Teens create Rubik’s Cube for the blind
Carson Mowrer and Sasha Thomas have been friends as long as they can remember. They share a love of science, technology, music and Rubik’s cubes. This passion for the cube has led them to study and learn the algorithms necessary to solve the puzzle. They have produced online tutorials on how to complete the task and […]
New Drug Delivery Device Treats Glaucoma from Within the Eye
A new drug delivery system could be a crucial development in the fight against glaucoma. The disease currently affects more than 60 million people around the world, making it the second-leading cause of blindness, behind cataracts. That number is expected to increase to 76 million by 2020 and even further to nearly 112 million by […]
Trigger for most common form of vision loss discovered
In a major step forward in the battle against macular degeneration, the leading cause of vision loss among the elderly, researchers at the University of Virginia School of Medicine have discovered a critical trigger for the damaging inflammation that ultimately robs millions of their sight. The finding may allow doctors to halt the inflammation early […]
Airbnb to offer more accessible rentals
Airbnb, the short-term rental company, knows it needs to do better when it comes to accessibility. The company announced on Thursday it is acquiring Accomable to help connect disabled travelers with more accessible-friendly rentals. The London-based startup is known as an Airbnb-like service for the mobility sector. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Airbnb’s […]
After cooking, biofortified corn and eggs retain nutrient needed to prevent blindness
Fortified and biofortified foods are at the forefront of efforts to combat vitamin A deficiency worldwide. But little is known about what influence processing may have on the retention of vitamin A precursors in these foods. Now in a study appearing in ACS Omega, scientists report that a high percentage of these healthful substances—in some […]
$1 million price tag in spotlight as gene therapy becomes reality
Spark Therapeutics (ONCE.O), whose Luxturna treatment has been recommended for U.S. approval, told investors last week there was a case for valuing it at more than $1 million per patient, although it has yet to set an actual price. However, the U.S. Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) said this week “at a placeholder […]
A surprisingly simple technology is helping these blind Eagle Scouts — and hundreds like them — ‘see’ through other people’s eyes
As Nick Cantos slid on a sleek pair of glasses, a voice spoke out to him through his iPhone. “I see the George Mason statue,” a woman’s voice said. “It looks like a bronze statue, standing tall, with a scroll in his left hand.” Nearby, Nick’s brothers, Leo and Steven, were also busy putting on their […]
Section 508 Gets an Update: New Web Accessibility Guidelines for Government Sites Take Effect in January
Updates for Section 508 accessibility legislation go into effect in January, creating new specifications for how federal agencies must make websites and other digital information channels navigable for users with disabilities, and experts say these requirements are poised to become the new standard for state and local governments as well. Section 508 is a 2001 […]
Viewpoint: We can do better employing people with disabilities
The following article appeared in the Op-ed/Opinion section of the Boston Business Journal on November 3, 2017. https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2017/11/03/viewpointwe-can-do-better-employing-people-with.html Viewpoint: We can do better employing people with disabilities As organizations across the country that serve and provide vocational training to individuals with disabilities marked National Disability Employment Awareness Month this past October, it is a meaningful […]
Action Alert: Tax Reform Increases Burden on Americans who are Blind
“As Congress continues to work on overhauling the American tax code, ACB urges citizens to engage their elected officials in Washington, calling on them to not advance any measure that would endanger Americans with disabilities. Currently the House of Representatives and Senate plan on voting on the largest tax reform in over 30 years. Of […]
