Posts Comments

New Technology Take Braille Into The New Century

July 26, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Braille letter/symbol.

Image via Wikipedia

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

July 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment
pictograms used by the United States National ...

Image via Wikipedia

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: , ,

All About Braille

March 28, 2011 by Leave a Comment

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: , ,

Blindness Prevention

March 9, 2011 by Leave a Comment

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

March 7, 2011 by Leave a Comment

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: , ,

Raising a Blind Teen

February 23, 2011 by Leave a Comment

If you are a parent raising a blind teen, you know that it can be a challenging time.  Blind teenagers, like all teenagers, will be going through a lot of physical and emotional changes.  Consider the following tips when parenting your blind teen.

Don’t Over Parent

Your blind teen is getting older and may be eager to do more things on their own.  When your child was younger, she may have wanted you to brush her hair or button her clothes.  As blind teens seek more independence just like their non-visually impaired peers, they may want to start doing more for themselves.

Don’t Be Afraid to Punish Your Blind Teen

A blind teen is still a teen and needs to be treated like one.  If you are raising multiple teens and tweens the same rules should apply for all of them.  If your blind teen tries cigarettes, listens to inappropriate music you have banned from the house or  breaks any other family rule it is important for you to give your blind child the same punishment that you would give to any of your other kids.

Support Groups

Although it is good for your blind teen to interact with all types of teenagers, it can be helpful for your son or daughter to have some blind friends as well.  Take your teen to a blind support group or youth conference where they can make new friends.  Having someone who can relate to their situation can help a teen get through rough times with dating, school work and other youth issues.

Encourage

Encourage your blind teen to join after school activities.  These can be activities designated for handicapped students or mainstream activities that your child feels comfortable doing.  Becoming good at a hobby can lead to making new friends and finding interests that your teen may want to pursue in college.  Being in a club or sport can also raise your blind teen’s self-esteem.

Filed Under: Blindness Tagged With: ,

Jobs for Blind Adults

February 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Although many people may assume that all blind people are completely disabled, that notion is just a stereotype.  Many blind adults lead full lives and can work in a variety of industries.

Masseuse

Blind adults may be interested in a career as a masseuse.  Many blind people develop their other senses, including touch to heightened levels. Blind people can use their increased sense of touch to get a job at a spa or even start their own massage business.

Transcribing

Most blind people can type perfectly fine since anyone can memorize a keyboard.  Think about it, you probably have been using a computer so long that you barely look at the keys anyway.  Blind individuals can  listen to audio tapes and type up transcripts.  This can lead to a job in medical transcription or as a court reporter.

Teaching

Blind people can make great teachers because they have had to overcome a lot of obstacles in life.  Any learning material available in books can also be found on audio tapes.  Blind teachers can be inspirational to young children.  A teacher’s aid can help the blind lead teacher to grade papers.

Reach for the Stars

Modern technology has given many blind people the opportunity to do almost any job that they want.  You will find blind people being productive in all sectors of life from law to food service to journalism to accounting.  Colleges and Universities make it possible for blind students to get an education, leading to very intelligent blind individuals eager to work.  Most companies would be happy to make a few accommodations to hire a blind person if they are the candidate most qualified for the job.

Filed Under: Blindness Tagged With: , ,

Resources for Parents of Blind Child

February 10, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Being the parent of a blind child can be a challenge.  Although daily life can be difficult, it is important to remember that you are not alone.

Online Forums

Joining online forums for parents of blind children or children with other disabilities can help you to find support and make new friends going through a similar situation. If your real life friends don’t seem to completely understand your situation, you can vent to other mothers and fathers walking in your shoes.  You do not need to be embarrassed or nervous about revealing your identity as you can post under a made up screen name.

Real Time Support Groups

Contact a local hospital or church to see if there are any in person support groups in your area.  Venting to other local parents of blind children can help you to get through the week and have someone to talk to.  If you find another parent that you connect with, you can also set up a play date for your two children.

National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments

The NAPVI is a United States based organization looking to help blind children and their parents.  Parents can attend conferences where they can meet with top doctors and other parents.  The organization has seven different chapters through out the country based on region so that during the year people can participate in local charity events. Members can also subscribe to newsletters to keep up with trends in education for blind children and medical advancements.

Filed Under: Blindness Tagged With: , , ,

Games and Activities for Blind Children

February 8, 2011 by Leave a Comment

It is important for blind children to play games and enjoy forms of entertainment. Simple adaptations can be made so that blind children can participate in fun activities.

Ball Sports

Blind or visually impaired kids can still participate in sports where balls or used. For safety reasons, hard balls should be replaced with light weight balls such as blow up balls, beach balls and nerf balls. Blind children can learn to play volleyball with a teacher or assistant standing by their side. Blind children can also play catch safely with light weight balls.

Playground

Visually impaired children can enjoy swings and slides with the help of a parent or older sibling.  Obstacle course type play equipment can be beneficial for blind children as they can feel their way through tunnels.

Musical Toys

Some blind children adapt to have keen hearing.  Musical toys are a great way for blind children to express themselves.  If you can afford to give your blind child private piano lessons, with a little practice and proper training playing the piano may be an activity your child can enjoy and excel at.  Young children may enjoy dolls that they can squeeze and music and sounds will come out.

Play-Doh

Blind children can have a good time crafting with play-doh.  Play-doh has a nice texture that children will find it interesting to mold with.  Scented play-doh is also now available.  You can play a game with your child by teaching them to identify different colors of play-doh by using their sense of smell.

Filed Under: Blindness Tagged With: , , ,

Charities and Non-Profits that Fight Blindness

February 3, 2011 by Leave a Comment

There are many non-profit organizations and charities hard at work everyday to find a cure for blindness and make improvements in the lives of the visually impaired.

Fight for Sight

Fight for Sight has been doing vision research for over 65 years.  This institution continuously raises money to do research to make advancements in the visual impairment world.  They continue to do experimental treatments that have helped the visually impaired.

Prevent Blindness America

Prevent Blindness America is a charity that encourages annual eye exams and blindness prevention.  The agency educates the public about vision problems in adults and children.  They continue to be a voice for the blind in hopes of getting more government support in eye care protection and research.

Sight Savers

Sight Savers fights vision loss in third world countries. Their team members travel to Nigeria to do eye exams on people who desperately need medical attention but have no money or access to doctors.  Sight Savers have saved the lives of thousands of people by healing health issues that could have eventually caused blindness as a side effect if they were not diagnosed.  They have saved 21 million people from river blindness,  common cause of vision loss in poor nations.

The Seeing Eye

The Seeing Eye is a non-profit organization based in Morristown, New Jersey.  At the Seeing Eye they train canines to be seeing eye dogs.  In addition, they temporarily house blind individuals and train them to work well with a furry companion before sending the person and the dog home together.

Filed Under: Advancements, Blindness Tagged With: , , ,
«Older Posts