Almost any degree of vision loss can make reading an arduous activity. Small text, low contrast or fancy fonts and creative color schemes often add insults to injury.As the difficulty progresses, we attempt to resolve the lacking legibility with magnifiers and more light. It often becomes a juggling act, and still the reading is just not easy.
We are hearing more and more about how people are utilizing the speech features in iPhone and Android. There is far less resistance to using speech technology now, because it is no longer an all or nothing proposition. Everyone can select just how much speech they need or desire, without having to deal with the significant learning curve a full function screen reader entails. The lighter speech options fill in the gaps across the spectrum of vision loss and may be helpful in stepping up to the full screen reader, if and when it becomes necessary.
So go ahead, take some pressure off, and start enjoying the freedom that speech can provide. While all the features are available on tablets too, it comes in particularly handy on a smartphone’s smaller screen.And if for some reason you don’t care for the voice you hear, there are plenty of others to select from.
Apple iOS (iPhone, iPad)
To access speech features in Settings go to General > Accessibility > Speech.
Speak Selection – highlight text with the drag of a finger and the control buttons will appear, tap ‘Speak’ (or ask Siri to “Speak Selection”).
Speak Screen – swipe down from the top with 2 fingers to have the entire screen read to you.
Typing Feedback – hear letters, words, corrections and predictions when you cannot see the keyboard clearly.
VoiceOver – the full function screen reader, operated with its own set of gestures. This is involves a leaning curve. More about this on OE: Let VoiceOver Do The Reading
Speaking Rate – adjust the speed to your preference.
Voices – if you don’t like the default voice, there are plenty of others to choose from.
Voice Control – allows you to use your voice to control your iOS device.
Voice Assistant – Siri is there for the asking, make a call, send a message, search the web and much more.
Many similar speech features are included in Android devices and can be found in the Settings app under Accessibility.
Select to Speak – for Android reads selected text or describes selected items.
TalkBack – is Google’s screen reader included on Android devices, (like VoiceOver) it provides spoken feedback enabling the use of device without seeing the screen.
Voices – choose your preferred speech engine, speaking rate and pitch.
Voice Assistant – Say “Hey Google,” and the Android smart assistant is at your service
Speech for some is a natural transition, for others it takes some adjusting. For everyone with vision loss, it’s an excellent alternative.
This article was originally published Aug 23, 2019 and updated May 17, 2021
Living in a pandemic, like living with vision loss, rattles our confidence and upends our sense of security. We have little choice but to accept the change and adjust to a new normal. In both scenarios it would be well-advised to embrace technology. Digital access is not an option today, it is a necessity.As the COVID shutdown curtailed major segments of daily activity, the internet opened, enabling us to order food deliveries, stay in touch with loved ones, visit doctors by video, work remotely and educate online.
Before the pandemic, patients with vision loss were counseled against isolating or social distancing. Now both behaviors are widely encouraged to keep everyone healthy and well. With faces partially hidden behind the safety of a mask, the ability to read expressions and recognize others is a problem suddenly affecting the population at large.
It would be fair to assume that the added restrictions would elevate the degree of difficulty for people with low vision. The downside appeared very steep for many in the early days, but as we settled into this new reality, it became clear there were some silver linings.
Image shows: Multiple faces on Zoom video conference screen.
Zoom Video
The now ubiquitous Zoom video conferencing platform will likely go down in history as the pandemic MVP. It stepped in to fill a potentially massive void with a virtual, and COVID-proof, face to face connection. The technology kept work and school ongoing remotely. It allowed for family gatherings, dinner with friends, support group meetings and therapy sessions.
And for those of us with central vision loss, it gave back an ability to see peoples’ faces more clearly than we had in years. I can attest to this experience as a patient with a visual acuity long documented as “counting fingers.” It’s amazing to zoom in and see someone’s facial details more vividly on a digital screen than if they had been sitting right beside me. It did not take long to find others also enjoying the gift of “Zoom acuity.”
Video calls can be accessed either on a smartphone, tablet or computer screen.Far more opportunities have opened up through this medium.People can now attend conferences, seminars and trainings online without the significant expense and travel requirement. Museums can conduct virtual and accessible tours, allowing their patrons in for the closest look at art ever.These are just a few examples of how virtual engagements are expanding.
Pandemic safety precautions pushed us, visually impaired or not, to embrace digital options to maintain daily life. Here are some of the highlights.
Image shows: Man with mask and gloves providing food delivery service to home.
Online Deliveries
Navigating a grocery store was never an enjoyable activity for people with vision loss. The pandemic necessitated a vast expansion of online delivery options, so shopping doesn’t have to be arduous anymore. Most of these services offer same-day delivery or curbside pick-up. Services like Instacart, Shipt and Prime Now also make it possible to communicate with the shopper to insure you’re getting exactly what you want. Once these accounts are set up and products are purchased, it becomes easier to repeat orders by accessing your previous lists. Amazon even has an Accessibility Customer Service Line, for customers with visual impairments, to assist with online shopping. The same goes for ordering take-out from restaurants for delivery through Seamless, Uber Eats and DoorDash. Generally, customers find this a better way and it is likely that most will continue with online deliveries in the long-term.
Image shows: Woman leades video business meeting from home.
Work from Home
The shift to work from home (WFH) happened on a scale and at a speed we would not have imagined achievable. The benefits of this arrangement may even exceed its original purpose of flattening the curve of COVID19 cases. According to Gallup (April 2020), a majority of employees would like to continue WFH even when the pandemic ends . For employees and job seekers with vision loss, the upside is that flexibility and quality of life is being widely recognized resulting in more opportunities. We discussed WFH in on the OE Patients Podcast (September 2020) and our experienced panel also agreed this development will serve to improve employment opportunities for people with visual impairments.
Image Shows: Health care provider talking with patient on video visit.
Telehealth
Patients quickly found telehealth calls and video visits quite appealing as a pandemic alternative with the understanding that they can supplement but not replace in-person visits. On the OE Patients Podcast (June 2020) Allen C. Ho, MD, a retina specialist, discussed better utilization for video visits beyond triaging the need for urgent care. He introduced us to the new hybrid visit being studied, which combines a quick in-person appointment for a fundus photo and OCT scan, followed by a video call with the provider to assess the images and talk with the patient. The result is efficient, high quality and safe patient care. Dr. Ho said, “I see healthcare moving more toward at-home and remote services enabled by technology and accelerated by the pandemic of COVID19.” Our listeners respond very favorably to more convenience and less time in waiting rooms.
Embrace Technology
The common thread throughout these examples of the pandemic silver linings is the use of technology. It is all within the grasp of anyone using a smartphone or tablet. With built-in visual and speech features these devices well-accommodate the needs of patients across the spectrum of vision loss. Age is less of a barrier than one might imagine. Pew Research (2019) shows 73% of people over 65 were Internet users, with screen time over 4 hours per day. We expect significant growth in internet usage for 2020, mainly driven by the pandemic.
Considering the number of Americans with low vision is projected to double by 2050, the American Academy of Ophthalmology stated in a press release (September 2019), “the tragedy isn’t that people have lost vision, it’s that most believe nothing can be done to improve their quality of life.” This is not true and AAO recommends patients make small changes that have positive impact and embrace technology.
Patients look to professionals for advice. Physicians and healthcare providers play an influential role in encouraging patients’ digital acceptance and preparedness. It is the key to maintaining independence and an all-important sense of normal.
Our friend and colleague, Jerry Rosenberg, passed away on November 5, 2019, his 89th birthday.He was a loving husband, father, grand and great-grandfather. He lived life with purpose, not allowing progressive vision and hearing loss or age, to thwart his mission to help others. Jerry chaired a support group, affiliated with the Association for Macular Diseases, for more than two decades. He loved to write and never stopped, his second book was published just weeks ago. He will be missed, but not forgotten.
Jerry’s distinct voice will continue to be heard through his articles published on the pages of OE Patients. We are honored to share a bit of his legacy with this memorial tribute.
Little girl eating ice cream over blue background.
The vision loss of a family member or friend is not always easily understood by those around us. In this article, Jerry offers an honest assessment with a healthy dose of humor.
In this post, Jerry reminds us that age should not be a barrier to leaning something new, particularly for those of us with vision loss, there is much to gain in adopting and adapting.
Because Jerry was both legally blind and hearing impaired he was able to benefit from the ICanConnect program, receiving computer technologies and training that enabled him to communicate digitally and continue writing.
The free tier of service described in this post ended in August 2020, for updated article on Aira services, go to Aira is Remote Visual Assistance.
Independence is a prideful thing, asking for help is not always easy. Getting help, when you need it, is also a challenge. It can be a recurring conundrum for people with vision loss. In a move, that might nicely serve this need, Aira recently announced the addition of a new free tier of service. All calls to Aira agents under 5 minutes are free.Aira is a service that connects people with low vision or blindness to specially trained agents in the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. You’re not bothering them, they want you to call, it’s what they do. They offer another pair of eyes, when you need them.
The announcement came to me in a text message as I was preparing dinner a few weeks ago. It said, “Big Aira news: short calls with Aira agents are now free, every day. Great for quick 5 minute tasks around the house, try it now!”So I did. It just so happened, I was wondering if my oven temperature was set correctly, one of those tasks only a better eye than mine can determine. The agent answered immediately and greeted me by name. She asked that I move the phone camera slightly to the left, and then right, before confirming the settings were accurate.I’ve also called upon Aira for help in the supermarket to read product packaging and Use or Sell By dates. When I couldn’t find an address in an unfamiliar location, a quick call to an agent helped me get right to the door.
Screenshot of Aira app home page.
The App
Access to Aira’s free services requires an app. Create an account and sign in as a Guest. The app will tell you what Aira Access Location are in your vicinity. In Access Locations, which include Bank of America, Walgreens, AT&T, select airports (read Aira At The Airport) and transit systems, like all of Boston’s MBTA railroad, subway and bus stops, the service is paid for by the location and you enjoy guest access for free. If you already have an Aira account, you’re good to go, just make sure you have the latest version of the app.
Optional Upgrade To A Monthly Plan
For calls that require more than 5 minutes you can upgrade to a monthly plan, starting at $29 for 30 minutes, to $199 for 300 minutes. There are no contracts and plans can be increased as needed. Service can be upgraded in the app or with a free call to an agent. Paying members, called ‘Explorers,’ still get the first 5 minutes of every call free.
You may find great value in a plan that enables you to take a guided stroll through a museum, rediscover your neighborhood restaurants and shops, or get help navigating an airport that is not yet a free access location. The possibilities are endless.
Smart Glasses
The Aira service is not limited to smartphone users, it can also be accessed by Explorers using smart glasses. This is an option some smartphone users may also prefer, as it allows relatively hands free access. For more information on Aira with smart glasses speak to an agent or call 800-835-1934.
Tell Aira Where You Want Guest Access
To sponsor more free service and expand inclusivity, Aira needs to build their Guest Access Network. The most significant impact comes from businesses with many locations. If you know of a someone with interest in making Aira’s services available to their customers, send that information to: [email protected].
The actor enters stage left to thunderous applause. You are not sure who this is, perhaps your loving companion will intuitively whisper the name in your ear, or maybe you’ll recognize the actor’s voice. The theater burst into an uproarious laugh, but you have no idea what was so funny? Even access seating in the first few rows may not be close enough to see the subtle gestures and facial expression. You wish there was a voice in your ear, a narrative track that keeps you in the loop.
Wish granted. That’s right, as of June 1, 2018, Broadway has taken a giant step forward in making live theater more accessible for people with vision and hearing loss. The new inclusivity measures offer audio description and closed captioning at every performance, beginning four weeks from any production’s opening night.
How did they do it? Technology, of course. There are two options available for accessing audio descriptions. One is a simple listening device borrowed from the theater, the other is an app, accessible by smartphone.
An empty theater stage lit with dramatic lights.
Customers can pick up an infrared listening device, at the accessibility kiosk in the theater’s lobby. A state issued ID or passport must be left in exchange for the borrowed device.
The GalaPro app features audio description and closed captioning. It syncs with the show for a real-time accurate experience. The app can be downloaded and set in the theater. Staff at the accessibility kiosk will help you set it up and get started. Airplane mode assures your phone will be quiet during the performance as it runs on private wifi. The app also extends inclusivity to international visitors with a language translation feature.
Broadway has been offering accommodations to its patrons for many decades, on a smaller scale. The current and very ambitious initiative, by The Broadway League, significantly advances the industry’s commitment to creating an inclusive theater experience that potentially impacts more than 20 million adults affected by vision loss, and nearly 50 million Americans experiencing some degree of hearing loss.
Broadway wants to be seen and heard by everyone, so go ahead and give this new technology a try.It might just give you back something you thought was lost.
Here’s a link to Playbill’s video showing Broadway’s new accessible technology.
