Calendar for the Vision Loss Connections
Arts Access to Visually Impaired Youth Program
Programs are Free to Youth and Accompanying Family Member or Friend

Museum Tour, Classes and Celebrating Tactile Art Exhibit

Access Touch Tour
Bellevue Art Museum
Saturday 4/12/14 – 11:00AM
510 Bellevue Way NE
Bellevue WA 98004

ART CLASSES

Tactile Art Basics
Saturday 3/29/14 & Sunday 3/30/14
Collage with Textured Elements
Painting with Tactile Acrylics
Seattle Artist & Craftsman Supply
4350 8th Ave. NE Seattle WA 98105

Introduction to Stone Sculpting
12:30PM – 4:30PM
Sundays 4/13/14 & 4/27/14
Seattle Artist & Craftsman Supply
4350 8th Ave. NE Seattle WA 98105
Instructor Jim Ballard Coordinated by Tony Brown

Introduction to Pottery
Sundays 10:30AM-12:30AM
5/18/14, 5/25/14 & 6/8/14
Seward Park Clay Studio
5900 Lake Washington Blvd. S
Seattle WA 98118
Instructor Jen Mills – Coordinated by Tony Brown

Spring Celebrating Tactile Art Exhibit
Saturday 6/14/14 12:30PM – 4:30PM
Microsoft Auditorium
Central Seattle Public Library
1000 5th Ave. Seattle WA 98104

Redmond, WA — Microsoft is pleased to announce the launch of the Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship intended to empower and enable high school students with disabilities to (a) go to college, (b) realize the impact technology has on the world, and (c) target a career in the technology industry.

The scholarship launched Friday, January 17, 2014 and includes a goal to increase enrollment of persons living with a disability in higher education and, in the long term, decrease the unemployment bias for disabled persons.

This new program was started by, and is supported by, Microsoft employees who will select promising high school seniors who require financial assistance in order to enter and successfully complete a vocational or academic college program. This non-renewable $5000 scholarship will be paid to the recipient’s Financial Aid Office by the Seattle Foundation on behalf of the DisAbility Employee Resource Group (ERG) at Microsoft.

Eligibility
All candidates must be high school students living with a disability who plan to attend a 2 to 4 year University or College program, maintain a cumulative 3.0 CPA or equivalent and have declared a major from the approved list (see scholarship guidelines on application).

Requirements
To apply for the Microsoft DisAbility Scholarship, the student must meet the following guidelines:

1. Be a current high school senior with living with a disability (as defined by WHO), whether that be visual, hearing, mobility, cognitive or speech.

2. Plan to attend an undergraduate program in a 2 or 4-year University/College or Technical College in the fall of the academic year following high-school graduation. Schools must be in the USA or have a USA-Affiliate for financial transactions (contact Seattle Foundation to verify non-USA school’s eligibility).

3. Declare a major in engineering, computer science, computer information systems, legal or in businesses that are approved (i.e. paralegal, pre-law, finance, business administration, or marketing).

4. Demonstrate a passion for technology.

5. Demonstrate leadership at school and/or in the community.

6. Have a high school cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher.

7. Require financial assistance to attend college.

8. Enrollment status must be full-time or half time.

Contact:
DisAbility Employee Resource Group
Microsoft Corporation
Email: disschol@microsoft.com

Seattle Foundation
Travis Petersen
Philanthropic Services Associate
Scholarship Manager
The Seattle Foundation
scholarships@seattlefoundation.com
1200 Fifth Avenue, Suite 1300
Seattle WA 98101-3151
(206) 515-2139 direct
(206) 622-7673 fax

Have you ever wanted to talk to someone who creates the technology you use? Now’s your chance! Microsoft User Research is committed to making every product more accessible, but we need your help! We are currently seeking visually impaired and blind community members to participate in our exclusive consumer research panel. By participating as a panelist you will have an unprecedented impact on the future of Microsoft products.

Panelist will be eligible to participate in studies over the span of three months starting December 10th through February 19th.

To participate, email uccoord@microsoft.com with “access” in the subject line. Include the information below.

1. Name/Phone
2. Job Title/Company (if not working, that’s ok):
3. Age:
4. Smartphone make and model:
5. Do you own a tablet? If yes, what is the make and model:
6. What operating system are you currently using?(Windows 8, Windows 7, OSX, etc.)
7. What is your highest level of education?
8. Are you currently using Microsoft Office? If yes, what version?
9. How many hours per week do you spend reading?
10. Do you use any accessibility software? (JAWS, MAGic, etc.) If yes, which?
11. Please describe your visual impairment:

We’ll give you a call if you look like a match for this study. If you are selected to participate, you’ll get a $100 gift card for every study session you participate in.

Thanks for your time,

Microsoft User Research
www.microsoft.com/UserResearch

Have you ever wanted to talk to someone behind the technology you use? Now’s your chance. Microsoft User Research is conducting end-user research and wants you to participate.

Microsoft User Research is seeking visually impaired and blind community members for upcoming accessibility studies. Studies will take place on Microsoft’s Redmond Campus with two hour time slots available starting in the beginning of October. Each participant will be offered a choice of new Microsoft software, hardware or games from a list of our most popular products.

To participate in a two hour study, email uccoord@microsoft.com with “access” in the subject line. Include the information below.

1. Name/Phone:
2. Job Title/Company (if not working, that’s ok):
3. Age:
4. What applications and software do you use regularly?
5. Do you use and accessibility software (JAWs, Windows Eye, speech recognition, etc.)? If yes, which?
6. Please describe your visual impairment:
7. What operating system are you currently using? (Windows 8, Windows 7, Linux, etc.)

We’ll give you a call if you look like a match for this study. If you are selected and participate, you’ll get a choice of Microsoft software, hardware, or games as a thank you.

Cheers,
Jillian Folks

When: Tuesday October 8, 2013 from 11 am – 7 pm
Where: Department of Services for the Blind (DSB)
3411 South Alaska St
Seattle WA 98118
(free parking available on site)

Ever wondered what kind of technology is available for a person who is blind or has low vision? Well here’s your chance to find out!

The Dept. of Services for the Blind is opening its doors to their Seattle Assistive Technology and Low Vision labs to provide you with a hands-on experience. Come try out a wide range of tools, devices and technology to see what’s out there.

Staff will be on site to answer your questions so you can get the most out of your experience. Representatives from the WA Assistive Technology Act Program and the WA Access Fund will also be present to provide information about their services.

Please RSVP to: Nancy Eckert (206) 906-5512 or nancy.eckert@dsb.wa.gov
Refreshments will be served.

Are you legally blind and seeking funds for college? Do you know someone who is blind or visually impaired and in need of funds for college or vocational school?

Washington Council of the Blind (WCB) provides scholarships for Washington state residents enrolled in a college or vocational/technical school program. The deadline for 2013 applications is the end of this month, August 2013.

For more information and an application, please see the WCB website.

We are digressing from our customary focus on braille/literacy related topics to share an invitation we just received. The Easter Egg Hunt, staged especially for children who are visually impaired, happens this coming Saturday, March 31, at the Tukwila Community Center, Tukwila, Washington. It sounds like a fun family outing.

Dear Friends,
You are invited to a Very Special Easter Egg Hunt for Children who are Visually Impaired and their families, sponsored by The Green River Valley Combined Club of CenturyLink Pioneers. There will be Beeping Easter Eggs, the Egg Hunts and a social time for families to visit, and enjoy refreshments. Our special guests will be guide dog puppies brought to us by the families that raise them in this area.

The Green River Valley Combined Club is a unit of the Washington State Chapter 30 Pioneers. Our sponsoring Corporation is CenturyLink Communications. The Club consists of volunteers who are active or retired from the Telecommunications Industry.

DATE Saturday, March 31, 2012 TIME: 10:00 AM to 12:00 Noon

PLACE: Tukwila Community Center
12424 42nd Avenue South
Tukwila, WA 98168

If you plan to attend please RSVP to: Marlynne Olson or Jerry Olson.
E-mail: jerryolson@prodigy.net
Phone: (425) 226-3660
Cell: (425) 221-0053

DIRECTIONS
Southbound on I-5
Take Exit # 156 (Tukwila/Interurban Ave.)
Turn RIGHT onto Interurban Ave.; proceed NORTH
At stop light at 42nd Ave. S., turn RIGHT
Cross River & Center is immediately on your RIGHT

Northbound on I-5
Take Exit # 156 (Tukwila/West Marginal Way)
Take the Interurban/Tukwila Exit; turn LEFT Onto Interurban Ave.
Move to the RIGHT lane
At stop light at 42nd Ave. S., turn RIGHT
Cross River & Community Center is immediately on RIGHT

From International Boulevard/Pacific Highway/Hwy 99
Turn EAST onto S. 130th
At Macadam Road, turn LEFT
Cross Interurban Avenue
Cross River & Community Center is immediately on your RIGHT

Eastbound on SR-518/I-405
Take I-5 North exit and move to right lane
Follow directions for Northbound on I-5

Westbound on I-405
Take I-5 North exit
Follow directions for Northbound on I-5