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The Federal Fair Housing Act protects citizens against discrimination in housing based on race, color, national origin, disability, familial status, religion, and sex. Housing discrimination often comes with “a smile and a handshake.” While commonly experienced, discrimination can be subtle, friendly and often difficult to pin down. The Fair Housing Center of Southeastern Michigan works to ensure that citizens are living where they would like and not where others say they should. If you have any reason to believe that you have been the victim of housing discrimination, you can call the Fair Housing Center at (877) 979-FAIR to discuss the situation.

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The Detroit Institute of Art presents Many Ways of Seeing: Artwork by Blind and Visually Impaired Children and Youth from the Detroit Area. The exhibit will take place at the Walter Gibbs Gallery from April 8 to 15. The DIA Learning and Interpretation Department, in collaboration with the UM School of Art and Design, recently began an art-making program for students in Detroit Public Schools and Lincoln Park Public Schools who are blind or visually impaired. This exhibit presents the local blind and visually impaired youth’s work, shedding light on the many ways of seeing that exist.

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Do you need money for college? The NFB Scholarship Program is available to persons who are legally blind and living in the United States and Puerto Rico. There are 30 awards, from $12,000 to $3,000. In addition, each winner will be assisted to attend the NFB Annual Convention for 2011 in Orlando, Florida. The annual contest began the first week of November 2010; all documents required from the applicants must be postmarked by the March 31, 2011 deadline. Applications and full details are available online at http://www.nfb.org/scholarships and any questions may be emailed to: scholarships@nfb.org.

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With the advent in recent years of downloadable audio books from sources both commercial and specifically for blind and low-vision users, many are now asking not only about content and sources, but also about the devices on which to play that content. This overview from the American Foundation for the Blind Access World does a great job of describing the most popular sources of audio reading material and the digital players currently available to blind and visually impaired people. If you're interested in learning about your options, it is certainly worth reading!

book club

If you have low vision and love to read and be social, you may be interested in joining a book club! This Low Vision Book club meets on the third Thursday of every other month from 1-3 pm at the Community Center Club House of Parkway Meadows. Two book selections are reviewed at each meeting. To sign up, please call (734) 665-0241.

Did you know that 12% of residents in Washtenaw County are affected by illiteracy? It is our hope that by increasing public awareness about this widespread issue that YOU would consider making a difference and become a volunteer tutor for Washtenaw Literacy. Upcoming training takes place for 5 Mondays and Thursdays beginning March 21-April 4th from 6:30-9:30 pm. Call 734-879-1320 for more information or click here. Volunteering looks great on a budding résumé. And it feels good to help someone in need. Wash Lit logo

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On March 3, 2011, the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), the Library of Congress’ talking-book and braille program, celebrated 80 years of helping visually impaired and physically handicapped individuals enjoy reading their favorite books and magazines.

This free library program brings reading materials in digital audio and braille formats straight to the homes of patrons from preschoolers to centenarians. Books on digital cartridge, digital talking-book players and braille books are sent to patrons via the U.S. mail at no cost to users. People who sign up with the program also have the option of downloading books and magazines over the Internet in audio or braille format.

"The NLS collection of more than 400,000 titles of bestsellers, classics, biographies, romance, and other genres delights even the most selective readers. Magazine-lovers enjoy free subscriptions to more than 40 periodicals in audio format, including Consumer Reports, National Geographic, and Sports Illustrated for Kids, and 30 periodicals in braille, such as Ladies Home Journal, ESPN: The Magazine and the New York Times Large-Print Weekly."

For more information on eligibility and to apply for this service through the Washtenaw Library for the Blind & Physically Disabled @ AADL, please visit our website at: wlbpd.aadl.org.

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Blind and sighted people from many walks of life and a variety of backgrounds regularly tune into American Council of the Blind (ACB) radio to listen to broadcasting that showcases and nurtures the creativity and talents of the blind/low vision community from many parts of the world. You can tune into ACB Radio using free software on your computer. Most media players will work (and may already be installed on your computer) but if you do not have a compatible player you can download one from the ACB. Take a look at the schedule, see what's coming up that's interesting to you, and tune in!

ARC of Oakland county

After We're Gone is a series of 4 training sessions geared toward aging parents who have adult children at home with developmental disabilities. The first session is Thursday January 20th from 7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. at MORC in Auburn Hills. This series is free. Walk-ins are welcome but reservations are appreciated. Call The Arc of Oakland County at 248-816-1900.

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In addition to the computer stations available in our Downtown Assistive Technology Lab, there are now two computer stations at the Malletts Creek branch that are located on top of an adjustable elevator table meant to accommodate an individual in a wheel chair or who may otherwise require a station at an alternate height. The table moves up or down by a remote control that's connected to the end of the table just below the table top. If you need to use a computer station on the elevator table, please feel free to let staff know.