OE Patients

Tag: low vision

  • Seeing AI Is A Gift From Microsoft

    Seeing AI Is A Gift From Microsoft

    We love technology that empowers… especially when it gives us back something vision loss has taken. Microsoft’s Seeing AI app is all that. It is an intelligent camera that reads text on the go and tells you who and what is around you.

    Seeing AI is a sweet surprise of a package filled with stuff you’ll want. Get back to reading signs, documents, and products on the go.  And get more detail about the people and scenes you’re not seeing clearly.

    The interface is clean and nicely designed. It’s relatively easy to acclimate to, but the more you use it…the better you get. There is a Quick Help Guide in the upper right of each channel, with both text and a video tutorial.

    Here’s a rundown of the Seeing AI channels…

    • Short Text – hold the camera over text and it reads, just like that. Use it on signs, price tags, tickets, mail, packages, etc. Start reading everything in and out of sight.
    • Documents – the camera guides you to photograph the entire page and reads back. Navigates headings in documents with VoiceOver, particularly useful in reading restaurant menus. (Similar to the KNFB Reader app.)
    • Product – a bar code reader with audio guidance. In the grocery store, for example, you’ll be able to identify the brand and flavor on the ice cream container, or the fat content of the milk, or if the bread is wheat or white.
    • Person – use the camera to scan and tell you about the people around. Facial descriptions include an estimate of age and expression. Set face recognition to announce the name of someone you know when they come into view.

      Microsoft Seeing AI app describing a person sitting outside.
      Microsoft Seeing AI app describing a person sitting outside.
    • Scene – take a photo and hear the description of the scene. 

    The accuracy is very good, but not perfect. Like you, it is still learning. Help the process by sharing your thoughts and experience with the developers. There’s a link to send feedback directly from the Menu.

    The Seeing Ai app is free, available in the App Store. This is by no means a small token, it is a meaningful gift. Not long ago, technology designed for people with visual impairments was available only at very hefty prices. 

    The best is yet to come. Microsoft says this is just a glimpse into artificial intelligence.

    For latest updates to Seeing AI, read our full article here.

    Microsoft’s “Seeing AI” Video

    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 August 11, 2017 and updated on August 3, 2018.

  • App Happy

    App Happy

    Apps are empowering people with visual impairments in ways we could only once dream. There are apps that can read text on the go, identify people and products, turn cameras into magnifiers, summon live help, and light the way.

    Here are some apps you should know about. All are available for iPhone on the App Store and may be available for Android or Windows as well. Apps are free unless specified.

     

    Seeing AI

    Seeing AI app.

    Seeing AI app.

    Reads Short Text, Documents, Products, People & Scenes

    A magnanimous gesture from Microsoft exclusively to iPhone users. This is actually five apps in one, and it’s free!

    The Short Text channel is the grand prize, point the camera and it reads signs, price tags, labels, addresses, and more. No snapping photos or waiting to process, just point and it reads instantly on the go. This app reads documents and product barcodes with VoiceOver. It can identify people using facial recognition which does not seem all that practical, but it is fun. And try the Scene channel to get a description of the environment you are in. To learn more about Seeing AI, read our full article.

    So far, everyone agrees, this is an amazing app. Enjoy it, and remember, it’s a work in progress, just like the rest of us. Help Microsoft keep making it better by sending your feedback to [email protected].

    Click here to download the iPhone app.

     

    KNFB Reader $99

    KNFB Reader app.

    KNFB Reader app.

    High-Quality text to speech OCR (Optical Character Recognition)

    This app seemed totally worth the price, until a moment ago when Seeing AI became available, with its free document reader. There are some noteworthy differences. KNFB does not require a connection to the Internet to process;  Seeing AI does. KNFB has its own reader; Seeing AI depends on VoiceOver.

    You will find that KNFB Reader is faster, as recognition is performed on your device rather than uploading it to the cloud. Keeping the processing on your device provides better security. KNFB can be set to read text in columns and tables; Seeing AI cannot. KNFB batch mode copies and saves multi-page documents; Seeing AI does not.

    In recent updates, you can make calls, send emails, and open links directly from documents. You can even contact someone from a business card. To learn more about KNFB Reader, read our full article.

    For questions or to send feedback, contact: [email protected].  

    Click to download the iPhone app or to download the Android App.

     

    Be My Eyes

    Be My Eyes app.

    Be My Eyes app.

    Access Live Help

    This app boasts an impressive 1 million sighted volunteers on call to assist its 80 thousand visually impaired and blind users in more than 180 countries. Tapping on the main page to “Call First Available Volunteer” will establish a live video connection enabling the volunteer to read or describe what your camera is pointed at.

    If you need help with an appliance, an electronic device, distinguishing items, or reading instructions, these volunteers are ready and able. No need to worry about being a pest, call as often as you need. The wait for a volunteer is estimated at 30 seconds, and that’s pretty hard to beat!

    Click to download the iPhone app or to download the Android App.

     

    Brighter and Bigger

    Brighter and Bigger app.

    Brighter and Bigger app.

    Video Magnifier

    Just as the name says, this video magnifying app gets up to 20x bigger, with options for brightness, reverse, clearer and freeze. This makes the app perfect for reading fine print and bringing objects into sharper view. The “Brightness Reverse” and “Monochrome” modes are especially ideal for people living with cataracts and low vision. 

    Thanks to the vast improvements in mobile cameras, these magnifying apps are as good as the portable versions we once had to pay big bucks for. Opens with Siri command.

    Click to download the iPhone app or to download the Android App.

     

    iLights

    iLights app.

    iLights app.

    Digital Flashlight

    Adjustable light and blinking strobe can be conveniently turned on by asking Siri. Now you know where the flashlight is when you need it.

    Click here to download the iPhone app.

     

    BARD Mobile

    BARD Mobile app.

    BARD Mobile app.

    National Library Service Talking Books (888.657.7323)

    If you are registered for the National Library Services Talking Books program, consider going mobile. It takes a bit of time to set it up and requires patience as you learn to navigate this, sometimes cumbersome, app, but book lovers with visual impairments absolutely love the totally free access to audiobooks. To learn more about NLS, read our full article.

    Click to download the iPhone app or to download the Android App.

     

    Voice Memos

    Voice Memos app.

    Voice Memos app.

    Digital Recorder

    Always good to have a digital recorder on hand. We used to spend hundreds to have one in our pocket, now it’s sitting right in our phone for free. High-quality recording, 3 button interface. Trim, save, and share options.

    App comes with your iPhone.

     

    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 November 17, 2017 and updated on August 3, 2018.

  • Museums Making Art More Accessible

    Museums Making Art More Accessible

    If you were looking for a reason to visit Florence, here it is. The Uffizi Museum is offering Touch Tours for visually impaired and blind visitors. If you’ve never experienced a touch tour, it’s about time you do. Go ahead…book that flight.

    The Uffizi offers a guided tour enabling people with vision loss to utilize their sense of touch to get a closer “look” at the museum’s masterpiece collection of art in marble. These are beautiful ancient works, Greek and Roman sculptures.  While other visitors are admiring these works with their eyes, you, with a museum expert at your side, get to touch (hand gloved in latex, of course). It is a thrilling and memorable experience. The Uffizi by Touch Tour requires no reservation and can be arranged, upon arrival to the museum, at the ticket office.

    Florence is indeed a dreamy destination, and by all means…go!  You should also know, similar programs are widely available and most likely at a museum nearby.  The accessibility services offered are generally good for everyone. Bring a friend, this may be their only opportunity to touch an ancient artifact.

    It’s not entirely about the touch tour. There are many other ways museums are making it easier to look at art and fully experience the vibrancy, with or without sight.  Audio Guides facilitate self-guided tours and are good for everyone. The narrated guides are now also available as accessible smartphone apps, in addition to the individual museum devices. Print Access may extend to large print and Braille exhibition guides and in some cases accessible labeling of art.

     

    The Uffizi Gallery, the upper-level corridor lined with statues.

     

    Verbal Descriptions are perhaps the best accompaniment a visually impaired art lover could ask for. In itself an art, verbal imaging adds meticulously detailed and vivid descriptions including style, technique, texture, and color.  By including details that may have been missed by the viewer, these descriptions go a long way in helping to convey the full picture. Many museums offer individual verbally described tours with specially trained guides, which are highly recommended.

    In addition to the everyday access, museums offer regularly scheduled programs for people with vision loss. At the Museum of Modern Art, in NYC, join a monthly “Art In Sight” lecture and discussion series, or try “Picture This!” workshops at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  

    Get in touch with your favorite museum and go for a tour!

     

  • Doctor, Am I Going Blind?

    Doctor, Am I Going Blind?

    To the question, “Am I going blind?,” the answer is most often, “No.”

    For the great majority of patients diagnosed with disease-causing progressive vision loss, use of the word “blindness” actually does not apply.  Fortunately, most patients treated for degenerative diseases retain some degree of visual function.

    While the amount varies (dependent on disease type, severity, persistence, and progression), it is far more accurate to describe most cases as visual impairments and not as blindness.

    Obviously, total loss of light perception is the ultimate fear.  Ophthalmologists must be extremely careful in their discussions with patients to address this fear.  While some diseases are severe, most can be limited.

    Macular Degeneration

    A frightening diagnosis always, and is the most common ocular disease in older age.  Some forms are genetically inherited and present in adolescents, teens, and much younger adults.  Although often described as the “leading cause of blindness in people over 65,” it is highly unlikely and extremely rare that it results in loss of light perception or blindness.  Macular degeneration generally affects the central vision, leaving peripheral intact.

    Progression of the disease is slow in most cases and can be well compensated.  Patients are able to continue their full and productive lives, making some adjustments and utilizing magnification and speech in widely available accessible technologies.  A strong mental approach coupled with a willingness to learn, are proven factors in maximizing remaining vision and enjoying life.

    Diabetic Retinopathy

    Diabetes-related eye disease is another common malady often associated with the reduction in normal sight.  While historically unrelenting, attention to medical and ocular problems early in the course of diabetes have completely altered the potential for devastating visual loss.  With current and updated treatments, visual loss can be prevented or at least limited.  Often, patient cooperation and participation in treatment is the key to success for diabetics.

    Glaucoma

    Primarily a disease of superficial retinal loss associated with elevated pressure within the globe of the eye.  The earliest patterns of visual loss from glaucoma are peripheral, not central, so a reduction of visual field can go relatively undetected by the patient.  As the disease progresses, more of the peripheral field is lost, followed finally by the loss of the central areas.

    Fortunately, with treatment and early recognition by a qualified professional, visual loss can be prevented or limited.

    Legal Blindness

    Many have heard the term “legal blindness” and automatically interpret it to mean “blindness.” Legal blindness is a government definition or statute utilized to determine qualification for disability benefits.  The definition requires 20/200 vision or worse in the best eye with correction in place or visual field limitation to 20 degrees in diameter.  The condition causing the vision loss must be present or expected to be present, for one year or more.

    Legal blindness does not mean “no vision” and many people with this degree of vision loss live very full visual lives, albeit with a significant visual impairment.  On the other hand, “blindness” is usually understood to mean “no visual perception”.

    Clarification of the language associated with vision loss is critical, especially for those on the receiving end of these difficult words.  Speak with your ophthalmologist.  Make sure you understand your visual status and to what degree it is likely to change over time.  Most of the time vision can be preserved and loss can be limited.

  • Adjusting Your Home For Vision Loss

    Adjusting Your Home For Vision Loss

    You know coping with vision impairments is a topic of the times when it’s covered in the Real Estate section of the New York Times. Be assured, you are far from alone. The likelihood of experiencing some type of visual impairment becomes more prevalent with age and the numbers affected will double over the coming decade. So it’s a good idea to get your house in order.

    If you have begun to make adjustments to accommodate vision loss, you know small changes can make a big difference. Comfort begins at home. No need to do a total renovation or spend a fortune on home improvements. Here are some ways to elevate the accessibility of your home environment today.

     

    A minimalistic style living room with color contrast.
    A minimalistic living room with color contrast.

     

    COLOR CONTRAST AND TEXTURE

    • Use light color plates on dark color placemats
    • Use contrast cutting boards and colored ceramic kitchen knives
    • Contrast furniture with rugs, pillows, throws
    • Contrast colors for doors, moldings, and cabinets
    • Contrast and texture on edge of steps
    • Place textured dots on appliance settings

     

    USE SMART SPEAKERS

    • Set kitchen timers and alarms
    • Check the time, weather, news
    • Listen to music, audiobooks, podcasts
    • Order household items online
    • Turn on lights and adjust the thermostat

     

    GO MINIMALIST, LESS IS MORE

    • Keep a clear path through rooms
    • Remove hazardous rugs and furniture
    • Get rid of clutter
    • Edit and organize closets, cabinets, and drawers

     

    LIGHTEN UP

    • Choose lighting that suits your needs
    • Maximize natural light and minimize glare with updated blinds or shades that adjust well

     

    Taking charge and making adjustments to compensate for vision loss is empowering. There’s plenty more about this on OE Patients and we’ve linked it below, along with the NY Times article mentioned at the top.

     

    Related Articles

    Smart Speakers You Ask They Answer

    Low Vision Awareness: Time to Get Organized

    7 Low Vision Tips to Start Your Day

    Home Safety and Light CheckUp

     

    Here is the article from the NY Times Real Estate section that inspired our post:

    Simple Home Improvements for the Vision Impaired
    By Robert Wright, NY Times April 13, 2018

     

  • AAO Video: Technologies for Patients with Low Vision

    AAO Video: Technologies for Patients with Low Vision

    In a recent video from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, Drs. Mary Lou Jackson and Mark Bona take a brief look at an interesting selection of low vision technology.  Here is the list of products they mention with our summary and comment.  The video is linked at the end of this post.

     

     

    Handheld Victor Reader Stream

    Victor Reader Stream: $369

    This was the go-to digital reading device for people with low vision or blindness in the pre-iPhone era.  Still recommended by low vision specialists for it’s simple and tactile interface.

     

     

    Seeing AI app reading an address on an envelope.
    Seeing AI app reading an address on an envelope.

    Seeing AI App: FREE

    This very new and very popular iPhone app from Microsoft is available on the App Store.  It reads text instantly and on the go, identifies products, colors, currency and more.  We talked about the first release and the upgrade on OE Patients posts titled:

    Seeing AI is a Gift from Microsoft

    Seeing AI Gets an Upgrade

     

     

    Portable video magnifier used on newspaper text.
    Portable video magnifier used on newspaper text.

    Portable Video Magnifier: $200 – $1,000

    We agree video magnifiers offer a powerful boost to a wide range of low vision patients.  Read what we say on OE Patients in the post titled: Magnifiers Are A Must. 

     

     

    A man using eSight glasses to read a document.
    A man using eSight glasses to read a document.

    eSight: $5,950

    A head-mounted video magnification device.  Here’s what we said about it in OE Patients post titled: eSight Up Close

     

     

    Jordy, optical viewing device.
    Jordy, optical viewing device.

    Jordy: $3,620

    A head-mounted video magnifier recently reintroduced as a lower priced competitor to eSight.  Jordy also converts to a desktop magnifier with the purchase of an optional dock.

     

     

    Aira: $89 – $329 per month

    Aira (pronounced I-ra) is a new service, for a monthly fee offers access to a sighted agent, summoned by a tap on the Aira smart glasses and connected by a live video feed.  The agent will provide on the spot detailed guidance when needed.  This is an innovative concept and we are very interested to see how people with low vision take to it.

     

     

    Click here for the AAO video.

     

  • Accessibility Bridges the Visual Divide

    Accessibility Bridges the Visual Divide

    Accessibility is a term that knows no bounds, defining the ease of use of technologies, services, and environments. At one time associated mainly with disability, its prominence now is largely driven by universal design and the aging population. Smart developers know that for a product to be successful it must be easily adoptable by people of every age. No dumbing-down required.

    The new age of accessibility is a game changer for people with vision loss in particular. We are no longer relegated to the stigma, or the expense, that “special” technology has traditionally carried. Using the same popular devices everyone else is using has incredibly healing and renewing properties, and gives us back some sense of normal. It is ultimately about inclusion.

    The most disappointing thing about these amazing developments is that far too many people are unaware that accessibility exists, and they continue to needlessly struggle with daily tasks! We can all help to change that. Screen settings and speech applications can significantly benefit all patients experiencing any and every degree of vision loss. They just need to know it’s available.

    In 2008, Apple delivered the iPhone with Accessibility Settings built into every phone, at no extra cost, which expanded usability to people with low vision or no vision. The move marked a pivotal shift in mainstream accessibility and Apple became the undisputed leader in this important evolution.

    The iPhone became the most adopted device, ever, among people with vision loss. It is also the most multiple-use device ever available for vision. Today the iOS options under Accessibility Settings for Vision include VoiceOver, Zoom, Magnifier, Larger Text, Bold Text, and Increased Contrast. These settings, along with Siri’s AI (artificial intelligence) and Dictation features, are not just beneficial for people with serious visual impairments…they’re good for everyone!

    In 2010, the 21st Century Communications and Video Accessibility Act (CVAA) was signed into law, mandating equal access to digital, broadband, and mobile devices for people with visual impairments or blindness. This is why all smartphones and tablets now have accessibility features included. It is also why all cable providers now offer customers the option to enable talking TV guides and menus. We now have an abundance of choices. Although all are not created totally equal, we can expect Android phones and tablets are accessible. Amazon’s Kindle eReaders and Fire tablets are accessible. Google, Microsoft, and Apple all make universal access a standard.

    Accessibility apps also play a meaningful role in improving function for people with visual impairments. There are apps that are magnifiers and flashlights; apps that take notes and send reminders; apps that convert text to speech; apps that help you take a well-focused photograph; and apps that read signs and locate transportation.

    This range of useful options isn’t limited to just cell phones and tablets — Microsoft Windows PC and Apple’s Mac computers can also be depended on for magnification, speech, dictation, and voice commands. People often give up computer use once the screen becomes too difficult to read. They don’t realize that they can adjust the technology to their needs, every step of the way. This is particularly important for people at work. The great majority of low vision users can continue to work, uninterrupted, with a little help from their IT Department to set it up to suit their particular needs.

    Taking an even bigger leap forward, Apple launched a dedicated Accessibility Support phone line to assist their customers with visual, hearing, motor, and learning impairments. The Verizon Wireless Accessibility Center followed. Next came the Microsoft Disability Answer Desk. Comcast, the leader in cable accessibility, offers dedicated phone support. Recently, Google announced that they, too, are preparing to launch a special support line. Amazon does not yet offer dedicated support, but they do have staff well versed in accessibility for Kindle, Fire and Echo accessibility.

    It is a life-changing innovation, and this is just the beginning — the best is clearly yet to come. Intuitive and predictive technology, interacted with by voice, is the next big frontier. Smart speakers like Amazon Echo and Google Home are already popular and accessible for people of all ages and acuities. A powerful reminder that we are more alike than we are different.

     

    Image Credit: Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital | Northwell Health
    Image Credit: Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital | Northwell Health

     

    Image Credit: Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital | Northwell Health
    Image Credit: Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital | Northwell Health

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    To read the PDF version of this article click here

     

    Article first published in Manhattan Eye, Ear, & Throat Hospital | Northwell Health, Winter 2017 Newsletter

     

  • 7 Low Vision Tips to Start Your Day

    7 Low Vision Tips to Start Your Day

    A toothbrush, shampoo bottles, and other bathroom vanities on a tiled background.
    A toothbrush, shampoo bottles, and other bathroom vanities on a tiled background.

    One of the challenging aspects of living with low vision can be our personal care. Issues like hygiene and grooming can undermine our sense of independence and confidence.

    Organization is key. Explain to family members how important it is for you to be able to find your things exactly where you left them, thus eliminating the need to go searching for items that are not in their designated place.

    • In the bathroom, items such as toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush/comb, and toiletries should be kept in the same place, on a shelf or a rack in the shower.
    • It is helpful to buy shampoo, conditioner and body wash in containers differentiated by shape or color. If you do end up with products that have similar packaging, use bump dots to identify one from the other.
    • Getting toothpaste on the toothbrush can be a bit of a hassle. Some people find squeezing some toothpaste into a small container and dipping the brush into the paste is easier. Some people just prefer to squeeze a dab of paste onto their index finger and then transfer from finger to brush.
    • When shaving, use your sense of touch to apply the shaving cream, then slowly begin shaving and use your fingers to check for smoothness.  An electric shaver is a very good option, but the shave may not always be as close.
    • Applying makeup can become a challenge so it’s best to stick with what you know. Best to keep colors natural and always blend well. Liquid eyeliner may need to be substituted for a less exacting line of eyeshadow applied with a wet brush. Ask for the help of a friend or professional when buying new makeup and be open about your visual impairment.
    • Good lighting, along with a magnifying mirror, is key to good shaving and makeup application. Magnifying mirrors are available in models that are free-standing, wall mounted or suctioned to the bathroom mirror.
    • Take time to choose and look over your clothing choice for the day. If you are not completely sure everything is clean and neat, ask someone. It’s always a good idea to have stain removing wipes on hand for the spot that may have slipped by.

    Staying organized and sticking to a familiar routine will also help get you off to an excellent start each day.

     

  • 4 Things You Should Not Give Up In the New Year

    4 Things You Should Not Give Up In the New Year

    The start of a fresh new year is filled with promise. Anything and everything is possible. It’s a good time to evaluate your goals and objectives for the year ahead. 

    OE Patients was created to provide practical tips and encouraging advice to keep you addressing the challenges of vision loss and moving forward.  We strongly recommend a conscious renewal of your resolve to not give up doing the things you need to do and love to do.

    Coping with a visual impairment can be daunting until you discover there are solutions. We advise always to explore options, and never to give up easily. Here are 4 categories you should not give up, each followed by the tried and true solutions found in the pages of OE Patients.

    Don’t Give Up On Technology

    Continuing to use a mobile device or computer with a visual impairment can be unpleasant at times. But living without the use of technology today will be even more difficult. The very solutions you need, to adjust visual settings or access speech, are built into the software’s accessibility settings.  We’ll continue to give lots of advice on Accessibility & Technology in the coming year.  Here are links to some of the articles already posted:

    Accessibility Support Lines You Should Know

    10 things Siri Will Do If You Ask

    Savvy Seniors Tech Support Resources

    Are You A Dictator?

    10 Things to Know About iPhone Accessibility

    Don’t Give Up The Job

    We acknowledge that adjusting to vision loss while contending with the demands of a job can feel overwhelming. There are accessibility solutions built into your computer that can be exactly what you need to continue working productively. Make a friend in IT and get some help. Strongly consider discussing your visual impairment with your supervisor or Human Resources, it is in the employer’s best interest that you succeed on the job. Strengthen your resolve with a look back at these articles on this topic from OE Patients:

    5 Ways to Make Your Computer at Work Easier to Use

    Magnifiers Are a Must

    eSight Up Close

    Innovation Drives Inclusion

    Don’t Give Up On Reading

    Reading is always affected by vision loss. It is important to learn early on to make the adjustments that will keep you reading. Consider the lighting, text size, contrast, and magnification.  At some point, you may decide to move part of your reading to listening. A good audiobook is every bit as enjoyable as a real page-turner.

    Reading has a very broad spectrum and it comes into play over and over throughout any given day. You may need to find new ways to read signs, packaging, documents, and mail.  Here are some options to look at:

    Get Back the Joy of Reading with NLS

    iPad Accessibility Set Just Right for You

    Seeing AI is a Gift From Microsoft

    Kindle Gets A Voice

    Don’t Give Up Your Independence

    It all really ultimately comes down to independence, and it should never be given up without a fight! Stay tuned to these pages and we’ll keep giving you the power. 

    6 Ways to Make Bill Paying Easier

    GoGo Grandparent Gets an Uber Without an App

    Consider the Long White Cane

  • Consider The Long White Cane

    Consider The Long White Cane

    A close up of a long white cane on a street with yellow lines.
    A close up of a long white cane on a street with yellow lines.

    Vision loss can elevate feelings of insecurity, on many levels. Actively making adjustments helps maintain or regain the confidence to continue doing the things you need, and want, to do. That includes getting around safely.

    Taking a fall is unpleasant at any age.  Getting back up, in one piece, is not always easy. What you don’t see can definitely hurt you. The long white cane is a very useful tool in preventing falls.

    The white cane is still believed by many to indicate total blindness. But everyone should be aware, this is a tool that significantly improves mobility for people with low vision.  And it is increasingly being utilized by older adults with all kinds of visual impairments.

    Although it can restore confidence and independence, the white cane remains a difficult step for many to take. The reluctance commonly felt about using the cane, is almost always replaced by the sheer empowerment it offers.

    Use of a cane will greatly reduce the risk of injury. It provides feedback about the path ahead, changes in elevation, and alerts to obstacles. It will help you orient to conditions of darkness or bright glare. The cane will also inform others of your visual impairment.

    A professional Orientation & Mobility Specialist should always be consulted for proper training in the use of a long white cane. Contact your local vision rehabilitation center or ask your physician for a referral.

    Long white canes are lightweight and easily retractable. They fold up to a small bundle that fits into a tote or backpack. And they open up again with the flick of a wrist. 

    Don’t allow fear to curtail your freedom. The upside of cane use will far outweigh the downside.

     

  • 11/09 Top Apps Made For Accessibility

    11/09 Top Apps Made For Accessibility

    Join Us Nov. 9, 2017 At MEETH

    Apps are empowering people with visual impairments in ways we could once only dream of. They read text on the go, identify people, products, places, turn cameras into magnifiers, summon live help, and light the way.

    Accessibility Resources for People with Visual Impairments 

     

    Presenter:

     

     

    Dorrie Rush 

    OphthalmicEdge.org Patients

     

    WHEN:

    Thursday, November 9, 2017 

    2:30 to 3:30 pm

     

    WHERE:

    Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital 

    Corwin Hall

    2nd Floor

    210 East 64 Street

    (between Third and Second Ave.)

    New York, NY 10065

     

    Please RSVP as seating is limited:

    Phone: (212) 702-7760

    Online: meethaccessibility.eventbrite.com

     

    Event Flyer: 

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Nov-9-MEETH-Accessibility-Center-Info-session-3-v1.pdf” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”Download PDF”]

     

    Top 5 Apps Handout: 

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/Apps-Handout-Nov.-9-MEETH.pdf” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”Download PDF”]

     

    Save the date for our next session:

    April 19, 2018, 3 to 4 pm

    Smart Speakers!

     

    Hosted by the Department of Ophthalmology

    Supported by Association for Macular Diseases, Inc. 

     

     

     

  • 10/12 What Siri Can Do For You

    10/12 What Siri Can Do For You

    Join Us Oct.12, 2017 At MEETH

    Siri, Apple’s “intelligent personal assistant”, can be an empowering tool to help you maximize functionality in your iPhone and/or iPad. Please join us in learning easy tips to benefit from this life-changing technology!

    Accessibility Resources for People with Visual Impairments 

     

    Presenter:

     

     

    Dorrie Rush 

    OphthalmicEdge.org Patients

     

    WHEN:

    Thursday, October 12, 2018 

    2:30 to 3:30 pm

     

    WHERE:

    Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital 

    Corwin Hall

    2nd Floor

    210 East 64 Street

    (between Third and Second Ave.)

    New York, NY 10065

     

    Event Flyer: 

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/10-12-MEETH-Siri-Event.pdf” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”Download PDF”]

     

    Save the date for our next session:

    November 9, 2017, 2:30 to 3:30 pm

    Top 5 Accessibility Apps!

     

    Hosted by the Department of Ophthalmology

    Supported by Association for Macular Diseases, Inc.