OE Patients

Tag: hadley.edu

  • Accessible Workouts For Visually Impaired People

    Accessible Workouts For Visually Impaired People

    Regular exercise delivers both immediate and long-term benefits to our physical and mental wellbeing. For people with vision loss, working out can be complicated. But it doesn’t have to be. Exercise with a buddy, get some help from a trainer, or click on some well-described guided exercise in the privacy of your own home. Do it your way, there are plenty of options. Included in this curated collection 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.

    Friends workout together using exercise and
    Friends workout together using exercise and
    medicine balls

    Daily Moves Keep Your Body Happy

    The body is built to move and doing so upgrades all the markers of good health which carry us well into old age. Start improving the way you feel by working these movements naturally into your day. Stand on one leg while brushing your teeth, squeeze your butt whenever standing still, walk while talking on the phone, sit on the floor and get up again, bounce or skip to improve balance and don’t forget to squat. Start practicing these life changing moves today with this guide from The Guardian.

    Group of mature adults in strength training session

    Cane and Able Fitness

    Evan Schwarbrock doesn’t let vision loss interfere with his fitness; it is an essential part of his mental health and he wants to help you, too. In 2020, the professional trainer launched Cane and Able Fitness online to create an accessible resource for people with visual impairments. The website offers straightforward information on strength training, mobility and nutrition, workshops, consulting services and remote coaching. Get tips for comfortable working out at home or in the gym. Read the profile in SHAPE and visit CaneAndAbleFitness.com.

    Smiling mature woman stretching after workout
    Smiling mature woman stretching after workout

    The 8-Minute Joy Workout – NY Times

    Whether you’re an avid exerciser or an anxious avoider, this workout will become a daily ritual, so good you’ll be delighted to repeat it, at least once every day. It’s easy to follow, and it makes you feel good immediately. Watch (or listen to) the video and you cannot contain yourself. It’s no accident, the movements are actually proven to elicit joy. The author and creator, Kelly McGonigal, is a psychologist who has also taught exercise classes for two decades and is well studied in the science of emotion. Get started with the video here.

    Peloton’s Larger Text & Audio Features

    The first known company to build accessibility features into internet-connected stationary bikes and treadmills. A TalkBack screen reader provides visually impaired users with audio feedback and live captions support users with hearing impairment. The inclusive features can be enabled in Peloton equipment owned privately or shared at a fitness center. The Accessibility Team at Peloton will answer your questions and help you get started. Contact [email protected]

    Couple exercising together at home
    Couple exercising together at home

    Hadley’s Sports & Exercise Series

    As always, the experts at Hadley have created a comprehensive guide filled with inspiring ideas for approaching fitness activities in your own way. Sports and exercise tips are presented in a friendly audio format ready to make fitness easier “no matter what your level of vision,” topics include: running, biking, skiing, boating, open water swimming, exercising in a class, using fitness equipment at home, and working out in a Gym. Hadley’s bite-size tutorials are also available in additional audio and print formats. Go to Sports & Exercise Series here.

    Eyes Free Fitness – YouTube

    An audio-only, well-described, series of 20-minute workouts, most led by Mel Scott of Blind Alive. Sessions work on upper body, lower body, stretching, balance, breathing, and strengthening. A soothing, friendly program that accommodates a wide range of ages and abilities. Access the Eyes Free Exercise Channel here.

    Note: If you don’t normally exercise, are embarking on a more rigorous program, or have underlying conditions, consult with your physician first.

    This post was first published Aug 22, 2022 and updated Apr 13, 2023. 

  • Meet Hadley 2.0, Your Personal Tutor

    Meet Hadley 2.0, Your Personal Tutor

    Something really good just got even better.  The reimagining and rebuilding of HadleyHelps.org was well underway as the COVID pandemic kicked in. Both the update and the timing feels perfect, delivered at a moment when it was so needed. The distance learning experts, with 100 years of experience, launched a newly designed program beautifully attuned to the needs of the largest demographic for vision loss, older adults.  And by the way, creating programs accessible for an aging population, actually, improve usability for everyone.

    Hadley 2.0 is the newly developed approach for adult learners. Video and audio based learning opportunities are now presented in smaller bites that take minutes instead of hours. You decide, for example, which features of the iPhone you want to learn and in what order. Feel free to repeat a workshop, or even a sentence, as many times as you need to, there’s no limit. No need to worry about failing here, it’s all about success.

    Image Shows senior woman smiling on hadleyhelps.org home page.
    Image Shows senior woman smiling on hadleyhelps.org home page.

    The pandemic compounded many of the challenges inherent to vision loss.  It became clear that technology skills are essential, although the training has not always been so readily available, especially from the privacy of your own pace.  Now you can log on to HadleyHelps.org and decide what you want to learn today. The primary categories are: Daily Living, Technology, Adjusting to Vision Loss, Braille, Recreation, and Working. A click on Technology brings up subcategories: Android, iPhone & iPad, Windows, Apple Watch & TV, Talking Books, and Zoom. Selecting iPhone & iPad brings up the courses organized by series. The very first is iPhone & iPad Low Vision Features, segmented into five quick courses: Zoom, Text Size, Dark Mode, Speak Screen, and Magnifier.  Similar to a tasting menu, Hadley’s small bites are abundant and delicious, don’t stop at one, enjoy them all.  Explore the entire catalog here.

    The technology offers, alone, is enough to trigger a celebration, but there are many more topics and perks available to Hadley subscriber.

    • No fees or costs to the user.
    • Ask the Experts for a live tutorial.
    • Call in and join an interactive Discussion Group on a variety of topics including: cooking, crafting, writing, gardening, travel, Braille, and Spanish.
    • Listen to Hadley Presents Podcast.
    • Transcripts are available for all content.
    • Have a workshop printed and mailed.
    • Get alerts and email notifications.
    • Provide feedback after every workshop, Hadley is paying attention.

    I have been a fan, a follower, and a Hadley learner, personally and professionally since discovering the iPhone VoiceOver Tutorials by Douglas Walker while on staff at Lighthouse. We often share Hadley links on OE and featured Hadley in the OE Patients Podcast Episode 3. The Hadley Institute is a nonprofit organization living up to its mission to create personalized learning opportunities that empower those with vision loss to thrive — at home, at work, and in their communities.  Take advantage of Hadley’s learning opportunities and don’t forget to give back, from time to time, by supporting the great work they do with a charitable donation.