Ed Cossart Immediate Needs Grant (IN)

Ed Cossart Immediate Needs Grant (IN) is sponsored by Lions Vision Resource Network (LVRN). This grant provides financial aid to blind or low-vision individuals in Alameda or Contra Costa Counties, California, who have immediate, low-cost needs. Examples include medical aids (e.

g. , talking blood glucose monitors), seeing aids (e.

## California Council of the Blind Scholarship Sponsored by California Council of the Blind (CCB, state affiliate) ### Description & Purpose Multiple awards to California-resident legally blind students pursuing undergraduate, graduate or vocational post-secondary studies. Funds are paid per term upon proof of enrollment and grades. Legally blind California residents (attendance at CA school not required).

Full-time enrollment (≥12 semester units undergrad, ≥9 for graduate) in a college/university or vocational program. ## Visually Impaired Scholarship Fund (VISF) Sponsored by Visually Impaired Scholarship Fund (LAUSD non-profit) ### Description & Purpose Scholarships (often $500–$2,500) to graduates of Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) programs for the blind/visually impaired, to help fund college or trade school.

Legally blind or visually impaired students graduating from LAUSD secondary programs (typically completing a VAB program). ## BVA Kathern F. Gruber & Thomas H.

Miller Scholarships Sponsored by Blinded Veterans Association ### Description & Purpose Scholarships ($2,000 & $1,000) for families of blinded veterans. Spouses, children, grandchildren of blinded U.S. veterans.

## ACB Scholarship Program Sponsored by American Council of the Blind (ACB) ### Description & Purpose Scholarships ($2,000–$7,500) for legally blind students (freshmen, undergraduates, graduate, and technical students) to help pay education costs (tuition, fees, room/board, assistive tech). Legally blind U.S. students, 3. 0+ GPA, full-time (or part-time working 32+ hrs/week), involved in community.

## Lighthouse Guild Scholarships Sponsored by Lighthouse Guild (nonprofit) ### Description & Purpose Merit scholarships for visually impaired students entering college or graduate programs. Awards include multiple undergraduate scholarships (for outstanding legally blind high-school seniors) and at least one graduate scholarship. Applicants submit proof of blindness and U.S. residency.

Legally blind U.S. citizen or resident, accepted to college (freshman) or enrolled in a graduate program. GPA criteria vary; proof of legal blindness required.

## Flight for Sight Travel Grant Sponsored by Flight for Sight (nonprofit) ### Description & Purpose $10,000 travel grants enabling blind or low-vision individuals to undertake a self-designed travel project that raises awareness and benefits the blind/visually impaired community. Legally blind or low-vision individuals with a project proposal designed to benefit the blind community.

Sponsored by Lavelle Fund for the Blind (private foundation) ### Description & Purpose Annual merit scholarships ($5,000 each, two awarded) for legally blind college juniors/seniors or graduate students at participating schools. Recognizes academic excellence and leadership.

Legally blind U.S. residents, enrolled as college juniors/seniors or graduate students at one of Lavelle’s 19 partner institutions (e.g. several CUNYs, FIU, Peabody, etc.). ## Mary P. Oenslager Scholastic Achievement Awards Sponsored by Learning Ally ### Description & Purpose Awards blind/VI college seniors and graduate students for academic excellence.

Legally blind Learning Ally members enrolled in higher education. ## Fred Scheigert Scholarship Program Sponsored by Council of Citizens with Low Vision International (CCLVI) ### Description & Purpose Awards three $3,000 scholarships to college students with low vision. Full-time U.S. students with low vision meeting acuity/field criteria.

## NFB Scholarship Program Sponsored by National Federation of the Blind (NFB) ### Description & Purpose Largest blind scholarship program in the U.S.: thirty $8,000 merit scholarships per year for blind college students. Legally blind, U.S. resident (all states, DC, PR), 18+ by award date, enrolling full-time in accredited college/university.

Sponsored by Mission Cataract ### Description & Purpose Free cataract surgery for individuals with no insurance or ability to pay. Must lack insurance and have cataracts affecting vision.

## Dr. Maureen Powers QOL Grant Sponsored by Lions Vision Resource Network (LVRN, CA nonprofit) ### Description & Purpose Quality-of-Life grants (up to $5,000 each) for adaptive tech and aids (smartphones, computers, Braille devices, low-vision products, home safety equipment, research, etc.) to enhance independence. Blind or low-vision individuals age 21+ living in Alameda or Contra Costa Counties, CA.

(Grants to organizations also considered.) ## Ed Cossart Immediate Needs Grant Sponsored by Lions Vision Resource Network (LVRN, CA nonprofit) ### Description & Purpose One-time grants (up to $1,500) for immediate, low-cost needs (medical/seeing aids, canes, Braille machine repair, transit to appointments, etc.) for blind/low-vision adults. Blind or low-vision individuals age 21+ living in Alameda or Contra Costa Counties, CA.

## AER William & Dorothy Ferrell Scholarship Sponsored by Assoc. for Educ. & Rehabilitation of Blind (AER) ### Description & Purpose Biennial scholarships ($1,000 each, two winners) for legally blind students preparing for careers serving the blind and visually impaired.

Awarded in even-numbered years. Legally blind individuals enrolled in an educational program to prepare for a career in vision services (e.g. special education, rehabilitation). ## Assistive Technology Fund (ATF) Sponsored by Association of Blind Citizens (ABC) ### Description & Purpose Provides grants covering 50% of the cost of adaptive devices or software for blind/low-vision individuals.

Legally blind individuals in the U.S.; one grant per cycle; applicant pays remaining 50%. ## New Eyes Eyeglass Voucher Program Sponsored by New Eyes for the Needy ### Description & Purpose Provides free eyeglasses through voucher assistance. U.S. residents in financial need, application via provider.

## Adaptive Technology Grant Program Sponsored by Missouri Council of the Blind ### Description & Purpose Matching grants up to $3,000 for adaptive technology. Legally blind Missouri residents; members get 50% match, non-members 25%. ## CTEBVI 2025 Conference California Transcribers and Educators for the Blind and Visually Impaired 65th annual conference with 60+ workshops, tech exhibits, Youth & Parent Institutes, and networking.

## Sight Tech Global 2025 Virtual conference exploring how AI and emerging tech will transform assistive technology and accessibility for blind and low-vision users. Assistive Technology Industry Association's flagship conference-community-building and education for assistive-technology professionals; hybrid format.

## ACB 2025 Conference and Convention American Council of the Blind's 64th annual conference featuring exhibits, workshops, programs, tours, social activities, and hybrid in-person/virtual participation. ## NFB 2025 National Convention Annual convention of the National Federation of the Blind; the largest gathering of blind people, offering training, support, and information for the blind community.

## CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2025 World's largest assistive-technology conference, showcasing innovative tech and solutions that remove barriers for people with disabilities. ## Envision Conference 2025 Multidisciplinary conference on low-vision rehabilitation and research offering CE, presentations, and networking for vision rehabilitation professionals.

## AFB Leadership Conference 2025 American Foundation for the Blind's leadership conference bringing together professionals, advocates, and industry leaders to advance opportunities for people with low vision. ## Getting in Touch with Literacy 2025 Conference focused on literacy-including braille-featuring workshops, field trips, and discussions for educators and families of blind or visually impaired students.

## ACB celebrates 15th anniversary of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act The American Council of the Blind celebrated the 15th anniversary of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, which requires smartphones and digital apps to be accessible to blind and low‑vision users, mandates audio‑described television and established the National DeafBlind Equipment Distribution Program.

ACB said it is now advocating for the Communications, Video, and Technology Accessibility Act to update and expand accessibility requirements for modern streaming platforms October 8, 2025•American Council of the Blind ## Wisconsin secures funding to sustain services for deaf‑blind learners after federal grant termination A Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction press release explained that after the U.S. Department of Education terminated the Wisconsin DeafBlind Technical Assistance Project grant, the state secured a subgrant from the National Center on Deafblindness to continue services.

State Superintendent Jill Underly said the one‑year funding will maintain assistive technology, educator training and family support while the department seeks long‑term solutions October 8, 2025•Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (WisPolitics) ## DisabilityTech Pitch Challenge awards tactile fingerspelling robot for deaf‑blind users Perkins School for the Blind’s Howe Innovation Center hosted the DisabilityTech Pitch Challenge, where Tatum Robotics won the grand prize for its robotic system that translates English into tactile fingerspelling for deaf‑blind users.

HapWare received a prize for its haptic communication system and Cami Health won the people’s choice award; Perkins and Mitsubishi Electric leaders said the competition highlights how assistive technologies can improve independence for people with disabilities October 8, 2025•BusinessWire/Perkins School for the Blind ## Ozempic vision‑loss lawsuits mount amid claims drug makers failed to warn patients Drugwatch noted that more than 2,800 lawsuits have been filed against manufacturers of Ozempic and related drugs alleging injuries such as gastroparesis, intestinal obstruction and non‑arteritic anterior ischemic optic neuropathy (NAION), a condition that can cause permanent vision loss.

Plaintiffs claim drug makers failed to warn about the risk of vision loss; the lawsuits may be consolidated, and the European Medicines Agency’s recent acknowledgment of NAION as a potential side effect could bolster the cases ## Hillsborough jury awards $70. 8M in ER malpractice case that left woman blind Health News Florida (WUSF) reported that a Hillsborough County jury awarded $70.

8 million to Chiaka Stewart after Tampa General Hospital failed to perform a CT scan when she visited the emergency room with a severe headache. The delay resulted in a stroke that left her blind and hemiplegic; the verdict includes compensation for medical care, pain and suffering and loss of earning capacity October 2, 2025•WUSF (Health News Florida) ## Fashion Nova agrees to $5.

15M settlement over inaccessible website A legal blog reported that California fashion retailer Fashion Nova settled a class action lawsuit for $5. 15 million after a blind plaintiff alleged its website was inaccessible to screen‑reader users. Legally blind residents who attempted to access FashionNova.

com can claim up to $4,000 each by Oct.

20 2025; unclaimed funds will go to the American Foundation for the Blind, and the settlement sets a significant benchmark for web accessibility litigation October 1, 2025•Law Office of Lainey Feingold ## OhioSEE program to provide free eye exams and glasses to students in high‑need counties Spectrum News reported that Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and the Ohio Department of Health announced OhioSEE, a program that will deliver comprehensive eye exams and glasses fittings to about 14,000 elementary students in 15 high‑needs counties starting in early 2026.

The initiative responds to data showing more than 80% of students needing follow‑up vision care after school screenings do not receive it and aims to remove transportation barriers by bringing clinicians to schools September 30, 2025•Spectrum News/NY1 ## Amazon’s ComicCast uses generative AI to make comics accessible for blind readers Amazon Web Services collaborated with Dentsu Creative and Spain’s National Organization for the Blind (ONCE) to develop ComicCast, a generative AI platform that converts comic panels into immersive audio experiences for blind readers.

The app uses Amazon’s Nova large language model and Anthropic’s Claude to analyze images and generate descriptive audio, adding sound effects and voice synthesis; it debuted at San Diego Comic‑CON in Spain and allows blind readers to enjoy stories previously inaccessible September 29, 2025•Amazon News Europe ## Target introduces accessible self‑checkout designed with blind community Target announced a first‑of‑its‑kind self‑checkout system co‑designed with the National Federation of the Blind.

The device features high‑contrast buttons with braille, a headphone jack and a tactile controller that allows blind or low‑vision shoppers to enter PINs privately; Target will roll out the accessible self‑checkout in about 200 stores in 2025 and plans nationwide deployment, encouraging other retailers to adopt the technologyw ## Pennsylvania lawmakers examine assistive technology to expand access to state services A Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus hearing held during Rep.

Joe Hohenstein’s Disability Summit examined how assistive technology and universal design could improve access to state programs and employment for people with disabilities.

State agencies and advocacy groups testified about the need to expand assistive technology statewide; Hohenstein called technology a lifeline and said the Pennsylvania Tech Accelerator task force would soon present recommendations for implementing accessible technology across departments.

September 25, 2025•Pennsylvania House Democratic Caucus ## Blind Iowans protest changes to state training program Iowa Public Radio reported that blind Iowans rallied against the Department for the Blind’s decision to make sleep shades optional during orientation training.

Protesters chanted “Keep the shades, raise the bar,” saying the blindfold requirement helps them learn non‑visual skills and fosters independence; department officials argued the optional policy offers more choice and cited survey data showing more people would participate if sleep shades were not mandatoryhttps://www. iowapublicradio.

org/state-government-news/2025-09-17/blind-iowans-protest-state-training-program#:~:text=Blind%20Iowans%20marched%20outside%20of,impaired%20vision%20to%20live%20independently.

September 17, 2025•Iowa Public Radio ## DOJ halts ADA rulemakings on accessible equipment and public rights‑of‑way An ADA Title III law blog reported that in September 2025 the U.S. Department of Justice withdrew 54 pending regulatory actions, including proposed rules on accessible equipment and furniture in public accommodations and on accessible routes in public rights‑of‑way.

The decision, made to comply with an executive order limiting regulatory costs, means existing ADA obligations remain in place while more detailed standards for accessible pedestrian signals and other equipment will not be issuedhttps://www. adatitleiii. com/2025/09/trump-administration-puts-the-kibosh-on-two-pending-ada-rulemakings/#:~:text=Seyfarth%20Synopsis%3A%C2%A0%20There%20will%20be,way%20issued%20during%20this%20Administration.

September 16, 2025•ADA Title III Law Blog (Seyfarth Shaw LLP) ## Protesters oppose Iowa Department for the Blind’s changes to orientation training The Des Moines Register reported that more than 100 protesters gathered outside the Iowa Department for the Blind to protest a policy change that made the use of sleep shades—blindfolds used to teach non‑visual techniques—optional rather than mandatory in orientation center training.

Demonstrators argued that mandatory sleep‑shade training builds confidence and independence, while department officials said making them optional would attract more clients and better serve individuals with additional disabilitieshttps://www. desmoinesregister.

com/story/news/politics/2025/09/16/iowa-department-for-the-blind-orientation-center-policy-change-protest/86152516007/#:~:text=The%20commission%20on%20Sept,essence%20making%20the%20shades%20optional.

September 16, 2025•Des Moines Register ## Programs for students with hearing and vision loss harmed by Trump’s anti-diversity push ProPublica reported that the U.S. Department of Education halted funding for state deaf‑blind projects in Wisconsin, Oregon, Washington and a New England consortium because the programs referenced equity and inclusion.

The cuts jeopardize services for about 10,000 children and young adults with combined hearing and vision loss; advocates said the funding represented a small portion of federal education spending and stressed that the programs provide essential training and support for families and educatorshttps://www. propublica.

org/article/trump-dei-students-education-deaf-blind-grant-funding#:~:text=The%20U,the%20country%E2%80%99s%20most%20vulnerable%20studentshttps://www. propublica. org/article/trump-dei-students-education-deaf-blind-grant-funding#:~:text=Nationally%2C%20there%20are%20about%2010%2C000,Connecticut%2C%20New%20Hampshire%20and%20Vermont.

## Trump administration cuts funding for Oregon’s DeafBlind Project over DEI references KGW in Oregon reported that the U.S. Department of Education terminated a five‑year grant for Oregon’s DeafBlind Project because the program’s association with Portland Public Schools’ Center for Black Student Excellence conflicted with the administration’s policy priorities.

The project served more than 100 students with combined hearing and vision loss; families warned that the cut would devastate them, and advocates noted it was part of a broader pattern of funding terminations in multiple stateshttps://www. kgw.

com/article/news/politics/national-politics/trump-administration-cuts-deaf-blind-student-funding/283-891cbbfa-b017-49c7-89ba-859aa41864c7#:~:text=PORTLAND%2C%20Oregon%20%E2%80%94%20The%20Trump,conflicting%20with%20current%20administration%20priorities.

## Massachusetts hosts first CVI Awareness Day at State House Optometry Times reported that Massachusetts legislators and the Perkins School for the Blind hosted the first Cerebral/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI) Awareness Day at the State House.

The event aimed to raise awareness of CVI, a leading cause of childhood blindness, and featured discussions emphasizing that early identification and intervention can significantly improve outcomes for children with CVIhttps://www. optometrytimes. com/view/first-ever-cvi-awareness-day-to-be-held-in-boston-in-september#:~:text=News.

## BITS and Microsoft launch accessibility partnership to improve Narrator and M365 apps The American Council of the Blind’s Blind Information Technology Specialists (BITS) announced a nine‑month partnership with Microsoft.

BITS members will test and provide feedback on the Narrator screen reader and Microsoft 365 applications, helping refine accessibility features; the program also offers participants professional opportunities and underscores the importance of including blind voices in product developmenthttps://www. acb.

org/bits-microsoft-and-american-council-blind-launch-groundbreaking-accessibility-partnership#:~:text=TUCSON%2C%20AZ%2C%20September%2005%2C%202025,blind%20or%20have%20low%20vision.

September 5, 2025•American Council of the Blind ## Massachusetts Commission for the Blind celebrates success of Summer Internship Program Massachusetts Commission for the Blind held a closing ceremony for its 2025 Summer Internship Program, marking the program’s 23rd year of connecting blind and visually impaired individuals to career‑building experiences.

Commissioner John Oliveira highlighted the program’s role in professional development and thanked employer partners across healthcare, technology, finance and other sectorshttps://www. mass. gov/news/massachusetts-commission-for-the-blind-celebrates-2025-summer-internship-program#:~:text=August%2013%2C%202025%20,of%20growth%2C%20opportunity%2C%20and%20collaboration.

August 27, 2025•Massachusetts Commission for the Blind ## Social Security adds 13 conditions to Compassionate Allowances list The Social Security Administration added 13 severe conditions, including bilateral anophthalmia and progressive muscular atrophy, to its Compassionate Allowances list. The program fast‚Äëtracks disability claims for the most serious conditions; SSA Commissioner Frank Bisignano noted it has helped over 1.

1 million people receive benefits quicklyhttps://southfloridahospitalnews. com/social-security-adds-13-conditions-to-compassionate-allowances-list/#:~:text=August%2011%2C%202025,statutory%20standard%20for%20disability%20benefitshttps://southfloridahospitalnews. com/social-security-adds-13-conditions-to-compassionate-allowances-list/#:~:text=%E2%80%9CWe%20are%20constantly%20looking%20for,%E2%80%9D.

August 11, 2025•Florida Hospital News ## Telemedicine partnership prevents blindness in premature infants Stanford ophthalmologists partnered with Ghanaian surgeon Akwasi Ahmed to deliver telemedicine screenings for retinopathy of prematurity. Community health workers capture retinal images; infants at risk receive a one‚Äëtime injection of bevacizumab, preventing blindness.

The program reduces travel barriers for mothers and trains local providershttps://news. stanford. edu/stories/2025/08/ophthalmology-telemedicine-partnership-infant-blindness#:~:text=August%2011th%2C%202025,Medicine.

## Illinois law extends essential support person rights to community homes Illinois enacted House Bill 57 expanding the Essential Support Persons Act to include community integrated living arrangements (CILAs). The law guarantees that residents of these community homes have the right to receive essential visitors, ensuring dignity and independence and aligning rights with those in other facilitieshttps://ilsenategop.

org/2025/08/11/new-law-strengthens-disability-rights-in-community-settings/#:~:text=A%20new%20law%20supported%20by,based%20residential%20settings. August 11, 2025•Illinois Senate Republican Caucus ## Illinois DDD update on de-escalation training reimbursement and revalidation An Aug.

 6 Illinois DDD communication celebrated the Illinois Association of Rehabilitation Facilities’ 50th anniversary, provided details on reimbursement rates for de‑escalation training for trainers and frontline staff, reminded providers to complete IMPACT revalidation to avoid suspension, and listed training opportunities such as EVV system traininghttps://www. dhs. state.

il. us/page. aspx#:~:text=CELEBRATING%20IARF%3A%2050%20YEARS%20OF,EDUCATION%20%26%20ADVOCACYhttps://www.

dhs. state. il.

us/page. aspx#:~:text=IMPACT%20PROVIDER%20REVALIDATION%20REMINDERhttps://www. dhs.

state. il. us/page.

aspx#:~:text=Revalidation%20Frequently%20Asked%20Questions%20,be%20found%20here%3A%20Provider%20Revalidation. August 6, 2025•Illinois Department of Human Services ## Shapiro promotes Pennsylvania OVR program that hires students with disabilities Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro highlighted the Office of Vocational Rehabilitation‚Äôs ‚ÄúMY Work‚Äù program, which pairs high school students with disabilities with paid summer jobs.

Shapiro said the program connected more than 500 students to jobs this summer and over 2,400 since he took office, and emphasized investing in people with disabilitieshttps://www. fox43.

com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/gov-shapiro-highlights-program-that-pairs-students-with-disabilities-with-jobs-in-their-communities-occupational/521-f8f52eab-5dd5-434d-a612-84dbcb4009eb#:~:text=Published%3A%209%3A58%20PM%20EDT%20August,5%2C%202025https://www. fox43.

com/article/news/local/lancaster-county/gov-shapiro-highlights-program-that-pairs-students-with-disabilities-with-jobs-in-their-communities-occupational/521-f8f52eab-5dd5-434d-a612-84dbcb4009eb#:~:text=,Shapiro%20said.

## Ohio recipient warns new Medicaid requirements will worsen access Ohio Capital Journal reported that Tarrezz Thompson, who teaches children with learning disabilities, fears that new Medicaid work requirements and budget cuts under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act will push families off Medicaid.

The law will cut nearly $1 trillion from Medicaid over 10 years (about $33 billion in Ohio) and impose work requirements starting in 2027; critics note that 92% of non‑disabled Medicaid recipients already work or face barriershttps://ohiocapitaljournal.

com/2025/08/05/as-new-medicaid-requirements-loom-one-ohio-recipient-warns-the-complicated-system-will-get-worse/#:~:text=But%20Thompson%2C%20a%20mother%20of,a%20confusing%2C%20arbitrary%20process%20alreadyhttps://ohiocapitaljournal. com/2025/08/05/as-new-medicaid-requirements-loom-one-ohio-recipient-warns-the-complicated-system-will-get-worse/#:~:text=caused%20by%20work%20requirements.

## Michigan commentary urges overhaul of special education funding In a Michigan Advance commentary, Dr. Scott Koenigsknecht argued that Michigan reimburses only 28. 6 percent of special education costs, leaving districts underfunded. He promotes the Michigan Special Education Finance Reform Blueprint (MI Blueprint), which would create a weighted funding formula centered on students’ needs.

More than 1,000 stakeholders have contributed to the plan, and a final report is due in Octoberhttps://michiganadvance. com/2025/08/05/its-time-to-fund-special-education-based-on-what-students-actually-need/#:~:text=As%20a%20parent%20of%20a,short%20of%20what%20students%20deservehttps://michiganadvance.

com/2025/08/05/its-time-to-fund-special-education-based-on-what-students-actually-need/#:~:text=The%20MI%20Blueprint%20project%20was,policy%20context%2C%20and%20lived%20experience. ## Mother advocates for CRB1 blindness research and empowerment Kristin Smedley, mother of two sons with CRB1‚Äërelated blindness, founded the Curing Retinal Blindness Foundation and Thriving Blind Academy to fund research and teach independence skills.

She highlights that little is known about CRB1 gene disorders and emphasizes the need for patient advocacy and research collaborationshttps://bio. news/latest-news/mother-inspired-to-support-solutions-for-her-boys-blindness/#:~:text=For%20most%20of%20her%20life%2C,son%2C%20Michael%2C%20that%20all%20changed.

## New York City celebrates ADA 35 and Disability Pride Month New York City marked the 35th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Disability Pride Month. Mayor Eric Adams reaffirmed commitments to equity and inclusion and highlighted that the city’s NYC:ATWORK program has connected more than 1,200 New Yorkers with disabilities to jobshttps://www. nyc.

gov/site/mopd/events/pr/nyc-marks-ada35-and-disability-pride-month-with-citywide-celebration. page#:~:text=New%20York%2C%20NY%C2%A0%E2%80%93%20As%20Disability,ADA.

August 1, 2025•NYC Mayor‚Äôs Office for People with Disabilities ## Sacramento police continue search for man with disabilities who went missing Police in Sacramento are still searching for 33‑year‑old Lovett 'LJ' Moore, a legally blind man missing since June 28; investigators have followed leads but found no sign of him.

August 1, 2025•KCRA News (Sacramento) ## Ohioans fear losing Medicaid under new federal law Another Ohio Capital Journal article (republished from News5 Cleveland) profiled Autumn¬†La¬†Riche, a disabled woman who relies on Medicaid. She worries that the Big Beautiful Bill‚Äôs funding cuts and work requirements will strip her of coverage.

The law raises work requirements for able‚Äëbodied adults and eliminates certain exemptions; experts warn added paperwork will make it harder for people to keep benefitshttps://ohiocapitaljournal. com/2025/08/01/i-dont-know-what-i-would-do-ohioans-worry-about-what-comes-next-with-medicaid/#:~:text=Ohio%20Republican%20U,%28Official%20photoshttps://ohiocapitaljournal.

com/2025/08/01/i-dont-know-what-i-would-do-ohioans-worry-about-what-comes-next-with-medicaid/#:~:text=There%20were%20also%20major%20changes,homelessness%20from%20the%20exceptions%20list.

## Legally blind Delaware teen needs your vote for Sports Illustrated Athlete of the Year Isaiah Bingham, 15, Delaware’s first legally blind high‑school football player, is a finalist for Sports Illustrated’s Youth Athlete of the Year and is seeking public votes.

## Mayor Adams Celebrates 35th Anniversary of Americans With Disabilities Act, Announces Major Accomplishments and Commitments to Advance Equity and Access New York City marked the ADA’s 35th anniversary, highlighting that over 1,350 New Yorkers with disabilities have been placed in jobs since 2023 toward a goal of 2,500 by 2026, supported by $10 million in city investments.

July 30, 2025•City of New York (Mayor’s Office) ## The American Council of the Blind presents Special Achievement Award to Oregon Tech faculty member for National Park Service accessibility work Dr. Brett Oppegaard received ACB’s 2025 Special Achievement Award for leading research that brought audio description to more than 200 National Park Service sites.

July 29, 2025•Oregon Institute of Technology News ## A blind baker, a book-loving Brit and dancing retirees all inspire hope A CBS News segment profiled three uplifting stories, including a legally blind chef finding success, a visually impaired photojournalist, and two Memphis retirees dancing for joy.

## As the ADA turns 35, groups fighting for disability rights could see their federal dollars slashed Disability‑rights advocates warn that proposed federal budget cuts could wipe out more than 60 percent of funding for protection and advocacy organizations as the ADA turns 35.

July 26, 2025•Associated Press (via KOAT) ## Company builds network for deaf, blind residents who need alerts when natural disasters strike Texas‑based Deaf Link is partnering with local governments to provide an Accessible Hazard Alert System that sends emergency alerts via text, voice, and Braille devices. July 25, 2025•Texas Standard / Texas Public Radio ## Dani A.

Pich becomes first blind person to sail solo, unaided around the Isle of Wight Catalan athlete Dani Anglada Pich completed a solo, unaided circumnavigation of England’s Isle of Wight in a rudderless catamaran, a first for a blind sailor.

## Darkened dreams: How a nonprofit for the blind squandered a $125 million windfall San Francisco’s LightHouse for the Blind faces foreclosure and layoffs a decade after receiving a record bequest, following costly expansion plans.

July 17, 2025•The San Francisco Standard ## Insight Expo partners with UH Optometry providing education and peer support for blind and visually impaired Houstonians The annual Insight Expo connected blind and low‑vision Houstonians with assistive tech providers, vision‑care professionals, and peer‑support resources.

July 16, 2025•University of Houston College of Optometry ## Blind children compete in national Braille challenge Visually impaired students from across the U.S. showed off spelling and reading skills at the 25th annual Braille Challenge finals.

## Homeless San Francisco man blinded after lighting street firework A homeless man was permanently blinded in one eye when a July 4 firework exploded; relatives launched a GoFundMe for medical bills and housing.

July 11, 2025•San Francisco Chronicle ## Miami Lighthouse for the Blind teams up with the Miami Marlins Foundation for a game of "beep ball" Blind and visually impaired teens played an adapted baseball game using a beeping ball and bases at loanDepot Park with the Miami Marlins Foundation. July 10, 2025•MLB.

com (Miami Marlins News) ## EEOC: Workers with vision impairments couldn’t access education company’s training The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit alleging that Pearson Education violated the ADA by using training and HR systems that were not accessible to blind employees.

According to the June 27 complaint, visually impaired staff had to use personal time or ask sighted colleagues to help complete mandatory trainings, leading to lost leave and privacy concerns. ## What LabCorp v. Davis Means for Disability Rights and Class Action Lawsuits The U.S. Supreme Court declined to rule on LabCorp v.

Davis – a case where blind patients sued LabCorp over inaccessible check-in kiosks – effectively dismissing the appeal and leaving in place lower-court decisions that allowed the ADA class-action lawsuit to proceed.

## Johns Hopkins students invent braille label printer for local brewery & visually impaired workers A group of engineering students at Johns Hopkins University developed a printer that can add braille to beer can labels, a tool that blind and low-vision employees at Blind Industries & Services of Maryland can operate independently.

## AI-powered assistive technologies are changing how we experience and imagine public space New applications integrating artificial intelligence with wearable devices are changing how users with disabilities interact with their environment. From smart glasses that describe surroundings using AI assistants to AI-enabled prosthetics and brain-computer interfaces, these technologies could profoundly shape accessible urban experiences.

## AFB Announces Dr. Tiffany Wild as Recipient of the 2025 Corinne Kirchner Research Award The American Foundation for the Blind announced that Dr. Tiffany Wild of The Ohio State University will receive the 2025 Corinne Kirchner Research Award, honoring her prolific research on how blind and low-vision students learn – with a focus on improving STEM education for those learners.

July 2, 2025•American Foundation for the Blind ## Tom visits the 25th Annual Braille Challenge The Braille Institute hosted the 25th annual Braille Challenge finals in Los Angeles, where 50 students with blindness or low vision from the U.S., Canada, the U.K., Australia, and Ireland competed in reading, writing, and tactile literacy skills.

The competition – marking a milestone year for the event – highlighted how braille literacy still empowers blind youth in a digital era.

## AFB Names 2025 Migel Medal Honorees AFB announced that Dr. Bernadette Kappen and Lukas Franck will receive the 2025 Migel Medal – the highest honor in the blindness and low vision field – and will posthumously honor Louis Braille with a special Migel Medal this year, commemorating 200 years since he developed the braille system.

June 30, 2025•American Foundation for the Blind ## Prevent Blindness Declares June 28–July 4, 2025, as Fifth Annual Fireworks Safety Awareness Week The nonprofit Prevent Blindness declared the week of June 28 through July 4, 2025 as the fifth annual Fireworks Safety Awareness Week to educate the public on the dangers of fireworks and help prevent eye injuries and vision loss from fireworks-related accidents.

## City-sponsored forum to highlight disability inclusion in the arts The City of Sacramento announced a public forum on June 27 to discuss disability inclusion in performing arts, coinciding with the “ALL IN: Festival of Accessible Theater. ” Supported by a federal ARPA grant, the forum will cover topics like how accessible theater (with features such as audio description for blind attendees) advances disability rights.

Officials say events like ALL IN mark important steps toward a more inclusive arts community. June 26, 2025•Sacramento City Express ## Young Mozambican inventor bringing the blind smart ‘vision’ Agence France-Presse reported on a 24-year-old Mozambican robotics student developing high-tech smart glasses to assist blind users.

João António Rego’s “Vision Hope” prototype uses sensors to detect obstacles and vibrations to warn the wearer, giving blind people more independence in navigation. The latest version has a 120° field, improved sensors, a smart power-saving battery pack, and GPS to inform others of the user’s location.

June 25, 2025•Jamaica Observer (AFP) ## Blind, deaf and neurodivergent artists take center stage at ALL IN festival Capital Public Radio covered a new accessible theater festival in Sacramento called “ALL IN: The Festival of Accessible Theater,” featuring performers who are blind, deaf, and neurodivergent.

Running June 27–29 at the R25 Arts Complex, the festival includes performances and a city-sponsored forum on disability inclusion in the arts. Events offer ASL interpretation and audio description so blind audience members can fully participate. June 25, 2025•CapRadio (Sacramento, CA) ## Blind Folks Are Still Waiting At the Curb An opinion piece highlights how 35 years after the ADA, cities like Chicago and Washington D.

C. have very few accessible pedestrian signals. A federal judge ordered Chicago on May 29 to install accessible crossing signals at 71% of intersections by 2035 after an ACB-backed lawsuit, and a similar lawsuit was just filed in D.

C. It also notes that Senator Edward Markey introduced a Complete Streets Act on June 4 to promote safe, accessible streets for all. ## Medicaid enrollees fear losing health coverage if Congress enacts work requirements A proposed federal work requirement for “able-bodied” Medicaid recipients is raising alarm among people with illnesses and disabilities.

The House-passed “Big Beautiful” spending bill backed by President Trump would mandate work for many Medicaid enrollees, with some exemptions. Advocates and patients worry that even those who should be exempt (due to health conditions) could lose coverage because of burdensome paperwork or enforcement errors. The article highlights fears that vulnerable individuals might fall through the cracks if these requirements take effect.

June 14, 2025•Associated Press (via SF Chronicle) ## Supreme Court Makes It Easier For Students With Disabilities To Sue Schools In a unanimous ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court decided that disability discrimination claims in schools should not face a higher bar than in other settings. The case (A. J.

T. v. Osseo Schools) centered on whether students must prove “bad faith or gross misjudgment” by schools; the justices rejected that extra hurdle, affirming that ADA and Rehabilitation Act claims in education are subject to the same standard as elsewhere.

Advocates hailed the decision as a major victory for students with disabilities seeking equal treatment. ## Countdown begins for 35-year anniversary of key legislation protecting those with disabilities As the Americans with Disabilities Act’s 35th anniversary approaches, advocates reflect on its impact and the work still ahead.

Ann Deschamps of the Mid-Atlantic ADA Center notes the ADA has "broken down a lot of barriers" since 1990 but stresses that attitudes remain a major hurdle for people with disabilities. The article also highlights upcoming updates to web accessibility guidelines to improve digital inclusion.

## Effort To Roll Back Federal Disability Rights Protections Alarms Advocates Disability advocates are sounding the alarm over a fast-tracked move to weaken long-standing accessibility rules. The U.S. Department of Energy has quietly proposed rescinding a decades-old Section 504 regulation that requires federally funded new buildings to meet Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards.

Unusually, the agency is bypassing the normal public comment process by issuing a “direct final rule,” meaning the change could take effect by July 15 unless significant objections are received. Experts warn this unprecedented rollback would lead to more inaccessible buildings and could be a trial balloon for eroding other disability rights protections, since many entities also fall under ADA Title II standards. ## SSA issues 2.

5 million retroactive payments under Social Security Fairness Act Agency says most beneficiaries affected by