Digest Template
What's Inside
Editorial By Chris Hofstader
We appologize for disappearing from publishing Blindness Briefs with little notice. This is 100% my fault as I've been in poor health and had to set all things related to WBH aside. I'm starting to feel better and we should be publishing consistently starting again next week.
This edition has about 55 stories in it and I hope you find them interesting.
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
Technology
Information sciences professor developing tool to make data visualizations accessible to blind researchers, students
Blind and visually impaired people are very marginalized in the data literacy movement,” he said. This story comes to us from: News Bureau – University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
Pakistan's science & tech led by 'blind men heading for caves'. India is much ahead
Higher education in Pakistan is a joke — there's nothing 'higher' in it except high pay for professors and VCs. This story comes to us from: ThePrint.
New AI System Helps Prevent Blindness Across the Globe
At University College London (UCL) and Moorfields Eye Hospital, scientists have come up with an artificial intelligence (AI) system. This story comes to us from: AZoRobotics.com.
World-First AI Foundation Model for Eye Care to Accelerate Global Efforts in Preventing Blindness
“If the UK can combine high quality clinical data from the NHS, with top computer science expertise from its universities. This story comes to us from: India Education.
Blind player tries out Forza Motorsport's Blind Drive Assist feature, wins a race
However, as his video shows, the Blind Drive Assist feature in Forza Motorsport – which he says is the first of its kind. This story comes to us from: Video Games Chronicle.
Science and Medicine
How diabetes can trigger vision loss and blindness; 11 signs of diabetic retinopathy
At worst, it may lead to blindness, warns German ophthalmologist Dr Ulrich Kellner. This story comes to us from: South China Morning Post.
The underestimated role of myopia in uncorrectable visual impairment in the United States
We estimate the US prevalence of uncorrectable visual impairment in 2050 accounting for the changing distribution of both age and myopia. Age projections of the US population (from an estimated total of 379 million in 2050), were taken from the US census website. This story comes to us from: Nature.
NeuraViPeR: A Ray Of Hope For The Visually Impaired
New brain implants allow blind users to see using prosthetic electrodes in their visual cortex. This story comes to us from: Forbes.
RIT researcher receives award to understand the effects of cortical blindness
Rochester Institute of Technology's Gabriel Diaz, associate professor in the Chester F. Carlson Center for Imaging Science, has earned the Research to Prevent Blindness/Lions Clubs International Foundation Low Vision Research Award (LVRA), in collaboration with researchers at the University of Rochester. This story comes to us from: News Medical.
Blindness Organizations
Pit Stop Party At Kirkwood Library
Kirkwood Public Library staffers co-hosted a cycling pit-stop party with National Federation of the Blind representatives. This story comes to us from: Webster-Kirkwood Times.
Prevent Blindness Declares Third Annual Inflammatory Eye Disease Awareness Week as Sept. 18
Prevent Blindness Offers Information on Inflammatory Eye Diseases, Including a New Video, Fact Sheets and Social Media Graphics, to Educate Public on Ways to Protect Vision and Prevent Unnecessary Vision Loss. This story comes to us from: Yahoo Finance.
John Oliveira named commissioner of Mass. Commission for the Blind
John Oliveira, who has served as acting commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, was appointed to the role of commissioner. This story comes to us from: masslive.com.
Newsline
The NEWSLINE® service reads newspapers over the telephone to Oklahomans who are unable to read. This story comes to us from: Oklahoma.gov.
Education
Blind scholar scores hattrick
The blind student's effort proved worthwhile as recently, he secured his third scholarship from Yayasan Sime Darby (YSD) to pursue his PhD in Disability Equality Training at Universiti Malaya. This story comes to us from: The Star.
Being Almost Blind Won't Stand in the Way of My Success at College
At the Hebrew University, the Center for the Blind has been my pillar of support, providing me with large-print reading materials and more. This story comes to us from: Kveller.
Blind exchange student is a gifted musician studying at NJ high school
A blind exchange student from Turkey is a talented musician who covers pop tunes while acclimating to a new life and school. This story comes to us from: PIX11.
Philly fails to get some of its blind students to school safely or on time
One blind student at Overbrook Educational Center in West Philadelphia needed stitches after adults failed to seatbelt her on her bus. This story comes to us from: Philadelphia Inquirer.
Employment
Blind women are helping detect breast cancer using braille, tactile methods
At the National Association for The Blind (NAB), a non-profit organisation located in Delhi, a group of visually challenged women are working on the “Discovering Hands” initiative for breast cancer. This story comes to us from: Moneycontrol.
Transportation
Blind footballer feared she would fall in front of speeding train after rail staff failed to show up
"People have died falling on the tracks before and I thought it was about to happen to me. "I was in full panic mode and there was not one person to help. This story comes to us from: Yahoo News UK.
Discrimination and Inaccessibility
It's a joke to them": Blind and wheelchair-bound man's four year wait for disabled parking
Ex-paratrooper David Barry, 89, was promised a disabled parking bay outside of his home in Bargoed in June – but there's still no sign of it. This story comes to us from: Caerphilly Observer.
Safety
Blind Midlothian woman feared she would fall in front of speeding train after assistance
She competes in a number of sports and plays for the England women's blind football side. This story comes to us from: Yahoo News UK.
Woman goes blind after dermal filler treatment for wrinkles; first reported case in S'pore
SINGAPORE – In the first such case of its kind in Singapore, a woman went blind in July after she was administered a dermal filler. This story comes to us from: The Straits Times.
Actor left blind after being attacked for wearing face mask
Will Keenan was left blind in one eye. This story comes to us from: Newsweek.
Poverty
Crime
Australian Mum blasted her legally blind husband in the face with shotgun while he slept
Following a peaceful family dinner, Dale Vella focused a loaded gun on her sleeping partner's eye – and pulled the trigger. This story comes to us from: The Mirror.
Dad left completely blind and moved into care after drunk punter pushed him outside pub
Part of the victim's skull had to be removed. This story comes to us from: Birmingham Live.
Blind and deaf Modesto woman drained of life savings
Call Kurtis investigates the case of a blind and deaf Modesto woman who's life savings vanished from her Bank of America account after the 87-year-old fell victim to a check washing scheme. This story comes to us from: The Times and Democrat.
Guide Dogs
Hartwick students train dogs to aid blind people
Blind, a nonprofit organization that trains and provides guide dogs to people who are blind or experiencing vision loss with no cost to the recipient. This story comes to us from: The Daily Star.
Politics
Legal
Blind TexARKana man files suit against Caddo Valley Pilot after curb fall
Blind TexARKana man files suit against Caddo Valley Pilot after curb fall · After suffering fractures to his eye socket and nose from a fall in a store. This story comes to us from: Arkadelphian.
Smart Ass Cripple: So Sue Me
Thirty-three years ago, on July 26, 1990, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) was signed into law. This story comes to us from: Progressive.org.
Blind woman mistakenly refused disability benefits by DWP: 'I was in shock'
A woman who is registered as blind describes her "shock" at receiving nearly zero points for daily living element of PIP. This story comes to us from: The Big Issue.
How a blind Vancouver Paralympian was hired by Virgin cruise line
Just hours after he posted to social media that he’d been kicked off the cruise ship, blind solo traveler Tildesley got a call from the vice president of Virgin Voyages. This story comes to us from: CTV News.
Beauty clinic chain Sisu settles accessibility claim in the US over its website
James Watson, a legally blind man, sued Sisu's US business in July alleging … and in violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). This story comes to us from: Independent.ie.
[Frontier, United, Spirit airlines face class actions as American sues ticket sellers][
Consumers recently filed a number of class action lawsuits involving major U.S airlines, including Frontier Airlines, United Airlines and Spirit Airlines. The class actions involve claims of false advertising, fraudulent charges, website inaccessibility and hidden bag fees. This story comes to us from: Top Class Actions.
Business
Tactile Printing Market to Witness Accelerating Growth by 2030 – Braille Plus, Braille Works, NBP
This thorough study provides up-to-date and detailed information on the most recent technological breakthroughs. This story comes to us from: Laguna Now.
Revolutionizing Vision Care: Global Artificial Retina Market Grows Amid Rising Prevalence
With millions of people worldwide affected by retinal degenerative diseases, leading to varying degrees of vision impairment and even blindness. This story comes to us from: Business Wire.
Artificial Cornea and Corneal Implant Market to grow with CAGR of 6.0 % by 2031
The global artificial cornea and corneal implants market size was USD 420 Mn in 2021 and is anticipated to reach USD 752 Mn in 2031, growing at a rate of 6.0 % from 2022 to 2031. This story comes to us from: Digital Journal.
Preventing Blindness
Eye hospital group plans to launch project to eradicate blindness in State
It has established eye hospitals in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana and Gujarat. This story comes to us from: The Hindu.
[Actress Debbie Allen joins Prevent Blindness, Regeneron to kick off the Gr8 Eye Movement …][100]
Award-winning actress, dancer and director Debbie Allen is teaming up with Prevent Blindness and Regeneron to kick off the Gr8 Eye Movement, a new disease awareness campaign that aims to address gaps in how people understand the risk of developing certain serious retinal diseases, such as wet age-related macular degeneration (wAMD), diabetic macular edema (DME) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). This story comes to us from: Ophthalmology Times.
[South Korea-supported eye care facilities handed over to prevent avoidable blindness in Bangladesh][101]
Initiated jointly in 2014 by the governments of Bangladesh and Korea, the project "Eye Health Promotion and Prevention of Avoidable Blindness in Selected Areas of Bangladesh", funded by the South Korean Government with a $9.4 million grant and implemented by the Korea International Cooperation Agency, revolutionises care services in the country by providing advanced treatment options to combat avoidable blindness. This story comes to us from: The Business Standard.
[Westchester Eyes Announces Diagnostic Technology For Blurry Vision In New York][102]
With an estimated 20 million Americans suffering from some form of visual impairment (Georgetown University), a number that is expected to rise as … This story comes to us from: Digital Journal.
[LSU Health New Orleans researchers discover a key failure in amd that may lead to progression and vision loss][103]
New Orleans, LA – Research led by Nicolas Bazan, MD, PhD, Boyd Professor, Ernest C. and Yvette C. Villere Chair for the Study of Retinal Degeneration, and Director of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence at LSU Health New Orleans School of Medicine, suggests that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) decreases an essential fatty acid, preventing the formation of a class of protective molecules and reducing repair potential. This story comes to us from: EurakAlert!
FG to launch national strategic eye health plan to stem preventable blindness
Professor Omoti said that eye disease and vision loss are global health problems. This story comes to us from: Tribune Online.
Lifestyle
Anyone in our department would have done the same thing': Batavia PD helps woman in need
"It was for a woman who ended up being blind, and she needed to get groceries. This story comes to us from: WKBW.
Blind Ukrainian veteran begins new chapter
Blind Ukrainian veteran begins new chapter. This story comes to us from: YouTube.
Older Blind Independent Living
A older man and woman sitting at a table preparing cookies. The Older Blind Independent Living Program expands independent living services. This story comes to us from: Oklahoma.gov.
Feelingscape': Ordinary lives made poignant
… blind man struggling to connect to others while affirming his agency. This story comes to us from: The Japan Times.
Religion
Incredible: Archeologists Uncover Steps in Location Jesus Healed the Blind Man in Jerusalem
Incredible: Archeologists Uncover Steps in Location Jesus Healed the Blind Man in Jerusalem. A new excavation project in Jerusalem has uncovered steps. This story comes to us from: ChurchPOP.
Blind Individuals Get a Special Tactile Tour of the St. George Utah Temple
When Brooke Garceau, who is legally blind, heard that the public tours, which begin on Friday, September 15, prior to the temple’s scheduled rededication on December 10, would be primarily silent walking tours, she was disappointed. “I thought: ‘Oh no! That’s not going to provide any level of detail,’” either for herself or any other individuals with visual impairments, she said. Ha
This story comes to us from: Church Newsroom – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Art and Artists
Left behind: Entertainment for all except the blind and also the deaf
Nollywood movies challenge Nigerians with visual or hearing challenges. This story comes to us from: The Punch Newspapers.
Silwerskerm Film Festival: Documenting lives
Anika, a blind girl, experiences her first sound safari in 'Call of the Wild'. This story comes to us from: TimesLIVE.
Sports and Athletes
A blind person winning a car race? They've just achieved it, and there's a video
There are many everyday things that we take for granted. For example, the ability to see. Very few video games are designed to accommodate people with vision impairment. This story comes to us from: Softonic.
Anti-Doping Education and figures at the 2023 IBSA World Games
Accessibility – The women's Blind Football national team of Argentina was one of the many teams that went to the education sessions. This story comes to us from: IBSA International Blind Sports Federation.
Sports-related eye injuries increased by 20% in the United States this year
Over 32,000 sports-related eye injuries were treated in the United States last year, including corneal scratches, blunt trauma, penetrating wounds, eye infections and abrasions. This story comes to us from: Mahoning Matters.
Co Donegal woman becomes first blind person to conquer Ireland's seven summits
It comes after Ms Doherty, who has been blind since birth, successfully climbed the other six mountain ranges over the past number of months. This story comes to us from: Irish News.
IBSA is developing women's Goalball in West Asia
According to the numbers referred to in the meeting, all together there are 87 women practicing several blind sports, including Goalball. This story comes to us from: IBSA International Blind Sports Federation.
In Memoriam
Weirdness
Three Blind Mice, see how they kill
Three Blind Mice has been reimagined as a bloody creature feature, putting a very dark twist on the popular nursery rhyme. This story comes to us from: CBR.
Red Dead Redemption 2's Blind Man Cassidy and his Prophecies Explained
Blind Man Cassidy is an unusual character in Red Dead Redemption 2, and his cryptic prophecies are worth seeking out and listening to. This story comes to us from: Game Rant.