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Begin forwarded message: From: "Rita Kersh" <[email protected]> Date: February 25, 2012 3:28:15 PM CST To: "acb-l" <[email protected]>, <[email protected]> Subject: [acb-l] Sounding out new technique for the blind Reply-To: Rita Kersh <[email protected]> Sounding out new technique for the blind BY NADINE MORTON 25 Feb, 2012 04:00 AM A NEW technique for vision impaired people in Orange is set to give them a new-found freedom according to the developer. Until now in Orange those with a vision impairment relied on a cane, guide dog or a friend to help them get around but echolocation techniques taught to Guide Dogs NSW/ACT staff is set to change that. Vision impaired Californian man Daniel Kish developed the technique after an aggressive cancer retinoblastoma led to his eyes being removed when he was just 13 months old. Mr Kish uses sonar techniques from his tongue to click and “see” where he is going without sighted assistance. “A cane can only reach so far into your environment and a dog can take you through your environment, echolocation gives you a depth of perception into your environment,” he said. Mr Kish has been on tour in regional locations across NSW teaching Guide Dogs NSW/ACT staff how to show vision impaired people to use the technique. By clicking his tongue or clapping his hands Mr Kish is able to determine what objects are around him such as a tree, a building or even furniture. He said different objects give off different sounds. Nine-year-old Max Harry Smith is vision impaired and took part in the echolocation training session yesterday. “It’s a really good thing to learn and you don’t walk into things and wound yourself,” he said. Young Max Harry said learning the technique was “excellent” and said he would use it in addition to his walking cane. For more information on the services Guide Dogs NSW/ACT can provide contact 6362 6625 or visit www.guidedogs.com.au. nadine.mo [email protected] _______________________________________________ acb-l mailing list [email protected] http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/acb-l
_______________________________________________ ATI (Adaptive Technology Inc.) A special interest affiliate of the Missouri Council of the Blind http://moblind.org/membership/affiliates/adaptive_technology
