potential of the children we care for and provide meaningful learning experiences for the visually impaired or blind child. Early detection of vision impairment allows early intervention of treatable eye disease and early intervention for vision rehabilitation. Vision screening in the preschool years is essential in this endeavor. Screening of newborns can be performed by a physician, physician assistant or nurse practitioner. Ophthalmologists should examine high risk infants suspected of developing retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), cataracts, glaucoma, and infants with a family history of congenital eye disease. Trained health care providers should screen all children by six months to a year of age for ocular health and screening should be repeated by age 3-3 ½, before entering school and during routine school checks. Amblyopia, poor vision in an eye that appears normal, can develop when the eyes have very different refractive errors or when the eyes are not aligned properly. In many cases early treatment can prevent permanent vision loss for these children. At ABVI-Goodwill we have programs for our children with vision loss and for their family members. These programs offer an opportunity for exposure to the environment the normally sighted experience day to day. Our programs teach social skills, self-advocacy, independence and how to interact with other children. Our Vision Care for Kids program enables uninsured children in the Rochester School District who have been screened in school to receive an eye examination and receive eyeglasses when needed. Our Children’s Center offers many programs year round which focus on many life skills. Our low vision specialists provide the child with age and vision appropriate visual aids. We have the pleasure and luxury of working with the staff of the Children’s Center and we benefit from the many programs they offer which enhance the educational experience of those we serve. To learn more about the Children’s Center, call our Children’s Specialist at (585) 697-5746 . Public Policy was Focus of Visit to Capitol Hill Representatives of ABVI-Goodwill recently participated in a legislative visit to Capitol Hill, hosted by National Industries for the Blind (NIB) and National Association for the Employment of People who are Blind (NAEPB), to meet with elected officials in the Senate and House of Representatives. The visit was to inform them of the critical issues facing organizations who employ and provide services to people who are blind or visually impaired. A. Gidget Hopf, President & CEO of ABVI-Goodwill and Vice President of NAEPB, served as Chairperson of the event and represented ABVI-Goodwill in Washington along with Tim Gleason, Director of Marketing & Community Relations, and Joanna Richardson, Call Center Information Specialist. Increasing employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired was the primary focus of those visits. Our ABVI-Goodwill contingent had the opportunity to discuss the issues with representatives of the offices of Senators Clinton and Schumer and Representatives Kuhl, Reynolds, Slaughter and Walsh. “This visit was an invaluable opportunity to impress upon our legislative leaders in Washington the importance of their support and leadership in increasing employment opportunities for people who are blind or visually impaired,” said Gidget Hopf. “We were pleased with the positive response and the offers of support and assistance from each of them.” ABVI-Goodwill’s 2006 Annual Celebration On Wednesday, July 12th you will be able to try your luck at the gaming tables, bid on fabulous auction items and enjoy authentic French Cuisine at ABVI-Goodwill’s Annual Celebration, Monte Carlo Night at Locust Hill. Monte Carlo Night is a chance to support the work and mission of our agency as well as mix and mingle with ABVI-Goodwill staff, community partners and business leaders. All the proceeds from ABVI-Goodwill’s Monte Carlo Night at Locust Hill will help fund vision rehabilitation & career and training programs for people who are blind or visually impaired in the Greater Rochester area. Get your tickets today by calling ABVI-Goodwill’s Marketing Department at (585) 697-5713. Guest tickets are $60 per person and Patron tickets are $100 each. Scouting for Food and Clothing is Another Huge Success! More than 13,000 youth and adult volunteers came together to make this year’s Scouting for Food and Clothing drive another huge success! Volunteers from the Otetiana Council Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of Genesee Valley, ABVI-Goodwill and numerous community groups took to the streets on March 25th for the 2006 Scouting for Food and Clothing drive. Volunteers collected non-perishable food to help stock 78 local food cupboards and gently used clothing to support programs and services for people who are blind or visually impaired. This year’s drive was a great success due to the helping hands and generous donations around the community. Thank you to all who donated during the 2006 Scouting for Food and Clothing Drive. We would like to extend a special thanks to: Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts New York State National Guard Open Door Mission Wendys RG&E- An Energy East Company Fairport Savings Bank Frontier Birds Eye Foods Cross Brothers Company, Inc. Graebel Van Lines-Fiamingo Moving & Storage Jamestown Container Companies Penske Conway Beam Aid to Hospitals Petco Marks Pizzeria in Penfield Goodwill’s Clothes are fit for the Season When you walk into any of the local Goodwill locations, you won’t find parkas and wool sweaters mixed in with the sun dresses and bathing suits. All Goodwill merchandise is now sold seasonally! Finding that summer dress for a weekend away is easier thanks to this new change in Goodwill store merchandise. Goodwill works hard to make your shopping experience the best it can be, and having the correct clothes for the season is one step towards a more positive shopping trip. Michelle Cavalli, Director of Retail for ABVI-Goodwill, commented, “Our customers that come into our stores are looking for clothes that they can purchase and wear right away. Seeing a heavy wool sweater mixed into the short sleeved shirts isn’t practical and it works out better for everyone by having the merchandise sold by season.” Donations come in to the Goodwill stores daily and the generous donations range from winter clothing to summer wear. All clothing donations are accepted with open arms at any time or season throughout the year, so please continue to donate your clothing and household goods to your local Goodwill. Your donations help ABVI-Goodwill continue to provide programs and services for people who are blind or visually impaired. ABVI-Goodwill Celebrates National Goodwill Week The week of May 7-13 was National Goodwill Week and ABVI-Goodwill celebrated this occasion with a special reception and visit by Patricia Stevens, Director of Government and Community Affairs, who presented a Proclamation from County Executive Maggie Brooks proclaiming it Goodwill Week in Monroe County. We were also happy to host a special visit to one of our Goodwill stores by Doug Emblidge, one of the anchors at 13WHAM-TV. Mr. Emblidge toured the store and also shopped for an outfit that he then proudly wore on-air during one of the station’s 5:00 p.m. news broadcasts. Mr. Emblidge was another of the many individuals who have found out what we’ve known for years– Goodwill offers quality, name-brand merchandise at highly affordable prices! National Goodwill Week is a celebration of the profound impact that ABVI-Goodwill, and other Goodwills throughout the country, have on helping those who are living with a visual impairment, other disability or barriers to employment, to find and keep good jobs and to enjoy the dignity and independence that work brings. At ABVI-Goodwill, people who are blind or visually impaired receive vocational evaluation, training, job-seeking skills, placement assistance and/or direct employment opportunities through our local Goodwill stores. National Goodwill Week is an opportunity to celebrate these achievements, and also say thank you to the community for its continued support through donations and purchases at our local Goodwill stores. Goodwill Welcomes New Leadership to the Stores Jeanette Hummel has been a familiar face in the Goodwill stores since 2000 when she worked as an Assistant Manager at the Bay Road Goodwill. Her dedication to the organization and ability to successfully lead team members brought about her promotion first to Manager at the Greece store, and recently to her position as Manager of the Bay Road Goodwill store. Jeanette is a strong leader who is always willing to help her team, and Goodwill is thankful for her dedication to the mission of ABVI-Goodwill. Chris Raimondi comes to Goodwill with a strong background in management and experience in the retail industry. He joined the ABVI-Goodwill team in February 2006 as the manager of the Henrietta Goodwill Store. Chris has many years of success in management positions at Montana Mills and Petro and we look forward to his experience and ideas being put to use here at ABVI-Goodwill. Debbie Bruce began working at the Bay Road Goodwill store in July of 2003. She quickly proved that she was a hard worker and a reliable employee, and was soon promoted to key-holder and then assistant manager. More recently, Debbie was hired as the manager of the Greece Goodwill store, and has continued working hard for the mission of ABVI-Goodwill. Debbie loves her team of workers at the Greece store and strives to make the mission of ABVI-Goodwill a central part of the work done at the store. Resources Available for Parents Having a child who is blind or visually impaired often presents a unique set of challenges. As a parent, you want the best for your child and want them to experience the same things other children do. Yet, trying to accomplish this can be a difficult task without the proper resources, tools and training. This is why ABVI-Goodwill has created a program called Family Vision, designed for parents of children with visual impairments. This program is designed to teach parents adaptive skills and techniques that they can pass along to their child. The goal is to help parents learn how to make growing up a little easier for their child. The program has completed it’s first session, but there will be other sessions organized in the near future. If this program sparks your interest and you would like more information, please call Sarah Favro at (585) 697- 5746. Children Feel the BEAT at the Hochstein School of Music and Dance Body awareness Exploring your environment & Auditory development Through music Can you feel the BEAT? The children that were part of the music therapy program offered by ABVI-Goodwill and Hochstein School of Music and Dance can! Nine children between the ages of two and eight have been a part of the BEAT program held at the Hochstein School of Music and Dance every Monday since late March. The BEAT program gives children who are blind or visually impaired awareness of their body and environment through music. In this program the children learn self expression and basic rhythm used for future adaptive skills. Thanks to a renewed grant, the BEAT program was offered for a third year at no cost, and this year it reached its highest attendance ever! Not only are the children who are blind or visually impaired encouraged to participate, but their siblings and parents are welcomed also. With a total of nine children and siblings taking part of this opportunity, the BEAT program really hit the right note. Give Your Child a Creative Vision at ABVI-Goodwill’s Summer Art Camp With the success of this year’s Creative Vision Art Therapy Program, ABVI-Goodwill has decided to extend the unique program into a summer camp! The Creative Vision Art Camp will provide children who are blind or visually impaired the chance to experience art through the great outdoors. In the program, children learn to understand art beyond sight and use all of the senses to create beautiful works of art. The Creative Vision Art Therapy Program and Camp focuses on the process the children use to express themselves, not the final product. Art therapy has been shown to improve self-confidence, self-sufficiency, and independence in children who are blind or visually impaired. This summer, the Creative Vision Art Camp will be held on August 7 -11, from 1:00-4:00 pm. It is open to anyone ages four to16 years old, including siblings. It will take place at Cobbs Hill Park, located in Rochester at Culver Road and Norris Drive. The Art Camp is run by art therapist Shannon Halligan and will focus on using nature and other materials to create beautiful works of art. In addition to the masterpieces your child will create, it has also been shown that art therapy improves sensory awareness and motor coordination, and enhances visual memory, concentration and imagination. The Creative Vision Art Camp is a great way for children to be active in the summer months while growing in their development. Call Sarah Favro at (585) 697-5746 by July 24 to reserve a spot for your child. When you call, be sure to ask about transportation arrangements for getting your child to and from the week-long camp. This program has been provided at no cost to the participants by the generosity of the Dorothea Haus Ross Foundation. Overcoming Obstacles and Hiking the Appalachian Trail Millions of times a year, determined hikers trek across the Appalachian trail with back packs in tow and big goals ahead of them. Anthony Manfre was one of those determined hikers who accepted the challenge of the 2,000 mile Appalachian trail in May of 2005. The “A.T.” as it’s called by hikers, is much more than just a path through the woods. It is a national scenic trail, part of the same national park system that includes Yellowstone, Yosemite, and the Great Smoky Mountains. Those that hike the trail come from different backgrounds and have goals, and sometimes obstacles, to persevere through; Anthony’s obstacle is that he is legally blind. On the trails and the wooded paths through the Appalachian Trail, Anthony Manfre is known by his trail name, “Manfire. “ Driven by determination and the feeling of accomplishment, Anthony persevered through rough weather, treacherous trails and dangerous animals to hike thousands of miles on the Appalachian Trail. At 26 years old, he has already accomplished many feats that other people would only dream to do. He has served his country in the Army, earned a college degree, found a steady job at ABVI-Goodwill’s Call Center and has not let a visual impairment stop him in his quest. Anthony has truly proven that lack of sight doesn’t mean lack of vision. He exemplifies achievement and the motivation to prove the capabilities of those living with vision loss. Summer Sizzle 2006 is Around the Corner Mark your calendars on August 21st through the 25th for ABVI-Goodwill’s 2006 Summer Sizzle! Now in it’s fifth year, this week long summer camp will have many activities for children between the ages of 8 and 14 who are legally blind and CBVH-sponsored. Summer Sizzle uses fun skill-building activities to teach daily living tasks, orientation and mobility, adaptive technology and social development. The camp also uses community field trips to apply the skills learned. Each day, the children will have an opportunity to experience new things and meet new people, while having a great time! To find out more or to sign up your child, call Sarah Favro at (585) 697-5746. If transportation to and from the camp will be a problem, talk to Sarah about possible transportation arrangements so your child won’t miss out on this wonderful opportunity. WXXI Reachout Radio Wins Two IAAIS Program Awards By Ruth Phinney Enabled and AudioFile, two programs produced by WXXI Reachout Radio, have been honored with 2005 Program of the Year Awards from the IAAIS (International Association of Audio Information Services) Annual Awards Banquet, held on May 6, 2006 in San Diego, California. Enabled is a weekly program, researched and written by the volunteer host. The purpose of the show is to encourage, uplift and “enable” visually impaired listeners to do anything they put their minds to. Listeners are challenged to think beyond their limitations and hopefully impact their perspective or acceptance of their own disability. The specific program, Celebrating Fanny Crosby, was produced to celebrate the 185th birthday of one of America’s most prolific hymn writers, Fanny Crosby, who was blind from infancy. Not only does the program highlight her life, but it also celebrates her positive spirit and resolution not to let her blindness make her unhappy. AudioFile Magazine is a weekly program that provides listeners with information about books available in an audio format. Each episode provides a cross section of author interviews, narrator spotlights, new releases, features and reviews of audio books from a variety of categories (biography, fiction, non-fiction, mystery, classics, fantasy, etc.). Each review is read in its entirety including the publisher, the number of hours and the format of the book, so that the listener who may wish to listen to that book, will be able to find the audio version at a local library, bookstore or national library for the blind. The volunteer reader for this program is herself, an audio book reviewer who writes for the magazine. Both of these award-winning programs are available for listening or download at wxxi.org. How to get the Most From Your Screen Reading Software By Kim Kline The installation and maintenance of popular screen readers and magnification programs have sometimes come with a certain amount of headache. That’s why it is important to keep your computer updated and properly maintained. Window-Eyes screen reading software boasts 100% accuracy with Microsoft Office products 100% of the time. However, this accuracy can only occur when all of the updates to Microsoft Office are downloaded and installed. Sometimes updating computers is difficult, especially for users with a dial-up internet connection, but it is necessary for the software to work properly. Once the updates have been installed, Window-Eyes delivers the accuracy that is promised. Freedom Scientific’s JAWS screen reader and the Magic magnification software, also experience problems when a computer isn’t updated, but these software programs have trouble with the Internet Liscense Manager. This is a sophisticated method of preventing software piracy, which operates by using an activation code that gets generated by their activation server, after the server profiles the hardware that is installed on your computer. If you have an Internet connection, and you rarely change or add hardware on your computer system, then this typically isn’t a problem. However, if you do change a piece of hardware, then you may have to go through the entire activation process again. If you change hardware in the computer more than three times, you will have to call Freedom Scientific’s technical support line to have them release additional activations for your software. For users without an Internet connection, the activation code can be entered manually, but, the code is over 100 characters long. Luckily, there is a way to side-step these issues with JAWS and Magic. You can simply request versions of these products that use dongle authorization keys. A dongle is a small device that plugs into either the parallel port or an USB port and tells JAWS or Magic that the installed copy is a legal copy. Dongles require no Internet connection, and are unaffected by the addition or removal of hardware in the computer system. While these are manageable issues most of the time, it is good for users of these technologies to be aware of some of these installation issues up front, and also to understand that changes in a computer system can impact an adaptive technology installation. To make sure your software is working properly, be sure to keep your computer updated and properly maintained. Turn Your Annual Contribution into a Legacy As you plan for family and loved ones, you might also consider the charitable organizations you most value, such as ABVI-Goodwill. One way to meet your personal philanthropic interests and ensure the future of ABVI-Goodwill is by making a gift to our endowment fund. It’s simple and easy. ABVI-Goodwill’s endowment fund allocates certain contributions to an investment portfolio— a carefully managed and monitored portfolio of stocks, bonds and other investment vehicles where a portion of the return helps fund programs, services and jobs for people who are blind or visually impaired. The principal remains safely invested to perpetuate the fund, as well as the stream of support so important to ABVI-Goodwill’s mission. A gift to our endowment fund can be made now or later. For example, a donor wishing to make a deferred gift can do so through a charitable bequest in a will, trust, or charitable life-income plan. Either way, a gift to ABVI-Goodwill’s endowment fund can create a legacy of perpetual gifts. For example, suppose you would like to make sure that ABVI-Goodwill receives $500 every year, even after your lifetime. To calculate the amount you need to donate to perpetuate your annual gift, divide your annual gift amount, say $500, by 5 percent (the rate at which the agency currently draws on its endowment) to arrive at $10,000. So, by contributing or bequeathing $10,000 to ABVI-Goodwill’s endowment, you continue indefinitely your practice of donating $500 annually. For more information on ABVI-Goodwill’s endowment fund, contact Tracy Schleyer, CFRE, Director of Development at (585) 697-5780 or tschleyer@abvi-goodwill.com. Call Center Conference is Overwhelming Success The increased prominence and growing reputation of the ABVI-Goodwill Call Center has created a wide variety of inquiries from National Industries for the Blind (NIB) associated agencies and other not-for-profit organizations across the country with an interest in starting a Call Center operation. In response, ABVI-Goodwill has regularly provided on-site tours and telephone and in-person consultations to organizations looking for the best practices in operating a Call Center. To enhance that consultative role and share its Call Center experience, ABVI-Goodwill developed and hosted a highly successful two-day conference this spring entitled, Creating a Call Center Business: Planning, Practices & Processes. “This was an exceptional opportunity for us to share the knowledge and insights we’ve developed over the last six years with other organizations across the country, and strengthen our own reputation as one of the leaders in the industry,” said Carol Borsa, Director of Business Services. The conference agenda included general advice on the many things to consider when building a Call Center, planning for the technologies required, preparing and protecting infrastructure, building a budget and the many hidden expenses that can be overlooked, managing accommodations and adaptive technology, staffing and training, and others. A total of 40 people attended the conference from 23 different agencies across the country. Choosing the Right Guide Dog School You’ve finally made the decision that a guide dog is right for you. Through your research, you may realize that there are many guide dog schools to choose from, but you’re not sure which is the perfect fit. When faced with this decision, select carefully because choosing the right guide dog school is very important. First, it is best to decide which style of training best suits your lifestyle. Do you want home-based training in which the trainer comes to you in your own environment? Would you rather go to a residential school, where you stay at the school during the duration of the training? There are pros and cons to both, and the right choice will depend on your personal preference and lifestyle. Next, you want to carefully research the school’s reputation. How many years have they been in business? How many guide dog teams do they place per year? How many trainers do they have and what type of certification do they have? Get all these questions ready when you have your interview with the school. Remember, you are choosing them as much as they are choosing you. Find out if it is required that you sign a contract. Don’t ever assume these contracts are just formalities and won’t ever matter. They are legally binding and you’ll want to be sure you understand exactly what you are agreeing to, prior to signing. Ask for the contract in an accessible format. The legal terminology can often be difficult to understand and it is important that you have time to go through it carefully on your own. Ask for the policy on ownership of the guide dog. Some schools own the dog for the first year after you receive your dog. With some schools, the dog becomes yours after that first year but with others you need to apply for ownership. Above all, enjoy your new guide dog and all the new possibilities it will open up. There are countless benefits to traveling with a guide dog that you may never have experienced before. Your new dog will not only provide freedom in mobility but also be a great companion that you will love and cherish. Your guide dog will hopefully be with you for many years, so it’s important to feel confident that you are getting the right dog for you. National Effort Launched for Accessible Course Materials for Print-Disabled Postsecondary Students Higher education publisher members of the Association of American Publishers (AAP) recently announced the launch of the Alternative Formats Solutions Initiative (AFSI), a national effort to identify ways to provide print-disabled postsecondary students with specially-formatted course materials on a timely basis. AFSI will involve colleges and universities, students, disabled students support services professionals, national and state disability advocacy groups and technology providers in an effort to create a national framework of specific, practical solutions. The program will assess problems faced by print-disabled students, including lengthy delays in getting their materials or the inability to receive the proper materials at all. In light of the urgent need to address these problems, AAP will focus initial efforts on finding short-term solutions that can be implemented quickly, in addition to developing long-term and comprehensive solutions. The work of AFSI will be carried out in three stages: researching problems with current systems to aid in developing practical, collaborative solutions; identifying individual solutions that, together, will form a coordinated national accessible materials solutions framework; and assuring that solutions continue to evolve by embracing new technologies and aligning with the needs of the rapidly changing post-secondary environment. Commenting on the decision to undertake AFSI, Bruce Hildebrand, AAP’s executive director for higher education, said, “This is a complex challenge that will require all of the diverse interests with a stake in seeing the problem solved to work together.” Publishers have committed the funding and secured expert project leadership to move the process forward. Although no time frame has been formalized for completion, AFSI may soon provide print-disabled postsecondary students throughout the country with timely, accessible course materials. Giving to ABVI-Goodwill A bequest to ABVI-Goodwill is truly the gift that keeps on giving. It is a way to create your legacy by giving a gift that ensures services will always be available for future generations. ABVI-Goodwill would like to thank those who named us in their will. We are honored to carry on our work in their names. Estate gifts have been received from the following between February 16, 2006 to May 13, 2006. Karen A. Klafehn Marion W. Neun It is always our pleasure to welcome those who choose to provide for ABVI-Goodwill through bequests, trusts and other life income gifts to become members or our Foresight Circle. If you have planned or are planning to include ABVI-Goodwill in your estate plans, please contact Tracy Schleyer, CFRE, Director of Development at (585) 697-5780. By giving to ABVI-Goodwill in memory or in honor of a family member or friend, many generous people have found a way to express their caring spirit while helping to ensure the success of ABVI-Goodwill. Thank you to the following friends who made contributions from February 16, 2006 to May 13, 2006. IN HONOR OF Eli Eckman Charlotte D. Woodall Sindy Cantor A. Gidget Hopf IN MEMORY OF Alice T. Emmerich Harvey C. Breithaupt Barbara M. Brindley Doreen Clark Leesa A. Reger Wilma Root Rick Singley Jeffrey A. Smith Roberta Talluto Linda Tuchrello Joseph S. Vetromile Craig D. & Doreen A. Clark Sally Finch Blanche I. Megargle Sheldon & Joyce Megargle Gary & Barbara Tycha Phil & Irene Warner John & Beatrice Hulsberg George L. & Joan M. Bonheyo William L. & Deborah L. Carter Edward S. Groszewski Rita & Nicholas Forgione Harry McCrea Fairport Municipal Commission Village of Fairport Robert Horn Bernard & Rita M. Zapf Rita Housaman Lynn Pembroke Frederick “Larry” Kier Jeanne Schlegel Russell R. & Mary H. Roberts Linda S. DeFriess John M. & Paulette A. Bodak Robert A. & Elaine K. Ainsworth Robert B. Wegman Kevin A. Calos Lynne Nash Charles & Diane Henderson Robert J. Rodwell Nick Morante Virginia Walker Robert C. Potter Walter L. Pear Jeffery Difulvio John F. Friedman Shirley L. Simmons T. Stone ABVI-Goodwill Volunteers Honored During Volunteer Appreciation Week National Volunteer Appreciation Week, held this year from April 23-29, was a time to thank one of our country’s most valuable assets– volunteers– and call attention to all that they do to improve our communities. With immeasurable generosity and selflessness, ABVI-Goodwill volunteers share their time and talent to enhance our mission and assist people who are blind or visually at ABVI-Goodwill with a variety of tasks, including driving, reading, shopping, volunteering in our retail stores, and many others. “Every one of our volunteers truly makes a difference to ABVI-Goodwill’s mission,” said Shenise Williams, Volunteer Coordinator at ABVI-Goodwill. “We value the time and commitment they continue to give to the agency, and it was an honor to recognize the special gifts they give to us every day.” ABVI-Goodwill Executive Joins in Honoring Senator for Advocacy for People who are Blind or Visually Impaired On May 22, 2006, the American Foundation for the Blind hosted the 13th Annual Helen Keller Achievement Awards. Among the awardees was the Honorable John E. Sununu, United States Senator from the state of New Hampshire. Senator Sununu introduced the Medicare Vision Rehabilitation Services Act of 2003 that ignited the plans to create the five-year Low Vision Rehabilitation Services Demonstration Project. This project enables Medicare beneficiaries experiencing vision loss to receive vision rehabilitation therapy in their own homes. Currently this practice has been implemented in six states, but the overall goal of the project is to spread the services to all 50 states. At the event, Gidget Hopf, President & CEO of ABVI-Goodwill, had the opportunity to personally thank Senator Sununu for his leadership efforts to improve vision rehabilitation and independent living services for people who are blind or visually impaired. The Beacon Contributors: A. Gidget Hopf, Ed.D. Gwen Sterns, M.D. Kim Kline Ruth Phinney Editors: Tim Gleason, Megan Hogan and Sara Burneal Layout: Megan Hogan Marketing Communications Specialist mhogan@abvi-goodwill.com The Beacon is published four times a year. For additional copies in print, in Braille, by email or on tape, contact ABVI-Goodwill’s Marketing Department at (585) 697-5713.