Welfare cap, disability services are focus of final Massachusetts state budget hearing
...to increase funding by $1.55 million for the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, up from the $30.8 million that Gov. Charlie Baker is proposing. Read more at article source: http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/03/welfare_cap_disability_service.html...
Job Fair for Visually Impaired Highlights Homogeneity of Options in Boston Job Market
...Massachusetts so they can get more services and more opportunity.” Paul Saner, the commissioner of the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind, said technology companies have attended the fair in the...
Most Polling Places Inaccessible During 2016 Election, Report Finds
...polling stations. Of the 167 locations that GAO was able to completely examine both inside and out, only 29 were free of any impediments. Read more at article source: https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2017/11/02/most-polling-inaccessible-2016/24382/...
Technology seeks to preserve fading skill: Braille literacy
...the modern blind community needs easier and more affordable ways to access the writing system developed in the 1800s by French teacher Louis Braille. Read more at article source: https://www.thespec.com/living-story/7769031-technology-seeks-to-preserve-fading-skill-braille-literacy/...
Researchers predict greater need for low vision services
...with a best corrected visual acuity less than 20/40; 1,483,703 individuals with a BCVA less than 20/60; and 1,082,790 individuals with a BCVA of Read more at article source: https://www.healio.com/optometry/low-vision-geriatrics/news/online/%7B298de70a-ccb4-48ee-b6a9-6122ef789cd1%7D/researchers-predict-greater-need-for-low-vision-services...
Programs for visually impaired students face teacher shortage
...fingertips across tables until they recognize the feel of foam shapes marking their assigned spots. For the rest of the school day, the 35 high school students who come from...
Section 508 Gets an Update: New Web Accessibility Guidelines for Government Sites Take Effect in January
...accessible for people with cognitive, language and learning disabilities, while requiring adherence to WCAG 2.0 standards, a set of guidelines used throughout the world. Read more at article source: http://www.govtech.com/internet/Section-508-Gets-an-Update-New-Web-Accessibility-Guidelines-for-Government-Sites-Take-Effect-in-January.html...
A surprisingly simple technology is helping these blind Eagle Scouts — and hundreds like them — ‘see’ through other people’s eyes
...which feeds a video stream to a remote agent who then narrates what they see in real time over the phone for the user. Read more at article source: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/inspired-life/wp/2017/11/16/a-surprisingly-simple-technology-is-helping-these-blind-eagle-scouts-and-hundreds-like-them-see-through-other-peoples-eyes/?utm_term=.297d769069ba...
$1 million price tag in spotlight as gene therapy becomes reality
...U.S. approval of Luxturna by Jan. 12 is seen as kick-starting the sector, following disappointing sales of the first two gene therapies in Europe. Read more at article source: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-gene-therapy/1-million-price-tag-in-spotlight-as-gene-therapy-becomes-reality-idUSKBN1DG2HL...
Who’s Paying for Assistive Technology?
When Lee Huffman wants to use his personal computer, he launches a special application that magnifies the screen, allows him to change background colors in case his eyes get tired...
