EVENTS

[Ms. Kathy]

Internationally acclaimed physician to speak April 11
Source Link: www.udel.edu/PR/UDaily/2007/mar/sommer032007.html



4:19 p.m., March 20, 2007--Honored throughout the world for his contributions to research on visual disorders, child survival, vitamin-A deficiency and public health-related issues, Dr. Alfred Sommer will give the inaugural Department of Biological Sciences Arnold M. Clark Lecture, funded by the Howard Hudson family, at 5 p.m., Wednesday, April 11, in 130 Sharp Laboratory. His topic will be “Vitamin-A Deficiency and Global Mortality.”

Currently, Sommer serves as professor of epidemiology (the study of factors affecting the health and wellness of populations) at Johns Hopkins University, and ophthalmology at its School of Medicine, and served as dean of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health from 1990-2005. His overall research encompasses outcomes assessment, child survival, epidemiology of visual disorders, glaucoma, vitamin-A deficiency, blindness-prevention strategies, cost-benefit analysis, the growing interface between medicine and public health and clinical guidelines.

His research in Indonesia from 1976-80 discovered that even mild vitamin-A deficiency increases childhood mortality rates and reduces resistance to other diseases. Studies in Africa demonstrated that most cases of blindness related to measles were related to vitamin A.

Sommer then showed that the deficiency could be effectively, quickly and cheaply treated orally. The World Development Report (by the World Bank) cited vitamin-A supplementation as one of the most cost-effective of all health interventions.

His latest research has shown that giving women of childbearing age vitamin A can reduce maternal mortality by an average of 45 percent. There is currently a field trial in Bangladesh determining the benefits of vitamin A with other micronutrients.

Sommer received his M.D. from Harvard Medical School and his master's degree in health science from Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health and has been honored with more than 30 awards in recognition of his accomplishments.

[Ms. Kathy]

Blind aviator makes history
Lakshmi Ajay
[ 28 Mar, 2007 0005hrs ISTTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]


Source Link: timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Blind_aviator_flies_halfway_across_globe/articleshow/1817880.cms

AHMEDABAD: 'Sky is the limit' is a saying visually impaired Miles Hilton-Barber is all set to immortalise. Hilton-Barber, a Briton, is flying halfway across the globe in a microlight to raise money for combating preventable blindness in developing countries.

The plane carrying the 55-year-old motivational speaker, who lost vision at 21, and a mandatory sighted co-pilot landed in Ahmedabad on Tuesday after taking off from London on March 7.

The 50-day journey from London to Sydney in Australia is sure to make him the first blind aviator to fly halfway across the globe, but the record is the last thing on Hilton-Barber’s mind. "We are flying to help blind people restore their sight," he said after arriving in India, which has an estimated 12 million visually impaired people.
When the microlight lands in Sydney on April 25, the adventurer would have raised more than his target of $2 million for a charity, 'Seeing is Believing', to restore sight to 10 million people in developing countries as part of the WHO’s goal of eradicating blindness by 2020.

According to health minister Anbumani Ramadoss, India will be reaching the target five years ahead of WHO’s. About 60% of India's blind population suffer from preventable blindness, which means all of them have the potential to achieve complete cure if proper treatment is made available.

Complete cure is Hilton-Barber's dream too for millions around the world with preventable blindness. Though he is sure his own blindness can't be cured (he lost vision to a genetic disorder), Hilton-Barber has amazed the world with his achievements, which include the first flight by a blind pilot over the English channel in a microlight, circumnavigating the globe in 80 modes of transport, flying at above 20,000 feet in a microlight (a British high-altitude record for any pilot) and a world record lap by a blind driver in the Malaysian Grand Prix. Hilton-Barber dominates the controls of his plane using the revolutionary speech-output instrument.

And he relies on his ears to detect any malfunction. "I found my calling when my dream to become a fighter pilot crashed after I lost my sight completely. But I challenged myself to become a licensed pilot," said the adventurer who has scuba dived 19 km under the Red Sea and participated in extreme endurance events in Siberia, Antarctica and the Sahara desert.

Hilton-Barber and his sighted co-pilot Richard Meredith Hardy will take their microlight to Bhopal — their second and final stop in India — to visit people blinded after the gas tragedy before flying out to Myanmar. The 21,000-km journey will also cover Malaysia and Indonesia in the last leg.

Having already travelled across West Asia, Hilton-Barber finds the "sounds and smells of India" fascinating and the hospitality of Indians touching. "You have a good system of democracy, but too many papers to fill," joked Hilton-Barber, who seemed to have surmounted that obstacle too with consummate ease.

[Ms. Kathy]

May is Healthy Vision Month
Published May 3, 2007 in .All and Health.
There’s a day/week/month for everything. Well, May is Healthy Vision Month.

According to Contact Lenses Today:

The National Eye Institute observes Health Vision month in May, an annual observance designed to raise awareness of the importance of eye care for those at risk for developing eye and vision problems. This year’s observance highlights the importance of early glaucoma detection. The NEI is encouraging patients to get a dilated eye exam and to spread the word to family and friend using its e-cards and brochures. For more information, visit www.nei.nih.gov/glaucoma.


Source Link:Bad Dad Podcast & Blog www.baddadradio.com/2007/05/03/may-is-healthy-vision-month/

[Ms. Kathy]

If you live in Alberta Canada or may go there for this event:

Riders needed for annual Ride for Sight event
Source Link: Hanna Herald and East Central Alberta news www.hannaherald.com/News/307415.html

Lauren Vopni
Tuesday May 15, 2007

The 25th anniversary of Alberta Ride for Sight will be taking place this June 8, 9 and 10 in Olds, Alberta and local resident Ken Hansen hopes a team of riders from Hanna will be there raising funds for a good cause.
The event, taking place at the Olds Agricultural Grounds, has helped fund important vision research through the Foundation Fighting Blindness at universities and teaching hospitals across Canada since 1979. Ride for sight, which features a full schedule of activities for participants during the three days of the event, is the largest private fundraising initiative for vision research in the world.
Many of the top vision researchers in the country can be found in Alberta working at the universities of Calgary, Edmonton and Lethbridge, research to Hansen’s heart.

"When I was 16, I almost lost an eye and I realized just how important vision is," says Hansen, who was among the top 2006 fundraisers in the province. "I think it would be devastating to lose your sight."
Hansen, who will be riding his trusty Honda Goldwing, is looking for more riders to come out and participate, be it as a rider, a fundraiser or a donor. The Hanna Riders team organized by Hansen, is hoping to have 12 or more riders participate in the event.
This year’s goal is to raise $150,000 in Alberta for retinal disease research. To date, Ride for Sight has raised $14 million in support of the Foundation Fighting Blindness nation wide.
For more information or to join the team, please visit www.rideforsight.com or contact Ken Hansen by phone [phone] or email [e-mail].

[Ms. Kathy]

Lions Club of Grand Cayman – White Cane Week
Source Link: Cayman Net News (Cayman Islands) www.caymannetnews.com/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000145/014559.htm
Monday, May 14, 2007


The World Health Organization has estimated that the number of blind people in the world could double in the next 25 years. To combat the leading causes of blindness and assist in preserving vision, the Lions Club of Grand Cayman is launching its annual White Cane Week activities on May 14th through 20th to heighten awareness and education about sight preservation and preventable blindness while raising funds to enable the club to continue its numerous sight programmes.

White Cane Week has been an annual project of the Lions Club of Grand Cayman for the past 27 years and through this programme the club has been able to bring relief to many people in the Cayman Islands who have had to endure the struggle of loss or impairment of sight.

There are numerous examples of people in this community who received assistance from the Club for eye related problems as children (or even as adults) and have been able to lead a normal and productive life.

It is estimated that 40 million people around the world are blind. In the United States, approximately 750,000 people are blind and an additional 50,000 more will become blind each year, according to the National Federation of the Blind.

In most developed countries, glaucoma and diabetes are the leading causes of blindness. During White Cane Week, the Lions Club of Grand Cayman will be working to educate our community on the importance of proper eye health care.

Since the Club was chartered in 1972, its members have worked on a variety of sight related projects in the local community such as:

Construction of the Lions Eye Clinic, which has provided affordable eye care to local residents for the last 15 years.

Supply of various medical equipment for the eye clinic over the years.

Annual sight screening of year one and year seven students in all schools.

Providing assistance to people in obtaining eye operations, spectacles and other eye-related medical assistance.

Various educational activities on eye care.

Proceeds from past White Cane Week and other fundraising events have supported the above projects over the years.

Currently the Club is arranging for the purchase of a new piece of equipment for the Eye Clinic, the Corneal Topographer. Dr. Pandit, the resident doctor at the clinic, has identified this as a necessary tool to increase his efficiency in diagnosing eye diseases. The funds raised this White Cane Week will be spent on this equipment.

During the course of White Cane Week, on 19th May, you will see Lions on the streets collecting funds. When you see them, please pause and give whatever you can to help someone in your community receive the gift of sight, a gift that many of us take for granted.

I can assure you that these funds are put to good use for the benefit of needy persons in this community who have sight problems.

Our theme this year is “Teaming Up for Community Service” and we are committed to teaming up with YOU, the members of our community, to battle the effects of eye disease in the Cayman Islands. Do your part, and help Lions help others.

Albert Anderson, President of the Lions Club of Grand Cayman.

Lions International is the world’s largest service club organization, with nearly 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in 193 countries. Since 1917 Lions Clubs have aided the blind and visually impaired and made a strong commitment to community service and serving youth throughout the world. For more information about Lions Clubs International logon to www.lionsclubs.org.

[Ms. Kathy]

Common cause of blindness
THE Barnt Green group of the Macular Disease Society will be raising awareness of the condition, which is the most common cause of blindness, with a display at Morrisons store in Birmingham Great Park, off Bristol Road, Rubery.

Information has also been sent to all local libraries.

The event, on September 26 and 27, is being held to raise awareness of age-related macular degeneration or AMD, which has robbed half a million people in the UK of their central vision, says Wendy Pepper, leader of the Barnt Green group.

"Imagine not being able to drive, read, recognise faces or watch television - that's what happens to people with advanced macular disease," she said.

"There's no cure, but with early diagnosis there's so much we can do to help minimise the effects of AMD.

"Our Be Fit, See Fit event aims to spread the word that regular exercise and a healthy diet can help prevent vision loss - reducing the risk of AMD by up to seventy per cent."

For further details, contact Wendy Pepper on 0121 445 1585 or visit the society's website at www.maculardisease.org

9:47am Wednesday 19th September 2007

[Ms. Kathy]

Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:49:59 -0400
From: "MALCOLM TURNER" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>
Subject: APH News, October 2007

Your monthly link to the latest information on the products, services, and training opportunities from the American Printing House for the Blind.

**Please visit our October issue, now posted on our web site:

www.aph.org/advisory/2007adv10.html

Click on the above link or copy and paste it into your favorite web browser.

**This Month's Headlines:

" APH Annual Meeting News: It's not too late to join us!
" Field Testers Needed
" Tactile Graphics Webcast Reaches Hundreds!
" APH Travel Calendar
" New Products from APH
" *and much more!


**Our Privacy Policy

You joined this list because you wanted to receive email information about APH, its products, and its services. We will never sell, trade, or otherwise give away your email address to anybody. Ever. End of story.

**Unsubscribing from the list

The purpose of this mailing list is to provide customers of the
American Printing House for the Blind (APH) with the latest products
and services information. You will receive only one regular mailing (the APH News) each month. There may also be occasional mailings of important, time-sensitive notices, but they will be rare.

If you ever want to remove yourself from this mailing list,
send the following command in email to
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unsubscribe

Or you can send mail to with the following
command in the body of your email message:

unsubscribe aphinfo

If you ever need to get in contact with the owner of the list,
(if you have trouble unsubscribing, or have questions about the
list itself) send email to .

Regards,
Malcolm Turner
APH Website Coordinator

[Ms. Kathy]

Date: Tue, 02 Oct 2007 11:49:59 -0400
From: "MALCOLM TURNER" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>
Subject: APH News, October 2007

Your monthly link to the latest information on the products, services, and training opportunities from the American Printing House for the Blind.

**Please visit our October issue, now posted on our web site:

www.aph.org/advisory/2007adv10.html

Click on the above link or copy and paste it into your favorite web browser.

**This Month's Headlines:

" APH Annual Meeting News: It's not too late to join us!
" Field Testers Needed
" Tactile Graphics Webcast Reaches Hundreds!
" APH Travel Calendar
" New Products from APH
" *and much more!


**Our Privacy Policy



The purpose of this mailing list is to provide customers of the
American Printing House for the Blind (APH) with the latest products
and services information. You will receive only one regular mailing (the APH News) each month. There may also be occasional mailings of important, time-sensitive notices, but they will be rare.




Regards,
Malcolm Turner
APH Website Coordinator

[Ms. Kathy]

My Father had a great influence on my appreciation for education. He passed on Sunday October 21 at 7:56 PM. Here is a link to his obit:
www.legacy.com/TheAdvocate/DeathNotices.asp?Page=LifeStory&PersonID=96746295

My dad's first teaching position was at a high school where he was also a coach. The job I first remember was as a principal of a 1st-12th school in Clarendon, Arkansas when I was between 2 and 4 years old. Later he supported my mother, my three siblings and myself while working on his PhD at the University of Arkansas.

He continued to impress upon us and his students, the importance of education throughout his life which is what I attempt to impart to each of my students.

After several strokes over the years, I know it was time for God to bring him home, where his days of suffering are over. I feel blessed and comforted that he is enjoying his 14 brothers and sisters in a better place and that our separation is temporary.

We have a video tribute at this link:
www.legacy.com/TheAdvocate/DeathNotices.asp?Page=TributeGateway
Type "Nichols" in the search and click on "LLOYD NICHOLS."

[Ms. Kathy]

Faster disability decisions on tap
Source Link: The Washington Times www.washingtontimes.com/article/20071210/NATION/112100037/1002


December 10, 2007

By Amy f*gan - Social Security Administration leaders are trying to implement a process that would quickly — nearly automatically — approve disability benefits for people with rare debilitating diseases that clearly meet SSA criteria.

The effort is part of the ongoing larger plan to alleviate a steep backlog that leaves many applicants waiting for years to have their cases resolved.

"We've got a backlog; we've got to make our decisions better and faster," said Michael Astrue, SSA commissioner.

In the first of four public forums to be held this year on the issue, he and other SSA leaders last week heard from rare-disease advocates and people with such diseases, some of whom had been turned down for Social Security benefits.

Shelley Bowen was "shocked" when the administration denied her benefit application for her son, who has Barth syndrome, a disease that typically affects young boys and manifests in heart problems, muscle fatigue, growth delay and frequent bacterial infections. Her son — who could not go to school full time but graduated at age 20 — walks extremely slow and has had bouts of heart failure.

"How could someone who has never seen my son — or for that matter never seen anyone with Barth syndrome — have the right to deny my child access to Social Security benefits?" she said.

Amy Kirk, coordinator of family services at the Batten Disease Support and Research Association, said Batten disease is so foreign to the SSA that she advises families applying for benefits to speed the process by listing the most severe symptoms of the disease — seizures, blindness, motor-skill impairment — on their Social Security benefit application instead of the disease name itself.

One of the problems, Mr. Astrue agreed, is that Social Security agents across the country often don't know, and can't be expected to know, the details of about 7,000 rare diseases. So the approval process is slow, requires much documentation and often ends with a rejected application, because of a lack of understanding.

Mr. Astrue said the public forums will help SSA come up with at least a few hundred rare disease names by summer 2008 that can be added to a list, so SSA agents can simply look them up for quick approval. That list will grow over time, he said.

The administration also is looking to nationalize a computer program that scans cases and automatically approves a small percentage of applications that are the most severe cases. And, Mr. Astrue said, SSA is updating its definition of disabilities that affect various body systems. Definitions for the liver, for example, hadn't been updated since 1985.

Mr. Astrue estimated that about 10 percent to 15 percent of claims cases should be approved automatically or nearly so and hopes that this goal can be accomplished over the next few years.

SSA administers two main disability program for workers who become disabled or who have disabled children. Social Security Disability Insurance pays benefits to people and certain members of their family, if they've worked, paid Social Security taxes and been disabled. Supplemental Security Income pays disability benefits based on need.

If a benefit application is denied under these programs, a person can request a hearing before an administrative law judge, but SSA estimates it takes an average of 1.5 years to process such a hearing, an increase of 200 days since 2000.

Problems stem in part from the fact that SSA's workload is increasing for a number of reasons, including demographic changes, and the agency has received less funding from Congress than it has sought for the past 12 years, Mr. Astrue said.

[Ms. Kathy]

Received this in my email from my super --

Contact: Amy Ruell at [e-mail]_ <mailto:[e-mail]>

National Braille Press and the Carroll Center for the Blind are pleased
to announce the next offering in a series of free online presentations
(webinars) designed for parents and teachers of children who are
learning to read braille.

The presentation will take place from 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm EDT on
Wednesday, April 16, 2008, and will focus on tactile toys and games that
can be enjoyed by blind children and their families and friends.
Participants will learn about some of the many options for obtaining and
using toys and games for fun and learning.

Representatives from organizations including Creative Adaptations For
Learning, Exceptional Teaching Aids, and Independent Living Aids, will
showcase the products available from their organizations and field
questions from participants. This presentation will use the conference
room of the Carroll Center and TC Conference audio and text chat utility
from Talking Communities.

To participate, you will need a Windows-based computer connected to the
Internet with Microsoft Internet Explorer web browser. If you want to be
able to talk with the presenters during the question and answer session
you will need a microphone attached to the appropriate jack on your
computer's
sound card. If you do not have a microphone, you will still be able to
hear and see what the presenters have to show you. Those without a
microphone can
enter their questions as text by using their keyboards.

To join us on April 16, point your web browser to:
_www.everythingbraille.com_ <file://www.everythingbraille.com> and click
on "Our Virtual Classroom." If you have not used the conferencing
software before, you will need to download and install a very small
program first.

To download the software, click on the "Our Virtual Classroom" link, and
then:

1. Click on the "download here" button.

2. When prompted to save or run the software, choose the "run" option.

3. When warned that this file does not have a verified digital signature,
click on the "run" option (this software is perfectly safe).

4. The installation wizard will soon appear and proceed. Simply click the
"finish" button when the plug-in is installed.

5. To enter the conference room, click the "click here to enter the room"
button.

6. When the logon screen appears, enter your full name into the username
box, leave the password field blank, and press the "logon" button.

7. You are now ready to participate in the conference.

If you have additional questions or need more information, please
contact Amy Ruell at NBP by email at [e-mail]_
<mailto:[e-mail]> or by phone at [phone] ext. 34.

We look forward to seeing you on the 16th!

Sincerely,

Amy Ruell

Program Manager

[Ms. Kathy]

There is a Deaf Deafblind Getaway Cruise going out on Dec 21-27, 2008. Go to this site to get more info and to book a spot on the cruise!
www.deaftravelclub.com/christmas_cruise

[Ms. Kathy]

Linda, my supervisor sent this article with this message: "Wouldn't it be great to be out of a job because of this."


I am delighted to share with you the greatest news in the Foundation’s 37-year history.

Three young adults who were nearly blind can now see thanks to a landmark gene therapy clinical study taking place at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Simply put: These nearly blind young adults are now able to see thanks to research funded in part by the FFB.

The study participants, all of whom have a severe form of retinitis pigmentosa known as Leber congenital amaurosis or LCA, can now read several lines on an eye chart and see in a dimly lit setting. One participant can even navigate an obstacle course that he couldn’t before.

The investigative team is optimistic that the therapy will give near-normal vision to children with LCA. Their next step is to study the treatment in younger patients.

This is great news for all people affected by retinal degenerative diseases. The breakthrough paves the way for the development of gene therapies to treat a wide variety of retinal conditions including: other forms of LCA, many forms of retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt disease, Usher syndrome, and age-related macular degeneration.

I want to take this opportunity to thank all of you who support the Foundation’s urgent mission. Together, we have achieved an incredible milestone and have great momentum as we advance gene therapies and other promising treatments into human studies.

I know for many of our researchers, leaders, volunteers, and donors, this has been a tireless, decades-long effort. And though much work lies ahead, please take this moment to celebrate the wonderful victory that you helped make possible.

Thanks again for all you do to bring light to millions.

Sincerely,



Gordon Gund
Chairman and Co-Founder
Foundation Fighting Blindness

Visit www.FightBlindness.org/ to learn more about this breakthrough.

The work described in this article was made possible through generous gifts from people like you. Please click here to make a donation to the Foundation.

Source Link: Foundation Fighting Blindness gwmail.ebrpss.k12.la.us/gw/webacc/gsfvm1Tg7sj1jfcIu0/GWAP/HREF/?action=Attachment.View&Item.Attachment.id=1&User.context=gsfvm1Tg7sj1jfcIu0&Item.drn=27642z0z0

[Ms. Kathy]

Helen Keller International Art Show

The 2008 Helen Keller International Art Show will be on display through fall 2008 in the Alabama Museum of the Health Sciences, third floor of Lister Hill Library. The exhibition is an annual art show for students who are visually impaired, blind or deafblind. Entries are accepted from students of all ages in public, private, residential and home schools, providing them an opportunity to showcase special talents and abilities. The artwork is unique with an emphasis on creativity, color and tactile media.

It is on loan from the University of Alabama at Birmingham Vision Science Research Center Educational and Outreach Module and additionally sponsored by the UAB School of Optometry, UAB School of Education and the Council for Exceptional Children Alabama Division on Visual Impairments.

The Museum is open Monday through Friday, 9am – 5pm.

[Ms. Kathy]

Youth Writing Contest!



The NFB Writers' Division is hosting a Youth Writing Contest to

promote Braille literacy and excellence in creative writing. Entries

will be judged on creativity and quality of Braille. We are looking

for creative writing, in the form of fiction and poetry. There is no

charge for entering.



This is a contest for students who use Braille. Entries must Be

submitted in hand embossed Braille, either on a slate and stylus or

on a Braille writer. No computer Braille entries will be considered.

Submissions must be Brailled by the entrant. Elementary students

(K-5) may submit contracted Braille, uncontracted Braille, or an

acceptable combination of the two. Students in higher grades will be

expected to submit stories or poetry in contracted Braille.



There are six categories, as follows: Elementary Fiction; Elementary

Poetry; Middle School Fiction; Middle School Poetry; High School

Fiction; High School Poetry. Elementary is K-5. Middle School is 6-8.

High School is 9-12.



The contest begins January first, and ends, postmarked date April

first. There will be three cash prizes for each of the six

categories. First prize per contest is $25. Second prize is $15 and

third prize is $5. Submissions for fiction may not exceed one

thousand words. Poetry may not exceed twenty lines. Authors may

submit multiple entries and all work must be original and unpublished.



Each entrant must provide an identical print copy for possible publication.



Entries must be accompanied by a cover sheet containing entrant's

information: Name, address, phone, email, title of the entry, school

and grade of entrant. Winners will be announced at our division

meeting during the July 2009 NFB National convention held in Detroit, Michigan.



Send to Fred Wurtzel, 1212 N Foster, Lansing Michigan, 48912.



Questions? contact Fred Wurtzel at

[e-mail]

or 517-485-0326