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Independence Science Newsletter
August 2019
Published and distributed by Independence Science
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WEST LAFAYETTE, IN 47906-1075
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Note for Robert Jaquiss, press #4.
Email: [email protected]
Robert Jaquiss, Editor
From The Editor
Happy August! School is just around the corner. Thank you to everyone who stopped by our booth at the NFB convention last month.
Please see the announcements:
- Information is now available for the upcoming ISLAND conference.
- New Talking LabQuest is here!
- Independence Science has a new redesigned web page, please check it out.
ISLAND 2019
ISLAND (Inclusive Science Learning a New Direction) is just around the corner and you won’t want to miss it! This year we’ll be in Huntsville, Alabama October 4-5th and doing Space Camp! Spaces are limited so sign up today at:
The conference hotel is the Huntsville Marriott at the Space & Rocket Center. The website is:
New Sci-Voice Talking LabQuest v2 is here!
Independence Science is pleased to announce that we now have a new Talking LabQuest. The new Talking LabQuest v2 replaces our previous version.
- The introductory pricing for upgrading from an older LabQuest 2: $295 per unit. Customers will need to ship their units back to us along with payment. We will then return the unit back to them free of charge. We will also check their unit for any hardware issues that may have come up.
- The introductory price of a new Talking LabQuest 2 package will be $2195. For now the sensors offered are the same, this could change in the future.
The new TLQ2 v2 features:
- Audio graph sonification.
- Real-time tone meter.
- More extended useful resources folder.
- Easy to use high contrast feature to support low vision users.
- Support for Bluetooth capable Vernier sensors.
- New O’haus balances with USB connector kit.
- Multi-language capability for an additional fee in the following languages: (Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portuguese)
For more information, please check the Independence Science website.
Consulting Services
Independence Science offers consulting services. We will provide training
on an individual or group basis for faculty teaching STEM classes to students who are blind or visually impaired. For more information, please contact Independence Science.
Celebration of the ADA
The ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) was signed into law on July 26th, 1990 by President George H. W. Bush Sr. We celebrate it’s passage still to this day as it changes many lives including our own. Remember that making things accessible is something everyone should play a part in. It’s not just the right thing to do, it’s also the law! Need help making STEM curriculum work accessible for students with disabilities or want a talk on the importance of inclusion of people with disabilities in your school or work environment? Make sure to contact us here at Independence Science and we’d be happy to work something out!
50th Anniversary of the Moon Landing
The 50th Anniversary of the 1st manned mission to the moon started July 16, 1969 with the landing on the moon occurring July 20. This landing and the excitement behind it led to many huge leaps in technology that we love today like GPS. We continue to work towards another future in space both through NASA and private space programs. The world’s 1st blind astronaut might be alive today. Want to learn more about space and accessibility? Make sure to sign up for our accessible space camp at ISLAND 2019!
Lunar Landing Site Models Available
The following is a related announcement from NASA.
Good morning, DPMs and 508 resource group!
I am very excited to share the following link with you, https://www.nasa.gov/specials/apollo50th/media.html. These are downloadable
3D models available to the public of the historic Apollo lunar landing sites – for folks with access to 3D printers. I wanted to make sure
to share them especially with you, as the models each have brief descriptions in Braille.
We would be delighted if you would share them freely with your communities.
Rebecca Doroshenk
Strategy and Integration
Office of Communications
NASA Headquarters
(202) 358-0038
Congratulations to all the 2019 NFB scholarship winners
Congratulations to all the 2019 NFB scholarship winners for their academic achievement. Independence Science was pleased to bestow a $1500 gift certificate to each winner in honor of our ten year anniversary of making science more accessible to the blind.
Upcoming Events
Independence Science will be exhibiting at the following:
October 11-12
FairBridge Inn & Suites
3803 Brooks Street
Missoula, MT 59804
Phone: 406-251-2665
http://www.fairbridgemissoula.com/
Announcements
The following announcements are STEM and education related. Independence Science reprints this information as we receive it. We make no warranty as to the accuracy of these items although we will endeavor to only print legitimate items. We reserve the right to edit for space and clarity. We will also repeat some announcements such as scholarships etc. until the opportunities expire. Please note that scholarship programs have a number of requirements. Do not delay if you intend to apply.
Scholarship Opportunity for students studying in Virginia
Have you or a blind student you know been hoping to study in Virginia but could just use a little bit more money? The Winchester chapter of the national Federation of the blind of Virginia is pleased to announce the Amy Barns scholarship in the amount of $1000. This is for any legally blind student who will be attending any Shenandoah Valley area college in Virginia.
You can be a student from outside the state or inside the state attending. To apply and more information, please call Chris Walker, president at 540-303-0080.
Scholarship deadline is September 20th, 2019
Technical Tips
The following technical tips are offered in hopes they may be of use. Due to the many possible variations in PCs and equipment, Independence Science cannot be responsible for any undesirable outcomes.
- For many of us, a classic Perkins brailler is still an essential tool. If you need to get yours repaired, here is a link to a list of brailler repair services: https://nfb.org/braillewriter-repair-resource-list.
- Warning! Independence Science strongly advises all iS current and future customers to not upgrade the operating system on their Sci-Voice Talking LabQuest 2 device without being notified by Independence Science. There are other versions of operating systems that are not compatible with the text-to-speech features of Sci-Voice Talking LabQuest. Therefore, we strongly advise all ISci customers to not upgrade the OS on your device without prior notification. Failure to do so will likely disable the text-to-speech on your device.
Please send comments and suggestions to me at: [email protected].