The Mini Token Blog

The latter developed in part by Knopper who has a visual impairment. Experimental approaches in sensory substitution are beginning to provide access to arbitrary live views from a camera.

Web browsers, word processors, icons and windows and email programs are just some of the applications used successfully by screen reader users. Only a small fraction of this population, when compared to the sighted community, have Internet access.

Later versions of Microsoft Windows include an Accessibility Wizard and Magnifier for those with partial vision, and Microsoft Narrator, a simple screen reader. The rest have some vision, from light perception alone to relatively good acuity. There are also open source screen readers, such as the Linux Screen Reader for GNOME and NonVisual Desktop Access for Windows.

Screen readers can be assumed to be able to access all display content that is not intrinsically inaccessible.

The movement towards greater web accessibility is opening a far wider number of websites to adaptive technology, making the web a more inviting place for visually impaired surfers. Linux distributions for the blind include Oralux and Adriane Knoppix. Therefore, using a screen reader is, according to some users, considerably more difficult than using a GUI and many applications have specific problems resulting from the nature of the application. A persons choice of screen reader is dictated by many factors, including platform and the role of organizations like charities, schools, and employers.

Comming year Anthony Loeff nonprofit volunteer is writing about screen readers for people suffering from blindness Almost 14 percent of those deemed legally blind, by any measure, have no vision. The open source GNOME desktop environment long included Gnopernicus and now includes Orca. Screen reader choice is contentious: differing priorities and strong preferences are common. This interpretation is then represented to the user with text-to-speech, sound icons, or a braille output. The primary audience for such applications is those who have difficulty reading because of learning disabilities or language barriers. The Macintosh OS also comes with a built-in screen reader, called VoiceOver. The console-based Oralux Linux distribution ships with three screen-reading environments: Emacspeak, Yasr and Speakup. While Apple Mac OS X includes VoiceOver, a more feature-rich screen reader. Most legally blind people 60 percent do not use computers. A screen reader is a software application that attempts to identify and interpret what is being displayed on the screen. Indeed functionality remains limited compared to equivalent desktop applications, the major benefit is to increase the accessibility of said websites. Access technology such as screen readers and Screen magnifiers enable the blind to use mainstream computer applications. Recent versions of Microsoft Windows come with the rather basic Narrator. Screen readers are a form of assistive technology potentially useful to people who are blind, visually impaired, or learning disabled, often in combination with other AT such as screen magnifiers. More and more, screen readers are being bundled with operating system distributions.

A healthy pregnancy almost always involves weight gain. But now that
baby’s here, you’re probably wishing those extra pounds would hurry up
and disappear! While it won’t happen overnight, these six simple tips
can help you lose that extra weight in a healthy way. (If you’re looking
for parts 2 and 3 of this article, you can find them both at http://
www.mambomoms.com/articles.html)

1) Try to relax and don’t be in too much of a hurry to lose your extra
pregnancy weight. Remember, it took 9 months for you to put it on, and
you should give yourself at least half that amount of time to take it back
off. In fact, eight to 12 months is not an unreasonable amount of time to
give yourself. And even if it does take a year to get back to your pre-
pregnancy size and shape, those pounds are all the more likely to stay
off because you’ve lost them gradually.

You definitely should not be thinking about weight loss at all in the early
post-partum weeks. Your body needs this time to recover from giving
birth, readjust to its pre-pregnancy state, and establish a milk supply for
your baby. Besides, most new moms find that a fair amount of weight
tends to melt off all by itself in these first few weeks as excess fluids
retained in late pregnancy are gradually shed.

Remember that gradual weight loss based on sensible nutrition and
enjoyable physical activity is the best path to permanent weight loss.
This applies whether or not weight gain is due to pregnancy, but when
you are dealing with all the changes and adjustments that come with
having a new baby, it’s all the more important to take a slow and steady
approach so you don’t add to your stress level.

And speaking of stress, recent research shows that when you’re
stressed, your body releases hormones that can contribute to weight
gain. So try not to add to your stress level at this time by putting
unreasonable pressure on yourself to lose that extra weight too fast.
Instead, take a long term approach and be sure to incorporate some
kind of relaxation into your day, whether it’s having a nap, a warm bath,
or receiving a relaxing back massage.

2) Eat well and nourish yourself with healthy foods so you’ll have the
energy you need to care for yourself and your baby. If you restrict your
calories you’ll probably get tired, cranky, and lose energy, making you
less apt to exercise and less able to take good care of your baby.

Cutting back too much on your caloric intake can also sabotage your
weight loss efforts by forcing your body into “starvation mode.” When
your body isn’t getting enough fuel, it becomes much more efficient at
using what you do give it, so that over time you will actually gain weight
rather than lose it. You are much better off to eat well and get regular,
moderate exercise to help shed those extra pounds.

Remember though, that there is a big difference between eating and
eating well! If you eat nourishing foods you will probably feel full sooner
and you will likely need fewer calories than if you eat “empty calorie”
foods like white bread and french fries. Eat a variety of healthy foods,
including plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, and make sure you are
getting a proper balance of the major nutrients (protein, carbohydrate
and healthy fats). You may want to talk to your doctor or midwife about
continuing to take your pre-natal multivitamin, or other supplements, at
least during the immediate post-partum period.

Snacking is something you’ll probably want to do a lot of, either because
you may not always have time to prepare a meal, or because the
demands of caring for a new baby mean you get hungry more often.

Here are a few ideas for good, nutrient-dense choices for snack foods:

• apple slices spread with low fat cream cheese and sprinkled with
crushed walnuts

• yogurt with chopped fresh fruit and nuts

• whole grain toast with nut butter

• cheese with whole grain crackers or rice cakes

• tomato or mixed vegetable juice with a hard boiled egg

On the other hand, try not to overdo it. Being pregnant or nursing a baby
is not a license to indulge in a non-stop buffet of foods, even if they are
nutritious! Eat when you are hungry, make healthy food choices most of
the time, and remember that your baby is counting on you to choose
wisely if you’re breastfeeding, so make those calories count nutrient-
wise.

In part two of this article, you’ll learn why drinking plenty of pure water is
important to weight loss in general, and to post-partum weight loss in
particular. You’ll also find out how many calories a day you’ll use by
breastfeeding your baby. Part three will teach you how you can burn
extra calories easily and enjoyably without huffing and puffing at the
gym. You’ll also learn the secret that savvy new moms use to
effortlessly burn up to an extra 200 calories a day that’s 2 pounds a
month with no extra effort!

Susan Peach is a retired La Leche League Leader, a dance and fitness
instructor, and mother to two teenage boys. She is also the creator of
Mambo Moms, a fun and gentle Latin dance based fitness program that
helps new moms get back in shape while spending quality play time
with their babies. Find out more at http://www.mambomoms.com

Dance and Music therapy are forms of therapy wherein the participants are taught to channel constructively and express their thoughts and feelings. These are very helpful in individuals, young and old, who feel that they are unable to truly let other people know who they are inside and what they feel by just using speech and writing.

Dance and Movement Therapy

Human beings have the innate capacity to communicate and express thoughts and feelings through physical movements and body language. Dancing is common to all tribes and races of the past and present. Young children are able to express in this way without oral communication and without inhibitions. Unfortunately however, as people grow up in our modern society, they are bogged down by rules, etiquette and norms that discourage this kind of free verbal and physical expression resulting in pent up feelings. These hidden emotions can often lead to physical manifestations and illnesses.

This form of therapy can be applied to any individual from any age group who is willing. Dance and movement therapy’s goal is to enable the person to discover the physical movements he is capable of. This therapy is also intended to help individuals express and hopefully resolve deep-rooted problems through communicating and relating to others through the medium of physical movements and dance. It helps people recognize, understand and come to terms with these repressed emotions and communicating them to others at the same time.

Dance movement therapy can help relieve psychological, emotional and stress-related disorders. It can also help people who are anxious and depressed, people with addictions, problems pertaining to physical, sexual, or verbal abuse and even learning disabilities. It has been observed that children who respond strongly to this therapy are often found to have physical, mental, behavioral and intellectual problems like autism. This form of therapy is said to be most beneficial to those with psychological and emotional disturbances and those who are intellectually challenged.

Dance therapy sessions are most often done in certain day-care and ‘drop-in’ centers and hospitals. In these sessions, the therapist may suggest movements but encourages participants to take the initiative and make their own. Eventually, the participants learn to express their feelings constructively, talk recognized problems over and learn how to resolve them better.

Music Therapy

Making music has always been an essential part of all cultures as leisure, as a mode of communication as well as a medium for expression. Music is a very powerful tool and has shown great effects on human beings. Music can entice, captivate and excite. It can also stimulate feelings of sadness, fear, joy and serenity. Because of these reactions, the experience of making and listening to music can be very beneficial when used as a form of therapy.

In music therapy, the participants make music as a mode of communication and as an expression of their deepest emotions. In a session, they make use of different instruments as well as their own voices to create music. Music therapy can help people with various disorders but is especially helpful in children and adults with intellectual and learning disabilities. This can also help those who are physically limited in some way by improving breathing and muscle coordination.

These sessions are often done in certain hospitals, in residential homes and schools. Trained therapists with a qualification in music are required to conduct the therapy.

Michael Russell Your Independent Alternative guide.

Diabetes is being a huge health problem. Many people suffer from diabetes and the other medical side effects it cause. An early diagnosis of diabetes can help a person to avoid serious related diseases. The earlier diabetes is caught the easy it is for doctors to monitor the patients overall health, thus preventing any further medical problems.

Diabetes is when the pancreas does not function properly and glucose levels fall outside the normal range. A normal glucose reading is lower than 110 mg/dL upon waking in the morning and lower than 140 mg/dL two hours after eating. There are simple blood tests that are used to diagnose diabetes. Once diagnosed a person will work with their doctor to determine a treatment. Treatments can include diet changes, pills, or injections. Any history, family history and people in certain ethnic groups may be at elevated risk for developing diabetes. There are different types of diabetes. Some start in childhood, some start in adulthood and another form occurs during pregnancy. All can cause harmful effects on the body if not taken care of.

Long term effects of diabetes are usually due to a patient letting their glucose levels remain elevated for long periods of time. That is why early detection is important. Excess blood sugar levels have a horrible effect on the body. Some common effects from diabetes include vision problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, heart and circulation problems. A person with diabetes is at a higher risk for these types of conditions, but a person who does not control their diabetes is even more likely to develop one of these conditions.

Diabetes is a disease that does not have a cure. Diagnosing and treating diabetes have evolved into easier processes. A person with diabetes can normally live life as they did before their diagnosis. Living with diabetes is a matter of taking control over the disease and preventing complications.

About the author: Stephen Kreutzer is a freelance publisher based in Cupertino, California. He publishes articles and reports in various ezines and provides diabetes resources on Diabetes Aid.