Emmanuel Kefakis (1920-2001), former executive director of the Lighthouse for the Blind, Athens, Greece died September 17, 2001. Emmanuel was a well-known member of ICEVI in its early days and for the innovative programs he introduced in the rehabilitation of the blind in Greece.
If you have not done so already you may want to look into going to this acclaimed show. The show has been shown in 60 cities in 13 different countries with more than 700.000 visitors. "Visually impaired or totally blind people will open your eyes in the dark in order to show you a world that isn’t any poorer, but different from yours". For more information go to: www.dialog-im-dunkeln.de/en_plain.htm
The American Printing House for the Blind recently announced that a "Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field" has been established. To visit the very interesting site just log on to: www.aph.org/hall_fame/hofindex.html
On January 4 the world commemorated a ground breaking step forward –the adoption of the Braille system. In 1825 Louis Braille invented the writing system that has enabled millions of blind and visually impaired people to lead independent lives. Louis Braille in 1841 told his old school friend, Pierre Foucault that access to communication was vitally important for blind people, " if we are not to go on being despised or patronized by condescending sighted people. We do not need pity, nor do we need to be reminded that we are vulnerable. We must be treated as equals – and communication is the way we can bring this about". Benetton, the clothing manufacturer celebrated World Braille Year with a simple yet meaningful gesture: a series of T-shirts with words written in Braille. Some bear the United Colors of Benetton logo, with the words in colored Braille e.g. blue, yellow, red, black and white below.
Michael Mellor, editor of the Matilda Ziegler Magazine for the Blind is making a listing of monuments, plaques etc. around the world, which honor Louis Braille. If you know of any contact Mike at:
Matilda Ziegler Magazine
80 Eight Avenue, Room 1304
New York, NY 10011 USA
Tel. +212 242-0263. Fax +212 924-4147
E-mail: Klausmm@aol.com
The London headquerters of the Royal National Institute of the Blind (RNIB) has moved. The new address is:
105 Judd Street
London WC1H 9NE
United Kingdom
The main contact telephone number continues to be +44 20 7388 1266.
This year marks the 100th Anniversary of the Institute for the Blind in Jerusalem. Israel marked this historic event by issuing a postage stamp issued on December 11, 2001.