Microsoft Soundscape: Opening the Door to New Experiences

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 16

~~ACBS The Sento Showdown Presents: Live Demo of Accessible Video Games: Attendees joined the organizers of The Sento Showdown, a tournament held exclusively for blind and visually impaired players, in their quest to immerse you into the world of accessibility in gaming. They showcased advanced mastery levels of narrated gameplay across a variety of popular video game titles for your entertainment. Attendees had the opportunity to bring their questions and their best gaming spirit! Disclaimer: Some of the games featured in this presentation may be rated M for mature audiences by the ESRB. Viewer discretion is advised Panelists: ♠ Gable Meade, Gamer, Cedar Rapids, IA ♠ Carlos Martinez, Gamer, Los Angeles, CA ♠ Carlos Vasquez, Gamer, Houston, TX ♠ Dexter Roberts, Gamer, Los Angeles, CA ♠ Alex Vasquez, Gamer, Los Angeles, CA Sponsored by: ACB Students

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 22~~

~~BRL Program Graphics and e-readers: •Part One: BEYOND Braille: Using the graphics capabilities of braille printers: Attendees learned from a presenter from View Plus on how to print using a Braille printer. •Part Two: An update on the NLS e-reader Project. Speaker: Tamara Rorie, National Library Service, Washington, DC

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 22~~

~~An Evening With ACB: Panel on Increasing Financial Literacy: Financial issues touch every aspect of our lives. The more we can learn about successfully navigating this whole area of interest, the more successful we can become in handling various financial matters that contribute to our independence. Although we could never hope to fully handle this subject in one panel session, we presented a sampling of topics we believe will be of interest and assistance to convention attendees. Panelists: ♦ Brian Charlson, Watertown, MA, an expert in the area of credit through his work on the Structured Negotiation on Credit Report Accessibility, shared this expertise with us and presented a discussion of the importance of knowing your credit status, and how to obtain and utilize your free and accessible credit reports from the three major credit bureaus. All financial literacy starts with credit, and Brian will tell us just what we need to know about it to make it work for us. ♦ Judy Dixon, Arlington VA, our resident expert in iOS-related photography, stretched our comfort zones by demonstrating the techniques she uses to allow a totally blind person to deposit a check into her bank account using only her iPhone. ♦ Kelly Ford, a brilliant trainer, answer man, and problem solver from Microsoft's Enterprise Disability Answer Desk, Madison, WI, is adept at all things Excel. Kelly shared information on pivot tables and data types, two awesome and exciting features that are accessible and will allow us to track our expenses and get stock-related information using some cool Excel techniques.

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 21~~

~~BPI: Using Clubhouse, TikTok and WhatsApp: People are talking: what drives your voice? Facebook and Twitter were once the reigning social giants. The networking landscape has changed significantly. Newer applications like TikTok and clubhouse are clamoring with new forms of social expression and conversation. WhatsApp has also shaped the way we communicate with one another over the past few years. With all the social networking noise, how do you find the right volume for you? This roundtable discussion, we'll hear from three members of our community shared their favorite platforms that amplify their voices. Attendees joined BPI for a discussion that expanded their social networking horizons. Presenters: ☻ Leah Gardner, Oakland, CA ☻ Byron Lee, Minneapolis, MN

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 18~~

~~BITS Virtual Technology Showcase Part Two: Presenter: Brian Hartgen, Director of Hartgen Consultancy, Caerphilly, Mid Glamorgan, South Wales •  Brian Hartgen has 24 years experience training visually impaired people how to use adaptive technology, from Braille-based hardware, to screen-reading software delivered within education, companies, rehabilitation organizations, to individuals in their own homes. For the past 18 years, Brian has focused his attention on improving the access people receive from applications using the JAWS for Windows Screen-Reader. Brian holds certificates from the development company in JAWS product knowledge and the Advanced JAWS Scripting course. Brian believes in providing visually impaired people with the best possible service and support. Whether you are a user of the JAWS for Windows screen-reader who needs some training at home, an employer of a blind person who would like to ensure an application is accessible, or you would like a screen-reading product to make your life easier, Hartgen Consultancy can help! Attendees joined us for an informative presentation from Brian Hartgen. Facilitator: Earlene Hughes, President, Blind Information Technology Specialists, West Lafayette IN Panelist: ☺ Christopher Maae, Student, BITS Vice President, Santa Ana, C ☺Rebecca Knaub, Bureau of Blind and Vision services of Pennsylvania, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist/ Assistive Technology Specialist, Harrisburg, PA ☺ Rosanna Beaudrie, Secretary, Blind Information Technology Specialists, Levittown, NY 

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 18~~

~~BITS Virtual Technology Showcase Part One: The four major companies in the field of access technology, Vispero, Hims, HumanWare, and APH, updated attendees on their products. Facilitator: Earlene Hughes, President, Blind Information Technology Specialists, West Lafayette IN Panelist: ◘ Christopher Maae, Student, BITS Vice President, Santa Ana, CA ◘ Vispero: Presenter: Ron Miller, Blindness Technology Product Specialist, Safety Harbor, FL ◘  HIMS: Presenter: Thomas Simpson, Vice President of Marketing and Sales, Albany OR ◘ APH: Presenter: Jim Sullivan, Director of Social Enterprise for APH, Louisville KY ◘ HumanWare: Presenter: Peter Tucic, HumanWare Brand Ambassador Blindness Products, Chicago IL

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 18~~

~~BITS/SASI: Do You Hear What I Hear: Are you getting the most from your hearing devices? Have you ever wondered if any hearing aids will work with other technology such as your iPhone?  Attendees enjoyed an informative presentation during which two audiologists and a Hearing Care Professional served as panelists as they addressed the issues and answered questions. Presenters: • Dr. Carol Hamer, Audiologist, Hellen Keller National Center, Sands Point, NY • Jacob Smith, Hearing Instrument Dispenser, Oak Lawn, IL • Dr. Nancy Mascia, Audiologist, Alabama Department of Rehabilitation Services, Birmingham, AL

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 17~~

~~BITS: Make Your House a Smart Home: Use Smart Plugs, Lights, Door Locks, and Other Smart Devices. Attendees learned about all of the things that you can do to make your house a smart home. Presenters: ♣ Peter Korn, Director of Accessibility, Amazon Lab 126, Seattle, WA ♣ Joshua Miele, Principal Accessibility Researcher, Amazon Lab126, Sunnyvale, CA ♣ Elodie Fichet, PhD, Sr. Accessibility Program Manager, Seattle, WA

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 17~~

The Sento Showdown Team Presented An overview of Console and Video Game Accessibility: Have you wondered what it would be like to experience video games using elements of assistive technology? Ever considered pursuing your own experience playing video games? Attendees joined the team of organizers that hosted The Showdown during the Summer 2020, the first ever Mortal Kombat 11 tournament exclusive to players who are blind and visually impaired occurred. They provided an overview on navigation using Narrator, the Microsoft screen reader that was implemented into the Xbox One and later consoles. Travel in this virtual tour, filled with narrated examples of playable game designs across the universes of Marvel’s Spider-Man Remastered, Microsoft’s Killer Instinct, Capcom’s Resident Evil 6, NetherRealm Studios’ Mortal Kombat 11, The Coalition’s Gears 5, and the latest golden standard title of our time, Naughty Dog’s the Last of Us Part II. Attendees were invited to engage with the group and ask your questions afterwards. Disclaimer: Mortal Kombat 11, Resident Evil 6, Gears 5 and The Last of Us Part II. are all games rated M for mature audiences by the ESRB. Viewer discretion is advised Panelists: ♠ Gable Meade, Gamer, Cedar Rapids, IA ♠ Carlos Martinez, Gamer, Los Angeles, CA ♠ Carlos Vasquez, Gamer, Houston, TX ♠ Dexter Roberts, Gamer, Los Angeles, CA ♠ Alex Vasquez, Gamer, Los Angeles, CA Sponsored by: ACB Students

• Recorded during the 2021 ACB National Convention on July 17