Gladys Uy
ED443G
September 13, 2008

Research Activity for Visual Impairments


1. http://www.visionww.org/techinfo.htm Assistive technology
This website was interesting. It gave examples of equipment and items available for those with visual impairments. I particularly liked The Voice Mate: A True Speech Recognition Organizer because it is portable and usable, not only for the visually impaired, but for just about anyone. To have a talking phonebook, calculator and appointment book accessible to you in your backpack or purse solves many dilemmas that the blind would encounter. On another note though, the layout of the website was quite bland. It could use a little color to it.

2http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/library/branches/as/assistivetechnology.htm
Fairfax County, Virginia Assistive Technology for People with Vision Impairment
The layout of this website was standard. It allowed for easy reading and it was surely user friendly. It seems to be geared more towards younger audiences and adolescents since the description of the devices are straight to the point and brief. It does not have links to other websites, but it does have information about the library and what it has to offer. It is nice that they have demonstrations available, but unfortunately, one has to be a resident of Virginia to benefit these through appointments.

3. http://www.lighthouse.org/education-services/professional-education/patient-management/managing-the-patient-with-low-vision/who/
Lighthouse International
This was really an informational website. It has many categories to choose from and it has large print, which I appreciate, since I cannot see very well. It contains up to date information and events that are happening worldwide. I like how it bolds the different topics and how it contains some visuals. It could use more color though to make it more appealing to skim through.

4. http://goldbamboo.com/relate-tl2623-tr2654.html
Gold Bamboo Assistive Devices as Related to Visual Impairment and Blindness
I enjoyed this website. It lists so many links that are related to the topic. It also lists many treatments that are available for things like Macular degeneration and Glaucoma. This website also includes pictures and videos that are available to watch and learn from. The technical tools that they advertise are very beneficial for those who are visually impaired.

5. http://www.einet.net/directory/76699/Low_Vision_Aids.htm
eiNet.net
What a variety of tools and devices that are available for the visually impaired! This website is terrific! I never knew that these things existed out there. What is even better is that there are reviews that others have written that make buying the product worth it. I like how they categorized devices for home, businesses and
commercial use. This site even has a search space for you to utilize to make finding an item easier. It is user friendly for any audience.

6. http://itemcoalition.org/what_are_at.html
Independence through Enhancement of Medicare and Medicaid Coalition
This site assists people with a variety of impairments. From visual impairments to mobility impairments, it gives great information about devices that are available to one that is in need. It gave good examples of these devices and how they work. It was a learning experience for me to get to know a little more about the equipment that visually impaired individuals can use. Although the site was informational, it could have used some graphics to show examples of these products, so that we do not have to imagine what they look like. Something positive about the website is that I did like the way they put links to specific impairments.

7. http://www.enhancedvision.com/index.cfm/pid/190/Products/Enhanced/Vision
I like the way this site incorporated a picture of a grandma and grandchild together. What a refreshing sight for someone who might be losing his sight! This was a great find for me. I enjoyed looking through the links that showed assistive technology worn on the head, downloaded into a desktop and carried around as a portable. The colors used were attractive and the font was large enough for me to read and enjoy. It was brief, straight to the point and user friendly. The site seems legitimate and anyone wondering about the devices can see that a telephone number is added for further information.


8. http://www.cincyblind.org/computeraccess.htm
This is a computer access service site for the visually impaired. They offer hardware and software for computers. This way, whether one can see or cannot see, using the computer is a reality. Adaptive technology for visually impaired students can surf through the internet like everyone else, while the elderly can scan items and special software will read out loud the information on the paper. There is no fee advertised on the site, but I am sure it will cost a pretty penny if one wants the services. There is even an online store that is available on the site!

9. http://www.svrc.vic.edu.au/technology.html#keycommands6493107
The layout of this site was quite boring, but I always have to remember not to judge the book by its cover. There is an abundance of information about assistive devices for the visually impaired here and even a link for free stuff! It is nice that there are particular devices specifically for the blind or low vision student. Reference materials are available and accessible. For those who are not students, computer hardware and software, as well as services are accessible too. Overall, the site seems bland, but if you take a few minutes to skim and scan, you will be pleased with the information.

10. http://www.section508.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=Content&ID=87
I loved this site! I am a visual person and I like to look at pictures to help me better understand things. I do not have to imagine what the devices look like because this site has them on hand. Better yet, the site distinguishes which disability the device caters to. Moreover, it gives a brief summary about what the tool does to help the visually impaired.
1. http://www2.edc.org/NCIP/LIBRARY/vi/Organ.htm
This is a compilation of websites that support the visually impaired. It is very useful, but the downside of it is that it was last updated back in 1998. There are possibly a handful more organizations that have developed in the last 10 years. I would use this site as a reference, but would probably use a more recent listing for more pressing things that deal with the disability.


2. http://www.accessunlimited.com


Access Unlimited/ Speech Enterprises is an organization that offers vehicles that are accessible for the physically challenged. However, they do not only cater to these individuals’ needs. They distribute large print and voice output for the visually impaired. This site is geared more for the individuals who are wheelchair bound, but is not limited to them.

3. http://acb.org/
This is the American Council for the Blind. It is a very educational site. I like how they put a short summary on how the organization began and the history of the Braille Free Press. This site also advertises special dates to remember so that the blind can participate in events that occur in their neighborhood or just a stone’s throw away from home. The site has quite a bit of articles from Washington that have recently been published. Therefore, this website is reliable in my point of view.

4. http://www.aph.org/
American Printing House for the Blind
This organization claims to be the largest provider of accessible education and daily living products. It has been in existence for the past 150 years. It is nice that this site has a search box to easily look for products. It is also up to date since it mentions their annual meeting between Oct. 2-4, 2008. There are great links on the right column to access other organizations related to visual impairments. I would use this as a reliable source for information about blindness and low vision.

5. http://www.spedex.com/napvi/
National Association for Parents of Children with Visual Impairments (NAPVI)
This is a support group for parents who have a child or have children with visual impairments. This is very helpful for those who are new to the situation. It is not easy to raise a child that may be blind, but at least this organization is there to give emotional support and send out publications that might answer questions related to the disability.

6. http://www.aapd-dc.org/index.php
American Association of People with Disabilities
This is a really good website. It has up- to- date information for meetings, alerts and even scholarships. It is laid out well and is easy to read since the words are not scrunched up together in little writing. It also has a calendar and other links to get active in this organization. The visuals are an added feature to make this site more interesting. I know I appreciate the pictures since I am a visual learner.


7. http://www.afb.org/ American Foundation for the Blind
I think this site is very simple, yet straight to the point. I like the feature at the top of the page that allows the text to be enlarged or decreased in size and to change the color of the text since some people are particular with their colors. It also has recent news/ headlines that allows people to catch up on some items that have come out for the visually impaired. I like that “family Connect” was added, since many families need to be in contact with others for support and pieces of advice. The search box is wonderful to see in a website. It makes finding/searching for things much faster and easier for the viewer. By the way, “Braille Bug” is a cute link on this site.

8. http://www.thearc.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=1386&srcid=183
The Arc of the United States
This is the largest non-profit organization that is made up of volunteers that promote and improve support and services for all people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. They are advocates for people with disabilities in that they make sure that the individual and his or her family have the supports needed to live a decent American life. That sounds really deep. It is refreshing to know that there are organizations like this one that truly work for the people. (If only every politician on Guam can do the same, right??) The site seems very professional in every way.

9. http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=91587
National Association of the Deaf
The most interesting item on this page was the invitation to watch a message from the president of NAD. I watched it and was intrigued by the many facial expressions she gave as she signed the whole message. I cannot imagine how life would be without being able to hear music and voices of the people I care about most in life. Moving along, the use of space on the site was not utilized well. There is so much empty space on the left side and the designer should have put something there to make it more appealing.

10. http://www.dav.org/ Disabled American Veterans
This organization goes as far back as 1920. After WWI, many wounded soldiers came back to America and had no idea what to do without an arm or leg or eye. Capt. Robert S. Marx was one of those soldiers who fought back and recovered from his wounds. He is considered the “Father of the DAV” and a natural born leader who organized this organization. This was a very interesting site with an extraordinary history. There are many links here, so there is enough information to keep your eyes busy reading.


Articles:

1. http://www.nad.org/site/pp.asp?c=foINKQMBF&b=4452053
NAD Files Complaint Against Clinical Radiologists
This is outrageous! How can someone not allow a deaf-blind patient to have an interpreter to sign for him? How will the patient fully understand a procedure if no one is there to sign? If this patient relies on tactile sign language to understand, then why wouldn’t an interpreter be allowed? We know now not to go to Maryland to get an MRI if one is deaf! This is a good case of discrimination.


2. http://www.cerebralpalsysource.com/News_and_Articles/botched-delivery-settlement/index.html
$9.75M Settlement Reached in Birth Injury Case
This was a sad article to read. These situations are avoidable if you have knowledgeable and alert medical staff around. To think that she had a perfectly fine child in her womb become a child with cerebral palsy due to brain deprivation caused by medicine to induce labor. Shouldn’t the doctors already know of the consequences of such medicine? Shouldn’t they know how much to administer so as not to cause harm to an unborn child? $9.75M seems like a lot of money, but it does not even come close to the hardships and frustrations this child will have to endure for the rest of her life.

3. http://www.naturalnews.com/blindness.html
Carrots really do help you see in the dark; beta-carotene-rich foods help prevent a variety of eye ailments
Carrots are high in beta-carotene which the body converts into the needed Vitamin A. Eating an abundance of carrots, sweet potatos, apricots and broccoli will give you enough Vitamin A so that vision loss can be avoided. Eating liver, eggs, fortified dairy products and fish oils can also help. It is not easy to get people to eat enough beta-carotene enriched foods, but hopefully, the thought of losing their vision will encourage them to try.

4. http://www.newsrx.com/library/topics/Osteogenesis-Imperfecta.html
Osteogenesis Imperfecta
This article gave me information on OI, otherwise known as Brittle bones. It was quite interesting since I have a nephew with this disability. He is unable to walk, thus he is either wheeled around or carried. It is sad to read that in adulthood, he might lose his hearing. Unlike what the article says about being of normal or close to normal height, my nephew is quite small for a thirteen year old. I am glad that he does not have the severe cases of OI. This article helped me understand his condition a little better.

5. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/09/AR2005110902079.html
Down Syndrome Now Detectable In 1st Trimester
I think that this article is important for those who are thinking about getting pregnant and have Down Syndrome in their family history. It is also important for women over 40 and thinking about having a child. It is now possible to detect Down Syndrome with a blood test and ultrasound. It is possible to detect during the 11th week of conception. This is great news, since there are those women who might choose abortion over having the child, since they might not be capable to raise a child with this disability.

6. http://www.usyd.edu.au/stuserv/disability/staff_speech.shtml
Students with a speech disability This article told me that about 2% of Australian have
speech disabilities. This does not surprise me since they do have quite an accent. This article gives teaching strategies for the teacher to use when dealing with a child with speech problems. Also, alternative assessment tools are given so that the child will not get so flustered. It is important to know these methods to teach people more effectively. Pronouncing a word may be difficult and it is inevitable that one will get agitated. This article might help those who are in constant contact with those who are having a hard time.

7. http://www.mercurynews.com/peninsula/ci_10450583
Legally blind boy plays Pop Warner football 10-YEAR-OLD'S ALBINISM DOESN'T SLOW HIM DOWN This was truly an amazing article. A ten year old boy, Tino Benelli, plays football! Due to his albinism, he is considered legally blind, with low to no vision. It is absolutely mind blowing to have individuals with disabilities strive and overcome it. Anything is possible if you put your mind to it, or at least that is what I have always believed.
8. http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/china/2006-06/07/content_611084.html Blind boys play football in Xi'an Another amazing article! This is so interesting to read! A ball with a bell inside of it allowed 10 blind students of a blind and mute school in China to play soccer. It is good that these kids like playing soccer and that this school encouraged them to play. It was quite surprising to read that this came from China, since most families keep the children with disabilities away from public viewing.
9. http://www.guardian.co.uk/theguardian/2007/sep/29/weekend7.weekend2
I am a deaf opera singer
Janine Roebuck
This article made me feel this woman’s frustration as she slowly, then rapidly lost her hearing. What a relief when a technician was able to fit a device that allowed her to hear upper frequencies that she had not heard for decades. it was a rather heartwarming article that inspires you to appreciate what you have because you may not have it forever, and that modern technology may or may not work miracles for everyone.

10. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/India/Deaf-mute_but_still_a_hero/articleshow/2112100.cms
Deaf-mute but still a hero This article is about a deaf and mute man. He had never spoken or heard a word in his life, but he got a leading role in an Indian move. He lip synced his lines and no one ever could tell. Having been born with this condition, 25 year old Dhruv had gone through many adversities in life. He quit college, as the lectures were getting harder to understand. One thing that he possessed, was confidence! This allowed him to succeed in life and overcome the hardships that life threw at him.