The non-profit Australian organisation NV Access has been recognised for their work on the free-to-download, open source screen reader, NVDA. The NVDA screen reader for the Windows operating system is a piece of software that translates text and other elements to synthetic speech, so that people who are blind or vision impaired or who have cognitive disabilities, can access information on the web as well as programs on their computer. In an article published recently by Media Access Australia, co-developer James Teh said the non-profit organisation is struggling to sustain its funds.
Major League Baseball (MBL) has been recognised for providing accessible services on their website MBL.com and through their At Bat 11 app for the iPhone and iPad. The Gameday Audio player on the MBL website lets users download audio versions of game broadcasts while the At Bat 11 app gives access to videos, post-game wraps, archived games and news.
Leader for Dogs for the Blind is a US organisation that provides training services for people who are blind or vision impaired. The organisation offers orientation and mobility training through their Accelerated Mobility Program, which helps people who are blind or vision impaired travel safely and independently in different environments. The organisation has also provided guide dogs and associated services.
Lauren Lieberman, a professor at the State University of New York, founded a program to promote fitness for young people with a disability. The Camp Abilities program offers 14 sports and recreation camps in the United States and four internationally. It also provides the opportunity for young blind or vision impaired people to train for and compete in the Paralympics.
The Awards are detailed further in an American Foundation for the Blind media release.
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