What’s New

New technology is making Braille redundant

Non-availability of sufficient material is one of the causes for its decline

Modern technology has changed lifestyles; the invasion of new electronic gadgets has now questioned even the relevance of Braille for the blind in the present world.

On the occasion of 201st birth anniversary of Louis Braille, inventor of Braille language, Deccan Herald spoke to few individuals, who work for the blind and asked them about the importance of Braille in a blind person's life.

Govt to amend ‘Disability Act’ to improve life of differently abled

Government will bring an amendment in the Disability act in the coming budget session of Parliament to improve the lot of the differently abled. A draft of the amendment is ready with the social justice ministry. This was disclosed by the social justice Minister Mr. Mukul Wasnik at function in New Delhi to commemorate the 201 birth anniversary of Louis Braille.

The day is being observed through out the world as Braille day. The minister said that the procedure of giving grant to NGO's working for the betterment of blind is being simplified.

Blind to read news on Braille's B'day

On January 4, Bangalore will celebrate the birthday of Louis Braille, the creator of the script for the blind with the rest of the world. Doordarshan Kendra will be observing this day in a unique way, Kannada News will be presented by visually challenged persons trained in Braille script.

Braille Script consists of six dots that are raised.

These six bumps are in different patterns, like constellations, spreading out over the page. They consist of numbers, letters, words.

Centre for disability studies likely at Pondicherry University

A centre for disability studies is likely to be established at Pondicherry University. The Department of Social Work has submitted a proposal to the university in response to a communication from the University Grants Commission to start such a centre.

Equal insurance benefits for differently-abled

Ministry of Communication and Information Technology would take a decision shortly with regard to the extra premium paid by the disabled employees

The Central Government Wednesday informed the Delhi High Court that equal benefits for postal life insurance will be provided to the differently-abled government employees with a maximum limit of Rs 5,00,000.

Computer centre for visually challenged opened

A computer training centre for visually challenged students was inaugurated in the city on Monday.

This computer training institute was established by the Milton Charitable Foundation with assistance from the Ganjam district administration. Its inauguration coincided with the birth anniversary of Louis Braille. The inauguration ceremony was attended by the Ganjam district Collector, V.K.Pandian, Berhampur Sub-Collector, Ajit Mishra, Gopalpur MLA Pradeep Panigrahy etc.

Three-month courses

Slew of measures for differently abled

CHENNAI: The tax-free State budget 2010-2011, presented by Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan in the recently inaugurated Assembly-Secretariat complex on Friday, contained a slew of policy measures for the differently abled.

Samsung Netbook at a special price for visually impaired students

Saksham has been able to finalise the purchase of Samsung N150 Netbook for a special scheme for university students with blindness or low vision.

The Netbook is being purchased at the cost of Rs.16500.

Musical talent-visual impairment link

New research suggests musical talent and vision impairment are closely linked. High-profile and brilliant blind musicians such as Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder and Andrea Bocelli have long caused people to wonder if there is a link between music and blindness.

Now Professor Adam Ockelford, a musician and visiting research fellow at the Institute of Education, London, has some solid evidence.

He and his research team surveyed and visited visually impaired children who had been premature babies, at home and at school.

Near blind girl scores 91.5 per cent in Class 12 exams

With just 2 per cent vision in both her eyes, Aditi Shah did not let her impairment come in the way. She scored 91.5 per cent in Maharashtra's HSC (Class 12, junior college) exams.

"I was expecting to score below 90 per cent. But when I heard I scored close to 92 per cent, I didn't know how to react," an elated Aditi said.

Born sighted, Aditi was diagnosed with Retinitis Pigmentosa, a disease which results in progressive loss of vision, when she was 10.

Soon, radio station dedicated to visually-challenged

The visually-challenged could soon get a 24X7 companion in the form of a radio dedicated solely to education and entertainment for the blind. City-based Braillevani Education Radio Group (BERG) has been working on the concept and will approach HRD Minister Kapil Sibal with it in July this year. Once sanctioned, the group said, the project would be functional by the end of the year.

Darkness was no obstacle in this girl’s long trek to success

Even for brisk walkers, it takes a two-day trek from the Solukhumbu district headquarters in Nepal to get to Goma Rai’s village. “The walk is easier in the winter. In the summer, the rains make you slip. The locals do not slip, but I did,” Goma smiles.

Woman learns Braille for daughter

She travels 85 km from her village to Bhopal to study for her blind daughter’s sake, spending Rs 250, every day — a huge amount for an underprivileged family like hers. But 29-year-old Govind Kunwar does not mind because her efforts are helping her daughter reclaim her confidence and live with dignity.

Kunwar, a woman with normal vision, is learning Braille so that she can help daughter Anita (7) cope with her studies.

Retinal Implant Restores Sight

Lighthouse International is participating in an exciting research project that holds great promise for helping people who are blind to see. It is the only FDA-approved, long-term clinical trial of its kind to determine the effectiveness of a new retinal prosthesis — and it is already yielding promising results. We’re not the only ones sharing the great news; CNN’s Dr. Sanjay Gupta reported the story, as did The New York Times.

This prosthetic is a breakthrough in enhancing the vision — and life — of people with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) … people like Barbara Campbell.

Blind scholar, guided by blind teacher, gets PhD

He could not see it, but the thunderous, rapturous applause that will ring in Sanjay Jain's ears for a long time told him that he had earned it. Having just won the longest ovation of the ceremony, Jain stood up modestly, a big smile on his face.

For Jain, who is blind since birth, this was one of his life's best moments. He was awarded PhD in law during the 97th convocation ceremony of Nagpur University on Saturday. Interestingly, Jain's guide was head of law department Shirish Deshpande, who is also blind.

Making it to MIT against odds

Bolla Srikanth was barely few years old when many in his community counselled his parents to abandon him. The pressure was heavy on his illiterate parents, a farmer father and housewife mother, but they never yielded. Had they heeded their advice, the world would have been minus one inspiring story today.

Into management institutes, with visual impairment

Many people who have a disability don't let it prevent them from leading a fulfilling life. They are an inspiration to both disabled and non-disabled people alike. Alpana Dubey, Goma Rai, and Vishal Jain are among the few people who have proven that visual impairment cannot deter them from achieving their goals.

HC seeks details of disabled candidates joining IIMs

The Bombay high court on Monday sought details of the seats reserved for disabled candidates in Indian Institutes of Management across India and the number of such candidates admitted during the current academic year.

Hearing a petition filed by a city-based TYBcom student Rahul Girreddy, who dragged the IIMs to court, a division bench of Chief Justice Mohit Shah and Justice S C Dharmadhikari has given IIM-Ahmedabad time till July 6 to submit the details.

Govt should relax rules for physically challenged: HC

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday asked the government to consider treating physically challenged people at par with SC/ST candidates while granting relaxation in qualifying marks for admission in professional courses. The court asked the government to consider the recommendations of chief commissioner for disabilities who had directed all government-aided institutions to extend the relaxation in qualifying marks to physically disabled candidates in order to bring them at par with SC/ST candidates.