General

The bank with a vision

Following discussions with the country’s ‘National Commission for Persons with Disability’, Bank of Valletta (Malta) has introduced this new service for its visually impaired customers to have better access to their bank accounts.

"At Bank of Valletta we are supportive of our customers' needs and always seek to tailor our services to the specific requirements of our customers," said Igino Xuereb, Chief Officer Operations at Bank of Valletta. "Indeed, mutuality is a core value of Bank of Valletta's promise,” he added.

Justice by blind juror

He was probably the first blind juror to sit on a Denver (Colorado, U.S.) jury. Joe Kovach, 29, recently sat on the jury that convicted gang member Timothy Guy Kemp of first-degree murder after a trial that lasted several days.

For Kovach, serving on the jury tested his senses and tested the ability of prosecutors, defense attorneys and Denver District Judge Morris Hoffman to put aside any beliefs they might have about a blind person sitting on a serious court case.

Garden of Senses

"It has been a challenge but I wanted to create the relaxed feeling you get when you are on holiday on a beach, and at the same time, recreate the sounds, textures, the scents and even the taste that you get in a seaside garden."

Garden designer Tracy Foster of Leeds (U.K.) has won a gold medal at the Gardeners' World show in Birmingham for her revolutionary £3,000 (approximately Rupees 2,37,000) seaside garden for blind people.

Motivating Braille learners

Blind and visually impaired students across the United States and Canada met in Los Angeles for the sixth ‘Annual National Braille Challenge’.

The aim of the event was to build enthusiasm among blind people and celebrate excellence in Braille literacy skills.

Auto rickshaws now safer for visually impaired

Here’s some good news for over 10,000 visually impaired people who use public transport everyday. Auto rickshaws in Delhi will soon have metal plates bearing the registration numbers in both Braille and embossed form on the sides. The step would enable blind passengers to lodge a complaint if the driver misbehaves or refuses to carry them and will also help friends and relatives track a particular auto.

A fashion show with a vision

"I am sure this show would be an eye opener for the fashion industry as such shows are not only about the skin but mean more than that," said young fashion designer Himangshu Bora.

Certainly it was. Eight young models displayed some of Bora's summer collections created with an ethnic touch along with super models Dipanita Sharma and Nina Manuel. These models were students of the Guwahati Blind School (Assam). The occasion: A show ‘Light Up the World’ at the Pragjyoti cultural centre in Guwahati held on the 17 July 2006.

Blind advocate fights for social justice

Guangcheng lost his sight after a childhood illness and did not attend school until he was 18. When he did go to school, he encountered legal problems.

The Chinese government exempts blind citizens from taxes and fees. But Chen Guangcheng often did not receive such benefits. Determined to realise his legal rights, he studied law on his own, recruiting his four older brothers to read legal texts to him.

Blind women to make a film

Seven blind Iranian women are going to make documentaries on their lifestyle. The project was proposed by director Mohammad Shirvani at a screenwriting and directing workshop held last summer for blind people in White Cane Charity Foundation in Tehran.

The seven women will shoot their films through compact digital cameras. Sara Parto, Banafsheh Ahmadi, Narges Haqiqat, Shima Kaheh, Mahdis Elahi, Shokufeh Davarnejad, and Naghmeh Afiat aim to make short documentaries on their personal lives by the sound-based recording.

Hearing is seeing for Ben Underwood

Playing video games with his brother Isaiah, in the cacophony of noise, 14 year old Ben Underwood can figure out everything that's happening just by listening.

"How can you even separate the sound? "Because they got different voices,” says Ben. Watching him in action, it seems clear that Ben really can do anything!

Blind band creates soulful music

This blind musical band has performed for the Governor, the Mayor and for Infosys Chief Mentor N.R. Narayana Murthy. But their happiest moment was when they performed for the Indian cricket team, recently in Bangalore. "It is a big opportunity and an occasion for us," said Murthy, flautist and the oldest member of the group. ‘Ability in Disability’ (I.D.L.) Blind Band’ is a full-fledged troupe that got together seven months ago to produce melody and to make the most of the talent of the members.