The Achieving a Better Life Experience, or ABLE Act, has been passed in Congress and the law signed by President Obama. The law will allow people with disabilities to save up to $100,000 in a special account without jeopardizing government pensions or benefits. Though each state must now put regulations in place to allow these special accounts, they are expected to be available within the next few years. The full article can be found here.What do you think of this new law? Share your thoughts in the comment section.
White House Marks Passage of ABLE Act
Until now, image recognition software was limited to recognizing parts of an image, but not understanding anything more complex with various parts. But new advanced AI software has addressed this issue. Both Google and Sanford University have been developing artificial intelligence software programs that can interpret images and describe them better than ever. To read more about this advancement and how it works, visit 
Do you find going to a restaurant stressful due to low vision or blindness? In 
As adults, we know when our vision is changing and understand that regular eye exams are important for healthy living. But what about children? This article outlines when children should have eye exams by a registered professional and what will be checked during these exams. With 1 in 4 children living with undetected vision problems, it’s important to follow professional advice to find problems early. Read the 
It’s the time of year that award shows for films are happening. Stars are walking the red carpet and many of us are in a frenzy to watch all of the nominated movies before the award shows. But what happens when you can’t see? How do the popular movies and award winners stack up when the visual component can’t be appreciated? Find out how the Blind Film Critic began his popular film ratings and how he rates the movies in 
Art Jones lost his sight at the age of 18, but he didn’t give up his passion for cycling. Now 46, Art is a member of the Major Taylor Cycling Club in San Diego riding a tandem bike with a partner in competitions around the area. To read Art’s thoughts on riding and the freedom that it gives him, visit 
This is a must read blog post by a teenager who was born with sight but is now legally blind. She not only has managed to graduate high school with straight As, she is now attending college, works part time, volunteers with a charity and is involved in other extracurricular activities! To read more of her story and for a bit of inspiration, visit 
A new public service announcement (PSA) featuring nine people living with various disabilities is now airing on television stations around the country. The 30 second piece reminds us that we are all a sum of our many parts, much more than just our disability, and we have many roles in life. Entitled “Who I Am”, it is an encouraging video worth the watch! To read more about “Who I Am”, 
Recent research by the University of Boulder Colorado shows that simulated sightlessness, though intended to create empathy and understanding, may actually do the opposite. It has been common for people without vision problems to wear a blindfold and attempt to perform regular tasks in order to understand the life of a visually impaired person, but the study states that this gives a skewed impression of living blind. For more information, read the report 
The author of this article, Emily K. Michael, is a visually impaired poet. She discusses her definition of blindness, living with visual impairment, and her feelings of defending her definition without meaning or wanting to. Her writing is insightful and brings up questions that many others may struggle with. Read what Emily has to say by visiting 
At the end of the school year, the traditional yearbooks help us remember what we did, who we hung out with and what we accomplished. The Seoul National School for the Blind went one step further for their graduating class. They used 3D printing to create small but highly detailed busts of all the classmates to serve as the annual “yearbook”. To see the students reaction and read more about the amazing gift, visit 
Brooke Jostad was born blind but has never let that stand in her way. A recent graduate from a Bachelor’s program, Brooke is now doing her Masters. Also an accomplished musician, she doesn’t let blindness keep her from being involved in the things she is interested in. To read more about Brooke’s outlook on life and her accomplishments so far, visit 
Braille was created by a young man who lost his vision in a childhood accident. Louis Braille was only 12 when he developed the system of raised bumps in different patterns to signify different letters and numbers. His birthday is celebrated on January 4th and we remember the inventor of this system that improved life for many. To read more, visit 
If you’re a fan of listening to podcasts, visit 
Christine Ha, a blind chef who won season 3 of Masterchef, has put together a list of her favorite kitchen items. If you’re still trying to find that perfect, last minute gift, take a look at her suggestions by visiting 
This week, the regular podcast called “Cooking in the Dark” showcases Vietnamese Spring Rolls and goes over tips and tricks for cooking when you are visually impaired. The hosts make cooking fun and approachable for all of us regardless of abilities. They also feature some kitchen gadgets that help with safety issues when blind. Listen to the podcast 
There isn’t a lot of research done on how to make public spaces most effective and easily navigable for people with visual impairments, but 3 professionals recently got together to look at the different aspects that should be addressed in design. Read their conclusions on lighting placement, type and direction in 
Christmas is a time of crafts, baking, and fun activities that families can do together to celebrate the special time of year. But when your child lives with visual impairment, how can crafts and goodies be adapted to make use of other senses? 
This year, the National Federation of the Blind is acting as Santa’s little helper to provide Braille Letters from Santa to blind and visually impaired children. Parents can request a Braille letter from Santa for a child under the age of ten by visiting 
With the holidays fast approaching, many of us are starting to think about what to buy for our friends and family. If you’re looking for a present for a person living with visual impairment, consider one of 
People living with vision impairment can still enjoy Sudoku, the number puzzle, thanks to a new app available through Apple. Using gestures on the touch screen, players listen to information in order to play. The screen is black so competition between sighted and non sighted players is on a level playing field. More information is available through 
An amazing 13 year old has created a low cost Braille printer after deciding that the current price tag of this technology is too expensive. He is so successful that he is the youngest person to ever receive venture capital funding for a start-up 
Felice Tagliaferri, a blind artist, wasn’t allowed to touch the well-known sculpture of Cristo Velato. Disappointed that he was unable to experience the artwork, he set out to recreate the sculpture making it accessible for other visually impaired people. His version attracts crowds of tourists, both sighted and visually impaired. To read more, visit 
Christine Ha, winner of Season 3 of MasterChef, lives with vision impairment yet creates delicious, creative meals. She focuses on cooking with the other four senses and was recently featured on the Steven and Chris talk show to create Panang Chicken Curry with them. To watch the show, click 