News and issues on the disabled 7 Nov 2024
Azmi Anuar
Contents
1. Beccles & Bungay Journal UK - Beccles blindfolded walk highlights challenges of sight loss
2. micromobilitybiz - Lime first to sign new e-bike charter created by blind and partially sighted people
3. RNIB Cymru UK : blind voters excluded from voting in secret
4. MK South Korea - Passengers were seen being careful not to wake up the guide dog who fell asleep
5. Healio - Q&A: Exploring music as an aid for people with vision impairment, blindness
6. News24 South Korea - Gaining new insight through being ‘blind’
7. Penn Global - University of Pennsylvania USA - Blending East and West in The OPEN Classroom
8. Get The Word Out Australia - Mr Hux Introduces Accessible Fragrance Packaging with Braille
9. 3News Ghana - Special needs students at UG in limbo as Scholarship Secretariat delays in releasing funds for fees
10. Nile Post Uganda - DP criticises Electoral Commission over PWD mapping exercise
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1. Beccles & Bungay Journal UK - Beccles blindfolded walk highlights challenges of sight loss5 Nov 2024
Organised by Observatory the Opticians & Hearing Care in Beccles and the Beccles & District Lions Club, the event aimed to highlight everyday struggles.
Beccles mayor Colin Hill was one of the participants.
He said: “It was frightening. I was really frightened. I had someone directing me but if I had to do it on my own without anybody, I’d have been in a heap on the floor.
"I couldn’t have done it…I’d have probably tripped over four or five times or I’d have hit a wall or a door."
Beccles mayor takes part in blindfolded walk around town (Image: Submitted)
The walk started and ended outside the optician's practice at 1 Smallgate, passing through the marketplace and the King's Head pub.
This year, the walk also included a detour into Country Cards, a business owned by the mayor's wife.
Mr Hill said: “I thought I knew that shop, but I obviously don’t.
"I bumped into three or four things in the shop which is amazing and I shall now have more consideration for non-sighted people."
Beccles blindfolded walk highlights struggles of visually impaired (Image: Submitted)
Senior optometrist at Observatory the Opticians, René Moor, said: “We do a blindfolded walk every year to raise awareness of the difficulties that visually impaired and blind people face as part of their everyday routines, such as entering shops, crossing roads, negotiating kerbs and shopping in busy high streets with many obstacles."
Michelle Lyman, optical dispenser at Observatory, also took part in the blindfolded walk this year.
She said: “I found it disorientating. I didn’t really know where I was at times and I found I couldn’t distinguish between the pavement and the road."
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2. micromobilitybiz - Lime first to sign new e-bike charter created by blind and partially sighted people5 Nov 2024
Lime is the first of a series of organisations to sign up to the Sight Loss Council e-bike charter created by blind and partially sighted volunteers.
The charter calls for operators, local authorities and governing bodies to sign up to Sight Loss Councils’ six key principles.
This is to ensure the safety of blind and partially sighted (BPS) pedestrians.
Sight Loss Councils (SLC) are regional groups led by blind and partially sighted people.
They work with organisations to be more accessible and inclusive. SLCs developed the charter in collaboration with micromobility companies and with support from Thomas Pocklington Trust.
The charter recommends that operators, local authorities and governing bodies: provide parking bays and racks where users should park e-bikes, put in place a ‘reporting and monitoring’ framework of e-bike providers’ performance and make non-commercially sensitive results publicly available, and provide one universally accessible way BPS people and other digitally excluded residents can report e-bike incidents commit to ensuring reasonable maximum weight and speed restrictions of rental e-bikes.
Further recommendations include working towards ensuring all rental e-bikes are fitted with some form of audible alert equipment (e.g. horn or bell), and working together to minimise incidents of rental e-bikes used in pavement riding, including through trialling available technology and advocating for robust police enforcement.
Haren Thillainathan, London SLC volunteer, is pleased that Lime has backed the charter and sees the operator’s support as an opportunity to drive change.
Thillainathan commented: “As a visually impaired person in London, I’ve increasingly experienced the issue of poorly parked or abandoned e-bikes obstructing pavements.
“Feedback from our SLC work confirms this is a major concern for many blind and partially sighted people, affecting their daily lives.
“I initially hoped the government would introduce legislation to address this, but once it became clear this wouldn’t happen, I didn’t want this to be an excuse for inaction. This led to the creation of the e-bike charter.”
Sight Loss Councils have created the charter in response to blind and partially sighted (BPS) people telling Thomas Pocklington Trust and it’s UK network of Sight Loss Councils that inaccessible streets and public transport are key issues that matter to them the most (Listening Month, 2022).
Confusing parking rules for e-bikes can create pavement obstructions in London which impact on BPS people’s confidence to navigate our streets independently and safely.
E-bikes are left abandoned at the top of staircases, outside shop doorways, and in the middle of pavements. This puts BPS people at risk of collisions, trips, and falls.
BPS people are also reporting anxieties around not knowing the location of e-bikes travelling around them because they emit no sound, until it is too late.
The charity wanted to explore whether e-bikes could pose a danger to blind and partially sighted people when not used and parked appropriately.
London SLCs’ work with the operator includes Lime’s participation in the London SLC April 2022 visual impairment (VI) forum on e-scooters. Other attendees included Transport for London (TfL) and wider operators involved in the London e-scooter trial.
Sight Loss Councils have also collaborated with Lime on in-app messaging sent to all registered Lime e-bike users about safe parking and the impact of inappropriate parking on BPS people.
This educational campaign was shortlisted in the 2023 CiTTi (City Transport and Traffic Innovations) Awards. They also co-produced a TikTok video in 2024 on safe and responsible parking of e-bikes.
Fiona Deunyas, public affairs manager at Lime, added: “We are proud to be the first signatory of this charter. Its sensible recommendations to provide increased dedicated parking through use of cycle stands and allow for flexible, non-obstructive parking where dedicated parking is not provided are welcome.
“We look forward to working with SLC and our partner Councils to implement these measures and continuing to improve the experience of our service for people with access needs.”
Following the success of the e-bike charter in London and its collaboration with Lime, Sight Loss Councils are optimistic that the initiative will find similar success nationwide.
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3. RNIB Cymru UK : blind voters excluded from voting in secret5 Nov 2024
Problems with voting
RNIB Cymru’s Director Ansley Workman (she/her) said: “Blind and partially sighted people have the same right as everyone else to vote independently and in secret. Yet, our research show that they are being denied this right.
“Voting is currently a visual experience, but it doesn’t have to be. There are simple and cost-effective solutions that can make voting more accessible. If audio and tactile solutions were freely available at every polling station in Wales, people with sight loss could finally access their democratic right to vote independently.
“Here in Wales, we have the chance to make sure our upcoming elections are the most accessible yet to blind and partially sighted people. We’re committed to working with Welsh Government to make this happen.”
RNIB Cymru’s report also reveals that two thirds of blind postal voters (68 per cent) and blind people who voted at polling stations (66 per cent) needed assistance from another person to allow them to vote.
Gareth Davies, 50, from Cardiff said: “As someone living with a degenerative eye condition, I know that as I continue to lose my sight, I will also lose my ability to vote alone and in secret in elections. As someone who cares deeply about the world that I live in then this fills me with dread.
“It is just ridiculous that I can live most of my life independently, but I might not be able to have my say in elections. I really hope that Wales can lead the way and make sure everyone has a right to vote.”
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4. MK South Korea - Passengers were seen being careful not to wake up the guide dog who fell asleep5 Nov 2024
Passengers were seen being careful not to wake up the guide dog who fell asleep as if he was tired on the subway, prompting a response among Internet users that it was "warm."
On the 5th, an online community has been drawing attention as a photo titled "A guide dog falling down in front of its owner due to fatigue in the subway" has spread belatedly.
The photo showed a Labrador retriever sleeping on the subway floor wearing clothes with a 'guide dog' sign.
Internet user A, who is believed to have been at the scene at the time, reported on his social network service (SNS) on the 27th of last month, saying, "I felt warm on the subway full of people on my way to work."
He said, "A guide dog in the room with a blind person settled in front of the owner and lay on the floor, and this was so cute." "When the passengers got off when the guide dog lay in front of their feet, they were restless," he said. "Everyone took a step back for fear of stepping on the sleeping dog."
On the other hand, guide dogs are dogs that have been specially trained to guide the visually impaired, and the visually impaired walk with a guide hook tied to the body of the guide dog. Guide dogs usually have socialization training in general homes for a year, after which they receive training necessary for walking at guide dog schools.
Only 30% of dogs who have completed socialization training at home pass the guide dog test, and guide dogs are usually prohibited from petting or taking pictures while driving.
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5. Healio - Q&A: Exploring music as an aid for people with vision impairment, blindness5 Nov 2024
Since its launch in 2020, the Lighthouse Guild’s podcast “On Tech and Vision with Dr. Cal Roberts” has highlighted ways in which technology can improve the lives of people who are blind or have low vision.
In its latest episode, Calvin W. Roberts, MD, podcast host and president and CEO of the Lighthouse Guild, spoke with the team at Benvision, which has developed an app that uses music cues to help visually impaired individuals navigate buildings and outdoor venues.
Healio spoke with Roberts to better understand how music can be used in this way and learn more about the latest audio-based assistive technology for people with vision loss.
Healio: How can music help people with low vision or blindness?
Roberts: Music can be a powerful tool for helping people with low vision or blindness by providing emotional, cognitive and functional support. It can enhance orientation and mobility through rhythmic cues that may help individuals pace their movements. Music therapy can also be used to reduce anxiety, improve mood and promote relaxation, offering emotional benefits that support mental health.
For learning and memory, musical rhythms or melodies can serve as mnemonic devices, aiding in the recall of important information or instructions. Additionally, music provides social and recreational engagement, allowing individuals to participate in community activities or group music-making, which fosters social connections.
In a broader sense, music can offer a means of self-expression and creativity, enhancing quality of life and well-being.
Healio: What new technology utilizes sound for low-vision patients?
Roberts: Several new technologies utilize sound to assist low-vision patients by enhancing navigation and accessibility. I speak with many innovators regarding such technologies that utilize sound on our podcast, “On Tech and Vision.”
There are wearable devices that provide audio-based guidance or real-time descriptions, while AI-powered screen readers offer advanced auditory feedback for visual elements on screens. Smart glasses from companies such as eSight, Envision and Meta convert visual input into audio descriptions, and crowdsourcing apps like BeMyAI and Seeing AI deliver live or AI-generated audio guidance can help with daily tasks including reading, describing photos and identifying products.
Additionally, sonar-based mobility aids such as the WeWalk smart cane provide sound alerts to help users avoid obstacles. These innovations leverage sound to increase independence and safety for individuals who are blind or have low vision.
However, when it comes to navigation technology for people who are blind or visually impaired, many apps utilize voice commands, loud tones or beeps or haptic feedback, which can become overwhelming. I recently spoke to the team at Benvision. Through the use of a smartphone app and earphones, Benvision enables users to navigate through musical cues. The technology creates immersive soundscapes that allows users to take in their surroundings and intuitively navigate them.
Healio: How can clinicians help low-vision patients who want to use this kind of technology?
Roberts: When using sound as a tool for low-vision patients, clinicians should tailor solutions to individual preferences, ensuring that auditory aids are not overwhelming and help reduce cognitive load.
Personalization of sound settings, such as adjusting volume or pitch, allows for a more comfortable experience, while consistent sound patterns help patients build familiarity and confidence. Most importantly, as with any technology, training is crucial to ensure patients can effectively navigate sound-based tools, which should be integrated with other aids like tactile or visual cues for a balanced approach.
Clinicians should also consider their patient’s age, as aging creates limitations with vision and hearing, and environmental factors such as background noise. It is also important to empower patients by offering choices that fit their lifestyle and enhance independence.
Healio: What else should our readers know?
Roberts: Optometrists have the opportunity to provide valuable assistance to their patients beyond medical treatment. Even if medical intervention is not an option, clinicians can still offer solutions to help patients achieve their goals and prevent depression or isolation that often accompany a diagnosis of vision loss.
With access to vision rehabilitation and the latest adaptive technologies, including simple apps on smartphones, we are well-equipped to empower our patients to lead the lives they aspire to.
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6. News24 South Korea - Gaining new insight through being ‘blind’5 Nov 2024
“Be appreciative of your sight and go for regular eye check-ups. If you lose your sight, your life will change completely.”
This was the message from Desiree Brockbank, chairperson of the Northern Cape Society for the Blind (NCSB). She was speaking at an event on Friday, 1 November, at the Sol Plaatje Municipality in Kimberley.
The aim of the event, held in cooperation with the South African Library for the Blind (SALB) and the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB), was to raise awareness amongst those with sight on what the blind and visually impaired experience every day.
Mmabatho Nyamane of the SALB gave an overview of its library services, and Mariana Jackson, an ophthalmic assistant, talked about glaucoma.
“To see should not be taken for granted,” she says, emphasising the importance of regular eye check-ups.
Joyce Tshabile, an orientation and mobility practitioner at the SANCB, demonstrated how to use a white cane. Then, officials received goggles that gave similar vision to that of six eye conditions, including blindness.
Executive mayor Kagisho Sonyoni and the officials then had to navigate their way through the parking lot and on a pavement.
After the “blind walk”, Sonyoni emphasises the importance of building partnerships with all societies, including the blind. He says the municipality must make an enabling contribution by filling potentially dangerous holes.
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7. Penn Global - University of Pennsylvania USA - Blending East and West in The OPEN Classroom5 Nov 2024
“Help me!” “I lost my cane!” “Miss Dora, I’m scared!”
A cacophony of screams echoed in the dark. It was my class field trip to the Dialogue in the Dark exhibit, an immersive tour in which we got to experience complete darkness while being led by a blind tour guide. Along with my boss and six 7-to-9-year-old students, we used canes to navigate the dark, rode a ferry, went to a café, and played soccer.
I had been working on the class plans for this course before starting my internship at the OPEN Classroom in Hong Kong. In Huntsman Hall, I outlined worksheets and designed slideshows, curious about how minorities like visually impaired people are viewed in Hong Kong. However, I couldn’t help but wonder if I—a college student who grew up in Mainland China and moved to the U.S. when she was 12—was qualified to teach students about what challenges visually impaired people faced in Hong Kong and Hong Kong’s resources to support this community that I was ignorant about. The fact that I couldn’t calm down my students during the field trip fueled this anxiety.
However, as I tutored students on vocabulary, grammar, and reading while seeing them struggle, I saw pieces of my younger self. Since English was my second language, I understood the difficulties and was able to empathize with the students who were still on their way. I realized that my educational background in Chinese public schools and American private schools allowed me to take the best of both worlds and integrate them into my lessons. What I needed to do as a summer teacher was to hone their English skills and build their interest in the language; and that’s what I strived to do in each class.
For example, in my Dialogue in the Dark class, students learned about the challenges visually impaired people face, the resources available, famous figures who were visually impaired, and the importance of empathy toward the disabled community. They read passages, underlined vocabulary that they didn’t know, and corrected their spelling mistakes by writing the proper spelling out 3 times—just as I did when I was first learning English. For a final project, they each designed and presented devices that would help visually impaired people in their daily lives. This was what my classes were often like in America: creative with an emphasis on individuality. Seeing each student present their innovations, from a do-it-all robot dog to a chair that transports its owner anywhere within seconds, my heart felt full.
As I continued my internship, my imposter syndrome lessened with every class I taught. As an intern, I had the opportunity to design 2 modules: Shaping Societies and Path to Humanity. Being a Political Science and Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies double major, I weaved my passion for advocacy, law, and social justice into my internship, honing my students’ English skills while pushing them to think critically about topics ranging from refugees’ rights to potential regulations on AI. I even got to revisit one of my favorite reads in high school—George Orwell’s 1984—and discuss the text with one of my students in a literary analysis course. Through class activities like mock trial, presentations, and debates, I saw my students step out of their shells and practice their English. Even though my internship is ending soon, I will cherish every moment, whether they’re filled with screams or pride.
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8. Get The Word Out Australia - Mr Hux Introduces Accessible Fragrance Packaging with Braille5 Nov 2024
Sydney, Australia – In a bold move towards inclusivity, Mr Hux, a premier Australian fine fragrance house, is proud to announce the release of its new fragrance sizes—2ml and 10ml—featuring packaging with braille. This makes Mr Hux the first and only fragrance house in Australia to incorporate braille on its products, setting a new benchmark in the beauty industry for accessibility.
The initiative is part of Mr Hux’s broader commitment to becoming one of the most accessible beauty brands in the world. Over time, the company plans to roll out braille on all its packaging, ensuring that those who are blind or visually impaired can enjoy the same luxury experience as everyone else.
Founder Liam Carr shared, “Our vision is to create a beauty brand that truly caters to all individuals, regardless of their abilities. We believe in making luxury accessible to everyone, and our new packaging is a step toward that goal. We are committed to continuing our work with the blind and visually impaired community to improve our products and ensure they meet the needs of all customers.”
To ensure the highest quality and compliance, Mr Hux has
partnered with Braille House in Queensland and adheres strictly to the
Australian Braille Standards. This collaboration reflects the company’s
dedication to working closely with the community and experts in the field to
drive meaningful change.
“Our journey toward accessibility doesn’t stop here,” Liam continued. “We are
continuously seeking feedback from the blind and visually impaired, as well as
others within the community, to enhance our packaging and product experience.
This is just the beginning of our long-term commitment to making beauty
accessible for all.”
Mr Hux’s new fragrance sizes, 2ml and 10ml, are now available with braille packaging, and the company plans to extend this feature across its entire product line in the near future.
For more information on Mr Hux’s accessibility initiatives or to purchase the new fragrance sizes, visit mrhux.com.au or contact he...@mrhux.com.
About Mr Hux Based in Sydney, Australia, Mr Hux is a fine fragrance house dedicated to crafting luxurious scents while championing accessibility and inclusivity. With a commitment to working alongside communities and experts, Mr Hux continues to innovate, making its products available to all.
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9. 3News Ghana - Special needs students at UG in limbo as Scholarship Secretariat delays in releasing funds for fees6 Nov 2024
The dreams and aspirations of some students with special needs at the University of Ghana may hit a snag if the government fails to pay their tuition fees before Friday, November 8, 2024.
This is a result of the Scholarship Secretariat’s delay in releasing their funds for over a year now, leaving many to grapple with the hard reality of fending for themselves.
“My mom is the one who takes care of me and she borrows from people. As I speak my mother owes a lot of people because of this school fees matter. I cannot even sleep because anytime I try to sleep, I remember I owe the school and I have to register for my course before Friday, 8 November 2024. My colleagues are attending lectures, but I cannot go because I have not registered.” Richmond Yador, an affected visually impaired law student, lamented.
Since childhood, Richmond and his colleagues have vowed not to beg for alms on the streets but rather climb the academic ladder. This passion and determination have been fueling Richmond’s vision of a renowned lawyer someday.
Richmond, who unfortunately lost his sight at a tender age, has defied all odds and is now a level 300 student at the University of Ghana, reading law.
“I have been in the house for some time now. I completed SHS around 2019, but because of financial matters, I couldn’t come to school. I just came to school last year somewhere in January. So, deferring my course will be a sad thing for me.” Richmond fears.
The stories of Godway and Jeffery, also visually impaired are not different from Richmond.
“When I was coming to the University of Ghana, I was told by my colleagues that the government pays the school fees for persons with disability at the various tertiary institutions, so I was happy. But when I came, I was told looking at things, the fees will not be dispensed. So, I had to look for money to cater for myself.” Godsway Akpa is another visually impaired.
“If the government has promised to pay our fees and they are not paying, all the people who should have paid our fees know that the government is supposed to pay. If you go to them for school fees, they tell me that the government has paid your school fees, so they don’t have anything for us.” Jeff Ayewum indicates.
President of the University of Ghana chapter of students with special needs say they are yet to get a positive response from the Scholarship Secretariat.
“We have an office on campus and we have reached out to them, and they have also reached out to the Scholarship Secretariat. The Secretariat told us that they don’t have any money, so if we are planning to demonstrate, then we should go to the Ministry of Finance because they are supposed to release the funds to them before they can pay our fees.” Foster Kudese mentioned.
The Vice President and flagbearer of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, has, however, promised to provide free tertiary education to all persons with disability who make it to University in Ghana.
“I am very clear on the way forward. I believe that for persons with disabilities, we are going to support them a bit more. We are giving scholarships to every person, but I am going to dedicate some of the monies to our Scholarship Secretariat and the GETFund to provide free tertiary education, both tuition and accommodation, to every person with a disability who makes it into the university so they can all benefit,” he stated.
In a WhatsApp conversation with the Registrar of the Ghana Scholarship Secretariat, Dr. Kingsley Agyemang assured them of government plans to dispense the fees.
“The outstanding fee has been processed; payment will be made next month. The institutions are aware of the special arrangement, and they always accommodate them.” Mr. Agyemang assured.
With a few days to the end of the course registration, what will be the fate of these students with special needs? Will they be able to register for their courses before the deadline and join their colleagues in the lecture hall? Or what will happen to them?
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10. Nile Post Uganda - DP criticises Electoral Commission over PWD mapping exercise5 Nov 2024
The Democratic Party (DP) has expressed dissatisfaction with the Electoral Commission’s (EC) handling of the ongoing exercise to identify and map Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) on the National Voters Register (NVR).
Speaking to the media on Tuesday, DP’s PWDs League condemned the EC's organisation of the initiative, alleging a lack of activity in numerous locations and calling the exercise a “stillbirth.”
“This exercise has all the hallmarks of past failures,” said Maxensia Takirambule, National Secretary for Persons with Disabilities in the DP.
She pointed to a “lack of preparedness and willingness” on the part of the EC to make electoral processes accessible to all PWDs, warning that “flawed electoral processes yield flawed electoral outcomes.”
Takirambule called for immediate action from the EC, beginning with a more disability-inclusive publicity campaign to ensure that PWDs are fully informed and engaged.
“Disability-inclusive messaging should be presented in large print, in multiple local languages for the hard of hearing, in braille for the visually impaired, and adapted for all to access,” she stated.
The party also emphasised the need for meaningful engagement with Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) and civil society, criticizing the EC’s limited interactions with these groups.
“One-off workshops with OPDs in air-conditioned Kampala hotels are insufficient,” she said, urging the EC to form a Public-Private Partnership to work with OPDs and allocate resources to support their outreach.
Additionally, Takirambule recommended that the EC synchronise data with the National Identification and Registration Authority (NIRA) database, cautioning that the existing data may not accurately capture PWDs.
She further called for the mapping and verification process to be ongoing rather than a “one-week period,” which they argued is inadequate given the daily challenges PWDs face.
Takirambule announced that the DP’s PWD League would launch its own initiatives to support PWDs in the political process, including a membership registration program and a hotline to document incidents of rights abuses and discrimination.
“The Electoral Commission must address, directly and for the first time, the genuine barriers to participation for PWDs in electoral processes,” she said.
She encouraged PWDs and their caregivers to participate in the identification and mapping exercise, highlighting the importance of having disabilities accurately documented.
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This Google Group news service has been made possible by courtesy of the Society of the Blind in Malaysia