What's Inside
- Stem cell treatments for blindness.
- A celebration of blind literacy in St. Lucia.
- Can paratransit systems be fixed?
- Foot braille required for blind on curb cuts.
- An action packed sports section.
- And, about 55 other articles about all things blind people and blindness from the entire world.
Editorial By Chris Hofstader
Thanks to those of you who have continued following us during the hiatus I had to take related to my shoulder injury. I'm happy to report that I saw my surgeon yesterday and got an excellent report. I've still a lot of physical therapy and such ahead of me but so far the news is all good.
Next week, I'll be flying to UK for the QED Conference. It's one of my favorite events each year and I'm looking forward to meeting up with a lot of old friends. As the pain from my shoulder injury has reduced a lot, I'm no longer in fear of an 8 hour flight. If you don't know of QED, check out the web site, it's a great event that promotes scientific skepticism, science enthusiasm, humanism and related subjects so, if that appeals to you, I promise that QED is the best of these events in the world.
You may also have noticed a lot of headlines about Andrew Leland's new Book Country Of The Blind. It's an excellent book and I recommend it highly. If you'd like a brief introduction to Andrew, you might check him out on Terry Gross's "Fresh Air" or Marc Maron's "WTF" podcast.
I hope you enjoy this edition of 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
Revolutionary invention turns images into sounds for blind people
It's the Australian invention that's set to revolutionise how people who are blind view the world. This story comes to us from: 9 News Australia.
Science and Medicine
How do screens damage your eyes?
Myopia can cause permanent blindness because it is a risk factor for other eye conditions. This story comes to us from: Live Science.
Blindness Stem Cell Study
The first person to undergo the procedure was a man from Alabama who suffered a chemical burn that left him blind, unable to tolerate light. This story comes to us from: The Gloucester Times.
Stem cells from one eye show promise in healing injuries in the other
Blindness Stem Cell Study … Though additional treatment is sometimes needed, experts say the stem cell transplant offers hope to people. This story comes to us from: ABC News.
Blindness Organizations
National Federation of the Blind of Texas to make stop at Cadillac Ranch for Braille literacy
The National Federation of the Blind of Texas recently announced that members of the organization will make a stop at Cadillac Ranch in Amarillo on Thursday to celebrate Braille literacy as they paint Braille on a few of the cars. This story comes to us from: MyHighPlains.com.
Education
New Jersey Human Services Honors Blind and Visually Impaired Achievers at Trenton
Students and individuals recognized for academic and life accomplishments; scholarships awarded to support further education in various fields. This story comes to us from: This story comes to us from: NewsBreak Original.
How one blind woman is bringing hope to others in Taliban-ruled Kabul
Confined to her home, Malika speaks to other women on Zoom and urges them to help create a better future. This story comes to us from: The National.
Blind and visually impaired students take on summer learning beyond the classroom
Each summer, Perkins School for the Blind hosts programs for children and young adults who are blind and visually impaired. This story comes to us from: Radio Boston.
Blind student scores 99% in Tawjihi
Earlier, Jordan's Ministry of Education held a press conference to announce the Tawjihi overall pass rates. This story comes to us from: Roya News.
EDUCATION | Students from the Royal National College for the Blind are celebrating
The results were in line with general trends across the UK, with 36% of A Level examinations taken graded at A* – A. This story comes to us from: Your Herefordshire.
CARDTP commences digital literacy training for blind kids – Loop News St. Lucia
It was indeed a proud moment for the SLBWA as one of its Vision Education Support Teachers, Jessica Jacobie was selected to facilitate this program. This story comes to us from: Loop News St. Lucia.
Childhood blindness is a major public health problem in Ecuador
At least 2.2 billion people in the world are visually impaired. This story comes to us from: The Goa Spotlight.
Photos: Blind veterans beat challenges at Ukraine rehab camp
Ivan Soroka, a 27-year-old former Ukrainian soldier blinded in the war, eats his breakfast at a rehabilitation facility. This story comes to us from: – Fredericksburg.com.
Employment
Blind man thanks teachers for helping him 'see' his future
A young man who is blind thanks his teachers for helping him succeed in a broadcast career. This story comes to us from: Fox 13.
Transportation
A blind man waited hours for his ride. Can Raleigh fix its paratransit system?
GoRaleigh Access paratransit services have disrupted Raleigh's blind and low-vision residents. This story comes to us from: The News & Observer.
Discrimination and Inaccessibility
B.C. café discriminated against blind woman with guide dog
The owner of a B.C. café has been ordered to pay a woman, who is legally blind, $12,000 in compensation for discrimination after she was refused service because she had a guide dog. This story comes to us from: CTV News Vancouver.
Augusta man found not guilty of murdering blind woman in 2019
An Augusta man accused of shooting and killing a blind woman was found not guilty of murder on Monday by a Richmond County jury. This story comes to us from: The Augusta Chronicle.
Blind man says Easyjet staff 'refused to help' him buy flights
Martin Conway and his wife, who are both blind, wanted to buy flights from Liverpool to Belfast after missing an earlier plane due to traffic. BBC News.
Safety
Paint fired on the crowd in the disco, young man remains blind: compensated with 230 thousand euros
Then a district court found conflicting evidence from Palma hospital, effectively concluding that the young man had been blinded by the squirt gun. This story comes to us from: Ruetir.
Crime
How oral storytelling helped a blind man see the Montgomery brawl
So when the brawl on a Montgomery, Ala., dock last week became social media’s dominant topic, Slater took to TikTok with a request: that someone “write and record some kind of image description, narration, some audio description” of the fight; and they did. This story comes to us from: The Washington Post.
Man charged with murder of blind man in Edgewood
The Harford County Sheriff's Office announced an arrest has been made in the murder of 33-year-old Tyrell Orlando Polley in Edgewood. This story comes to us from: WMAR.
DeWitt man accused of stealing from legally blind 90-year-old woman to stand trial
Editor's Note: This story is in audio format. This story comes to us from: WILX.
Legal
Permission granted by Court of Appeal in tactile paving challenge
Kerbs of sufficient height are crucial to the safety of blind and visually impaired people, to help them distinguish between the footway and the road, and therefore avoid stepping into traffic. This story comes to us from: Bindmans LLP.
Business
Nikki Hind: Dressed for success (John Dickson, illus Chantel de Sousa, Berbay)
It's a short biography of Nikki Hind, a blind fashion designer with her own label, Blind Grit, which employs disabled people and trauma survivors. This story comes to us from: Books+Publishing.
Clinton Transit helps blind business owner make the trek to work
The blue line runs from Dewitt to St. Johns and back. This story comes to us from: KRDO.
Preventing Blindness
Unlocking Insights into Aging: Age-Related Molecular Degeneration Market Poised to Surpass US$ 22.19 Million by 2033
The increasing prevalence of AMD and a strong product pipeline are anticipated to be the major drivers for the growth of age-related molecular degeneration market. This story comes to us from: PharmiWeb.com.
Bonnie Henderson, MD, announced as interim president and CEO of HelpMeSee
HelpMeSee, a global nonprofit providing cataract treatment training using a simulation-based system, announced their new interim president and CEO, Bonnie Henderson, MD. This story comes to us from: Ophthalmology Times.
Diabetic Macular Edema: Symptoms and Treatment
Diabetes triggers diabetic retinopathy, damage to the blood vessels and nerve at the back of the eye which is why early diagnosis and treatment matters! This story comes to us from: HealthNews.
This Is The Essential Nutrient To Avoid Blurry Vision
A vitamin A deficiency prevents the production of these pigments and therefore leads to night blindness. This story comes to us from: Nation World News.
Lifestyle and Human Interest
Tears as Blind and Deaf Dog Realizes Owner Is Home After Months Apart
A message overlaid on the video reads: "Reuniting with my deaf and blind senior dog after 2 months apart." This story comes to us from: Newsweek.
Blind man hosts annual tractor ride fundraiser for sight restoration research
A blind Council Bluffs man is helping to build a bridge to restored sight for people like him. This story comes to us from: Daily Nonpareil.
Deputy and woman reunite lost dog with blind girl in Warren, Ohio
The animal is a comfort animal for a girl who is blind. This story comes to us from: WYTV.
Religion
Man Blind For 8 Years Gets Healed After Coming Out Of Water During Baptism
A man who was blind for eight years got his eyesight back when he came out of the water during baptism; God heals! This story comes to us from: GOD TV.
Art and Artists
The Artist's Touch: Local Artist Uses Unique Method to Create Colorful Images
How the heck did a blind man create this? This story comes to us from: Fort Worth Magazine.
Sports and Athletes
Blind Zephyrhills man finds optimism in shuffleboard
Shuffleboard is great for everyone, including older people. This story comes to us from: YouTube.
Ajay Kumar Reddy is Ready to Face Pakistan at the IBSA World Blind Games
India's visually impaired cricket team is gearing up for the 2023 IBSA World Games. This story comes to us from: News18.
Ayman Hafiz discusses her journey and the IBSA World Games
England Blind Women will be competing in the first-ever Blind Women's World Championships at the 2023 IBSA World Games in Birmingham. This story comes to us from: England Football.
Visually impaired surfers get their chance to hang 10 on Jersey Shore waves
The event paired people with visual impairments with surf instructors. This story comes to us from: Asbury Park Press.
How a summer camp for the blind is proving what visually impaired kids can do
According to the American Foundation for the Blind, there are more than half a million kids in the U.S. with serious visual impairments. This story comes to us from: Spectrum News.
Football: Swedish women's team on the semi-finals
The day started with the two women’s matches, with the Swedish team managing to get their place in the semi-finals after the tie against England, with whom the Nordic squad was disputing qualification for the next stage of this first edition of the World Championship for women. This story comes to us from: International Blind Sports Federation.
“Feet Weren't Doing What My Brain Was Telling"
A 76-year-old man from Kingscote has recently shared the exhilarating account of his skiing adventure. This story comes to us from: Essentially Sports.
England Cricket Board's Heart-warming Gesture Steers Indian Blind Cricket Teams' Journey
London, Aug 18 (IANS) In a heart-warming gesture of sportsmanship, the England Cricket Board (ECB) has come in support of the Cricket Association. This story comes to us from: Glamsham.
This camp is teaching blind youth how to play hockey — and helping the sport grow internationally
Canadian blind hockey is celebrating its seventh development camp. This story comes to us from: CBC.
In Memoriam
Pamela Penland Obituary – Brooks & White Funeral Home – Roxboro – 2023
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the American Foundation for the Blind, 1108 Third Avenue, Suite 200, Huntington, WV 25701. This story comes to us from: Legacy.com.
Influential eastern Ky. native dies at 90
Former ACB president Oral Miller earned a Migil Medal from the American Foundation for the Blind in 2014; well into his 80s, he was still making an impact. This story comes to us from: The Daily Independent.
Angela ANAYA Obituary (2023) – Buffalo, NY
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Angela's memory to National Federation of the Blind . This story comes to us from: Legacy.com.
Sally Basista 1928-2023
In lieu of flowers, material tributes may take the form of donations to the American Foundation for the Blind. This story comes to us from: The Vindicator.
Dorothy Klein Obituary – Cremation by Grandview – 2023
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association and American Council of the Blind. This story comes to us from: Legacy.com.
Weirdness
This woman lost her vision after getting scratched by her cat: 'Never trust even the sweetest animal'
A cat owner got blind on one eye following a nasty scratch by a 'sweet' pet; experts warn that you have to be careful with even the cutest claws. This story comes to us from: Ohmymag UK.
What Is The "Exploding Eggs" Challenge That Has Revolutionized TikTok Due To Its Dangerousness
The viral challenge of “cracking eggs” that has taken over TikTok is under scrutiny from doctors, who have warned about the risk of blindness if eggs cooked in a microwave are handled. This story comes to us from: Nation World News.
Trotro driver who went blind after insulting a passenger healed on live radio
In a message to the man behind his blindness, Isaac Moro expressed gratitude while promising to extend courtesy to his passengers going forward. This story comes to us from: GhanaWeb.
Woman Spent 13 Hours in the Hospital After Having a Bad Reaction to Shein Lashes
A woman says she became legally blind after wearing false eyelashes from Shein. This story comes to us from: Distractify.
Woman walking blind senior dog is caught doing the unthinkable (video)
A video showing the appalling treatment of an elderly blind dog by its owner has gone viral, leaving everyone fuming. This story comes to us from: Wamiz.