Blindness « Disabilities – Conditions

Articles & Publications,
Organizations and Resources
Related to Blindness
 

Articles & Publications

• 14 Tips to Help Maintain Independence Despite Visual Impairment
• Blind Photographers group on Flickr
• How diet may affect age-related macular degeneration (NIH – 6/6/17)
  Switching mice from a high glycemic diet to a low glycemic diet stopped the development of certain signs of age-related macular degeneration.  The findings reveal insights into the impact of diet, metabolic changes, and the gut microbiome on macular degeneration.
• Legal Clinic for Blind May be a First (ABA Journal – Jan. 16, 2008)
  When attorney Nicholas Pomaro offers advice to clients at a Chicago legal aid clinic believed to be perhaps the only one in the country focusing on issues faced by those who are blind, he has one big advantage in understanding their concerns. He's blind, too…
• First Cell Phone that Reads to the Blind and Dyslexic (Medical News Today – Jan. 28, 2008)
  An exciting product line that will revolutionize access to print for anyone who has difficulty seeing or reading print, including the blind and learning disabled.
• National Federation of the Blind Applauds Landmark Court Ruling (Global Accessibility News – 10/12/12)
  The National Federation of the Blind (NFB) today applauded a decision by the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, which permits the distribution of millions of books to blind and print-disabled people.  The ruling in Authors Guild, Inc., et al., v. HathiTrust, et al held that providing access for students with print disabilities constitutes a “transformative use” under the fair use provision of the Copyright Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act and that Section 121 of the Copyright Act (the “Chafee Amendment”) permits university libraries to digitize their collections for distribution and use by the blind.  As a result, the University of Michigan will now be permitted to make its entire 10 million volume digital collection available to all blind Americans, revolutionizing access to digital books by the blind and print disabled.
• The work of blind photographers – in pictures (The Guardian)
  You don’t need perfect vision to create a great image, as new book The Blind Photographer proves, showcasing the beautiful work of visually impaired artists from South American and Europe. 
• U.S. Department of Education Announces New App to Identify U.S. Currency (Ed.gov – 10/9/12)
  The U.S. Department of Education announced today the launch of the “IDEAL Currency Identifier,” a free downloadable application to assist individuals who are blind or visually impaired to denominate U.S. currency on some mobile devices.

Organizations & Services

• Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
  Their mission: To advance the independence of people who are blind or visually impaired and help prevent vision loss through services and education.
• Bookshare.Org
  Goal is to make the world of print accessible to people with disabilities.
• Braille Bug (American Foundation for the Blind)
  Answers questions about what Braille is, and offers a reading club, games and secret messages.
• Independent Living Services for Older Individuals Who are Blind (benefits.gov)
  Grants are made to states to support services for individuals age 55 or older whose severe visual impairment makes competitive employment difficult to obtain but for whom independent living goals are feasible.
• National Alliance for Eye and Vision Research (NAEVR)
  A non-profit advocacy organization comprised of a coalition of 55 professional, consumer and industry organizations involved in eye and vision research.
• National Federation of the Blind
  The largest and most influential membership organization of blind people in the United States.

Resources: Websites & Blogs

• American Foundation for the Blind
  The American Foundation for the Blind helps people with vision loss in every aspect of life— education, career, family, the technology people use, and the laws that shape our environment.
• Blind Access Journal (blog)
  Darrell Shandrow's blog about the quest for the greatest possible access to all information available in the world around us.
• Derek Paravicini
  Derek is an extraordinarily talented pianist, despite being blind and having severe learning difficulties. He plays entirely by ear, and has a repertoire of many thousands of pieces that he has memorised – jazz, pop and light classical – and he is a great improviser. 
• Let's Talk Video Series (MDHHS)
  MDHHS releases videos for individuals who are deaf, deaf blind, and hard of hearing to  help navigate mental health services. There are five original video clips designed to increase awareness of how to access to community mental health coverage for deaf, deaf-blind and hard of hearing individuals. There is an emphasis on cultural and linguistically appropriate services for this underserved population and encouragement from peers for seeking help with depression, anxiety, trauma and other behavioral health issues. The video clips are produced in American Sign Language with captioning and voiceover.
• Fred's Head (blog)
  A database that contains tips, techniques, tutorials, in-depth articles, and resources for and by blind or visually impaired people.
• Michigan Blind/ VIsual Impairment Resources
  List of resources for both children and adults
• Wayne County Library for the Blind
  They provide free books on tape, many resources, and an annual picnic