2018 has been a significant year of development and inspiration at OE Patients. Thanks to your readership, support and feedback, we have advanced our mission to provide empowering and encouraging advice for people living with visual impairments.
Our online initiative, which encompasses all types of vision loss, is funded by the Association for Macular Diseases and presented in partnership with Ophthalmic Edge. We are here to answer the questions patients often have, that cannot be addressed in the physician’s office.
It is our strongest intention to carry the momentum into the new year, and with that on the horizon, let’s first take a look at our top activities and highlights of 2018.
1. We shared expert tips and advice on living well with vision loss.
OE Patients’ content is delivered with an inspiring voice by a team of contributors, experienced both personally and professionally. Refreshed weekly, our empowering spirit is conveyed consistently in topics on health, technology, accessibility and adjusting.
2. We explored the latest in accessibility and technology at our events.
Our accessibility events, hosted at Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital in NYC, give us the opportunity to dive into the most popular topics from the OE Patients website.
This year, we had an especially wonderful and diverse program, ranging from speakers representing NYC’s most well-known art museums at our Audio Description event, to an afternoon of demonstrations at the Electronic Glasses event.
3. We discovered inspiring stories featuring people living and thriving with vision loss.
We were delighted to find and share, on social media, numerous stories featuring people living full and successful lives with visual impairments. They are people of all ages, backgrounds and industries — artists, photographers, and more — proving that, ultimately, it is the persistent pursuit of one’s passion that keeps the light lit.
4. We witnessed and shared the latest news on the progress of inclusivity and technology.
Each year brings new developments in accessibility. Though progress always takes longer than we’d like, the change is nevertheless steady. In 2018, from the rise of Aira in the public eye to the expansion of mandated accessibility on Broadway, the needle moved us ever-closer to inclusivity as intentional foundation, rather than afterthought.
5. We gleaned valuable insights, thanks to your voices.
At events, through emails, or on social media, you spoke to us, expressing your heartfelt opinions, ideas, and suggestions. Your feedback guided the shape of our accessibility events, inspired new ideas for our editorial, and encouraged our sharing on social. Keep reaching out to us! We love hearing from you.
If you’d like to get involved, please visit our Support page, or email us about submitting an article featuring your perspective as someone living with vision loss, or expertise as a medical, accessibility or vision loss support expert. Your voice is much appreciated.
OE Patients would not be the same without your gracious readership and generous support, and for that, we would like to say a big thank you! We look forward to seeing you in 2019!
This year, we were thrilled to hold our “Accessibility Resources for People With Visual Impairments” series at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in NYC, supported by the Association for Macular Diseases.
Events were lively, fun and full of laughter and discussion, covering an abundance of exciting topics, from smart speakers to electronic glasses to the latest and best in accessibility apps. Our audiences spoke up and exchanged thought-provoking opinions on favorites, preferences, and future developments in accessibility.
If you missed any of our events, not to worry! We return in Spring 2019. Meanwhile, explore the best of this year’s event recaps and accessibility resources below.
Spring/Summer 2018
Google Home smart speaker in gray/white colors.
Smart Speakers
Alexa, Google, and Siri are the virtual assistants that make life easier for everyone, especially people with vision loss.
Make the iPhone easier on your eyes using VoiceOver & Speak Screen for text to speech, Dictation to replace typing for speech text, and Siri for voice commands.
Explore the options available for audible TV guides and menus, audio describing programming, and the use of voice commands from cable providers and streaming services.
Black headphones against a bright yellow background.
Audio Description
Now available on-demand for Broadway shows, museum tours, at the movies, on TV and much more. Explore how this visual voice fills in the missing detail, vividly.
Take a closer look at wearable assistive devices, including IrisVision, OrCam, Jordy, eSight, Acesight and Aira, designed to help you see, read, work and navigate with vision loss.
OE Patients Features Assistive Technology At Empowering Event For People With Vision Loss
In October 2018, we held an accessibility event featuring smart wearables for people with vision loss. Read about featured electronic glasses, the importance of persistence as a mindset, and the idea of finding a solution that fits your personal needs.
Graphic of OE Patients website displayed on desktop and iPhone.
If you’re not already subscribed to expert tips and news from OE Patients, we encourage you to sign up. You’ll receive a welcome email, a monthly roundup of our best articles, and notifications for our future events. Already on our list? Forward to a friend, family member, or colleague!
This year, we were delighted to share, on social media, a range of stories featuring artists, chefs, photographers and more, all living full and successful lives with visual impairments. Across age and industry, one quality ties these wonderful and inspiring narratives together — dedicated persistence in the face of challenges.
Here are the 10 stories that were your favorites in 2018.
Photographers and Filmmakers
Digital camera against the window sill, with yellow strap.
Bruce Hall, Photographer
Bruce Hall is a legally blind photographer, teacher, and disability advocate. In his own words, Bruce “photographs in order to see”. His work has been published in textbooks and magazines, as well as featured internationally in art exhibits, such as the National Museum of Natural History at the Smithsonian; the Kennedy Center, Washington D.C.; and more.
Tammy Ruggles is a legally blind photographer living with retinitis pigmentosa. Tammy does not let her condition deter her from pursuing work. Instead, she uses her camera as a second pair of eyes to see the world in new and beautifully creative ways. An admirer of Ansel Adams, Tammy’s photographic style leans towards high-contrast, classic black-and-white shots.
James Rath is a legally blind YouTuber, filmmaker, activist, and public speaker, living with ocular albinism and nystagmus. He advocates for equal opportunities for all through his favorite medium of video. His work includes a spot for Apple, “How Apple Saved My Life”, highlighting the brand’s accessibility features; as well as a major digital campaign for Tommy Hilfiger’s accessible clothing line.
Closeup of green leaves being painted, with pencils next to the painting.
Robert Andrew Parker, Artist
Robert Andrew Parker is an 87-year-old artist living with macular degeneration, known for his paintings, as well as prints of figures, landscapes, and animals. He has illustrated more than 100 books, and has been recognized with notable awards, including a Guggenheim, a Caldecott Honor and an American Association Notable Book award.
Keith Salmon is a legally blind British landscape artist, living with diabetic retinopathy. In his abstract paintings, he conveys the wild, free spirit of adopted home Scotland. An avid mountain climber and hill walker, Keith uses his expeditions to gather inspiration and material for his artwork.
Erica Tandori is a legally blind artist, academic and public speaker, living with macular dystrophy. Throughout her artistic and academic career, Erica has been dedicated to exploring the lived experience of vision loss, and what it means to “see”. Her painted landscapes are highly realistic, with a haunting, misty quality.
Novelist and Italian language teacher Paola Peretti was diagnosed with Stargardt macular dystrophy at the age of 17. The act of writing brought her clarity. Her debut children’s novel, titled The Distance Between Me and the Cherry Tree, features a young heroine with Stargardt disease. The book echoes Paola’s mantra of hope: “Never, ever give up”.
Cupcake with icing, next to sprigs of dried lavender, on a wooden table.
Penny Melville-Brown, Baker
Penny Melville-Brown is a baker, who is also legally blind. She traveled to six continents over a year, meeting, cooking, and bonding with chefs, community leaders and other blind and visually impaired people along the way. She stopped by places like Costa Rica, Malawi, Australia, China and the United States, with her nephew documenting the entire world tour in a video blog series.
Benjamin Hsu, a sushi chef living with ocular albinism, has keen senses. When he works, it’s his passion, deftness and love for food that is most visible and apparent. Benjamin doesn’t let his visual impairment faze him. “My vision, it just makes things a little bit harder, but it doesn’t matter because I don’t let it matter,” he says.
This year, we created a roundup of our most popular articles on OE Patients. Our best-of list for 2018 covers technology, health, and tips for making adjustments — from the secret to mastering iPhone’s VoiceOver to accessibility at arts museums.
We hope you’ll be inspired to develop a new skill or create a good habit for the fresh new year!
Apple’s iPhone
10 Things To Know About iPhone Accessibility For Vision
The iPhone is quite possibly the most adopted device, ever, for people with vision loss. This is because it is accessible out-of-the-box, even if you can’t see the screen at all.
Apple’s built-in screen reader was a game-changer for those living with vision loss. Our accessibility expert, Dorrie Rush, writes about the secret to mastering iPhone’s VoiceOver gestures — practice, practice, practice.
We love Microsoft’s Seeing AI, a free, intelligent camera app that translates images into words for people with visual impairments and blindness. Here are four features we especially like.
Microsoft Soundscape 2018, A Review of What It Can Do
Our accessibility expert Dorrie Rush appreciates the enhanced narration and awareness provided by Microsoft Soundscape, a navigation tool for people with vision loss.
In October, OE Patients held an accessibility event on wearable devices for audiences with vision loss. We took a closer look into head mounted products including: OrCam, IrisVision, Jordy and more.
Every eye condition is different. Read our article by ophthalmologist Dr. Yale Fisher, to understand how vision loss caused by macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy and glaucoma rarely results in blindness.
Cataract is the leading cause of reversible blindness and vision loss in the world. Read more by Dr. Amilia Schrier, Director of Education at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital.
Thanks to all who attended our accessibility session on Apps, coming out despite the Arctic blast that hit with a relentless mix of icy rain and snow.The discussion was lively and always interesting and informative, exactly as we hoped it would be. People sharing their experience and learning from each other.
We acknowledged, upfront, that the topic of apps is massive and could be discussed for days. Apps that help us compensate for vision loss are available in many categories. We have lots of choices, and selecting the apps we integrate into daily life is a very individual process.
It was also delightful to note, that accessibility for people with vision loss is a priority, emphasized by tech leaders like Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.Inclusive technology is shifting our expectations and bridging the gaps.Although it’s not perfect…it’s really good.
Finding the apps that work for you will make life a little easier.
The recap that follows is a look at some specific apps and new developments we talked about at our “App Happy” session.It’s not only the apps with the bells and whistles that can change your life. Access to the basic built-in iPhone apps like Contacts, Camera, Messages, News, Clock, and Maps, can make a huge difference in your everyday.
Here are the apps that kicked off our “App Happy” discussion:
Seeing AI App (iOS Only)
This app from Microsoft has been around for just over a year and has already expanded its channels and improved its performance noticeably. Built for iOS exclusively, but rumored to be adding Android soon. Read more about Seeing AI in our article here.
9 Channels:
Short Text – Reads instantly
Document – Aligns and reads full page
Product – Barcode reader
Person – Facial recognition; fun but not sure how functional
Currency Reader – US and Canadian
Scene Reader – take a photo and it describes the scene and reads text
Color Reader – identifies color
Handwriting Reader – much improved for handwritten print or cursive
Light Indicator – changes tone to the direction of light
My Location – figure out where you are, direction facing, points of interest
Nearby Marker – locations you have marked
Around Me – what’s in the 4 surrounding quadrants
Ahead of Me – street names, buildings, businesses coming up
Aira App
A new assisted navigation service provided by trained agents viewing your location by live video.
Log in as a guest to try in fee-free locations like Walgreens, AT&T, Wegmans and a growing list of airports and businesses
Also available for a monthly subscription starting at $89. for 100 minutes
Be My Eyes App
This app provides live video access to a network of 1 million volunteers helping 80 thousand people with vision loss in 180 countries.
Average wait for a volunteer: 30 seconds
Get help with appliances, electronics, instructions, identification, etc.
Not recommended to share private information
Newly partnered with Microsoft Disability Desk
GalaPro App
The app making New York’s Broadway shows accessible to audience members with vision and hearing loss, from the privacy of their own mobile phone. Read more about GalaPro in our article here.
Audio descriptions syncs with live performance
An accessibility kiosk in every theater helps get you started
Also, offers closed captioning and language translation
More App Happy audience favorites:
Amazon App
Now with access to live Disability Hotline 888-283-1678 for shopping assistance.
Alexa App
For Book Reading, Shopping, Calendar, Music, Recipes, Games, Translation and more.
Amazon Prime Video App
Watch Prime Video on numerous devices with audio description.
Apple News App
The standard iOS app that provides access to a large selection of curated news from major outlets including New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, Vanity Fair, Bloomberg, CNN, Food Network and more.
NFB Newsline App (iOS Only)
The National Federation of the Blind now offers an app for iOS that extends their newspaper reading service to over 300 publications, for eligible users.
ShazamApp
An entertaining app that identifies music, movies, TV, and ads, after hearing just a short snippet. Apple recently bought the technology and now offers it on iOS, Mac OS, TV OS, and Watch OS.
Drop us a note by email, or post a comment on our Facebook.
On October 18, 2018, we took a closer look at a selection of wearable technology for low vision.
This was a category met with great interest and we were pleased to have representatives to present and provide demos for IrisVision, OrCam, Jordy and Acesight. eSight and Aira were discussed, as well, and all products are recapped below.
The conversations that evolve, at these events, are always interesting and informative. Before you read about and evaluate whether these products might be useful for you, here are some points to consider.
It’s important to manage expectations. There are no magic glasses. How well these products can potentially help you is totally dependent on each individual and on remaining vision.
Think about what specifically you want to do. Can the product help you continue to work or use your computer? Watch TV? Read books, magazines, newspapers? And is the cost of the device a worthwhile investment for this activity?
If you’d like to share your thoughts and feedback, or ask a question, please send us an email to: [email protected], or post a comment on our Facebook page or message us on Twitter.
A monthly subscriptions starts at $89 for 100 minutes.
connect to trained agent
120-degree view of where you are
connect with smart glasses or smartphone app
applicable at home, shopping, travel, etc.
fee-free guest locations available including: AT&T, Wegmans, and a network of airports, with more supermarkets, retailers and transportation terminals, on the way
To learn more about Aira, read our latest review on the service, Aira at the Airport.
Originally published on October 25, 2018 and updated on January 28, 2019.
Note: In January 2019, eSight announced a permanent 40% price reduction for its eSight electronic glasses, from $10,000 USD to $5,950 USD. In February 2020 the price was again reduced to $3995 USD.
eSight is a head-mounted video display that uses magnification to help people with low vision see. It requires a visual function to work, provides optimal benefit to those with visual acuities around 20/200, and with a field view greater than 15 degrees. The device can even be useful for people with acuities as low as 20/1000.
The 1st generation of this product came to market in 2013 at a price of $15,000. Generation 3 arrived in 2017 at just under $10,000.Currently sold in about 42 countries, there are about over 1,000 eSight devices in use today. The company offers assistance to help customers find funding for the device.
eSight has received a lot of media attention, but it has not really caught on. Price most certainly is a factor.
A woman walking while using eSight glasses in a city.
Recently, a friend scheduled an eSight demo in New York and invited me to join. We both have advanced central vision loss. He was not able to benefit at all from eSight, but I was. And I began to see the light.
The eSight 3 is a cumbersome visor-like device. It is heavier than I expect and there is a wire that is attached to a battery pack. The eSight specialist adjusts the device and I am able to look across the room and see her colleague smiling at me. I can tell she is wearing bright red lipstick and a red and white print scarf.
This is indeed a moment. I look around the room and walk over to look out the window. They show me how I might read with this device, zooming into the print. For me, nothing else feels quite as profound as being able to see a person’s face from the other side of a room.
Although I would have difficulty wearing the eSight device in public for daily activities like commuting, restaurant dining, or grocery store shopping, perhaps others would be unfazed. The potential benefits are highly individual. There are many ways this device can keep you working,enjoying hobbies, watching TV. And of course, seeing people.
Remember, it comes down to adjusting, and it takes some time to get comfortable. If eSight can give you back or help you maintain function, and you use it every day, it can be a worthwhile investment.
eSight 3 Demonstration Video from The Chicago Lighthouse
In this video, Luke Scriven, Assistive Technology Specialist at The Chicago Lighthouse, explores eSight 3’s features.
Testimonial Video by Techish
Yvonne Felix is a working professional, public and community artist, and a mother of two, living with Stargardt disease. In this video, she demonstrates her experience with eSight 3. eSight CEO Brian Mech joins her to explain how it works.
Disclaimer: Yvonne is a beta-tester number one for eSight, starting in 2012. We’d also like to note that, more accurately, the device can potentially assist with helping people who are “legally blind” see better with the sight they have remaining.
Please note that this article was not paid for, affiliated with, or endorsed by any third-party companies. The views and opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author’s.
Originally published on December 1, 2017 and updated on October 10, 2018.
Every brain changes over time, but smart routines and practices can keep our minds young, sharp and healthy, even in our later years.
We are all empowered with brain plasticity, or neuroplasticity. This wonderful, innate ability gives us the potential to change at any time in our lives. While aging may weaken certain neural connections, the persistent practice of good habits can enhance and even build new pathways.
Here are 6 ways to strengthen your mind.
A smiling woman running in a park.
1. Exercise daily.
If we’ve heard it once, we’ve heard it a million times — exercise is good for you. It’s impossible to exaggerate the positive benefits of a habit that helps young and old alike. Research shows that staying active promotes healthful aging, and helps both brain and body.
Physical activity helps blood flow to your brain and forges new connections between its many cells. Even bursts of exercise as brief as 10 minutes can temporarily enhance energy levels, focus, problem-solving, and memory.
Sharpen your reasoning and thinking skills and boost your overall well-being while you’re at it. Start with a commitment to mild or moderate physical activity for 25 to 30 minutes each day, such as walking or yoga. Pair with your favorite music or audiobook to help you enjoy the time.
Healthy fruits and vegetables in paper grocery bag.
2. Eat well.
Nutrition begins at the table. Make sure you sit down to foods that nourish your mind, as well as body. For a delicious and brain-boosting diet, look no further than the Mediterranean-style plate, rich in fruits, fish, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans and olive oil.
Enjoying a Mediterranean-style diet has been shown to decrease the likelihood of cognitive decline, reduce the risk of some neurodegenerative illnesses and to overall enhance brain function.
Stay away from or moderate your intake of high-calorie, highly-processed foods. Such foods can frustrate your cholesterol levels, blood sugar levels, and the balance of nutrients that helps your brain operate at its best.
Make conscious, small changes where possible, by switching to or substituting ingredients with healthful options. Find unique recipes that help you look forward to your meal. While eating, savor your bites.
Closeup of artist with palette and brush painting colorful still life.
3. Keep learning.
The practice of new skills stimulates your mind and keeps it strong. Whenever you try a novel, complex activity, your brain kindles connections between its cells. Continual learning and practice can even produce new cells, which shores against future cell loss.
Start by experimenting with a hobby or activity that ignites your interest.
Learn a new language. Speaking two or more languages has been proven to promote mental elasticity and one’s ability to understand information. Try studying a new musical instrument through a private or group music class. Playing an instrument can have a protective effect on your brain, as well as improve your memory, listening, hearing and motor skills.
You can pick up a book, try a crossword puzzle or Sudoku, or even try your hand at drawing, painting or photography.
If an activity seems difficult at first, stick with it. Don’t throw in the towel just yet. The more challenging it is for you to master, the more rewarding the brain-boost. Once you’ve practiced a skill enough times, you’ll find that it becomes easy, even rote.
White lotus flower floating peacefully on a pond.
4. Practice mindfulness.
The fast pace of our modern world, along with our ever-plugged-in connectivity, means that we are in a constant state of processing. Taking intentional pauses here and again, gives our minds the much-needed time and space for rest.
In fact, meditation over a long period of a time can help the brain to age slower, by increasing overall grey matter volume.
In a Harvard study, eight weeks of meditation resulted in changes to key areas of the brain; specifically, an increase in the thickness of the hippocampus, an area of the brain that controls learning and memory.
You can reap the benefits of mindful breaks too. Ease into the practice incrementally. Start by finding a quiet, calm place, free of distractions. Carve out five minutes to sit and bring your focus to your breath. Be patient with yourself if your mind wanders.
Extend the time only when you are ready — even meditating for a few minutes each day may make a difference.
Bed with comfortable linen, pillows, and desk plant on a side table.
5. Sleep soundly.
Don’t give into the myth that you need much less sleep as you age. A good night’s rest of around six to eight hours each night keeps your mind fresh and alert.
Science shows that sleep regenerates neurons that allow your brain to function at its best. Sleep also clears your brain of bad toxins that can stack up over time.
Getting consistently good rest leads to a number of positive effects. It boosts your power of recall, helps you make better decisions, improves your focus, and expands your learning capacity. Even 60-90 minutes of additional sleep per night can have an impact.
Set the way for success. Power down your devices — TVs, computers, and other blue-light sources — an hour before you head to bed. Opt for light evening snacks rather than heavy meals that may weigh down your digestive system. If you find yourself distracted by noises at night, a white noise app or machine can be helpful.
Lastly, if you have a lot on your mind, try reading, listening to calming music, taking a bath, or journaling. A relaxing activity can help you close down the day and ease into sleep.
Grandfather happily greeting granddaughter at family gathering.
6. Stay connected.
Research shows that social relationships are important to keeping brains young. Strong connectivity to others boosts our overall health, and is even associated with lower risk of dementia, as well as longer life expectancy.
Time spent with close family, friends, and our community helps us to enjoy life, feel appreciated and find purpose. Friendship allows us to share experiences, overcome challenges, and pursue learning and activities outside of our comfort zone.
Getting to know new people also supercharges your brain, as much as a puzzle or crossword, since socializing requires a combination of skills, including focus, short-term memory, and attention.
Strengthen your circle. Take time to reach out to those closest to you. Pick up the phone, write an email, plan a coffee or dinner date, tell your loved ones how much they mean to you. Attend the event where you’ll meet new people and widen your network. You never know which new acquaintance will turn into a lifelong friend and open up your perspective.
Keep your mind young and the spring in your step, anywhere and anytime in life, through persistent engagement and a positive outlook. Remember: every little change or resolution counts, and there is never a better day to start than today.
Now that the technology is universal, the awareness should be as well. In the following article, accessibility expert Dorrie Rush shows how inclusive technology has been a game-changer for people with vision loss. Original version published in the September 2018 issue of Retina Specialist Magazine.
Imagine what it is like to be shut out of a major event, then suddenly the doors open. The opportunity to be like everyone else, in this respect, is life changing.
For people with vision loss, the ability to perform daily functions had been limited by their access to bulky overhead readers and thick magnifiers, but those days are over. Thanks to the evolution of technology, the doors are opening for these individuals. They can now perform visual tasks inconspicuously.
This technology evolution has been happening for more than a decade, driven by inclusive design, universal access and the needs of an aging demographic. So now that the technology is universal, the awareness should be as well.
Here is a brief overview to bring the retina specialist up to speed on where we are and how we got here.
Apple Accessibility
In 2008, the fully accessible iPhone 3s came to market.
This was the first smartphone designed to accommodate the entire spectrum of vision loss. The accessibility settings on the iPhone included large text, zoom, invert colors and VoiceOver, a full-function screen reader. It was a pivotal moment: a popular consumer product, with built-in accessibility ready to go right out of the box at no extra cost.
Hand holding iPhone
As the mobile operating system developed, the visual accessibility tools developed with it. In many ways the regular features that evolved in the iPhone were a boon to people who are visually impaired. Dictation allows everyone to avoid typing on the keyboard by turning speech to text. Siri was our first experience with a digital assistant driven by artificial intelligence, which initiated an era unto itself.
In 2018, the iPhone is the most common denominator among people with vision loss. Although all smartphones now come off the shelf with accessibility requirements, Apple’s attention to inclusive design, technical and customer support is unparalleled.
Extra apps can add even more function.
Convert the camera to a high-definition magnifier, document scanner, product identifier or sign reader. Get walking directions from the digital assistant using Maps, find the right way with Compass, have the newspaper read aloud or dictate a shopping list into reminders. There is a flashlight always on hand, a book reader, transit tracker, banking, contacts and much more. Think of it as 100 low-vision devices in one.
The iPad, iPod Touch, Apple Watch, Apple TV and the Mac also come with the same standard functions for visual and non-visual access.
Microsoft
Microsoft is also committed to accessibility more than ever.
The Windows operating system has vastly improved its built-in accessibility options for people with visual impairments. The adjustments users need to make in terms of magnification, contrast and speech can be accomplished with a little help from their IT department.
For low-vision users, this largely eliminates what once was an inevitably awkward conversation with an employer requesting complicated, expensive and often unsupported assistive software. Requiring some adjustments at work to personalize visual settings is not at all unusual today.
Workspace with bright, open windows
Recently, Microsoft made another move to progress mobile accessibility, but not for its own product. The company built two groundbreaking apps for the iPhone and put them on the Apple App Store for free.
They are:
Seeing AI, accessed more than 1 million times in its first six months, offers multiple channels that identify short text, documents, people, products, handwriting and more. Some of the features are in development and keep improving. For low-vision users, the short text feature is a dream come true; just point the phone at text and it instantly starts reading.
Soundscape is billed as a “map with 3D sound.” This technology incorporates GPS to give visually impaired and blind users enhanced information about their surroundings. It’s a bit like strolling along with a friend who is telling you about your environment and calling out streets and intersections on your rout.
Accessibility Support
Apple continued to remove barriers by implementing a phone support line dedicated to accessibility, further empowering customers with visual, hearing, motor and learning impairments. It soon went from a limited number of hours each day to 24/7.
In relatively short order, Microsoft launched the Disability Answer Desk. Verizon Wireless and Comcast opened their own accessibility support centers. Amazon’s technical support specialists are well versed in accessibility. Google is reportedly preparing to roll out its own accessibility support phone service soon.
CVAA Pushes the Envelope
It would only be fair to call out the influence of the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act, signed in 2010 to update federal laws to require advanced communications products and services, including digital, broadband and mobile technologies, be accessible to people with disabilities.
The requirements, which were phased in over a period of years, address the accessibility of mobile browsers, descriptive video, on-screen menus and TV program guides.
Although the rules of the CVAA were neither strict nor specific, the technology makers of note seem to have stepped up and continue to deliver.
Amazon
Not always the bastion of accessibility, Amazon is undeniably the most improved in this category. All Kindle e-readers and Fire tablets offer an array of options to adjust text and display settings, or to use VoiceView, the screen reader for non-visual access. Magnification is available in the tablets, as is Alexa, the digital assistant.
Smart Speakers and Digital Assistants
The advent of artificial intelligence is driving interactivity into an entirely new realm.
No reading or typing required, just talking. Digital assistants in smartphones have quickly gained traction, particularly for people living with vision loss. Just ask for the news, weather, audiobooks, podcasts, time and timers. Or you can play games, order an Uber, calculate math or ask an endless number of interesting questions.
Perhaps Amazon’s greatest contribution to accessibility is the Echo speaker with Alexa.
Amazon Echo speaker
Smart speakers are already being adopted at a rate faster than smartphones, and they are accessible to everyone who has a voice. For the moment, the smart speaker business is dominated by Amazon, with Google Home and Apple’s Home Pod and others vying for a bigger piece of the action. Amazon, Google and Apple all have phone support available to help in the setup and use of their smart speakers.
Android
Phones and tablets with Android operating systems can be counted on for advanced visual accessibility, although not universally as well supported or user friendly as Apple’s offerings.
Recently Google announced an accessibility app in development for Android called Lookout. It’s designed to provide auditory cues about your surroundings and to read text. It will be available by year’s end on Google Play.
Accessible TV and Movies
The CVAA now requires cable television providers to supply voice-enabled on-screen menus and television guides to visually impaired customers. This accommodation can be achieved in a number of ways, including the use of apps and smart speakers.
Comcast offers the most comprehensive services. They include talking menus, voice search and a dedicated accessibility support center. Descriptive audio is also now available for moviegoers who are unable to clearly see the big picture. An embedded track is woven into the quiet spaces, describing the visual details of the film that might otherwise be missed.
Theaters are now required to have listening devices available upon request. Descriptive audio can also be accessed on mobile devices and smart TVs with a selection in settings.
While technology to aid the visually impaired has come far in the past few years, this is just the beginning. There is much more to come. Stay tuned and be aware.
The apps we love continue to improve and empower us to function better every day. We’ll tell you what’s new in our favorite apps and what’s coming up. And you’ll tell us what apps are changing your life!
Please RSVP for this as seating is limited.
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Let’s take a closer look at wearable assistive devices, including IrisVision, OrCam, Jordy, eSight, RevSight, and Aira, designed to help you see, read, work and navigate with vision loss. To allow for demonstrations, we’ve extended this session to 2 hours.
Please RSVP for this as seating is limited.
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On September 20, we were joined by speakers from Broadway, Cooper Hewitt, The Met and MoMA to discuss accessibility and the arts.
Technology is certainly playing an important role in making both performing and visual arts an inclusive, enjoyable experience for everyone. The great news is, to benefit from these audio descriptive technologies, all you have to do is show up.
While the information reviewed here pertains to New York City, the attention to access and the use of audio description is being embraced on a global scale. So if you don’t get to NYC much, go ahead and do some exploring of your local theaters and museums.
Speakers at the OE Patients accessibility session, from left to right: Francesca Rosenberg of MoMA, Ruth Starr of Cooper Hewitt, Dorrie Rush of OE, Christine Vanech of The Met Museum, and Kyle Wright of The Shubert Organization.
Audio Description on Broadway
The Broadway League’s accessibility initiative provides audio description and closed captioning on-demand for all shows (4 weeks from opening). Devices are available for borrowing from a kiosk in the theater’s lobby, or use your own mobile device with the Galapro app (download it before arriving at the theater and the kiosk staff can help you get started).
The app also does language translation and is available on the App Store and on Google Play. The technologies sync the assistive tracks seamlessly with the live performance, so you can relax and enjoy the show!
Verbal Description + Sensory Tours at Cooper Hewitt. Dynamic verbal description tours of exhibitions are offered the first Friday of every month at 1:30 p.m. Join a Cooper Hewitt educator, curator, or staff member in conversation and explore a selection of objects through detailed verbal description and touch. No registration required.
The Senses: Design Beyond Vision is on view now until October 28th. This exhibition explores how multi-sensory design amplifies everyone’s ability to receive information, explore the world, satisfy essential needs and experience joy and wonder.
Cooper Hewitt cares about inclusive design. Every video shown is audio-described and they are working on an app (available at the museum) to translate text labels to speech and make exhibition guides accessible.
Seeing Through Drawing workshops enable the artist in you to create your own work with the inspiration of the museum’s collection, verbal imaging, experimentation with techniques and materials.
Touch Tours are a very special experience, particularly at MoMA where you’ll get to touch a work of art by Picasso, Matisse or Rodin. Art InSight tours are scheduled monthly, offering exploration of the museum’s entire collection through vivid, detailed descriptions. Both tours are also offered by request.
Accessible audio guides with verbal description are available on the MoMA app and on MoMA.org. The museum will soon make audio description available for its movie screenings.
The upcoming first museum solo for Park McArthur, runs from October 27–December 16, 2018 at MoMA, examines questions of structural accessibility, and is accompanied by an audio guide and a large print illustrated brochure.
Address and Contact
MoMA
11 West 53 Street, between Fifth and Sixth Aves. in NYC
Web: MoMA.org
Phone: 212-408-6347
Email: [email protected]
Audio description and descriptive video service are increasingly available for movies, theater and TV. Learn more about how AD helps you see the details.
A project by American Council of the Blind (ACB), this resource provides audio-described program listings for U.S. museums and parks, TV, movies, streaming services and more.
