About Glaucoma from the BrightFocus Foundation. Learn about some of the promising areas of glaucoma research that we are currently funding. BrightFocus Foundation is a nonprofit organization supporting research and providing public education to help eradicate brain and eye diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, macular degeneration, and glaucoma. We are working to save mind and sight. Updated
American Council of the Blind The American Council of the Blind (ACB) was founded in 1961 but many of its state affiliates and local chapters have a history that can be traced back to the 1880s. Since its inception, ACB and its affiliates have been at the forefront of the creation of policies that have shaped the opportunities that are now available to people with disabilities in our country. ACB has also effectively collaborated with Vision Rehabilitation Service providers to develop the principles and values that should be at the heart of providing adjustment and placement services to people who are blind.
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) As a national nonprofit with offices in five U.S. cities, the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is a leader in expanding possibilities for the more than 20 million Americans living with vision loss. We champion access and equality, and stand at the forefront of new technologies. Our award-winning programs directly address the most pressing needs of people with vision loss and their families. Like Helen Keller, AFB's most famous ambassador, we are committed to creating a more equitable world for people with disabilities. From infancy to education, career, and retirement, AFB is there to help at every stage of life.
American Printing House for the Blind The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) is the world's largest nonprofit organization creating educational, workplace, and independent living products and services for people who are visually impaired.
Armor-Tile provides detectable warning and wayfinding solutions for the visually impaired.
"Bibliography for Performance Systems Technology (PST) and Computer-based Instruction (CBI)" published in the ACM SIGDOC Journal of Computer Documentation (JCD) [The JCD is no longer being produced. ACM SIGDOC members are able to get copies of archived journals.]
Blindness and Visual Impairment Resources Lensshopper.com is an independent information website about contact lenses, not affiliated with any retailer or distributor.
Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind (Washington, DC). Since 1900, Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind has been dedicated to helping the blind or visually impaired population of the greater Washington region overcome the challenges of vision loss. Our work enables people of all ages who are blind or visually impaired to remain independent, active and productive in society. Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind’s (CLB) programs and services include training and consultation in assistive technology, employment marketing skills training, career placement services, comprehensive low vision care, and a wide range of counseling and rehabilitation services.
Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness is the essential professional resource for information about visual impairment. The international peer-reviewed journal of record in the field, it delivers current research and best practice information, commentary from experts on critical topics, news, and events. Updated
Leber Congenital Amaurosis, Type I; LCA1 (congenital retinal blindness) from the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM) database, Johns Hopkins University. Leber congenital amaurosis comprises a group of early-onset childhood retinal dystrophies characterized by vision loss, nystagmus, and severe retinal dysfunction. Patients usually present at birth with profound vision loss and pendular nystagmus. Electroretinogram (ERG) responses are usually nonrecordable. Other clinical findings may include high hypermetropia, photodysphoria, oculodigital sign, keratoconus, cataracts, and a variable appearance to the fundus (summary by Chung and Traboulsi, 2009).
Lighthouse International Lighthouse International "is a leading non-profit organization that helps people of all ages who are at risk for, or are experiencing, vision loss."
Media Access Group at WGBH develops and distributes captioning, video description, and MoPix means of access to movies and television for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing
National Captioning Institute provides services to deaf, hard of hearing and other people who, for whatever reason, wherever situated and irrespective of their economic conditions, are limited in their ability to participate fully in the world of communications, heard, seen or written.
National Center for Accessible Media (NCAM) of CPB/WGBH is a research and development facility dedicated to the issues of media and information technology for people with disabilities in their homes, schools, workplaces, and communities.
National Alliance of Blind Students (NABS) provides support, information, and encouragement to blind college and university students. NABS leads the way in offering resources in issues such as national testing, accessible textbooks and materials, overcoming negative attitudes about blindness from school personnel, developing new techniques of accomplishing laboratory or field assignments, and many other college experiences.
NIH National Eye Health Education Program For more than 50 years, the National Eye Institute (NEI) has been on the front lines of vision research — and we continue to support cutting-edge research projects that investigate new ways to prevent, treat, or even reverse vision loss. We also work hard to help the public learn about vision problems and how to keep their eyes healthy. New
Ray Charles: Trailblazing Artist and Advocate (1930-2004) tribute by Brent Hopkins, Journal of Visual Impairment & Blindness, July 2004, Vol. 98 Issue 7, p439. The tribute describes how Ray Charles was an example of how blindness need not prevent one from leading a full, productive life. Updated
VisionAware – Resources for Independent Living with Vision Loss
Vision Australia – blindness and low vision services in Australia. A comprehensive site with many useful resources.
Visual Disabilities from WebAIM describes the types of vision disabilities: blindness, color-blindness, and low vision.
Ability Needs magazine for the less able and their carers made available within special needs groups, nursing homes and NHS Trusts throughout the United Kingdom in addition to being distributed to disabled people and NHS and Social Services Occupational Therapists free of charge through our extensive mobility mailing information. And is on sale nationally; additional copies of Ability Needs Magazine are also available at Shopmobility outlets throughout the UK.
Action for Blind People merged with RNIB On 1 April 2017, Action for Blind People merged with RNIB. This allows them to help more blind and partially sighted people by combining their services, knowledge, and expertise within one charity.
Action on Hearing Loss – formerly the Royal National Institute of the Deaf (RNID) – the largest charity representing the 9 million deaf and hard of hearing people in the UK.
Autochair (wheelchair and scooter carriers). AutoChair designs and manufactures hoists and other aids to assist people with disabilities and reduced mobility to get into their car or van.
British Telecommunications (BT) Including You – Understanding Impairments Information for BT users who need help for Hearing, Sight, Speech & language, Mobility Dexterity, Understanding & using technology. If you or someone you know has an impairment, discover more about the impact it can have on day-to-day life, and how BT can help. We want to make sure our products and services are available to everyone – whatever their need. That’s why we have made this website – and all our products and services – as accessible as possible, so they’re easy to use. Find out about our commitment to you – and about our work with other organisations.
British Standard 8878 (BS 8878) is a Web Accessibility Code of Practice which was published by the British Standards Institute (BSI). BS 8878 is part of the UK government’s broader self-regulatory approach to standardization. The standard was officially launched on 7 December 2010. BS 8878 defines a process for creating and embedding a web accessibility strategy within an organisation. It is written in non technical language and is aimed at people within an organisation who have responsibilities for web strategy or development. It encompasses web sites, web applications, software as a service, cloud based services and other services accessed via a web browser. BS 8878 is not intended as a competitor or alternative to the WCAG standard developed by W3C WAI. Rather, it defines the processes needed in the planning and deployment of accessible web products. This can include the selection of WCAG guidelines.
BSI Website accessibility for all (.pdf) is a consumer's guide to the British Standard for Web Accessibility (BS 8878)
Citizens Online is a national charity that was set up to tackle the issues of digital exclusion, to make sure that the Internet is available to everybody and to help individuals and communities understand and gain the benefits of being online.
Disability Arts International is a website and regular digital newsletter developed and coordinated by the British Council, the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities It aims to promote the work of the unique generation of excellent disabled artists, disabled-led companies and inclusive arts organisations. The website aims to share the ways arts organisations are increasing access to the arts for disabled people as audiences and visitors. DisabilityArtsInternational.org also seeks to explore and contrast different cultural policy and funding environments. New
Disability Equality Scotland seeks to promote independent living, removing barriers to inequality for those affected by disability in Scotland. [Scotland]
Disabled Holidays travel without limits. Holidays for people with disabilities including wheelchair accessible visitor attractions, activities, and accommodations
Disabled Access Holidays is an online travel agent offering services to disabled people throughout the UK. It provide financial protection through its membership of the award winning Global Travel Group on all wheelchair accessible holidays abroad. Disabled Access Holidays Ltd and its sister company Mobility Equipment Hire Direct Ltd offer wheelchair accessible accommodation, mobility equipment hire, wheelchair adapted taxi transfers and wheelchair assistance on flights to destinations throughout the world.
Disability news and blogs by the BBC:
The very best of the BBC's stories and analysis about disability and mental health can be found on the Disability News Index page.
The BBC "Ouch" blog is no longer being updated as of February 2017. The Ouch Team moved all their best features, videos, and audio to the BBC Ouch programmes page: Ouch! Disability Talk
Although they are no longer updating the blog, you might want to scroll through it anyway as there are some great posts which might be of interest: "Ouch" blog archives.
Disabled People the merger of disability.gov.uk and the "disabled people" section of Directgov. Directgov offers disabled people information on a wide range of topics including financial support, home and housing, leisure and travel, as well as disability rights information.
Disability Rights Commission Formal Investigation Report: Web Accessibility (April 14th, 2004). The report is called "The Web: Access and Inclusion for Disabled People" (.pdf). There is a PDF of the full report, an "easy read" version in PDF format, an RTF version, and a Welsh or Cymru version in RTF.
Food Allergy UK Natural Common Allergens, Chemical Allergens, E-Numbers and Food Additives [United Kingdom] Updated
Genetic Alliance UK is the national charity working to improve the lives of patients and families affected by all types of genetic conditions. We are an alliance of over 160 patient organisations.
Guide Dogs The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association
Inclusion International promoting inclusion, equality and opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities and their families worldwide. [United Kingdom]
Leonard Cheshire Disability – the leading charity provider of services for disabled people in the UK and operate in 57 countries across the world
MENCAP "Understanding learning disability" Mencap can help you make your information easy to understand for people with a learning disability. Or, if you have a learning disability, you might like to see their easy to read web pages and publications.
Maternal Mental Health Alliance (MMHA) is a charity and coalition of UK organisations with a vision to see all women across the UK get consistent, accessible and quality care and support for their mental health during pregnancy and in the year after giving birth.
Open University Services for Disabled Students resources for students, including good guidance on thinking about their needs, legal advice, course materials in alternate formats, and more.
REMAP provides one-off technical aids which help disabled people of all ages to enjoy a better lifestyle. Every aid is given free of charge to the user. Remap operates through a network of 1,500 volunteers. The professional engineers, technicians, and craftspeople – along with medical and paramedical staff from community services and hospitals – all belong to approximately 100 panels (groups) linked to regions across the UK, with Scotland and the Isle of Man operating separately.
REMAP Scotland consists of engineers, occupational and physiotherapists, and other professionals engaged in helping people with their disabilities. Objective: "The design and construction of appliances to meet the individual needs of handicapped people where such cannot be provided by any other means, and the promotion of closer liaison between the Engineering and Caring professions." Members are volunteers and rely on donations of materials and funds from the general public. No charges are made to clients for the devices supplied. [Scotland]
Disability Information Scotland is a national project that provides reliable, accurate, and accessible information for people living with disability in Scotland. They offer several free online certificate courses designed to improve your general knowledge and understanding of accessible Information.They also provide excellent Training Resources & Publications [Scotland] New
Skill: National Bureau for Students With Disabilities is a national charity promoting opportunities for young people and adults with any kind of disability in post-16 education, training and employment across the UK.
Sportability (taking the ‘did’ out of disability) is a British charity that provides sporting and adventurous activities for people with all forms of paralysis. Their motto is "If I can do this, what else can I achieve." [Note: the side navigation in this site doesn’t work well in Firefox on the Mac so you will need to View Source to get at the side navigation links.]
Technology guides: Staying in Touch – a guide that contains information about accessible mobile phones and software applications for blind and partially sighted people that are available from RNIB and other suppliers. [United Kingdom / Spain]
UK debut for ‘blind’ mobile by Geoff Adams-Spink. The first mobile phone designed specifically for blind and partially sighted people.BBC News, 23 November 2003
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