The European Union will Wednesday sign the Marrakesh Treaty to facilitate access to published works for persons who are blind or visually impaired.

The treaty will ensure that books in formats such as Braille, large print, e-books and audio books with special navigation tools can be exchanged across borders not only within the EU but also between the EU and third countries, said an EU statement.

 
Aaron Scheidies wasn’t going after any records Sunday morning at the 26th annual Sabates Eye Centers Trolley Run. Scheidies had just come off the Boston Marathon and wanted to take it easy on his legs, even though the Trolley Run is just 4 miles long.

Photos by Susan Pfannmuller | Special to The Star Severally visually impaired runners competed with the aid of guides in Sunday’s Trolley Run. Among them were Lex Gillette (right) of San Diego and guide Brighyan Clifton of Kansas City, and Markeith Price (back right) of San Diego and guide Ryan Ortiz of Colorado Springs.

A unique exhibition is underway at a human rights educational facility in Tokyo focusing on how to guarantee the “right to read” of people with visual impairments.

The around 100 items on display at the Tokyo Metropolitan Human Rights Promotion Center include embossed art and picture books as well as braille maps of Tokyo Disneyland.

There is no dearth of promises for the disabled in the manifestos of both the Congress and BJP. But if the data on the proportion of the disabled who have been issued disability certificates is any indication, they need all the help they can get — starting with the basics. A mere 38% of those identified as disabled in Census 2011 have been issued certificates, the basic document needed to access everything — from education and healthcare to job reservation and all manner of welfare schemes.