special needs

Filed under: Themes, Auties & Aspies, QuIrked Kids, Irked Videos

An astonishing spiritual journey…after the jump!

Click to continue »

Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries, Irked Videos

The Trekker Breeze, designed and manufactured by the company HumanWare, is a handheld talking GPS for people who are blind/visually impaired that “can be controlled by one hand” and is ”as simple as your TV remote.” It costs $895USD, and here’s what it can do: It verbally announces names of streets, intersections and landmarks (including stores, public services, etc) as you walk. No need to stop passersby to know where you are… simply press a button and Breeze tells you your location on the spot. When you are in a vehicle, Breeze announces all intersections, allowing you to exit when you want. If you get lost, you can easily retrace your steps—simply push a button. You can record the routes when you learn them with sighted people so that you can use them later without assistance, and also save landmarks for later use (i.e. favourite restaurant, friend’s house, bank, park bench, etc).

Two awesome videos…after the jump!

Click to continue »

Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries, Campaign Watch, Irked Videos

Interesting developments…after the jump!

Click to continue »

Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries, Campaign Watch

Helen McFadyen—who is chair of the Halifax Regional Municipality’s Advisory Committee for Persons with Disabilities, a board member of Guide Dog Users of Canada, a member of the blind caucus of equualaccess.org, past president of the Halifax Chapter of the Alliance for Equality of Blind Canadians, and a much-cherished Irked contributor—recently forwarded us the following advance news release:

Click to continue »

Filed under: Themes, Blind Visionaries, Irked Audio

A few weeks ago, IrkedMagazine.com published a series of features about Metro Transit’s decision to stop offering free bus passes to Nova Scotians who are blind or have minimum sight. To be deliberately cheeky and hyperbolic (but also to express our bona fide outrage) we dubbed the debacle “Halifaxgate.”

After reading our coverage, Canadian icon Terry Kelly has agreed to weigh in. For those of you who don’t know Terry, please allow us to introduce just a few of his many accomplishments:

Click to continue »

Filed under: Regular Contributors, Brian Segal, Themes, Wheelchairman of the Board

Trapped In A Web Of My Own Doing

(Or how vacuum cleaners and wheelchairs do not mix)

by Brian Segal

Although I am in a wheelchair, I still like to try and help out with the day to day chores around the house. There are limitations of course. Shovelling snow off the roof of the house is no longer possible. Crane operators will not insure the hoisting of my chair up on the roof. Click to continue »

Filed under: Regular Contributors, Brian Segal, Themes, Wheelchairman of the Board 

Before I start writing my little essay I would like to make a couple of things clear: Firstly, I accept the fact that I must use a wheelchair. My explanation to people who ask why I am in a wheelchair is simply that I have multiple sclerosis—an accident of life and nothing else. Secondly, and for me something that is obvious, is that I would much rather not have to use one. I don’t feel sorry for myself; I would simply rather not be in my present physical state. Click to continue »