Independent Living briefly
By Jennifer Geagan (jennifer@wid.org)
Braille and Beads, Bombay Style
2001 saw an evolution in fashion design for visually impaired people. An innovative designer from Bombay, India, Wendell Rodricks, unveiled a clothing line catering to the visually impaired, using embroidery and beadwork to form Braille letters that identify the color of the garment to the wearer. The designer also chose to focus on the texture of the fabrics rather than color, offering only basic colors like black, white and flesh but using fabrics like rippled jersey and silken crepe. Although the moderately priced line (US$22.50-129) was designed to make fashion more accessible to the visually impaired, the line is also appealing to the sighted, the embroidered and beaded Braille appearing as designs in the fabric.
Disability Culture & Independent Living
Disability Culture is the featured topic in the latest newsletter of the Institute on Independent Living, now available online at www.independentliving.org. Independentliving.org also houses an online library, has extensive links to other disability services and organizations, and offers a variety of other online services including an Accessible Vacation Home Exchange and an Assistant Referral Service.
IL Searchable Database
A searchable database that includes Independent Living research reviews written for consumers and non-researchers is now available at www.GetRRIL.org. The site also contains information on translating research for a general audience and links to related discussion groups and chatrooms. The Research Information for Independent Living (RIIL) is funded by a grant from the National Institute on Disability Rehabilitation Research of the U.S. Department of Education and is a joint effort of the Research and Training Center on Independent Living (RTCIL) at the University of Kansas and the Independent Living Research Utilization (ILRU) Program of TIRR.
IL Growth Spurt in Japan
In the 15 years since the first independent living center was established in Hachioji City in Tokyo, the number of independent living centers in Japan has grown to almost 100. The Japan Council on Independent Living Centers offers support to persons with disabilities interested in starting independent living centers. For more information, visit the Japanese Council on Independent Living's website at www.d1.dion.ne.jp/~jil/.
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