What's Inside
- Ai based suitcase developed to aid blind travelers.
- New materials help blind students learn chemistry.
- Elderly blind woman left without power for more than a week.
- Blind man arrested for making bomb threats in India.
- Nigerian pastor molests blind girl.
- Adaptive designers making clothing more accessible.
- Blind fiddler plays amazing bluegrass.
- Oklahoma museum becomes accessible to blind visitors.
- A lot of blind sports stories.
- And, nearly 60 articles about blindness and blind people from all over the world.
Editorial By Chris Hofstader
Welcome to edition 63 of Blindness Briefs. This is a pretty big edition with nearly 60 stories in it and we've nearly 20 in Science Briefs this week.
Because there were so many stories, I can't really pick a favorite for this week as they range widely in subject manner. I did like the stories about the blind bluegrass fiddler but I've a fondness for all American music and I enjoyed reading about him. I also like that we have so many sports stories this week as blind sports get so little coverage and I'm happy we can bring these stories to our readers.
Some of the stories this week are pretty tragic, others are quite up lifting. We hope you enjoy this edition.
How It's Organized
WBH Weekly Blind News Digest is a very simple page to read. The categories are at heading level 2 and the stories are links at heading level 3. So, navigation to the sections and stories you find interesting is quite simple.
Technology
These tools help visually impaired scientists read data and journals
But awareness of the need for accessibility in science is growing, and new tools are on the way. This story comes to us from: Nature.
Hable One keyboard enables blind people to use smartphones again
When you’re blind, it’s hard to use your smartphone. Fortunately, Hable One has a solution for that. They developed a small smartphone keyboard with various functions for the blind and visually impaired. In this episode of Start-up of the day, co-founder Ayushman Talwar talks more about it. This story comes to us from: Innovation Origins.
Blind researcher develops suitcase-cum-navigational tool for visually impaired travellers
A blind researcher is developing a suitcase that uses artificial intelligence to help visually impaired people navigate to destinations. This story comes to us from: Asia News Network.
Blindness Organizations
Prevent blindness declares March as workplace wellness month
According to a press release from the organization 1, every year thousands of workers sustain a job-related eye injury that requires medical treatment. This story comes to us from: Ophthalmology Times.
Insight to hold monthly meeting for blind and visually impaired Saturday
Insight is a support group for the blind or visually impaired people and their families. This story comes to us from: InForum.
Independence for the Blind hosts Eye Ball gala to benefit the blind and visually impaired
The Monument to Women Veterans will be hosting its annual SHERO Warrior Conference on March 10 at the Andrews Institute for Orthopedics & Sports. This story comes to us from: Pensacola News Journal.
Free resources for those who are blind or have limited sight in the Midlands
Editor: This story is told as a video.
This story comes to us from: WLTX.
Education
Accessible curriculum helps blind U of A student ace chem course
Throughout his 19-year teaching career, with around 600 students a year, professor Jon T. Njardarson had never taught a blind student. This story comes to us from: Arizona Daily Star.
Towards inclusive education: The sorry state of Cape Coast School for the Deaf, Blind
Mr Abraham Annang Yemoson, the Headmaster of the school, says many students feel neglected and excluded from the opportunities for self improvement and wealth. This story comes to us from: News Ghana.
Special needs education enrolment increases
The number of special needs education students who sat the Uganda Advanced Certificate of Education exams increased slightly in 2021. This story comes to us from: New Vision.
Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Alum speak out against mascot change
Virginia School for the Deaf and the Blind Alum speak out against mascot change. This story comes to us from: WHSV.
Blind teacher achieves dream of teaching music
Gensen Rabacal, who is blind, had a dream of becoming a full-time English teacher — but his plans changed after he couldn't get a job. This story comes to us from: KCRA.
Professor Gives Inspirational Speech About Blind Scientists at UN
The world needs more scientists with “the unseen advantage,” says Mona Minkara, assistant professor of bioengineering and affiliate faculty of chemistry and chemical biology at Northeastern. Her inspirational speech at the United Nations about the advantages of including people who are blind or partially blind in science earned a standing ovation and an endorsement from President of the General Assembly Csaba Kőrösi on behalf of all 193 member states. This story comes to us from: News @ Northeastern – Northeastern University.
Honoring remarkable women: Howard county's first blind teacher
She first came to the school district in 2021, when she became the first blind teacher in the county. This story comes to us from: DC News Now.
Employment
Legal practice redefined me – Blind lawyer
You are also an author. What is your motivation? I strive to do the best that I can and what I cannot do will be left to God and God-appointed men. This story comes to us from: Punch Newspapers.
Florida DOE announces first of its kind apprenticeship program for the blind
— The Florida Department of Education Division of Blind Services announced the first in the nation job apprenticeship program. This story comes to us from: WFTV.
Transportation
Campaign success for partner of blind man who died by falling off Eden Park platform
A spokesperson for the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) said that they had recently had confirmation that Network Rail would be “speeding up” the installation of tactile paving on all railway platforms in the UK. This story comes to us from: Yahoo News UK.
Discrimination and Inaccessibility
The shocking barriers that disabled people face every day in our towns and cities
Lela is blind and barely ever goes out on her own because she's been unable to get mobility training. This story comes to us from: Wales Online.
Safety
Mumbai: Seven Blind School students fell sick due to food poisoning
According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, five among the seven children's age are above 12 years and two are below 12 years. This story comes to us from: Mid-Day.
Taxi hit blind man and crooked MP crime proceeds hearing
An on-duty taxi driver who knocked down a blind man on the road has been fined £300 and had six penalty points imposed on his licence. This story comes to us from: The Courier.
Visual impairment: Derry aims to improve accessibility
He said Derry could be daunting for blind or partially sighted people. This story comes to us from: BBC.
Elderly blind woman without power for over nine days
Elizabeth Jacobs is an independent woman who manages without sight extremely well but has found the extended outage very hard. This story comes to us from: Northcliff Melville Times.
Crime
Craigavon man charged with blinding woman in one eye during baton attack facing trial
None of the facts surrounding the case were opened in court on Friday, but a police officer previously outlined how the woman was left blind. This story comes to us from: the Belfast Telegraph.
Disabled woman jailed for waving cyclist into car was 'bullied' throughout her life
A disabled woman jailed for causing the death of an elderly cyclist after gesturing and swearing at her has been bullied throughout her life, and fears she will be taunted and abused by fellow inmates, her close friend has revealed. This story comes to us from: the Daily Mail.
Staten Island woman, 19, blinded in both eyes after horrific attack in Tennessee., family says
A Staten Island woman is facing an uphill battle following a brutal assault in Tennessee in early February that left her blind in both eyes. This story comes to us from: SILive.com.
Blind man detained for making fake call about bombs
a 20yearold visually impaired man from pune has been detained for allegedly making hoax call about bombs planted near amitabh bachchan and Dharmendra's bungalows and Mukesh Ambani's residence Antilia, police said. This story comes to us from: Inshorts.
Blind man's white walking cane broken in alleged assault at Metrolink tram station
A visually-impaired man's white walking cane was broken as he was allegedly attacked at a Metrolink tram station, police chiefs have revealed. This story comes to us from: MSN.
Lagos pastor defiles 13-year-old blind girl
A medical doctor, Mrs Sekinat Oredoyin, on Wednesday narrated to a Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja how a prophet, Olushola Akinsipe, allegedly defiled a 13-year-old visually impaired girl under the pretext of performing witchcraft deliverance for the victim. This story comes to us from: Punch Newspapers.
Politics
Capitol Notebook: Appointment refills state agency for blind Iowans
Kim Reynolds' office on Friday announced the appointment of Amy Salger, of Vinton, to the Commission for the Blind. This story comes to us from: Sioux City Journal.
Profile: Blind lawmaker advocates for people with disabilities at "two sessions
Wang has brought two suggestions to this year's NPC gathering, including one on the licensing of blind masseurs and their clinics. This story comes to us from: Xinhua.
Legal
Must A Website Accommodate The Blind?
Consumers in America and around the world have embraced online shopping for everything from food and fashion to vehicles, medicine, travel, and countless other purchases. But many retail websites are inaccessible for consumers who are blind or visually impaired because these sites are incompatible with the screen-reading software many of these consumers must use. This story comes to us from: Mondaq.
Sam Ash class action claims website not fully accessible to visually impaired, blind visitors
Black argues Sam Ash is ultimately violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by allegedly denying full and equal access to its website. This story comes to us from: Top Class Actions.
Business
Tactile Printing Market 2029 Business Insights with Key Trend Analysis
The report contains a deep study of the Tactile Printing market along with several tables, graphs and product figures that provide important statistical information on the current state of the industry. This report is an important source of guidance and is very useful for companies and individuals who are involved in the domain. This story comes to us from: Tri County Leader.
Lifestyle
Blind transwoman overcomes adversity of being blind in Thailand
A Thai transwoman was praised by netizens for her courage as she fights to overcome the adversity of being blind in Thailand. This story comes to us from: Thaiger.
'Blind, but life goes on
Two people who have been visually impaired since their youth speak about their achievements in spite of their disability. This story comes to us from: MalaysiaNow.
[These adaptive fashion designers are making personal style more accessible]54]
Adaptive fashion isn’t a new buzzword, but how much progress have we really made in accessible clothing? GTA designers share where we’re at. This story comes to us from: The Toronto Star.
I'm a badass blind babe – walking down the street with my cane is powerful
Wolinsky was diagnosed with a rare disease that has slowly taken away her vision. “Me just walking down the street with my cane is a powerful statement,” Wolinsky said in an interview with SHERA, a social media platform dedicated to empowering women. “It confuses people and they’re not used to seeing a blind person walking around or doing certain things like travel, so it definitely can get a lot of attention in that sense. This story comes to us from: New York Post.
B.C. widow finds unexpected love while performing in blind choir
Before she experienced the worst year of her life, Debbie Barnswell simply sang for fun. This story comes to us from: CTV News Vancouver Island.
The agony of raising blind twins
After some hours of labour, Nanangwe delivered the boys. However, her joy was short-lived because after examination by the health workers, she was told that the boys were blind. Immediately after getting the bad news, her husband abandoned her in hospital, leaving her at the mercy of a stranger who helped her return home. This story comes to us from: Daily Monitor.
Blind Guest Criticizes Disney World Disability Resource, Calls For Better
“The issue, though, is when you open up the map, the sections of the Park are color-coded, and I'm completely colorblind, so I can't read it. This story comes to us from: Inside the Magic.
Blind mum left 'terrified' by scurrying mice she can hear from her bed
A blind woman has been left 'terrified' by an invasion of mice in her bungalow. This story comes to us from: Metro UK.
Art and Artists
Is Andrea Bocelli blind? The story behind the famed tenor's sight loss
At a very young age, beloved Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli was diagnosed with a rare condition which eventually led to him losing his sight in both eyes. This story comes to us from: Classic FM.
Feel Good Friday: Blind Bluegrass Fiddle Player
Michael Cleveland has been “Jamming” with bluegrass legends since he was a kid reshaping the musical genre and giving it a renewed vision without the ability to actually see. This story comes to us from: WNKY.
Israeli artist Amir Gurevich, still painting while nearly blind
An exhibition of Gurevich's artwork titled “Minimal Sight – Maximum Hope,” curated by Yotam Oren, was displayed recently at Gallery 58 in the Holon Municipality building. This story comes to us from: The Jerusalem Post.
Luna Fine Art Gallery unveils 'A Way of Seeing' exhibit designed for visually impaired guests
Luna Fine Art Gallery has opened a new exhibit specifically designed for blind and visually impaired people, open now through March 12 at the gallery, located inside Hilton Pensacola Beach. This story comes to us from: Pensacola News Journal.
Blind and Homeless Greek Pianist Overcomes the Odds
“I was sleeping on the benches. Sometimes, mostly in the summer, I was sleeping in Hyde Park and Holland Park. When it was raining I was on the train from Paddington to Reading or Oxford and back again,” Pagnonidis told the BBC smiling. This story comes to us from: Greek Reporter.
Blind and mostly-deaf fiddle star reshaping bluegrass
Michael Cleveland was born blind and doesn’t have hearing in 80 percent of his left ear, and a quarter of his right. That doesn't stop him from playing the fiddle with passion and brilliance, dazzling crowds across the country. NBC News’ Sam Brock shares more on this prodigy’s story. This story comes to us from: NBC News.
Gilbert teen's dream comes true as he takes the field
Giacinto, who was born blind, loves playing the clarinet. This story comes to us from: 12News.com.
Oklahoma City Museum of Art offers exhibit for blind, low-vision visitors
Touch and sound provides some with a museum experience they never thought possible. This story comes to us from: KFOR.
Sports and Athletes
Keep your ear on the puck: Father-son duo on a mission to build blind hockey in N.L.
When Brandon was just three years old, Steve Joy learned his son was visually impaired, with very minimal peripheral vision and complete night blindness. This story comes to us from: CBC.
CBC.
Blind Quebecers learn cross-country skiing in Bromont
A man is skiing on a trail. This story comes to us from: CBC News.
Fun on the Slopes of Breckenridge
After a three-year hiatus, blind and visually impaired skiers and snowboarders returned to the slopes of Breckenridge, Colorado. This story comes to us from: U.S. Association of Blind Athletes.
Canadian Blind Hockey Visits SMCDSB
One of Canada's favourite winter pastimes was experienced this week by some excited SMCDSB participants. This story comes to us from: muskoka411.com.
Sixteen Individuals Selected to be USABA Sport Ambassadors for 2023
The U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) is pleased to announce 16 individuals who will serve as the organization’s sport ambassadors for 2023. Now in its second year, the USABA Sport Ambassador Program utilizes key stakeholders within the blind and visually impaired community from across the country. This story comes to us from: U.S. Association of Blind Athletes.
Paralympian in Gerogia named sport ambassador for U.S. Association of Blind Athletes
McClain Hermes was selected as one of the 16 sports ambassadors for the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes (USABA) for 2023. This story comes to us from: 11Alive.
2023 USTA Annual Meeting Awards: Blind and Visually Impaired Tennis of Highland Park Recognized
Blind and Visually Impaired Tennis of Highland Park of Pittsburgh, Penn., was awarded the USTA National Adaptive Tennis Community Service Award at the 2023 USTA Annual Meeting and Conference. The USTA annually bestows this recognition upon a program or program leader that has demonstrated continued excellence, dedication and service in tennis for an adaptive tennis community. This story comes to us from USTA.
38 shortlisted for trials to select the Indian Blind Women's team for series against Nepal
UNI) Cricket Association for the Blind in India (CABI) announced the list of 38 Women Cricketers for selection trials. This story comes to us from: UNITED NEWS OF INDIA.