DBS Media Report
Friday, April 30, 2021
News-Journal Online: Daytona Attorney Who Loses Sight, Then Law License, Has
Repassed The Florida Bar Exam
<https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/local/volusia/2021/04/26/dayt
ona-attorney-overcomes-blindness-alcoholism-re-pass-florida-bar-exam-alcohol
ics-anonymous/7194797002/>
Four years ago, Norton moved to Daytona Beach, home of the Division of Blind
Services' rehabilitation center, where he learned new skills, graduated from
the Daytona State College paralegal program and, at age 72 earlier this
month, passed the Florida Bar exam more than 40 years after clearing it
the first time. For Norton, life is again going swimmingly.
In The Know: Students Invent Pre-Measured Spice Cubes For People With Low
Vision And Blindness
<https://www.intheknow.com/post/students-start-panjkolakh/>
The students consulted with some teachers from the Victoria Memorial School
for the Blind before starting with their project. One teacher they spoke to,
who is blind, broke down what cooking was like and her difficulty measuring
and handling spices. Their conversation with that teacher led the group to
conclude that it wasnt necessarily helpful to make a high-tech gadget to
make cooking with spices more accessible instead, they could focus on the
form of the spices.
Forbes: Mindset Matters: The Oscars Were A Win For Disability Culture
<https://www.forbes.com/sites/jonathankaufman/2021/04/29/mindset-matters-the
-oscars-were-a-win-for-disability-culture/>
The Oscars have always served as a cultural touchstone across the world, and
the 93rd Academy Awards was a ceremony like no other in recent history where
the boldness of disability was on full display. From the nominations, the
staging, to the fashion, the emergence of disability was no longer an
afterthought, but a vision that was being amplified on the largest stage.
Allure: Degree Designed A Deodorant For People With Upper-Limb Disabilities
And Visual Impairment
<https://www.allure.com/story/degree-inclusive-deodorant-accessible-upper-li
mb-disabilities-visual-impairment>
Unilever has partnered with a team of design experts, occupational
therapists, engineers, consultants, and people living with disabilities to
create Degree Inclusive. Unlike conventional deodorants which often
involve twisting a cap, turning a stick, or pushing down on a spray nozzle
this new personal-care innovation is built with features that make it much
easier for those with upper-limb disabilities and visual impairment to use.
Zappos: Zappos Joins Valuable 500 And Reinforces Disability Inclusion
Commitment
<https://wwd.com/business-news/retail/zappos-joins-valuable-500-and-reinforc
es-disability-inclusion-1234810141/>
Zappos has joined a coalition of national and international companies
pledging to drive change for those living with disabilities whether
through their respective employees, advertising and marketing campaigns,
and/or product offerings. Among the members are Prada Group, LOréal,
American Express, MasterCard, Google, Verizon, Unilever, The Coca Cola Co.
and Accenture.
Accessibility
Disability Scoop: TSA To Improve Screening For Travelers With Disabilities
<https://www.disabilityscoop.com/2021/04/27/tsa-to-improve-screening-for-tra
velers-with-disabilities/29309/>
The Transportation Security Administration is set to start implementing new
staff training and screening procedures to better serve individuals with
disabilities as they make their way through airports across the country.
Beginning as soon as May, the TSA says that it will educate its officers to
look for designations on drivers licenses and other state identification
cards denoting that a person has a disability that may pose a communication
barrier.
Texarkana Gazette: Chefs In The Disability Community Share Their Recipes For
Accessibility
<https://www.texarkanagazette.com/news/features/story/2021/apr/24/chefs-disa
bility-community-share-their-recipes-accessibility/868593/>
Food and cooking are essential areas where those with disabilities can often
be invisible or overlooked. But Mitchell and other advocates are working
hard to address the problem by offering classes and resources and putting
forth ideas to make cooking and recipes accessible. Soon, the class begins
in earnest. Much of the process is what you might expect verbal
instruction, chopping, peeling, simmering but Mitchell emphasizes kitchen
safety and exploration through touch and smell.
Education
Inside Higher ED: Making Geology Accessible For Blind Students
<https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2021/04/22/repository-aims-open-geoscie
nces-more-blind-college-students>
In the geosciences, colorful maps, diagrams, graphs and photographs play an
important role in conveying information and helping students understand new
concepts, said Kent Ratajeski, senior lecturer in earth and environmental
sciences. While some textbooks are compatible with screen readers for
students who are visually impaired, even the accessible materials do a poor
job describing complex images. It can be difficult to convey the movement of
tectonic plates, explain glacial drift or describe the significance of
different layers of sedimentary rock using words alone, said Ratajeski.
Technology
Interesting Engineering: A Bionic Vision System Lets The Blind See Again
<https://interestingengineering.com/bionic-vision-lets-blind-people-see-agai
n>
A bioelectronics company just won the HealthTech Award 2020 for its Prima
System a next-gen bionic vision technology designed to enable vision for
blind people, according to a recent press release from the company. The
company, Pixium Vision SA, won the award for the "Best Product/Deal"
category with its bionic vision system. The title was awarded during the
MedTech Forum 2021, and recognizes the most advanced innovators of next-gen
technology for healthcare in Europe and is organized by the NOBEL Project,
with MedTech Forum serving as host.
Microsoft: Doubling Down On Accessibility: Microsoft
<https://blogs.microsoft.com/blog/2021/04/28/doubling-down-on-accessibility-
microsofts-next-steps-to-expand-accessibility-in-technology-the-workforce-an
d-workplace/> s Next Steps To Expand Accessibility In Technology, The
Workforce And Workplace
Fortunately, there is cause for optimism in closing what the World Bank
rightly calls a disability divide. Digital technology can play a critical
role in bridging barriers to communication, interaction and information.
Thats why today were announcing the next phase of our accessibility
journey, a new technology-led five-year commitment to create and open doors
to bigger opportunities for people with disabilities. This new initiative
will bring together every corner of Microsofts business with a focus on
three priorities: Spurring the development of more accessible technology
across our industry and the economy; using this technology to create
opportunities for more people with disabilities to enter the workforce; and
building a workplace that is more inclusive for people with disabilities.
Workforce Development
Tech Republic: May Symposium To Introduce Blind Students To Coding And Tech
<https://www.techrepublic.com/article/may-symposium-to-introduce-blind-stude
nts-to-coding-and-tech/>
Jobs related to computer science are growing faster than any other industry
and introductions to coding not only start early, but available through free
courses and programs and certifications, and recently, government-sanctioned
apprenticeship programs. NCS, organizers said in the announcement, will
demonstrate to visually impaired students that the world of coding,
programming and related careers are available and accessible to them.
SHRM: Remote Work Provides More Opportunities For Job Seekers Who Are Blind
<https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/talent-acquisition/pages/r
emote-work-provides-more-opportunities-blind-job-seekers.aspx>
With growing acceptance of remote work and as employers struggle to fill
positions and try to boost diversity, equity and inclusion, people who are
blind or visually impaired are getting a better shot at the opportunity to
work. Research shows that 70 percent of working-age adults in the U.S. who
report significant vision loss are not employed full time, and about 30
percent of these adults are able and willing to work.
