Working to get books online for people who can't read them in hard copy

Project puts 1M books online for blind, dyslexic

The Internet Archive is scanning a variety of books in many languages so they can be read by the software and devices blind people use to convert written pages into speech. The organization has 20 scanning centers in five countries, including one in the Library of Congress.

"Publishers mostly concentrate on their newest, profitable books. We are working to get all books online," Kahle said.

Marc Maurer, president of the National Federation of the Blind, says getting access to books has been a big challenge for blind people.

"Now, for the first time, we're going to have access to an enormous quantity," he said.

Thanks to Buffy Hamilton for sharing.

A look at how a species deals with handicaps in individuals, even early in its evolution

Deformed Skull Suggests Human Ancestors Had Compassion

Scientists argue that the child's fossilised remains indicate a diagnosis of craniosynostosis, a premature fusing of the bones of the skull which causes pressure to build up in the brain and mental retardation. Since this child was at least five when it died, possibly several years older, it indicates that the child was cared for despite disability for quite some time, at a timeframe of over 530,000 years ago during the Middle Pleistocene. Others argue that other primates do also take care of young progeny with disabilities, so of course these early species of Homo could be expected to. It's an interesting case, though. Here's a link to the scholarly article's abstract.

I believe that was my point

A few months ago, I expressed my dismay at the so-called 'Ashley Treatment' in which a young disabled girl, among other things, was given a hysterectomy.

Children's Hospital admits it broke state law with girl's surgery:
But 'miscommunication' to blame; facility argues it made right decision

At the time I felt that her rights were being violated, and that it was a step back to a time when developmentally disabled patients were routinely sterilised.

Now, apparently, it also violated the law of the state of Washington. They should have sought a court order, something the hospital ethics committee suggested but which was ignored because a lawyer had given the family a letter stating that it was not needed.

So there will be an intensive review of the case to find out where the communication broke down, what measures should be in place to ensure the rights of the disabled, etc. Which is all to the good, I think.

Reason #582 for me to dislike George Bush

He's considering vetoing a law that would expand the definition of 'hate crime' to include not only those based on race, religion, colour, national origin, but expand it to include those targeting sexual orientation, gender, gender identity and disability. A House bill recently passed budgets $10 million over the next two years to supplement local authorities in the prosecution of hate crimes. It will also allow federal officials to participate in investigations (I'm assuming to keep down local cover-ups or disinterest that may hender resolution of a case). The Senate is expected to pass a similar bill shortly.

Not surprisingly, religious right groups are opposing the bill and crying foul, saying that it violates free speech (read, 'hate speech').

House passes expanded hate crime bill