Blindness
We need to do in the digital world the same thing we’ve done in the physical world - Mark Riccobono
image by: Blindness
HWN Suggests
Feeling My Way Into Blindness
Blindness is enveloping. It’s beyond belief to step outside and see so little, just a milky haze. Indoors, a smothering dark. It means that you can’t shed a mood of loneliness with a brisk walk down the street because you might trip, fall and break something. Nor will you see a passing friend, the sight of whom could be as cheery as an actual conversation. Sights, like sounds, randomly evoke a surge of memories ordinarily inaccessible that lighten and brighten the day. “Who are you?” I may already have asked 10 people who have spoken to me. Their body language as well as their smiles are lost to me. Human nature is striped with ambiguities, and you need to see them, but like a prisoner, I…
Resources
Science Will One Day Cure Blindness
About 170,000 vehicles use New York City’s Queensboro Bridge each day, passing by Larry Misrok’s apartment building, which sits at the entrance to one of the ramps. Crossing the street there might be a daunting task for anyone, but for Misrok, an 83-year old lawyer, it could be deadly. He is virtually blind.
Blind People’s Social Distancing Nightmare To Intensify As Lockdowns Ease
For most people, the new, socially distanced normal represents a seismic shift in how we operate and interact as a civilization. Nevertheless, for blind people, the ramifications of social distancing go far beyond even that. Human proximity, guidance and touch are the very cornerstones of how those with severe sight loss engage safely and productively with the outside world.
Gene therapy and CRISPR strategies for curing blindness (Yes, you read that right)
According to the World Health Organization, at least 2.2 billion people in the world have some form of visual impairment. In the United States, approximately 200,000 people suffer from inherited forms of retinal disease for which there is no cure. But things have started to change for good. We can now see light at the end of the tunnel.
Genomic Science Kept My Boys from Going Blind
A rare disease almost took their eyesight, but before their world went dark, a medical miracle happened.
In A 1st, Scientists Use Revolutionary Gene-Editing Tool To Edit Inside A Patient
For the first time, scientists have used the gene-editing technique CRISPR to try to edit a gene while the DNA is still inside a person's body. The groundbreaking procedure involved injecting the microscopic gene-editing tool into the eye of a patient blinded by a rare genetic disorder, in hopes of enabling the volunteer to see. They hope to know within weeks whether the approach is working and, if so, to know within two or three months how much vision will be restored.
People Born Blind Are Mysteriously Protected From Schizophrenia
The possible explanations could help us better understand the condition.
The apps that help blind people shop
Assistive technology is making it easier for visually impaired people to buy groceries, hail rides, and more.
The Challenge of Helping Blind People Navigate Indoors
The very existence of Indoor Explorer, which uses Bluetooth beacons to map public indoor spaces, has profound implications for the debate over the role of giant tech platforms.
A Lot More Needs To Be Done To Help Blind People Use The Internet
For the blind, navigating the digital world can be as tricky as moving through the physical one.
Am I Going Blind?
They say that death comes like a thief in the night. Lesser vandals have the same M.O. The affliction that stole my vision, or at least a big chunk of it, did so as I slept. I went to bed seeing the world one way. I woke up seeing it another. This was about four months ago, though it feels like an eternity.
Blind From A Bad Diet? Teen Who Ate Mostly Potato Chips And Fries Lost His Sight
A 14-year-old boy goes to the doctor with complaints of tiredness. He's an extremely picky eater. (Think a daily diet of French fries, plus snacking on Pringles potato chips, white bread and some processed pork.) But overall, he appears OK. He's not overweight and takes no medications. Tests show he has anemia and low levels of vitamin B12, so he's given B12 injections and diet advice. But a year later, he has begun to lose his vision. Then, by age 17, he's legally blind.
Curing blindness with stem cells – here’s the latest science
There are still hurdles that need to be overcome, such as the delivery technique of stem cells, their integration with existing cells once inside the eye and the chance of immune rejection. However, ongoing research into the use of biomaterials to improve stem cell integration has had promising results and may overcome some of these initial challenges.
Google’s Effort to Prevent Blindness Shows AI Challenges
Company’s AI can detect a condition that causes blindness in diabetes patients, but in rural India it doesn’t always work.
Learning To Navigate The World Through The Eyes Of A Guide Dog
Now that I know firsthand what it’s like to have this kind of friend, I love telling people about it. It’s incredible to have someone who is constantly watching over you. For some, a friend or a mate does this. For me, it’s my guide dog.
Monkeys With Superpower Eyes Could Help Cure Color Blindness
Squirrel monkeys don’t see color like people. But inject their eyeballs with a genetically engineered virus, and they suddenly can perceive a new rainbow. The same trick could someday be used on color-blind people.
Museums present visual art as beautiful things you can touch
The museum public is slowly expanding to populations that previously lacked access to these institutions.
The Worst That Could Happen? Going Blind, People Say
When eyesight fails, some people become socially disengaged, leading to isolation and loneliness. Anxiety about a host of issues — falls, medication errors, loss of employment, social blunders — is common.
What Is It Like to Be Blind?
People seem to think blindness as binary: You’re either completely sighted or completely blind. The truth is that there are infinite ways to be legally blind.
What it's like to go blind
To many sighted people, the prospect of going blind is terrifying. They think about what they would lose: independence, visual beauty, reading labels at Costco. Pretty awful, huh? I can speak with some authority on this matter since I have retinitis pigmentosa, a condition that has caused me to lose my sight slowly since birth. At first, it was simply night blindness; then my peripheral vision narrowed — more precisely, I have blind spots that are gradually getting larger.
‘Notes on Blindness’
In 1983, after years of deteriorating vision, the writer and theologian John Hull lost the last traces of light sensation. For the next three years, he kept a diary on audio-cassette of his interior world of blindness. This film is a dramatization that uses his original recordings.
Feeling My Way Into Blindness
Blindness is enforced passivity. I have become a second-class citizen, an object of concern. Crankiness won’t persuade people to treat me thoughtfully. Disabled, that dry term once applied to so many others over my lifetime, now applies to me. As best I can, I’ll make my peace with it.
Seeing AI
Seeing AI is a Microsoft research project that brings together the power of the cloud and AI to deliver an intelligent app, designed to help you navigate your day.
Be My Eyes
Be My Eyes is a free app that connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call.
Going Blind
Going Blind tells personal and courageous stories of everyday people living and thriving with vision loss in extraordinary ways.
Second Sight
Second Sight’s mission is to develop neurostimulation technologies to enhance the lives of blind individuals, while supporting our current users.
Blind Bargains
Welcome to Blind Bargains, your home for the latest deals, news, and reviews for the blind and visually impaired. Blind Bargains scours the net to bring you the latest sales, deals, and news on computers, screen readers, notetakers, braille printers, hard drives, accessible cell phones, memory cards, talking products, household items, and much more. We also present articles, news, and resources of general interest to the blind community and friends.
Blind Net
These pages provide you with USEFUL and FACTUAL information about blindness; general information as well as links to Organizations OF and FOR The Blind, and the companies that provide some of the products we use.
BlindNewWorld
Is it possible we fear blindness so much that we exclude those without sight? Stigmas, misperceptions and deep feelings about blindness lead us to marginalize and exclude this highly capable population. It’s time to create a BlindNewWorld.
BlindRadio.com
Blindradio was created in 2003 as a blind-friendly internet radio website addressing the growing needs of blind and visually impaired.
BlindSkills
Blindskills' mission remains the dissemination of information to blind and visually impaired people and their families through DIALOGUE Magazine, a toll-free help line, a monthly local support group open to anyone with an interest in vision loss, and our web site.
Braille Bug
Expanding possibilities for people with vision loss.
Foundation Fighting Blindness
Today, the Foundation is the world’s leading private source for inherited retinal disease research funding. The Foundation is committed to driving research until the entire spectrum of retinal degenerative diseases is eradicated.
Prevent Blindness
Founded in 1908, Prevent Blindness is the nation's leading volunteer eye health and safety organization dedicated to fighting blindness and saving sight. Focused on promoting a continuum of vision care, Prevent Blindness touches the lives of millions of people each year.
Action for Blind People
Action for Blind People provides practical and emotional advice and support across England to people who are blind or partially sighted and their friends and family.
Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians
The Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians is a national charitable organization, founded in 1992, that is dedicated to promoting the increased inclusion of blind, deaf-blind and partially sighted Canadians in all aspects of social life, from employment to participation in elections.
Associated Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired
ASB is a private non-profit organization created to promote self-esteem, independence and self-determination in people who are blind or visually impaired. ASB accomplishes this by providing support through education, training and resources, as well as through community action and public education, serving as a voice and advocate for the rights of all people who are blind or visually impaired.
Association for Education & Rehabilitation of the Blind & Visually Impaired
The mission of AER is to support professionals who provide education and rehabilitation services to people with visual impairments.
Association of Blind Citizens
The purpose of the Association of Blind Citizens (ABC) is to advance relevant causes, increase opportunities in education, employment, cultural, recreational and other life activities, as well as enhance the social, political, and economic well-being for all persons who are blind or visually impaired.
At the Gateway to Blindness
Stories from a vision-impaired perspective.
Blinded Veterans Association
The Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) is an organization of blinded veterans helping blinded veterans. Through our service programs, regional groups, resources, and advocacy before the legislative and executive branches of government, we hope to make life better for blinded veterans.
Braille Authority of North America
The mission of the Braille Authority of North America is to assure literacy for tactile readers through the standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics.
Braille This
Braille This Transcription service will take your print materials and transcribe these materials into an accessible Braille format for the Braille reader. Our emphasis is on quality professional transcription of your print materials into Braille while providing attentive customer service.
Braille Through Remote Learning
BRL -- Braille through Remote Learning -- is an online instructional program that provides teachers, parents, social workers, and current/future braille transcribers with a series of three integrated online courses in braille and braille transcribing. The program is designed to offer the braille student the RIGHT INSTRUCTION (almost all aspects of braille) at the RIGHT TIME (self-paced) in the RIGHT PLACE (home or workplace).
National Federation of the Blind
The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back
National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
Through a national network of cooperating libraries, NLS administers a free library program of braille and audio materials circulated to eligible borrowers in the United States by postage-free mail.
National Resource Center for Blind Musicians
The resource center provides information and referral services for visually impaired students of all ages, their parents and teachers, learning opportunities for blind students headed to college, and maintains a network of visually impaired musicians willing to share their expertise in braille music, technology and coping strategies.
American Action Fund
The American Action Fund for Blind Children and Adults is a service agency that specializes in providing to blind people help that is not readily available to them from government programs or other existing service systems.
American Council of the Blind
The American Council of the Blind strives to increase the independence, security, equality of opportunity, and quality of life, for all blind and visually-impaired people.
American Foundation for the Blind
Expanding possibilities for people with vision loss.
American Printing House for the Blind
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is the world's largest nonprofit organization creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are visually impaired.
Canadian National Institute for the Blind
CNIB is a registered charity, passionately providing community-based support, knowledge and a national voice to ensure Canadians who are blind or partially sighted have the confidence, skills and opportunities to fully participate in life.
National Braille Press
The guiding purposes of National Braille Press are to promote the literacy of blind children through braille and to provide access to information that empowers blind people to actively engage in work, family, and community affairs.
Royal National Institute of Blind People
We’re the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) and we’re here for everyone affected by sight loss. Whether you’re losing your sight or you’re blind or partially sighted, our practical and emotional support can help you face the future with confidence.
Introducing Stitches!
Your Path to Meaningful Connections in the World of Health and Medicine
Connect, Collaborate, and Engage!
Coming Soon - Stitches, the innovative chat app from the creators of HWN. Join meaningful conversations on health and medical topics. Share text, images, and videos seamlessly. Connect directly within HWN's topic pages and articles.
