Cookies are not always the sweet treats we delight in consuming, they also create challenges. Web cookies are the small pieces of personal data, stored on your browser. Many websites use cookies to remember user settings, which can affect how content is displayed. If those settings aren’t accessible or adjustable, it can hinder the experience for visually impaired users.
Some sites may require acceptance of cookies before allowing access. This can create barriers if the prompts aren’t designed with accessibility in mind, making it difficult for users to navigate or understand their options. Cookie consent notifications often appear as pesky pop-ups, which can be challenging to interact with using screen readers. These alerts can cover important content, making it hard to access information.
Here are some effective strategies to enhance your browsing experience when dealing with cookies:
Many browsers allow you to manage cookie settings directly. Familiarize yourself with these options to control how cookies are stored and used. Call Accessibility Support Phone Lines for expert support from Apple, Google and Microsoft.
Enable features like Reader View to eliminate pop-ups, and use Magnification and High-Contrast Modes to help you read cookie consent messages and navigate settings more easily.
Choose websites that are known for their accessibility. Check if they provide clear cookie consent options that work well with screen readers.
If you encounter issues with cookie consent forms, reach out to the website’s support team. Provide feedback about what could be improved for better accessibility.
Bookmark websites that offer a good user experience with cookies and accessibility in mind, making future navigation smoother.
There is no evidence the light emitting from digital displays is causing damage to our eyes. No proof, the small amount of blue light coming off electronic screens is connected to the development of macular degeneration, corneal disease or cataracts. And no evidence that blue light filtering glasses offer any benefit other than a false sense of protection against harm.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO.org) states clearly, “It is true that overexposure to blue light and UV light rays from the sun can raise the risk of eye disease, but the small amount of blue light coming from computer screens has never been shown to harm your eyes.” The Cleveland Clinic and Harvard Medical School have published corroborating perspectives
What You Should Know About Blue Light & Vision Loss
The blue light that impairs eye health is coming from the sun, not from the screen. In the shade, sunlight is 20x more powerful than the light from a computer screen, and in direct sunlight, at least 100x more powerful. Limit your exposure to damaging sunlight, whether the sun is bright, direct, overcast or shady, with sunglasses that block 100% of UV rays. A hat with a brim is also highly recommended.
Concerns about the summer sun are a thing of the past. Ultraviolet rays are dangerous year round and they are not confined to the bright sunny days — they sneak through the clouds and the haze too. Protecting your eyes is a full-time job, 365 days a year. Do not be negligent, follow these tips to protect your precious sight.
One thing light from screens may effect is circadian rhythms. To prevent interference with your sleep cycle, setting screens to night mode significantly reduces the light causing issue. Putting screens to sleep 2 hours before you hit the pillow will also help promote a restful night’s sleep.
In addition to UV exposure, primary risks to healthy vision include: smoking, poor diet, lack of physical exercise, cardiovascular disease, and being overweight.
November 5, 2024, Election Day in the USA, is approaching. Election laws and voting regulations vary by state, some have recently changed in significant ways, so it’s important to check current policy for early and absentee voting where you live. The best way to confirm your registration and mail-in deadlines is to call your local Board of Elections or go to Can I Vote and select your state.
Voting with vision loss can certainly present challenges, but that should never preclude you from exercising your right. Democracy is a serious business and we’ve seen, in many elections now, how every vote matters. All eligible voters should participate in the process, no excuses.
The way elections are managed from state to state may vary, but the basic rules of voting are the same across America. You must be registered to vote in every state, except North Dakota. Voters with visual impairments should know there are several ways to get the job done with relative ease.
Vote Absentee Ballot
Absentee ballots are available in all 50 states and can be requested in advance, online, or by phone at your local Board of Elections. For many people with vision loss, this is the preferred method because it can be accomplished in the privacy of your own home. The post office cannot guarantee the delivery of mailed ballots less than 2 weeks before the election, which means this process should be completed by the second week of October. Your ballot can be delivered by hand to the Board of Elections office or polling place during the early voting period or on Election Day.
Voter placing her completed ballot in box
Vote in Person with Assistance
On Election Day or once the early voting phase begins, plan to join a friend or family member and get a little help casting your ballot. This is an option many visually impaired voters find easiest to accomplish. Your polling place will also offer in-person voting assistance. To ensure transparency, the assistance provided is bipartisan in nature. Your ballot will be marked as you wish, with the oversight of a designated Democrat on your left, and a designated Republican on your right. It’s actually a meaningful gesture for the country, a representation of how our political parties can work together for the common good.
Accessible Voting Machines
To vote in person, independently, ask for the accessible voting machine which enables your use of enlarged text, or an audible guide, to assist in marking your ballot. The Help America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA) requires one accessible ballot-marking device, and that a person trained in its use, be available in every polling location.
Giving up your vote is never a good option.
Go to vote.org online for help registering, checking your registration status, requesting a mail-in ballot, or learning more about your state’s voting options and requirements.
Post originally published Sep 24, 2020, and most recently updated Aug 7, 2024
Vision: A Memoir of Blindness and Justice by David S. Tatel
David Tatel achieved great success as a civil rights attorney and a circuit court judge, while also dealing with the significant challenges of progressing vision loss. I was first introduced to Judge Tatel by Frank Bruni, in a NY Times column titled, “Am I Going Blind?,” and again in his memoir, The Beauty of Dusk. I got to know David even better thanks to Ricky Enger’s wonderful conversations with him on Hadley Presents podcasts. But through David’s recently published biography, Vision, A Memoir of Blindness and Justice, I have gained a greater perspective and appreciation for his extraordinary life.
The diagnosis of retinitis pigmentosa, at age fifteen, would neither stunt his intellectual growth nor diminish his personal expectations. He did not allow the impending blindness to define him. He expresses some regret about covering up his vision loss, until he began using a white cane in 1980. In this context, David can be assured, the cover-up is no crime, it is a normal part of the process. A far more compelling part of this story is how David’s family and colleagues step up, with quiet and loving support, naturally lending their voices to fill the visual voids he encounters.
Vision loss is, in some respects, a subtext throughout Tatel’s story. His life’s work is focused on advancing civil rights and ensuring equal justice for all. He opens, to us, a captivating narrative of his historic role in the judicial system. He conveys the steady demeanor we hope to find in every judge, that of patience, humility, integrity and courage. You may not think you have much in common with David Tatel, but you will be surprised to discover that you do.
In this Washington Post video clip: Tatel talks about the discussions he and wife, Edie, had in the writing process and the revelations that were part of learning to deal with and accept his blindness.
Thanks to Michelle Ritholz for recommending the audiobook and sharing her review on AudioFile Magazine. She says, “In his introduction, which Tatel narrates, listeners can sense the spectrum of emotions he describes.” Read the full review here.
Contrast sensitivity declines with age, and is accelerated by eye diseases and disorders. It becomes noticeable when we place a white object on a white surface and it disappears. The same occurs with dark objects on dark surfaces, and many variations in between. In other words it’s about how well an object can be seen against it’s background in conditions that simulate low light, fog or glare. Low contrast complicates reading text and viewing images. The highest contrast scheme for legibility is simply black and white.
When things seem to disappear before your eyes, it’s time to implement strategies to compensate for reduced contrast vision. Here are some of the best ways to adjust.
Enhance lighting.
Use maximum wattage in kitchens, bathrooms, halls and stairways
Add task lighting for detailed work and reading
Minimize contrast issues preparing, serving and enjoying food.
Use light color plates on dark placemats with contrasting napkins
Pour dark liquids into light colored cups and vice versa
When the item you’re looking for mysteriously disappears, try this total tech solution.
Be My AI in the Be My Eyes app can help find an item lost in a room, take a photo with the app and ask if your missing item (smartphone, AirPod case, wallet, etc.) is in the photo. If it’s there, it will tell you where to find it
If you need more than AI, there’s an option to connect with a sighted volunteer
Smartphones are the 21st century’s greatest accessibility device for people with vision loss. Both Apple iOS and the Google Android operating systems have built in an impressive range of settings that accommodate the spectrum of visual needs. But that’s not all, thanks to third party app developers there are even more options.
The best accessibility apps are the ones you are likely to use every day, because they provide visual information audibly. Here are a few favorites we rank at the top of this category.
Seeing AI
This app gets top billing for good reason. The intelligent camera, developed by engineer Saqib Sheikh, it is the product of an ongoing research project at Microsoft. Seeing AI is actually a suite of ten apps in one. Features include a channel that reads Short Text instantly, a Document reader with enhanced search capabilities, the ability to read Barcodes, Handwriting, and to identify Colors and Currency.
The Seeing AI app is free and available for iOS and Android.
Conceived and built on the kindness of strangers, BME has amassed over 7 million volunteers to assist more than 600 visually impaired and blind users in 150 countries and 180 languages, on a live video feed.
Quick access to volunteers is just the beginning. We love the Service Directory, where you can get a direct connection to more than 100 accessibility support contacts including consumer products, blindness organizations, careers, online shopping, technical and travel.
And last, but certainly not least, is the latest addition to BME, Be My AI, which might quickly become your new best friend. Take a picture of, just about anything and get a detailed description. Ask follow up questions for more specific details from menus, product instructions, document details and more.
Be My Eyes app is free on the App Store and Google Play.
Here is a collection of print and image recognition features that translate text to speech, describes images, objects and people, identifies codes and colors. This app has an interesting option, it can be used on a smartphone or paired with Envision smart glasses. The app is free, the glasses will cost you.
App is available for iOS and Android. Request a free demo of the glasses.
There are times when the technology doesn’t totally deliver, this is where Aira comes in. Pronounced I-ra, the app’s name is an acronym for AI Remote Assistance, which means you’ll connect with a live person trained as Visual Interpreter. The app is free and the service is free through Aira Access Partners, which include a long list of businesses like: Bank of America, Target, Starbucks, Wegmans, as well as universities and colleges, transit systems, airports, and more. For access to Visual Interpreters outside the free zones, Aira offers Individual monthly subscriptions.
Crossing the street is risky when you can’t see the signal on the other side. Some cities have accessible pedestrian signals, but not constantly in working order on every street. Here is the app that fills in the gaps. OKO makes the camera smart enough to detect crosswalks signals and immediately informs the user of a Countdown, Walk or Don’t Walk signal, with 3 types of feedback.
The OKO app is free and currently available only on the App Store. for iOS.
Simple tasks of everyday living become arduous for people with visual impairments. The challenges include: reading mail, filling in paper forms, signing documents, writing checks, reading instructions on product packaging, as well as seeing images and photographs.
These are some of the difficulties that can be compensated by a video magnifier, also known as CCTV’s or electronic magnifiers. At the right time and in the right context, these high powered magnifying devices can help people, with vision loss, maintain independence.
What is a CCTV Magnifier?
Closed-circuit television (CCTV) systems are more commonly known as security surveillance system, which can make this reference rather confusing. In more current terminology. Think of it as a system designed to magnify everyday objects. It uses a high-definition camera to capture an image, which is then projected onto a built-in screen in a magnified form. With adjustable magnification levels, users can enlarge text, photos, or objects, making them easier to see.
Benefits of CCTV Magnifiers
Increased independence: Reading mail, medication labels, bills, and even enjoying hobbies like reading or crafting become possible again.
Improved visual detail: Tiny details that may have been invisible before are now magnified and clearer.
Reduced eye strain: No more squinting or straining to see small print.
Versatility: CCTV magnifiers come in various configurations to suit different needs.
Different Types of CCTV Magnifiers
Desktop CCTV Magnifiers: These bulky yet powerful models are ideal for home or office use. They often have larger screens (up to 24 inches) and adjustable arms for positioning the camera. Some even come with features like text-to-speech conversion, allowing users to hear the magnified text read aloud.
Video demonstrates desktop magnifier by Optelec
Handheld CCTV Magnifiers: These compact and portable magnifiers are perfect for on-the-go use. They are lightweight and can be easily carried in a bag or briefcase. Screen sizes typically range from 3 to 5 inches, and magnification power is lower than desktop models.
Video demo of Enhanced Vision Pebble HD handheld magnifier
Choosing the Right CCTV Magnifier
With an array of features available, selecting the right CCTV magnifier depends on individual needs and preferences. Here are some key factors to consider:
Magnification Power: Indicates how much the image can be enlarged, ranging from 2x to 13x for handheld devices and up to 50x for desktop models.
Screen Size: A larger screen is easier on the eyes, especially for extended use.
Lighting: Adjustable lighting can improve contrast and visibility, particularly helpful for people with macular degeneration.
Ease of Use: Choose a magnifier with user-friendly controls and clear instructions, especially if you’re new to this technology.
Weight and Portability: Consider weight and portability if you plan on using the magnifier outside the home.
Additional Considerations
Try before you buy. Be sure you have a 30-day return policy with full refund. Use the magnifier every day and be sure it works for your needs.
Warranty: A longer warranty ensures peace of mind in case of malfunctions.
Cost: CCTV magnifiers can range in price from $500. to $4,000. depending on features. Explore options through vision rehabilitation centers and vendor payment programs.
Where to Find a CCTV Magnifier
Vision Rehabilitation Centers: These centers often offer consultations to assess your needs and recommend suitable CCTV magnifiers.
Online Retailers: A variety of online retailers sell CCTV magnifiers, allowing for comparison shopping.
Medical Supply Stores: Some medical supply stores may carry CCTV magnifiers as assistive devices.
Living Better with a CCTV Video Magnifiers
CCTV magnifiers can empower people with visual impairments to see text documents and images better with an ability to increase in size and contrast on a video screen in high definition. By choosing the right features and exploring available resources, you can find a CCTV magnifier that best suits your needs and helps you live a more independent and productive life.
Consult with a vision specialist to determine the most appropriate assistive technology for your specific needs.
Siri is the virtual assistant from Apple, available to help you in iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Apple TV and Mac. We can set “Hey Siri” to respond to our voice without touching the device, or we can summon Siri with a short press on the home button.
Siri can help us, amuse us, and amaze us. Here are some of the things Siri will do. You just have to know how to ask. When used with VoiceOver, Siri always speaks back.
Top 20 Siri Voice Commands
Open an app…”Open Camera.”
Reminders…”Remind me to bring home milk.”
Weather…”What is the weather in Seattle?”
Make a phone call…”Call Mitchell.”
Text message…”Tell Evan I’ll be there in 10 minutes.”
Email…”Send an email to Danielle.”
Clock…”What is the time in Rome?”
Set an alarm…”Wake me at 6.”
Music…”Play Let It Be.”
For more you can just ask Siri…”What can you do for me?”
Settings…”Turn on Do Not Disturb.” And more.
Translate…”How do you say Good Morning in Spanish?”
Finding the right gift, for someone who has a visual impairment, can be complicated. Great gifts come in many forms and at many prices. So, as usual, we are including some gifts that don’t cost a lot and some that don’t cost anything, because the gift of empowerment is priceless!
Gift Box With A White Ribbon In Female Hands. Gift Giving. The Woman Gives A Gift. Birthday Present.
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⭐️These Gifts are Priceless…
• OE Subscription – Free
Sign someone you love up for monthly email updates providing the best practical tips and most encouraging advice for living with vision loss. And get them connected to the OE Patients Podcast, a must for listeners with low vision, available on OE, Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
This free app connects visually impaired and blind users with 4 million sighted volunteers, ready to lend a good pair of eyes, or get specialized help from Google, Microsoft, LinkedIn, Spotify, Accessible Pharmacy and many more.
A must-have stocking stuffer. This is the most coveted and appreciated writing tool for low vision users. Its dark bold line never bleeds through paper. Buy on Amazon.
• AutoDrop – $7
Another great stocking stuffer that everyone will thank you for. This guide for getting the drops into the eye, not all over the face, is inexpensive enough to give in multiples.
Image shows vibrant and delicious looking freshly picked oranges.
• A Case of Oranges -$30+
Citrus is getting a lot of good press, and oranges are always a crowd pleaser. We are learning that an orange a day, may keep the vision loss at bay, particularly in the case of age-related macular degeneration. Send someone you love a case and help them get into the regular habit of enjoying the benefits.
Treat someone you love to a subscription and they’ll get to enjoy 1 new audiobook, of their choosing, each month.
Visit the Audible website and you might even find a special deal.
Image shows hand holding smartphone while using Aira app in supermarket.
• Aira – $30+ a month
Everyone with vision loss should know there are professionally trained agents available on this subscription based service to assist with all kinds of tasks through the smartphone camera, on the Aira app. Call for help reading cooking directions, setting a thermostat or appliance setting, confirming a location and reading text. Help is also available fee free at guest locations like: AT&T, Bank of America, Starbucks, Target, Walgreens and Wegmans.
Subscriptions begin at $29 a month for 30 minutes.
Fund a subscription or give a gift credit at: Aira.io
Call Customer Care: 800-835-1934
• GoGo Grandparent – $10+ a month
The service will not only get you an Uber or a Lyft without a smartphone, it now accepts phone orders for delivery of meals and groceries. Open an account for someone you love or upgrade them to GoGo Gold. Here’s how it works:
A most desirable gift for anyone, but particularly sweet and thoughtful for someone with vision loss who depends on the audible features of their mobile devices. Pairs with Apple devices without needing even a click.
This gift will eliminate the potential for self-loathing that occurs when you can’t find keys, wallets or other personal essentials. A small disk is attached to lead you to the item or prevent it’s loss to begin with.
At this point, the Amazon Kindle is a classic e-Reader and an old favorite among people needing a boost in contrast or font size. The Kindle Paperwhite is a great choice and one of the truly easy electronics to operate.
Alexa, Google, Siri, it’s your pick, we love them all! A variety of models to choose from, with something for everyone. This is a most desirable gift and it’s perfectly fine to have more than one around the house.
The voice-controlled smart speaker connects to the intelligent assistant Alexa. Ask for news, weather, sports scores, trivia. It will read you a book or order your groceries, and that’s just the beginning. This item has been widely adopted by people with low vision and blindness. It’s good for everyone!
Gift cards are the most popular gift in America, they provide benefit to the giver and the receiver, especially easy when they’re digital. It is perhaps the most thoughtful gift of all, to fund the gift your recipient desires.
Launched in 2017, the OE Patients online magazine was created to provide an added level of information and resources, not typically available in the physicians office. It’s all about living better with vision loss, and focused on practical tips and encouraging advice related to Adjusting, Technology, Health, Wellness and Voices of Experience. This collection of ten top OE posts, is a representation of the topics most searched on the web. Please feel free to share with friends, family and healthcare professionals.
1. Hottest Low Vision Gifts
These are the best gifts to give and to get! We’ve included gifts that everyone wants and gifts that are priceless. So go ahead and give someone, or yourself, something nice.
Gift Box With A White Ribbon In Female Hands. Gift Giving. The Woman Gives A Gift. Birthday Present.
3. Accessibility Support Phone Lines You Should Know
A coveted list of specialized support with an emphasis on accessibility, including Apple, Amazon, Microsoft, Google and 12 more. When you need help call an expert.
Yellow road sign for “Support” with clouds on blue sky in background
7. Accessible Workouts for Visually Impaired People
Exercise is good for eyes, in this compilation of accessible workouts are strength training and feel-good exercises, accessible equipment, eyes-free audio guides, and wonderful tips on the topic from our friends at Hadley.
Group of mature adults in strength training session
Amazon’s much loved voice assistant will read Kindle books to you, or play your Audible books, just ask. It’s an easy and independent way to enjoy a good read.
10. Try a New Approach to Reading Restaurant Menus
There are many ways to overcome the challenges of menu reading and continue to enjoy the culinary and social experience. Think less about reading and more about selecting something delicious!
Man reading restaurant menu options to his dinner companion
A total solar eclipse will happen on April 8th. It will travel a path that stretches through parts of Mexico, the United States and Canada. The planetary event is expected to attract many millions of eyes. Watching without the protection of authentic eclipse glasses or filters, puts all eyes at risk of retinal damage.
The solar eclipse occurs as the moon passes in front of the sun, obscuring the light and casting a dark shadow on parts of earth. The darkening of the sun, is the phase called Totality, lasting only a few brief moments. At this point they say it is “safe” to take the glasses off for a “moment.” Just don’t forget to put them back on. Retinal damage happens without warning. The damage is known as solar retinopathy and there is no treatment. Doctors urge caution. The effects range from minor to severe. Sometimes the eyes recover, sometimes they don’t.
The rare opportunity creates a buying frenzy for special eclipse glasses. Tens of millions of eclipse glasses have been sold. The soaring demand for these special glasses brings out the counterfeiters, so it’s difficult to trust or verify product authenticity and safety. The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO) recommends referring to the list of eclipse products that conform to standards set by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and published by the American Astronomical Society (AAS).
We learn early on that it is very bad to look directly into the sun. Watching a solar eclipse is risky, even with “authentic” eclipse glasses, because you are compelled to stare at the sun. It can definitely damage your vision. Experts agree, there is no completely safe way to view a solar eclipse. Why take the chance? Protecting your sight should always be your priority.
Total Solar Eclipse phases.
You don’t have to give up seeing this amazing event entirely. It will surely be one of the day’s most photographed moments. Just wait for a few minutes until the images begin posting online, then go right ahead and stare.
This article was originally published on Aug 15, 2017 and updated Mar 26, 2024.
For quite some time now, people with vision loss have gained increasing audible access to digital displays and touch screens on electronic devices. Such advances in accessibility have not yet materialized in most major and household appliances. Meanwhile, we figure out what we need from the appliance and how to get the job done. Depending on the appliance and personal preference, the solution may be simple or complex. The best approach often comes down to focusing on frequently used functions. Cooking, on a stove top or in the oven, generally requires familiarity with a few temperature settings. Similar strategies are implemented for the use of washer, dryer and dishwasher, Food gets cooked, laundry and dishes get washed, often on the same settings, day after day.
In lieu of innovation, GE Appliances is offering a DIY kit as a workaround. The Access Kit was created in partnership with the American Printing House for the Blind (APH). In a press release, dated Feb. 27, 2024, the appliance maker described the kit as the “most comprehensive set of tactile stickers for appliances.” With over 400 stickers, representing the 80 most commonly used settings, the kit is designed to “make thousands of GE Appliances more accessible for everyone,” and it can be used on non-GE appliances, as well. The clear adhesive stickers are placed over the appliance label, allowing the label to show through. They include both tactile symbols and braille. The announcement noted, “While braille is the standard, fewer than 10 percent of the 1.3 million people who are legally blind in the United States are braille readers.”
“Our number one goal with this offering is to make appliances more accessible for everyone,” said Chris Bissig, director of experience brand language at GE Appliances. “Our research showed that a lot of blind and low-vision consumers are devising their own complex systems just to navigate the settings on their appliances, making simple household tasks incredibly difficult. This kit ensures everyone can feel confident using their GE Appliances. We are so grateful to our partners at American Printing House for the Blind, a true authority in this space, for helping us bring this product to life and make everyday living easier for those who are blind or low vision.”
