By Marcy Guttman, Summer Associate for Corporate Philanthropy Wisdom can often come from unexpected places. I remember a message that I read when traveling in the New York City subways: “kindness is contagious, and it begins with you.” Huddled in the crowded masses of people, holding on to bars and handles touched by thousands of other travelers, I generally tried to avoid “catching” anything. However, reading those seven words made me realize that kindness is something that I not only wanted to “catch” but also desired to pass on to others. The gratification of doing something kind for another consistently…
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Published August 25, 2010
Inside Higher Education…Suggested Books College Freshman Should Read
Inside Higher Ed, an online ezine I faithfully read, recently published an article on “What College Freshman Will Read.” If you are a college freshman or have students just starting college, like I do, you’ll want to read this article which suggests several books that will help first-year students bond through a common reading experience and jumpstart their ability to discuss intellectual content. A “Study by the National Association of Scholars,” a group that advocates for a more rigorous and traditional college curriculum, released a comprehensive analysis of what freshmen are being asked to read during college orientation programs. The…
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Published July 20, 2010
Postsecondary Students Benefit from Individual Memberships
A University of Michigan – Flint student, with an individual membership says “Bookshare Rocks!” Ashley Seymour, a college junior majoring in health care at the University of Michigan-Flint, has been blind since birth. She says, “Bookshare is expanding fast! It’s easy for me to get my books from one source. I don’t have to wait. I just download my books, convert to MP3 files for my iPod, and go to class.” Ashley has found books and background information in communications, ethics, literature, psychology and medical sciences. She uses Bookshare to find material for reports, study biographies and locate accessible titles…
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Published July 9, 2010
NFB 2010: Hot Weather or Human Warmth?
Texas treated NFB 2010 attendees to hot, humid, Texas-like weather, but the weather couldn’t hold a candle to the infectious human warmth inside the conference hall, in spite of the air conditioning. From this conference, I am redoubled in my conviction that coping with challenges in life makes people better people, and knowing people who live with challenges of any variety makes all of us better people. The NFB 2010 convention reminded me of this principle. Nowhere has there been a gathering that exuded goodness and warmth and caring than the group gathered at NFB. It wasn’t just the outpouring…
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Published July 4, 2010
“Julie and Julia:” A Total Book – Movie Experience” for the Blind
A guest blog from Gayle Yarnall, Director of Adaptive Technology for the Perkins School for the Blind…Thank you, Gayle! “When the movie Julie and Julia was announced, I knew I wanted to see it because I’m a big fan of Julia Child and I see every movie with Meryl Streep. My first mission was to read the book and once again I have to say thanks to Bookshare. Bookshare had the book ready for me to download. Actually, after speaking with someone at Bookshare, I found out they were sent the book by the actual publisher. (Little Brown & Co.)…
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Published July 1, 2010
Bookshare Members Headed to NFB and ACB?
At NFB and ACB, plan on more fun, surprises, and goodies this year than ever. Come by the Bookshare booth first to say hello. Then get in a party mood and be sure to add the Member party to your calendars. We have a new game planned that will get everyone thinking and laughing. Please do save room that evening to enjoy the delicious desserts! At NFB, the party is on July 6, from 7 to 8:30 pm in Lalique, in the Atrium Mezzanine. At ACB, the party is on July 12, from 7 to 8:30 pm in Camelback B.…
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Published June 24, 2010
Through Virginia’s Eyes – Painting with Macular Degeneration
A famous local artist, Virginia Doyle, has graciously lent her work to Benetech/Bookshare for display on conference room and hall walls. The unique aspect of this display is that in 2002, Virginia was diagnosed with macular degeneration, a medical condition of the eye that makes it difficult or impossible to read or recognize faces. This disease is a leading cause of blindness among older citizens due to the loss of light sensing cells in the retina. Many view her work as representations of the world through the eyes and lens of a person with macular degeneration. Viewers glimpse the world…
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Published June 16, 2010
Landing that Job…Career Advice on Bookshare
Job and Career Advice – Suggested Books to Get on the Right Track
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Published May 21, 2010
Let’s Talk!
What’s better than a good Bookshare book? The three new ways you can communicate with Bookshare. 1. The all-new Bookshare Blog! It’s going to be Bookshare’s Greatest Hits. You, our Members, schools, volunteers, partners, publishers and students, have so many interesting stories and we want to tell them. This blog will become your space and our space for news, information, thoughts and stories. Please subscribe to it so you can read the blog posts that are most interesting to you. And please do leave a comment when you visit! 2. Ideas? This new forum, accessed from a new link on all pages,…
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