Cold War Certificates
Service members, veterans, and federal employees who served between
September 2, 1945 and December 26, 1991 are still eligible for
a Cold War Recognition Certificate, according to officials of
the U.S. Army Personnel Command.
The certificates have been available since 1998. Only about one
million of the 22 million individuals eligible for the certificate
have actually responded.
Applications and further information can be found on the Internet
at https://coldwar.army.mil
The website informs applicants about the correct procedures and
required documentation. Applications must be returned by fax or
mail.
More information about the certificate is also available by calling
Customer Service at 703-325-5864.
"Talking Thermostats" Foster Independence
A former engineer and sales representative with 23 years experience
at the Honeywell Corporation has designed a talking thermostat
designed to promote independent living and energy management in
homes and businesses.
Harry Cohen of Minneapolis, Minnesota, recently incorporated
with the name TalkingThermostats.com to market his product. Observing
that thermostats were often difficult for the blind and visually
impaired to grip, read, and adjust, Cohen came up with the rectangular,
push-button VIP 1000 and a subsequent VIP 2000 for heat pump systems.
With each press of the oversized, up or down, arrow-shaped buttons,
the talking thermostat "speaks" the temperature setting
to the user. Pressing the "report" button, the user
hears the day, current room temperature, and temperature setting.
Other thermostat settings are also easy to perform because of
the built-in voice instructions.
A CD with complete instructions to operate the VIP 1000 is included
with each thermostat. The instructions are in MP3 and Wave file
format and can be listened to using a CD player or computer. A
text file is also included that can be listened to using JAWS
or any text-to-speech software.
For more information, contact Harry Cohen at 800-838-8860, or
refer to www.talkingthermostats.com
Booklet Offers Guide Pointers
SightCare, an information, education, and training program of
The Jewish Guild for the Blind, recently published a new booklet
entitled The Sighted Guide Technique.
The 16-page booklet, illustrated with nine color photographs,
provides detailed suggestions to families, friends, and caregivers
of the visually impaired. Subtopics include appropriate contact,
arm position and handgrip, body position, seating, doors and narrow
spaces, stairways, automobiles, and the trailing technique for
the self-traveler.
For more information on SightCare and its list of instructional
materials to assist the visually impaired, or to order materials,
call 800-539-4845, email Sightcare@jgb.org,
or visit the website at www.sightcare.org
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