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Judicial interpretations

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:29 -- admin

Education

There has been some controversy over the interpretation of Section 39 of the PWD Act, which reads:

Section 39

"All Government educational institutions and other educational institutions receiving aid from the Government shall reserve not less than three per cent seats for persons with disabilities.”

It has been held that Section 39 applies only to government institutions. (Harsha Shivaram v. National Law School of India, Bangalore, (1999) 4 Karnataka Law Journal 626).

Sportsman seeks blind dive record

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:26 -- admin

A resident of Saltdean in southern England, Mark Threadgold, a world record holder of power boating and water speed, is now getting ready to attempt the record for the deepest dive ever achieved by a blind person.

A support team is helping Mark with his intensive training for the purpose. New techniques have been developed to help him overcome certain obstacles. One of the aids is a braille slate, which allows him to feel at what depth he should take decompression stops. He has also been practising tactile hand signals as a means of communicating with his dive buddy.

Will power takes blind girl to World Judo Competitions

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:24 -- admin

Jordan Mouton, a 16-year-old junior at Cypress Falls High School in Houston, U.S.A, is a judoJordan Mouton, a 16-year-old junior at Cypress Falls High School in Houston, U.S.A, is a judo player. She plays the game with such precision, that on watching her recent performance at Cahill's Judo Academy in San Bruno, you would never know that she is severely visually impaired. When she was eight, Mouton was found to have Rod/Cone Dystrophy, a name given to a wide range of eye conditions. However, she continued playing soccer until she was 12.

New software in Braille

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:23 -- admin

Parmeet Singh, a student of class 12th, appeared for his music examination with a self created programme called ‘Braille notation’. This programme allows the user to create and attach musical notes in one’s own voice. Currently, Parmeet is working on improving his software.

Satvir, a class tenth student, successfully developed his own software for the C.B.S.E. exam. He was able to appear for the Hindi subject with this software.

Smart card authentication device for visually impaired

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:23 -- admin

In the era of online and telephone banking, there is a growing need for banks to remotely authenticate all customers during non face-to-face transactions and that includes the visually impaired customers.

Now, here is a device, ‘X.i.-Sign 4500’ that acts as personal authentication and signing tool based on the E.M.V. standard smart card designed specifically to meet the needs of the visually impaired banking users.

Flying high on record

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:21 -- admin

Luc Costermans, a 41-year old, visually impaired Belgian man claimed a place in the record books after completing a tour of France in a light aeroplane. Costermans, a former businessman lost his sight in an accident, two years ago.

"I decided to complete this tour of France as a personal challenge and to send a message of hope to other physically disabled people," said Costermans, who only began flying last November.

Visually Impaired get familiar with solar system

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:20 -- admin

The programme is called ‘ACTIVE’ or Advanced Content Through Interactive Virtual Environments. It is aimed at educating blind and visually impaired middle school students about the solar system by using their other senses.

It is an interactive learning environment where Earth and space data combine with senses of touch and sound for a multi-sensory experience. Students use a ‘pen’ to maneuver over a 3-Dimensional image on a computer screen. Each ridge and crevasse is felt by the device through force, vibration or motions to the user.

Santa's letters in Braille

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:19 -- admin

All children should experience the thrill of receiving a response from Santa Claus and that’s the intention of the programme. T-Base Communications (Canada) is assisting Canada Post's annual Santa letter-writing programme by providing response letters in Braille to blind and partially sighted children from around the world.

It is the fourth consecutive year the company has helped with the programme, offering the service to Canada Post at no charge. The company replies to children's wish lists in Braille on a daily basis.

New software helps blind use computers

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:19 -- admin

I.Accessible.2 is a programming interface (A.P.I.) that Web browsers and document programs can use to communicate with programmes that convert text to speech.

The A.P.I. is designed to help the assistive technologies work even with complex websites that have been designed with state-of-the-art tools like Ajax, which enables bursts of information. These can cause errors in automated screen readers such as Jaws and Windows Eyes.

Pak outplays India in Cricket World Cup for Blind

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:10 -- admin

Pakistan won the toss and invited India to bat first. India scored 225 for seven in 40 overs before the defending champions overhauled the target in 29.2 overs to become world champions for the second time.

The hosts lost only four wickets during their chase at the Pindi cricket stadium.

For India, Shahbash Boya topped the score with 54. His efforts were complemented by Daleep Mandis who fell three runs short of a 50.

However, the duo's efforts were negated by the Pakistani fielders, who built pressure on the India, making the players struggle for every run.

M.O.O.K.P. restores vision

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:09 -- admin

Dr. Gian Carlo Falcinelli’s ‘Modified Osteo Odonto Kerato Prosthesis’ (M.O.O.K.P.) technique has helped hundreds of patients in several countries see the world again in all its colours and light.

Dr. Falcinelli, currently working for San Camillo Hospital in Rome (Italy), has been imparting training in the procedure to ophthalmologists in India, which houses one-third of the estimated 11 million corneal blind population in the world.

Under his guidance, Sankara Nethralaya is establishing an exclusive centre for M.O.O.K.P. procedures to be headed by Dr. G. Sithalakshmi.

Key notes to help blind people

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:09 -- admin

Japanese firm unveils a miniature portable keyboard that helps blind people take notes by listening to the sounds of the characters they punch in.

The battery-operated keyboard weighs 500 grams, or just over one pound. The device includes an M.P.3. player that keeps the data on memory so it can be transferred to a computer.

Created by three researchers at the ‘Yazaki’ electronics’ company, the keyboard differs from other devices as it does not rely on Braille script and can be used without being attached to a computer.

Housing

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:08 -- admin

Indira Awaas Yojana

Aim of Indira Awaas Yojana is to provide financial assistance to the rural poor living Below the Poverty Line (BPL) for construction of house.

Energy bills in Braille

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:08 -- admin

California (U.S.) based Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) announced recently that it plans to send monthly energy bills in Braille to its visually impaired customers.

At PG&E, we recognize our business is all about the customers we serve, so we are constantly striving to find new ways to improve services to our diverse customer populations including blind and visually impaired people, said Helen Burt, PG & E ' s chief customer officer.

Blind Keneyan cyclist sets a record

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:07 -- admin

Tour d'Afrique, the 12, 000-kilometer (7,500-mile) bicycle expedition/race from Cairo to Cape Town, began on January 13, 2007.

Now in its fifth year, it travels through 10 African countries taking approximately 120 days, of which 96 are cycling days, averaging 124 kilometre each day.

A group of 45 men and women from all over the world are part of the journey. Amongst them is, Douglas Sidialo of Kenya, an avid blind cyclist, a mountain climber and a motivation speaker.

Dreams and aspirations

Mon, 07/23/2012 - 12:06 -- admin

An amazing group of visually impaired youngsters catch your attention at the Pan-I.I.T. meet, at Bandra Kurla Complex in suburban Mumbai. They are handling tele-networking for Pan-I.I.T. meet and are in charge of answering your queries and helping out the delegates at the venue.

"We have been working with Pan-I.I.T. for about a month now. It has been a fantastic experience. Our job entails calling up people and informing them about the event. I.I.T.ians are very polite and interesting people to work with," says Arundhati Viswanathan.

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