Portal Tutoring
Portal Tutoring's Newsletter Spring 2007
By Ann K. Parsons
Ann K. Parsons, CEO
Phone: (585) 244-0477
Letter From The Editor
Greetings to all: It is with great pleasure that Portal Tutoring starts this newsletter. It is hoped that it will come out quarterly, but we'll have to see if there's enough news to warrant such a thing. To those of you who are receiving this in email, you will only be receiving these posts when the newsletter comes out, and that should be only four times per year. So I hope that I shan't be spamming you too much. However, this first issue of the Portal Tutoring Newsletter has quite a bit of news in it, and I want to stop talking and allow you all to read on.
Before I do so, I would like to do two things. First, I would like to remind you of Portal Tutoring's philosophy. I believe that access to a computer and indeed to information in any written form is vital for everyone today, but especially for those who have disabilities. We are bombarded with information on TV and in newspapers and in books and on the street. Computers offer a doorway into this realm of information access. That is why I call my business Portal Tutoring. I'm in the business of making doorways for people so that they can enter the Information Age.
A note here about Portal Tutoring's academic curricula; education is another doorway to information. If I can help students to open this door too, I will have fulfilled Portal Tutoring's mission two fold.
Second, thank you for patronizing Portal Tutoring for your Adaptive Technology Training and academic tutoring needs. I hope that you will spread the word to your friends and neighbors of our existence.
Portal Tutoring's New Bookstore
Portal Tutoring is excited to announce the opening of our new bookstore. There, you can now purchase packages of training sessions online. Simply go to the bookstore link which is located in the Navigation Bar at the right of the page in the blue box. There, you can purchase three, five or ten lesson packages. Consult Portal Tutoring directly if you want to purchase lessons in other than a packaged form or if you are a rehabilitation agency which needs to deal with vouchers and the like.
In addition, the Bookstore offers publications for purchase and download. The shopping cart which we use connects directly with Paypal. If you have a Paypal account, you may pay that way, or you may pay by using a credit card.
As has been the case in the past, Portal Tutoring
will make accommodations for those who cannot pay online. Simply
contact us by phone or by email to make arrangements. We are
extremely excited about this new facet of Portal Tutoring. We hope
that you will be as well.
Portal Tutoring's New Publications
Portal Tutoring is thrilled to announce that in addition to its traditional role as a tutoring service, we are now able to offer a series of publications which will help you in learning how to use a computer. It is our intention to expand our offerings in this area, as well as in the area of Writing and grammar. so keep an eye on our web site and particularly on the link to the Bookstore. Below please find descriptions of the products currently available in our Bookstore.
Mini Blinds
I've got all this stuff! I have manuals! I have books! I have help files! I'm going bonkers here! What do I do? I can't read all this stuff! I don't know where to start!y
Well, then, try our Mini Blinds pamphlets. They are small. They are simple, and you only get one small subject per pamphlet. Want to know something small, something specific, don't want to search through a whole book, then Mini Blinds is what you want. You want to cover Windows with Mini Blinds, not drapes, not curtains, but mini Blinds. Here you go, try this on for size and convenience! If you want drapes or curtains or Venetian blinds, there is a list of excellent books and tutorials at the end of this pamphlet. The advantage to mini Blinds is that once you grasp what's going on here, you can read and understand all those books and manuals you've got there. So don't throw them out!
There are currently ten pamphlets in the Mini Blinds series. Purchase one Mini Blinds pamphlet for $3.00. Purchase more. You can purchase the entire series for $25.00, a savings of $5.00. Purchase online or by contacting Portal Tutoring directly at the contact information listed at the top of this newsletter.
Introduction to Computers
Portal Tutoring is pleased to announce the online publication of Introduction to Computers. This book is a simple, basic, guide to learning to use a computer if you have never used one before. It was designed with the brand new student in mind, one who has had little or no instruction in computer concepts or even in what a computer looks like and what its various parts do. It was written with students who are blind or visually impaired in mind, but might be used quite handily by someone who is a senior citizen or someone who is teaching students with cognitive disabilities. This is as basic as it gets, folks. You can purchase this book from Portal Tutoring for $30.00.
Portal Tutoring's Curricula
Just a reminder about our curricula. For specific information about any of the items listed below, please use the contact information at the top of this newsletter, or if you are viewing this newsletter online, use the Navigation Bar, (blue box). to learn more. Portal Tutoring offers:
- training in Windows of all types
- Basic computer concepts
- Use of screen readers: Jaws, Window-Eyes, System Access
- Freedom Box
- Instruction in Open Book software
- Braille
- Use of paperless Braille devices
- Academics: writing, literature, and related subjects
News Of General Interest
Net Library
Many public libraries are now offering their patrons the ability to download audible books via Net Library. These books will stay on one's system for two weeks and then are automatically deleted. For further information about this program, contact your local public library. (Note: the Pittsford, New York Library, part of the Monroe County Library System offers these books now. For information about them, contact The Pittsford Library.)
News From Humanware
Humanware, manufacturers of the BrailleNote will soon be offering to their PK and MPower users the ability to play DAISY books from Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. If you own one of these devices, keep an eye on the news from Humanware to find out when this option will be available.
Copyright 2006-2007
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