DBS Media Report
Tuesday, March 31, 2020
Backstage: As Disability Awareness Grows, So Does This Film Festival
<https://www.backstage.com/magazine/article/behind-reelabilities-film-festiv
al-disability-awareness-70377/>
The 12th annual ReelAbilities Film Festival: New York runs March 31 through
April 6 at www.reelabilities.org/newyork
<http://www.reelabilities.org/newyork> . As an accessible festival, we
planned to run in over 20 locations throughout the New York metro area, but
now we're going to be even more accessible and for the first time ever we
will be running it virtually. Community is important to us and each film
will be followed by an interactive conversation. ReelAbilities was
established in New York 13 years ago by myself and Anita Altman-who at the
time worked for UJA-Federation [a Jewish philanthropy] and created a network
of disability organizations. I run the film program for the Marlene Meyerson
JCC Manhattan and we focus on films for social change. Films relating to
people with disabilities were not being shown and people with disabilities
were a taboo topic. I realized this is a theme we must explore. It took off
and is now in over 20 cities across the globe.
Accessibility
Segment Next: Sony Patents DualShock Tactile Device For Blind Or Visually
Impaired Gamers
<https://segmentnext.com/2020/03/30/sony-patents-dualshock-tactile-blind/>
Where Microsoft worked to make gaming more accessible for people with
limited mobility, Sony has been doing the same but for the blind or visually
impaired. According to a new patent published just a few weeks back, Sony is
designing a portable device that can be attached to a DualShock for tactile
feedback. The device in question replaces the touchpad of the controller
from where it conveys text-based information like a braille board, while
allowing the user to access in-game features by applying pressure on the
touch-sensitive surface.
Eye Health
News Medical Life Sciences: New Method To Treat Blindness Using Retinal Cell
Production
<https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200330/Developments-in-treating-blindne
ss-using-retinal-cell-production.aspx>
Scientists in Sweden have innovated a method of treating blindness using
embryonic stem cells to produce retinal cells. The team at Karolinska
Institutet and St Erik Eye Hospital reported this week in the paper
published in the journal Nature Communications, their approach of using
CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to amend retinal cell production so the generated
cells can hide from the body's immune system, protecting them from becoming
rejected.
Highland Press: Prevent Blindness Warns Increased Screen Time Can Cause
Vision Problems
<https://highlandcountypress.com/Content/In-The-News/Headlines/Article/Preve
nt-Blindness-warns-increased-screen-time-can-cause-vision-problems/2/73/5640
8>
With the coronavirus pandemic upon us, many of us are spending more time
looking at our computer screen and less time conducting business and
socializing face-to-face. With the increase in screen time at work or
leisure, the risk of digital eye strain also increases. Individuals who
spend significant time in front of computer screens experience eye strain
and undergo changes in tear fluid similar to people with dry eye disease.
WebMD states that "Computer Vision Syndrome" affects between 50-90 percent
of computer workers because a computer screen adds the elements of screen
contrast, flicker and glare. And, computer eye problems are more likely to
occur in those that already have an eye problem, such as nearsightedness or
astigmatism. Computer vision syndrome symptoms may include blurred or double
vision, dry, red eyes, eye irritation, headaches and neck or back pain.
