Blindness Briefs – Edition 85 – World Blind Herald

What's Inside

Stories about autonomous vehicles.
Inclusive classrooms for blind students benefit everyone.
Blind entrepreneur starts candle company.
Electric cars and their potential hazards for blind pedestrians.
Blind child abuser wants his guide dog in prison, he doesn't get it.
An action packed sports section.
And More than 60 articles about all things blindness and blind people from the entire world.

Editorial By Chris Hofstader

I'm happy to say that we're back and we have a pile of news briefs to be released in the coming days. To this end, we gratefully thank David for his work collecting, curating and organizing the briefs while I've been recovering from shoulder surgery. I realize that the note Amanda posted right after I was injured by tripping and falling on one of Cambridge MA's never maintained brick sidewalks said we'd be back sooner but I also underestimated the extent of my injury and the amount of time it's taken to get back to a point in which I could type more than a few words comfortably.

This has been a trying summer for me. First my dad died in June, July was spent trying to find money to keep World Blind Herald moving forward with little success and August brought on a shoulder broken in three places. I'm very much looking forward to attending the QED conference in Manchester, England in a couple of weeks and returning to physical therapy and recovering from planting my shoulder into a brick sidewalk.

Also, we're putting the Science and Blindness Briefs together until we publish all of our backlog so as to save some time.

Thanks for being patient and returning to Blindness Briefs.

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

Top iPhone Apps for the Blind & Visually Impaired

AccessNote is a powerful app developed by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) that provides individuals with visual impairments a fully accessible and feature-rich note-taking tool. This story comes to us from: CitizenSide.

OKO App Deploys AI To Make Crossing The Street Safer For Blind Pedestrians

Imagine living in fear every time you have to cross a busy street. This is an everyday reality for thousands of visually impaired pedestrians around the world who have not received highly specialist orientation and mobility training or may simply live in one of the many towns and cities across America with an insufficient number of accessible pedestrian crossings. This story comes to us from: Forbes.

Ahead Of Crucial CPUC Vote, Waymo, Disability Advocates Argue ‘Transformative Impact’ Of Autonomous Vehicle Tech

Late last month, members of Alphabet-owned autonomous vehicle company Waymo’s Accessibility Network—including the Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Self-Help for the Elderly, and United Cerebral Palsy, amongst others—wrote an open letter in which the coalition advocated for “[accelerating] the deployment” of autonomous vehicles in San Francisco. This story comes to us from: Forbes.

How a blind gamer plays Street Fighter

Editors note: This story is told in a video.

This story comes to us from: YouTube.

Science and Medicine

What is Optic Nerve Hypoplasia?

In ONH, visual impairment is the key component. … 9.7% of children with vision impairment had ONH as their primary cause of blindness. This story comes to us from: News-Medical.

Should we allow designer babies? Nobel laureate's gene-editing work troubles blind Hong

Blindness is not a desirable state for a lot of people, but the life of a blind person is still worth living. This story comes to us from: South China Morning Post.

Hyperaldosteronism Presenting With Unilateral Blindness: A Case Report

This is a case of a 66-year-old male with hypertension and hyperlipidemia who presented at the internal medicine clinic. This story comes to us from: Cureus.

Cortical Blindness and Thrombotic Microangiopathy Following a Hemotoxic Snake Envenomation

Antivenin and supportive measures remain the primary treatment modality for patients presenting with snake envenomation. This story comes to us from: Cureus.

When mosquito bites make you blind / The CBM distributes medicines in poor, remote

Because poor people in remote regions usually have no money to afford medical treatment. This story comes to us from: breakinglatest.news.

Scientists Regrow Retinal Cells in The Lab Using Nanotechnology

In efforts to tackle the leading cause of blindness in developed countries, researchers have recruited nanotechnology to help regrow retinal cells. This story comes to us from: ScienceAlert.

Potential treatment for inherited blindness wins FDA fast-track

Inherited retinal diseases (IRDs) often present in infancy and can cause night blindness, loss of visual field, and loss of central vision. This story comes to us from: Pharmaceutical Technology.

Blindness Organizations

QRCS launches 4 eye surgery camps for 1200 patients in Niger

… four anti-blindness and eye treatment camps for 1,200 poor people in … distributing medicines and eyeglasses. This story comes to us from: ReliefWeb.

New Jersey Human Services Honors Blind and Visually Impaired Individuals at Trenton Thunder Game

Students from Bayonne, Brick, Livingston, and Rio Grande Recognized for Academic Achievements with Scholarships; Four Individuals who are Blind or Visually Impaired Recognized for Their Talents. This story comes to us from: Insider NJ.

Education

Creating Inclusive Classrooms for Blind Students Can Benefit Everyone. Here's How

Creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for blind students can feel daunting, particularly in general education classrooms and for teachers who haven’t worked with blind students before.
But doing so is critical to their success and is also beneficial for students without a disability. This story comes to us from: Education Week.

Why blind historian Peggy Chong tells the stories of the blind

Chong, also known as The Blind History Lady, can easily rattle off countless names and stories of blind people throughout history. This story comes to us from: Yellow Scene Magazine.

Blind and Deaf Rigby man who teaches kids to 'respect the cane' was once a chart-landing musician

He often teaches elementary students about “respecting the cane” of blind people. This story comes to us from: East Idaho News.

I Lost Vision At 3': 66-YO Provides Free Education & Shelter to Girls With Visual Impairments

After losing his vision at the age of 3, Dattu Agarwal started Matoshree Ambubai Residential School for Blind Girls to give free education. This story comes to us from: The Better India.

Employment

Anand Mahindra shares inspiring story of blind entrepreneur who founded a candle company

It said Sunrise Candles is not a business but a “yagna” for Bhatia and that the aim is to empower divyang, including blind, hearing-impaired people. This story comes to us from: The Indian Express.

He worried about providing for his family when he went blind. Now he's got a whole new career

Echevarria says he was the first blind person he ever knew. But at Lighthouse Works, nearly half of the employees are visually impaired or blind. This story comes to us from: CBS News.

When he went blind, he worried he couldn't be there for his daughter. Now, they work together

Since then, he's found a job at Lighthouse Works in Orlando, a company that provides jobs for the blind and visually impaired. This story comes to us from: CBS News.

Transportation

Cruise and Waymo win robotaxi expansions in San Francisco

In a win for the autonomous vehicle industry, California regulators have given the green light to Cruise and Waymo to offer commercial robotaxi services across San Francisco 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This story comes to us from: TechCrunch.

'I cried with anger': the trials and torment when travelling with blindness

'Help' ranges from being accused of faking it to being offered a wheelchair; that's why society needs to be educated about the nuances of sight loss. This story comes to us from: The Guardian.

Safety

"It's flat out dangerous": Blind man fears for safety as he's forced to walk on road

Tony Harris and his guide dog, Dobby, have been forced to walk on the main road near their house in Cwmcarn due to parked cars. This story comes to us from: Caerphilly Observer.

EXCLUSIVE Is this Britain's most DANGEROUS cycle lane? New 'deathtrap' pavement …

The cycle lane on Longport Road in Canterbury, Kent, also switches sides and blocks off the entrance to an historic abbey, sparking fury from locals; and, according to the National Federation of the Blind (NFBUK), the route is so dangerous they raised concerns over it a year ago – before it had even been built. This story comes to us from: Daily Mail.

Blind Scots man hails ambulance worker for helping him battle loneliness

Mr Hamilton said: “I was so lonely and I asked Will if he knew anyone or anywhere I could get in touch with. This story comes to us from: The Daily Record.

Electric car revolution 'will turn pavements into obstacle courses' by cluttering streets

Around 40 per cent of homes do not have access to a driveway or garage, meaning many EV owners will need to trail a cable across public pavements to charge their cars, which could turn them into effective obstacle courses. This story comes to us from: The Daily Mail.

Search for missing man who is partially blind in Colorado

Search for missing man who is partially blind in Colorado. This story comes to us from: KKTV.

Poverty

Michael Oher of 'The Blind Side' has charity to lift kids out of poverty

That guy whose story is told in 'The Blind Side'? He wants to help impoverished local kids. This story comes to us from: – The Tennessean.

PM takes responsibility for treatment of visually impaired Lily

Lily Begum, the blind woman, told her tragic tale to the Prime Minister. This story comes to us from: Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha.

Crime

Blind paedophile fails to get sentence reduced for not having guide dog in prison

A blind paedophile has lost his appeal to have his sentence reduced for not having a guide dog in prison. This story comes to us from: Yahoo News UK.

Craig Robertson cared for blind son before being shot by FBI: neighbors

Neighbors described the man shot in an FBI raid on his home in Utah after he made threats to assassinate the president as a “decent guy. This story comes to us from: New York Post.

Guide Dogs

Blind man hit by death of guide dog slams council over 'perilous' pavements

Andy Terry, who is registered blind, says the state of the pavements in Leek are "unacceptable" for disabled people. This story comes to us from: Stoke-on-Trent Live.

Politics

GOP lawmakers touting bill to cover transportation costs for blind workers

“This bill works to remove this obstacle to employment for people who are legally blind and will reduce our statewide workforce shortage. This story comes to us from: WisBusiness.

Legal

Class-action lawsuits target Oklahoma small businesses

A wave of ADA website accessibility class action lawsuits that had been making its way across the United States recently hit two Oklahoma businesses, according to an article published in The Journal Record. In each case, the plaintiff claimed that the companies’ websites violated Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act because they were inaccessible to blind and visually impaired customers. This story comes to us from: McAfee & Taft.

Nordstrom class action claims website not equally accessible to blind, visually impaired consumers

Nordstrom 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. Plaintiff Samaya Hussein claims Nordstrom’s website contains access barriers that prevent it from being compatible with screen-reading software used by individuals who are blind or visually impaired. This story comes to us from: Top Class Actions.

Business

Night Blindness Treatment Market: Ready To Fly on high Growth Trends

The Night Blindness Treatment Market research report represents major insights on the current growth dynamics. This story comes to us from: Digital Journal.

Retinal Disorder Treatment Market – Global Industry Size, Share, Trends, Opportunity

These conditions can cause a range of symptoms, from mild vision impairment to complete blindness. This story comes to us from: Yahoo Finance.

Preventing Blindness

JFK Medical Center Resumes Corneal Transplant

The resumption of the transplants holds tremendous promise for those afflicted with corneal blindness, a condition that severely impacts visual acuity and quality of life. This story comes to us from: Liberian Observer.

Blindness due to diabetic retinopathy can be prevented in 80% of cases with early detection

Blindness due to diabetic retinopathy can be prevented in 80% of cases with early detection. This story comes to us from: The Goa Spotlight.

Lifestyle

LA's blind potter is on a mission to change the stigma around disabilities

He woke up from his coma blind and paralyzed. With months of therapy, he was able to walk again, but the experience left him permanently blind. This story comes to us from: Spectrum News.

I'm blind and he's had a stroke – however difficult it gets we always laugh

Selina Mills and Naci Mehmet reveal the secrets to overcoming severe health obstacles and maintaining a happy marriage against the odds. This story comes to us from: The Telegraph.

Denbigh 2023: Blind patron basks in the experience with family

It is not often that one finds a completely blind person happily taking in the settings and vibes at a major show. This story comes to us from: Loop Jamaica.

How this Scout who is blind made the most of his Scouting experience

“I had to learn how to get through life as a blind person. This story comes to us from: Aaron on Scouting – Scouting magazine.

How to Get Through Your Day With DME

If your eyesight has been impacted by diabetic macular edema, these tips from vision specialists can help make everyday tasks easier. This story comes to us from: – HealthCentral.

Art and Artists

Blind Saudi photographer credits 'artistic sense' for her creative images

Al-Mutairi is blind in her left eye and has almost no sight in her right. To pursue photography, she uses programs for the blind. This story comes to us from: Arab News.

Navigating the world blind: A Pittsburgh writer's journey

This past May, I spoke to 70 third graders at a school in Elkins Park, a township outside of Philadelphia. I had them close their eyes and think about the challenges people with visual impairments face. Then, I pulled volunteers up front to demonstrate how hearing and touch substitute for lost sight. This story comes to us from: PublicSource.

I hate this one reaction when I tell people I'm a blind artist

They think I can’t possibly be a professional artist – or indeed, anything – just because I’m blind. This story comes to us from: Metro UK.

Drum roll for St Leonards group for blind and visually impaired people

Sitarist to the stars Baluji Shrivastav OBE has set up a new drumming group in St Leonards on Sea welcoming all blind and visually impaired people. This story comes to us from: Yahoo News UK.

Kannywood Actor, Karkuzu, Hit By Blindness, Seeks Assistance

Addressing the cause of his sudden blindness, Karkuzu recounted his medical history. This story comes to us from: Leadership News.

Chipping Norton to perform one-woman show about her upbringing by deaf blind mother

An actor near Chipping Norton will perform a one-woman show at a London festival about growing up with a deaf and blind mother. This story comes to us from: Banbury Guardian.

Blind Bloke Nigel shares his story

Sutton on Sea's 'Blind Bloke' has been sharing his story with more car … His wife Julie has written a book based on Nigel's experiences. This story comes to us from: Yahoo News UK.

As a writer slowly loses his sight, he embraces other kinds of perception

In the new memoir, The Country of the Blind, Leland writes about losing his vision and preparing for blindness. This story comes to us from:

Shots: Andrew Leland Chronicles His Gradual Journey into Blindness in a Memoir

He describes his vision loss as a gradual process. This story comes to us from: Bollyinside.

In Memoriam

Blind shopkeeper and former Brutus Buckeye dies

Blind shopkeeper, fixture at Rhodes Tower and former Brutus Buckeye, … nursery before a rare eye disease caused him to become legally blind. This story comes to us from: The Columbus Dispatch.