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For links to blindness & vision impairment related news from around the world.

News Story Link Archive - October 2003

(in reverse date order) (Total links for this month: 856)

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  Welcome to v i p news dot org dot u k's October 2003 Link Archive Page.  Daily link posts include brief geographic information, & are in the order of "U K & Europe", "Canada & U S A", then "Rest of World" for each day.  All external pages are copyright of their respective publishers.  Disclaimer here.  Screenreader accessibility & server response time of external pages varies. All links worked at the time of posting.  Where possible non-working links are marked [DOWN].  Please report errors via email to the Editor.  Click here for the Google Site Search.

(Archives: September 2003  August 2003  July 2003  June 2003  May 2003  April 2003  Latest News)

[V I P World News story links - October 31st 2003] (28)

U K and Europe

Fireworks at Downing Street: G D B A joins Animal Welfare Fireworks Coalition Nov 4th (London)
Former Guide Dog 'Killed By Fireworks' (Northumberland, England)
Woman (92) in firework shocker (Cheshire, England)
Disabled arts festival for London: Begins this weekend (BBC) (London, England)
It's certainly music to the ears of these pupils (Sheffield, England)
Donate your unwanted computers to the disabled (Wiltshire, England)
Blind crusader left to cope alone (Manchester, England)
Ulster's first eye clinic to open by Christmas (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
Cool Britannia: Royal Yacht tour for visually impaired "will soon be initiated" (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Water of life heads for Everest: Highland Society's president to take whisky to Nepal (Scotland)

Canada & U S A

Electronic vote good to go on election day (Simcoe County, Canada)
Computer predictions, circa 1976: visions included restored sight (Geek.com, Online)
From tiny robots to stronger steel, Scientist touts nanotechnology (Illinois)
Eye Health: Technology Offers Quicker Recovery, Better Results After Glaucoma Surgery (Online)
NYC Contender to Run Marathon With New Watch Exclusively Created for Her by Nike (New York)
American Morning: Interview With Marla Runyan (Cnn.Com, Online)
Vermillion man golfs in TEE Tournament (South Dakota)
'These guys are good': feature on the Blind Association of Westmoreland County (Pittsburgh)
SABAH (Skating Association for the Blind & Handicapped) plans auction, wine tasting (New York)
Blind man sues airport bus firm (Los Angeles)

Rest of World

Blind Christian human rights activist on trial: Juan Carlos Gonzalez Leiva (Cuba)
Fundraiser for former footballer coming soon (Barbados)
H C M City helps Lao cataract patients (Vietnam)
$2m fund for 'helping hand' technology (Singapore)
Night of love songs, in aid of National Council of the Blind (Malaysia)
Alimco organising camps for free distribution of aids & appliances to poor disabled persons (India)
Mangena addresses graduation of educators for deaf & blind learners (South Africa)
From cigarette to cell phone, they are equally annoying. By writer Jalil Mortazavi (Iran)

[V I P World News story links - October 30th 2003] (28)

U K and Europe

F A offers clubs guidance on forthcoming disability act (U K)
Comforting patter of tiny paws: Man's best friend has never played a bigger role in Parliament (U K)
I never thought a blind singer might win Operatunity.. I was so shocked: Denise Leigh (Mirror) (U K)
R&A publishes most revised golf rules for 20 years: including in format for v i p's (PGA Online,U K)
Technology: Eyetracker and web analytics agency WebtraffIQ Partner (London, England)
MP introduces plano contact lens bill (Optometry online.net) (U K)
Blind dad living in fear (Teesside, England)
Talking newspaper expands service (Sussex, England)
Mary in big push for blind charity (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
Access denied - group pressure on city sites (Perthshire, Scotland)

Canada & U S A

Accessible Web sites open to new opportunities (Canada)
SpeechTech Selects Telephony Cards From PIKA Technologies for Weather service (Canada) 
Canadian hotels provide playful retrievers to guests who miss their pets (Vancouver, Canada)
Now is the time for disabled to create strategy for survival (San Bernardino, California)
New drug, bomb-sniffing dogs join state police: many from Guiding Eyes for the Blind Connecticut)
Foster dogs: features "Paws With A Cause" service dog organization (Utah)
They'll Go the Distance In Effort to Aid Parks: features Marla Runyan (New York)
Blind and 89, he now sports a hole-in-one (Philadelphia)
U K Student Manager Finalist for Courage Award (Kentucky)
Man finds a new vision for his life; mechanic helps raise funds for MS Society (Washington State)
Living in constant night: Technology helps blind students adapt to a dark world (Northern Illinois)
Chicago blues legend shows alternative vision: Eddie "The Chief" Clearwater (Tennessee)
Performing Arts: The Honky Tonk Angels (audio described show Nov 22) (Denver, Colorado)
Dollywood to end free admission for disabled (Tennessee)
Blind father wins custody of son (Ohio)

Rest of World

Tanzania has 350,000 untreated blind cases (Tanzania)
26 students receive scholarships from Women's Assn: Blind School to perform at event (Sri Lanka)
Indian Mobs Blind Criminals in a State of Lawlessness (India)

[V I P World News story links - October 29th 2003] (38)

U K and Europe

Deafblind swimmer achieves lake first (BBC) (Cumbria, England)
Disabled Access: Local Authorities Urged To Act (Local Government Chronicle, Online) (U K)
City's disabled access improvements on target (Worcester, England)
New text service to help food ordering (Worcestershire, England)
Taxing move to help the guide dogs (Lancashire, England)
The Themes Of 15CCEM: Teachers visit Africa & learn valuable lessons (Glasgow, Scotland)
NHS 'postcode lottery' may leave me blind says Robert (Buchan, Scotland)
Mum's The Word As Brave Oscar Battles Illness (Dundee, Scotland)
Vodafone to send text messages to landlines as voicemail (Sweden)

Canada & U S A

Library of Congress Grants D M C A Exemptions: includes blind-accessible formats (Online)
Audible, Inc. and Freedom Scientific Launch Co-marketing Agreement (Online)
Microsoft Encarta 2004 Premium Suite: includes read-aloud function for v i p's (Online)
New $20 Bill Causing Controversy Already (Watleyreview.com, Online)
Bob Newhart's E R Role: Global Eye Health Group Sees It Another Way (Toronto, Canada)
Runyan Back for Second N Y C Marathon (New York)
Inner Vision Guides Marathoner (New York)
Sense of stroke (v i golf article) (California)
The joy of giving: After surviving brain tumor, woman celebrates life by sewing (North Dakota)
Student Lehne Brasseal shows his ambition, optimism (Mississippi)
Disabled use technology to persevere: Challenges met with advances in programs (Wisconsin)
Arts can enhance everyone's life: 500 disabled kids take delight in annual program (Arizona)
Western New Yorkers Known for Generosity (Buffalo, New York)
Blind vendor offers smile and a broom (Indianapolis)
Foundation Challenges the Blind to Tackle the Extreme (Los Angeles)
Organization raises money for sight preservation (Alabama)
Shore motel accused of turning away blind man (G D O)(New Jersey)
Exhibit in N O casts an eye on how people, animals see (New Orleans)
Health: New Surgery (Macular Translocation) Restores Vision (Pittsburgh)
Obituary: Shirley Jennings, was blind for 40 years before operations restored his vision (Atlanta)
Fire destroys Blind Center, equipment (Atlantic City, New Jersey)

Rest of World

Beware of the dog (law) (Australia)
Drama festival brings people together: features Taipei's Shin Bao Dao blind theater group (Japan)
Love without borders: German "Helen Keller" helps blind children out of darkness (Tibet)
Team from Nguyen Dinh Chieu School to represent VietNam at Asian sightless people's football tournament (Korea)
Weightlifter who trains 20 blind students at her own gym, gets Vocational Excellence Award (India)
Diwali burns: Highest in five years (India)
Grant to let people with disabilities work (Guam, Oceania)
Blind U C T student runs his way into limelight (South Africa)

[V I P World News story links - October 28th 2003] (20)

U K and Europe

Cautionary tail for dog owners: November 5 advice from G D B A (Berkshire, England)
Torquay's Royal National Institute for the Blind centre is threatened with closure (Devon, England)

Colne and District Blind Society: Charity's 100-year joy (Lancashire, England)
Liverpool to have its first centre specially designed for blind children (England)
As Eurostar opens service to guide dogs...Robbie & Gretel meet Waterloo (Ourdogs.co.uk, Online)
Reporter posing as Blunkett gets driving licence(Reuters Online) (U K)
Blind man left with a wound on his leg after "bite-and-run" (Cheshire, England)
Abseil raises £4,000 for audio description equipment (Huddersfield, England)
New government agreement with Microsoft for students: software for v i p's planned (Malta)

Canada & U S A

Window-Eyes 4.5 Service Pack 1 is released! (GWMicro.com) (Online)
VisuAide, 15 Years of Innovation in the Service of the Blind & Visually Impaired (Montreal, Canada)
Jobs honors area firms: keynote speaker Rev. Ralph Supernaw (Columbus, Nebraska)
State puts blind, elderly back on benefits list (Seattle, Washington State)
Hiring of disabled workers promoted (Kentucky)
Volunteer believes lack of support cost her right eye (Florida)
Health: Eye implants to reverse blindness? The day may not be far off  (Los Angeles)
The Guide Dog: A Halloween Story (fiction) (Miami)

Rest of World

Technology: "Justlogin" software redesigned for visually impaired (ft Windoweyes) (Singapore)
Vision-impaired teacher lives his dream (Pakistan)
Access Israel, a non-profit dedicated to making Israel an accessible place for all (Israel)

[V I P World News story links - October 27th 2003] (30)

U K and Europe

Improving Client Care: Train operator Midland Mainline (Derby, England)
Firms warned over Web access laws (Hampshire, England)
Blind pensioner among residents determined to stop bulldozers (London, England)
Plea for children in a dark, silent world (Portsmouth, England)
Forum Brief: Disability access (Epolitix.com, Online) (U K)

Canada & U S A

Norton wants better access for disabled students (Toronto, Canada)
Guide dog breeder gives sight to blind (Ontario, Canada)
Web Site for People with Disability Celebrates 1st Year with More Than 1.6M Visitors (Washington)
Halloween can be dangerous for those wearing illegal costume contact lenses (Online)
A whole new show: Italian tenor Andrea Bocelli to perform November 8th (Porterville, California)
Support group creator inspires visually impaired to get together (Montana)
Highways & Byways: Couple in their 80's as much in love as when they first married (Kentucky)
Dinner a winner for 'blind' baseball (Illinois)
Shimon Peres' son works to help Israeli blind get guide dogs (Los Angeles)
Dairyland Power Invests in Wind Farm: & funds build & support blind children in India (Minnesota)
DRC Supports Needs of Disabled Students (George Mason University, Virginia)
Lighting paths for the blind: Organization helps the sightless (Corpus Christi, Texas)
Dot to dot: Technology helping a new world unfold for blind sixth-grader (Alabama)
Blind boy uses his fire mishap to teach others (Florida)
Wal-Mart sees light in aiding student's sight (Orlando, Florida)
Sight for sore eyes (Corneal transplant article) (California)
Fewer blind children learn Braille (Pittsburgh)
Dozens take walk in dark to fight blindness (Nebraska)
Braille Institute van rolls into town to help (Ventura, California)

Rest of World

U S commercial secretary visits Shaanxi: & Boeing donates to Golden Key Project (Beijing, China)
For Ambernath kids, Diwali was real blast (India)
Helping the visually impaired carve a niche (India)
AIR launches programme for the blind (India)
Al Shifa Trust chief briefs Pak community (Oman)
Sight For Blind After Free Operations (Botswana)

[V I P World News story links - October 26th 2003] (23)

U K and Europe

Cue and Review offers Streaming Broadcasts from Bishopbriggs Blind Charity  (U K)
'Making the Difference Through Employment' Conferences  - 25th November (Cork, Ireland)
Blind Centre for Northern Ireland opens web shop (Online)
Minorities in Malta: Article 13 of E U Treaty not met for many, including blind voters (Malta)

Canada & U S A

TecAccess Receives "Award of Excellence" from Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center (Online)
New Research: Tetrahydrocannabinol is a potential therapy for the treatment of Glaucoma (Online)
Yesterday's News: "Father of the blues" Will Handy made triumphant return in '53 (Kentucky)
'Honey in the Rock' coming soon: Arts exposure need not be limited by sight or sound (W Virginia)
U I freshman who wrestled sightlessly now set on law career (Illinois)
Businessman has positive outlook on employees (Connecticut)
Blindness leads to renewed love of life for Bradenton woman (Southwest Florida)
Blind residents cite dangers crossing streets in Palm Beach County (Florida)
Animal Rights A Non-stop Fight: West Sider Tackles Dangerous Traffic Lights (New York)
Retired guide dog has homecoming with first owners (Arizona)
Dynamo in sensible shoes: King George custodian, 81, won't retire (Virginia)
Iraqi lawyer who helped rescue Lynch visits (West Virginia)

Rest of World

Ready, willing and disabled: Japan's Wataboshi Music Festival to visit (Brisbane, Australia)
Seeing the light of music: Takeshi Kakehashi and Kim Ye-ji (Korea)
Help the blind to help themselves, says Wong (Malaysia)
Reserved quota for handicapped in 1st class jobs (Bangladesh)
Corn hybrids to fight blindness (Pakistan)
'Puppy walkers' are a special breed (South Africa)
Myriam, the Blind, Forgotten Symbol of Iraqi Children's Suffering (Baghdad, Iraq)

[V I P World News story links - October 25th 2003] (24)

U K and Europe

Interview - Julie Howell, Royal National Institute of the Blind (Sitepoint.com) (U K)
Charity in talks bid to save blind school (Shropshire)
Rhyme of the Century: Poet has touched many people, & donates to the R N I B (Nottinghamshire)
Cold Feet, warm heart: (TV Star meets Ann Murphy & her guide dog Dylan) (Manchester, England)
Hospital 'bed push' to battle blindness (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
N H S Delay Sends 3,000 Blind (People) (U K)

Canada & U S A

It's time for voters to back inclusion (Toronto, Canada)
Visudyne maker QLT doubles profit to $13.15M  (Vancouver, Canada)
Technology: CSS Level 2 - What is it, and How is it Different from CSS Level 1? (About.com, Online)
Technology: A O L Subscribers: Your M S N Messenger feature is disabled (Net4Nowt.com, Online)
2003 Secretary of Labor's New Freedom Initiative Award (Department of Labor) (Online)
Music for Life: Jazz Savant Tony DeBlois plays 20 instruments, knows 8,000 songs (Boston)
Guys and Dolls' shows off talents of disabled cast (Connecticut)
This mayor's gotta mow, legally blind or not (Roanoke, Virginia)
Operation Access connects disabled residents with jobs (Illinois)
Sometimes a visit to the principal's office turns out to be a dream (Missouri)
A man who led slaves to freedom (Historic article on David Ruggles) (Massachusetts)
People in need losing food pantry. v i p among volunteers (Maine)
Students raise money for hearing dog guides for the deaf (Florida)

Rest of World

Seido Karate Jamaica cop 14 medals: Demo by hearing & v i practitioners a "high point" (Jamaica)
Festive treat for the elderly and underprivileged (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)
Deepavali makes no difference to them (India)
Al-Shifa Seeks Help to Set Up New Hospitals (Saudi Arabia)
Gerald Fox shooting tragedy - Comrades runner shot by robbery bandits (Claremont, South Africa)

[V I P World News story links - October 24th 2003] (38)

U K and Europe

Help Stamp Out Poverty In Britain: Today Is "Here To Help" Day (Daily Mirror) (U K)
"Bookstart" Charity to include "Booktouch", for blind & partially sighted children (Guardian, U K)
Culture Online's "The Dark" In Production - "an interactive virtual world using 3D sound" (U K)
Book Review: "Red Queen: The Authorised Biography of Barbara Castle" (Guardian)(U K)
Elsie Is Flying High! 98 Year Old's Wish Granted (Leicestershire, England)
Guide dogs go racing at Newbury! (Berkshire, England)
Backing the blind: R N I B Cymru paricipate in Right To Read Campaign (Gwent, South Wales)
Tablers' boost for Guide Dogs branch (Tenby, Wales)
Young stars shine bright at special showcase event (Lanarkshire, Scotland)
Staff at Blindcraft Factory Vote to Strike (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Canada & U S A

NASA Scientist Makes Science And Math Accessible (Washington)
Technology: Toshiba Pushes VoIP and Text-to-Speech in New PDAs (Technewsworld, Online)
Technology: The Great Inventor: Segway & IBOT creator Dean Kamen (CBSNews.com, Online)
Federation of the Blind honors woman: Avis "Dear Abby" Hensley (West Virginia)
Students' donations, essays serve up sweet message (Indianapolis)
Hometown Hero: Blind Broadcaster Lisa Newston (Kentucky)
Blind Golfer Makes Hole-in-One  (Philadelphia)
I L C receives Pearle Vision Foundation grant (Eastern Indiana)
New software helps blind explore Internet (Connect Outloud) (Atlantic City, New Jersey)
Blind 'see' on computer (Princeton, New Jersey)
Nonprofit Northwest Center lands courthouse contract (Seattle)
Residents, officials participate in seminar on A D A (Connecticut)
TriMet studies two solutions for tracks that shock guide dogs (Oregon)
Special Canines Are `Guests for a Day' at JPMorgan Chase (New York)
Tinker couple fosters future service dogs: at A F B (Oklahoma)
Owner gives up dog after attack (Hernando, Florida)
Blind pastor still guided by God (Pennsylvania)
Pastor Gets Help From Those He Once Helped (Jacksonville, Florida)

Spreading the Pain: How Uninsured Americans Affect Your Care (ABCNews.com, Online)
Benefit for teen set (McAlester, Oklahoma)
Saving radio for the blind (Connecticut)

Rest of World

Rendezvous:  48th Annual College Women's Association of Japan (CWAJ) Print Show (Japan)
Technology: Now, talk to your computer (India)
Sacrifice gift of sight (Calcutta, India)
Eye hospital pioneer urges support (Pakistan)
Blind children get new facilities at society (Bahrain)
HSBC donates $18,000 to students with special needs (Brunei)
Govt Grants N.3m Scholarship to Blind Graduate (Nigeria)

[V I P World News story links - October 23rd 2003] (25)

U K and Europe

Hair-raising stunt helps deaf & blind horse rider get nearer Paralympics dream (Bradford, England)
M P in running for award: piloted Bill which gave guide dog owners Taxi rights (London, England)

Taxi firms & drivers rewarded for sensitive approach to disabled people (Huddersfield, England)
Children are football crazy! features blind footballer Steve Cunningham (Oxfordshire, England)
Childhood blindness more common than previously thought, experts have found (BBC) (U K)
Crime Warning: Distraction burglars in new strikes (Surrey, England)
"100 Days 100 Ways" Campaign launched to support disabled (Ireland)
Blind girl caught up in council row over school (Scotland)
Figures on registered blind and partially sighted (Scotland)
O N C E International Prize for R&D in Biomedicine & New Technologies for the Blind (Spain)

Canada & U S A

Profit soars on Visudyne sales, ups outlook (Toronto, Canada)
`Big breakthrough': for triathlete Dave Bigoney (Florida)
Local couple get loving home care from their trained assistance dogs (Winston-Salem, Oregon)
Volunteers take visually impaired to heights not seen by many with full vision (New Jersey)
Blind man won't let any obstacles stop him (Chicago)
Adulation for 1,900 war-wounded, but long road lies ahead (Pennsylvania)
Critics say blind organization is ignoring its historic mission (New York)
Dearborn spotlights options for disabled (Detroit)
New Grant Programs Available to Optometrists: Optometric Glaucoma Society (Online)

Rest of World

Colour it Orange for Blind Week  (New Zealand)
Lions roaring silently for kids at Lucnab (Phillippines)
Seeing with your heart: Publisher teams up with artists to raise funds for Braille books (Thailand)
Council promotes "Science 180" radio program: useful tool for blind learners (Taiwan)
White Cane - symbol of blind citizens: by the President of the Blind Citizens Front (Sri Lanka)
Tragic death of the great G Fox: marathon runner's grief after losing guide (Africa)

[V I P World News story links - October 22nd 2003] (25)

U K and Europe

UltraCane bounces high frequency signals off objects up to three metres away (BBC) (U K)
Boy asks for more Braille books (CBBC) (Includes audio) (U K)
Bring Light Into Darkness: "The Here To Help" Scheme (Daily Mirror)(U K)
Sport For All Embraced At Teignbridge (Devon, England)
Volunteers respond to call for help:  Guide Dog charity to be set up (Bedford, England)
BlindCraft staff await ballot result (BBC) (Edinburgh, Scotland)
North-east pensioner claims he's going blind because of the "postcode lottery" (Scotland)

Canada & U S A

N O A A Selects TVWorldwide.com for 2004 Webcast (audio described) October 21-23 (Online)
Associated Services for the Blind hold 44th Annual Louis Braille Awards Ceremony (Philadelphia)
Blind performers put on a show to honor Disabled Awareness Month (U C L A, Los Angeles)
New Book "The Vision Aide Manual: by Mildred Frank (Daytona, Florida)
Focus is on abilities: systems analyst Barry Vaughn to speak at awards luncheon (Georgia)
Ole Miss observes Disability Awareness with events (Mississippi)
Dog guides blind owner to safety (Northwest Indiana)
Dog free after week behind bars: for barking aggressively at a service dog (Florida)
Despite challenges, Ross stays close to sports action (Nevada)
Fear of Flying: Pot for pain cuts no ice at DFW Airport (Fort Worth, Texas)
Groups team to provide free reading service (Muscatine, Iowa)
Western Movie Villain Jack Elam Dies (Oregon)

Rest of World

Blind pilot eyes off Bundaberg Airport (Australia)
Let's hear it for the talking Gazette (Australia)
Rene totally focused on sharing her gift of sight (Australia)
Balls beep and bases buzz for blind baseball players (Taiwan)
The season of understanding, by Chang Young-hee (South Korea)
Blind school Diwali mela enthralls buyers (India)

[V I P World News story links - October 21st 2003] (28)

U K and Europe

£158m Sales Success For Remploy, Biggest Employer Of Disabled Workers (U K)
Reporter's 'fear factor' at losing vital sense of sight (Buckinghamshire, England)
Epilepsy row trust slow to act: Inquiry says carers' complaints poorly handled (Leicester, England)
Mayor goes blind for a day (Rugby, England)
Guiding hand for blind at library (Basildon Essex, England)
Libraries & Association for the Blind celebrating "Make a Noise in Libraries Week" (Kent, England)
Blind centre to mark 25th year (Belfast, Northern Ireland)
Provost backs books for blind (Glasgow, Scotland)
Forfar deafblind housing project opened (Scotland)

Canada & U S A

New spokesperson for the Association Québécoise de la dégénérescence maculaire (Canada)
Scientists Identify Eye Disease Gene (AMD) (Portland, Oregon)
Historic concert series to involve churches & highlight composing giant Jean Langlais (Minnesota)
Blind-run TV show illustrates capabilities of the non-sighted (Iowa)
Troupe dancers perform on wheels (Oklahoma)
Festival promotes disability awareness (UCLA, Los Angeles)
Blind marathoner meets his goal (Michigan)
Resident artist teaches 'holistic approach' to birds, bees (South Dakota)
Lina Jones: Wants to win support of community leadership for education (Louisiana)
Rehab panel honors can-do spirit (Alaska)
Joplin Association for Blind breaks ground on new facility (Missouri)
Visually impaired strive for independence (features Lighthouse International) (Miami, Florida)
Plan To Shrink Agencies Open To Public: Texas Commission for the Blind is dissolving  (Texas)
Book Review:"Hearing Gesture: How Our Hands Help Us Think" (Online)
New N O store offers many aids for blind (New Orleans)
Woman charged in her pet's attack on man, guide dog (Florida)

Rest of World

This Diwali, they will all hear (India)
Blind people enjoy national employment loans (Vietnam)
Sakhr launches new intelligent software solutions at Gitex Dubai 2003 (United Arab Emirates)

[V I P World News story links - October 20th 2003] (22)

U K and Europe

General Welfare for the Blind (GWB) Employees in danger of losing their jobs (London, England)
Historic 'first' as guide dogs travel on Eurostar (G D B A, U K)
Trust agrees £750,000 payout to girl with cerebral palsy (Hertfordshire, England)
Joining the abseil of the century (Newcastle, England)
Tale of the Missing Books a Sad Story (Northern Ireland)
'Book famine' for blind people (BBC) (Scotland)
Saints: Church reject healing as miracle because only 90% of man's sight was restored (Scotland)

Canada & U S A

Technology: Are You Sabotaging Your Site's Visibility? (Internet Search Engine Database, Online)
Students Unveil Research Discoveries: inc New computer interface & software for v i p's (Texas)
General Electric website can be accessed by blind (Baltimore)
Back-seat driver: Ban sought on fast-moving, slow-selling Segways (California)
Verizon awards $25,000 to Abilities Plus (Illinois)
Agency helps people with disabilities help themselves (Wisconsin)
Communicating Just Got Easier: Work Connection program receives grant (East Texas)
Mountain State University home to new A T M (West Virginia)
Box holds 'treasure' of papers: blind vendor's grandson's discovery (Iowa)
City man allows blind to see (Organ Donor article) (Maryland)
Woman who lost children, sight in Iraq struggles to cope (San Diego, California)

Rest of World

Blind pilot flies for charity (Australia)
Technology: Programmer turns to Esperanto: features new ESPTAP web & mail reader (Japan)
Blind athlete begins charity run around Taiwan (Taiwan)
Making music out of darkness (China)

[V I P World News story links - October 19th 2003] (20)

U K and Europe

Add your name to the "Right to Read" Charter to fight discrimination (R N I B) (U K)
Windermere tradition undermined by speed limit (features Mark Threadgold) (Cumbria, England)

Tackling Poverty More Important Than War: R N I B a partner in 'Here to HELP' scheme (Scotland)
Love it or loathe it when the blind lead the sighted ("Blind Sight" play review)(Glasgow, Scotland)

Canada & U S A

Regaining vision a medical first for Hidden Valley woman (Calgary, Canada)
Jeff Healey's Jazz Wizards slated to play the Ironwood on October 19 (Calgary, Canada)
N C A M announce upcoming Accessible Movies schedule (Online)
Technology: Codepoetry Text Reader 1.2: new Text-To-Audio Solution for Macintosh (Online)
Protect Your Child from Eye Injuries This Halloween: Prevent Blindness America  (Online)
Blind lead bikers to awareness (Florida)
W O R S A, A L Y C Host Successful Annual Sail For The Blind, Visually Impaired (California)
Disabled Baseball Writer A Sight to Behold at Series (Connecticut)
Jobs help disabled persons thrive (Danville, Illinois)
Visually impaired get a break: State gives OK to fill vacant counselor's position (Delaware)
Horse from therapeutic riding center undergoes treatment for cancer (Missouri)
Meeting special needs: Southeastern Community College (Iowa)

Rest of World

Early detection protection key to life-long sight (New Zealand)
Blind masseurs get fashionable image (Taiwan)
Private firms slow to employ disabled (Malaysia)
Gujarat's first visually-impaired woman to get PhD is felicitated (India)

[V I P World News story links - October 18th 2003] (22)

U K and Europe

Assisted shows improve theatre experience for people with visual or aural impairments (London)
Top 100 books featured on the BBC's Big Read programme to be recorded as talking books (U K)
Talking Newspaper: Ensuring no-one misses out on the latest local news (Swindon, England)
Take care of your precious sight, warn eye experts (Wales)
Research: Bionic man no longer fiction (Heriot-Watt University) (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Talking PCs make progress (ZDNet.co.uk) (Online)

Canada & U S A

Jazzy Jeff Healey: Rocker sees the light and picks up a trumpet (Edmonton, Canada)
Rights on red coming by 2006: Public rejected idea during consultations (Montreal, Canada)
Robert Bradley's Blackwater Surprise gets back to his roots with new record (Tennessee)
"Never Give Up" The Inspirational Story Of John Malkow (California)
Blind men's vision on display: library exhibit features photographers' lens work (Los Angeles)
Serious music fan: Andres Castellanos (California)
Security is four legs and a wet nose (Washington State)
Dogs - A Fundraiser's Best Friend (New York)
Puppies keep ears open for sirens (New Jersey)
PV church members help man, best friend (Features Bob Warren & Guide Dog Karl) (Florida)
Building of Special Olympics Gymnasium and Arts Center complex set for January (Florida)
Texas man tapped to head agency for the visually impaired (Pittsburgh)

Rest of World

Association of Visually Handicapped launches car wash programme (Singapore)
Group reaches out to blind (Vietnam)
This woman set her sights high: lecturer Sonal K Mehta (India)
Z F B bemoans marginalization of the visually impaired (Zambia)

[V I P World News story links - October 17th 2003] (27)

U K and Europe

Railways 360 degrees better: New accessible trains being introduced (BBC) (U K)
Transport Museum "Artworks for All" Exhibition: includes tactile art & audio descriptions (London)
R N I B New College receives an Investors in People Award (Worcestershire, England)
Margaret Maxwell is a feisty fighter for elderly care (BBC) (U K)
Visually impaired Students in charity effort (Bolton, England)
Television 'without the boring bits'? (mentions BBC audio description service) (Telegraph, U K)
Surprise honour: for Welfare worker Mary Gregory (Oxfordshire, England)
Enjoying the great outdoors in a wheelchair (Buckinghamshire, England)
Boarding pupils kept from school (Coventry, England)
Library shuts for half term (accessibility) upgrade (Berkshire, England)
Mother's anguish after Lords case (Teesside, England)
Making the connection: feature on Alexander Graham Bell (Scotland)
Therapy pool bid a splash hit in Forres (Scotland)
Raising 'Eye q' Could Lower Blindness Risks (Scotland)

Canada & U S A

Diabetes wreaks havoc with vision (Canada)
Gardening Therapy Helps Visually Impaired (Boston)
Leading the way (features Darcy Ashbay & Leader dog Holly) (Michigan)
Failing vision doesn't keep woman from acting (Prescot, Arizona)
F S D B students get some on-the-job training (Florida)
Braille instruction, therapy ordered for girl (Florida)
Technology: Sun Java Desktop Demo Out: supports braille devices  (Online)

Rest of World

W A Blind reduces T C O with health C R M (Western Australia)
The blind can surf, but not on local websites (Singapore)
Special unit to look into disabled people's work needs (Malaysia)
Blind people make great strides in poverty reduction (scroll down) (Vietnam)
Blind 'must learn to be independent' (Bahrain)
Limpopo patients get wheels: & Braille project for Limpopo Blind Workers launched (South Africa)

[V I P World News story links - October 16th 2003] (25)

U K and Europe

County group help blind football (features the England Blind Football Team) (Hereford, England)
Equality for people with disabilities in medicine (British Medical Journal, Online)
Care dog on £8.50 a week (The Sun) (Surrey, England)
Eye Care campaign projected in London by Guide Dogs (London, England)
Breaking down barriers (London, England)
Award for our Jessica (Worcestershire, England)
Award to blind mother reversed (Co Durham, England)
Technology: Looking for large print keyboards (Telegraph) (U K)
Technology: "From the Keyboard" Tutorials updated to include Abyy Finereader Pro 7 (Online)

Canada & U S A

Javits-Wagner-O'Day (JWOD) Saving the Government More Than $46 Million a Year (Washington)
New Verizon Center Answers the Call for Customers With Disabilities (California)
Iris Network Holds Very Special Art Show For Vision Awareness Week (Maine)
Flying with the big dogs (features v i p Gary Shockley) (Alabama)
Friendly dog turns into healing force (New Orleans)
Expansion of audible pedestrian signals expected (Indiana)
Blind Lottery Vendor Losing Braille Machine (California)
Striving to vault life's barriers: Daytona Beach Community College (Florida)
Science: Researchers working on corn hybrids to prevent blindness, malnutrition (Iowa)
School for Blind has a field day (Kentucky)
Volunteers pitch in to make life easier for 100-year-old (Arkansas) 

Rest of World

Visudyne Approved for Treatment of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (Japan)
Going all natural: L'Occitane natural products from France have Braille packaging (Malaysia)
Cabrera: Crisis revealed my strength (Guam)
Observers Report No Major Violations in Election: & ballots for the blind are a first (Azerbaijan)
Talking computers boost Ghana's blind (BBC, Ghana)

[V I P World News story links - October 15th 2003] (36)

U K and Europe

Ex-soldier breaks blind water speed record (at 91.66mph)(Cumbria, England)
Blind man set to race car around Goodwood (Surrey, England)
P M praises design of GCHQ's new "doughnut" headquarters (London, England)
'Tina's my canine-9-9 heroine!' (Lancashire, England)
Puppy love to help the blind: couple have trained 77 guide dogs (Scotland)
600 women voted Mr Darcy `top of the snogs' in a survey for the R N I B's Right to Read week (U K)
Calabria, A Portal For Disabled Students (Italy)

Canada & U S A

Kurzweil Educational Systems Announces Kurzweil 3000 for Macintosh Version 2 (Online)
HP & Partners Build on Pocket PC Platform to Bring Assistive Technology Advances (Online)
White Cane Safety Day, 2003: A proclamation by the President of the United States (America)
Blind Association Hopes To Educate People On White Cane Law (Pennsylvania)
La Crosse man depends on his cane - and courteous drivers (Wisconsin)
Drivers fail to yield for visually impaired : "motorists forced V I students off the street" (Wisconsin)
Business Voices: Employing people with disabilities makes sense (Washington State)
Performance by savant Leslie Lemke celebrates abilities of 'disabled' (San Diego)
Concert series begins with blind pianist (Florida)
Disabilities commission gives Scdoris award (Oregon)
New bowling league for the blind proves to be fun (Michigan)
ATMs help visually impaired, if they dare (Oregon)
Blind man opens students' eyes (Washington State)
Seen in a different light (Missoula, Montana)
Sight for sore eyes: doctor can see agan thanks to Scleral lenses (Missouri)
Meth user shares 'reality check' (Washington)
Venice woman blind after cosmetic eye surgery (Florida)
Group says publisher is neglecting Braille texts (New York)

Rest of World

Canine Cures: How Humans' Best Friend Could Also Become Their Savior (Australia)
New inexpensive lightweight braille machine among research projects to be funded (Australia)
Canes based on bat sensors to guide blind Queenslanders (Australia)
C W A J (committed to supporting v i p's) artists & Scholars create a good impression (Japan)
Millions regain eyesight (China)
Grants to voluntary organisations: New Sarawak Society for the Blind Centre opened (Malaysia)
Proper nutrition, sleep elude these students (India)
Wooing people to shop for a cause this Diwali (India)
Everybody should encourage the blind, says General Zarrar (Pakistan)
Sultanate observes World Blind Day (Oman)
The Blind mark 40th anniversary of the White Cane (Ghana)

[V I P World News story links - October 14th 2003] (24)

U K and Europe

Blind Passenger Left Alone On Platform (Bristol, England)
Absence of bleeps not a danger (North Warwickshire, England)
State-of-the-art lodge opened by Viscount (Cheshire, England)
Spread a little Magic: Magic A M launch Puppy Magic Appeal for Guide Dogs (Yorkshire, England)
Sprout it out . . Tin's going for expansion (Edinburgh, Scotland)
Dundee woman won an array of prizes in Sight Savers International charity prize draw (Scotland)
Oxfam tops charity boss poll: former G D B A head " most admired chief executive (Telegraph, U K)
D D A: Why an audit can be worth it (ThePublican,com, Online) (U K)

Canada & U S A

Bravo! profiles Steppenwolf singer John Kay (Toronto, Canada)
Phil Collins Joins Blind Boys of Alabama for soundtrack to new Disney movie (Online)
Site Has Vision-impaired In Mind: VisionConnection.org developed by Lighthouse & RNIB(Online)
Freedom Initiative Awards Recognize Achievements on Behalf of People with Disabilities (U S A)
Andrea Bocelli to play the Arena in Oakland on November 8th (Nevada)
Girl touches other lives despite losing sight to cancer (Texas)
Sight-impaired local man deals with death of his wife by speaking to organizations (Virginia)
Nonprofit receives grant for impaired seniors (New Jersey)
Police check white cane law compliance (Wisconsin)
'White Cane Safety Day' is October 15th (New York)

Rest of World

Sight First China Action helps 2.6 million cataract patients (China)
S L F V H organises International White Cane Day programme (Sri Lanka)
White cane: an eye for the sightless (India)

Jamali, Nilofar urge private sector to help blind children (Pakistan)
Walk to celebrate the independence of the blind (Bahrain)
Help Combat Blindness - People Urged (Ghana)

[V I P World News story links - October 13th 2003] (33)

U K and Europe

Guide dog Gretal makes historic 185mph trip to Paris on Eurostar (U K)
Taxi drivers to be shown a new video about travelling with guide dogs (Huddersfield, England)
T U C to train 35,000 reps to ensure employers do not use health & safety as an excuse to discriminate (U K)
Interview: Jasper Gerard meets Sue Townsend (The Times) (U K)
Teshigawara's "Luminous" inspirational: features blind dancer Stuart Jackson (London, England)
Man who always has to act hard (mentions new film "The Penalty King") (Times) (U K)
Acting as the eyes for the blind: features actor Nigel Cooke (North London, England)
£110,000 bus station boost for visually impaired (Bolton Lancashire, England)
Being blind ... the things we miss most (Belfast, Northern Ireland)

Canada & U S A

ReadyGo(R), Inc. Announce Major New Release of ReadyGo Web Course Builder Software (Online)
Luthanen is one of Ely's musical treasures (Minnesota)
Catherine McLean Armstrong: From bus to board: nominee praised (Pittsburgh)
Blind man running for House, sees what's wrong in state (West Virginia)
Dorr teen paces U S goalball team (Michigan)
Hearing is believing: Senior student undaunted (Kentucky)
For these folks, disabilities don't mean defeat (Texas)
Blind students tackle dreams (San Antonio, Texas)
White Cane rules outlined for sighted drivers (Massachusetts)
Sioux City event will cover issues, concerns for blind (Iowa)
Local activities to mark Blind Awareness Month (Mobile, Alabama)
Macular Degeneration: Systems of Sight's low-vision eyewear could help (Florida)
Recycling eyeglasses provides vision to millions (West Texas)
Student is receiving a dog's eye view of the world (California)
Puppy raiser guides dogs to lives of service (Washington State)
Vet heads panel for Animal Hall of Fame: (lifesaving lab Paxton inducted posthumously) (Alabama)

Rest of World

Disabled athletes an inspiration who should encourage everyone: netball star (New Zealand)
Education punished: U S economic blockade means braille machines cost $1000 per unit (Cuba)
Stress on the need to control sight deficiency (Lalitpur, Nepal)
Exhibition of products made by the disabled (India)
Seeing Within: Hohmuth-Lemonick uses photographs to tell the stories of the blind (Zimbabwe)
V P Donates to Victim of Rare Disease (Nigeria)
"End the Discrimination On the Visually Impaired" (Africa)
Baaba Sillah - Anybody's Role Model (Africa)

[V I P World News story links - October 12th 2003] (28)

U K and Europe

Named: the baby boy who was Nazis' first euthanasia victim (Telegraph Online) (U K)
Over Protected: Man Refuses To Be A Victim Of Bullies (Bristol, England)
New regional library for children with impaired vision opened (Exeter Devon, England)
Our bond of tears: TV girls visited blind children in Bangladesh with Sight Savers (Scotland)
Flies On Wheels: Grandmother "Horrified" By State Of Meals-on-wheels Lunch (Scotland)

Canada & U S A

Research: Is word recognition different in central & peripheral vision? (Science Direct, Online)
Review: "Dark Harbor: Building House & Home on an Enchanted Island." by Ved Mehta (Online)
Musician A J Croce finds peace with the legacy of a famous father he barely knew (San Diego)
An Inspiring Music Man: Tony DeBlois has been making music since the age of 2 (South Dakota)
35 years after anthem controversy, Feliciano returns to baseball's postseason (Miami)
Minority Report: by Kenneth Silberman, Engineer at NASA Space Flight Center (Washington)
Training helps novice faith-based nonprofits access federal funding (Chicago)
Group for blind urges scooter ban (California)
Traffic Must Yield for White Canes (Wisconsin)
White Cane Day is play with a purpose (Indiana)
Back to nature in school gardens (Sensory Horticulture article) (Boston)
100's come to Yorktown Heights for Guiding Eyes walk-a-thon (includes video clip) (New York)
Canine therapy: Work is rewarding, sometimes sad for volunteer and her dogs (Idaho)
Vision-impaired guests have fun at zoo (Evansville, Indiana)
Craft show goes well: at regional blind center (Washington, North Carolina)
Rankin soccer coach noted for caring: founded TOPSoccer V I (Mississsippi)
Lighthouse of Broward County agency provides help for the blind (Florida)
Love story transcends cruel disease (Carson City, Nevada)
Obituary: 'Captain' Morton Chapman, 91 (Ohio)

Rest of World

Stem cell growth could herald cure for blindness (Australia)
Hospital memorial to bombing dead: Australia to give $3 million to Memorial Eye Centre (Bali)
Technology still Twintech's forte: Institute's founder also chair of Blind Association (Malaysia)
Awareness on eyecare poor: Study (India)

[V I P World News story links - October 11th 2003] (15)

U K and Europe

So, was it worth it? Afghanistan: Mike O'Brien took braillers to a blind school to replace those
detroyed by the Taliban (Guardian) (U K)

Ready to speed for good cause: blind man off to race track (Huddersfield, England)
Abused Special Needs Pupils Accept Damages (West Sussex, England)

Canada & U S A

Navantis wins Microsoft Collaborative Solution of the Year Award: for C N I B work (Online)
Deaf & Deaf/Blind Patients to Receive Video-Interpreting for Sign Language (PRWeb, Online)
Visually impaired teens learn to play jazz (New Orleans)
White Cane Safety Day Wednesday (Wisconsin)
Roses: to Mike Yontz, power lifter & International Blind Sports Federation gold medallist (Delaware)
Speakers tell how their lives were transformed at University (scroll down) (Wisconsin)
Pope supports local man's vision to end blindness (South Carolina)

Rest of World

Blind couple freed in Chile baby buying case (Santiago, Chile)
Kalaimamani awards: visually impaired violinist T K Padmanabhan among winners (India)
Be an amateur counterfeit spotter: Rs500 note includes a braille mark (India)
Dreams unlimited for couples without sight (India)
Promising Signals For Deafblind (India)

[V I P World News story links - October 10th 2003] (18)

U K and Europe

Hush-hush role for Vale: "Blind Sight" actress's guide dog (Manchester, England)
Post office closure hits the blind (Essex, England)
Threat of strike at Blindcraft factory (Edinburgh, Scotland)

Canada & U S A

Thanks for the support: community makes C N I B Campaign a huge success (Canada)
ScanSoft's 36 Voices & 22 Languages Comprise Comprehensive Text-to-Speech Offering (Online)
Site Unseen: General Electric website made accessible by Deque Systems (Online)
New E E O C Fact Sheet Details A D A Rights (U S A)
Ogden Resource Center Dedicated - Blind School Thanks Val (Washington)
Helping hand: Florida Center for the Blind christens new facility (Florida)
Criminal Justice Center opening: keynote speaker "has painted his white cane blue" (Louisiana)
County cheating the blind? (Oklahoma)
Fourth-grader doesn't see blindness as a roadblock (New England)
Blind youth is an inspiration (Wisconsin)
Pianos kept him busy, sweets happy: Ernest W Nageley (Oregon)

Rest of World

Blind Thais go to the movies (Thailand)
Friends go to the aid of blind couple (Malaysia)
A day to remember the blind (Malaysia)
Gift from Kobe: Japanese folk tales in braille (Bhutan)

[V I P World News story links - October 9th 2003] (43)

U K and Europe

Forum Brief: Guide Dogs' Access (Epolitix.com, Online) (U K)
Campaign For Better Access To Churches (Somerset, England)
John North: Blind courage of a cricket buff (Northeast England)
Blind sight @ Contact Theatre: review for World Sight Day (Manchester, England)
Hoping to strike a chord with learners: "Tone Compass" guitar tuner (Norfolk, England)
Project Watch Divide & Conquer: profiles include R N I B website feature (CBR Online)(U K)
Over 600 Enjoy Run In The Sun: including paralympic champion Bob Matthews (Warwick, England)
Blind woman to take the plunge in record event (Newcastle, England)
Flying start to charity efforts (The Cotswolds, England)
Caprice's Charitable Gesture: model donates to "Jewish Blind & Disabled" charity (U K)
Countess Champions Weapon to Tackle Word Blindness (Scotland)
World Conker Championships to raise money for blind charities (Scotland)
Eight Of Ten Cases Of Blindness Are Evitable (Rome, Italy)
W H O unveils kit to help blindness prevention programmes (Geneva, Switzerland) 

Canada & U S A

McGill University Health Centre - The Genetics of Blindness (RP Research article)(Canada)
Millions Saved From Going Blind, through Vision 2020 (Calgary, Canada)
Author's Life Lessons: bestselling author Tom Sullivan to discuss new book (New York)
Audio newspapers a noteworthy cause: Musicians will jam to benefit NFB's Newsline (Ohio)
An opportunity to see golf from a new perspective (Wisconsin)
Acute senses guide freshman (Ithaca, New York)
V S D B students learn about space exploration (Virginia)
Disability council honors 'broken barriers' (Louisville, Kentucky)
Universities get grant to research impact of air travel on disabled (Portland, Oregon)
Universal design promotes access (Texas)
United Way helps fund aid to visually impaired (Michigan)
World Sight Day: 180 million suffer from vision loss worldwide (Missouri)
Suzanne Ament welcomes newest faculty member: Nikita, a 2 year old yellow Labrador (Virginia)
Downtown Los Altos a training ground for Dogs Against Darkness (California)
Infamous Library Cat Dies: Cat Sparked $1.5 Million Lawsuit after attacking  guide dog (San Diego)
Verizon, Audiovox continue settlement talks with O'Day (Washington)
A blackout for the blind: since Newsline service was terminated (Boston)

Rest of World    TODAY IS WORLD SIGHT DAY

Bunting beats Buller: Blind skier dominated National Alpine Championships (Australia)
"Not just a pet, a guide for getting on with the rest of life": guide dog Danny (Australia)
Stem cell conference (Melbourne, Australia)
The Conscience of Cuba: features imprisoned blind lawyer Juan Carlos González Leiva (Cuba)
Bank employees mark World Sight Day with lunch in complete darkness (Singapore)
Bank marked World Sight Day by sponsoring a visit by 150 blind people to the Cinema (Thailand)
50,000 people to get free eye care (Ha noi, Vietnam)
Blind man named new sports commissioner (Philippines)
Experts set sights on health care (Bahrain)
200 cataract persons see in Mangochi (Malawi, Africa)
Africa urged to revise blind policy (BBC) (Africa)
Flying doctors Eye-surgeons bring sight to blind Kenyan nomads (BBC) (Africa)

[V I P World News story links - October 8th 2003] (38)

U K and Europe

Making sense of taste (Telegraph Online) (U K)
Blind people can 'see with sound' (Children's BBC, Online) (U K)
Gene therapies may save sight (MD article)(The Times, Online) (U K)
Sheltered Housing scheme wins R N I B award (London, England)
Lavender Lodge built for deaf blind women (Cheshire, England)
Planning permission `a great present' for Multi-sensory therapy centre (Worcestershire, England)
School reunion 'a fantastic success' (North Warwickshire, England)
Sensory Company International offers wide range of products (U K) 

Canada & U S A

New VISION 2020 tool kit lets Ottawa set its sights on preventing blindness (Canada)
Access Plan a big step closer (Peterborough, Canada)
White House Faith-Based Initiative May Help Nonprofits Get Government Funding (U S A)
Speech Technology Industry Names Top Performers for 2003 (New York)
Helping the blind go online: N F B (Maryland)
'The next life you save may be my own' Rod Powell (Philadelphia)
Lack of sight can't keep students out of the driver's seat (Colorado)
Goal Ball Scores Big (Arizona)
Team allows challenged kids to compete in soccer games (California)
Talking books for the visually impaired (Arizona)

Rest of World

La Nacion: News site for vision-impaired online (Buenos Aires, Argentina)
Visionary (Jonathan Mosen) Acknowledged By Blind New Zealanders (N Z)
N Z Herald Commended For Offering That Extra Touch (New Zealand)
Eyes focus on World Sight Day (New Zealand)
Guide dog association seeks homes for puppies (Taiwan)
Blind people press massage rights (Taiwan)
Joy of restored vision  (Malaysia)
Car rally to mark `White Cane Day'  (India)
Site on visually impaired launched (India)

[V I P World News story links - October 7th 2003] (38)

U K and Europe

Emma flies the flag in Florida: British Goalball squad at U S Championships (Rochdale, England)
R N I B Strategic Directions for 2000 to 2006: A Summary (U K)
Guide Dogs launches The Guide Dogs High Street Charter (U K)
Guide dogs In & Out of the harness:  Fireworks Bill Article (Ourdogs.co.uk, Online)
Safe Work Leads To Books Gift: for National Blind Children's Society (Devon, England)
Teenage drivers in desert test: to donate car to Gambian V I P's (Suffolk, England)
Blind man twice stranded at railway station (Nottingham, England)
Graeae Theatre Company bring Peeling to Dublin (Northern Ireland)
'Don't panic' over new rules (Disability Access article) (Scotland)
Envox Worldwide Responds to Market for Cost-effective Speech Solutions (Stockholm, Sweden)

Canada & U S A

Trekker for PAC Mate - GPS-Based Orientation Solution - officially launched (Montreal, Canada)
Taxi operators who refuse guide dogs will risk their licences, council agrees (London, Canada)
Freedom Scientific Selects ScanSoft Technology for OpenBook (Online)
VeriSign Service Criticism : Sitefinder "not good for web page reader devices" (Online)
TDK MOJO MP3 Players Deliver Innovative Design, Leading Features & Pristine Sound (Online)
Braille based cell phone to get speech interface (Online)
Colorful, new $20 bills hit banks on Thursday (U S A)
White Cane Etiquette: Lack of Courtesy Adds Danger for Sight-Impared Walkers (Florida)
Disabled racers set sights on 'bone run' (New Jersey)
Woman picked for Port Authority board (Pittsburgh)
City likes idea of disability council (Evansville, Kentucky)
Dog's eyes mean safety for local woman  (Engelwood, Florida)
Puppy earns stripes one paw at a time (Tennessee)
Three-year V S D B fight ends with a whimper  (Virginia)
Emerson addresses Vision Impairment Group (Arizona)
Blind, Disabled Woman Claims Police Brutality (Portland, Oregon)

Rest of World

Blind athlete on charity flight (Australia)
The Blind Petition Parliament (Ghana)

[V I P World News story links - October 6th 2003] (38)

U K and Europe

R N I B appoints new boss (SocietyGuardian) (U K)
United Launch Pioneering Accessibility Website (Manchester, U K)
Praised For Enormous Contribution To Campaign: leading figure in blind association (Cornwall)
Student Of Fashion, 86, To Showcase Her Designs (Cornwall, England)
Where Are the Disabled People in Your Work? (Action on Disability & Development) (Online)
Blind Man Told To Take Number (Exeter, England)
How council failed a devoted father (Hertfordshire)
New mobile phone caters to blind users (Electricnews.net, Ireland)
For A Blind Person, A Trip To The Shops Can Be A Minefield Of Hidden Dangers (North Scotland)
Street 'clutter' could be banned (Inverness, Scotland)
Top marks for game aimed at teaching Braille (Wales)
Councillor discovers first hand the obstacles in Malaga City for the visually challenged (Spain)
Vatican Amongst Those On Waiting List To Create Talking Foods (Vatican City?!)

Canada & U S A

Seniors Matter: Blind teacher had vision (Kingston, Canada)
Private sector urged to be more accessible (Mississauga, Canada)
Technology: Making Linux accessible for Granddad  (Newsforge.com, Online)
Technology: Tools to Help You Listen (Online)
A B V I gets U S contract: to run Environmental Protection Agency hotline (Rochester, New York)
Helping People On Both Ends Of The Phone (Rochester, New York)
Disabled workers to prepare documents for ScanDirect (Albany, New York)
Paul Stark: A life of sweet music (Montana)
Rotary hosts noted motivational speaker (Craig MacFarlane) (Los Angeles)
Disabled Crew Sails Trans-Pacific Race (San Francisco)
Bruno's chocolate factory and shop has new owners (Fort Pierce, Florida)
Legally blind parents still see plenty (Minnesota)
Solar and strawberries: Ogden Resource Center to be dedicated Thursday (Washington State)
Sight substitutes: Ann Morris Enterprises at York County Blind Center (Pennsylvania)
Newsstand makeover a hit (Albany, New York)
Braille Institute offers variety of services promoting independence (California)
Tempe radio station (Sun Sounds) caters to blind listeners (Arizona)
Woman enjoying new guide dog (Florida)
Hernando County Animal Services focusing its efforts: features guide dog mauling victim (Florida)

Rest of World

Meet the PDA that can hold a conversation (Australia)
Provisions donated to Home for Aged of Little Sisters of the Poor (Myanmar, South East Asia)
Let's play pool: features the All-India Blind Women's Welfare Association (India)
Fighting for Uganda's blind (BBC) (Uganda)
First Lady opens paralympic games (Zimbabwe)
'Mother Teresa of Somalia' killed by gunmen (Somaliland)

[V I P World News story links - October 5th 2003] (20)

U K and Europe

Small firms failing to act on disabled access (Telegraph Online, U K)
NHS stories: 'I had a stroke': Jane Elliott looks behind the scenes of the NHS  (BBC, U K)
Focus: Coping with Dyslexia (Malta)

Canada & U S A

C M U student taps brain's game skills: online game could improve web for v i p's (also mentions
CAPTCHA's) (Carnegie Mellon University)

Perfect harmony: Henry Butler finally realizes dream: to teach v i teens to play jazz (New Orleans)
A Feel for Music: Blind Tuner Warren Mullen Learned the Piano by Taking One Apart  (Washington)
Disabled fishermen surprise experienced anglers at tournament (Illinois)
Sculptor, 85, won't let visual impairment stop him (Florida)
Making Braille competition finals just part of 9-year-olds' success story (Minnesota)
Profile: The Information Access Association (Wichita, Kansas)
Opinion column: Politician Johnson supported laptops over Dial-a-Lift (Washington State)
Class offers help in dealing with public transportation (San Diego)
Wanted: Donations for Winter (for A B V I Goodwill) (Rochester, New York)

Rest of World

Blind busker lands concert performance (Melbourne, Australia)
For blind surfer, it's fun, fun, fun (Australia)
Audio service gives blind readers access to the Herald (New Zealand)
Many tourist sites still inaccessible to disabled (Japan)
One lakh visually impaired people in Lanka (Sri Lanka)
Blind student: NHWC asks CM to order probe (India)
Israel first in the world to develop Alzheimer's guide dogs  (Israel)

[V I P World News story links - October 4th 2003] (23)

U K and Europe

TNAUK Talking Newspaper Association Competition 2003: COTIS announce results (U K)
Henshaws Marks World Sight Day (Oct 9) With Bigger & Better Celebrations (Merseyside, England)
Government accused at first disabled parliament (Ananova, online) (U K)
Drivers turn blind eye to road safety (Huddersfield, England)
Love at first sight after eye op (BBC) (South Wales)
Seeing into the future: Sight Savers International (Scotland)
Helping the disabled: Awareness-raising event at Mdina (Malta)

Canada & U S A

Legal group takes on phone firms over lack of accessibility (Toronto, Canada)
Pet blessings: Sacred events for furry friends (Toronto, Canada)
Blind-sided: Theatre of the absurd gets 2 new acts to follow (voting accessibility article) (Canada)
Angels carry needs on manmade wings: Medical Flight Team "get the hardest cases" (U S A)
TecAccess Selected as a Presenter for IDEAS Conference (November 5-6, 2003) (Washington DC)
Willie O'Ree (former NHL Boston Bruins player) will speak at Wolfchase Mall (Tennessee)
Walk for Visually Impaired: to raise public awareness of White Cane traffic law (Maine)
Sacred brides of Jesus Christ: features Anne Inkret (Colorado)
Extra help ordered for girl with poor sight (Florida)
Officials discuss future of veterans hospital in Waco (Texas)

Rest of World

Partners go the distance with a belly full of bananas (Tandem riding article) (Australia)
"Light the Night for Sight" event to be October 11th (Malaysia)
Staff Charity Day ends SCB Community Week (Brunei)
Blind, but they add light to others' lives (India)
Needs of the elderly being ignored (Taiwan)
World Sight Day Holds Oct. 9 (Nigeria)

[V I P World News story links - October 3rd 2003] (26)

U K and Europe

Theatre and dance: Blind play breaks ground (Manchester, England)
A cuddle can make it better: Animals help keep us well (Telegraph, U K)
Donnie eyes up Everest: (former rock star Donnie Munro) (Scotland)
Dunblane's Tartan Day Is Special: Blind Association to run Tearoom (Dunblane, Scotland)
Street signs put blind in danger (Inverness, Scotland)
Entries now being accepted for the Marathon Goalball Tournament 28-30 November 2003 (Sweden)
Résonances 2003 International Convention on Music Technology - October 15-24 (Paris, France)

Canada & U S A

Study determines source of gene mutation that leads to retinitis pigmentosa (Drkoop.com, Online)
Touching The Universe - In Braille (Sciscoop.com. Online)
TTS engine supports Linux devices on ARM/XScale (Linuxdevices.com, Online)
Little Buster's R&B Tour brings benefit show to Variety Playhouse (Gwinnett County, Georgia)
Western singer Wesley Tuttle dies (Los Angeles)
Blind powerlifter aspires to be 'The best athlete out there' (Pennsylvania)
Author urges inclusion (South Dakota)
Humane Society recognizes Nevadans  (Nevada)
Kids get empathy lesson (Michigan)
Blind Center weaves awareness (North Carolina)
Center for the Blind moves to new home (Florida)
Vision Impairment day set Saturday at Northfield Square (Kankakee, Illinois)
Friday Last Chance To Try Touchscreen Voting At Most Locations (Los Angeles)
Family opens home, hearts to raise guide dog for blind (Chicago)
Disabled students meet Disney creatures (Hampton, Virginia)

Rest of World

Blind bowlers challenge 'Bridge RSL (Australia)
Welfare group seeks to train guide dogs for the blind (Taiwan)
Is Africa taking good care of its eyes? (BBC) (Africa)
Over 150,000 Lagosians Are Blind - Health Commissioner (Lagos, Nigeria)

[V I P World News story links - October 2nd 2003] (31)

U K and Europe

Arlecdon Woman Celebrates 100th Year (Whitehaven, England)
One year to provide disabled access: for companies (U K)
R N I B to close school early (Condover Hall) (Shropshire, England)
Pavement hazards causing danger spots for the blind (Berkshire, England)
Michael Watson to front new campaign for the Disability Rights Commission (Telegraph) (U K)
Guide dog group aims to set up a new branch (Bedford, England)
City diary: features story involving David Blunkett & his guide dog, Sadie (The Guardian) (U K)
Blind Patient In 12-hour Ordeal (Falkirk, Scotland)
IPC Equestrian World Championships: Anne-Cecile Ore from Norway demonstrated riding in the arena with sound boxes (Belgium)
All set for Swimathon 2003: event to include DJ from Torball Association for the Blind (Malta)
Call for traffic lights to sing like birds (Dusseldorf, Germany)
Svetluska project lights a path for the blind (Prague, Czech Republic)

Canada & U S A

Town asked to outline accessibility efforts (Northumberland, Canada)
John Williams: Assistive Technology Is Creating a More Inclusive America (Nod.org, Online)
Now Hear This, Quickly: Company make devices that shorten recordings by up to 12% (New York)
A different venture: Diversity Theatre addresses social issues through live theater (Indiana)
To artist, knowing is seeing (Oregon)
Blind keep streak alive, beat HPD in beep ball game (Birmingham, Alabama)
West Coast premiere of blind Everest climber's film (San Francisco)
Blind students face unique challenges (Minnesota)
Guide meets Lickdale students (Pennsylvania)
Disabled students, faculty recognized (Long Beach, California)
Her story being replayed across state: 77 year old insists she is independent (Kentucky)
Blind attorney asks those responsible for improving bus service to ride it themselves (Michigan)
Blind Workers Say They're Owed State Benefits (Connecticut)
Lions promote safety for blind (Wisconsin)

Rest of World

Blind lawyer writes from prison (Cuba)
Japan grants 75000 USD to braille library (Vietnam)
Blind moves: It's there in the mind (v i chess story) (New Delhi, India)
Kalam inaugurates second phase of Herbal Gardens (New Delhi, India)
No hope in sight yet: For Susheela Chaurasia (India)

[V I P World News story links - October 1st 2003] (25)

U K and Europe

London Borough (of Brent) website can now talk to its visually impaired users (London, England)
Bid to make shops easier for the blind (Wiltshire, England)
N H S 'condemns 2,800 to blindness' (Telegraph online) (U K)
Fans (of West Ham United) are not just any old Irons! (London, England)
Blind woman takes the plunge (Shropshire, England)
(Blind Golfing Champion) Mayo Meets Up With Razor Ruddock (North Devon, England)
New sports club for visually impaired children launched (Huddersfield, England)
Princess Anne to visit Pinchbeck Sense centre next week (Lincolnshire, England)

Canada & U S A

Province misses accessibility deadline (Ontario, Canada)
Usablenet release new LIFT product: "the 1st Customizable 'Text-Only' web site generator"(Online)
Fonix Releases Version 5.0 Of Finix DECtalk TTS Technology (Online)
U S National Park Service offers free lifetime Golden Access Passport to blind & disabled (Online)
Ayanna Hobson & Little Buster's Soulbrothers Band to play Friday 3rd October (Kansas City)
Rockin' George Leh and His Band: Concert beneficiaries include the Iris Network (Maine)
Freshman draws on her artistic abilities (Youngstown, Ohio)
Fleet Launches `Access for All' Initiative; Effort Honors National Disability Month (Boston)
Many writing systems exist (language history article, features Moon) (Arkansas)
Greatest hurdle for the disabled is prejudice (Nevada)
Sports clinic offers recreation for blind, training for U D students (Delaware)
Policy may cut funds for blind Pa. students (Pennsylvania)
Gift to fight glaucoma (University of Tennessee)
Research Offers Insight On Treatment For Hereditary Eye Disease (RP) (ScienceDaily.com, Online)
U S C awarded $17 million to develop biotech implants (Los Angeles, California)
Puppy love in their golden years: Daily dog visit cheers up nursing home (New Jersey)

Rest of World

Sakhr Software launches new Arabic software & solutions at GITEX 2003 (United Arab Emirates)

(End of October 2003 Link Post)

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