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New Technology Take Braille Into The New Century

Braille letter/symbol.

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Not since the birth of the Braille language has there been such an exciting time for those who have lost their ability to see. Today, technology is helping the blind take part in more activities than ever before. New technology is available to do everything from read a computer screen to help with the task of creating text messages. Anyone who diagnosed as blind should invest in these programs.

  • JAWS: the most robust text reader for a computer. The program reads written words on a computer screen and makes it possible for the user to navigate the Internet.
  • Kurzweil: This simply program allows a user to scan any written document into a computer. IT then translate the document into audible form.
  • GOODFEEL: Blind students and musicians can use this nifty use to translate music into a format that the blind can study and play.
  • Virgo 4: A text converter that is light years ahead of industry standards. It can also be used to create text to braille documents.

To make things even easier, there are new Braille keyboards. These keyboards make it exceptionally easy for students to use computers. By combining a Braille keyboard with a program like JAWS, the blind can use a computer as effectively as a seeing person.

While there is no doubt that being blind is a disability, today it does not mean living life in a world of darkness. Thanks to recent technological advances, the blind can now experience the world in a whole new way.

Filed Under: General, Technology Tagged With: , ,

Top 3 Organizations That Provide Assistance for the Blind

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There are many organizations that assist people with disabilities. Blindness can be especially hard to cope with, but there are some top-notch groups that work hard to assist those with sight disabilities.
While many groups are based in the United States, there are organizations for the blind in other countries, such as the National Federation of the Blind United Kingdom. For blind advocacy groups in Canada, search with Canada 411. Here is additional information about three of the top groups for the blind:

 

The National Federation of the Blind

Founded in 1940, the National Federation of the Blind has gone from 16 members to more than 50,000. The NFB has worked to ensure that, unlike in other blind assistance groups, blind members hold the power and the priorities of sighted members never overtake those of the blind. The NFB also works to encourage laws and politicals moves that will benefit blind people.

 

American Foundation for the Blind

This organization seeks to open doors for the blind, specifically with technologies that provide assistance to sight-disabled people. The AFB is based in New York, but maintains centers around the United States, most notably the Public Policy Center that lobbies Congress for laws that to benefit the blind.

 

American Council of the Blind

What started as a magazine for the blind, the “Braille Free Press,” became the American Council of the Blind in 1961. THe ACB focuses mainly on media for the blind, a salute to their Braille Free Press roots. This group draws much attention to Braille publications, radio, and now, with the advent of Braille computers, Internet-based content.

Filed Under: Advancements, Blindness, Support Tagged With: , ,

Finding Free Braille Books for Your Child

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You may have a child that is blind; or perhaps you are part of a library or community group that is seeking Braille books for children. There are many sources available that can help you obtain these types of book for free.

Register at the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped. This service is part of the national Library of Congress and provides services for reading disabled, low vision or blind citizens. While you will have to submit documentation of the disability, you will then have access to all materials available through the National Library Service. You will have the ability to search catalogs and request specific books.

The Kenneth Jernigan Library also allows you to borrow books. These books are selected by librarians and set to your child through the mail.

Free Braille books are also available from the American Action Fund. Approximately once a month, your child will get a book or chapter from a book.

The Braille Institute is also a great resource for books. The organization provides free books to children from its Special Collections program.

Another source of free Braille books is the Angel Program at Seedlings Braille Books for Children. Your child and you can select two books per year from their extensive catalog.

In addition, check your local libraries for additional sources of Braille literature for your child. A simple internet search can also help you find outlets that can provide books and other reading material.

Filed Under: Braille, Support Tagged With: , ,

Different Assistive Technologies for the Visually Impaired People

Assistive technologies are the useful tool for the impaired people and they can use it to improve their functionality. This technology is very useful for students especially in their classroom as if offers freedom for them. These assistive tools often have electronic devices, physical equipment, and computer software. There are different types of devices available to help the visually impaired people such as Braille technology, magnifiers, optical character recognition, and speech systems.

Imprimante-braille

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Braille technology is implemented in different equipment so that visually impaired people can use it in their routine work. This Braille technology can show more than 80 characters on the screen and it refreshes automatically. There are also Braille printers that transfer the information from system to paper. Another useful Braille device is the Braille note taker that comes with keyboard. The information from the note taker can be retrieved using speech synthesizer or transferred to laptop.

Magnifying technology includes all programs that are specially designed for computers and also video magnifiers. This magnifier can be used along with computer screen, television, and even with the video monitor. The programs for magnifier are loaded in the computer using specific software. Optical character recognition is one of the popular technologies used by the blind people. This technology scans words and characters from the document and saves in the PC or OCR’s memory. The stored information can be accessed using magnifiers or Braille technology.

Speech system is another technology that converts the words from the document into spoken language. This technology comes along with screen reader.

 

Filed Under: Technology Tagged With: , ,

All About Braille

Most people have heard of Braille, but unless you have a blind family member of friend you probably do not know that many details about Braille.

What is Braille?

It is important to remember that Braille is not its own language.  Braille is an alternative way to read languages that already exist.  The dots people associate in Braille are arranged in different combinations to represent different letters. There are different combinations of dots of each language.  A person reading in English in Braille and a person reading in French in Braille would not be using the same letter codes.

Where did Braille Come From?

Braille was invented by a teenage boy named Louis Braille who lived in the early 1800s.  Louis was born with full sight, but injured one of his eyes during a childhood accident.  Feeling left out in school, Louis used his creative and scientific talents to come up with a way that he could read and write.  While studying, Louis learned about a dot system initially used by the French army.  Louis put his own spin on the idea and soon after Braille was born.  Louis even published the first Braille.  Although Braille benefited him, it was not originally accepted by teachers and doctors of his day.  But like many great inventors, after his death, Braille eventually caught on and helps millions of blind people everywhere to this day.

Modern Braille

Braille has come a long way since days of Louis Braille and so has technology.  Braille can be found everywhere these days.  Braille is often found on ATM machines, so that visually impaired individuals can access their bank accounts with out assistance.  Braille can also be put on cell phones and computers so that blind people can be independent workers.  Braille is popular in elevators to help blind people who live in apartment complexes or stay in hotels while on vacation.

Filed Under: Blindness, Braille Tagged With: , ,

Vitamin B and Blindness Prevention

While some people are born blind, others become blind through out their life due to various medical conditions a new study shows that vitamin B can help to prevent blindness.

What does Vitamin B do?

Taking  vitamin B6 and vitamin B12 supplements can lower the risk of macular degeneration in older adults.  Macular degeneration occurs when the retina is harmed or deteriorating and can be a leading cause of blindness.  Vitamin B keeps the retina strong and lowers the risk of serious complications. Vitamin B 6 can also help with dryness in the eyes.  Many older people may experience dry eyes due to illness, low estrogen or other illnesses.  Healthy eyes should sustain a certain level of moisture.

What foods contain vitamin B?

If you do not like taking supplements many healthy foods contain vitamin B.  Vitamin B6 can be found in bananas, avocados, salmon, peas and brown rice.  Vitamin B12  can be found in turkey meat, wild salmon and dairy products.

Catch Eye Problems Early

Your retina can be saved if your doctor catches the problem early on.  Always call your eye doctor if you are experiencing problems seeing up close or far away, blurry vision, haloes or other abnormal eye functions.

Signs that You Need More Vitamin B

If you are experiencing other odd symptoms along with your sight problems, it may be the sign of a vitamin B deficiency.  Anxiety and fatigue can be signs that you need more B12.  Many vegetarians are prone to B12 efficiency if they do not take supplements because most vegetables are not a good source of this vitamin.  It’s not as common to have a B6 deficiency since it is found in many more foods.  However, if you are having a lot of loose stool or weight loss along with your eye problems it may mean that your body is not absorbing all of the B6 vitamins in your food due to an interaction with another medication that you are taking.

Filed Under: Blindness, General Tagged With: , ,

Cytomegalovirus: a Cause of Blindness in HIV Patients

Cytomegalovirus is a form of herpes. It is actually a common strain which many healthy people can be infected with and never know it.  However, if a person with HIV, AIDS or another immune disorder gets this virus, it could lead to blindness.

How Cytomegalovirus Spreads

Always wash your hands thoroughly after coming in contact with the blood, semen, urine or breast milk of another person.  If this person is infected with cytomegalovirus and you touch your eyes with dirty hands, the infection could be spread to you.  It is also possible to get this illness from a blood transfusion, organ transplant or through unprotected sex.

Side effects

People with unhealthy immune systems who catch this virus will start to have many vision problems.  These sight issues can include seeing spots, blurry vision and eventually blindness in both eyes.  In addition, they can develop back pain and chronic bowel problems.

Diagnosis

If you have HIV, AIDS or another serious illness and you are experiencing these symptoms it is important to call your doctor.  An eye doctor can check your retina for inflammation.  Your primary care doctor can also take a urine or blood sample and have it sent out to see if you test positive for the virus.

Treating Cytomegalovirus

If your health is in poor shape, you may need up to two weeks of intense treatment therapy to help your body fight back.  You will be given medication daily injected directly into your veins or inserted with a catheter.  When you doctor believes you are stable, there are a number of oral medications that he can prescribe to you to keep this virus in check.  There is no cure for this illness, but these pills can prevent cytomegalovirus from spreading and will also keep your symptoms under control.  It is important to always take your medication as instructed and to see your eye doctor immediately if vision problems return.  If not managed correctly this illness can cause permanent blindness in people with already weakened immune systems.

Filed Under: Blindness, Support Tagged With: , ,

MS and Blindness

MS (multiple sclerosis) can cause blindness and other vision problems.

What is MS?

MS is a disease that effects the spinal cord and brain functions.   MS patients can experience muscles issues, urinary problems, pain and fatigue.  Vision problems can also occur as a side effect of MS.  There is currently no cure for MS.  In addition to sight problems, other early warning signs of MS include tingling or numbness in the limbs, trouble with balance, intense feeling of weakness and the unintentional slurring of words.

Temporary Blindness

Some MS patients experience temporary blindness.  During an MS pain flare, some patients can go blind for a day or a few weeks and then have their vision suddenly return.  This is often caused by inflammation of the optic nerve.

Optic Neuritis

55% of people with MS will have some form of optic problems.  Due to chronic inflammation, MS patients with optic neuritis can experience blindness in one eye or blurry vision in both eyes.  Steroids can be used to help with the chronic inflammation and reduce the chance of optic neuritis.

Other Eye Problems

Some MS patients will never have issues with blindness, but may be effected by other vision issues.  Uncontrollable eye movement can be a symptom of MS.  There are medications available to control this symptom.  Double vision can both an MS patient when their eye muscles become too weak.  Double vision is usually a temporary problem during a bad MS pain flare and is not a permanent issue.  Doctors usually will let the double vision issue resolve itself.

Filed Under: Blindness, Technology Tagged With: , ,

Blindness Prevention

While some people are born blind, others develop blindness due to medical conditions and old age.  It is important to lead a healthy lifestyle to prevent vision problems and blindness.

Food

Eating healthy foods such as carrots and broccoli can benefit your vision.  Many vegetables such as contain beta-carotene, vitamin c and other nutrients that promote health vision.

Don’t Smoke

Smokers are at risk for many other health problems.  Although lung and heart problems are talked about the most, smoking can also effect your eyes.  Smoking can lead to glaucoma and cataracts which in their late stages can cause blindness.

Protect Your Eyes

Take care of your eyes.  Always wear sunglasses at the beach or during a long day in the park.  Don’t use tanning beds and if you do always wear proper eye protection every single time.   Wear goggles when playing rough sports or working with power tools to avoid injuries to the eye.  Always wash off eye make up and mascara before going to bed to avoid frequent eye infections.  Clean your hands well before touching your eyes or putting in contact lenses.

Keep Your Appointments

Go to the eye doctor regularly.  Many eye issues that are caught early can be fixed or stabilized through medication or surgery.  Blindness is more likely to occur with eye injuries or conditions that are left untreated. If a doctor prescribes you glasses, contacts or eye drops it is important to use them as directed.

Lighting

Always use proper lighting when reading, using the computer or doing work.  Straining to see is very bad for the eyes.  If you like to read books in bed while your spouse is sleeping, get a tiny light to stick on to your book so that you can see with out struggling.

Filed Under: Blindness, Support Tagged With: , ,

Causes of Blindness

Taking care of your eyes is very important.  No one is exempt from the possibility of becoming blind or visually impaired in their lifetime.  Make it a habit to go for yearly eye exams and to familiarize yourself with the many causes of blindness.

Glaucoma

One in eight blind people are effected by glaucoma.  Glaucoma occurs when fluid builds up in the eye.  If this problem is not managed, vision issues will occur.  Early signs of glaucoma include seeing halos around objects and blurred vision.  If a doctor catches glaucoma early it is treatable and the patients can take medication to prevent blindness.

Diabetes

Many diabetics may develop blindness. Diabetes can causes changes in the eye’s blood vessels.  This can cause retina damage that if caught too late can be irreversible.  It is important for diabetics to call their eye doctor immediately at the first signs of any vision problems.

Degeneration

As the body ages, some people will experience degeneration or malfunction of the retina.  Many older individuals retinas slowly degenerate over the years and the vision loss may not be great enough at first for them to seek help.  Laser treatments are available to help repair the retina if the issue is caught early enough.

Retinitis Pigmentosa

More commonly know as night blindness, this disorder is inherited.  People effected by this condition normally begin to show signs around the age of 10.  Children may complain about not being able  to see at night or in poorly lit classrooms.   Many people with this disorder can develop tunnel vision which later grows into vision so poor that they are considered legally blind by the time they are 18.  Since there is currently no cure for this condition, some people inflected with this illness will have to live their life using an immense amount of light to see.  Others people may go completely blind at some point in their life.

Filed Under: Blindness, Support Tagged With: , ,
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