What’s New
Early intervention centres for visually challenged
In a gesture aimed at improving the lot of differently abled persons in the State, Chief Minister Jayalalithaa on Saturday unveiled a number of schemes including the launch of early intervention centre for visually challenged in 20 districts, petrol scooter for physically challenged and interest-free loans for self-employment.
A government press release said the intervention centres would come up in districts including Chennai, Coimbatore, Dindigul, Theni, Tiruchi, Kanyakumari, Cuddalore, Dharmapuri, Kancheepuram, Karur and Nagapattinam.
An Able Chorus
It was at an event for the Tata Memorial Hospital close to five years ago that Marzy Parakh first saw Udaan perform. This was no usual band —Udaan comprised musicians who were visually and physically challenged.
Document Actions Send this page to somebody Print this page DISABLING PERCEPTIONS
Newspapers recently reported Jeeja Ghosh of the Indian Institute of Cerebral Palsy being asked to get off a SpiceJet Calcutta-Goa flight. Shortly after boarding she was made to get off the plane by flight attendants who brought her to the terminal building. The pilot refused to fly the plane with her on board. His reason was that she appeared to be suffering from disability.
Call to make Metro Rail disabled-friendly
Over the next few weeks, Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has a rather important task on hand. It will have to respond to a set of suggestions presented by the Disability Rights Alliance–Tamil Nadu (DRA), indicating which of their recommendations will be incorporated into the facility.
It's a long haul for para-athletes of the country
Athletes pay from their pockets for travel to Bangalore for the Para-Athletics National Championship
They are athletes who made our country proud in Paralympics, Para-Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and other international championships. Yet, they had to pay from their own pockets to travel from their respective States to Bangalore to participate in the Para-Athletics National Championship 2012.
The First 'Fully Accessible' TV Launched
A major television manufacturer is about to launch a new range of televisions which, they claim, will be completely accessible to visually impaired people.
Panasonic will launch new models of their sets that will include text-to-speech software built-in, without the need for a seperate set top box.
Viewers will also be able to access the Electronic Program Guide, menus and audio description - something that has never been available in a single solution.
Stray dogs in Jawaharlal Nehru University: Visually challenged on hunger strike
Fed up with the rising number of dog bites and the alleged mishandling of situation by the administration , visually challenged students of Jawaharlal Nehru University have threatened to go on a hunger strike from Wednesday night.
Centre pat for disability battle
The Centre has lauded the efforts of the disability commissioner for his efforts to redress grievances of the disabled in Jharkhand, which has outshone other states in providing justice to a section of society that is often ignored.
A letter dated March 12 from the office of the chief commissioner for persons with disabilities, under the Union ministry of social justice and empowerment, hailed Satish Chandra for successful use of “mobile courts” in Jharkhand.
Laxman bats for the visually challenged
The images of a V.V.S. Laxman interacting may not have registered . But, the message from the great Indian cricketer to the visually challenged seemed to have clearly touched the emotional chord if their response to the encounter was any hint.
A cafe for the differently-abled
Saturday saw the opening of the city’s first hangout for differently-abled youth, Kalakkal Cafe, on the Vidya Sagar campus in Kotturpuram, a prime locality.
�� Anuradha Shankaran, a teacher at Vidya Sagar, says, “The menus are in braille language for the visually-challenged, text for those who can read and just pictures for those who cannot read. The place is accessible to wheelchairs, and has tactile walls, bathrooms and eating aids.”
Bus hailing kits for visually impaired commuters
The ACT Government is running a three month trial where participants receive a pocket-sized bus hailing kit containing Braille number cards and a plastic sleeve.
It can be used to make a sign showing the number of the bus route the commuter would like to catch, and then held up to signal the driver.
Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says the system has been used in Canada.
"These have been used overseas to help people with a visual impairment catch a bus, and make sure that they are hailing the actual bus that they want to catch," she said.
Holistic care for the visually-impaired
Despite all odds, they have been caring for the visually-challenged, especially those belonging to the weaker sections of the society. This has been the mantra that has kept the ‘Divine Light Trust for the Blind’ going for the last six decades.
Entering the 61st year, this institution was established by Rev Father Abraham. He knew the challenges of being visually-impaired very intimately and hence, wanted to help them. Today, this fully-residential centre caters to the needs of 74 children, with some even living with speech and hearing disabilities.
Blind judo competitor, 12, not allowing disability to block his path
ustin Wack looks like any other 12-year-old competing in the Edmonton international judo championships.
Looks can be deceiving.
Wack has been blind since birth.
The soon-to-be teenager, who proudly says he stands five feet “and one-quarter-inch” tall, has already achieved an orange belt after two years of judo training, and has won some silver and bronze medals in competitions.
JNU acts to save the blind from dogs
Nine visually challenged students from Jawaharlal Nehru University called off their indefinite hunger strike on Friday after authorities assured them that immediate steps will be taken to address the stray dog menace on the campus.
They were on strike for the last two days.
According to Sandeep, convenor of JNU visually challenged students' forum, the campus has some 700 stray dogs. Over 20 blind students have been bitten by them in the last two years.
DU students bat for disabled-friendly campus
Students with disabilities will hold a protest on Wednesday demanding a more disabled-friendly campus from Delhi University authorities.
A month back they had submitted an application to university authorities regarding safety on roads, said a member of DU cross disabilities association (DUCDA).
“A week ago another reminder was sent but to no effect,” added the member.
The members also carried out a signature campaign where around 700 students showed their solidarity.
Bus kits trial for visually impaired
A three-month trial of kits for people with vision impairment to signal buses has begun in Canberra.
The kits being used in the trial were supplied from Canada by Ottawa's public transport provider Transpo.
Regional manager Guide Dogs ACT and NSW Beth Helmers has welcomed the trial.
Risca man completes 24-mile wheelchair trek to Senedd
A RISCA man took on a 24-mile wheelchair challenge to raise money for the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign.
Martin King, 42, travelled from the Twyn Carn Day Centre in Risca to the Senedd, to raise awareness of the condition.
Mr King is visually impaired and has been using a wheelchair for the past 14 years due to muscular dystrophy.
The father-of-four had trained hard for the challenge over the past five months in his local parks.
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