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                            THE BLIND NEWS DIGEST

                                 Issue # 1163

                           Monday, August 28, 1995

Today's Topics:


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                      AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Donations


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Subject: AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Donations
From: patt@squid.tram.com (Patt Bromberger)

 Contact:   Liz Greco                   M. Tristyn Patrick
            AFB                         Xerox Imaging Systems
            212-502-7614                508-977-2097


 XEROX CORPORATION AND AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR THE BLIND CREATE
                  A NEW PARTNERSHIP
         TOWARD ENHANCING ACCESS TO INFORMATION

 The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is pleased to
 announce a working partnership with Xerox Corporation toward
 enhancing access to information for people who are blind or
 visually impaired and sharing Helen Keller's and AFB's legacy
 with the public.

 "Nothing has proven more significant than technology in
 empowering people who are blind or visually impaired to gain
 full equality with our sighted peers," states Carl R. Augusto,
 president, American Foundation for the Blind.  "With these
 efforts by Xerox, a recognized leader in information technology,
 we can break down the barriers that prevent blind people from
 participating fully in the Information Age."

 AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Program

 Xerox Corp. and AFB have established the AFB/Xerox Reading Edge
 Program to donate a limited number of Xerox Imaging Systems'
 Reading EdgeTM machines to people who are blind or visually
 impaired and to organizations and educational institutions that
 serve them.  The terms of the program seek to ensure that the
 pool of recipients will comprise a balanced mix of individuals
 and institutions.  Recipients will need to demonstrate that they
 do not possess adequate financial resources to purchase a
 Reading Edge.  The machine is normally priced at approximately
 $5500.

 According to Richard Broyles, vice president of Adaptive
 Products at Xerox Imaging Systems, "It is our continuing goal at
 Xerox to make the Reading Edge technology increasingly
 affordable to the market.  Ultimately, we would like to see the
 technology being used by everyone who could benefit from it; the
 AFB/Reading Edge Program is one more step toward that goal."

 The Reading Edge is an optical character recognition device~a
 "reading machine" manufactured by Xerox Imaging Systems~that
 scans print and converts it into easily understood synthetic
 speech.  It is the size of a briefcase and weighs about 23
 pounds.  The Reading Edge is a successor to the Kurzweil Reading
 Machine and the Kurzweil Personal Reader. With the establishment
 of the AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Program, AFB and Xerox are
 discontinuing the loan program that had been in existence since
 1989.

 Copies of the AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Program application for
 individuals, and the request for proposals for organizations and
 institutions, are attached. Additional copies can be
 requested through the AFB toll-free Information Line at 1-800-
 AFB-LINE (232-5463). In New York, please call 212-502-7657.
 Applications must be postmarked no later than October 13, 1995.

 AFB 75th Anniversary Exhibition

 Xerox Corp. has also awarded the American Foundation for the
 Blind a gift of $250,000 in support of AFB's 75th Anniversary
 exhibition, "Inspiration and Innovation: Helen Keller and the
 American Foundation for the Blind."  Xerox Corp. will serve as
 the national sponsor of this exhibition, which will illustrate
 the history, capabilities, and achievements of people who are
 blind or visually impaired in the 20th century, beginning with
 Helen Keller, who was AFB's spokesperson for 44 years. The
 exhibition will be displayed at prominent sites across the
 United States in 1996, AFB's 75th anniversary year. Cities
 scheduled for this national tour include Atlanta, Chicago,
 Dallas, New York, San Francisco, St. Louis, and Washington, D.C.


 AFB and Xerox share a rich history as pioneers in creating and
 using technology to ensure that people who are blind or visually
 impaired have the opportunity to lead independent and productive
 lives.  By providing this opportunity to learn about the
 evolution of assistive technology, AFB and Xerox hope to
 demonstrate to the American public their belief that information
 technology is an enabler, rather than a barrier, to this goal.

 Xerox Imaging Systems (XIS), headquartered in Peabody, Mass.,
 provides adaptive technology products for individuals who are
 blind, visually impaired, dyslexic, reading disabled, or have
 difficulties accessing print.  For two decades, XIS has
 demonstrated an ongoing commitment to providing print-disabled
 users with products that increase their independent access to
 material in print.  XIS is a wholly owned subsidiary of Xerox
 and an operating unit of Xerox Desktop Document Systems
 division, one of eight business divisions at Xerox.

 Xerox Corporation is a global enterprise serving the worldwide
 document processing market.  The company's document processing
 business develops, manufactures, markets, services, and finances
 a complete range of products and services designed to make
 offices around the world more productive.

 The American Foundation for the Blind is a national, nonprofit
 organization whose mission is to enable people who are blind or
 visually impaired to achieve equality of access and opportunity
 that will ensure freedom of choice in their lives.
 Headquartered in New York City, AFB maintains offices in
 Atlanta, Chicago, Dallas, San Francisco, and Washington DC.

                                  # #

August 1, 1995

                     AFB/XEROX READING EDGE PROGRAM

                       Donations to Individuals

 The AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Program has been established to
 enable people who are blind or visually impaired to acquire a Xerox
 Imaging Systems Reading Edge -- a "reading machine" that scans
 typeset or typewritten print and converts it into easily understood
 synthetic speech. The Reading EdgeTM functions independently of a
 computer and does not require prerequisite computer skills. A Xerox
 Imaging Systems brochure describing the Reading Edge is attached.

 Through this program, a limited number of Reading Edge machines
 will be donated to blind or visually impaired persons who could not
 otherwise afford to purchase the device. Applicants must be legally
 blind U.S. citizens who do not have the financial means to purchase
 a Reading Edge. Only those applicants who have significant financial
 need will be considered. No more than one application will be
 accepted per household.

 To be considered for the AFB Reading Edge Program, please
 complete the application form and return it postmarked no later than
 October 13, 1995 to:

                    AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Program
                   American Foundation for the Blind
                       11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
                       New York, New York 10001
                           Attn: Mark Uslan

 If you have any additional questions about the AFB/Xerox Reading
 Edge Program, please contact Mark Uslan at 212-502-7642; 212-
 502-7773(fax); or techctr@afb.org (e-mail).


          APPLICATION FOR THE AFB/XEROX READING EDGE PROGRAM

 I.   Confidentiality
      This application is for the sole purpose of obtaining a Reading
      EdgeTM through the AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Program.
      Records relating to the applicants for the AFB/Xerox Reading
      Edge Program are confidential and will be retained by the
      American Foundation for the Blind.

 II.  Please Print or Type.



 NAME OF APPLICANT                                      DATE OF BIRTH
 (If applying on behalf of a child, please provide the child's name and
 date of birth)



 PARENT OR GUARDIAN (If applicant is a minor or dependant)



 MAILING ADDRESS



 CITY                   STATE                 ZIP



 HOME PHONE                                   WORK PHONE

 III. The applicant must be legally blind. Legal blindness is
      defined as a corrected visual acuity of 20/200 or less in
      the better eye or a visual field of 20 degrees or less.

 IV.  The applicant must be a U.S. citizen.

 V.   Financial Information
      The following information will be used to determine financial
      need. Applicants who are determined to be eligible for
      the AFB/Xerox Reading Edge program will be required to
      provide verification of this information.


       1.    Number of individuals in household

       2.    Applicant's annual income (all sources):

             a.   Salary and Wages                                    $

             b.   SSDI, dividends, disability insurance, etc.
                  insurance, etc.                                     $

       3.    Other household income (e.g. spouse,
             parent/guardian)                                         $

       4.    Total household income
             (lines 2a+2b+3)                                          $

       5.    Monthly housing costs:

                  Rent                                                $

                  Mortgage                                            $

                  Real Estate Taxes                                   $

                  Other                                               $

       6.    Other Monthly Obligations:

                  Credit Card Payments                                $

                  Installment Loan Payments                           $

                  Medical Bills                                       $

                  Other                                               $

 VII.  Certification
 I understand that the purpose of the AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Program is to
 provide Reading Edge devices to legally blind U.S. citizens for their
 personal use and not for re-sale. All of the information on this form
 is true and complete to the best of my knowledge. Upon request,
 I agree to provide proof of legal blindness, U.S. citizenship,
 and verification of financial information, including IRS tax forms.



 SIGNATURE OF APPLICANT                                                     DATE

 Please return postmarked no later than October 13, 1995 to: AFB/Xerox Reading
 Edge Program, American Foundation for the Blind, 11 Penn Plaza, Suite #300, New
 York, NY 10001, Attn: Mark Uslan, (212) 502-7642; (212) 502-7773(fax); or
 techctr@afb.org (e-mail).




 August 1, 1995

                        AFB/XEROX READING EDGE PROGRAM

                         Donations to Organizations

 The AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Program has been established to enable
 people who are blind or visually impaired to acquire a Xerox Imaging
 Systems Reading Edge -- a "reading machine" that scans typeset or
 typewritten print and converts it into easily understood synthetic speech.
 The Reading EdgeTM functions independently of a computer and does not
 require prerequisite computer skills. A Xerox Imaging Systems brochure
 describing the Reading Edge is attached.

 Through this program, a limited number of Reading Edge machines will be
 donated to blind or visually impaired individuals and organizations serving
 blind or visually impaired people. Applications for donations to individuals
 are available upon request through the AFB Information Line, 1-800-AFB-
 LINE (232-5463). In New York, please call 212-502-7657.

 For an organization to qualify for a donation, it must submit a proposal
 demonstrating how the donation of a Reading Edge will impact individuals
 who for financial reasons might not otherwise have access to the device.
 Other criteria include demonstrating a commitment to providing access to
 information and training on technology to people who are blind or visually
 impaired, and financial need. The proposal must include the organization's
 annual report with an audited financial statement.

 Proposals must be postmarked no later than October 13, 1995. The
 proposal should be sent to:

                       AFB/Xerox Reading Edge Program
                      American Foundation for the Blind
                          11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300
                          New York, New York 10001
                              Attn: Mark Uslan

 If you have any additional questions about the AFB/Xerox Reading Edge
 Program, please contact Mark Uslan at 212-502-7642;
 212-502-7773 (fax); or techctr@afb.org (e-mail).




--- End of forwarded message from "Patt Bromberger" <patt>




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                 End of Issue # 1163 of the Blind News Digest

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