Mystic Place Blog and Podcast

Last week Modern-Eyes (a Dolphin Accredited Trainer) awarded 33 eDCC (eDigital Competence Certificate) to their learners. Modern-Eyes had been told previously that you couldn't complete word processing accreditation courses with Dolphin Guide.

However, this misconception was firmly disproved as 3 Dolphin Guide users, who were all completely new to the system, gained exactly the same word processing & email accreditations as their colleagues who were using Microsoft Word with SuperNova. Two of the Dolphin Guide users even had to learn how to type before beginning the course.

Modern-Eyes believe they have achieved such a good success rate because they tailor their work to each individual learner, so everyone learns at their own pace.

Learn more about Dolphin Guide.

Find your local Dolphin Accredited Trainer

Dolphin Computer Access today announced the appointment of Dave Salisbury as Account Manager for the UK and Ireland. Best known to many people as 'Dolphin Dave', Dave returns to Dolphin's Worcester offices following his previous employment at Dolphin's sales office for more than 9 years.

As a close friend of many organisations and individuals in the visual impairment industry, Dave's appointment to this pivotal customer facing role signals Steve Bennett's ambition to reignite the close working relationships between Dolphin and its software users throughout the UK and Ireland.

Steve said "We are thrilled to have Dave back at Dolphin"

Dave's extensive product knowledge and great sense of humour, enable him to work with our customers to identify the optimum speech, magnification or Braille solution which will further their independence."

Dave began his Dolphin career in 1998 following a spell at the Foundation for the Communication for the Disabled, now known as Abilitynet. Working on the road for more than nine years, Dave worked closely with specialist charities, large corporate employers and supporting people who are blind or partially sighted in their local area.

In 2007, Dave moved to work for Dolphin's sister company Software Express, now known as Dolphin Computer Access North and the home of Dolphin Guide.

Commenting on his reappointment, Dave said;

"My roots are at Dolphin, and it feels right to be returning to a company that I know puts the needs of customers first. I am really looking forward to working with the loyal Dolphin software users, in addition to meeting some new faces."

To contact Dave Salisbury email dave.salisbury@dolphinuk.co.uk, call 01905 754 577 ext 234 or mobile 07968 562 511.

Dolphin's very own Kate Christodoulou is urging everyone to look through their loft for "goodies" to donate to their local Cancer Research UK shop.

Kate's clear out of her own attic turned up clothes, pictures, DVDs and ornaments which have now been donated to the Worcester Cancer Research UK shop.

"Shops like this one help fund the pioneering work of Cancer Research UK scientists, so it is vital they have a constant new supply of stock to sell."

Kate has spent the last year battling breast cancer, and has under taken both chemotherapy & radiotherapy treatment before finishing her treatment in May.

Dolphin is delighted to have Kate back at work with us, in a part time role, & the Dolphin team were eager to sponsor Kate when she took part in Cancer Research UK's "Race for Life" in June. In total Kate managed to raise a huge £725 in sponsorship.

Dolphin would like to thank the Worcester News for allowing us to reproduce their photo & aspects of their story.

Learn more about how to donate goods to Cancer Research UK and locate your nearest store from the Cancer Research UK website.

Universities, colleges and government agencies supporting individuals with print related disabilities and vision impairments can now ensure equal and timely access to accessible print materials thanks to a partnership between the Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC) and Dolphin Computer Access.

Announced during the 33rd Annual Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) 2010 conference in Denver, Colorado, the partnership marks the beginning of a strategic relationship designed to empower organizations to deliver the full range of alternative formats to individuals with learning disabilities, low vision and blindness; including large print, Braille, DAISY and MP3. 

An initiative of the Board of Regents University System of Georgia, AMAC's mission is to improve system wide services for students with print-related disabilities. Housed at the University of Georgia in Athens, AMAC supports and trains post-secondary institutions and government agencies to produce and deliver alternative text accommodations.

Providing cutting edge software tools for the creation and dissemination of alternative formats, Dolphin Computer Access is best known for its DAISY creation expertise delivered in their internationally adopted solutions; Dolphin Publisher to create human narrated DAISY or convert to Braille, large print, MP3 and DAISY formats using EasyConverter. 

Access to high quality and timely alternative formats is at the heart of a student's educational success, as Christopher M. Lee, Director of AMAC explains.

"Access to high quality and timely alternative formats is critical for every print impaired student. Without this access many students are simply unable to read, an essential element of any program."

Vice President for Dolphin Computer Access, Charlie Hamilton explains how this partnership demonstrates Dolphin's commitment to supporting those responsible for creating the alternative text accommodations.

"The team at AMAC is built around many years of practical experience in the creation and delivery of alternative format information.  Working together, Dolphin and AMAC aim to strengthen and share their expertise with professionals tasked with creating Braille, large print, DAISY and MP3s in universities, colleges and government departments.  Product support for Dolphin’s software tools will form one element of this practical assistance.  Advice on sourcing content, creating sustainable workflows, timely delivery and product training will also be readily available."

The new partnership demonstrates both organizations commitment to strengthen the provision of alternative format materials to individuals with vision impairments and learning disabilities.  The partnership's first joint resources are due to be available in October 2010.

Editor Notes:

Alternative Media Access Center (AMAC)

The Alternative Media Access Center(AMAC) is an initiative of the Board of Regents University System of Georgia with a mission to improve system wide services for students with print-related disabilities. Housed at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta, AMAC has expanded its services nationwide to include all types of post-secondary institutions and other government agencies. As a membership organization committed to removing social and academic barriers to individuals with physical, sensory, and print-related learning disabilities, AMAC strives toward ensuring that all individuals with print disabilities have equal and timely access to print materials at an affordable cost.

http://www.amac.uga.edu/index.php

Dolphin Computer Access

Dolphin Computer Access is one of the largest companies in the computer access industry, with over 60 employees in offices in the USA, UK and Sweden and dealers in over 30 countries worldwide.  The company offers a complete range of software solutions, including screen readers, screen magnifiers, DAISY talking book players and alternative format creation tools. Recent innovations include EasyConverter, a single piece of software that enables even a total beginner to create Braille, large print, DAISY talking books and MP3s.  More information about Dolphin is available at: www.YourDolphin.com.

Press Contacts:

Hazel Shaw - Group Marketing Manager
hazel.shaw@dolphinuk.co.uk
www.YourDolphin.com 
+44 1905 754 577 ext 218
+44 7989 444 541

Dolphin Computer Access Inc.
231 Clarksville Road,
Suite 3,
Princeton Junction,
NJ 08550
USA

During the recent East Midlands Efair (organised by the JISC Regional Support Centre for the East Midlands) Dolphin ran a competition for one lucky visitor to win a copy of EasyTutor on the Dolphin Pen.

Congratulations to Kevin Martin, pictured chatting with Rachel Bagust of Dolphin, who won EasyTutor on the Dolphin Pen.

The JISC Regional Support Centre for the East Midlands is one of 13 RSCs covering the UK. There job is to support the development of e-learning and Information Learning Technology in FE, Sixth Form and Specialist Colleges, Adult and Community Learning, Work Based Learning, Offender Learning and aspects of Higher Education in supported learning providers across the East Midlands.

Learn more about EasyTutor.

Learn more about the JISC Regional Support Centre for the East Midlands

It's not often Dolphin has a strange unexpected visitor to its head office, but today marks the exception as Dolphin seems to have been adopted by a run away Peacock.

Somehow Peacock Computer Access just doesn't have the same ring to it, so think we will stick to Dolphin Computer Access.

On a serious note our new friend has been wandering around the Dolphin car park for the last few hours, so if anyone is missing a Peacock in the Worcester area, please give us a call.