Bright Future
Newsletter of the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped
A publication of the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped, Visual Services Division, Oklahoma Department of
Rehabilitation Services
Vol. 30, No. 3 Summer, 2015
300 N.E. 18th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
405-521-3514
Toll Free 1-800-523-0288
Fax 405-521-4582
TTY/TDD 405-521-4672
E-mail: olbph@okdrs.gov
Website: www.olbph.org
Bright Future is available in Braille, digital cartridge and on our website.

Success after Vision Loss
Connie Longmire worked as a marketing director for a large dental clinic. The company was sold at the end of 2013 and she lost her job.
Connie had become legally blind around the same time and she had major eye surgery. As a result, she could not read regular print without magnifiers, special reading glasses, or enhanced lighting. She heard of a vendor who sold adaptive reading products and went to his store. He showed her several handheld lighted magnifiers and video magnifiers; however, she could not afford to purchase these adaptive aids. He told her about Visual Services and the Department of Rehabilitation
Services, and then gave her the contact information.
During the next few weeks she contacted a vocational counselor and got a case opened. A referral to a vision rehab therapist and O&M instructor resulted in her attending a weeklong training called Adult Blind Living Evaluation (ABLE). This training included evaluations of daily living in personal and home management, kitchen skills, visual efficiency, communications, manual skills advocacy, and O&M instruction. She states that this was an eye-opening experience. “It exposed me to other persons with vision loss that were more visually challenged than me. They did so with grace.” Before this training, she was falling due to her lack of vision and is now using a long white cane.
There was a part-time opening for a receptionist and she was hired to fill it through a temporary employment agency for persons with disabilities that our agency utilizes.

No longer able to drive, and even though she had never used public transportation before, she now rides the bus to work, able to arrive on time. She is learning how to use the computer with Zoom text. She is also receiving training on case management software that will allow her to enter case notes and information. She is very eager, determined, and motivated to succeed.
As a vision rehab therapist, it is very exciting to see people, like Connie, with such determination to overcome the obstacles of recent vision loss. She is a success story in the making and is still learning how to deal with losing her vision and realizes that it is a journey to be enjoyed along the way.
If you know someone who is in a similar position as Connie had been, please contact the Department of Rehabilitation
Services at 1-800-845-8476 or visit the website at www.okdrs.gov
. They can be the next Connie!
--Pam Holloway, DRS Vision Rehab Therapist
Preserving the Digital Player’s Battery Life
It is important to remember to keep your digital player plugged in when you are not using it. If it is unplugged for an extended time, the power level in the battery could drop to a very low level and won’t ever fully recharge. If this happens you will need to send your player in to get a new battery installed. So be sure to keep it plugged in whenever possible. If you have questions about your player or its battery, call us and ask to speak with James Jenks.

--Library Staff
Contact Information
Have you moved, changed your phone number, or email address? Don’t forget to tell us! Without accurate and up-to-date contact and mailing information, we cannot provide you with great service. So, if you move, change your phone number, or change your email address, just remember to let us know.
Thanks!
--Andrew Shockley, Librarian
Oklahoma Telephone Reader
The Oklahoma Telephone Reader (OTR) is an on-demand dial-up information service. It is intended for use by anyone with a disability that prevents them from reading standard print materials, and you must be a library patron in order to register for OTR. OTR takes the place of and is similar to its predecessor, the Older Blind Telephone Information Line.
Volunteers record articles from “The Oklahoman”, “Tulsa
World”, the “Oklahoma Gazette”, and other publications on a daily basis. Such articles include news, editorials, sports, grocery ads, obituaries, as well as a variety of other types of articles. Listeners can access these using the key pads on their telephone and navigate directly to the publication of their choice. You can even use your telephone key pads to speed up or slow down the readings and to change the volume!
For more information, please call the library (1-800-523-
0288 or 405-521-3514) and ask for Becky Bates or Steve Dowdy.

--Becky Bates, OTR Administrator
Braille Books
Don’t forget we circulate Braille in addition to digital talking books! Our Braille patrons receive their books through the mail; or, they can download Braille files from BARD, to be read via a refreshable Braille display. Are you interested in receiving Braille books? Give us a call and ask for a librarian. We will be happy to set you up for this service!
--Andrew Shockley, Librarian
BARD Mobile App for Android Now Available
On June 10 th the NLS released the Android app for accessing the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) site. BARD
Mobile for Android is compatible with tablets and smartphones running Android OS 4.1 and later, and works with Google’s free
TalkBack screen reader. You can download the NLS BARD Mobile app for Android free of charge from the Google Play Store, however you must have a BARD account in order to access the talking books. Call the library and ask to speak to a librarian, if you are interested in setting up a BARD account.
--Erin Byrne, Librarian
Nonfiction Bestsellers from 2015

Some of my favorite writers gave us outstanding nonfiction titles in 2015, including David McCullough, Erik Larson, and Jon
Krakauer. These authors write in a style that is inspiring as well as informative. Their new books do not disappoint. I chose these great reads with long winter evenings and weekends in mind. I hope you will find at least one of them both entertaining and interesting!
DB 77138 –
by
Daniel James Brown
A thrilling, heart stopping tale of nine working-class American boys who defeated Hitler’s famous German team of rowers to win the Gold at the 1936 Olympics. This is an inspiring and well told history of the triumph of teamwork and dedication and my personal favorite in this list.
DB 82175 –
by David McCullough
In this exciting and fact-packed book, Pulitzer Prize winning author McCullough shows us, as no one has before, how two courageous Ohio boys from a remarkable family taught the world to fly. The dramatic story behind the story of these courageous and determined brothers and their little known sister is a fascinating look at why they finally succeeded.
DB 82061 –
by Nick Offerman
Comedian Nick Offerman profiles the lives of Americans who have inspired him. He tells the stories of twenty-one individuals, from

George Washington to Carol Burnett, using serious history and humor, and describing why they inspire him.
DB 80936 –
by Erik Larson
This enthralling story of the sinking of the Lusitania is full of glamor and suspense. Erik Larson excels at writing history that reads like a novel and he presents the story you thought you knew of one of the great disasters of maritime history. Its intimate details and true meaning have long been obscured until now.
DB 81250 -
by Jon Krakauer
The author investigates the epidemic of acquaintance rape on
American college campuses, focusing on the experiences of women at the University of Montana. He documents their assaults and the treatment by police and attorneys they endured along with public scorn. This is a moving account of rape victims’ private anguish and bravery in coming forward.
DB 81617 -
by Willie Nelson
In his own authentic voice, Willie shares memories of his Texas upbringing and long career. The book is a fun read because it isjust like its legendary subject -- genuine, colorful, entertaining and hilarious!
DB 81325 –
by David Brooks

Brooks gives us the biographies of a cross-section of individuals who struggled against their own weaknesses and limitations to develop a strong moral fiber. The powerful stories of people such as Augustine, Dwight Eisenhower, and Dorothy Day reveal the building blocks of a meaningful life. These are people who built a strong inner character and achieved a certain depth. This is an uplifting book about those who chose personal morality over public success.
--Sammie Willis, Librarian
How Long May I Check Out Books?
Books are checked out for a two month period, with a one month extension, if you need more time. Please remember to return these books as soon as you finish listening to them. Other patrons of the library would like to read them, too, and are likely waiting on them. Thank you!
--Andrew Shockley, Librarian
A Note from Our Friends Group
Hello, patrons of the library!
From the entire Board of Directors of Oklahomans for Special
Library Services (OSLS), we hope you had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends, and that December is even better! Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hannukah, Kwanza, something else, none of the above, or all of the above, may it be

a memorable one! Oh, and you survived the November ice storms, too!
As we batten down the proverbial hatches for year-end and winter, this is a great time to reflect back on 2015. It’s been a busy year for OSLS, the organization that supports so many activities at the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically
Handicapped.
Once again, we were thrilled to help underwrite the Summer
Reading Program, which is devoted to making sure visually impaired kids keep reading throughout the summer months. We all know the value that reading adds to a person’s life. From the summer kick-off party to the final awarding of prizes for reading achievement, OSLS was happy to help.
This fall, we were proud to help sponsor the DRS Expo, which brings together DRS employees and clients with vendors of services and products for the disabled. This networking opportunity helps DRS provide the best services to you, the end user. The Expo’s Awareness Walk raised just over $4,000 to fund your library’s purchase of a 3-D printer for the AIM Center. What an incredible asset this will be for the Library’s student patrons!
Also this fall, we sponsored a Volunteer Recognition
Luncheon. You can’t put a price on the services provided to the
Library by its many volunteers, and we were so happy to once again put together a function to express gratitude for all they do. To all of the volunteers, once again, THANK YOU!
On a sad -- yet glorious -- note, one of the library’s oldest patrons passed away this summer at the age of 102. Her eyesight started failing about 30 years ago, but the services provided by

your library brought immense happiness to her as her vision worsened. She still had digital books, waiting to be read, in her home when she passed. To express her gratitude for many years of library service, she left a large donation to OSLS to, in her words, “make sure the library’s services are available forever.” Be assured that the entire OSLS board takes this charge very seriously and we will do our best to honor her wishes. Forever is a long time!
Are you a member of OSLS? You should be! Annual dues are only $10 for library patrons. Help us help YOU and all the library’s current and future patrons! We always have a fun and informative annual meeting in May – it’s a great chance to have some great food, and meet the library staff and your fellow patrons! A good time is had by all, and we would love to see you at the next annual meeting. Best wishes for a happy and healthy and productive 2016!
--Kent Mauk, OSLS Treasurer
Spanish Language Titles
You may not know that we have audiobooks in Spanish, but we do! There are many titles available in Spanish and here are just a handful of them for your perusal. We thank library patron
Alexis Padilla for contributing suggestions to this list.
DB 70987 –
by Arturo Pérez-Reverte
Cadiz, Spain, 1811. Police inspector Rogelio Tizon Penasco investigates a series of murders during the siege of the Spanish port by French troops. An heiress, a French corsair, a guerilla

fighter, and a taxidermist each play a part in the mystery.
Spanish Language.
DB 29985 -
by Multiple Authors
This is a collection of more than one hundred fifty lyric poems of the best known Spanish poets of the twentieth century, including
Federico Garcia Lorca, Antonio Machado, and Juan Ramon
Jimenez. Brief introductions of each poet precede the poems.
Spanish Language.
DB 77968 –
by Jorge Amado
Originally published in Portuguese in 1964, this novel centers on three closely interrelated tales set in Brazil. Martim and Marialva's marriage causes an uproar, infant Felicio is baptized with an unlikely godfather, while fed-up residents of a slum confront a landowner and the police. Spanish Language.
DB 70976 –
by Eduardo Galeano
This is the first volume of the Uruguayan writer’s trilogy that explores the history of Latin America using folklore, poetry, letters, newspaper advertisements, political analysis, and anecdotes of historical figures.
covers Pre-
Columbian creation myths and historic events through the beginning of the seventeenth century, while volumes two (DB
70977) and three (DB 70978) explore the Latin American experience since the seventeenth century. Spanish Language.

DB 65992 –
by Jodi Picoult
When Kate is diagnosed with a rare leukemia, her parents create test-tube baby Anna to save her life. After enduring years of medical procedures, Anna, now thirteen, is expected to donate a kidney. She files for medical emancipation and throws the family into a fundamental moral crisis. Spanish Language.
--Librarian Andrew Shockley and Alexis Padilla
For Your Information
2016 Braille Calendars Available
Free pocket Braille calendars are available from the
American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults. For more information, contact them at 18440 Oxnard Street, Tarzana,
California 91356. Phone them at 818-343-3219 or email calendars@actionfund.org
.
Special Tactile Greeting Cards
Cozy Custom Cards are hand-crafted, tactually interesting greeting cards made just for you. Each card is unique, created to be as pleasing to the touch as it is to the eye, and fully customizable. Cards are available for all occasions, from congratulations on the birth of a new baby all the way through sympathy for the loss of a loved one, and all of the milestones in between: birthdays, graduations, weddings, anniversaries, retirements, and more.
There are three options for the inside message: they can be pre-printed, Brailled, or blank for a personalized, hand-written

message. Upon request, Cozy Custom Cards will even sign the card and mail it to the recipient for you.
The Cozy Custom Card website is still a work in progress, but sample cards can be viewed at www.CozyCustomCards.com
or at www.etsy.com/shop/CozyCustomCards . Contact Joan Blake by phone at (405) 924-9006 or email cozycustomcards@gmail.com
.
Sonar Glasses Now Available
Sonar Glasses, by G-Technology Group, are a new assistive tool designed to increase mobility independence for blind and visually impaired people. The glasses complement the white cane by providing information regarding the location of nearby objects above waist level within 6 feet of the user (e.g. tree limbs, signs, walls, etc.).
The glasses work based on echolocation. The detection range of the glasses is set to 6 feet, and it can be customized. If an obstacle is detected, a subtle vibration in the temple warns the user of the nearby object. If the object is closer than 3 feet, the vibration intensity increases.
Glasses are available with clear or dark lenses and have
100% UV protection. Prescription lenses and photosensitive lenses are also available. The glasses are shipped with a head strap, battery charger, and two rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.
The glasses are made in the USA and are backed with an unconditional 1-year warranty and satisfaction guarantee.
For more information, contact Jeff Shad, G-Technology
Group, at (571) 297-4756, or via email, jshad@gtechnologygroup.com
. You may also check the web site, www.gdisabilityproducts.com
.

Braille Writer Repair
Do you have a Braille writer needing repair? Contact Daniel
Simpson at acente@juno.com
or call (405) 640-9706.
--Compiled by Vicky Golightly, Library Patron
The Back 40
Have you ever been the recipient of someone’s “pay it forward” efforts? I have, many times! Usually we think of paying it forward as buying someone’s coffee, picking up the tab for a young family’s meal, or maybe for some military members or police officers.
But there are other ways of paying it forward, too. A smile, a kind word, even letting someone go ahead of you in the checkout line or at the barber shop, all are acts of kindness that cost nothing but help others in a way that is meaningful. Speaking of letting someone go ahead of you, that is a priceless gift because it involves time which can’t be bought at any price.
What other ways do you know of to pay it forward? It would be great to share these ideas with the rest of us. Send your paying it forward ideas to me at:
Jim Kettler-Bright Future
Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services
3535 NW 58 th St, Suite 500
Oklahoma City, OK 73112
…or email them to me: jkettler@okdrs.gov

We’ll try to share your thoughts in a future issue of Bright Future.
--Jim Kettler, DRS Contract Monitor
Tax Deductible Donations
Every gift to Oklahomans for Special Library Services (OSLS) benefits thousands. Contributions enable OSLS to provide activities not funded by the annual Library budget. Make checks payable to OSLS and mail to Oklahomans for Special Library
Services, P.O. Box 53593, Oklahoma City, OK 73152.
Donations are accepted in memory of a loved one, family member or to honor an individual. When a gift is made, it should include the name of the person being honored and the name and address of the family or family member to be notified of the gift.
Please consider naming OSLS as a beneficiary of a life insurance policy or in other estate planning bequests. With the assistance of an estate-planning attorney, significant tax benefits may be possible from this gift.
Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
300 N.E. 18th St.
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
Bright Future is the official publication of the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. It was printed by
Heritage Solutions in El Reno, OK. It is published four times a year. Kevin Treese is the Library Director, Andrew Shockley is the Editor, and Jim Kettler is the Assistant Editor. In providing information to readers of Bright Future, the Oklahoma
Department of Rehabilitation Services does not endorse any product or service referred to by this newsletter. This publication is authorized by the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services in accordance with state and federal regulations, with copies deposited with the Oklahoma Department of Libraries Publications Clearinghouse. Cost of printing and distribution was $2,970.38 for 5,400 copies. DRS does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services. For additional copies, contact the Oklahoma Library for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped, 405-521-3514.