I've been able to kick-off incredible friendships by Googling organizations, utilizing my blog, tapping into social media, and even attending "blind" encounters set up by mutual friends.
A one-hour experiment wearing earplugs that muffle -- but do not block -- all sounds, and goggles that simulate glaucoma, conducted under the supervision of Maura Platz, supervisor of the center's independent living department, provided a better understanding of the obstacles which the deaf-blind encounter while performing basic everyday tasks.
But blind users encounter problems when Web sites fail to design pages compatible with screen readers.
Perhaps further underlining the unique challenges blind people encounter, Nicholls says that the techniques involved in teaching his programme are very different to teaching sighted people.
For the past several years, the Education Department has received thousands of civil rights complaints: victims of alleged sexual assaults saying their universities mishandled their cases, blind students encountering inaccessible textbooks, girls basketball teams seeking equal access to gymnasiums.
Following his initial catastrophic red-helicopter-and-blind-skink encounter with the Samatenje of Sadjunjira, Carr issued the shaman an invitation to visit Chitengo, gave him a grand welcome and free use of the bar, and sent him home a buddy.
To deter surprise encounters, the park recommends avoiding hiking at dawn, dusk or night, and making noise while walking along, such as periodically yelling out "Hey, bear!" especially when encountering blind corners or heading through brush.
By the end of the first episode, which includes a beauty contest with blind judges and encounter sessions led by the likes of Dr. Michelle Callahan (of "The Tyra Banks Show") and the host, Yoanna House (of "America's Next Top Model"), several girls have sniffled and even apologized for bad behavior.
And that blind date I encountered again.
