edited by Cynthia G. Hawkins
The announcement of products and services in this column does not represent an endorsement by the American Council of the Blind, its officers, or staff. Listings are free of charge for the benefit of our readers. “The ACB Braille Forum” cannot be held responsible for the reliability of the products and services mentioned. To submit items for this column, send a message to [email protected], or phone the national office at 1-800-424-8666, and leave a message in Sharon Lovering’s mailbox. Information must be received at least two months ahead of publication date.
New Facebook Group
If you are blind or visually impaired, consider yourself active, love to do different things, enjoy learning, and you want to connect with others and possibly do things together, search online for a Facebook group called “active blind and visually impaired people on the move,” or visit www.facebook.com/groups/1722954888049879?view=group and click the “join group” button.
New Email List
A small group has started an email list for blind individuals to buy, sell and trade items that they no longer need or are looking for. A wide range of items are accepted. To join this email group, send a blank email to [email protected]. Once you have joined the list, you may list the items you are looking to buy, sell, or trade in an email to [email protected]. Questions? Send an email to [email protected] or Katie Anderson at [email protected].
NBP Announces Volunteer Award Recipients
National Braille Press recently announced the winners of its volunteer awards. Mrs. Sydney Feldman of Dedham, Mass., a volunteer since 1970, received the Sue Ammeter Individual Volunteer Award. The Rhode Island School of Design Alumni Club of Boston won the Group Volunteer Award for its perseverance throughout the pandemic.
Samsung’s Global Competition Winner
Ramneek Kaur Ahluwalia, a visually impaired 19-year-old from the UK, developed MyVision, a mobility aid that allows users to navigate their surroundings via Ai, LiDAR and GPS technology. The ground-breaking mobile device was created as an advancement of the white cane.
Samsung’s Solve for Tomorrow competition aims to find, fuel and celebrate 16- to 25-year-old students who have an idea for how technology could be used to solve some of society’s biggest issues. Launched in 2010, the competition has involved 1.83 million students from over 20 countries.
Alchemie Wins $1M Grant for Accessible Learning
Alchemie, an educational technology company, has received a $1 million Small Business Innovative Research Grant from the Department of Education’s Institute of Education Sciences to bring to market the Kasi Learning System. Kasi is a system which uses multi-sensory augmented reality to create pathways for all students, and especially those with blindness or low vision, to explore and learn chemistry and science. Instead of a mouse or a touchpad, the Kasi manipulatives, embossed with braille and other symbols, provide an alternative user interface for Alchemie’s interactive learning software.
Global EdTechX Startup Competition
ObjectiveEd was selected as the 2022 Global EdTech Startup Award winner. The Global EdTech Startup Award is the largest education technology competition in the world. The judges considered many factors, including innovation and market impact.
NAELA Honors Elder Law Pioneer
The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) named New York Law School professor Peter J. Strauss as the 2022 recipient of the NAELA Theresa Award. This award recognizes the outstanding efforts made by individuals helping and advocating for people with special needs.