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.
Frankey Fernandes (NDTV); Panjim; June 9, 2006
The smallest state of India has taken a giant step towards equal rights for persons with disability. Goa will now ensure that they have equal and easy access to not just all buildings but also to transport facilities.
www.newkerala.com and www.dnaindia.com; Delhi
'Smart cane', developed by the Indian Institute of Technology (I.I.T.) in consultation with the National Association for the Blind, is a boon for the country's nine million visually impaired people. Besides easy commutation, it will also enable safe exit during an emergency.
Infosys Education World (May 2006 Issue); www.educationworldonline.net
Today, computers have become more accessible due to the use of screen reading software. There is JAWS for Windows from Freedom Scientific, Window-Eyes from GW-Micro, and HAL from Dolphin systems. Of these three, JAWS and Window-Eyes are the two most popular products.
A musical child prodigy, Dr. Dinkar Sharma believes there is no substitute for hard work and sincerity.
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. In this issue, Pranay Gadodia recounts a positive encounter at a bank.
The International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (I.C.E.V.I.) is organising its 12th world conference from July 16 to 21, 2006, at Putra World Trade Centre, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The main theme of the conference is 'Achieving equality in education: New challenges and strategies for change'.
At the opening ceremony the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister will officially launch the Education for All Children with Visual Impairment Campaign and Action Programme.
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.)
By Zukile Majova, www.int.iol.co.za
In South Africa, thousands of Independent Electoral Commission (I.E.C.) staff underwent training on the rights of visually impaired voters before the local government elections. Elections in South Africa were held in March 2006.
United Nations
For the first time, the United Nations will be able to print material directly in Braille. The credit goes to a donation of a state-of-the-art printer by the non-profit organisation, Services for the Visually Impaired, (S.V.I.), U.S.A., along with the World Blind Union (W.B.U.).
Harold Snider, Executive Director, S.V.I., said the high-speed, heavy-duty embosser would provide the U.N. with Braille production capacity in all six of the organisation’s official languages.
By Pongpen Sutharoj, The Nation, Bangkok, Thailand
The National Electronics and Computer Technology Centre (Nectec), with the aid of a research team at Prince of Songkla University of Thailand has developed a Braille notebook, which could make life much easier for visually impaired people in Thailand. The notebook consists of a portable computer on which visually impaired users can key in information in Braille. The information can then be printed either in Braille or in text format.
In what can be considered as a break-through, Sandia National Laboratories (U.S.A.) has released a prototype eye-chip that may eventually help to restore sight to blind people.
Reuters
Disabled passengers have won new rights of access to airline travel in the European Union (E.U.). The European Parliament has adopted measures to ensure E.U. airports help disabled travellers.
Times News Network, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
It seemed to be a never-ending struggle for 50-year old visually impaired U.N. Singha, until he got justice from the Commissioner Disabilities, Uttar Pradesh (C.D.U.P.), for inclusion of his initial temporary services period for counting towards his seniority. He works at Lucknow University.
By Harneet Singh, www.indianexpress.com
Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s saga of a deaf, mute and blind girl, Black, swept the coveted Final Four at The Hero Honda 12th Annual Star Screen Awards. Besides winning the Best Film award, Bhansali also went home with the Best Director trophy. Rani Mukerji was declared Best Actor (Female) and Amitabh Bachchan was Best Actor (Male). Both these leading stars of the film gave the credit of their success to the director.
www.travelvideo.tv/news, Rajasthan, India
Relief Riders International (R.R.I.) is a group of workers that go to remote villages, on horseback, to implement their mission to provide free medical aid.
I.A.N.S.
Scientists have developed a microchip based on diagnostic methods for early intervention for infectious eye diseases and glaucoma, especially in newborns. Announced at the 93rd Indian Science Congress, this is part of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (C.S.I.R.) led New Millennium Indian Technology Leadership Initiative.
Everybody likes to look good -- a flat stomach and a trim, no-flab athletic body are something many people aspire for. Our eating, work and sleeping habits, however, do not help in becoming the lean and mean fighting machines of our dreams. So some people diet, some jog, some go to treatment centres. The last, too, put you on a strict diet. Everything requires sustained effort. The minute you lift your guard, all the good work is undone.
It was hard for NAFISA BUHARIWALA to come to terms with her vision impairment, but her parents were an unending source of inspiration
The baby of the family, Nafisa Buhariwala received a lot of affection and love from her parents and siblings. Her parents realised something was wrong with her sight when she was four months old. They took her to Mumbai, and met with all the good ophthalmologists in the city. The doctors pronounced their verdict: she was born with Retinitis Pigmentosa, and nothing much could be done for the baby.
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