What's Inside
- Hilton Hotels violates ADA by leaving blind man trapped in elevator overnight.
- ChatGPT helping blind people.
- Architecture for the blind.
- Blind people want louder electric cars.
- Women enjoying blind football.
- And, more than 20 more stories about blindness and blind people from all over the world.
Editorial By Chris Hofstader
For the second week in a row, I need to start this week's editorial with an apology to our loyal readers. As you may have read in last week's Blindness Briefs – Edition 65, our primary source for news stories since we started publishing this on my blog in January 2022 has been Google Alerts. Unfortunately, something has gone wrong with Google Alerts and, on some days, we get our normal collection of them but, lately, of the 22 alerts we have set up we'll get zero or one in our email and it rarely contains more than one or two articles.
We spent a lot of time last week looking at alternatives and we've found a few that look promising. We're going to be testing one of these this week and will hopefully have more articles in next week's Blindness Briefs.
Thus, with about 25 articles, this edition is somewhat abbreviated. It has a lot of good articles and we hope you enjoy them.
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.
Braille
HILTON HOTEL VIOLATES 4.10 CODE OF THE ADA AS BLIND GUEST WAS TRAPPED ON ELEVATOR AT NIGHT DUE TO LACK OF BRAILLE
The elevators at this facility violate Title 3 of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and thus, yield a very inaccessible experience for blind guests. This story comes to us from: EIN News.
Technology
Blind woman shows how she gets bus using clever app which isn't Google Maps or Citymapper
A blind woman has shared how she makes bus journeys around London including to one of her favourite coffee spots. This story comes to us from: My London.
When does this milk expire?': Chat GPT-4 is now helping blind people
The AI chatbot is already answering queries for visually impaired people with more speed and detail than human volunteers. This story comes to us from: Fast Company.
Charter Honored for Accessibility Achievements
Charter Communications has received the prestigious Helen Keller Achievement Award from the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB). This story comes to us from: – Spectrum.
Blindness Organizations
Fashion show and luncheon to benefit Lackawanna Blind Association returns next month
For the first time since 2019, the Lackawanna Blind Association focuses on fashion and philanthropy. This story comes to us from: Scranton Times Tribune.
Education
Dueling bills aim to allow the AZ School for the Deaf and Blind to remain open
Competing bills to allow the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind to remain open were both heard in the state Senate on Wednesday. This story comes to us from: Arizona Mirror.
Burnt school for blind still without security
The night of October 24, 2022 remains fresh in the memories of teachers, pupils and parents of Salama School for the Blind in Kisoga-Ntenjeru Town. This story comes to us from: Daily Monitor.
Employment
Architecture For the Blind
After losing his sight, architect Chris Downey designed the LightHouse building in San Francisco to help blind and visually-impaired people. This story comes to us from: YouTube.
Safety
I cracked my own neck to avoid chiropractor bills — now I'm blind
A man was left blind after cracking his own neck, which triggered a stroke. This story comes to us from: New York Post.
Blind people want louder electric cars
Vision Australia wants audible alerts to be mandated for electric vehicles to help improve safety for blind or low-vision pedestrians. This story comes to us from: CarExpert.
Police searching for legally blind man who disappeared out of Arlington a week ago
Arlington police have requested the public's help in locating a man, who is legally blind and has been missing for just over a week. This story comes to us from: Boston.com.
Crime
The Blind Woman Who Escaped Terrorists In Southern Kaduna
When Ladi Damisa lost her sight years ago, she never expected she would one day be forced to leave her home. She did so fleeing terrorists, running from her house on foot. This story comes to us from: HumAngle.
Hampton man sentenced to 15 years for defrauding elderly victims, tax evasion
During the fraud scheme, Rice stole over $350,000 from a 75-year-old retired bricklayer and more than $140,000 from an elderly blind man. This story comes to us from: WAVY.com.
San Jose man arrested on suspicion of stealing school equipment for deaf, blind students
San Jose police arrested a man on suspicion of stealing school equipment that aids hearing and vision-impaired students. This story comes to us from: KTVU.
Woman pretended to be blind for 15 years. One mistake gave her away
A woman who pretended to be blind for 15 years to claim disability benefits from the Italian government has been unmasked. This story comes to us from: Moneycontrol.
Sergeant buys bus ticket for robbed blind man
A blind man traveled from Little Rock, Arkansas to Jackson, Michigan in search of opportunity but ended up getting scammed. This story comes to us from: Yahoo News.
Guide Dogs
The Senate aide and guide dog that changed American history
For Women's History Month, The 19th interviewed a blind Senate aide who, with her guide dog, changed Congress forever. This story comes to us from: Yahoo.
Blind woman evicted over guide dog
A young woman who is blind will have to leave her rental accommodation in Bologna in September because the landlady has refused to renew her contract on grounds she does not want her guide dog. This story comes to us from: ANSA.
Legal
Family of 'childlike' partially blind woman says her vulnerabilities were 'ignored' by judge
Family of 'childlike' partially blind woman who was jailed for waving cyclist into path of car slam decision to send her to prison. This story comes to us from: Daily Mail.
Blind man wins £500 from Croydon Council over tax changes
Croydon Council has been told to pay £500 to a blind man who claimed changes to council tax rules were discriminatory. This story comes to us from: This Is Local London.
Western Trust: Blind man paid £3,000 in discrimination settlement
He claimed the job application process did not meet his needs as a blind man. This story comes to us from: BBC.
Business
Leber Congenital Amaurosis Market to Advance at Moderate CAGR During the Forecast Period (2022-2032
It also evaluates the current treatment practice/algorithm, … the retina and is the most common cause of inherited blindness in childhood. This story comes to us from: Digital Journal.
Lifestyle
Syria's village for blind people
This village in Syria has been designed and dedicated to providing safe and comfortable living for people who are blind or visually impaired. This story comes to us from: YouTube.
Blind at 47, P.E.I. woman finds freedom, confidence in social life
For some people, losing their sight later in life would seem like an end. For Jennifer MacKinnon, it has been a new beginning. This story comes to us from: SaltWire.
Opinion | I Am Going Blind, and I Now Find It Strangely Exhilarating
When I told people that I couldn't see them, they didn't believe me. You don't look blind, they said. This story comes to us from: The New York Times.
Pastor furnishes apartment for legally blind woman: 'The Lord always provides
Editor: This story is told in a video.
This story comes to us from: NBC12.
Sports and Athletes
Women Pursuing Their Sporting Dream Through Blind Football
Editor: This story is told in a video.
This story comes to us from: YouTube.
Blind Little Rock Teen Shreds the Slopes at National Ski Festival
Each year, blind and visually impaired skiers and snowboarders head to the slopes for three days of fun. This story comes to us from: Arkansas Money & Politics.