HOME Services Journal, Helpline, Email list, Consumer Protection, webletters About us Who we are, mission, history Message of Hope Living tips For the visually impaired Library Free electronic books and online audio Bookstore Purchase large print or braille publications, e-books, audio, and regular books for sighted care providers Assistive Technology Medical Info Diseases, conditions, treatments News In the field of visual impairment Education Opportunities for the visually impaired People Achievers in spite of vision loss Jobs Available FAQ Frequently Asked Questions Press Releases Links to other resources Fundraising Donations, shopping, books, Paypal Site Map List of all our web pages		Back to our Services page. Vision Webletters   …a short update from Vision World Wide to share with your friends and colleagues, who can request their own free copy by sending a message to info@visionww.org   Webletter - December 2001   In This Issue: Have You Heard the Latest? December 6, 2001 Alert for Air Travelers Just In Time for Christmas! Eat Your Medicine Shareware To Relieve Eye Strain A Learning Toy For Vision Impaired Children AFB Seeks Advocate for Its Governmental Relations Office Are Eye Infections Easy To Detect & Treat? Early Iris Cell Research Very Promising Depression & Vision Loss Curious About Contents of Next Issue of Vision Enhancement? *************************************** 1. Have You Heard the Latest? On November 26, 2001 our award-winning publication, Vision Enhancement, became available via e-mail, either in Adobe Acrobat PDF or ASCII Text format with special file for Braille output. This new electronic format contains all the text of the 68- to 78-page print edition but with the added convenience of using current technology to search, cut, paste, and print specific articles of special interest to the reader. Each issue contains highly relevant information on a variety of topics, a resource directory with complete contact information, bold, honest discussions of emotional and physical issues, current medical research, latest technological assistive devices, tips on handling vision loss, new books, videos, magazines, noteworthy events, consumer-protection, and more. Sign up now! It is quick and easy and costs just $25 U.S. Dollars. (All Countries) Payment Method: Checks, Money or Purchase Orders, Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or PayPal. Read the full Press Release at www.visionww.org/pressreleases.htm. Top of Page 2. December 6, 2001 Alert for Air Travelers (Issued on 10/29/01 and amended on 12/06/01 by the Office of the Assistant General Counsel for Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings and its Aviation Consumer Protection Division.) Fact Sheet: Steps Taken to Ensure New Security Requirements Preserve and Respect the Civil Rights of People with Disabilities The Air Carrier Access Act (ACAA) and the Department of Transportation's implementing rules prohibit discriminatory treatment of persons with disabilities in air transportation. Since the terrorist hijackings and tragic events of September 11, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has issued directives to strengthen security measures at airline checkpoints and passenger screening locations. In securing our national air transportation system, where much of FAA s efforts have been directed to date, steps were also taken to ensure that the new security procedures preserve and respect the civil rights of passengers with disabilities. This Fact Sheet provides information about the accessibility requirements in air travel in light of strengthened security measures by providing a few examples of the types of accommodations and services that must be provided to passengers with disabilities. The examples listed below are not all-inclusive and are simply meant to provide answers to frequently asked questions since September 11 concerning the air travel of people with disabilities. Top of Page Check-in: Air carriers must provide meet and assist service (e.g., assistance to gate or aircraft) at drop-off points. The lack of curbside check-in, for certain airlines at some airports, has not changed the requirement for meet and assist service at drop-off points. Screener checkpoints Individuals assisting passengers with disabilities are allowed beyond the screener checkpoints. These individuals may be required to present themselves at the airlines check-in desk and receive a pass allowing them to go through the screener checkpoint without a ticket. Ticketed passengers with their own oxygen for use on the ground are allowed beyond the screener checkpoints with their oxygen canisters once the canisters have been thoroughly inspected. If there is a request for oxygen at the gate for a qualified passenger with a disability, commercial oxygen providers are allowed beyond the screener checkpoints with oxygen canisters once the canisters have been thoroughly inspected. Commercial oxygen providers may be required to present themselves at the airlines check-in desk and receive a pass allowing them to go through the screener checkpoint without a ticket. The limit of one carry-on bag and one personal bag (e.g., purse or briefcase) for each traveler does not apply to medical supplies and/or assistive devices. Passengers with disabilities generally may carry medical equipment, medications, and assistive devices on board the aircraft. Top of Page All persons allowed beyond the screener checkpoints may be searched. This will usually be done through the use of a hand-held metal detector, whenever possible. Passengers may also be patted down during security screenings, and this is even more likely if the passenger uses a wheelchair and is unable to stand up. Private screenings remain an option for persons in wheelchairs. Service animals, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed, are permitted on board an aircraft. Any backpack or sidepack that is carried on the animal will be manually inspected or put through the X-ray machines. The service animal's halter may also be removed for inspection. Assistive devices such as walking canes, once inspected to ensure prohibited items are not concealed, are permitted on board an aircraft. Assistive devices such as augmentative communication devices and Braille 'n Speaks will go through the same sort of security screening process as used for personal computers. Top of Page Syringes are permitted on board an aircraft once it is determined that the person has a documented medical need for the syringe. To show a documented medical need, a passenger must have in their possession medication requiring the use of a needle or syringe that has a professionally printed label identifying the medication or a manufacturer's name or pharmaceutical label. Personal wheelchairs and battery-powered scooters may still be used to reach departure gates after they are inspected to ensure that they do not present a security risk. Any backpack or sidepack that is carried on the wheelchair will be manually inspected or put through the X-ray machines. Personal wheelchairs will still be allowed to be stowed on board an aircraft. Air carriers must ensure that qualified individuals with a disability, including those with vision or hearing impairments, have timely access to information, such as new security measures, the carriers provide to other passengers. For example, on flights to Reagan Washington National Airport, persons are verbally warned to use the restrooms more than half an hour before arrival since after that point in time passengers are required to remain in their seats. Alternative formats are necessary to ensure that all passengers, especially deaf persons, understand new security measures such as the one at Reagan Washington National. Top of Page We hope this information is helpful to you. Members of the public who feel they have been the subject of discriminatory actions or treatment by air carriers may file a complaint by sending an e-mail, a letter, or a completed complaint form to the Aviation Consumer Protection Division (ACPD). ACPD's e-mail address is airconsumer@ost.dot.gov and its mailing address is: Aviation Consumer Protection Division, U.S. Department of Transportation, Room 4107, C-75, Washington, DC 20590. Complaint forms that consumers may download and/or print are available at http://www.dot.gov/airconsumer/problems.htm.. Top of Page 3. Just In Time for Christmas! Are you looking for some excellent stocking stuffers for the vision impaired person on your gift list? Or, maybe even a handy device that won't fit in a stocking but can be placed under the tree? Go to SightConnection at http://www.sightconnection.com and you'll find many useful items to choose from in a wide variety of price ranges. Hurry! Time is running out. Have you considered giving a gift subscription to Vision EnhancementI to that special person on your list? It will be a welcomed gift for someone coping with vision loss, your support group leader, your rehabilitation counselor, and your medical professional. And, it only costs $25! It is available in many formats: electronically, in large print, on 2-track, tone-indexed standard speed audiocassette, and ELF CD-ROM (30 pt & 48 pt type). Order now from Vision World Wide at visionworldwide@yahoo.com. You'll be giving a gift that will last all year. Top of Page 4. Eat Your Medicine If you'd like to know which foods are good for a particular health problem or information about a particular food, you might find the Eat Your Medicine Website at http://www.medicalmeals.com/index2.htm interesting. Just enter the name of a food in the Search Box and press Go. You will immediately be taken to some interesting "food facts" including the history or background of the food and even some tasty recipes to enjoy it. Enter the name of a health condition and you will be rewarded with comprehensive information about that disease, foods believed to be helpful, and nutritional supplements believed by some to have therapeutic value. Top of Page 5. Shareware To Relieve Eye Strain If you're interested in trying out new applications, you might want to check out Anti-EyeStrain 2.5, (337kb), a shareware program from Opti-Ergo that is compatible with Windows 95/98/Me/NT/2000/XP. As its name implies, it is designed to minimize eyestrain experienced by computer users. While VWW has not tested the program, it is said to help maintain proper working schedules, reminds users to take breaks before they get tired, and suggestions for simple, but effective exercises for your eyes. Nearsighted users might also find that it helps to improve vision and may even retard myopia from progressing. Changes in the current version include: Improved full-screen interface. Resident part of the program is now much smaller. No time limit of the evaluation version. No on-line activation needed for the free trial. New eye-saving exercises and improved exercise suggestion algorithm. You can download Anti-EyeStrain 2.5 Beta from: http://fileforum.betanews.com/download.php3?fid=1004325064   Top of Page 6. A Learning Toy For Vision Impaired Children Rated as one of the Best Children's Products of 2001, the new Learning Sensations Play With Letters Desk by Fisher-Price is an excellent toy for learning the ABCs whether the child is visually impaired or fully sighted. This preschool desk features innovative technology that provides a fun and engaging way to learn the alphabet, phonics, spelling, and more. How it Works: The child rolls a letter on the desk and the desk magically knows which letter was rolled and rewards the child with a response. They can see and hear the letters and can also trace them with their fingers. The letters are textured and in Braille for tactile learning. This product teaches pre-reading skills including letter identification, word association, spelling and more. There are quiz games that prompt the child to find specific letters. The child can play a musical letter song as well and create words. It features a writing surface, dry erase marker, and a four-letter display area for word creation, spelling and picture cards and storage space for the letter tiles. This innovative product also has an automatic shut-off feature. This fun product combines many features to make it a great value. Play With Letters Desk requires 3 AA batteries. Three Ways to Learn: ·Teach -- Introduces the alphabet (A to Z), corresponding phonics and words, plus fun sounds and colors. ·Test -- Quizzes preschoolers on letter identification, color recognition, and simple spelling. Tickle -- Plays fun music, and kids can create a musical "letter rap" by rolling any tile. Ages: 3-7 Cost: $29.99 by calling 800-432-5437 Cost: $34.99 from Amazon.com* *If ordering from Amazon.com, why not help Vision World Wide by using the Amazon gateway from our Home Page at http://www.visionww.org. You will not pay more but we will derive a small commission from your purchase. Top of Page 7. AFB Seeks Advocate for Its Governmental Relations Office The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) is seeking an advocate in its Governmental Relations Office in Washington, D.C. The successful candidate will: Develop ongoing relationships with Congressional and agency staff and work with coalitions to promote and implement AFB's public policy agenda; Will serve as national expert and monitor selected legislative, regulatory and other policy-related issues; Draft proposed legislation and supporting materials; Write articles and alerts; Will prepare testimony or comments on legislation or regulations and serve as a key presence for AFB in Washington, D.C.; Will facilitate action by AFB's constituents and train members of the blindness community in the legislative/regulatory process and in self-advocacy. Qualified applicants will possess: A graduate degree in political science, public administration, law, or equivalent experience with a thorough knowledge and understanding of legislative and regulatory processes; Superior written and oral communication skills, excellent computer skills, and advanced knowledge of legislative research tools. AFB is an EEO employer and offers competitive salary and excellent benefits. Submit resume, cover letter and brief writing sample to AFB; e-mail afbgov@afb.net, or fax 202-289-7880. No phone inquiries please. More information about the Government Relations Group may be found at http://www.afb.org/gov.asp Top of Page 8. Are Eye Infections Easy To Detect & Treat? According to some medical experts, most types of eye infections are easily spotted and treatable though causes may differ widely. Hay fever infections, for example, can be treated with drops to help control the histamine which is released in the body as part of an allergic reaction and causes all the familiar symptoms. Infections like conjunctivitis, on the other hand, which are caused by a host of viruses or bacteria, are obviously different. If it's an infection, it will be sticky in the morning, with visible redness. There are two main types of antibiotic eye drops that would be used for that. If it's just irritation or allergy-based, there are anti-histamine drops. If it's just dust, then it would be Optrex eye wash or similar product. Whatever the cause, eye infections should be treated with respect and an eye care professional should be consulted. Top of Page 9. Early Iris Cell Research Very Promising In a recent report published in The Scotsman, scientists have turned cells from the eye's iris into photoreceptors, raising the possibility of restoring sight to the blind. The breakthrough was achieved in rats using a genetic technique which is still in its very early stages. But the research has demonstrated that photoreceptor-like cells can be created from eye tissue that does not normally react to light. If the technique can be further developed, it may one day be possible to restore the sight of people with retinal damage who are now incurably blind. Cells taken from the patient's iris would be modified in a laboratory and transplanted back on to the retina. Since the cells originated from the patient's tissue, there is no danger of rejection. The eye's retina is made up of two types of cells, called rods and cones, which send nerve messages to the brain when stimulated by light. When these cells are damaged they do not regrow. Blindness caused by retinal damage is incurable. A method of repairing the retina well enough to restore sight using cells from the iris is still a long way off. But according to the Japanese scientists, who announced their findings in the journal Nature Neuroscience, it might one day be possible. The team, led by Masayo Takahashi, from Kyoto University, wrote: "Our findings demonstrate a remarkable plasticity of adult iris tissue, with potential clinical applications, as autologous [patient's own] iris tissue can be feasibly obtained with peripheral iridectomy."   Top of Page 10. Depression & Vision Loss Patients with age-related macular degeneration are more likely to be depressed, researchers report. Furthermore, the degree of vision loss in these patients predicts their vision-related disabilities, according to a University of California - San Diego research team. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD), marked by retinal blood vessel formation, leakage, and lesions, frequently leads to central vision loss in the elderly. A new study of 151 older adults, average age 80 years, diagnosed with AMD has concluded loss of visual acuity is often reflected by changes in mental health status. Barbara L. Brody and colleagues, representing the Departments of Ophthalmology, Family and Preventive Medicine and Psychiatry at the La Jolla, California University, used several psychological assessments, vision evaluation tools, patient profiles, and questionnaires during the randomized trial. Almost a third of the trial participants met the criteria for having depression. This was "twice the rate observed in previous studies of community-dwelling elderly," Brody and coworkers commented. Moreover, researchers found they could predict a patient's extent of vision-specific disability based on the degree of their visual acuity. While more research on coping strategies, therapy, and suitable pharmacological agents is needed for AMD patients, it is quite obvious from this study that depressive disorder is a significant problem for the elderly afflicted with advanced macular degeneration. 11. Curious About Contents of Next Issue of Vision Enhancement? For a sneak preview of the next issue that will be mailed shortly, check our Website at http://www.visionww.org/journal.htm   Happy Holidays!!   Top of Page Back to our Services page. Vision World Wide 5707 Brockton Drive, #302 Indianapolis, IN 46220-5481 Phone: 317-254-1332 Toll Free: 800-431-1739 Fax: 317-251-6588 E-Mail: info@visionww.org © Copyright 1995-2001 by Vision World Wide Inc. All rights reserved. Updated December 8, 2001