How to Fix Higher Ed’s Accessibility Problem
BY CAITLIN R. WEINER (VIA MODUS) If a college education should be available to all, higher ed websites should be accessible to everyone. An Americans with Disabilities Act lawsuit was recently issued to 50 colleges and universities by a blind prospective student who felt the schools’ websites were not accessible. Not just tiny schools, either — big [...]
‘A whole new world of freedom’: Sailors with Disabilities Compete at an Elite Level
On the water, it's a level playing field for sailors of all abilities to compete. BY WILL LINENDOLL (VIA GOOD MORNING AMERICA) Pauline Dowell may never be able to drive a car, but she can sail a boat around the world. Pauline Dowell. a sailor who is visually impaired, competes in competitions around the world. [...]
Fostering Independence in Students with Visual Impairments
Educators can leverage sophisticated advancements in technology to help students with visual impairments develop new skills. BY CHARLES F.D. WARREN (VIA eSCHOOL NEWS) Technological innovation provides students with visual impairments new tools to support independent living. The significant rise in the sophistication and popularity of smartphones and tablets creates opportunities to enhance learning and increase [...]
Cape Conversations: Empowering People with Vision Loss
If you're dealing with vision loss, there are many resources available to you. We joined Melissa Gallant of Sandwich Community Television's Cape Conversations to chat about what you can do. BY SANDWICH COMMUNITY TELEVISION Vision loss can be challenging. But there are many resources available that can help including services provided by the Carroll Center [...]
Researchers Are Making Memes Accessible to the Blind
Everyone loves a good meme. If you're blind or visually impaired though, most internet memes are not accessible. Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University are trying to change that. BY CHRIS STOKEL-WALKER (VIA ONEZERO) For the 1 million Americans who are legally blind, an increasingly large part of the internet is cut off to them. A young [...]
‘To feel the wind’: Blind sailors take the helm in Boston Harbor
Limits were made for breaking – just ask sailors with vision loss. “There is a stereotype that if you’re blind, you can’t do anything,” says Katherine Kern, who has raced in world championships. BY NOAH ROBERTSON (VIA THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR) Katherine Kern, who first learned to sail in the SailBlind program, smiles on a [...]
How Fencing Helps Students Who Are Blind Navigate The World
WGBH News showcases how learning to fence can help visually impaired teenagers become more independent travelers with improved confidence. BY GABRIELLE EMMANUEL (VIA WGBH NEWS) Like many competitive sports, fencing requires quick reflexes and physical grace — but it does not necessarily require the ability to see. Fencing helps people who are blind and visually [...]
Why Inclusive Cities Start with Safe Streets
Universal design aids in making inclusive cities for people with disabilities. New design guidelines from the American Society of Landscape Architects show us how to build them. BY DIANA BUDDS (VIA CURBED) The fight for more equitable cities is taking to the streets—literally. New street design guidelines from the American Society for Landscape Architecture (ASLA) [...]
Lego Just Released Audio and Braille Instructions
The Lego Foundation has created both audio and braille instructions to build their Lego blocks for people who are blind or visually impaired. BY HANNAH NATANSON (Via THE WASHINGTON POST) Matthew Shifrin first discovered Legos when he thrust his hands deep inside a crate crammed full of the tiny brick toys. His babysitter, Lilya Finkel, [...]
How Fencing Helps Students Who Are Blind Navigate The World
WGBH News showcases how learning to fence can help visually impaired teenagers become more independent travelers with improved confidence. BY GABRIELLE EMMANUEL (VIA WGBH NEWS) Like many competitive sports, fencing requires quick reflexes and physical grace — but it does not necessarily require the ability to see. Fencing helps people who are blind and visually [...]
