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My big idea: Traveleyes

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 11:08 -- admin

The Leeds-based tour operator was born out of entrepreneur Amar Latif's frustration at the lack of options available to blind travellers.

When Amar Latif discovered that the sort of travel experiences he was looking for didn’t exist for blind travellers, he was faced with two options. He could either do without, or organise them himself. Not being afraid of a challenge he decided on the latter option and in April 2005 the Leeds-based tour operator Traveleyes was born.

Blind Cricket: Test legends take on a new challenge

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 11:07 -- admin

England's Graham Gooch and New Zealand's Martin Crowe have taken on junior blind cricketers in a friendly game at Rushutters Bay, Sydney.

The cricketing greats are in Australia to participate in the beach cricket tournament, but managed to sneak in a game against the vision-impaired kids organised by the Advanced Hair Studio.

The former English captain says he was astounded by the younger players' ability.

"They have a special ball which has a sort of bell inside of it, and you roll the ball along the ground," he explained.

Blind restaurateur honoured

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 11:07 -- admin

The Schwab Foundation has named Stefan Zappa, founder of the blindekuh chain of restaurants, Swiss Social Entrepreneur 2007.

The jury said on Thursday it was won over by Zappa's "Blind-Liecht" charitable foundation and its innovative gastronomic concept, which involves diners eating in the darkness and being guided through their meals by blind and visually impaired waiters.

The "Blind-Liecht" charitable foundation was set up in December 1998 by Zappa, a partially sighted psychologist, with help from three other blind people.

BCAB Launch EyeT4All

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 11:06 -- admin

The British Computer Association of the Blind (BCAB) has launched an initiative called EyeT4All. The revolutionary initiative brings easy to use, affordable access technology to visually impaired people around the UK.

The problem

It has long been argued that the cost of access technologies, such as screen readers, is too high. The benefits of using a computer if you are visually impaired are undeniable. Far greater access to information and services, but getting all the right equipment can be an expensive process.

New Yoga book for visually-impaired

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 11:05 -- admin

A do it yourself book on yoga for the visually-impaired has been written in Braille, but the language is Marathi.

The writer Mangala Sarda is a yoga instructor with 10 years of experience working with the National Association for the Blind.

Her book is an attempt to help her students, learn yogic postures better and to teach it to others like themselves.

''The instructions need to be simple so that they can grasp them. They need to follow my voice to do the exercises,'' said Mangala Sarda, Yoga Instructor.

Radio for the visually impaired!

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 11:04 -- admin

Helping the visually impaired to reach out to the world was the motto of the day for The National Association for the Blind (NAB) who, along with Rotary Club of Bangalore, distributed around 1,000 FM radios to visually challenged persons at the NAB Rehabilitation Complex here on Saturday.
 
It is part of Rotary Club’s ‘Support the Challenged’ initiative, which in turn was supported by Mitra Jyothi and Matru.
 

New software for the visually impaired

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 11:03 -- admin

Using technology he brought “sight” to hundreds of visually impaired students.

 
The amazing young Vietnamese man's name is Dang Hoai Phuc, aged 26.

 
He is the On-net Technical Initiative Project Coordinator, in charge of On-net’s Southeast Asian programs.

 
Phuc is a lecturer at the Regional Jaws Scripting Development Workshop, which gave IT-for-theblind training to seven IT teachers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

Daredevil blind woman in skydive thrill

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 11:02 -- admin

A daredevil woman who is gradually losing her sight is taking part in a charity skydive to raise money for the charity which gave her vital help when her life was turned upside down.

Francesca Davies, 42, of Great Waldingfield, near Sudbury, will fall two miles through the sky in the tandem dive with an instructor to support the West Suffolk Voluntary Association for the Blind, which was there for her when she lost the sight in her left eye 11 years ago.

Blind Chemist Crafts Tools for Visually Impaired Students

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 11:01 -- admin

A blind chemistry graduate student at Penn State is making an impact in how visually impaired students get involved in the laboratory. A story posted on the Penn State website explains how Cary Supalo went from hating chemistry in high school to majoring in it in college. What made the difference? Having a little extra help in the lab.

 
As part of his doctoral degree, Supalo is creating tools that will better equip the visually impaired student to participate in the lab. "Chemistry gives you the potential to discover something new that can change the world," he says.

Blind man's marathon week

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 10:59 -- admin

Dave Heeley, 49, will begin his Seven Magnificent Marathons Challenge on April 7, with the aim of increasing awareness of visual impairment around the globe and raising funds for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

His gruelling week begins in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands (Antarctica), followed by Santiago, Chile (South America), Los Angeles, USA (North America), Sydney, Australia(Australasia), Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Asia) and Nairobi, Kenya (Africa).

The final leg will bring him back to Europe, where he will run the Flora London Marathon on April 13.

Braille shops map is a first

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 10:58 -- admin

Braille maps are to be introduced in Princesshay in Exeter city centre following successful trials.The maps have been designed to help the blind and partially-sighted navigate the four sections of the shopping centre. They have been tested since September by two local volunteers and the finalised versions are now available from the Exeter Tourist Information Centre. The idea was first proposed by information centre workers. A spokesman for the project said: "There was quite a demand for it as there are no other Braille facilities for this area.

Centre an 'example to rest of country'

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 10:57 -- admin

A Newcastle specialist centre for blind and partially sighted people was declared an example to the rest of the country by David Blunkett yesterday.

The Sheffield MP who has been blind since birth praised the state-of-the-art learning facility at Newcastle College in partnership with the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB).

The former Home Secretary and Education Secretary met some of the students who use the centre and had a tour of the facility in the Armstrong Building with his guide dog Sadie.

Assistive Technology Company Releases New Product for Vision Impairments

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 10:56 -- admin

Clarity LLC, manufacturers of assistive technologies for the visually impaired is set to launch the Rio, the newest in its Next Generation product line. The latest in portable technology, the lightweight Rio magnifier offers incredible magnification for a multitude of functions. At only 1.5 pounds, the self contained Rio provides 7 inches of viewing space, and up to 5 hours of battery life.

Pigs raise hopes for blindness cure

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 10:56 -- admin

Pioneering transplants to restore the sight of people affected by the leading cause of blindness in the Western world could start in three years, after successful human cell implants in pigs.

The animals look a little human, now that they have a lawn of human cells growing in an area about size of about half of a little fingernail at the back of their eyes, which are ideal for testing treatments before they are used on people.

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