News and issues on the disabled 9 Nov 2024
Azmi Anuar
Contents
1. The Washington Post USA - This is what it is like to go blind
2. RTHK Hong Kong - Boccia player hopes to raise awareness of the disabled
3. St. Lucia Times - Visually Impaired Student Pursues Animation Studies
4. TechInformed - Crystal Palace FC eliminate restricted view for visually impaired fans
5. FrontPageAfrica - Liberia: Disabled People’s Union Launches Digital Literacy Project for Disabled Youths
6. MK South Korea - Hyosung announced on the 8th that it delivered 20 million won in subsidies for barrier-free film production
7. Innovation Origins - Touchpulse wins €50,000 at AI Pitch Competition with Navis, a navigation app for the visually impaired
8. Daily Record UK - Army veteran who went blind has new life thanks to guide dog Violet
9. Forbes USA - Riding With Lyft And Uber Isn’t A Joy For Disabled People With Service Animals
10. KSBY USA - Record number of visually impaired athletes race in Santa Barbara half marathon
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1. The Washington Post USA - This is what it is like to go blind7 Nov 2024
My mother, Nisha Falcigno, 61, was diagnosed in her early 30s with cone-rod dystrophy, a rare, genetic eye disorder that slowly deteriorates vision.
For much of her life, she lived as a sighted person with some limitations. But a rapid decline in her vision in the past 10 years now classifies her as legally blind with low vision.
Over 50 million American adults 18 and older self-report having some vision loss. “Of these, 3.89 million adults have a lot of trouble seeing, even when wearing glasses, and 340,000 cannot see at all,” according to estimates from the 2022 National Health Interview Survey.
Low vision is “a chronic visual impairment that can’t be corrected with glasses, contact lenses or medical treatments,” according to Johns Hopkins Medicine. And many blind people can have low vision.
“While many may think of blindness as a complete loss of sight, the reality is that it exists across a wide spectrum, with most people still retaining some vision,” reports the American Foundation for the Blind.
Since my mother was no longer able to drive, she left her suburban home in Connecticut, where she had lived for 25 years and raised her children, to return to New York City. The grid system and her familiarity with the city made it an ideal place to live. “It’s one of the only places I knew with my eyes closed,” she said.
She found support in rehabilitative services at the New York State Commission for the Blind, Lighthouse Guild and VISIONS. She learned to walk with a white cane and read Braille and trained in screen reader software such as Job Access with Speech (JAWS), audio descriptions and voice-over.
She made adjustments so she could do simple tasks such as pouring a glass of water — by using bright-colored drinking glasses instead of clear ones — and complicated ones such as reading instructions on a medicine bottle — by using a screen reader service — tasks that are often overlooked by sighted people.
“My loss of vision was debilitating. I didn’t know what to do first. It was like learning how to walk again,” my mother said.
At first, using a white cane (with a red bottom) was tough for her because it communicated her “secret” to the world, she said.
“An all-white cane means that the user is completely blind. A white cane with a red bottom means that the user has low, but some usable vision. A white and red striped cane means that the user is totally blind and/or deaf,” according to the Central Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired.
Then, my mother realized, it was a superpower. She found community wherever she went because people could identify her disability and would offer to help. She made friends with her Braille teachers, grocery store employees and many others who have supported her through this life adjustment. “When I was sighted, there was so much I didn’t see. But now I see people as they truly are,” my mother said.
Before her vision declined, she enjoyed yoga, cooking and writing notes to her loved ones. She still does, with the aid of assistive devices. She uses the cane to walk to yoga, tactile bump dots to label her oven for cooking and a template to sign notes.
My mother also finds it rewarding to be of service to others, as so many were to her. As a cancer survivor, she volunteers at the hospital where she was treated, lending emotional support to patients.
And she uses her advocacy skills as an attorney on the board of an organization that empowers the visually impaired and blind community.
“I see it as the answer to my why. Helping cancer patients and advocating for those with vision loss redefines my purpose in life,” my mother said.
She hopes to remove the stigma that she said the sighted world projects onto the blind community. She wants to highlight the skills of disabled people and push back against the notion that a disability is a death sentence.
Her strength has taught me to be more resilient. I believe there is no battle that is insurmountable because I watch my role model overcome hurdles daily. I’ve watched her fall and get back up, stronger every time. And often, when I walk into her house, I learn about a new gadget or tool she has discovered to help her perform her daily tasks.
Since I was a child, I have been asking, “How does she do that?” and my mother has been responding jokingly, “Very carefully.”
Now, when people ask me how she does anything with her visual impairment, I respond, jokingly, “Very carefully.”
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2. RTHK Hong Kong - Boccia player hopes to raise awareness of the disabled8 Nov 2024
Paralympics double gold medallist Ho Yuen-kei on Friday said she hopes to raise public awareness of people with special needs, after a Thai restaurant refused to admit her because of her wheelchair.
Speaking on an RTHK programme, the boccia player said she was refused entry to a Causeway Bay restaurant, with the staff saying her wheelchair could block other diners.
Ho said attitudes towards the disabled had improved over the past decade, but more needs to be done.
"Can there be more training for staff to improve awareness? Not just for wheelchair users, but restaurants may also think of how to help those who are visually impaired," she said.
"We understand that there may be difficulties - especially for small shops in Hong Kong - but we can work together. For example, some small restaurants have ramps for people with disabilities or wheelchair users."
Simon Wong, head of the Federation of Restaurants and Related Trades, said the incident was not common, but it showed that some restaurants may not be familiar with the city's anti-discrimination legislation.
"Most restaurants have training for their staff, but some small-scale ones may have overlooked [this] during the training process. We hope the catering sector and the government could do more promotion," he told the same programme.
Ho said the Thai restaurant’s manager apologised to her and she accepted the apology.
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3. St. Lucia Times - Visually Impaired Student Pursues Animation Studies8 Nov 2024
In a story that exemplifies resilience and determination, Daniel Pamphile, a visually impaired student at Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, is pursuing animation and graphic design studies.
Despite the challenges posed by his visual impairment, Daniel has found ways to adapt and thrive in a field where vision is critical, inspiring others in similar situations to pursue their dreams.
Daniel’s love for animation started early, driven by his passion for cartoons.
“I’m studying animation and graphic design at Sir Arthur purely by chance,” he explained to St. Lucia Times. “However, I was still going to pursue animation as a hobby, side hustle because I’ve wanted to create cartoons and animated films, and that stems from my love for animated media such as Western cartoons and Japanese animated cartoons,” he said.
The biggest challenge for Daniel has been handling colors, a significant hurdle given his partial color blindness. But instead of letting this deter him, he developed a unique workaround. “Seeing as I’m partially colour blind, I still run into issues with colors,” he explained. “However, I have rectified this issue by making a colour list with the respective Hex Code…for each colour.”
Although he still needs to develop a defined career path, Daniel envisions creating comics and animated projects.
His advice for others interested in pursuing creative fields is straightforward and powerful: “Try it out and see where it goes. If it’s something that truly motivates and inspires you, then pursue it with all your might.”
A key source of support for Daniel has been the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA), whose Executive Director, Anthony Avril, is proud of Daniel’s achievements.
The SLBWA has been a longtime advocate for the visually impaired in Saint Lucia, providing resources and pushing for inclusion.
“The association mandate is to look after the interest of persons living with blindness,” Avril explained.
Reflecting on SLBWA’s history, Avril shares, “In 1986 was when we started mainstream education for people with blindness in Saint Lucia,” the SLBWA official recalled.
“Before that, they were sent to Santa Cruz School in Trinidad.”
Avril and the SLBWA team see Daniel as an example of what is possible when support and encouragement meet determination.
“Kudos to Daniel for his achievement, and even if that wasn’t his first choice, which was architectural engineering, one has to give it to him,” Avril told St. Lucia Times.
“Young people want to pursue a certain path, and if it’s not given to them, they give up but not him. We will continue to support him and we wish him well.”
Avril hopes stories like Daniel’s inspire broader societal support for visually impaired individuals and greater inclusion efforts across Saint Lucia.
“We support inclusion in a major way and we believe the children should be given the necessary accommodation and they need to be given the opportunity to contribute to society,” he explained. “Daniel’s story will not only be impacting persons in his same situation but everyone who has heard his story.”
Despite the progress the SLBWA has made in promoting accessibility, Avril stressed that much work still needs to be done. “We have come a very long way, but we still have a long way to go. Blindness has baffled people for thousands of years,” he noted. “We need a greater understanding of the visually impaired. We need to grow as persons. That’s why we are involved in many initiatives to ensure that there is an environment supported by legislation, providing the accommodation the society needs.”
In the face of these challenges, Avril remains hopeful. “We have come a long way but we need to continue and maximise the achievement to go to the next level. The association is doing the best we can within the constraints, but there is a need for more, even from us. The association’s dream is to do more from within.”
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4. TechInformed - Crystal Palace FC eliminate restricted view for visually impaired fans8 Nov 2024
It’s a late September afternoon at Selhurst Park near Croydon in South London, which has been the home of Crystal Palace Football Club for the past 100 years. Comedy fans might also recognise the ground as the base for fictional club AFC Richmond in AppleTV+ sit com Ted Lasso.
Sandwiched between some terraced housing and a Sainsbury’s supermarket, it doesn’t feel like the most auspicious location to be reporting on an innovative tech development.
And yet Steve Parish’s club, affectionately known as “The Eagles”, achieved this on 21 September this year, with a private 5G use case, which has not only improved the experience for one fan community, but also has the potential to expand into other areas.
Eagle eyes
During the Premier League game between Crystal Palace and Manchester United, several Palace fans with low vision were invited to wear headsets to enjoy the early season game in real-time, from any seat in the stadium, alongside their friends and family.
The headsets comprised of a vision enhancement system patented by assistive tech firm GiveVision.
Founded in 2014 in conjunction with Moorfields Eye Hospital and other universities, GiveVision started out with a home device that helped people with low vision to read and watch TV – even enabling one couple to see their baby’s face for the first time.
And then one user took the headset to a Spice Girls reunion gig, which proved game changing in many ways, prompting the organisation to do more research into the events space.
The latest version of the headset (now in its fifth iteration) possesses technology that modulates a broadcast feed from the cameras filming at the event into a bright, sharp stereoscopic light, projected via the headset to the working part of the retina.
This stimulates the user’s remaining vision to enable them to see details more clearly.
“The wonderful thing about this feed is that the camera operators are always following the best of the action. And if you have a visual impairment sometimes it’s quite difficult to know what to focus your attention on,” says GiveVision’s head of operations, Joanna Liddington.
Liddington adds that there’s a second setting on the headset too – in the form of a camera which allows users to magnify the view “like you would do when you zoom into a picture on your phone.”
“There’s generally a 50:50 split between people who prefer to use the headset camera to look at what they want to look at and the other half who would rather watch the operator’s feed,” she adds.
To ensure the feed is delivered in real time, without any lag or interruptions, to every seat in the stadium, the right connectivity solution was crucial.
And there isn’t anyone who can explain why a low latency rate was needed better than a fan who struggles on match days to keep up with what’s happening on the pitch.
According to Eagles fan Stephen Anderson, a council worker from Harrow, the experience of being a visually impaired fan at a football match is one step removed from most other supporters.
“It’s like you are there but you’re not there. When you don’t see a handball and you can’t shout ‘handball!’ along with everyone else. You’ll see fans giving it to the ref: but you can’t form a judgement.
“There’s just such power in being able to say, ‘I saw it!’ and I think for many non-visually impaired people that might be a difficult concept to appreciate.
“The fact that, seeing a goal with your own eyes. Seeing a foul, seeing all those things as they happen, and being part of the live narrative.”
Private 5G
GiveVision tried several solutions to power the headsets in the two and a half years it’s been collaborating with the club. However, the public mobile network proved too congested to use during match days and WiFi does not possess the low latency needed to stream feeds instantaneously.
The accessibility tech firm reached out to Shared Access, a neutral host provider that invests in infrastructure and leases it out to different mobile operators.
This firm started building out emergency service networks before moving on to grass roots sports organisations and then larger clubs. At Arsenal’s football ground, for example, it installed floodlights with mobile antennas to deliver community connectivity.
One of Shared Access’s most recent projects has been at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in Northeast London, where it built small cells around the venue and near gated areas where fans are likely to download their tickets from their phones, increasing demand on the network.
Instead of each mobile operator installing its own separate network equipment in the stadium, Shared Access installs one single network system that all mobile operators can use.
This system includes antennas set up around the stadium to provide strong, focused coverage in different areas, ensuring that everyone—no matter their carrier— gets good reception.
According to Sam Jackman, Shared Access’s chief development officer, a private 5G network was the most effective way of streaming the game into the headset.
“It benefits from the speed, and we can control who uses it by having a sim card, which you need to log onto the network.
As a neutral host operator, the firm was able to apply to Ofcom for about 100MHz of lower power spectrum, explains Shared Access’s Future technologies director Paul Coffey.
“We’ve built it in the n77 which runs from 3.7MHz to 4.2 MHz and we’ve deployed our own private secure network. Low powered spectrum is perfect for events like this where we can tailor it to where we need it most,” he adds.
Footballing first
The GiveVision and Shared Access partnership with Crystal Palace enabled the club to be the first in the UK to use a 5G network and the first club in history to offer a permanent vision enhancement system for fans at the stadium.
“It really has changed my experience in terms of coming to football matches,” Anderson remarks.
“Even a couple of years ago, you would never have imagined me doing this. I’m able to see the fouls, the goals, the penalties, the free kicks, the yellow cards. And I’m also able to hold the referee in the same level of contempt as everybody else! Equality is the main point here.”
At the match that Saturday, seven people used the headsets although there is capacity for 15 according to Jackman.
“It could be scaled in the future. We have about 100MHz so we could double or treble this number of users. So, it gives us scalability if the club finds more users.”
For the club and others who commit to the technology, the private 5G network can also be applied to other use cases around the stadium.
Identified use cases include support connectivity for WiFi in tough to reach areas or to enhance the speed of delivery and security for point-of-sale operators within the stadium.
Broadcasters could also make use of the network to have a secure network available for use inside the stadium, or to communicate from inside to out during events.
“Security cameras could be run on a private network, as well as other types of security needs such as body cams that could then send live updates to a control room rather than have to be downloaded and reviewed later,” Jackman also suggests.
Premier buy-in
Now that Palace has a working example of the tech up and running, chairman Steve Parish – a business entrepreneur who started his career in computer graphics – wants other clubs to pick up the mantle.
“We have pioneered this technology because we want everybody to come and enjoy the games, whatever their personal situation, whatever their circumstances. This is another step forward on accessibility for everybody,” he explains
“Obviously we want to help the supporters that come to our ground, but we’re hopeful that this expands across the Premier League. We don’t want to be the only club doing this!”
This sentiment is also echoed by former Liverpool and England player Michael Owen, whose son, James, has a degenerative eye condition.
“It’s great to see this sort of technology being introduced at Premier League games to help visually impaired fans enjoy the game. What GiveVision and Shared Access are doing to increase accessibility and help fans see the game they love is incredible. Hopefully more clubs follow,” says Owen.
According to GiveVision’s Liddington, the firm has started doing work with Bournemouth and Everton football clubs and she seems confident that more will follow. In the meantime, she adds, it is working on the next iteration. So, what would V6 offer?
“At the moment, the headset works for 95% of visually impaired people but it would be good to have one for everyone. Everyone’s sight loss is so different it would be amazing to develop different more tailored settings for different eye conditions.”
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5. FrontPageAfrica - Liberia: Disabled People’s Union Launches Digital Literacy Project for Disabled Youths8 Nov 2024
Founded on the 25th of October 25, 2020, NUOD is an independent civil society umbrella body representing individual disabled persons and all in independent Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPWD) or Disabled People’s Organizations (DPOs) across Liberia’s 15 Counties. These OPWDs and DPos are not covered under the Government’s direct support or welfare program.
The President of NUOD is Pastor Peter B.K. Flomo (visually impaired)
The launch was held on the 6th of November, 2024.
The launching venue was the Peace Hub, owned by the West Africans Network for Peacebuilding (WANEP), a body of Liberian praying women, adjacent to the Invincible Park in the Fish Market community of Sinkor, Monrovia.
The Theme of the Project is: “Bridging the Gap for Persons with Disabilities”
Madam Bernice Freeman, Coordinator of WANEP, was assigned to the “Welcome Remarks” segment of the event.
“WANEP is a body of women who prayed during Liberia’s civil war, for the war to end. The war ended over 20 years ago, but we are still praying for peace to reign in post-war Liberia,” Madam Freeman announced to the body disabled people and non-disabled invited guests.
Mr. Lahai J. Gotolo (visually impaired), NUOD’s Youth Coordinator, gave the Overview of the Project.
“NUOD got U.S 5,200 from UNFPA to undertake this project, based on NUOD’s outstanding record of empowering disabled youths in Liberia. One of the objectives of this project the digital skills of the disabled youths will be promoted online, and in line with domestic laws. Publicity will be done over Radio stations, and training sessions will be done in coming weeks and months,” he said.
Mr. Melvin Harding (visually impaired), NUOD’s Vice President for Operations, thanked UNFPA for funding the project.
“NUOD’s youths will bring other disabled youths from other disabled people’s organizations to benefit from this project. Thank you to NUOD’s youths for being far-sighted enough to attract this funding,” the VPO said.
The next speaker was Mr. Claudius Thompson, Coordinator of the Young People’s Initiative (YPI) Program of the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA)
He stressed the importance of “Technology” as a vehicle in enhancing actions of persons with disabilities.
“Digital literacy breaks physical barriers for persons with disabilities. Digital empowerment, through education, is career development. The YMCA Family is a full-fledged supporter of this project to be implemented by NUOD, he said.”
Mr. Thompson concluded his speech with his knowledge of how digital literacy has economically transformed the lives of Nigerians and Ghanaians.
“I had lived in each of these Countries,” he said.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), directly supported by the Government of Liberia, Madam Rose B. Dargbe (wheelchair-mobile) declared: “Technology has advanced, but our community, of persons with disabilities, is left behind.”
NUOD’s Youth Coordinator, Lahai J. Gotolo, performed a “symbolic launch”, due to the absence of UNFPA (sponsor of the Project) this segment was reserved for.
“Goal number 4 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals states: ‘Leaving No One Behind’” he said verbatim, after the symbolic launch.
The program ended with benediction by Madam Rose W. Teah (crutches-mobile), NUOD’s National Treasurer.
Mr. James Abraham Kiawu (visually impaired), NUOD’s National Chaplain, served as the Master of Ceremony.
In an exclusive interview with this writer before the commencement of launch, he explained: “Another component of this project is media activities. This includes: focusing on NUOD’s peace building awareness, the importance of digital skills for all Liberian youths with disabilities, advocacy, and training on the National Youth Policy. The project will be monitored by the Young men’s Christian Association, or YMCA, UNFPA’s partner on this project in Liberia.”
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6. MK South Korea - Hyosung announced on the 8th that it delivered 20 million won in subsidies for barrier-free film production8 Nov 2024
Support for the production of the animation 'Fireheart' in the movie 'Room Sharing' Executives and employees participate in voice introduction recording
On the 7th, Hyosung delivered 20 million won in subsidies for the production of barrier-free films to the Barrier-free Film Commission. Lee Jung-won, head of Hyosung Communications Office (right), and Kim Soo-jung, CEO of Barrier Free Film Committee (left), are taking photos. [Photo provided = Hyosung]
Hyosung announced on the 8th that it delivered 20 million won in subsidies for barrier-free film production to the Barrier-Free Film Committee at the opening ceremony of the 14th Seoul Barrier Free Film Festival held at Cinema Tech KOFA of the Korea Film Archive in Mapo-gu on the 7th.
This year, Hyosung supported the production of barrier-free versions of the Korean film Room Sharing and the animated film Fireheart. Barrier-free movies are movies that explain the screen with voice commentary and provide information such as dialogue, sound, and music through barrier-free subtitles so that you can watch movies without restrictions due to disability.
A voice introduction recording of Hyosung executives and employees was added to help the visually impaired watch movies. Blind people who want to watch a movie can get prior information about the movie, such as character characteristics and appearance descriptions, through voice introduction videos.
An employee who participated in the voice introduction recording said, "I thought movies were cultural content that everyone easily enjoyed, but I realized that what was natural for me could be a barrier to someone," adding, "It's meaningful to be able to participate in lowering the barrier with your voice."
Under the social contribution slogan "We will be together by sharing," Hyosung is carrying out various social contribution activities for the society with the disabled, including a rehabilitation support program for children with disabilities and a project to support artists with disabilities at the Seoul Disabled Art Creation Center.
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7. Innovation Origins - Touchpulse wins €50,000 at AI Pitch Competition with Navis, a navigation app for the visually impaired8 Nov 2024
Touchpulse took home the top prize of €50,000 at the AI Pitch Competition, thanks to their innovative navigation app, Navis, designed specifically for visually impaired users. The app, which promises to revolutionize how visually impaired individuals navigate cities, stood out in a field of nine AI startups for its empathetic approach and practical impact. The finals were part of the AI Summit Brainport, held in the Evoluon on Thursday, November 7.
Touchpulse’s mission with Navis is twofold: enhancing independence and increasing safety for users navigating urban environments. “With Navis, our users gain greater autonomy, helping them reduce anxiety and stress while traveling,” the team explained. Already, 57 visually impaired individuals have signed up to test and provide feedback on the app, underscoring the need for this specialized solution.
Navis goes beyond traditional navigation tools like Google Maps by offering features uniquely suited to the visually impaired. Instead of providing typical, distant directions like “turn right in 400 meters,” Navis gives step-by-step instructions, which users can physically register as they walk. This ensures precision and minimizes confusion in busy urban areas. Additionally, the app’s personalization features allow for tailored guidance based on individual needs and frequently traveled routes.
Community support and expert collaboration are central to Touchpulse’s strategy to ensure widespread adoption. As building brand visibility in the app store can be challenging, Touchpulse is partnering with specialized organizations, such as Bartiméus and Vizio, and pursuing relationships with health insurers and municipalities. They aim to make Navis free to users by securing funding from these stakeholders.
For Touchpulse, the journey with Navis has been transformative. The team described the initial challenge of designing for needs they hadn’t personally experienced. However, user interactions and real-world testing of their MVP made an emotional impact. One memorable experience involved a visually impaired husband finally feeling able to navigate independently without relying on his spouse. “For him, that was the true value of Navis: the promise of independence,” the team shared.
Winning the €50,000 prize marks a major milestone for Touchpulse, paving the way to further develop Navis. With beta testing underway, they plan a full rollout by the summer of 2025. “We aim to provide a supportive ‘shoulder’ for those who walk alone.”
Brabant
The province of Brabant, the main sponsor of the Pitch Competition, is happy with the results. Martijn van Gruijthuijsen: “In Brabant, we invent the smartest solutions to today’s and tomorrow’s challenges. Startups play an important role in the innovative power of our region, with unconventional ideas and the bravado to try new things. A perfect combination with a disruptive technology like AI. The ideas from this AI Pitch Competition are an excellent example of this. I hope we are going to hear a lot more from these talents, inside and outside of Brabant.”
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8. Daily Record UK - Army veteran who went blind has new life thanks to guide dog Violet7 Nov 2024
FEW people expected a blind man to become one of the breakout stars of this year’s Strictly Come Dancing.
But as another week passes on the BBC Saturday night show, comedian Chris McCausland keeps putting his best foot forward with partner Dianne Buswell.
It’s not just viewers and judges who have been impressed with his irrepressible, can-do attitude either.
Michael Laidlaw is not a Strictly fan, but he knows how important it is to put one foot in front of the other and keep going when your world turns dark.
Michael, 54, from Carnoustie, a former British Army soldier who ran his own garage, lost his sight overnight in 2020. Having felt unwell heading to bed, he woke up with his life changed forever.
He said: “I just thought it was a bit of food poisoning. I went to bed and my vision was fine. And then when I woke up, I could only half see out of one of my eyes. I thought I must have been lying a bit funny or had something in my eye. I just assumed it would come back. But that didn't happen. And then by the next day, I lost sight in both eyes.”
Michael’s wife, Lisa, phoned an NHS helpline and he was sent to a local optician where it was initially thought he had suffered a burst blood vessel. He was sent to the eye clinic at Ninewells Hospital in Dundee where he was seen specialists who had never seen a case like his.
He said: “The opticians got me to the eye clinic and they did some tests but just couldn't work out what was going on. The consultant looking after me told me I was called Tayside case number one, because between them and Perth, they didn’t know what it was.
"They gave me a couple of blood transfusions over the period of that week and my sight did come back very slightly after day one. There was a big window in the ward when I first went in that was just a big white blank, like looking at the paper on a fish supper. My wife told me there were treetops outside and the next day I could just see them.”
That early optimism, however, was as good as it got, and Michael’s sight never recovered any further. Michael, a father of two grown-up children, is severely sight impaired.
He said: “In my left eye, I’ve got about 5 per cent vision right at the very edge of the periphery. In the other eye, in the very centre of my eye a little bit more, about 10 per cent.
“Overall, I would describe it is if you can imagine having a couple of tea bags on your eyes wearing a set of sunglasses. That's the kind of light level I get.”
Unlike Chris, who lost his sight at the age of 22 to a hereditary condition called Retinitis Pigmentosa, Michael has never had a definitive diagnosis.
He said: “They never really got to the bottom of it. Well, they fundamentally did because it was a lack of blood oxygen to my brain, my haemoglobin was really low, but I never got a diagnosis.
“Initially I'm thinking it’s got to come back. The consultant thought it might come back, because brain plasticity is amazing and it could potentially repair itself. But the longer it goes on, the scarier it gets and then you realise everything has changed.”
Dealing with such a devastating turn of events was difficult for Michael and all those around him.
He said: “People talk about life-changing events and I know what that is now. I was scared. I didn't want to speak to anybody. I was a pain to my wife because I was in such a low mood. My mum and dad live just along the road, but I didn’t want to see them. I didn’t speak to my brother and sister. Army pals I used to speak to all the time, I didn't want to speak to them. I didn’t go out of the house. I was just feeling sorry for myself.”
As well as dealing with the physical difficulties and emotional trauma of losing his sight, Michael had also lost his business.
Unable to keep his garage going, he initially got help from the Department for Work and Pensions, but his case has now been transferred to Social Security Scotland, the executive agency of the Scottish Government which delivers social security payments to the people of Scotland.
Michael is one of more than 300,000 people now receiving Adult Disability Payment, which replaces Personal Independence Payment and Disability Living Allowance, and provides extra money to help people with a disability or long-term health condition that affects their everyday life.
He said: “It’s a big thing, it really is because we’ve still got a mortgage to pay like everybody else. It was such a worrying time, especially on top of everything else. We tried to keep the garage going but it wasn’t going to work long term. PIP, and now Adult Disability Payment have been a massive help. You can’t really underestimate it.
“It’s obvious that if you were on the edge financially and something like this happens, it would put you in a whole world of trouble if you couldn’t get help. I’m very grateful for the help I’ve been given.”
Grappling with sight loss took longer to deal with. He was offered help from North East Sensory Service who wanted to give him long cane training and help him get used to using public transport, but he put it off for months.
When he did accept their help, he was asked if he would be interested in using a guide dog, ultimately ending up with his black Labrador, Violet.
He said: “When the lady from the sensory service spoke to me about applying for a guide dog I said no, because I can still see a little bit and I thought guide dogs were for totally blind people. But actually, you have to be able to see a little bit to get the most out of a guide dog. When I started that process, that's when I came around and started speaking of everybody again, engaging, going out. And then I got Violet, my Labrador, and got my sense of humour back.”
If it was the beginning of a new phase in his life it was the start of a new career for Michael.
With his confidence returning Michael also found a career change when he joined Dovetail Enterprises in Dundee.
One of the oldest furniture manufacturers in Scotland, it is also a registered charity and was formed in 1993 from Royal Dundee Blindcraft and Lord Roberts Workshop.
Michael is the Bedding Department supervisor, Violet, has become Dovetail’s mascot.
He said: “A lot of things changed when I got Violet, she’s been a bit of a lucky charm. It really took a good eight months to get back to myself, I was a general huff with life. But once I got my head round it, I thought there’s not much more that can actually be worse.
“It’s not easy but you’ve just got to keep going and be as positive as you can be in your circumstances.”
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9. Forbes USA - Riding With Lyft And Uber Isn’t A Joy For Disabled People With Service Animals8 Nov 2024
I’ve extolled the virtues of autonomous vehicles, specifically Waymo, in this column (and elsewhere) on numerous occasions. However imperfect the technology may be, I staunchly believe fully autonomous cars are the best bet Blind and low vision people have to reaching accessibility’s zenith. Companies like Waymo, not to mention Cruise, enable those of us with visual impairments the ability to assert agency and autonomy in our travel. No longer must we lay at the mercy of other people’s kindness to get around, making our needs feel burdensome to others. And while I’m a general proponent of readily available public transit, the reality is its efficacy varies from city to city; it can be hard sometimes to rely on it as one’s primary mode of transportation if you don’t have a vehicle.
What about rideshare? On one level, companies like Lyft and Uber more or less possess the same accessibility gains for Blind and low vision riders as a robotaxi. With a few taps on one’s smartphone, a person can hail a ride and go anywhere they need to go in reasonably fast fashion. This also is a topic I’ve written about in the past, as I’m a staunch believer that, on balance, Lyft and Uber contribute positively to society. Not only are they convenient, they help people who struggle with mobility get around more freely and accessibly. But there are warts—namely, cars can be hard to find, driven by unfriendly and impatient chauffeurs. I’ve had drivers cancel rides altogether because I’ve taken too long, as my low vision makes it difficult to find the right car to get into.
I recently got a message from someone who alerted me to the news there was a rally at Uber’s headquarters in downtown San Francisco to protest guide dog discrimination. Blind and low vision people lament they have been repeatedly denied service in rideshare vehicles because drivers refuse to transport their service animal. It’s a situation that runs afoul of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), but seemingly shrugged over.
My friend Candice Nguyen, an investigative reporter at San Jose-homed NBC Bay Area, covered this very topic for the station earlier this year.
It’s a situation Suzette May has found herself encountering often.
May, a 55-year-old student at Arizona State University who lives in Waco, Texas with her husband, explained to me in a recent interview via videoconference she, with her guide dog named Fred in tow, has been repeatedly denied service by rideshare drivers. As a Blind person, May uses Lyft and Uber “a lot” during her travels, especially for her work as a disability accessibility consultant. She told me she’s experienced “quite a few” denials, many of which have been “really intense.” It’s frustrating because it impedes May’s ability to get around, with her saying the situation is only worsening. Despite disability organizations organizing educational resources for drivers, nothing is working; the ADA seemingly strikes fear in no one. May became Blind later in life, at 49, due to a degenerative condition affecting her eyes that she’s coped with since birth. In the years since, she uses a cane and Fred to move about, saying rideshare is one of the ways she maintains her independence.
May attended the aforementioned rally in San Francisco last month, which was put on by the National Federation of the Blind. She reported there were 250–300 people there, including allies from various support agencies. Everyone there “had a story to tell” about being discriminated against—or knowing a loved one affected by it. As such, May said there was a lot of story-swapping as part of trying to raise awareness that day.
“We’ve experienced a lot of discrimination,” she said of the horror stories. “People have been physically threatened [and] verbally threatened. It’s traumatizing to our guide dogs… being in an argument like that, they pick up on what’s going on with the humans around them. We need to do something different. We need better education.”
May continued: “I’ve had drivers come and tell me they’re not taking my f******* dog. I’ve had drivers who sit the back of the parking lot and wait until my five minutes is up to where I get charged for being a no-show, then they’ll say, ‘I’m not taking your dog. I’m canceling your ride.’”
Kristin Smedley, co-founder of Thriving Blind Academy, told me in an interview concurrent to May’s that she didn’t encounter a Blind person until she was 28 when her firstborn son was diagnosed with Leber congenital amaurosis when he was 5 months old. Since then, she has become a staunch ally and advocate of the Blind and low vision, even giving a TED Talk in 2017 on the topic, using her son as a prism. She called society’s general treatment of Blind and low vision people “a crisis” because most sighted people sorely underestimate how capable and extraordinary those without (much) vision are in living life.
In remedying her woes and advocating for herself, May said she has continually alerted Lyft and Uber to the discriminatory practices by drivers—yet to little avail. Both companies generally punt, only refunding her money for the ride(s) along with am apology. There’s sympathy, but the only real recourse is issuing a refund to the rider.
“Discrimination has no place in the Lyft community. We strive to provide an inclusive and accessible platform for riders, including those who rely on service animals or mobility devices,” a Lyft spokesperson said in a statement provided to me when reached for comment. “We continually update our practices to improve accessibility for riders and are proud to be working directly with advocacy organizations in the community. This year, we are launching a Service Animal Opt-In feature, allowing riders to disclose that they travel with a service animal when requesting a ride. This feature is a significant step in our broader mission to ensure that riders feel safe and supported on our platform.”
Lyft’s opt-in feature enables riders like May to clearly disclose in their profile that they ride with a service animal. Drivers will see the guide dog designation only when they accept a ride, as the real-time notifications are meant to eliminate cancellations based solely on the service animal.
There’s a webpage dedicated to service animals on Lyft’s site. Of particular import is the company plainly states there are consequences for drivers who refuse riders with guide dogs, including “immediate and permanent deactivation if an investigation into the alleged denial verifies a wrongful denial.” Lyft adds drivers are expected to comply with the law; as it goes with wearing seatbelts, it also flies with service animals.
For its part, Uber has similar initiatives regarding service animals on its platform. The company requires drivers to transport disabled people and their assistive tools, including guide dogs, when they sign up to drive. Moreover, Uber sends regular reminders via email about its Service Animal and Assistive Device Policy to drivers. Under has a page dedicated to accessibility on its website, with the company announcing last month it will be rolling a program similar in scope to Lyft’s that it says empowers people to self-identify their disability in their profile.
“We want all riders with disabilities to have a safe, dignified, and positive experience when using the Uber platform to move around our communities,” an Uber spokesperson said in a statement when reached for comment. “Our policies prohibit drivers from denying service because of a rider’s service animal or assistive device, and we routinely remind drivers that this conduct is unlawful and can result in permanent deactivation. Recently, we shared with drivers a new education module regarding this policy and we announced a service animal handler self-identification pilot for riders coming this fall. We are committed to collaborating with the disability community to continue driving forward on our commitment to achieve accessibility for all on Uber.”
However scarred she is, May remains gracious. She “doesn’t want Lyft or Uber’s money” nearly as much as she wants drivers who overtly discriminate to be held accountable. If riders were denied service based on their race or sex, there would be an uproar. It’s intolerable. What’s happened to May happens to others, yet comparatively only receives a peon’s pittance of the attention and commensurate uproariousness.
“When you’re disabled, [discrimination] seems to be okay. That’s got to change,” May said. “We definitely need better education.”
For her part, Smedley agreed wholeheartedly with May’s comments. Smedley said if May were denigrated for being a woman, “the world would go crazy.” But because she’s a Blind woman, it doesn’t make much noise. Most, Smedley added, don’t relate to disability because they aren’t impacted by it—even tangentially. The disability community is the easiest to join, so people should show exponentially more empathy.
“[Disability] is going to affect you at some point,“ May said. “People need to realize this is a big deal. This is a big problem. It needs to be fixed.”
As to the future, both May and Smedley expressed optimism people will become more educated and enlightened on disability rights and adopt a no-tolerance outlook on discrimination. May wants to keep using rideshare for its obvious accessibility benefits. Smedley said it can be a “serious competitive advantage” for businesses to include people with disabilities in their decisions. Given the accessibility-oriented documentation on their respective websites, it’s appropriate to credit some contingent at Lyft and Uber for seeing the value of inclusivity.
As for Waymo, May said she used it “several times” during her time in San Francisco. She “loved” the experience and enthusiastically noted she would “totally use it all the time” if ever Waymo finds its way to Waco.
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10. KSBY USA - Record number of visually impaired athletes race in Santa Barbara half marathon8 Nov 2024
This year's Santa Barbara Half Marathon attracted 6,000 runners with a record number of them being visually impaired.
"Dealing with going blind is scary. so running is a great outlet, a great way to deal with it, cope with it, and connect with people," said runner Dan Broz.
Broz has slowly been losing his vision since birth.
"And it just got really isolating, and then Brianna came along, made Blind Fitness and gave me direction," Broz said.
Three years ago, Brianna Pettit began creating a support system for the visually impaired community in Santa Barbara.
"Blind Fitness began to build because there were so many people that wanted to get outside and get fresh air and move their bodies," Pettit said.
Blind Fitness has trained hundreds of guides to assist blind athletes in surfing, yoga, running, cycling, and more.
"To be able to help some of these other people that are still shut in and scared to death, help them overcome their fear, try to overcome some of the stereotypes of what blind people can't do rather than what we can do," said Bob Burnham, Blind Fitness President.
On Sunday, November 3, the Santa Barbara Half Marathon had 50 visually impaired athletes, ranging from 12 to 78 years old.
United in Stride founder Richard Hunter says his goal is to help people be more active and combat isolation.
"The relationship between the guide and the visually impaired fitness walker or jogger, they become their friends and then they're in a community, and that's super powerful," Hunter explained.
And it’s not just the athletes who benefit from running with a partner.
"We can all learn a tremendous amount from each other," said guide Brian Walters.
Walters is paying it forward after a glaucoma diagnosis and says he’s learned a lot from his blind friends.
"Just because someone is visually impaired or blind doesn't mean they can't lead a very full and fulfilling life," he said.
Click the links to Blind Fitness or United in Stride to find a guide near you.
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This Google Group news service has been made possible by courtesy of the Society of the Blind in Malaysia