Introduction

Welcome to Edition nine of Gonz Blinko's Blind News Digest. This edition has 45 stories about blind people and blindness from all over the world and its the first edition of the digest to include a featured article written by a member of the community. We're certain you will find articles that you think are interesting, informative and, in some cases, funny.

As we do in every edition of the digest, we'd like to acknowledge our friend in the UK, Leon Gilbert. He practically invented blind news and he has a terrific Twitter feed which you can follow at @leongilbert.

Last Edition

If you missed it, you can read edition 8 of the news digest at Gonz Blinko's Blind News Digest – Edition 8. We'll include links to the previous edition in the Introduction section of each week's version.

Never Miss An Issue

If you're enjoying Gonz Blinko's Blind News Digest, you can subscribe by email to this blog and you'll never miss an issue. At this time, we do not have a way to subscribe to the news digest without also receiving my other blog articles which are about a single topic at a time. I never publish more than one blog article in any given week. If you subscribe and enjoy my articles, then you'll be receiving them more conveniently; if you subscribe and don't care for my articles, it's only a single keystroke to delete them.

Help Wanted

This is the first edition of the digest that contains a featured story. It was written by blind author Abbie Johnson Taylor and is a short "slice of life" piece about the kind of mistake we blind people make from time to time. This article is located on this page after the news headlines, I put it at heading level 1, I understand that having more than one heading at level 1 on a single page is discouraged but, as we have a whole lot of things at heading levels 2 and 3, I wanted to make Abbie's story easy to find.

If you have an idea about any aspect of blindness and would like to write a short item of any length then please go to our contact form and pitch the story to us. If you don't have much confidence in your writing skills but have an idea you'd like to share, we can help by editing your essay for publication; if you are a good writer, then we'll publish your piece verbatim. But, you can write about anything related to blindness, you can write a rant about being ditched by an Uber Driver, you can write about a nice outing you had with friends, you can write about technology, science or medicine if you understand such things, you can write about learning something new, you can write about how you do your job, you can write amusing guide dog stories as everyone who has a guide dog knows they do funny things from time to time. In essence, you pick the topic and, if it isn't disinformation, then we'll try to run it in the digest.

I know you all have stories, write some down and send them to us. And, if you want to write about something controversial like having been the victim of sexual misconduct by a blindness agency staffer, we'll happily publish your article anonymously as long as I can identify you. A confidential source is fine but we can't run a story if the author is entirely anonymous.

Editorial By Chris Hofstader

This has been something of a peculiar week for news about the blind and blindness. As usual, we have quite a number of articles about science and medicine but it seems that every other story category in this edition only has a few or only just one article in it so there was no overwhelming theme to the news this week.

This week in the business section, we have two reports on screen reader and braille display market figures with projections into the future. These numbers are hard to come by and I'm glad we found them and included them here.

We hope you enjoy this edition, please do leave us comments or send us email through our contact form. We are always trying to get better and your input will help.

Braille

Edinburgh woman Sue Marshall retires as volunteer teacher of braille with RNIB Scotland

An Edinburgh woman who went blind at the age of just 17 is retiring from a volunteer role which has seen her touch the lives of many with vision loss. This story comes to us from Edinburgh News.

Science and Medicine

Blindness to death; top eye infections that can have disastrous consequences

It is difficult to imagine a normal life without our precious eyes, yet we take them for granted most of the times. Symptoms like redness of eyes, watery eyes, blurry vision and dry eyes are often ignored as minor problems and not addressed seriously. While most of these symptoms resolve on their own, in rare cases, if left untreated they can lead to serious complications from blindness to death. This story came to us from Hindustan Times.

Diabetes can cause blindness. A trip to this pharmacy could help

The pharmacy in Westchase has been chosen as the pilot site for a new concept: An in-store eye clinic designed to make screening faster and more convenient. The clinic includes a device that can diagnose diabetic retinopathy and macular degeneration, a common eye disorder among those over 50, within five minutes. This story came from Yahoo News.

Doctor Makes Blind People See Again, Treats Them for Free

A medical doctor identified as Doctor Castellar and his team are putting smiles on the faces of blind people in Haiti by making them to see again. This story came to us from Legit.ng.

Can this technique potentially cure blindness

RPE dysfunction affects 200 million people around the world and this new procedure could be the cure. This story came to us from The Columbus Telegram.

How close are we to curing blindness?

The state of bionic eyes, gene therapies, and other advanced treatments. This story came to us from Freethink.

New treatment for two main causes of blindness

Millions of people who live with diabetes are at risk of losing their eyesight from a condition called diabetic macular edema or DME. Millions of others suffer from the age-related condition, wet macular degeneration. This story came to us from fox26houston.com.

Anti-VEGF therapy reduces vision loss, slows progression in severe NPDR

Dr. Quan Dong Nguyen reviews a Monte Carlo simulation that showed evidence that treating severe NPDR with anti-VEGF therapy garners positive results. This story came to us from Ophthalmology Times.

Eating disorders linked to diabetic eye issue

People with eating disorders are three times more likely to suffer from diabetic retinopathy. This story came to us from EurekAlert.

Essential Building Blocks for Equitable Healthcare

According to the World Health Organization, PWDs are “three times more likely to be denied healthcare and four times more likely to be treated badly in the healthcare system. This story comes to us from O'Dwyer's.

Spike in weather-related eye issues

The recent storms and continued inclement weather is likely to be responsible for a reported increase in ewes succumbing to eye problems and temporary blindness. This story came to us from Irish Farmers Journal.

Technology

Accessibility Isn't Easy: What 'Easy Mode' Debates Miss About Bringing Games to Everyone

Making difficult games more accessible is about much more than a difficulty level. This story came to us from ign.com.

EHSAAS BRAILLE WATCH CONCEPT WILL LET THE VISUALLY IMPAIRED FEEL THE TIME

It’s interesting how unique concept designs from some years ago inspired a number of products we commonly use these days. That’s how important conceptual products are. You design something and even if it doesn’t become a reality, some group will pick up the idea and bring it into production. This story comes to us from Yanko Design.

Connected and Autonomous Vehicles

EBU is fully involved in PAsCAL, a research project on Connected and Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs) implemented from June 2019 to November 2022. It is co-funded by the Horizon 2020 programme of the European Union. This story came to us from European Blind Union.

Blindness Organizations

Radio reading program for blind hangs on during pandemic

The volunteer radio service that reads local newspapers to blind people in the Davenport area had to slash its efforts due to the pandemic. This story came to us from Radio Iowa.

Local nonprofit advocates for those who are blind or visually impaired

As part of Low Vision Awareness Month, we spotlight The Hawaii Association of the Blind, a local nonprofit that advocates for those who are blind and visually impaired. This story comes to us from Hawaii Public Radio.

MSP on barriers faced by blind people when voting

INVERCLYDE'S MSP is boosting awareness of the barriers faced by blind people taking part in the democratic process. This story comes to us from Greenock Telegraph.

Fire at Schools for Deaf and Blind; administration building destroyed by flames

The historic Administration Building at the West Virginia Schools for the Deaf and Blind was destroyed in a Saturday morning fire. This story comes from WV MetroNews.

Business

Eye Care Surgical Devices Market Expected to Rise Steadily throughout 2018 – 2026

Visual impairment and eye diseases are global concerns that negatively impact the physical and mental health. Eye care surgical devices are consumables, products, and systems which are used to diagnose eye diseases, from an early stage of disease to the last stage and treatment of same. This story came to us from Digital Journal.

Screen Reader Market Key players and Vendors: Freedom Scientific, Microsoft, Apple, Amedia Corporation, Dolphin Computer Access

The Screen Reader market research study includes insightful data on the number of major companies involved in the market, supply chain/value chain trends, company financials, technological advancements, and key inventions & developments, acquisitions. This article came to us from [znewsafrica.com].

Braille Tablets and Accessories Market latest Analysis, Challenges, Share, Growth Forecast By 2028

This has brought along several changes in This report also covers the impact of COVID-19 on the global market. This story came to us from Materials Handling.

Legal

C.A. Restores Blind Man's Suit Over 'Inaccessible' Website

The Court of Appeal for this district yesterday reversed an order dismissing an action under the Unruh Civil Rights Act. This story came to us from Metropolitan News-Enterprise.

Guide Dogs

Guide Dogs of Hawaii holds its first mass training for blind, visually impaired clients

Through small steps, 35 people who are legally blind learned to navigate their world through Guide Dogs of Hawaii’s first mass training session. This story came from Hawaii News Now.

Could you foster a cute guide dog puppy?

“I lost my sight at 27 and I'm now 56,” recalled blind woman Tina Lowe. “And before I lost my sight I honestly was, no joke, terrified of dogs. This story came to us from Newstalk.

Employment

Can a Blind Doctor Become a Psychiatrist?

People with disabilities have long been left out of the medical profession. Here's a blind doctor suing to become a psychiatrist. This story came to us from The Wire Science.

Envision grows Dallas footprint with more jobs for blind, visually impaired

Wichita-based Envision has acquired a new 210,000 square-foot building to house its Envision Dallas operations under one roof, including a manufacturing and distribution center, along with a comprehensive rehabilitation center, and program and services space all under one roof. This story comes to us from Dallas Business Journal.

Jesse Rogers Was Henderson's Broom Man

Jesse Rogers from Henderson was born blind but later became known as the Broom Man. Rogers learned the trade of broom making at the Texas School for the Blind in Austin. This story comes to us from County Line Magazine.

Discrimination and Inaccessibility

Blind woman misses clinic appointments over letters she couldn't read

A blind woman was discharged from a health clinic after missing appointments she didn't realize she had – because she was only notified of them by post. Rachael Andrews requests all of her communications through email, making use of audio reading equipment. This story came to us from Eastern Daily Press.

Blind People Stagnating At Work Due To Inaccessible Technology, Says New Study

According to a new study carried out by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), employees with sight loss continue to be hampered in carrying out the bare essentials of their jobs by their employer’s lack of knowledge and commitment to digital accessibility. This story comes to us from Forbes.

Blind Leeds student feels 'forgotten and ignored' by the NHS

A patient watchdog said the NHS is 'failing to protect the rights of our most vulnerable patients. This story came to us from Leeds Live.

Blind woman left 'stranded' on London Underground told 'we're not in school' by TfL worker When Asked To Hold His Elbow

A blind woman was told ‘I’m not in school’ by a Transport for London (TfL) worker who was supposed to be guiding her. This story came from MyLondon.

Crime

Details of the investigation by the blind woman found dead in the river were known

The investigation to determine the cause of death of the blind woman, whose body was found this morning after an important police deployment in the San Juan River, Ullum department, begins to have a defined line, according to the data provided by the sister of the deceased, who also reported her disappearance. This story came to us from Then24.

7 fake blind women nabbed with 22 trafficked children in Delta

The victims were allegedly being exploited through street begging by the seven suspected women who allegedly faked blindness while in Warri. This story came to us from The Sun Nigeria.

Blind Calgary man handed jail term for beating dog with his cane

Provincial court Judge Josh Hawkes on Friday said the conditional sentence order sought by the defense, which would have spared Jason Harron having to go to jail, would be inappropriate given the gravity of the case. Hawkes said based on Harron’s conduct in abusing his dog, Bear, a jail term in excess of the three months sought by Crown prosecutor Gord Haight would be appropriate if not for his disability. This story came from Calgary Herald.

For molesting blind woman, minor niece in local, man gets 3-yr jail

"It is said that such type of sexual assault is ignored by women thinking that there is no likelihood of coming across the same assailant after the journey. Hence, almost all such assaults go unreported. This story came from Free Press Journal.

Mother pushes blind teenage son into canal

A woman on Saturday deliberately pushed her 14-year -old blind son into a canal at Nagarjuna Sagar Project in Nalgonda district. This story came to us from Telling Ghana.

Safety

A Few Reasons of Erecting Tactile Warnings on Various Public Places

With such a good number of people who are living with their vision problems, hence as a society, we need to ensure that they can get the same respect and opportunities that any sighted people do. Keeping that in mind, this valuable tool that is known as “tactile warning surface” has been developed. This story came from The African Exponent.

Police in Sunrise searching for missing elderly blind man

We don't have a category into which this story fits easily so I picked "Crime" because police were involved.

Authorities in Broward County are searching for a missing elderly man who is blind. This story came to us from Local 10 News.

Lifestyle

Eating from the Bohra thaal

As a blind woman, how did I engage with the complexities and drudgery of cooking to turn it into my passion. This story came to us from Himal Southasian.

Art and Artists

San Diego author writes inspiring book about Jorge Cantu

Blind man survived years of abuse as a child and dedicates his life to help others living with vision impairment. This story came to us from CBS 8.

Sports

Brazil, USA, Canada, enter knock-out stages unbeaten

The Brazilian men and women, the US men and Canadian women all secured their place in the quarter-finals of the 2022 International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Goalball Americas Championships unbeaten in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on Sunday (20 February. This story comes to us from IBSA Sport.

The blind women who bonded through surfing in the Bay of Plenty

Sarah Saunders and Melody Steyn are best friends who have never seen each other. This story came to us from NZ Herald.

At 65 and Legally Blind, 'Sister Shred' Has Never Met a Slope She Wouldn't Ride###

Kris Nordberg still loves rolling through rock gardens and shredding powder on her ski bike — sometimes, in a nun costume. This story came to us from The New York Times.

What It's Like Skiing Blind

“It’s just me and Brett, and we can go pretty fast.” What’s it like skiing blind? Three-time Paralympic medalist Millie Knight shares the challenges she faces and the unique relationship with her guide. This story came to us from Bloomberg.

Brazil take double gold at Americas Champs

The Brazilian men’s and women’s teams were crowned champions in both the men’s and women’s competitions at the 2022 International Blind Sports Federation (IBSA) Goalball Americas Championships in Sao Paulo on Tuesday (22 February). This story came to us from IBSA Sport.

Featured Story

THE RED STUFF

By Abbie Johnson Taylor

For six years, despite my limited vision, I cared for my late husband, who was totally blind and suffered two strokes that paralyzed his left side soon after we were married. Bill was so finicky that mealtime was often a nightmare because he didn’t always want to eat what I wanted to fix. So, I had to scramble to find a substitute for him while still enjoying what I wanted to eat.

One year at Christmas, my singing group performed at an apartment complex for senior citizens. After we sang, we were invited to eat with the residents. Because I needed to get home and prepare supper for Bill and me, I reluctantly declined. The cook, whom Bill and I knew, offered to send me home with food for both of us. I agreed, grateful I wouldn’t have to fix anything. I knew Bill would enjoy the meal they were serving.

“Okay, honey,” I said, in our kitchen later, as I set a plate of food in front of him at the table. “There’s a pork chop on the right that I’ve cut up. In front of you is stuffing, and that red stuff at the top on the left-hand side I’m pretty sure is cranberry sauce.”

A moment later, I realized I’d mistakenly identified the red concoction when Bill said, “Ooh, these beets are horrible!”

“I’m sorry,” I said. It was all I could do to keep from laughing. “I guess I should have sniffed them first. I assumed it was cranberry sauce.”

“Well, you know what happens when you assume, don’t you?”

“Yes,” I answered with a sigh. “I’m sorry.”

He laughed. I laughed.

Needless to say, I ate a second helping of beets, which I like and don’t eat often. To this day, I’ve never learned not to assume anything.

Abbie Johnson Taylor is a blind author residing in Wyoming. You can find more about her at her blog, on her web site or on her Amazon author page.

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