What's Inside
- Blind programmer helped launch investment app.
- Helen Keller was a great American socialist.
- New storybook club brings books to children with special needs.
- Voters with disabilities often overlooked.
- Chicago fined for lack of accessible street crossings.
- Easter egg hunt for blind, low vision children.
- Team of blind women taking on Ironman.
- And about 30 more stories about blind people and blindness from the entire globe.
Editorial By Chris Hofstader
Welcome to edition 67 of Blindness Briefs. This one is bigger than last week but we're still not back to our normal number of stories. We did get some Google Alerts this week and we're experimenting with other news sources. We expect Blindness Briefs will grow and bring you more stories in the coming weeks.
We hope you enjoy this issue.
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
Delhi hospital launches smart vision glasses for visually impaired, blind – IANS
A private hospital here launched smart vision glasses that are based on Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning technology, providing new hope to the visually impaired and blind. This story comes to us from: IANS Live.
Bernard Newcomb, Blind Software Engineer, Helped Launch E*Trade
For software expertise, he turned to Bernard Newcomb, a legally blind programmer who grew up in the small town of Scio, Ore. This story comes to us from: Wall Street Journal.
Why Be My Eyes is a very popular app for the blind or visually impaired
People who are blind or visually impaired are using apps on their phones to help them navigate the world. This story comes to us from: VPM.
Blindness Organizations
Mass. Commission for the Blind director resigns after no-confidence vote
Agency disarray prompted the ouster of the director of the state agency that benefits blind residents, a Charlie Baker holdover. This story comes to us from: Worcester Telegram.
Ukrainian War
Blind girl from Lviv Oblast raises over $17,700 for Ukrainian Army
Anna-Maria Herman started singing in various cities and villages of Lviv Oblast when Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This story comes to us from: Yahoo.com.
Education
Helen Keller Was One of the Great American Socialists
The 1940s and '50s also saw the emergence of the National Federation of the Blind and the American Federation of the Physically Handicapped. This story comes to us from: Jacobin.
Jacobin.
This Ramadan: Taraweeh Livestream For Blind And Visually Impaired Muslims
This Ramadan, Islam By Touch is hosting a livestream of Taraweeh prayers for blind or otherwise disabled Muslims who are unable to attend prayers. This story comes to us from: MuslimMatters.org.
New “Storybooks Club” is Bringing the Magic of Books to All Children with Special Needs in the U.S.
Children ages 3-8 who are vision or hearing challenged or have a learning disability are limited by books not made for them. This story comes to us from: Digital Journal.
Control of NC schools for deaf and blind students changes despite objections from Cooper
“This bill unconstitutionally attacks the State Board of Education by putting partisan political appointees of the legislature in charge of our NC schools for the deaf and blind. This story comes to us from: Raleigh News & Observer.
Dueling bills aim to allow Az School for the Deaf & Blind to remain open
Justine Wadsack, R-Tucson, said it was “over the top. This story comes to us from: Tucson Sentinel.
Disability advocate Tilly Aston fought for blind and low-vision people to 'hold their own' in a prejudiced society
It's been more than 75 years since Matilda "Tilly" Aston died, and both her name and her life's work have largely faded from the public eye; but in recent weeks, her surname has been mentioned repeatedly in the media as attention has turned to the political contest in the electorate bearing her name, vacated by former minister Alan Tudge. This story comes to us from: ABC News.
Employment
Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired has extensive impact, report says
as economic engines and vehicles for upward mobility for New Yorkers who are blind. The Rockefeller Institute report quantifies the economic impacts of NYSPSP service providers to enhance understanding of the role these agencies play This story comes to us from: The Rome Sentinel
Discrimination and Inaccessibility
Voters with disabilities often overlooked in voting battles
WASHINGTON — Patti Chang walked into her polling place in Chicago earlier this year, anxious about how poll workers would treat her, especially as a voter who is blind. This story comes to us from: The Washington Post.
Crime
Cops search wetlands 3 years after partially blind girl vanished with dad held for murder
Five-year-old Harmony Montgomery's dad has been charged with her murder and police alleged her Adam Montgomery punched the little girl to death. This story comes to us from: The Mirror.
Affidavit: Man struck blind person with a branch
A man landed behind bars for striking a person who is blind with a branch, according to Laredo police. This story comes to us from: Laredo Morning Times.
Blind cyclist thanks police for recovering stolen bike
Nadeem Mughal, 52, was shocked and angry after a thief stole his tandem when he and his riding partner stopped for a break. This story comes to us from: Indy100.
Road rage incident caught on Dashcam leaves woman partially 'blind' in one eye
Two men attack a woman in her car in Cornwall. This story comes to us from: Express.co.uk.
Isle of Wight blind woman upset over vandalised traffic light cones
This letter to the editor is from a blind woman who has noticed many of the helpful traffic light cones have been vandalised. This story comes to us from: Isle of Wight County Press.
Legal
Glamorise class action claims website not fully accessible to blind, visually impaired
Glamorise Foundations has failed to make its website fully accessible to and independently usable by individuals who are blind or visually impaired, a new class action lawsuit alleges. This story comes to us from: Top Class Actions.
Highland conman told to repay thousands to 'elderly' blind woman
Sheriff Ian Cruickshank heard the case at Inverness Justice Centre. A registered blind woman was conned out of £9500 by an Inverness man. This story comes to us from: Ross-shire Journal.
Chicago's lack of accessible pedestrian signals at crosswalks violates ADA: federal judge
A federal judge found the city of Chicago liable for violations of the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act “by failing to provide accessible pedestrian signals at signalized intersections throughout the city to those who are blind or have low vision. This story comes to us from: Smart Cities Dive.
Advocating equity for the disabled
WHEN Amanda Kong gets into a cab, guided by her white cane and wearing her dark sunglasses, drivers have spontaneously asked her if she was a “masseur”. This story comes to us from: The Sun Daily.
The Sun Daily.
Half-paralysed, partially blind woman fights for her right to die
Lydie Imhoff, 43, wishes to keep her right to be euthanized when the time comes. This story comes to us from: The Daily Mail.
Lawyers of partially blind woman, Auriol Grey, who was jailed for waving cyclist into path of car slam trial judge
Grey, who also has cerebral palsy and 'cognitive difficulties' after being starved of oxygen at birth, was jailed by Judge Sean Enright who dismissed any learning or mental disabilities as a factor in the incident. This story comes to us from: The Daily Mail.
Lifestyle
'I'm blind and my 16-year-old daughter can barely walk – she is my eyes and I am her legs
Soon after her daughter developed long Covid, she went blind. This story comes to us from: Daily Express.
Orange County resort hosts 'beeping' Easter egg hunt for visually impaired children
The Newport Beach resort partnered with Beyond Blindness to offer a special sensory Easter egg hunt which featured beeping eggs that were provided by the Orange County Sheriff’s Department. This story comes to us from: KTLA.
Blind Woman Who Delivered Triplets Receives Loads of Gifts From Kind Nigerians
A viral post about a blind woman who was blessed with triplets has earned her good luck from kind netizens Read more: https://www.legit.ng/people/1528216-story-changed-blind-woman-delivered-triplets-receives-loads-gifts-kind-nigerians. This story comes to us from: Legit.ng.
[Blind at 47, Prince Edward Island woman finds freedom, confidence in social life[]13]
Jennifer MacKinnon lost her sight in 2020 due to idiopathic intracranial hypertension. This story comes to us from: Saltwire.
Inclusive Easter eggs made for the blind and deaf
Calera Police Chief David Hyche made it his mission to help special needs children enjoy Easter like everyone else. Sixteen years ago, Chief Hyche built beeping Easter eggs in his garage so his blind daughter Rachel could participate in Easter egg hunts on her own. With just a beeper, battery and a switch, the eggs were made for blind children, increasing their confidence and independence. This story comes to us from: WBRC.
Art and Artists
Blind Can Film Festival highlights blind people doing extraordinary things
The Blind Can Film Festival is highlighting how blind people are living their lives in spite of their disability. This story comes to us from: YouTube.
Going blind, Gilbert artist keeps creating
Cecilia Foerster is growing blind, but is holding on to her aspirations of becoming an artist. This story comes to us from: Gilbert Sun News.
Sports and Athletes
Breaking down barriers: Team of blind women to take on Ironman
Blind athletes Kellie Dewveall, from right, Leti Sandoval, Trelle Dandridge and their guide Cheyenne Meyer are ready for Sunday’s Ironman 70.3 Texas relay at Moody Gardens in Galveston where Meyer will guide each athlete as they compete in one leg of the triathlon. This story comes to us from: The Daily News.
Blind training: SPS, OSU Athletics cooperate to help girl use Stillwater's only escalators
Aguirre is legally blind with 20/400 vision in both eyes. This story comes to us from: Stillwater News Press.
In Memoriam
Obit: Joseph Van Lent
Former commissioner of the Iowa Department for the Blind, Joseph “Joe” Van Lent, 83, of Des Moines, passed away Jan. 25, 2023, at Ramsey Village in Des Moines, Iowa. This story comes to us from: The Gazette.
Christine Goldthwaite Obituary (1934 – 2023)
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to the American Foundation for the Blind, 1108 Third Avenue, Suite 200, Huntington, Wist Virginia. This story comes to us from: Legacy Remembers.