In anticipation of the total solar eclipse on April 8th, a concerted effort is underway to ensure that individuals who are blind or visually impaired can experience this astronomical phenomenon in a meaningful way. Innovative technologies, such as sound and touch devices, have been developed to translate the visual aspects of the eclipse into sensory experiences that can be heard and felt. One such device, the LightSound box, converts the varying light levels during the eclipse into a range of sounds, from the high pitches representing bright sunlight to the low clicks signifying total darknes ..read more

The T1 Fingerspelling Hand, a groundbreaking assistive technology developed by Tatum Robotics, represents a significant advancement for the DeafBlind community. Designed to mimic human dexterity, this humanoid device features 18 Degrees of Freedom, providing a natural feel and facilitating communication through its ability to convert live text, voice inputs, and digital content into American Sign Language (ASL). Leveraging a pioneering translation algorithm, the T1 Fingerspelling Hand translates English into ASL with a high degree of grammatical accuracy while considering regional and demograp ..read more

Sebastião Salgado, born in Brazil in 1944, is a renowned photojournalist and documentary photographer known for his deep respect for nature and commitment to documenting socio-economic conditions affecting human beings. His photographic journey began in the 1970s, following a career shift from economics to photography. Salgado’s work, characterized by its empathy and formal beauty, has earned him numerous accolades, including the Eugene Smith Award for Humanitarian Photography and two ICP Infinity Awards for Journalism. Salgado’s latest endeavor, “Amazônia Touch,” is a collaboration with the F ..read more

Google is introducing a range of new accessibility features and updates to improve daily tasks for people with disabilities, including identifying disabled-owned businesses, enhancing screen reader capabilities, offering accessible walking routes, providing wheelchair-accessible information, and customizing Assistant Routines. They are also expanding features like typo detection in the Chrome address bar and introducing an app called Magnifier for Pixel devices. Below are some quick highlights but make sure to check the source link to get all the details. Identify Disabled-Owned Businesses Goo ..read more

National Industries for the Blind will hold its national conference at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City (2799 Richmond Hwy., Arlington, Va. 22202) on October 9-12 (view the full agenda here) in partnership with the National Association for the Employment of People Who Are Blind. The annual Training Conference and Expo brings together hundreds of representatives from NIB associated nonprofit agencies, industry leaders, federal customers and agency representatives and other partners to learn, network and exchange ideas. This is also taking place during October is National Disability Employmen ..read more

At the opening night of the 2023 Elevate Festival, TD Bank Group made a significant announcement, unveiling the TD Accessibility Adapter, a free accessibility Chrome plug-in. Available to users in both Canada and the United States, this innovative tool empowers individuals to personalize their online experience according to their specific accessibility requirements. Some of its standout features include reading guides, adjustable font sizes, dark mode, a dyslexia-friendly font, and monochrome mode. Notably, it’s designed to seamlessly coexist with other assistive technologies, ensuring a cohes ..read more

LEGO recently launched Braille Bricks, an innovative educational product aimed at helping blind and visually impaired children learn Braille. These specialized LEGO bricks are part of a broader educational initiative that seeks to make the process of learning Braille more engaging and accessible. Each LEGO Braille Brick is designed with both a Braille letter or character on one side and a standard LEGO stud on the other. This unique combination allows blind and visually impaired children to participate in constructive play while simultaneously acquiring essential Braille literacy skills. The t ..read more

I first learned about Sugandha Gupta through a short yet impactful essay about her work in the book Extra Bold: A Feminist, Inclusive, Anti-racist Non Binary Field Guide. Sugandha, a textile designer and disability advocate,  is an Assistant Professor for fashion design and social justice at the Parsons School of Design. Born in India in 1987, she overcame challenges in pursuing education due to albinism. Sugandha creates multisensory textiles that engage touch, smell, sound, and sight for diverse audiences and explores haptics and sensory engagement for embodied learning. Her work incorp ..read more

Virgin Atlantic has partnered with Guide Dogs to enhance the air travel experience for individuals with visual impairments. In response to research revealing the reluctance of people with sight loss to travel due to past challenges, the airline is taking proactive steps to create a more inclusive environment. The partnership involves specialized training for Virgin Atlantic’s cabin crew, aimed at providing better support for customers with visual impairments. As approximately 250 individuals in the UK begin to lose their sight daily, this collaboration seeks to address accessibility concerns a ..read more

ReBokeh, an assistive technology startup, has partnered with Johns Hopkins University’s Disability Health Research Center (JHDHRC) to create Low Vision Connect, a digital community platform. The collaboration between ReBokeh and JHDHRC aims to improve the lives of individuals with low vision by facilitating authentic connections based on personal experiences. The platform is intended to address social isolation within the low-vision community and provide a space for people to share their lived experiences, find support, and build lasting relationships. The platform’s focus is on individuals wi ..read more