he subject matter will be:All about Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services (DORS)! Learn about the Maryland Division of Rehabilitation Services Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) and the Independent Living Older Blind (ILOB) Programs.  DORS offers several services to help individuals with disabilities obtain and maintain employment.  The ILOB program assists people whose disabilities are blindness, visual impairment, or deaf/blindness with independent living.

Medicaid is a public health insurance program. It is free or low-cost health insurance for eligible low-income adults, children, pregnant women, elderly adults, and people with disabilities. It is the largest health care program in the United States. In Maryland, Medicaid covers about 1.8 million people. Nearly one in four Marylanders get their health insurance through Medicaid. Half of those covered are children. Locally, people also call it Medical Assistance.

March is National Reading Month!  With this in mind, the Technology User Group (TUG) invites you to join us on Saturday, March 9th, as we delve into the world of reading eBooks, using Libby, and understanding Kindle Unlimited. Thousands of free eBooks are available from various sources across the net, but how can the blind community access and read them?  Libby is a free service provided by your local public library system, but is it easy to use and understand?  Kindle Unlimited has been around for quite a while.  The service allows you to access books and magazines, but is it really worth the cost?

Join Jennifer Abbott from the Maryland State Archives to discuss Women's History Month. The State Archives serves as the central depository for government records of permanent value. Its holdings date from Maryland's founding in 1634 and include colonial and state executive, legislative, and judicial records; county probate, land, and court records; church records; business records; state publications and reports; and special collections of private papers, maps, photographs, and newspapers. These records are kept in a humidity and temperature-controlled environment, and any necessary preservation measures are conducted in the Archives' conservation laboratory.

FB-NEWSLINE offers access to more than 500 publications, including newspapers, magazines, breaking news sources, online international newspapers, TV listings, job listings, retail ads, and more. You can access NFB-NEWSLINE through various methods, such as the touch-tone telephone, Apple IOS app, website, or Amazon Alexa, and customize your preferences and settings. This podcast will be a great opportunity for you to learn more about NFB-NEWSLINE, ask questions, and discover how you can sign up for this free service. Whether you are a current subscriber or a new user, you will find this podcast informative and engaging.

The Technology User Group (TUG) at the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled would like to introduce you to artificial intelligence (AI) and how it is being used for the blind community. On Saturday, February 10 th at 10 AM, you will be shown numerous apps and web sites that use AI and learn about the remarkable benefits available through this medium. Who Should Attend This Event:  Those individuals with a smart phone or computer  Anyone who would like to receive detailed information regarding mail, brochures, fliers or other material  People who wish to receive details about their surroundings or purchased products  People curious about AI and its future effect on society

SHIP is the local State Health Insurance Assistance program. They provide free, unbiased help to Medicare-eligible beneficiaries, their families, and caregivers. Whether you are new to Medicare, reviewing Medicare plan options, or have questions about how to use your Medicare, SHIP can help. Trained staff and volunteer counselors are available in all 23 counties and Baltimore City for one-on-one assistance and community education.​ In this podcast, they give an overview of Medicare.

On Saturday, January 6 th , the Technology User Group (TUG) is delighted to welcome two presenters to our inaugural Zoom Meeting. First up will be David Ward from the Echo Tips podcast, who will be discussing tips and tricks for your Echo device. Following this performance will be Christina Nixon to highlight the many attributes of the HIMS SensePlayer.

The library welcomes Keith Huber, CFP® from OneDigital. Keith’s role is to ensure that the participants receive financial wellness coaching, including budgeting, goal prioritization, and saving for retirement and emergency funds. He discusses budgeting 101, with particular emphasis on managing budgets after the holidays.

We are pleased to have Integration Technologies Group, Inc. (ITG) as a presenter for the December 9 Technology User Group.  ITG specializes in Humanware products and will give us a detailed accounting of the Victor Reader Stream 3, as well as other products in the Humanware line. Who should attend this presentation? Those seeking knowledge about the Victor Reader Stream 3. Persons seeking information about Humanware products and who wish to share this information with friends, family and groups. Individuals seeking information about service and repairs for Humanware products. People who have questions about Humanware products and resources.

Join Sharon Mankei, president of the Friends of the Maryland State Library for the Blind and Print Disabled, as she discusses the importance of friend groups, their role with the library, and more!

This one-hour event honors National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), which is held every November. The award-winning novelist John DeDakis will present Novel Writing 101, the basics of writing a novel. Mr. DeDakis (pronounced: deh-DAY-kiss) is a former editor on CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer." DeDakis is the author of five novels in the Lark Chadwick mystery-suspense-thriller series. Book 6, Enemies Domestic, a political thriller, will be released in the summer of 2024. DeDakis, a former White House correspondent, is a writing coach, manuscript editor, and regularly teaches novel writing online and at literary centers and writers’ conferences around the country. He is also the host of the live video podcast “One-to-One” on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube. Website: www.johndedakis.com

The Library's November/December newsletter.

On Saturday, November 4, the Technology User Group (TUG) presented our 14 th annual look at assistive technology gifts for the holidays! Gadgets, gizmos, and exciting products for the home, office and play. Most items profiled will cost less than $100. Many vendors will also be profiling their wares.

LBPD Bi-Monthly Newsletter: September/October 2023

On Saturday, October 14, the Technology User Group (TUG) is pleased to welcome Thomas Domville (AnonyMouse) from AppleVis to our gathering. He will be highlighting the many changes coming to your iPhone with the release of iOS 17. He will talk about the new accessibility skills and some popular app redesigns. The AppleVis website and podcast will also be featured.

October is National Dyslexia Awareness Month. All across the country, communities will be making efforts to spotlight a range of dyslexic needs, struggles, and signs. Our guests, Dan and Christine See, will discuss the importance of screening for Dyslexia and supporting students and adults with dyslexic needs.

On Saturday, September 9, the Technology User Group (TUG) welcomes The Low Vision Shop. This company offers the BlindShell mobile phone, the All-Terrain Cane, and a wide array of other low vision and blindness products. In addition, they offer training, a podcast, a support group and so much more.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Latino advances the representation, understanding and appreciation of Latino history and culture in the United States. The museum provides resources and collaborates with other museums to expand scholarly research, public programs, digital content, collections and more. The museum operates its Molina Family Latino Gallery, the Smithsonian’s first gallery dedicated to the Latino experience, at the National Museum of American History. Natalia M. Febo (she/her/ella) is a museum educator and a visual artist born and raised in Puerto Rico and residing in Washington, D.C. Currently, she works as the Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator at the National Museum of the American Latino and is part of the team that developed the first national Latino gallery at the Smithsonian. Natalia has a passion for visual arts, history, and cultural programs and has worked in museum education programs for over ten years.

On Saturday, August 12, the Technology User Group (TUG) will profile the YouTube website and the YouTube app. Learn how to use both applications effectively: managing play controls, subscribing, skipping ads and saving. Finding premium content will also be discussed.