General

UK’s National Library for the Blind to raise funds from Marathon

Authors and publishers urged to make their work accessible

"Reading means the world to me and I can’t imagine what it would be like, to be denied this pleasure,” said children’s laureate Jacqueline Wilson. She is urging fellow writers to make their work more accessible to visually impaired persons.

Touchable' Mexican sculpture exhibition in U.S.A.

El Alma en Las Manos or ‘The Soul in the Hands’, a tactile exhibition by contemporary Mexican sculptors opened on March 9, 2006 at Zerum museum at San Francisco, U.S.A.

The exhibition seek to bring blind children closer to the world of visual art had 22 pieces of tactile sculpture from Mexico.

The exhibition was organised in collaboration with Consulate General of Mexico, the Mexican National Council for Culture and Arts, ‘Zerum’- a multimedia arts and technology museum, and non-profit organisation ‘LightHouse for the blind and visually impaired people’, U.S.A.

Those magical fingers

Penny Hall's sensitive fingers are her eyes. As a massage therapist, she uses those fingers to good advantage. "I thoroughly enjoy my work," says Hall, 63, who has been in the field since 1998.

Hall is blind but that’s no disability for her. In fact, some of her clients are thankful that she's blind because they are self-conscious about their bodies, she said. But regardless of the shape of the person on the massage table, Hall's first concern is comfort.

A Look Into Our i's

The book gives readers a glimpse into the lives of some extraordinary teenagers who share their perspectives on issues related to growing up with visual impairment.

The twelve authors are aged between 13 to 19 years. Their book is a compilation of introspective writings. It speaks about concerns that they feel are most important to them. These are, namely, independence, inclusion, intelligence, inspiration, idealism and imagination.

Accessibility programme opens U.S. museums to blind visitors

Warren Logan’s hands skim the 15-century marble bust, tracing the lifeless eyes, the slightly agape mouth, the precisely chiselled fur.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art’s (Kansas City, U.S.A.) new touch tour is among programmes at more than 100 museums in the country that attempt to do what once was thought impossible - making art accessible and even visible to visually impaired people.

Blind 'see' art through tactile

The Art Institute of Chicago (U.S.) offered the blind and vision-impaired people the opportunity to ‘see’ by touching replicas of a few of its most popular works.

The museum re-created a handful of its art on tactiles. The technology involves making replicas of artwork on portable, machine-etched plastic that enable visually impaired people touch and feel them.

Blind man directs a film. Any takers?

Group for The Blind seeks new members

For more than 50 years, both visually impaired and sighted people have found friendship and a helping hand in the ‘Friendly Circle for the Blind’. But the group’s monthly gatherings could soon become thing of the past as it has only 10 members now.

Based in the U.S., the group was found in 1953 to offer blind people an outlet to get out of the house and meet people. It had nearly 100 members then.

Mumbai exhibition showcases products of visually impaired children

A five-day exhibition of art and craft products made by visually impaired children was held in Mumbai from December 7, 2005. It was organised by Happy Home and School for the Blind.

Inaugurated by actor Victor Banerjee, the exhibition highlighted the abilities of visually impaired children. "This is organised so that the public can learn about the abilities of the visually impaired children. They just need an opportunity to be independent and lead a meaningful life as contributing citizens," said Meher Banaz, principal of the school.