News and issues on the disabled 23 Oct 2024
Azmi Anuar
Contents
1. Vision Monday - Be My Eyes Announces Collaboration With Microsoft to Make AI Models More Inclusive for Individuals Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision
2. Yemen News Agency - PM participates in 10th Blind Week closing ceremony
3. Kilgore News Herald USA - Braille Institute Unveils Highly Accessible Website for Visually Impaired and Sighted Visitors
4. Packaging News UK - Benefits of QR codes for those with sight loss highlighted on World Sight Day
5. ABC News Australia - How Australia's first international blindfolded tennis star, Tess Whelan, is changing the game
6. The Star Kenya - How blindness drove man to seek, spread solutions
7. Southend Echo UK - Jill Allen-King 'mostly housebound' in wait for guide dog
8. IN Kansas City Magazine USA - Alphapointe’s Cameron Black Gained Independence, Then a New Passion
9. STV News UK - Stammer campaigners call for better awareness around disability
10. northjersey.com USA - NJ appeals court rejects Paterson's effort to fire blind city planner
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1. Vision Monday - Be My Eyes Announces Collaboration With Microsoft to Make AI Models More Inclusive for Individuals Who Are Blind or Have Low Vision21 Oct 2024
SAN FRANCISCO—Be My Eyes, the company that connects people who are blind or have low vision with sighted volunteers and companies through live video and AI, has announced that it is working with Microsoft to make AI models more inclusive for the more than 340 million people around the world who are blind or have low vision. By incorporating accessibility data, AI can better serve diverse user needs, making technology more usable and beneficial for everyone. This collaboration with Microsoft is the first of its kind for Be My Eyes, the company said.
Publicly available datasets used to train AI models often lack accessibility context and can fail to reflect the lived experience of people who are blind or have low vision, according to the announcement. This disability data desert risks an AI-prevalent future of inherent bias and inaccessibility that repeats the mistakes made during the evolution of the internet, but with the potential impact of being even more significant.
Earlier this year, Be My Eyes highlighted the concern that the blind and low-vision community are being left out from the development of AI models. Today, disability is often underrepresented or incorrectly categorized in datasets used to train AI, the company said, which can limit the utility of the technology or even magnify bias. Be My Eyes announced in July their intention to provide video data to organizations to train their AI models in a more inclusive way.
Be My Eyes will provide video data collected through its platform to Microsoft for AI model training. No other data (such as images or responses from Be My AI) is being provided, the company stated. The video datasets represent the lived experience of the blind and low vision community and will be used to improve the accuracy and precision of scene understanding and descriptions, with the goal of increasing the utility of AI for the blind and low-vision community. Be My Eyes said it will remove all user, account and Personal Identifiable Information (PII) from video metadata. There are also strict provisions in place that prohibit video data being used for marketing or any other non-training purposes.
“We’re excited to work with Microsoft to make AI models more inclusive,” said Mike Buckley, CEO of Be My Eyes. “As AI models continue to evolve, they are ingesting huge amounts of data at a breakneck speed, but some of that data can reflect bias, ableism and a lack of inclusion, creating the potential for an inaccessible AI future. That’s simply unacceptable and our mission demands that we attack the problem. Be My Eyes and our user community are in a unique position to do something about this and with a thoughtful collaborator like Microsoft, we have a chance to create scalable solutions.”
Microsoft said it is working to build AI models specifically designed to take accessibility into account and has been working to address the disability data desert for several years. By working with a global ecosystem of people with disabilities, partners and customers, the company is committed to increasing awareness and use of accessible technology, expanding skilling and hiring opportunities, and advocating for policies that advance accessibility as a fundamental right. In order to make the world more accessible for the 1 billion people who experience some form of disability worldwide, having disability-centric training data for AI models is key, Microsoft said.
"We live in a world that isn’t designed for disabled people, and this is reflected in the datasets used to train AI systems. Our collaboration with Be My Eyes helps us close the data gap and make AI more inclusive" said Jenny Lay-Flurrie, chief accessibility officer at Microsoft. “Accessibility isn’t just our commitment at Microsoft, it’s part of our company culture—from creating innovative and inclusive technology solutions, to adapting our hiring practices, to working with companies like Be My Eyes, to raise the bar for how technology can make the future more accessible and inclusive.”
To learn more about Be My Eyes' data privacy policy and its announcement to make video data available to train more inclusive AI models, click here.
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2. Yemen News Agency - PM participates in 10th Blind Week closing ceremony21 Oct 2024
Sana'a
- Saba :
Prime Minister Ahmed Ghaleb Al-Rahwi participated on Monday in the closing
ceremony of the 10th Blind Week organized by the Yemeni Association for the
Care and Rehabilitation of the Blind with the support of the Fund for the Care
and Rehabilitation of the Disabled.
At the closing ceremony, the Prime Minister praised the events held during this week to highlight the reality of this segment, their needs, aspects of their rehabilitation and the need to integrate them into society.
He pointed out that the large number of people with special needs of four million and 500 thousand people need care, attention, support, visits to their associations and places of presence to raise their morale. He pointed to the skills and abilities of blind people that some sighted people lack.
"There are laws and legislations that guarantee people with special needs their rights, and we will do our best to implement the relevant laws, including activating the article that stipulates allocating 5 percent of any new employment for their benefit," the Prime Minister said.
"We will consider the possibility of the Disabled Care and Rehabilitation Fund bearing part of the university fees for this segment , the other part to be borne by the universities as part of their obligations to society and this segment in particular," he added.
The Prime Minister emphasized the responsibility of the private sector to contribute alongside the state in absorbing as many people with special needs and the blind as they can.
"There
is no one in the world today who supports the oppressed in Gaza and Lebanon
except the axis of resistance, which has been planning and directly supporting
its brothers since the launch of Al-Aqsa Flood until now," he said. He
emphasized that Yemen and its free people will remain by the side of their
brothers in Gaza , Lebanon until victory is achieved, God willing, and the
aggression is stopped, the Zionist siege is lifted, rights are restored, and a
Palestinian state is established with Al-Quds as its capital.
For his part, Abdullah Bunyan, president of the National Federation of Disabled
People's Associations, expressed thanks to all efforts that adopt the concerns
and issues of people with disabilities, who represent 15 percent of the
population. He pointed out that this number has increased due to the brutal
aggression on Yemen.
He emphasized that the disabled segment needs more attention and care officially and socially in order to rise and contribute to building the country in various fields.
The closing ceremony included an expressive paragraph about the life of a blind person, a presentation of the events and activities included in the 10th Blind Week, a poem by poet Mohammed Nasr, and honoring the Social Affairs Minister , the winners of the chess , swimming tournaments, and the graduates of the computer diploma.
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3. Kilgore News Herald USA - Braille Institute Unveils Highly Accessible Website for Visually Impaired and Sighted VisitorsLOS ANGELES, Oct. 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Braille Institute is proud to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website, which sets a new standard in accessibility and usability for visitors who are blind, low vision, or sighted. This comprehensive redesign, created in partnership with iFactory, a leading digital marketing agency known for their work in web design and user-driven experience, demonstrates Braille Institute's commitment to deliver an inclusive and positive web experience for all visitors. The site reflects user input and feedback gathered from interviews and usability testing with blind, low vision, and sighted people.
Braille Institute is committed to deliver an inclusive and accessible web experience for all visitors.
The redesigned site meets some of the highest standards in web accessibility, meeting Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 AA, and in some cases, achieving AAA conformance. The site has been optimized to work seamlessly with assistive technologies such as screen readers and magnifiers. The site also incorporates features like descriptive text, guiding lines, and a simple contrast and font-size adjustment tool at the top of the menu to cater to the specific needs of those with low vision. The site also uses Braille Institute's Atkinson Hyperlegible font, which improves legibility and readability of text for those with low vision.
"The number of people who will experience vision loss will more than double by 2050, and our new website is a key channel to help millions of blind and visually impaired people who could benefit from our free programs and services," says Jim Kales, CEO of Braille Institute. "It enables us to better serve our community by ensuring that they can easily navigate our site and find the resources they need."
About 85% of people who visit brailleinstitute.org are new, so the site has a 3-question quiz to help users quickly identify the programs and services that best suit their needs. "The goal is to help visitors receive a more personalized and positive first-time experience. We know when someone is experiencing vision loss it can be overwhelming, and we want to help them feel like they've come to the right place and to alleviate stress and uncertainty," said Jeremy Perkins, Director of UX and Accessibility at iFactory.
With the launch of the redesigned website, Braille Institute reaffirms its commitment to accessibility and inclusion for all, ensuring that visitors of all abilities can easily find the resources and services they need. This milestone marks a significant step forward in enhancing digital accessibility and enabling individuals to navigate the journey of vision loss with greater confidence and support.
For more information or to explore Braille Institute's redesigned website, visit brailleinstitute.org.
About Braille Institute
Braille Institute is a non-profit organization that has been positively transforming the lives of those with vision loss for 105 years. Braille Institute helps more than 46,000 adults, youth and children annually, through a broad range of educational, social, and recreational services. All programs are free of charge thanks to the generous support of donors, volunteers, and staff.
View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/braille-institute-unveils-highly-accessible-website-for-visually-impaired-and-sighted-visitors-302278175.html
SOURCE Braille Institute of America
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4. Packaging News UK - Benefits of QR codes for those with sight loss highlighted on World Sight Day21 Oct 2024
During World Sight Day (10 October 2024), leading sight loss charity the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) highlighted the progress made with accessible QR codes and calling for more big brands to embrace this technology.
DENSO WAVE created the QR Code in 1994 as a way of being able to put more information onto the automotive parts that its parent company was producing. The idea was to replace a number of linear barcodes relating to a product with one, saving space and the time to scan each individual barcode. It was then made an ISO standard in 2000
Now, 30 years on, major consumer goods organisations such as Unilever, P&G, Nestle and Kellanova are using the next generation of QR codes in the worlds most beloved and trusted brands including Dove, Ariel, SMA, Knorr, Kellogg’s and Pringles.
Daphne Mavroudi-Chocholi, managing director of RNIB Enterprises, said: “It’s fantastic that organisations such as Unilever, P&G, Nestle and Kellanova are playing an instrumental role in making some of the world’s most loved brands more accessible for blind and partially sighted people so that they have the same freedom, independence and choice as sighted customers.
“One in 5 UK households is impacted by sight loss; the lack of inclusive products and experiences, be they online or offline, affects us all. RNIB champions truly accessible design so that everyone is included by default and that can only be achieved through close, cross-sector collaboration.
“We look forward to working with more brands and manufacturers to make every consumer interaction inclusive and accessible.”
One example of successful collaboration is with Unilever, who worked with leading partners and organisations to make accessibility a core component of their use of QR codes.
In the UK, Unilever started to deploy Accessible QR codes on pack with its Persil and Colman’s brands in 2023 and early 2024 in close partnership with RNIB.
Marc Powell, global accessibility Centre of Excellence (CoE) lead at Unilever, said: “At Unilever, our accessibility vision is to make our brands unmissable for everyone. Since introducing accessible QR codes in 2023, we’ve expanded this technology globally across 35 brands in 25 markets. In the UK alone, such well-known household names as Colman’s, Persil, Knorr, and Lynx now feature AQRs, with further expansion planned for 2025.
“By driving digital innovation and embracing new technology, we are doing the right thing for our consumers, our partners and our business, while making our brands more inclusive for everyone – both in-store and at home.”
RNIB has also worked closely with Kellanova to make their packaging more accessible, including the addition of NaviLens – a multi-coloured code which reads aloud all the labelling copy on a pack in your chosen language.
Pete Matthews, senior director, brand Design & Operations at Kellanova, said: “We worked with RNIB to create an accessible Coco Pops box to support World Sight Day in 2020. This was the first time that NaviLens had ever been used on packaging and it had an immediate impact by enabling blind and partially sighted people to shop independently.
“The trial was successful, but we had a lot of consumer feedback asking for this technology to be included on all our packaging. So that’s exactly what we did next – adding NaviLens codes to all our Kellogg’s, Pringles and Cheez-It packs across Europe, printing more than two billion accessible packs.
“Our company purpose is ‘to create a place at the table for everyone’ so we are fully committed to this journey. Many other big brands are now using NaviLens or accessible QR codes and I’d challenge everyone to take this simple step to make your packaging more inclusive.”
Viv Bradshaw, Technical Consultant at DENSO WAVE said: “We are delighted that the QR Code is providing accessibility to blind and partially sighted people; the company has always had an ethos of providing social benefits and this is a prime example. It is encouraging that large organisations continue to use the QR Code in beneficial ways and I would like to thank RNIB for this innovative solution.”
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5. ABC News Australia - How Australia's first international blindfolded tennis star, Tess Whelan, is changing the game21 Oct 2024
For the non-vision impaired, losing 5 per cent of your sight mightn't seem like a whole lot.
But when that 5 per cent is your 100 per cent, it really changes things.
Just ask Tess Whelan. In 2020, her retina was unexpectedly damaged, leaving her with no "usable vision."
"I went from being able to read print if it was really close to not being able to (read) at all," Whelan said.
"I went from being able to pass as not blind and not have people identify me in that way to needing a cane to get around."
Understandably, it was quite an adjustment.
"No matter how much vision you have, if you lose a little bit of that, I think it just means you have to think more and concentrate more," Whelan said.
A new sporting identity
She also faced quite an upheaval in her sporting life. An avid state-level goalball player, her retina damage meant the sport became a risk to play.
"Goalball is quite a brutal sport. You are definitely going to get hit in the face at some point," she said.
"And once the back of your eye gets damaged, it's recommended that you try to limit that type of activity.
"Limit the skydiving and the balls in face if possible."
So, in need of a new sporting outlet, she found blind cricket, and then, blind tennis.
She only first stepped onto the blind tennis court earlier this year, but once she did, Whelan knew there was no turning back.
"I really fell in love with it," she said.
She says it provided her with a sense of independence she hadn't found in other blind sports.
"I love the freedom to be able to make the decisions, to know where I am on the court. That autonomy is really empowering and really exciting."
Now, barely 10 months later, Whelan is an international tennis player, having just competed as Australia's first B1 representative at the International Blind Tennis Association World Championships in Italy.
A guide dog watches on as Whelan and her coach train. (ABC News: Scott Jewell)
Australia's first international B1 player
In blind tennis, there are four main classes in which athletes compete.
All classes use an audible ball which is slightly larger and softer than a standard tennis ball.
- B4 players have the most vision and play a game very similar to mainstream tennis.
- B3 players are legally blind and are allowed up to two bounces.
- B2 players have less vision than B3 players and are allowed up to three bounces.
- B1 players have what Tess Whelan brands "no usable vision" and play with more modifications than the other classes. All players wear blindfolds and are allowed three bounces. The net is slightly lower and the court substantially smaller, with tactile lines running along the boundaries of the court.
Although variants of the sport had been played for years prior, blind tennis wasn't officially codified until the 1980s. That was in Japan, and it would be another 20 years until it made its way to Australia.
Since then, Australia has grown into a blind tennis powerhouse — but has always struggled to attract B1 players.
Whelan says that a major reason for this is the different coaching techniques required for completely blind athletes as opposed to players with limited vision.
Whelan says there are challenges getting more B1 players involved in the sport. (ABC News: Scott Jewell)
"Really simple things, like being able to see the lines on the court or how far you are from the net — all those things just make it easier to coach an athlete and explain things to that athlete," Whelan said.
She also thinks that potential players might not even consider coming to play something that is traditionally viewed as a "very visual sport."
"I think I had an appreciation for what's going on, because I used to be able to see it," she said.
"But I think if you've never actually been able to visually see a game of tennis, being able to imagine it in your head would be really difficult."
Building a B1 court
There are currently no dedicated B1 courts in Australia, which means Whelan and her coach spend the first half hour of every training session making amendments to the playing area.
"We need to tape the court each time we use it and then pull up the tape at the end," Whelan said.
"And it isn't just tape. You need to put down clothesline kind of material and then tape over the top. It's a two-person job."
To complicate things further, Whelan can't just tape over the existing lines, as B1 dimensions are different to those of a standard court.
Whelan says that the establishment of B1-specific courts in Australia is vital for the growth of the sport.
"Can you imagine being a totally blind player rocking up to a tennis club and saying 'hey, I really want to try this sport'," Whelan said.
"First you've got to go buy the balls, then you've got to change the height of the net, then you've got to go buy tape and string…it's just another barrier."
But she hopes that her involvement in the World Championships will help to raise the profile of B1 tennis across Australia as well as pave the way for more women to be involved in the sport.
"This is a really critical time to be making sure that we're including B1 players and giving them the support that they need," Whelan said.
"The same with women — giving female players the environments that make them feel comfortable."
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6. The Star Kenya - How blindness drove man to seek, spread solutions21 Oct 2024
In 2014, Papi Sibomana travelled to India, hoping to get treatment to repair his vision, which he had lost three years earlier. Arriving full of optimism, his hopes were dashed when he was told that his impairment was incurable.
Instead of treatment, he was referred to a rehabilitation centre, where for the next three months, he was taught advanced skills in assistive technology (AT) and mobility. “After three months in India, I came back to Rwanda.
That’s when I started looking for what I can do in the community,” Sibomana said during an interview in Kigali.
He volunteered for Bright Future Cornerstone, a social enterprise that provides learning services. It would be the beginning of a busy but fruitful journey of discovery, learning and helping others learn how technology can assist those with disabilities.
“Volunteering opened doors for me to mentor young innovators and connect youth with disabilities to opportunities,” he said. “Through entrepreneurship and ICT, I empower others to break barriers and pursue their dreams.”
He also learned to empower himself. Today, Sibomana has a smartphone as his constant companion. But this isn’t just any phone. Utilising its built-in screen reader, it vocalises messages from various apps.
This allows him to use it effectively despite his vision loss. It’s also helping him to help young, visually impaired innovators. Sibomana started losing his sight in 2011 at the age of 22.
This happened just before he began his undergraduate studies at Rwanda’s School of Finance and Banking (now University of Rwanda-College of Business and Economics).
Battling with his sight and hoping it would improve, he enrolled anyway but soon discovered a complete lack of support. Despite this, he pressed on.
“I reached every office on the campus seeking support, but no one told me there was an assistive technology that could help me. During exams, I used to sit with an invigilator guiding me on how to write in the booklet. It was very hard,” he said.
LEFT BEHIND
According to the World Health Organisation, access to assistive technology in Africa is severely limited, with less than 25 per cent of those who need AT having access to it.
Sibomana says many young Africans are only introduced to the technology after graduation rather than at a younger age, which hinders their ability to fully utilise it.
In a world where the use of technology like the Internet is associated with higher well-being, a recent report points out that African youth with disabilities risk being left behind for lack of early access to AT.
The report is titled “Youth in Digital Africa: Our Connections. Our Choices. Our Future”.
It is by research and advisory firm Caribou Digital in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation. Sibomana contributed to the report, which also indicated that young African women are falling behind when it comes to utilising digital technologies. African women, especially those with visual impairments, often lack confidence in using digital technologies, Sibomana said.
He called for heightened awareness and integration of AT in primary education for early exposure. In spite of his own lack of access to AT in college, Sibomana managed to graduate. But his struggles were far from over.
He found few job prospects or internships available to him. Seeking opportunity, he turned to Masaka Rehabilitation Centre for the Blind in Kigali, where he mastered Braille and mobility skills.
However, Braille’s limitations for everyday communication soon became obvious. While visiting a resource room at the former Kigali Institute of Education (now University of Rwanda-College of Education), he discovered JAWS, a screen-reading software tool.
Despite finding someone willing to teach him, the cost of the lessons ($2-3 per hour, or Sh258 to Sh387 ), however, was difficult to afford.
“It wasn’t really easy, but I managed to master JAWS. After that, I bought my first laptop and started practising independently,” he said.
SCHOOL, WORK ENABLER
In 2015, after his return from the disappointing trip to India, Sibomana started mentoring visually impaired high school students, providing business training.
He also joined Uwezo Youth Empowerment, which links graduates with disabilities to internship opportunities, and interned at the Yego Centre in Kigali, where he received training in entrepreneurship and ICT.
Later, he joined Digital Opportunity Trust Rwanda as a startup facilitator and business coach, focusing on youth with disabilities.
Anaise Byukusenge, a Master’s student in Translation and Interpretation at the University of Rwanda, who has become a disability rights activist, remembers that Sibomana introduced her to assistive devices that have since allowed her to work as a freelance translator.
“Growing up as the youngest in an overprotective environment, I often relied on others. Papi taught me to embrace independence both professionally and personally. He strengthened my ability to accomplish work on my own and use assistive devices like phones and computers,” Byukusenge said
In 2016, Sibomana applied for and attended the Young African Leadership Initiative (YALI) in Kenya, graduating in early 2017.
Inspired to help his community, he founded the Urumuri Association to connect visually impaired youth with the Rwanda Union of the Blind.
While attending Youth Connect in 2019, he met Tony Elumelu, founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, and submitted a business idea for poultry farming. Selected as a beneficiary, he received $5,000 in seed capital in 2020.
That was enough to start him on his project. Recognising entrepreneurship as a path to employment for individuals with disabilities, Sibomana also applied for and received a Chevening Scholarship to pursue a Master’s Degree in Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship at the University of Portsmouth in the UK.
He began his studies in October 2020. During this time, he mentored others in assistive technologies like smartphones with screen readers and Braille displays, among others.
After graduating in 2021, Sibomana became an assistant lecturer in entrepreneurship at Rwanda Polytechnic, IPRC Musanze.
He has since co-founded a consultancy firm that supports institutions in employing persons with disabilities by providing AT solutions. His expertise also led him to join the Private Sector Federation (PSF) of Rwanda, which established a specialised cluster for persons with disabilities.
REMAINING GAPS
Pacifique
Ndungutse, from Rwamagana District in the East of Rwanda, is another youth with
disability who was supported by Sibomana. Sibomana provided him with computer
training and helped him successfully apply for the YALI 2022 cohort.
Ndungutse attended the programme in October 2022 and gained leadership skills he now uses to support others at his school and community.
“He continues to inspire us with his problem-solving approach,” Ndungutse said. “Papi always encourages those around him to be confident, self-reliant and to advocate for disability rights.”
Amani Niyoyita, an innovator known for developing smart white canes for the visually impaired and who is CEO and founder at Polystar Nanotech, acknowledged that while advancements have been made, challenges persist, especially in making AT available in local languages such as Kinyarwanda.
“Digital inclusion means vulnerable people can access modern technology through our innovations. We must include all languages to help even those who didn’t attend school,” he said.
Niyoyita further highlighted the need for affordable solutions, suggesting integrated systems for all types of mobile phones to enhance accessibility.
“Connecting people with disabilities to the world means finding solutions that make them feel capable. We must develop affordable solutions, remembering they often can’t afford many things,” he said.
Currently, Sibomana is volunteering with the Rwanda Union of the Blind, where he serves as chairperson of the advocacy committee.
“My journey taught me that disability is not a limitation but an opportunity for innovation,” he said.
“And innovation is not just about ideas; it’s about empowering communities through accessible technology. I believe in the power of community and collaboration to drive inclusive innovation. Assistive technology isn’t just a tool; it’s a pathway to independence and equal opportunity.”
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7. Southend Echo UK - Jill Allen-King 'mostly housebound' in wait for guide dog22 Oct 2024
Blind campaigner Jill Allen-King has been without a guide dog since the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association told her that Jagger, her much-loved companion, must step down from service.
Every day tasks have since become almost impossible for Jill and she told the Echo she now spends the majority of the time at home.
Companion - Jill and Jagger (Image: Newsquest)
Although Jagger was forced to retire, he remained with Jill until he unexpectedly
died in February this year.
Jill is now on the 1,200-strong waiting list for a new dog from the Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.
Jill said: “I am mostly housebound, I try to go for a walk around the block but struggle most of the time, I don’t want to cross the road.
Pride of Britain - Jill and Paul O'Grady at the Pride of Britain awards in 2022 (Image: Newsquest) Dog Lover - Jill with her dogs (Image: Newsquest)
“I am very cross and annoyed, Jagger died in February this year and I have been
waiting since last February on a waiting list, Jagger was retired on June 1,
2022.
“He died quite suddenly, and I have been waiting for 17 months.
“I went to the guide dog all-general meeting in September, and they had trained 469 dogs last year and yet there is a waiting list of 1200.
“That number had gone down to around 1000 but I had a meeting two weeks ago and was told that number has gone back up to 1200.”
Former Southend West and Leigh MP Anna Firth previously helped Jill be placed on a “priority list” to get a new dog and has been in touch with her successor, Labour MP David Burton-Sampson.
Jill added the impact from not having a guide dog for her is “worsening” as there are few alternatives to a guide dog service, with most blind charities not offering schemes to have volunteers accompany the blind.
She said: “I have no confidence without a guide dog, for 52 years I had seven dogs, I was never without a dog in those years.
“I never had a break in 52 years from having a dog, to lose Jagger suddenly was devastating and I still think he is here, it is horrible, I know many blind people in the same situation. A lot live alone.”
Jill hopes to have a phone meeting this week with Labour MP David Burton-Sampson to discuss the situation.
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8. IN Kansas City Magazine USA - Alphapointe’s Cameron Black Gained Independence, Then a New Passion21 Oct 2024
Cameron Black was born blind in Norman, Oklahoma, in 1988. He moved to the Lake of the Ozarks area as a teenager, and today, he works as a team lead for Alphapointe in Kansas City.
In 2023, Black did play-by-play commentary for an NBA playoff game on live television. He called the game solo, from tip-off to final buzzer.
‘The Life I’ve Always Wanted to Live’
Black’s first brush with Kansas City was during the summer he turned 20. He took vision rehabilitation courses at Alphapointe, a nonprofit that helps blind and visually impaired people achieve independence.
Alphapointe, which started as the Kansas City Association for the Blind in 1916, provides rehabilitation, career training, employment services, and education for thousands of blind and visually impaired people.
Black’s goal was to live on his own. So he learned how to locate audio crosswalk buttons and where to find braille. He learned simple skills, such as navigating public transportation systems, using screen readers, browning meat, and cooking grilled cheese sandwiches. After he finished, he moved back to the lake—and lived on his own.
“It helped me live the life that I have always wanted to live,” says Black. “It helped me live a normal life.”
Adapting to a Sports Town
At 28, married and expecting a child, Black moved back to Kansas City in search of work. Alphapointe, which employs hundreds of blind and visually impaired people, gave him an opportunity just before his first daughter was born.
He had never been interested in sports because he figured it was too visual to follow, but he thought that if he could learn enough about Chiefs football, he could get by in his new city. So he learned the game from his dad, a massive college football fan, over several phone calls. His dad recommended listening to Chiefs games on the radio, not TV.
Black got hooked. He loved the energy and passion play-by-play man Mitch Holthus brought to the game. He started listening to other sports, and he eventually started writing about sports for FanSided.
Black’s story spread. Holthus caught wind of it and hosted him at a Chiefs game, nominated him for an fan award, and had him on his radio show.
Then Black got a Facebook message.
‘I About Deleted It’
“Someone sent me a message, and you know how Facebook is just rife with spam messages, scams—I about deleted it,” he says.
The messenger said their company was helping Michelob ULTRA develop technology to help blind people follow sports. Black learned that the tech would use haptic vibration and audio to convey a game’s developments to blind fans—and they wanted Black’s help developing it for basketball.
“And then to prove that it works,” they told him, “we’re going to have you commentate a live NBA game.”
Black agreed. For months, he helped create an explanatory language of vibrations and sounds the listener would receive through vests, arm bands, and braille displays. He also learned the ropes of broadcasting.
April 21, 2023: Cleveland Cavaliers at New York Knicks
The game was set: game three, first round of the NBA Playoffs, Madison Square Garden. Black’s commentary would air live on the MSG Network and YouTube.
“I was absolutely petrified the entire day,” Black says. “I just didn’t want to disappoint anybody. But when I started, all the cameras were gone, and I wasn’t thinking about any of that. I was just having fun. I absolutely loved it.”
Black got the bug. He wants to continue using his voice—in commentary, in sports radio, and in voiceover work.
‘Alphapointe Gave Me Confidence’
Black says Alphapointe laid the foundation for all that followed.
“Alphapointe has made me confident enough to do the things that I have done,” Black says. “And I just mean living a normal life. Getting to be in my house that I own, pay the bills on, and make sure is clean for my children. I’m a fully functioning 36-year-old member of society.
“That is something Alphapointe has done for me very directly, not only as a rehab client but as an employee. I believe it’s that confidence that made it possible for me to feel like I could reach out and try to accomplish more.”
Learn more about Alphapointe’s services here.
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9. STV News UK - Stammer campaigners call for better awareness around disability21 Oct 2024
People with stammers are calling for better education and awareness around the condition.
It is estimated that more than 50,000 people in Scotland have a stammer, characterised by difficulty getting words out, and can include repeating words or sounds, prolonging sounds, and blocking on words or sounds.
But charities say it’s not well understood and that those who struggle with their speech are often not treated with respect.
Scott Ingram has had a stammer for the past 14 years.
He told STV News: “I started to notice myself that I wasn’t saying words and sounds quite right. When I wanted to say words and sounds for some odd reason they wouldn’t come out of my mouth quite right.
“It really got to me. It really got me down, anxious and stressed. I was just needing help with my speech and stammer.”
Around one in 100 people in Scotland have a stammer. It’s more common in young children but can also develop later in life.
Scott says the disability often receives a mixed response – but he has been taking on public speaking roles and practices different vocal techniques to manage his stammer.
He added: “Some people were not patient with me, and basically told me to get on with it or to hurry up. That made me more anxious and stressed out.
“I feel really good about myself and my stammer now – I’ve had to work very hard on it over the last 13 years.”
As part of International Stammer Awareness Day, charities say the condition affects many aspects of everyday life but is still not well understood.
Scottish Stammering Network trustee John Mann said: “It can hamper a person’s life pretty significantly. It can affect their job choice, it can affect relationships.
“You can get negative reactions. It still is a disability and it was one that a lot of people think they can laugh at still, whereas people wouldn’t laugh at deaf or blind person.
“All we need is for people to let us finish our sentence – give us a bit of time.”
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10. northjersey.com USA - NJ appeals court rejects Paterson's effort to fire blind city planner21 Oct 2024
PATERSON — George Meadows, a municipal government planner who became blind from glaucoma, has won a significant victory in his legal fight to fend off the city's attempts to fire him over his disability.
A state appellate court last week rejected Paterson’s efforts to terminate Meadows, something the city did in 2021.
Meadows’ original firing was overturned in decisions rendered in 2022 by a state administrative law judge and the Civil Service Commission, rulings that cited New Jersey’s laws protecting people with disabilities.
But Paterson continued the legal battle by going to the appellate court.
“There is no dispute that George Meadows is statutorily blind,” the city’s lawyers said in the appeal papers. “There is also no dispute that Meadows would require the city to provide certain accommodations before he was able to perform the essential functions of his job.
"Instead, the central issues in this matter — and on appeal — are what accommodations would be necessary for Meadows to perform his job and whether the city is able to provide those accommodations,” the appeal papers said.
The city argued that it would have to hire another employee just to help Meadows perform his duties. But Meadows’ attorney cited his physician’s assertions that the planner could perform his job “with minor reading and writing” assistance.
Meadows' lawyer argued that the city failed to show that such an accommodation for his blindness was “unreasonable or unduly burdensome.”
The appellate court on Oct. 16 determined that Paterson fell short of proving that the decisions by civil service and the administrative judge should be overturned.
Under those previous decisions, Meadows eventually returned to his job and received a portion of his back pay, officials said.
Mayor Andre Sayegh did not respond when asked how much Paterson has spent on legal fees in the dispute over Meadows’ employment, nor did the mayor say whether Paterson would pursue the issue further.
Meadows’ attorney did not respond when asked for comment on the appellate court decision.
Meadows, who has a degree from Columbia University, was hired by the city in 2012. Recent payroll records say his salary is $93,846.
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This Google Group news service has been made possible by courtesy of the Society of the Blind in Malaysia