Using technology he brought “sight” to hundreds of visually impaired students.

 
The amazing young Vietnamese man's name is Dang Hoai Phuc, aged 26.

 
He is the On-net Technical Initiative Project Coordinator, in charge of On-net’s Southeast Asian programs.

 
Phuc is a lecturer at the Regional Jaws Scripting Development Workshop, which gave IT-for-theblind training to seven IT teachers from Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines.

A blind chemistry graduate student at Penn State is making an impact in how visually impaired students get involved in the laboratory. A story posted on the Penn State website explains how Cary Supalo went from hating chemistry in high school to majoring in it in college. What made the difference? Having a little extra help in the lab.

 
As part of his doctoral degree, Supalo is creating tools that will better equip the visually impaired student to participate in the lab. "Chemistry gives you the potential to discover something new that can change the world," he says.

Dave Heeley, 49, will begin his Seven Magnificent Marathons Challenge on April 7, with the aim of increasing awareness of visual impairment around the globe and raising funds for The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association.

His gruelling week begins in Port Stanley, Falkland Islands (Antarctica), followed by Santiago, Chile (South America), Los Angeles, USA (North America), Sydney, Australia(Australasia), Dubai, United Arab Emirates (Asia) and Nairobi, Kenya (Africa).

The final leg will bring him back to Europe, where he will run the Flora London Marathon on April 13.

Braille maps are to be introduced in Princesshay in Exeter city centre following successful trials.The maps have been designed to help the blind and partially-sighted navigate the four sections of the shopping centre. They have been tested since September by two local volunteers and the finalised versions are now available from the Exeter Tourist Information Centre. The idea was first proposed by information centre workers. A spokesman for the project said: "There was quite a demand for it as there are no other Braille facilities for this area.

Clarity LLC, manufacturers of assistive technologies for the visually impaired is set to launch the Rio, the newest in its Next Generation product line. The latest in portable technology, the lightweight Rio magnifier offers incredible magnification for a multitude of functions. At only 1.5 pounds, the self contained Rio provides 7 inches of viewing space, and up to 5 hours of battery life.

Pioneering transplants to restore the sight of people affected by the leading cause of blindness in the Western world could start in three years, after successful human cell implants in pigs.

The animals look a little human, now that they have a lawn of human cells growing in an area about size of about half of a little fingernail at the back of their eyes, which are ideal for testing treatments before they are used on people.

A new electric brailler for visually impaired people will be available in the country in February, says the South African National Council for the Blind (SANCB).

It's a visual spectacular, but that did not stop 300 blind and partially-sighted children enjoying the delights of The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe. The Royal National Institute for the Blind brought the youngsters to a special performance of the CS Lewis classic being staged at the West Yorkshire Playhouse in Leeds. The children met and interacted with the characters from the magical world of Narnia, including the White Witch, Aslan the lion, Mr and Mrs Beaver and the four evacuated children – all of whom were in full costume. They then experienced the wonder of the production.