What's Inside
- Low vision man arrested in Florida when police mistake his cane for a weapon
- Woman kicked out of London hotel because they didn't believe she was blind and had her dog with her
- New gaming device for blind players
- APH gets new web site with excellent search features
- Making New York City cross walks more accessible for blind
- And, 50 more articles about blindness and blind people from all over the world
Editorial By Chris Hofstader
This was another week where the news of the blind was dominated by two stories. The first was the low vision man arrested in Florida when a police officer mistook the cane he had folded in his pocket as a weapon. If a police officer approaches you, you do not have to identify yourself as this man refused to do but, as a person who has had a number of incidents involving law enforcement, if you know you haven't committed a crime, I advise cooperating with law enforcement. Make sure your hands are visible and answer questions politely. The alternative, as was within this low vision person's rights, is to not cooperate, get locked in handcuffs, stuffed into a police cruiser and, when you get downtown, you will be searched as now you are under arrest, the police will find you had no weapons and send you home. Keep in mind, if law enforcement thinks you might have a weapon, they need to protect themselves and it's simply not worthwhile to try to bicker with them as they have actual guns and anything you do that may seem like you're reaching for a weapon can get you shot and that's definitely not worth standing up for your right to not speak. This is based on my personal experience many years ago in my misspent youth and I'm a white guy but I believe being cooperative with law enforcement is probably the safest route to take for anyone.
The other story that I must have seen about 75 headlines for is the blind woman who was tossed out of a London hotel for having her guide dog with her. It's a strange story as the hotel let her check in and while she "was half naked," hotel security kicked in her door and removed her and her dog from the hotel as they didn't believe she was blind.
We have about 50 more articles in this week's edition and we hope you find them interesting.
This digest will be moving over to the World Blind herald site where you can read our "coming soon" page and see that WBH will be the most unique and diverse publication in the world of blindness, ever.
How It's Organized
Gonz Blinko's 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
Visually Impaired Boy Changed His Qatar 2022 World Cup Album to Braille to Finish It
As expected, the fever for the World Cup reaches everyone equally, regardless of race, religion, much less any physical disability. Such was the case of a boy of Venezuelan origin known as Sebastian Filoramo 12-year-old who is visually impaired and managed to complete the album with the help of his loved ones. This story comes to us from:
Technology
FIRST OF ITS KIND BRAILLE GAMING DEVICE CREATED IN BEDMINSTEr
The “sky is the limit” for the tactile gaming device from Bristol Braille Technology, which allows blind and partially sighted people to play and
Create their own video games. This story comes to us from: pennmedicine.
Popular Hearthstone Accessibility Mod Ends Support
Hearthstone hear was made more accessible mostly through its community, with one mod being integral for blind and low-vision players It was called Access, letting you play with a screen reader and keyboard commands, but its developer GuideDev has announced that support is ending. This story comes to us from: the gamer.
LG Distributes Common-use Braille Stickers for Free
LG Electronics Inc. said Thursday it is distributing common-use braille stickers to customers for free as a way to enhance home appliance accessibility.
Starting last year, the company has developed and distributed dedicated braille stickers for about 20 products for free. This time, it developed a common braille sticker that can be attached to all of its products. This story comes to us from: koreabizwire.
Indoor & outdoor wayfinding technology for vision-impaired people
Navigating an unfamiliar place is uniquely challenging for people with disabilities. People with blindness, deafblindness, visual impairment or low vision, as well as those who use wheelchairs, can travel more independently in urban areas with the aid of effective wayfinding technology. A new report from the National Institute for Transportation and Communities (NITC) explores how to leverage low-cost methods to enable people to more easily move through public, urban indoor and outdoor spaces. This story comes to us from: Mirage News.
The Future of Digital Healthcare in Eye Vision
Technology advancements in surgical and other treatments in the field of vision is decreasing rates of vision impairments, including blindness. This story comes to us from: MedTech Outlook.
Blindness Organizations
APH Louis Website Gets New Look, Improved Search
American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is celebrating the launch of a completely redesigned Louis website and updated search interface. Named after Louis Braille, the Louis Database is a free, national service designed to make it possible for schools, families, and adults to quickly locate information on accessible textbooks and other materials available across the U.S. with just one search. This story comes to us from: languagemagazine.
Ohio mother holding fundraiser to build community for those who are blind
Months after Zachary Woods was shot at a Liberty intersection, his mother, Natisha Lee, is fighting to build a community of those who are blind in the area. She’s holding a fundraiser at the FOCUS building in Warren to help build community support. There will be a turkey dinner, basket raffle and a live performance from Woods. Husband. This story comes to us from: WDTN.com.
Blindness is not just a disease, it is an oversight! Direct Aid’s Strategy: conquering vision loss in Africa
Quality of life can be damaged by vision loss or impairment due to many reasons. Though treatable and preventable in most cases, blindness affects productivity, not to mention the social isolation, difficulty of movement, impediment of education, and possible retardation of linguistic, emotional, and cognitive skills in the case of children. Hence physical, emotional, economic, and social factors are at stake with blindness, i.e., a direct path to poverty, pain, and misery. In addition women and people with disabilities including refugees and migrants are mostly affected by poor eye health as well. This story comes to us from: reliefweb.
Blind Welfare Association celebrates World Sight Day
On October 13 the TT Blind Welfare Association, along with the rest of the world, celebrated World Sight Day 2022. To mark the occasion, the association hosted a Walk for Sight around the Queen’s Park Savannah in Port of Spain, on October 16. This year’s theme, Love Your Eyes, brought global attention to the prevention of avoidable blindness. This story comes to us from: Trinidad and Tobago Newsday.
DeafBlind Immersion Experience – Helen Keller Services for the Blind
The DBIE provides a 5-day immersion program for individuals who are DeafBlind with intellectual disabilities and those who support them. This story comes to us from: Helen Keller Services for the Blind.
HKNC Older Adult Program – Helen Keller Services for the Blind
The HKNC Older Adult Program provides consultation, resources and training to older adults with combined hearing and vision loss. This story comes to us from: Helen Keller Services for the Blind.
[Sight Tech Global 2022 agenda announced][
The third annual Sight Tech Global conference, a virtual, free and highly accessible event on December 7 and 8 convenes some of the world’s top experts working on assistive tech, especially AI, for people who are blind or visually impaired. If you don’t follow this topic, maybe you should, because a lot of cutting-edge tech over the years — think OCR and NLP — was developed at the outset with blind people in mind, and went from there to more mainstream uses. This story comes to us from: TechCrunch.
UNCG photography students working to share view of the world through the eyes of the blind
Industries of the Blind has teamed up with students at UNC Greensboro to create pieces of art demonstrating what the world looks like through the eyes of the visually impaired. This year, they’re doing so through photography. “We start talking and it’s like how do I transform that into something physical,” said UNCG senior Jenna Futrell, who’s been paired with Thompson. The students interview the employees, learning about their lives and perception of the world in an attempt to bring it to light, even though their view has long been dark. This story comes to us from: myfox8.
FoundationFoundation Launching its Largest Natural History Study to Date for 1,500 People with Inherited Retinal Diseases
The Foundation Fighting Blindness, the world's leading organization committed to finding treatments and cures for blinding retinal diseases, is committing at least $8.6 million for its Uni-Rare Study, a new natural history study for approximately 1,500 people with one of more than 300 rare genes associated with inherited retinal diseases. This story comes to us from: – Yahoo Finance.
Discrimination and Inaccessibility
Rogers gives away blind woman's phone service for 9 days
Rogers Communications is apologizing to a legally-blind Richmond Hill woman after she was left without phone service for nine days in October. This story comes to us from: Global News.
Safety
Making New York City Crosswalks Accessible For The Blind
Hundreds of junctions in New York City will become accessible to blind people, in a new project powered by technology developed in Israel. This story comes to us from: NoCamels.
The importance of signage and wayfinding for persons with disabilities
SIGNAGE and wayfinding for persons with disabilities is an essential accessibility feature that is oftentimes neglected. As with all people, including those without disabilities, to find their way, persons with disabilities need to know 1) where they are; 2) where they want to go; 3) how to get to where they want to go; 4) if they are on the right path or route; 5) when they have arrived. Persons with disabilities have different needs, therefore wayfinding solutions should consider and understand the different needs of persons with different types of disabilities. This story comes to us from: The Manila Times.
Mum mowed down blind man then left him for dead to race home with fish and chips
Charlene Bellis hit Christopher Hollywood as he crossed the road with his Golden Labrador guide dog Caesar. This story comes to us from: Metro UK.
Poverty
New Documentary Short Shows Why Early Intervention On Childhood Blindness Is Key To Preventing Extreme Poverty
The Tej Kohli & Ruit Foundation has released a new documentary short charting a remarkable intervention to cure three children of cataract blindness in a single family. The film illustrates how untreated blindness in the developing world can create a burden of care which prevents entire families from escaping extreme poverty. This story comes to us from: Digital Journal.
UC Davis School of Medicine's Bayanihan student-run clinic now offers ophthalmology care
Prishha Thiagarajan, a student volunteer at the UC Davis medical school’s Bayanihan free clinic, felt helpless. When uninsured patients fared poorly on eye exams over the past three years, she would hand them a voucher for free glasses. But when they needed treatment for more complex vision issues, she recommended they visit an ophthalmologist because the clinic didn’t have one. Only one problem – patients couldn’t afford the specialty care. This story comes to us from: UC Davis Health
Crime
Blind elderly woman killed for resisting robbery bid in Mumbai
Police arrested a 28-year-old man and detained a minor boy (15) for murdering a blind senior citizen while trying to rob her in the Mahalaxmi area. This story comes to us from: India Today.
IDIOT Cop Detains Blind Man For Simply Existing
A vision-impaired man, Jim Hodges, was stopped on Halloween morning by a cop that figured, “Hey, we haven't harassed a blind person in like a month!”
But now that her supervisor is there, things definitely got straightened out. This story comes to us from: YouTube.
Cops arrest legally blind Florida man after mistaking folded cane for gun
“Hi there. What's this in your back pocket? I just saw you walking,” a female deputy says. This story comes to us from: New York Post.
Blind man punched on NYC Bronx subway train as bystanders watch
A legally blind straphanger was punched in the face on a Bronx train after he asked a man whose backpack was in his face to step aside. This story comes to us from: New York Daily News.
Four people try to rob 89-year-old blind man in Thane, one held
Some alert residents saw that the light of this house was on and called the control room informing them about some suspicious activities. This story comes to us from: Hindustan Times.
Guide Dogs
Blind woman, 29, 'kicked out of Enfield Premier Inn as staff didn't believe pet was guide dog
Angharad Paget-Jones, 29, said she was kicked out of a Premier Inn
She said she was 'half naked' when staff burst into her room last Saturday
Hotel staff did not believe Tudor was a guide dog and made her leave, she says
Guide Dogs UK now calling on Government to provide better protections. This story comes to us from: Daily Mail.
Guide Dogs NI welcome funds from Lough Erne's lady captain
Lough Erne Golf Club's Lady Captain Christine Fitzsimmons recently presented the proceeds of her year's fundraising to Louise Thompson and Kathryn Hicks of the Guide Dogs Enniskillen fundraising group. Christine fundraised to name a puppy, and was delighted with the support of her fellow golfers and friends. The charity will update Christine on the puppy's progress as it begins a life-changing journey. This story comes to us from: Impartial Reporter.
Politics
Democrat Brooke Lierman on her race for Maryland comptroller: 'We have finally elected a woman'
Lierman is a civil and disability rights attorney who practices procurement law, representing blind-owned businesses with federal contracts. This story comes to us from: Baltimore Sun.
Lanarkshire pupils find out what it's like voting as a blind person in special event to support sight-loss
A group of Lanarkshire pupils will today get the chance to find out what it's like trying to vote as a blind or partially sighted person. This story comes to us from: Daily Record.
Legal
J.G. Wentworth class action alleges website has multiple ADA access barriers
A legally blind man filed a class action lawsuit against the financial services company J.G. Wentworth, alleging the company does not make its website accessible to blind people using a screen reader. This story comes to us from: Top Class Actions.
Bumble and Bumble class action claims website not accessible to visually impaired, blind visitors
Hair product company Bumble and Bumble does not make its website accessible to blind and visually impaired people using a screen reader, a new class action lawsuit alleges. Plaintiff Daniel Rodriguez filed the class action lawsuit against Bumble and Bumble LLC on Nov. 10 in a New York federal court, alleging violations of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA). This story comes to us from: Top Class Actions.
Hotel ordered to pay €5k to blind woman for discrimination over guide dog
A Kilkenny hotel has been ordered to pay €5,000 compensation to a blind woman for discriminating against her by refusing to accept a room booking. This story comes to us from: Irish Examiner.
Uber Moves to Compel Arbitration in Blind Rider's Guide Dog Discrimination Case
In a motion filed late last week, Uber Technologies Inc. asked the Southern District of Florida court overseeing an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) case to send the plaintiff’s claims to arbitration. According to Uber, the rider agreed to the company’s arbitration clause stating that claims such as his arising from the use of Uber’s services, may only be brought in the para-judicial forum. The suit dates to August when the Floridian sued Uber over its drivers’ repeated refusal to transport his service animal. This story comes to us from: Law Street Media.
[HOW SMALL BUSINESSES SHOULD CONSIDER ADA COMPLIANCE][
After Cyndi Masters was in an accident that left her unable to leave her house, the internet was her gateway to the world. “I was so isolated, and the internet let me not be isolated,” she said. “And [it] let me participate fully, at least in that one fraction. I thought, ‘Gosh, a blind person should be able to [use this], a deaf person [too.]’" This realization caused her to make a career pivot toward the industry that she’s still in today — with a mission of making the internet easier to navigate for people with disabilities. This story comes to us from: The Business Journals.
Business
Nacuity Pharmaceuticals Expands Board of Directors with Appointment of Dr. Russell Kelley
Nacuity Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a clinical stage biopharmaceutical company developing treatments for retinitis pigmentosa, cataracts, and other ocular diseases caused by oxidative stress, today announced the appointment of Russell Kelley, Ph.D., MBA, to its board of directors. Dr. Kelley currently serves as managing director of the Retinal Degeneration (RD) Fund, the venture arm of Foundation Fighting Blindness and a significant investor of Nacuity. This story comes to us from: Yahoo Finance.
Lifestyle
Mom Backed for Refusing To Take Blind Child to the Pool: 'Nervous
My son is a great swimmer, and so are his friends, but I've never met this girl before, and I don't know if she is a strong swimmer. This story comes to us from: Newsweek.
[100-year-old veteran reads to Raleigh's blind every week][
Editor: This story is presented in audio.
This story comes to us from: Tulsa World.
Blind veteran from Banbury will march at the Cenotaph in London this Remembrance Sunday
A blind veteran from Bodicote is set to march at the Cenotaph in London this Remembrance Sunday. John Cantwell, 74, will be marching at the Cenotaph as part of the national Remembrance Sunday commemorations with more than 40 other blind veterans supported by Blind Veterans UK, the national charity for vision-impaired ex-Service men and women. This story comes to us from: Banbury Guardian.
Blind Hull veteran's pride as he prepares to march in Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph
A blind veteran from Hull is set to march at the Cenotaph in London this coming Remembrance Sunday with the charity Blind Veterans UK. This story comes to us from: Hull Live.
[A blind man on a peace mission][
A blind man on a peace mission in Trans Nzoia county is receiving accolades for his work. This story comes to us from: YouTube.
Disabled Activists Are Building a More Inclusive Food Justice Future
Gerldine Wilson, long-time gardener and leader of Grassroots Gardens of Western New York’s Gardening For All initiative, in the Victory Community Garden she started a decade ago. This story comes to us from: Civil Eats.
Art and Artists
[A year after life-changing award, Berkeley inventor for the blind is writing a memoir][
Editor: This is a story about our friend Josh Miele, one of the smartest but also kindest and sweetest people in the world of blindness.
“But to say I'm a 2021 MacArthur fellow calling, it totally changes people's reactions to you. This story comes to us from: Berkeleyside.
Mural for the Blind brings unique art experience to everyone in North Texas
Independence includes many freedoms, including the enjoyment of beautiful art. Believing this to hold true for all, even those without sight, the Lighthouse For the Blind recently unveiled “Where Independence Begins,” a one-of-a-kind blind accessible, interactive mural. The 2,000 square foot mural, painted by award-winning Fort Worth muralist Kristen Soble, is along the Adams Street Wall of the Lighthouse building. It was designed and executed specifically with individuals who are blind and visually impaired in mind. This story comes to us from: Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Sports and Athletes
The record-breaking Australian blind cricketer who has found a 'family' in the sport
Growing up visually impaired, school wasn’t easy for Australian Steffan Nero. He remembers struggling with anxiety and being “very quiet,” “lonely” and “probably weird as well." His life changed when he discovered visually impaired sports – notably cricket. “I was actually a different person when I was with other vision impaired people. I was actually a very outgoing kind of person, very energetic,” Nero told CNN Sport. This story comes to us from: CNN.
Keren Kirubai – a hammer thrower making her mark in blind football
The 21-year-old from Chennai is now one of the two Indian women’s team goalkeepers at the IBSA Blind Football Asia/Oceania Championship. This story comes to us from: Sportstar – The Hindu.
Blind faith in star power holds India back at World Cups
The big guns never fired in unison, and India continued to play a conservative brand of cricket with both bat and ball in Australia. This story comes to us from: The Indian Express.
India to Host IBSA Blind Football Women's Asian/Oceania Championship 2022
Kerala Governor Arif Muhammad Khan inaugurated the IBSA Blind Football Women's Asian/Oceania Championship 2022 at Kochi, Kerala. This story comes to us from: Current Affairs.
–End
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