The American Foundation for the Blind Now Accepting Applications for its 2017 Scholarship Program

The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) administers three post-secondary education scholarships for up to 7 deserving students who are legally blind. The available scholarships for 2017 are detailed below.

The Rudolph Dillman Memorial Scholarship: Four scholarships of $2,500

  • Full-time undergraduate or graduate student
  • Studying rehabilitation or education of persons who are blind and/or visually impaired

The Paul and Ellen Ruckes Scholarship: Two scholarships of $2,000

  • Full time undergraduate or graduate student
  • Studying engineering or computer, physical, or life sciences

The R.L. Gillette, Gladys C. Anderson, and Karen D. Carsel Memorial Scholarship: One scholarship of $3,500

  • Female
  • Undergraduate student
  • Studying music

Visit the AFB scholarships website for further information and to fill out the application

Please direct questions and comments to: American Foundation for the Blind Information Center, 800-232-5463, afbinfo@afb.net

AFB-AIRA Partnership Helps Deliver Independence and Mobility for People with Vision Loss

New Tech Company Develops Live Camera & Sensor Feed that Allows Real-Time, One-on-One Access to Video Description

Inspired by a shared commitment to providing individuals with vision loss with innovative ways of experiencing the world and mastering their environments, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) recently announced a partnership with the emerging technology startup, Aira, to mainstream a new visual descriptor service.

The system, developed by San Diego-based Aira, utilizes a small camera and a series of sensors that are mounted on a pair of smart eyeglasses. Once activated, the device streams images directly to a trained staff of remote human agents who then describe for the user what the camera lens sees in real time. Essentially, the system allows those who are blind or visually impaired to immediately access at will another set of eyes. This direct access to live descriptors allows users to take in the surrounding environment, making everyday tasks easier.

Backed by venture capital financing and technical partners like AT&T, Google, Uber, and others, Aira was founded by entrepreneur Suman Kanuganti in 2015. Kanuganti was inspired to start the service after his conversations with blind professionals around how wearable technology could be used to enhance information access and help the blind and visually impaired "become more mobile and independent". Today, their first 200 users (called Aira Explorers) utilize agents via smart devices to navigate city streets, transportation, shopping, easing social interactions, participating in new adventures such as sports and entertainment and literally traveling the globe.

With AFB's assistance, Aira hopes to expand its service to people who are blind or visually impaired across the United States. It is currently accepting new signups for its Pioneer program and more information can be found at www.aira.io

AFBLC: Access Award Winners Announced

The 2017 Access Award winners are Bridge Multimedia, Computers for the Blind, and United Airlines. We are also thrilled to recognize Bernadette Kappen, Ph.D., executive director of the New York Institute for Special Education, with the Irving P. Schloss Advocacy Award.

The Access Awards honor individuals, corporations, and organizations that eliminate or substantially reduce inequities faced by people with vision loss. The Irving P. Schloss Award is given to recognize a tremendous legacy of advocacy work on behalf of individuals with vision loss. The awards will be presented to the recipients during a reception on March 3, from 4:30-6 p.m., at the AFB Leadership Conference in Arlington, Va. To read more, please see the press release.

**Hotel rooms are almost sold out!** If you haven't done so already, please book your room today at the Crystal Gateway Marriott—the special event rate of $190/night is available on a first-come, first-served basis through our dedicated reservations page. If you prefer to speak with a reservations specialist, please call 888-236-2427 and reference our conference to get the group rate. Rooms available for this rate are limited, so reserve early for the best availability. If you are unable to reserve a room at the Crystal Gateway Marriott, there are many options at a number of price points close to the conference hotel (hotels listed here are for your reference and convenience; such listing does not constitute endorsement). All hotels listed offer a free airport shuttle.

Register today for the 2017 Joint AFB Leadership and Virginia AER Conference! **If you are a member of OIB, AVRT, or VA AER, please use the registration link that was sent to you in a previous e-mail.**

Exhibit spaces are nearly sold out. If you are interested in hosting an exhibit booth, contact Anne Durham at adurham@afb.net.

Our thanks to these generous conference sponsors:

AFB and the 21st Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss Present:

Aging, Low Vision, and Technology — Tools for Independence, Strategizing for Change

A National TeleseminarFeaturing AFB's AccessWorld Staff and Authors

Wednesday, February 15, 2017, 3pm Eastern

To join the call:

Dial: 1-866-866-1333
Enter Confirmation Code: 44280167

Please join AFB and the 21st Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss for our next agenda-wide call on Wednesday afternoon, February 15, from 3pm to 4:30pm Eastern. February is recognized as Low Vision Awareness Month, so this is a perfect time to consider how older Americans living with vision loss can take advantage of a wide range of technologies designed for people with low vision.

We are excited to announce that this teleseminar will feature a lively discussion with editorial staff and popular authors who regularly contribute to AccessWorld, the monthly online technology magazine of the American Foundation for the Blind [link: http://www.afb.org/aw/main.asp]. The February edition of AccessWorld is focusing on low vision and technology, a subject especially of interest to seniors. Drawing on recent articles that focus on aging, low vision, and technology, AccessWorld contributors will present on the state of technology for older adults with vision loss. These authors regularly evaluate technology from across the spectrum of consumer tools and products to identify achievements and failures of innovation, usability, and accessibility.

Bill Holton, Janet Ingber, Deborah Kendrick, Jamie Pauls, and Shelly Brisbin are long-time AccessWorld contributors and have written many relevant evaluations and guides, including Bill's "A Day in the Life: Technology that Assists a Visually Impaired Person Throughout the Day," Shelly's "Using Your Phone's Low-Vision Features," and Deborah's "Out of Sight or Out of Sound: There Is Always a Way—Living with a Secondary Hearing Impairment." We will also hear from Lee Huffman, AccessWorld Editor and Manager of Technology Information, and Aaron Preece, AccessWorld and Information and Referral Associate at AFB.

Hear directly from these regular AccessWorld contributors, ask questions, and pick up practical information about low- and high-tech solutions that are particularly relevant to seniors living with low vision.

In addition, we will be hearing from the champions of each of the four goals that comprise the 21st Century Agenda on Aging and Vision Loss who will update our field on progress made concerning funding for services to seniors with vision loss, the quality and availability of services, coordination and collaboration of services to maximize resources, and the availability of low vision devices.

This unique national conversation will be of particular relevance to individuals who live with low vision; public and private service providers interested in learning more about the intersection of aging, low vision and technology; and advocates for high quality national services leading to independent living for older Americans living with vision loss. We hope you will join us for this call on Wednesday, February 15, from 3:00 pm to 4:30 pm Eastern time as we advance the Agenda across the field and promote technology for older adults with vision loss.

To join the call, simply dial the numbers above approximately five minutes before the teleseminar's 3 pm Eastern start time.

Finally, please do share this announcement and invitation far and wide through your networks. Thank you!

A Quick Look at the Latest Update to Shelly Brisbin's iOS Access for All

It's been more than two years since I first reviewed Shelly Brisbin's eBook, iOS Access for All: Your Comprehensive Guide to Accessibility for iPad, iPhone, and iPod Touch. As I noted then, "The first thing you will notice when perusing the book's table of contents is that Brisbin was serious when she concluded her book title with the words 'For All.' Along with chapters covering VoiceOver (the iOS built-in screen reader) and low vision accessibility, this 339-page book also covers iOS accessibility tools for the hearing impaired, and the physical and learning disabled. The book is also all-inclusive in that it can be read and enjoyed by accessibility users of all levels, from the absolute novice to access tech instructors who are interested in discovering a hidden gem or two of which they were not previously aware."

When the book was published, Apple had just released their new Version 7 of the iOS operating system. There were many changes from prior versions, and Brisbin did an excellent job helping previous users navigate these significant changes and leading new users step by step from setting up their first iPhone to using many advanced features and third party apps. Subsequent to this review Ms. Brisbin was invited to become an AccessWorld contributor, and at the end of this article you will find links to several of her recent contributions.

I am delighted to say Ms. Brisbin—Shelly, as we and many others know her—has also continued to revise and update iOS Access for All , producing updated editions for iOS Versions 8, 9, and now, iOS Version 10.

As before, Brisbin aims her book at both novice and experienced iOS users who rely on any and all accessibility features, with separate sections directed specifically toward blind users, low vision users, hearing impaired users, physically disabled users and users with cognitive learning disabilities. This content has been polished and streamlined over the past several editions, but with iOS 10 there are so many changes, the book is forty percent larger than the original edition, clocking in at nearly 150,000 words.

Here's a quick look at what's new in iOS 10 and thus covered in this latest edition.

A concise "Quick Look" guide to what's new in iOS 10, covering both mainstream features and accessibility enhancements.

In-depth Coverage of changes and enhancements to VoiceOver, low-vision options, hearing features, Siri, and Switch Control, with detailed descriptions of how to make them work for you.

An updated and enhanced guide to Apple-supplied apps, including those such as the Notification Center which sport a new look and feel.

An updated and expanded third-party app directory describing how to find and use the ever-growing number of apps which are either designed specifically for accessibility or which work well with VoiceOver and other built-in accessibility features.

iOS Access for All is available from iosaccessbook.com for $20 in either ePub or PDF format. As before, a complete table of contents can be viewed, and you can download a full sample chapter "Siri and voice input so you can "try before you buy."

For a more complete look at iOS Access for All I encourage you to check out my review of the original iOS 7 edition, which you can find in the July, 2014 issue of AccessWorld.

Dr. Mark S. Humayun, 2015 Presidential Honoree for Technological Innovation, Named Keynote Speaker for Envision Conference 2017

Envision announced that Mark S. Humayun, MD, PhD, a Los Angeles-based ophthalmologist, engineer, professor, scientist and inventor who was named a 2015 recipient of the National Medal of Technology and Innovation by President Barack Obama, will deliver the keynote address at the 12th annual Envision Conference. The conference will take place July 26-29 at the Renaissance Phoenix Glendale Hotel & Spa in Glendale, Ariz., providing unprecedented opportunities for low vision professionals in multidisciplinary fields to exchange ideas and information. The 2017 event is made possible through the support of Visionary Sponsor, LC Industries in Durham, N.C.

Dr. Humayun has more than 100 patents and patent applications to his name and co-invented the Argus Series retina implant — a "bionic eye" manufactured by Second Sight that is intended to induce visual perception. Time Magazine named the implant among the top 10 inventions of 2013. His presentation at Envision Conference 2017 will discuss the genesis of the Argus II and address the importance of innovation in addressing vision loss.

Dr. Humayun is co-director of the University of Southern California (USC) Roski Eye Institute, director of the USC Institute for Biomedical Therapeutics, the Cornelius J. Pings Chair in Biomedical Sciences at the Keck School of Medicine of USC and a professor of ophthalmology, biomedical engineering, cell and neurobiology and director of sensory science initiatives at USC.

Envision Conference offers vision care professionals 90 hours of clinical education and research sessions and is the only multidisciplinary conference where ophthalmologists, optometrists, occupational therapists, rehabilitation therapists, vision researchers, nurses, special education teachers, government policy makers, assistive technology practitioners and suppliers and others can receive updates and collaborate on the latest advancements in low vision rehabilitation, research, practice and technology. Attendees can also view exhibits of the latest low vision products and services and share knowledge from around the globe in an effort to improve approaches to minimizing the adverse impact of vision loss.

As an added incentive, attendees can earn continuing education accreditation at many sessions through agencies including:

  • The Council on Optometric Practitioner Education (COPE);
  • Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME);
  • American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA);
  • Academy for Certification of Vision Rehabilitation & Education Professionals (ACVREP);
  • Commission on Paraoptometric Certification (CPC);
  • Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification (CRCC); and
  • Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO).

Registration is now open and submissions are currently being accepted for prospective clinical education and research abstract presentations. Visit envisionconference.org for more details.

FDA Grants VisionCare Inc. Approval to Initiate Clinical Study of the Telescope Implant in Post-Cataract Patients

VisionCare, Inc., a developer of advanced visual prosthetic devices for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the company's investigational device exemption for a new U.S. clinical study. The study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the telescope implant in patients who were previously implanted with an intraocular lens (IOL). In the study the IOL will be exchanged for the Implantable Miniature Telescope (by Dr. Isaac Lipshitz).

Under current indications the telescope implant is proven to improve visual acuity and quality of life for patients with End-Stage macular degeneration whose sight is permanently obstructed by a blind spot in their central vision (in both eyes), making it difficult or impossible to see faces, read, and perform everyday activities such as watching TV, preparing meals, and self-care.1 It is the only FDA approved surgical device for End-Stage macular degeneration and is Medicare eligible.

According to current labeling, the telescope implant is contraindicated in patients with previous intraocular or corneal surgery of any kind in the operative eye, including any type of surgery for either refractive or therapeutic purposes. Specifically, the new study will evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the telescope implant in patients who were previously implanted with an intraocular lens.

Selected CentraSight providers across the country are now seeking End-Stage macular degeneration patients with previous cataract surgery to determine if they might be candidates as study subjects for the telescope implant.

Unmet Macular Degeneration Treatment Needs

Macular degeneration is the leading cause of permanent vision loss in Americans aged 60 and older, affecting an estimated 15 million people.1Of those, 2 million Americans are living with End-Stage AMD2 and that number will increase as the Baby Boomer cohort ages.1 End-Stage macular degeneration cannot be corrected by any other treatment including glasses, vitamins, drugs or cataract surgery and is associated with increased stress and depression as vision diminishes.3

Patients and physicians can learn more about the telescope implant by visiting www.CentraSight.com or calling 1-877-99-SIGHT.

1 What is AMD? Macular Degeneration Partnership. Accessed on Nov 3, 2016 at http://www.amd.org/what-is-macular-degeneration/

2 Vision Problems in the United States. Prevent Blindness America. Accessed on November 3, 2016 at http://www.visionproblemsus.org/amd/amd-map.html

3 Bennion, AE, Shaw, RL, Gibson, JM "What do we know about the experience of age related macular degeneration? A systematic review and meta-synthesis of qualitative research?" Social Science & Medicine. 75 (2012) 976-985.

New Business Idea You're Trying to Get Off the Ground? Enter the New Venture Competition!

Hadley Institute for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Forsythe Center for Employment and Entrepreneurship (FCE), is launching its 2nd annual New Venture Business Competition, with cash awards totaling $30,000.

Did you know Hadley offers courses that could help build a business? It's not too late to take a module or two. Through its FCE program, you can learn such practical business building skills as how to write a marketing plan or do market research.

Anyone who has taken an FCE module is eligible to submit their business plan for a chance to win. Last year we awarded over $27,000 to three businesses that are continuing to grow. We look forward to once again helping entrepreneurs turn great ideas into great business ventures.

The deadline for entry is 11:59 pm CST on March 15, 2017. Awards will be given out on June 8, 2017.

Participation and submission rules can be found at hadley.edu/nvc. To enroll in the FCE, please visit Hadley.edu/FCE or call Student Services at 800-526-9909.

Holman Prize for Blind Ambition to Award $25,000

What would you do with $25,000? This year the LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired is asking blind people worldwide that very question. It's not just an exercise, but a new set of awards designed to fund the international projects of legally blind individuals: this is The Holman Prize for Blind Ambition.

"The Holman Prize is not meant to save the world or congratulate someone for leaving the house," says LightHouse CEO Bryan Bashin, "This prize will spark unanticipated accomplishments. You will see blind people doing things that surprise and perhaps even confuse you."

The Holman Prize website, now accepting applications from blind individuals around the world, already reflects a diversity of faces and ideas: blind podcasters from Brooklyn, blind skateboarders from the Midwest, and blind technologists, educators and scholars passionate about taking on their own projects anywhere from Canada to Kyrgyzstan. In March, the LightHouse's hand-picked Holman Committee will select a group of semifinalists to go through a formal application process, ultimately resulting in a few large awards to be given this summer. Applicants must be 18 or older and able to produce proof of legal blindness upon request.

For the LightHouse, putting "blind ambition" on display across social media is as much a goal as the projects themselves. Contestants are encouraged to promote their videos widely to their friends, family and followers, with the promise that the most popular pitch on social media will be guaranteed consideration in the Holman Prize's final round.

Facebook Live Q&A:

The Holman Prize is unprecedented in scope and size, and as such, the LightHouse would like to give prospective applicants a chance to ask questions and feel confident in their emerging proposals. On February 15 at 4 PM Pacific Time, Holman Committee members will host a live Q&A session on the LightHouse's Facebook.

Prospective applicants can send questions ahead of time toholman@lighthouse-sf.org, or via Facebook during the Q&A itself. To tune in to the Q&A, just head over to our Facebook page, LightHouse for the Blind — San Francisco Bay Area, at 4 PM PST on February 15.

Article Topic
AccessWorld News