What’s New

Reservation for differently abled in Goa

The Hindu, Panaji

In a State policy and Plan of Action for differently abled persons submitted to the High Court recently, the Goa Government has committed itself to work for the welfare of differently abled people. In the matter of jobs, the policy envisages equal opportunities apart from 3 per cent reservation provided against identified government jobs. The Goa Government will offer incentives to employers in the private sector who provide 3 per cent reservation for differently abled persons.

A vision for blind girls

Rohit Bhan, ndtv.com; Surendranagar, Gujarat

"When I was small and studied in a blind school I came across a number of girls who couldn't pursue their dreams due to poverty. I decided that very time that I will do something for such blind girls,” says Muktaben Dagli.

The result is ‘Pragna Chakshu Mahila Sevakunj’, an organisation run by Ms. Dagli and her husband Pankajbhai, both of whom are visually impaired.

Satellite technology helps blind students

Hiral Dave, Indian Express; Rajkot, Gujarat

Ten blind schools across Gujarat State now impart distance learning to students with the help of the Indian Space Research Organisation's (I.S.R.O.) project.

In October 2005, eyeNews had reported on the Indian Space Research Organisation’s Edusat project in Gujarat <link to: http://www.eyeway.org/inform/news/newspage.php?id=19> that gave visually impaired people a chance to access the latest information.

Trail-blazer for the disability sector

Born with chronic low vision and myopia, Ravi Kumar Arora nevertheless had a clear image of what he wanted to achieve in life. And one thing he was sure of: he would not let shortsighted bureaucrats cheat him out of what was his due.

My first day in office

In each issue of ‘beyond the I’, this column presents a first-hand account of a visually impaired person’s experiences in the ‘real’ world. Madhubala Sharma tells us about the butterflies in her stomach on her first day in office, and how she overcame her nervousness

Selling with senses and sensibilities

n a welcome move towards inclusion, more and more advertising is now using blind characters as their central figures

Tuning in to a revolution

A not-so-quiet revolution has been taking shape over recent years. Radio, once thought vanquished by the television and the Internet, has been making a powerful comeback. There are many shows aimed at visually impaired people that are creating waves amongst their chosen audience. Anand Vivek Taneja and Koyel Lahiri listen in to what’s happening

12th World Conference of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment

Location: Putra World Trade Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
July 16, 2006 to July 21, 2006
Organised by the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (I.C.E.V.I.)

Campaign sets sights on ending avoidable blindness

Canada NewsWire; Calgary; June 8, 2006

Her Royal Highness, the Countess of Wessex, Sophie Rhys-Jones, launched a major fundraising campaign on June 8 in Calgary on behalf of Canada's Operation Eyesight, a leading international development agency dedicated to the prevention and treatment of blindness in the developing world.

Interactive platform seeks new members

David Riley; Daily News; U.S.A.

Friendly Circle for the Blind, a local group in the U.S.A. provides an interactive platform for its blind and sighted members. For more than 50 years, both visually impaired and sighted people have found friendship and a helping hand in the group. 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.

Smart card authentication device for developed

Finextra, France

Banks can now provide their customers with visual disability a security solution for online banking services. In the era of online and telephone banking, there is a growing need for banks to remotely authenticate all customers during non-face-to-face transactions, including visually impaired customers.

Wireless Braille keyboard developed

Elhuyar Fundazioa; www.eurekalert.com; Spain

A wireless Braille keyboard with bluetooth technology will now put technology at the fingertips of users with visual disability.

Tourist brochures in Braille

http://www.theday.com

Six welcome centres in Connecticut (in the U.S.A.) provide tourist brochures and welcome guides in Braille and in large prints. This initiative will help travellers with visual disabilities visiting the state. They can also get access to an audio version of the information brochure.

Exploring Egyptian civilization with Braille

www.english.alarabonline.org; Cairo (Egypt)

An Egyptian museum enables visitors with visual disability to explore historic treasures of the country through Braille. They are now able to feel the magic of history, thanks to a special new gallery which will let them discover by touch the historic treasures.

Machine offers legally blind view of world

Scott Malon; Reuters; Cambridge; posted online at
www.indianexpress.com; June 11, 2006

Ms. Elizabeth Godring, a legally blind poet at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (M.I.T.) has designed a 'seeing machine' that allows people with limited vision to see faces of friends, or read and study the layouts of buildings they intend to visit.

Gujarat wins 13th blind cricket tournament

Maya Sharma and L. Subramani; www.NDTV.com; Bangalore; date?

Gujarat won the 13th 'National Cricket Tournament for the Blind' defeating Haryana in the finals at the Chinaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on March 5, 2006.

The tournament also became a platform to select best players for the national squad that will play the forthcoming cricket World Cup for the Blind to be held in South Africa in December 2006.

Blind director finds no takers for his film

Jyothi Venkatesh; Mid Day; Mumbai

Priyesh Jain (aged 33) did not let blindness affect his vision. With the completion of his 45-minute film, 'Roshni', he has arguably become the first blind person to direct a film.

'Roshni', which stars Anant Mahadevan and Reeta Bhaduri, is a plea for global peace, for a world free from nuclear bombs. Jain bases the film on a one-act Hindi play, 'Umeed', which he scripted and directed. "Roshni is a tribute to my parents who never made me feel inferior because of my visual disability," says Jain.

World chess meet

All India Chess Federation for the Blind, Goa

Goa will host the 11th 'World Chess Championship for the Blind', this year. Many Grand Masters and champions are expected to take part in the event.

The tournament will be inaugurated on October 9, 2006, and will end with the felicitation of winners on October 18, 2006. The rounds will be played every day from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The top eight games will be relayed on the website www.aicfb.org.

Auto rickshaws now safer for visually impaired travellers

Gaurav Vivek Bhatnagar; The Hindu; New Delhi

Auto rickshaws in Delhi will 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.

Miranda House - Moving towards accessibility

The Hindu; New Delhi

Concerned about the lack of study material for students with visual disability, Miranda House is setting up the Amba Dalmia Resource Centre for Visually Challenged Students.

This centre will have computers with voice-enabled software like JAWS and Kurzweil. It will have networked computers with up-to-date technology to help students and will also house Braille books.

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