www.fonix.com; Salt Lake City, U.S.A.
The Fonix Speech Group, an operating division of Fonix Corporation, announced the availability of Fonix DECtalk text-to-speech on screen reading software by Code Factory, a major producer of assistive software for handheld devices in the European and Asian markets.
Ivette M.; www.sun-sentinel.com; Florida, U.S.A.
A cookery show being aired on television in the U.S.A., ‘Cooking Without Looking’, gives cooking tips and safety measures in the kitchen to blind and visually impaired people. Legally blind chef Mr. Ken Lexer of Boynton Beach, Florida, recently displayed his culinary skills in the show.
www.prnewswire.com; Washington, U.S.A.
As part of World Sight Day celebrations, Special Olympics and Lions Clubs International launched a ‘Global Vision Care Curriculum’ in Hyderabad, India. The curriculum presents state-of-the-art science and clinical practice guidelines for quality diagnostic and vision care services for people with intellectual disabilities, who do not receive regular or appropriate vision care.
www.obsentinel.womacknewspapers.com; North Carolina, U.S.A.
The 2005 North Carolina-Lions ‘V.I.P. Fishing Tournament', an annual event for visually impaired enthusiasts in the U.S.A., attracted over 520 people representing 76 North Carolina counties. This was the event’s 21st year.
One volunteer had been assigned to three participants, to place the worm on the hook and remove the fish caught.
In a campaign launched to mark World Sight Day, Sight Savers International, a U.K.-based charity, aims to track down and save Bangladeshi children in need of cataract surgery.
Since last year, Sight Savers' activities have saved 2,500 children from blindness. The procedure includes two surgeries: one to remove the cataract and a second to implant an intra-ocular lens (I.O.L).
www.indiamonitor.com; Andhra Pradesh
A biologist turned philanthropist, Mr. Chandrasekhar Sankurathri is working to erase blindness among the poor and rural communities of Kakinada in Andhra Pradesh. He strongly believes that most cases of blindness can be cured with proper treatment.
www.navhindtimes.com; Hyderabad, India; October 16, 2005
The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, said ‘Vision for all’ should be the national mission, as he launched the second phase of Sight First campaign in Hyderabad on October 15, 2005, as part of the World Sight Day celebrations.
The Hindu; Ballabgarh, Haryana; October 24, 2005
At a 10-day camp in Ballabgarh for disabled people, Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced a substantial hike in unemployment allowance for blind people.
The event was organised by the District Red Cross Society, Faridabad, Lions Club International and Bhagwan Mahavira Sahayta Samiti, Jaipur.
The Hindu; Ballabgarh, Haryana; October 24, 2005
At a 10-day camp in Ballabgarh for disabled people, Haryana Chief Minister Mr. Bhupinder Singh Hooda announced a substantial hike in unemployment allowance for blind people.
The event was organised by the District Red Cross Society, Faridabad, Lions Club International and Bhagwan Mahavira Sahayta Samiti, Jaipur.
D.N.I.S. News Network; New Delhi; October 15, 2005
Delhi University will soon set up the Durgabai Deshmukh College which will run a teachers’ training programme for visually impaired students.
The college, which will have four lecturers, one research associate and a librarian, is being funded by the Blind Relief Association (B.R.A.). Preparations towards launching the course include setting up a library with relevant Braille books and talking books.
Star of Mysore; Mysore, Karnataka; October 7, 2005
There are more than 40 million people with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (H.I.V.) or Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) worldwide. Nearly 50 to 75 per cent of all such people are affected by loss of vision and ocular complications, one of the most common complications of infection. India, with 5.3 million H.I.V.-affected people, may face a potential epidemic of blindness.
Borne by an unrelenting determination to succeed, L. Subramani has found his ray of light in the apparent darkness, writes Arjun Sengupta.
Born in Salem, Tamil Nadu, L. Subramani had myopia when he was five. Diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa at the age of 15, he was about 17 when he lost his eyesight completely. For many people, chronological medical punctuations like those would be reason enough to call it quits; it would signal a grinding halt, a license to stop trying. But not for Mr. Subramani.
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 New Year issue, people share with us vignettes of parties they have gone to
Dancing the night away
Any time is a good time to buy a gift. But if you are looking for excuses, the New Year is as good an excuse as any you need to splurge for someone special. So, take your pick and make up for the birthday gift you forgot, or simply make your visually impaired friend or loved one happy with these gifts.
TALKS
http://www.it-analysis.com ; Peter Abrahams; September 7, 2005
IBM has announced that it is contributing software to the Mozilla Foundation's Firefox Web browser to make it easier for more users - including those with visual and motor impairments - to access and navigate the Web.
PRNewswire; New York; August 30, 2005
Blind patrons of the theatre face a challenge when they decide to attend a live performance. Onstage dialogue without visual references can be confusing, potentially frustrating the theatrical experience.
Now an audio description service, Sound Associates' D-Scriptive, fills in those essential visuals, providing more clarity to the blind theatregoer.
www.channelnewsasia.com; Singapore; September 3, 2005
'Free post' for visually impaired users
www.news.bbc.co.uk; U.K.; August 21, 2005
Royal Mail has scrapped charges for visually impaired people sending print material in 16 point font or larger. The free mail service, for books, letters and other print material is an extension of the company's "Articles for the Blind' postal service.
www.travelvideo.tv; Slough; August 29, 2005
A specialist walking tour operator has teamed up with a leading charity to provide walking holidays in Europe for visually impaired enthusiasts.
Waymark Holidays, one of the U.K.'s leading Europe walking tour companies is working with disability charity Vitalise to offer walking tours in Austria and Spain this year for visually impaired clients.
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