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issue 10 may-june 2006
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Headlines : world news
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Interactive platform seeks new members

David Riley; Daily News; U.S.A.

Friendly Circle for the Blind, a local group in the U.S.A. provides an interactive platform for its blind and sighted members. For more than 50 years, both visually impaired and sighted people have found friendship and a helping hand in the group. But the group's monthly gatherings could soon become thing of the past as it has only 10 members now.

Based in the U.S., the group was found in 1953 to offer blind people an outlet to get out of the house and meet people. It had nearly 100 members then.

The group seeks new members to continue. "It's a little difficult now because we're getting older, and we can't seem to find any new members," said Ms. Rachel Accorsi, the group's President. "But we still come to the different churches (for the gatherings), and we still are a friendly group."

Ms. Accorsi was 18 years old when she attended the group's Christmas party in its first year. "I still had my eyesight then," she said. The Friendly Circle must have made an impression, because she never stopped going to the meetings. Ms. Accorsi lost sight in one eye at the age of 36, and the other at 44.

Visually impaired and sighted people all are welcome to join the group.

To get details, interested people can email David Railey at: driley@cnc.com

Other World News stories in this issue:
Machine offers legally blind view of world
Exploring Egyptian civilization with Braille
Tourist brochures in Braille
Wireless Braille keyboard developed
Smart card authentication device for developed
Campaign sets sights on ending avoidable blindness

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