Tag: vision loss

Spring Clean, Refresh & Organize
Sprouting greenery, blooming buds and warming temperatures deliver a clear and hope filled message of growth and renewal. Bring that freshness from outdoors inside with a good spring cleanup and get a needed boost to mental health and overall well-being at the end of a long winter.

Don’t let the task overwhelm you. Prioritize the areas needing most attention, then break those down into projects that will take 1-hour or less. In the kitchen, clean up and organize a single drawer or cabinet at a time. In the closet, weed out the old unused items, then put the keepers in good order. Whatever your approach, the result is uplifting.

A seasonal refresh holds rewards even greater for people with vision loss. Choose a few ways you can quickly improve your environment at home and think of it as a gift you give yourself. Clean always feels good and getting organized makes it possible to reach for something and find it in its designated place, which is a habit you’ll be delighted to repeat, over and over again, it never gets old.

Image of hands in rubber gloves washing dishes.

Here are some ideas to get you started:
- Get rid of clutter. Will you ever read that stack of magazines? Do you really need a CD collection? If in doubt, throw it out!
- Clean your refrigerator thoroughly, and throw out old or expired items. Organize the shelves so the items used regularly are prioritized.
Image of cooking tools and utensils neatly
organized in a kitchen drawer.
- Organize your kitchen for daily use, one section at a time. Make sure utensil drawers are neatly arranged, and that your favorite dishes and glassware are easy to access. Clean all surfaces and wash all items with hot soapy water so they feel fresh and new.
- Having your windows and carpets cleaned is a great way to refresh.
- Now is the time to get your bathroom organized anew. Get rid of all the items you don’t use and give the things you’re always searching for their own special spot.
Image of leafy houseplant in a white ceramic pot.
- Treat yourself to a new indoor foliage or a flowering houseplant. Refreshing the greenery cleanses the air and lifts your spirit.
- Clean a closet or two. Get rid of clothes you don’t wear, you can donate to charity or consign them for resale.
- Reorganize your closet for the new season. Put away winter gear neatly, for easy access when needed.
- Get your home office cleaned up and organized as well, it’s guaranteed to improved productivity.
- Go paperless, all bills and financial statements are available online.
- Don’t forget to do a much-needed cleaning to purge old mail, outdated files and apps from your computer and mobile devices.
For more on this topic, see Related Posts at the bottom of page.

This post was first published Mar 27, 2020 and most recently updated Apr 18, 2023.
April 18, 2023
The Benevolence Of Be My Eyes

Volunteerism is alive and well as demonstrated every day in the Be My Eyes app. The concept was conceived in 2012 by furniture craftsman Hans Jørgen Wiberg, who began losing his vision twenty-five years prior. It was his idea to provide access to sighted assistance for people with low vision or blindness. The app name leaves no doubt about its purpose. I recall being incredibly impressed in the early days of BME, when there were 150,000 volunteers, today there are over 6.4 million helping more than 480,000 people with vision loss. The fact that so many are interested in lending their eyes to a total stranger, is a testament to humanity.

Built on the kind assistance of humans, the BME app is now testing a “Virtual Volunteer” powered by ChatGPT-4. If you want to be part of the beta testing process, there is a registration page on the app, but no guarantee you’ll get in, there is a waiting list. In a post on Mashable, one of the participating testers, Lucy Edwards, is reported to have used the conversational AI tool as tour guide, food blog, reader of restaurant menus and fashion catalogs, language translator and personal trainer. It will be very interesting to see how this develops, live human kindness vs. Ai chatbot.

For now the all-live volunteers are able to offer their service, at times that are convenient to them. BME creates an opportunity to give back in a sort of micro-lending kind of way, in small increments of time, free of rigid scheduling commitments. The visually impaired user is able to call for help whenever it is needed, without feeling they are imposing. The volunteers are logged in because they are ready and willing to help someone, possibly you.

The app, available for iOS and Android, is designed with a fittingly friendly user interface. The two main options on the uncomplicated homepage are “Call a Volunteer” -or- “Get Trained Support”. Expert company representatives are available in the categories of: Assistive Technology, Beauty & Grooming, Blindness Organizations, Careers, Civic Engagement, Food & Beverage, Home & Cleaning, Personal Health or Technical Support. Participating companies include: Google, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Spotify, Pantene, Hadley, Lighthouse San Francisco, Accessible Pharmacy, Rite Aid and more.

The service is active in 150 countries and available in 185 languages. When you call a volunteer, BME sends out the request to the nearest available volunteers by location and language. There is no limit to the number of calls or time spent, however it is best to say, at the start of a call, if you expect the call to be lengthy. The app provides a rating system to register feedback about your experience, good or bad.

Here are 100 Ways to Use BME. I have used the app for assistance reading a thermostat, setting the oven temperature, reading hand-written notes and product directions. All these encounters with BME volunteers were pleasant, constructive and successful. There is a “Community” tab at the bottom of every page worth exploring for inspiring stories from users and volunteers.

And, by the way, all Be My Eyes Services are free.

Blue and white Be My Eyes logo with white text on black background.

Download the apps and learn more at BeMyEyes.com.

Article originally published Oct 4, 2019 and updated Mar 30, 2023.

March 30, 2023
Aira is Remote Visual Assistance

There have been many changes to Aira services, and we must admit, it’s all a bit hard to follow. The subscription prices have increased significantly for new subscribers in 2023, but it’s not clearly published, so best to call Aira to clarify. There is also apparently a new app, called Aira Explore, which is currently available on Google Play, but not yet on the App Store. The old app (now called Legacy) will not be updating and users will need to install the new version at some point. Call Aira customer service: 800-835-1934.

Living with vision loss has a way of compelling us to become better problem solvers. We learn to develop compensatory strategies for getting things done on a daily basis. And we all know there are moments when the technology, the magnifiers and the light, just won’t suffice, what we could really use is another pair of eyes. This is when you would consider calling upon a family member, a colleague, or a friend, but you’d prefer not to disturb anyone.

The visual interpreting service, Aira (pronounced I-ra) is a possible solution to that problem, and many more. The name is acronym for Ai Remote Assistance the service connects people with live, specially trained agents for help reading, navigating, identifying or describing. The connection icon a video call made on a smartphone app, currently available 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, exactly when you need them.

Home screen of Aira app.

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 Locations are in your vicinity. In Access Locations, which include Starbucks, Target, Bank of America, Walgreens, AT&T, 50+ airports and transit systems, like all of Boston’s MBTA railroad, subway and bus stops. Recently Aira announced the entire state of Connecticut 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.

Monthly Subscription

Upgrade to a monthly plan with a call to customer service. 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.

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.

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 an organization with interest in making Aira’s services available to their customers, send that information to: [email protected].

Website: Aira.io

Phone: 800-835-1934

This post was previously published Jan 27, 2022 and updated Feb 28, 2023.

February 28, 2023
Vision In The News

In this post we aim to share reporting from the web that aligns with the purpose and spirit of OE, keeping our readers inspired and informed to live well with vision loss.

ADJUSTING

Dan uses a probing cane to explore the terrain

The Inspiring Story of Blind Skater Dan Mancina

Dan uses his experience to motivate others to follow their dreams despite the obstacles and challenges. He started a fundraising campaign and both the land to build the world’s first accessible skatepark, designed for people with vision impairments. Read Now on Surfer Today.

Josh Miele photographed at home

A Year After Life-Changing Award, Berkeley Inventor For the Blind is Writing a Memoir

Josh Miele was awarded a prestigious MacArthur Foundation fellowship, also known as the Genius Award. He was named Distinguished Research Fellow in Disability, Accessibility and Design at the University of California at Berkeley, his Alma mater for both undergrad and PhD. He has continued his work for Amazon, designing a more inclusive experience online. He’s starting a nonprofit to advocate for more accessible software, and he’s working on a memoir with former NY Times Metro Editor, Wendell Jamieson. In the midst of all this attention and activity, Josh says he’s still as “disorganized and procrastinative” as ever, which should give us all hope. Read Now on Berkeley Side.

Photo of family creating memories on world tour

Canadian Family Taking World Tour Before Children Lose Vision

When 3 of their 4 children were diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, Edith Lemay and Sebastien Pelletier began planning a global tour, for their family, to help the children build visual memories, resilience and a sense of comfort in the world. The parents say the trip has opened their eyes in so many ways. Read Now on CNN.

Theresa climbing

Eyes in the back of my head! Meet the blind woman fearlessly scaling walls as high as London’s 180m Gherkin

This woman knows how to push the limits of vision loss. “Theresa Osborne-Bell, 41, cannot see her feet when she stands up, yet scuttles up sheer climbing walls with the agility and certainty of a squirrel – loving every minute of the freedom the sport gives her.” Read Now in Yahoo News.

Molly Burke wearing white dress with puff sleeves
and full skirt

Meet Molly Burke, the social media star busting myths about blindness

“Molly Burke loves fashion, tattoos and makeup, so people sometimes don’t believe she’s blind. But Burke believes that what people wear is part of self-care and self-expression and that everyone should be able to enjoy fashion.” She is the role model she never had and is working to change the way society views blindness. Read Now on NBC.

TECH

Graphic image of character in wheelchair
crossing an iPhone ramp

How to Make the Most of Your iPhone’s Accessibility Features

A wonderful introductory guide to Apple’s Accessibility where you can adjust an array of settings to improve the user experience in terms of vision, hearing, and touch. You don’t have to have a disability; it’s available and good for everyone. Read Now on Vox.

Star birth image captured by James Webb telescope

Alt text helps the visually impaired experience the James Webb Telescope images.

A team of scientists, writers and educators worked together to add vivid descriptions to the spectacular images captured by the James Webb Space Telescope to help people with vision loss appreciate the detail. Read Now on NPR.

Siri icon with text: New in IOS 16

Everything New with Siri and Dictation in iOS 16

With this software update, Siri will insert emojis, hang up calls, announce notifications, and even pause a little longer while you finish dictating a message. Dictation now adds automatic punctuation; the microphone icon is moved into the Messages text box. And there’s more. Read Now on MacRumors.

Characters roaming around a cyber amusement park
Maze in which some sections are blocked by obstacles
Image credit: The Verge

Accessibility Week – The Verge

We know accessibility can both delight and disappoint us. The Verge turned the spotlight on both sides of this coin with a week filled with articles to explore the ups and downs. The subtext: “Technology promises a universally accessible world — and only sometimes manages to deliver,” introduces a wealth of articles on making the most of the accessibility features in iPhone, Android, Mac and Windows. There is an article on the magical possibilities in iPad, a look at the failure of ride-sharing for people with disabilities and more. Read Now on the Verge.

HEALTH

Woman removes headphones from child
Image credit: Getty

5 Tips for Preventing Hearing Loss Caused by Headphones

Wearing headphones, earphones, earbuds or AirPods has become the most common accessory on adults and on children as well. Unhealthy volume levels will cause permanent damage. The buds that go into your ear and seal out noise are the worst offenders. It’s all about awareness and prevention. Read Now on ZD Net.

A man wearing helmet, standing with bike

Exploring Fitness for People Who are Visually Impaired

Many excellent and encouraging ideas for staying active and healthy from the Wisconsin Council of the Bind and Visually Impaired which includes advice for those who prefer to walk, run, bike, swim or work out at home, with a trainer or in a gym. Read Now on wcblind.org.

VOICES

A selfie of Paul with Sydney harbor in the
background

How I Fought for My Career After Becoming Legally Blind

A beautifully inspiring first person account of one man’s step-by step effort to recover his confidence and his career. He enlightens and educates his employer and colleagues in the process. Read Now on SBS News, Australia.

Heather hugs her two young daughters

My Daughter’s Visual Impairment Taught Me to See Past My Fear of the Unknown

The title of Heather’s story speaks for itself. Upon learning of her baby daughter’s visual impairment, she felt overwhelming grief and distress. As she began to educate on vision loss, the most comforting lesson was “about others who are visually impaired but continue to lead full lives.” She also gained “a beautiful new perspective.” Read Now on CBC News.

January 24, 2023
Skewed Views on Vision Loss

OE Editor, Dorrie Rush looks right
toward camera and smiles

2023 Letter from the Editor

It’s 2023, happy new year. The number boggles my mind, for so many reasons. Since 2020, it seems we have been living in an altered universe. Although the hope was life would eventually return to normal post-pandemic, deep down we knew things might never be the same. A stark reminder that you don’t know what you have until it’s gone. The lost sense of normalcy and need to accept and adjust felt oddly familiar to life with vision loss

As age 65 approaches, I am compelled to look back, 33 years, to the start of a life changed by progressive vision loss. Having known only 20/20 vision to that point, it was hard to understand what was to come. The questions far outweighed the answers. I feared total blindness as I was simultaneously encouraged to believe there would be a cure in the next 10 to 15 years. Three decades later, neither cure nor blindness has become a reality.

Although my vision qualified as “legal blindness” 20 years ago, the terminology is misleading. My visual acuity has not been recorded with numbers for a very long time; instead my eyesight is reduced to absurd classifications such as: counting fingers and waving hands. This deceptive language insults my intelligence and my eyesight. At the very same eye exam, when I say I cannot read the forms they are handing me on a clipboard, they say, Oh, you don’t look visually impaired.” I reply, “Yes, I do, this is what visually impaired looks like.”

The fact is, I am still able to type this article into a computer and see the words magnified on screen. I have never stopped working or felt the need to declare myself disabled. The fears I felt early on did not come to fruition. My life was changed, but not interrupted or devastated. It would be more accurate to say, it has given me purpose. By sharing my experience, I hope to convey a better understanding for everyone touched directly, or indirectly, by vision loss.

Communication on this topic is anything but clear. The OE post titled, Surprises Contained in the White Cane, brought up a pervasive ignorance about the cane. We heard from too many visually impaired cane users being called out, in public, for faking blindness. Some have been accused of faking sightedness because they do not use a cane. I tell someone I have not seen in several years about my recent adoption of the white cane; they ask, “Can you see anything? Do you have light perception?”

Skewed perceptions perpetuate stigma. As I said in the white cane article, “It’s a conundrum, of poor public awareness caused by inaccurate terminology, and a correction is long overdue. Vision loss is a spectrum, and that deserves a better understanding.” Let’s not make it any more difficult than it has to be.

January 10, 2023
Avoid Phone, Email & Text Scams
Scam calls, emails and text messages have significantly increased. They attempt to defraud you by tricking you into revealing personal, credit or financial information. So prevalent they have spawned an industry of theft known as phishing by email, smishing by text, and vishing by voice call. Federal Trade Commission data released in 2022 shows that consumers reported losing more than $5.8 billion to fraud in 2021, a whopping increase of more than 70% over the previous year. Of the 2.8 million fraud reports received by the FTC, imposter scams were the most commonly reported, followed by online shopping scams; fake prizes, fake sweepstakes and fake lotteries, and scams involving phony internet services or nonexistent business or job opportunities.

The scams are coming at you on a daily basis, designed to rob your money or steal your identity. They often target older adults with bogus threats related to debts owed or a family member in trouble. When fraud is directed at you personally, it is frightening and very dangerous to your financial accounts. To avoid falling prey, be aware, and be vigilant; although the scenarios presented in scams are fake, the potential for losing thousands of dollars is quite real.

Do Not Engage
- Don’t Answer. The absolute best and most effective advice for avoiding phone scams is…do not answer unfamiliar calls, emails or texts. If you answer a contact and realize it could be a scam — disconnect immediately and do not answer when they attempt to contact you again.
- Set Call ID. If vision loss prevents you from seeing incoming phone numbers, consider setting your phone to announce the incoming call, or assign a special ringtone to your favorite callers. Contact your carrier to find out if they offer options for blocking calls identified as spam.
- Don’t Give Information. Beware of any call or message asking for your personal information including social security number, Medicare ID, date of birth, username, password, mother’s maiden name or credit card info. Government agencies and legitimate businesses do not ask for personal information by phone. Email or text message, if someone does, it is most likely fraud. Confirm the request independently with a call to the company or agency’s customer service line.
- Do Not Send Money. Don’t be pressured to send money urgently. Beware of requests for payments by wire transfer, preloaded debit or gift cards, Google Pay, and Bitcoin. Unusual payment methods are almost certainly indicative of a scam
- Don’t Be Fooled by phone numbers or email addresses that appear to be legitimate; both can be easily faked by scammers.
Senior man with serious expression talking on phone.

Be Aware Of These Scams
- Social Security Scams will try to convince you that someone is fraudulently using your SS# or there is a judgment against you which may lead to your arrest. Never respond to calls or messages of this nature.
- Medicare Scams will claim new Medicare cards are being issued or that you are eligible for a free medical device. They will ask for your Medicare and banking information. This is a fraud. Hang up.
- IRS Scams involve a call to demand immediate payment for taxes owed, using a prepaid debit card or wire transfer. Hang up on this scam and do not return calls to voicemail messages. The IRS does not collect taxes by phone or request unusual payment methods. The fraud can be easily confirmed by calling the IRS directly.
- Grandparent Scam calls or email involve a con artist posing as a family member, lawyer or law enforcement agent reporting serious trouble that urgently requires a wire transfer of funds for bail money, lawyers fees or other fictitious expenses. Don’t believe it, verify the whereabouts of your loved one independently.
- FBI Scams claim you are under investigation and demand a fee to avoid arrest.
- Fishing Scams involve calls, texts and email that impersonate Apple, Verizon, American Express and JP Morgan Chase, among many others, to claim your account has been compromised and you need to reset. Do not call the number or click the links provided. Instead, verify by calling the company’s published customer service number.
- Lottery and Sweepstakes Scams Call or email to inform you that you have won the big prize, but must first pay taxes or fees before it can be released to you. There is absolutely no winning; you can only lose on this one.
No matter what type of scam, the best advice is the same: Do Not Engage! Don’t respond to suspicious calls. If you pick up a questionable call, hang up immediately. Do not call back. Don’t open suspicious emails and don’t open attachments or click links.

Always Protect Your Private Information
- Don’t share your passwords, keep them private and update regularly.
- Shred documents that contain personal or financial information before discarding.
- When using an ATM, cover or block the keypad when entering your PIN.
- Use direct deposit for paychecks, tax refunds, benefit payments, etc.
- Review financial statements monthly and correct errors.
- Review credit report yearly and correct issues.
This article was originally posted July 13, 2019 and updated December 8, 2022.
December 9, 2022
Surprises Contained in the White Cane

Vision loss is an intrusion that we all deal with in our own way. Our ability to thrive is contingent upon a willingness to make large and small adjustments to compensate for diminishing eyesight. Knowing all that did not prevent me from heavily avoiding the white cane. But once I finally ended the resistance, it did not take long to discover what I had been missing. It turns out, I am not at all special in this respect; making peace with this mobility device is often a complicated personal process.

What is it that holds us back? On Girl Gone Blind, Maria Johnson opens her post on the topic with this explanation, “If I use a cane… then the whole world will stare at me. I will look like a BLIND person! I’m only sorta kinda blind. I can see contrast and blurry objects, so I’ll be fine without it. I don’t want to hold a cane. It just stresses me out. White canes and ugly sunglasses are not for me. What if my friends see me with it? They will look and whisper… “OMG. Look at Maria! She must be really blind now… she needs to use one of those things, you know, a white cane!”

I, too, did not want the world to see me as a blind person, because I don’t see myself that way. Blindness is generally understood as total darkness, but that is not accurate for 85% of people who are legally blind, according to the American Foundation for the Blind. It’s a conundrum, of poor public awareness caused by inaccurate terminology, and a correction is long overdue. Vision loss is a spectrum, and that deserves a better understanding.

During the pandemic, my low vision got lower. The change was not subtle, more things disappeared in my broken visual field, objects appeared more pixelated, the haziness got denser. I hoped maybe the change was temporary, but I knew that was unlikely and unrealistic. Two retinal exams provided no explanation for the decrease in sight. I began adjusting, again, and took a few falls in the process. It was time for a cane.

A fair amount of procrastination preceded a call to purchase a cane from Ambutech. The sales representative, Laura, was thoughtful and thorough; there was much more to know about a mobility cane than I expected. She patiently explained the cane types, lengths, tips, and handles. Do I want aluminum, graphite or fiberglass? She informed me that all white canes are reserved for people who are totally blind, and canes with red at the bottom indicate the user has some sight. Who knew? I ordered a long white graphic cane with a marshmallow tip, red bottom with a black handle. And somehow I got it just right.

It was 10 days before the package arrived and another week before I opened the box. On that morning I took it for a walk on the Bronx River Bike Path, or I should say, it took me. For the first half mile, or so, I fought with the cane. Until my partner, Neil, took the cane out of my hand and showed me what I might do to get along better with it. His experience with the mobility cane was purely observational, but in that moment his guidance was immensely helpful. That was the turning point, it all began to click.

Dorrie on the Bronx River Path, walking
with mobility cane, in the midst of fall foliage

I was amazed at how much better I felt walking along the path’s bumps and dips, just knowing what was ahead of me and underfoot. My acquired fear of tripping or falling largely abated as the sweeping arc of my cane proceeded. Bikes slowed down when they saw the cane, and everyone called out a greeting. The cane informed me when there was a curb, a curb cut, or a rocky stretch of pavement. On the way back through city streets, I discovered how it solved my problems walking up, and especially down, steps. It still feels gleeful to gracefully navigate a flight of stairs. I felt good again, walking everywhere with the cane; it gave me a renewed sense of security and restored my confidence.

From that day, to my great surprise, the cane sits at my front door and goes out whenever I do. Traveling in and out of New York City with the cane is comfortable again and also filled with surprises. Perhaps the most unexpected was how sweet I found the kindness of strangers. As I exited Grand Central Terminal and walked up Lexington Avenue, I discovered a lovely and quiet benevolence on the bustling streets, thanks to the white cane.

Dorrie Rush discusses The Not-So-Straight Line to the White Cane with Hadley Presents host Ricky Enger…Listen Here.

November 30, 2022
Everyday iPhone Accessibility Tips & Tricks

The Accessibility Settings and features in iPhone are best in class, but not as widely known to users as we would hope. On the other hand, there are universal features that significantly improve accessibility for everyone, visually impaired or not. Although Apple does not consider features like Siri, Dictation, Apple Pay and AirDrop, accessibility features, we do. The list of tips and tricks, that magically make everyday things easier, is potentially massive. Starting with just a few here and we’ll add from time to time. Take what you need and leave the rest.

Hey Siri

Go to Siri and Search Settings on mobile to enable Listen for Siri to communicate voice commands without touching the device. Now just say, “Hey Siri, what time is it?”, “Hey Siri, how is the weather?”, “Hey Siri, Play some music.”

Ask Siri to Open Apps

This is the easiest way to open apps, without searching on your iPhone (iPad, iPod touch), just ask Siri to open the app by name. Press the side button (or the home button) and say, “Open Weather.” Or say, Hey Siri, Open News,” to launch an app, hands free.

Hey Siri, Speak Screen

Siri will read the screen contents to you when Speak Screen is turned “On” in Settings. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Spoken Content > Speak Screen > turn On. Say, “Hey Siri, Speak Screen,” or 2-finger swipe down from the top of the screen and listen as Siri reads to you.

Hey Siri, Answer on Speaker

Answer an incoming call, hands free, and on speaker, by saying, “Hey Siri, Answer on Speaker.” You can also just say, Hey Siri, Answer.” with AirPods in ears.

For a truly hands free call, Siri will also Hang Up the call (in iOS 16 on iPhone 11 or later, or on older phones using AirPods. Turn on the feature in Settings> Accessibility> Siri > Call Hang Up> ON.

Set How Long Siri Waits for You to Speak

In iOS 16 you can set Siri to pause, a little longer, while you finish speaking. Update in Settings> Accessibility> Siri> Siri Pause Time> Longer or Longest.

Automatic punctuation as You Dictate

No need to speak punctuation and no more endless run on sentences. As you speak the punctuation is added seamlessly.

Insert Emojis with Dictation

Emojis are now available for the asking (in iOS 16 on iPhone X and later). While composing messages with Siri or Dictation, add emoji by saying it’s name, like this, “red heart emoji,’ “winking face emoji,” “clapping hands emoji.”

Back Tap Accessibility Shortcut

Set quick access to frequently used features or apps with a double or triple tap on the back of iPhone. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Touch > Back Tap, then select Double or Triple Tap and the feature or app you wish to access.

iPhone 12 front, back and home screen

Hey Siri, Turn on Dark Mode

Ask Siri to turn on / off Dark Mode, to reverse black and white, if you are experiencing issues with screen contrast or eye strain.

Apple Pay

When it comes to using credit cards, it doesn’t get easier than Apple Pay. No fumbling around for the card or with the processing machine, just hold it near, let it scan and approve with face or code. For online or in-app purchases, no need to input credit card numbers or shipping info, it’s already in the Apple Pay account.

AirDrop

When you need to send something to a different screen, AirDrop is instantaneous, between your own devices, or others in proximity. So, if you want to see an image on a larger screen or send a link to someone nearby, just click share, then the nearest device available for AirDrop…and it’s delivered directly, in seconds.

Quickly Open Flashlight or Camera

How many times have you needed more light in a hurry, or to use the Camera immediately? For quick access to the iPhone Flashlight or Camera, there are two ways to open with one quick step right from the locked screen.

1. Say “Hey Siri, Turn on flashlight.”

2. On the bottom left is a button to turn on or off Flashlight and on the right is a button to open the Camera.

Post originally published Apr 11, 2022, and updated Oct 21, 2022.

October 21, 2022
OE Patients Anniversary Favorites

Celebrate OE Patients 5th Anniversary with this special collection of our top 5 hits in each category: Adjusting, Accessible Tech, Health and Voices. Our pages are filled with practical tips and encouraging advice that empowers patients to live better with vision loss and to believe there is much that can be done to improve quality of life, even when medical treatments do not exist.

ADJUSTING

Nate Berkus fixing up a blue pillow on a couch in a
living room.

Nate’s Low Vision Makeover

Make your home easier on the eye and safer to get around. Read Now

Dahlov Ipcar “Sunlight in Forest
Glade” (unfinished, 2015)

Artists Work Through Macular Degeneration

AMD need not be a career ending injury for these visual artists. Read Now

Woman practicing eccentric viewing.

8 Ways to Practice Eccentric Viewing

When central vision fades, peripheral vision can compensate. Read Now

Image shows restaurant menus.

Try a New Approach to Reading Restaurant Menus

Don’t let a menu stand between you and your meal. Read Now

Image shows a red passport in hands.

5 Keys to Comfort for Visually Impaired Travelers

Take the anxiety out of travel with a bit of advance preparation. Read Now

ACCESSIBLE TECH

Blue accessibility graphic overlaid on image of
smart phone.

10 Things to Know About iPhone

Here are the features that make it easier to use an iPhone with vision loss. Read Now

Older couple, with laptop, on phone with
accessibility support.

Accessibility Support Phone Lines

Bookmark this page, it’s an inside guide to technical support for people with vision loss. Read Now

Two female coworkers working and looking at
computer monitor.

5 Ways to Make Your Computer at Work Easier to See

An adjustment or two, can keep you working productively. Read Now

Savvy senior woman happily using smartphone.

Your Smartphone is a Comprehensive Low Vision Device

No need to carry external vision aids, it’s all in your hand. Read Now

Smiling woman listens as smartphone reads to her.

The Freedom of Speech

When reading is a challenge, learn to listen. Read Now

HEALTH

Fresh vegetables and fruits spread out on a gray
table.

The Anti-AMD Diet

Studies show, eating right saves sight. Read Now

White lotus flower floating peacefully on a pond.

6 Ways to Keep Your Mind Young

Always popular, this post and topic is more relevant and timely than ever. Read Now

Image: White text saying “Doctor, Am I Going Blind?”
against grainy black background.

Doctor, Am I Going Blind?

It is the resounding question. Read Now

Slices of different citrus fruits.

5 Sight Saving Habits to Start Today

Preserve your precious sight with this daily practice. Read Now

Worker with hard hat falling onto concrete floor.

Don’t Take the Fall, Prevent it

Falling is a dangerous business, reduce your risk by taking this advice. Read Now

VOICES

Image shows Frank Bruni.

The Frankness of Bruni

He woke up one day and found himself navigating the waters of vision loss. Read Now

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Gia Pergolini is a Champion

A visual impairment would not deter this world class athlete. Read Now

Edythe Heyman and Dorrie Rush at Lighthouse Guild
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At 90, Edythe Gets Her iPad

This story proves it’s never too late to try new things and get amazing results. Read Now

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white OE Patients logo.

Podcast: Must Know Info About Adjusting to Low Vision

There’s a lot to know about living with vision loss, this is a great place to learn from others. Listen Now

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Asking for Help is a Strength

A panel of experts give their views on this topic. Read Now

August 30, 2022
Be Aware of Privacy Settings

Privacy is a topic of increasing concern to everyone, and it should be. In the age of mobile technology we have developed the bad habit of accepting without understanding what we’ve agreed to. The default privacy settings in our mobile technology, are automatically set to allow tracking of our everyday activity while creating a digital profile of personal data, which is always used, and often sold to third parties without our knowledge or permission. We are told, the main reason for all this surveillance is to send us ads targeted at, what is presumed to be our preferences. And it may even sound like that’s a good thing, but it’s actually pretty creepy and very sneaky.

Be aware and don’t give up your personal data unknowingly. The language is not always clear and the default settings are not always in your favor. Take these steps to limit your exposure.

Graphic image symbolizes hidden identity

Apple iOS Privacy Settings

On iPhone, turn off ad tracking and stop all apps from sharing and selling personal data for the purpose of marketing products to you. Go to Privacy > Tracking > Allow Ads to Request to Track > Off. Next scroll down in Tracking to Apple Advertising and turn off Personalized Ads. In Privacy Settings also go to Analytics and Improvements to Share iPhone & Watch Analytics and turn it Off.

Android and Google Settings

Update Privacy Settings at myaccount.google.com or on Android, go to Settings > Privacy > Activity Controls and select your primary Google account. Turn off Web & App Activity, turn off Location History, and turn off YouTube History. Go to Ad Settings and turn off Ad Personalizations.

Delete Voice Recordings Daily

Get into the habit of deleting your voice recordings from voice assistants and smart speakers on a daily basis. It’s as easy as saying, “Delete everything I’ve said today,” to Alexa or Google. To delete Siri recordings, go to Settings> Siri & Search> Siri & Dictation History, then Delete Siri & Dictation History.

All the assistants have technical support available by phone; they can help you better understand the policies and get the settings updated. Here are the support phone numbers.

Alexa Technical Support: 877-375-9365

Apple Accessibility Support: 877-204-3930

Google Home Support: 855-971-9121

A previous version of this article was published Mar 30, 2020, and updated Aug 16, 2022.

August 16, 2022
Aira At The Airport

There are challenges involved in traveling through airports, always, for everyone. Add a visual impairment to the mix and you’ve got an excellent excuse to just stay at home. A travel companion could solve a lot of the problems, but there isn’t always one available. You can request assistance at the airport, but it may arrive holding a sign you cannot read and pushing a wheelchair you do not need.

For a while now we’ve been thinking the best solution to navigating the inside of an airport would come in the form of an interior mapping system and a really, really smart digital assistant. As much as we love the incredible strides technology is helping us take, navigation systems and digital assistants have not yet proven to be precise enough for this task. While we were waiting patiently for that, we started hearing about something called Aira (pronounced I-ra), a technology that depends on humans for accuracy.

Travelers in London Heathrow Airport.

How Aira Works

Turns out, that even in this intensely technological time, people still provide the most dependable source of assistance. Imagine that. Aira is a service that connects you with an agent via smartphone for live remote assistance, they call it “visual interpreting.” This independence-enhancing accessibility solution could possibly take the pain out of asking for help. You are not disturbing anyone; it is exactly what they are there to do.

The agents are trained to guide you. They can see a 120-degree view through the camera of your phone, much more than you’re seeing. Aira customers are called “Explorers,” and that makes it sound a little like we’re playing a game, but why not, perhaps it will make airport travel fun again.

How Much Aira Costs

Aira is a subscription service, now starting at $29 a month for 30 minutes with an agent, $99 for 120 minutes, and up from there. The service is accessed by a mobile app. Paying subscribers can call an agent for assistance navigating through any airport within the service area of North America, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

Where Aira is Free

There is also a network of airports that subscribe to Aira and provide free guest access to their customers. At last count, 50+ airports were actively participating in the Aira Network including JFK International, LaGuardia, Newark, Syracuse, Boston Logan, Charlotte Douglas, Dallas Love Field, and Toronto Pearson. A complete list of free airport locations seemed to be elusive. A representative from Aira suggested using the in-app search to find all locations on the network, but that did not render a list either. When in doubt, we suggest calling an agent on the app, or Aira customer service at one of the phone numbers listed below, to confirm if the airport you’re heading to provides the visual interpreting service for free.

Get started with the Aira app on the App Store and on Google Play.

Website: Aira

Customer Service:

North America: 800.835.1934

Australia: 800.765.096

United Kingdom: 800.046.5668

New Zealand: 800.425.451

This post was originally published on Jan 17, 2019, and updated on Jul 14, 2022.

Note: We receive no compensation from organizations, products or services mentioned on OE Patients.

July 14, 2022
Smartphone Barcode Readers Help Visually impaired People

Universal Product Codes (UPC) are the barcodes found on just about every product sold at retail. They are 12-digit codes that identify the product details. These are the codes scanned at the register each time you check out, perhaps most notably, at the supermarket. You know how they look, although you probably don’t think much about them. The information in product barcodes can be enormously helpful for people with vision loss, yet this is not an application widely adopted, possibly because the talking scanners created for blind and visually impaired users were previously priced out of range for everyday consumers. Today barcode readers are available in two popular accessibility apps, and they’re free.

UPC barcodes on stickers

Product barcodes can be surprisingly useful in the kitchen to get a product’s cooking instructions or nutrition facts when you cannot read the packaging and prefer to have it spoken. In a store, barcodes can be very useful in determining the specific flavor, scent, color and size of the item you’re looking at. Some codes have a lot of information to read through, others have less, depending on the type of product and its requirements.

Seeing AI on iPhone scanning barcode to identify
product. Image credit: Microsoft.com

Accessible Barcode Reading Apps

The Seeing AI app, developed by Microsoft for iOS, includes the Product Channel, which is a talking barcode reader. If you can’t find the barcode visually, audible cues indicate its location. Once found, the barcode is scanned automatically and the product details are spoken. The UPC on a small box of pasta says the product name “Barilla Orzo.” At the bottom of the screen there is a tab to access “More Info” including product weight and cooking instructions, ingredients and nutritional information, all of which is incredibly easy and very useful for a visually impaired person. This app also reads Short Text, Documents, Currency, Color and more.

For Android, Google developed Lookout, an app that also offers reads barcodes in its Shopping Mode. Like Seeing Ai, this app also offers modes for Quick Read, Document Scan, Explore and Food Labels.

June 16, 2022