As I sit down to write an article, a book or a letter, I am really amazed by the many devices that are now available for people with low vision. I am happy to have them and to have learned to utilize and become comfortable with them.
A computer with a 26 inch monitor, ZoomText magnification and speech program and large print yellow keyboard, greet me each morning.I am legally blind, so it is set to show the date and time in very large print.
An electronic magnifier (CCTV) sits beside my computer, for increasing the size of printed text for research and writing.A recently purchased printer that scans and copies, enables the scanning of articles and images directly into the computer. I use a laser printer as well, set up just to print labels.
I have the luxury of an Amazon Echo and Alexa, which I ask to confirm spelling on any words I am unsure of, and Siri on myiPhone also answers many questions I have. Google too, is very smart and efficient at answering questions about almost anything in the world!
My iPhone enables texting by voice, using Siri or Dictation, and Siri reads text messages and emails to me. There is a Speech option in iOS Accessibility Settings that allows me to highlight text and have it read back aloud. There is also a full function screen reader called VoiceOver, that reads everything when it is engaged.
I’m in the process of learning Dragon Speech to Text, which will then enable me to speak directly to the computer and have the words converted to text, appearing on the screen. This could bring a whole new approach to my writing.
If technology issues arise there is technical support available 24/7. Apple’s Accessibility Support Line (877-204-3930) provides expert help for all Apple products. Microsoft products are supported by the Disability Answer Desk (800-936-5900) by phone, and also with the Be My Eyes app, which provides visual assistance.
You might also try, Talking Camera, Seeing AI and Magnifying Glass on your smartphone, or look through your app store for any of these accessibility apps that can make life a bit easier. One of my most precious possessions is a mini electronic magnifier that I can carry with me, but now with a magnifying app in the phone, I no longer have to carry two devices.
It feels lucky to me, having so much technology that compensates for my vision loss and allows me to continue a very productive life. And if I can benefit from all these advances…so can you!
Like everything about Amazon, its commitment to accessibility is big. Because there is so much to know, we decided to make it the subject of this Accessibility Resource session for people with vision loss. You may be familiar with font and screen settings for Kindle, or voice assistance from Alexa; but did you know about Accessibility Support for shopping, or the VoiceView screen reader in Kindle’s and Fire tablets.And there’s more.
Here is a rundown of vision accessibility options available in Amazon’s products and services.
White shopping cart icon on blue circle.
Shopping Made Easier
Amazon recommends its mobile site for improved access visually or with screen readers. Optimized for mobile devices, this site offers a much cleaner, less cluttered interface which simplifies navigation. They also added an Accessibility Support Phone for retail, a personal shopper will help you find the products you want and put them in your cart, then you just have to click to place your order. You can also ask Alexa to find products or reorder items.
Contact Accessibility Support / Personal Shopper: 888-283-1678
Fire TV
The streaming media player connects your TV to the internet and allow you to access channels and apps. Ask Alexa to turn on the TV, dim the lights, and play “Stranger Things.”
Customer service and technical support are very good and the new Accessibility Support (primarily for retail purchases) will connect to any other specialists you may need to access. All are well versed in accessibility features for specific devices.
Accessibility / Personal Shopper: 888-283-1678
Alexa: 877-375-9365
Kindle & Fire: 866-321-8851
Amazon Books Store
Amazon takes a new physical form, at their store in NYC, they will set up your device with an emphasis on accessibility and show you how to use it.
Amazon Books
7 West 34 Street (across from Empire State Building)
We learn so much from each other about living with vision loss, and that is why we dedicated this Accessibility Resource session to sharing our best finds. If you are the recipient of good advice you never forget where it came from or how it impacted your life, and it should always be paid forward.Our audience enthusiastically shared their best tips, and we are delighted to pass them along.
NLS Talking Books
Free and easy access to audiobooks from the National Library Service, for moving from the visual reading of print books to the equally satisfying experience of audiobooks.
A huge library of accessible ebooks, including textbooks, newspapers and magazines, which can be read on a variety of devices including smartphones and tablets. Membership for qualifying users is $50 a year, U.S. students join fee-free.
If you find it difficult to be open about your visual impairment or low vision, the white cane can do the talking. It informs people around you that you have vision loss, and it lets you know what lies ahead, helping restore your sense of confidence and independence.
It is natural, normal and okay to deal with vision loss on your own terms, in your own time, at your own speed.
Don’t Be Afraid To Ask
Ask a person to read a sign, push an elevator button, tell you if you’re heading in the right direction. You’ll get surprisingly, and overwhelmingly, positive results.
Using iPhone’s VoiceOver
The process of switching from visual to audible access is not so easy at first, but anyone who has done it will tell you the screen reader in iPhone will open up a whole new world. Don’t let the challenges of a learning curve deter you. Stay the course, it’s totally worth the work!
So much is available in the accessibility settings in all Apple devices. They make a real difference for visually impaired and blind users. Explore on your iOS device Settings> General> Accessibility, or on your Mac, click on the apple in the upper left corner, go to System Preferences, then open Accessibility. And you can always call Apple Accessibility at 877-204-3930.
Don’t Be Afraid To Travel
Keep on exploring new places near and far. Use Google Maps and Blind Square for help with navigation and location information. The apps tell you how to get where you want to go, where you are and what’s around you.
Vision rehab prepares you to continue to do what you need to do armed with new skills. The white cane was again credited with speaking on your behalf. And the wearing of bright colors was also recommended to help you stand out.
App developed by Microsoft that reads text instantly when phone is pointed at it. Reads documents, identifies currency and color, describes senes and faces.
For people, like me, who are living with both significant vision and hearing loss, the National Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program, known as iCanConnect, was established by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and signed into law in 2010 by President Barack Obama. The program provides accessible technology and training at no cost to recipients qualified under federal disability and income guidelines. An individual assessment determines the equipment that is granted, which includes smartphones, tablets, computers, screen readers, and braille displays.
iCanConnect is administered by different organizations across the United States. Helen Keller International (HKI) is one of the administrators, with offices throughout the country. In Florida, the Florida Outreach Center for the Blind issues applications and referrals to HKI. That’s where I first heard about this wonderful program.
Through the program, I received a computer with all necessary software, including ZoomText, a laser printer, and an iPhone 7 Plus.Next came the trainer, who installed everything and taught me how to handle all this great new stuff.
The iCanConnect technology specialist arrived at my front door with a guide dog, a sign language interpreter and a driver.It was amazing to be taught by this skilled trainer, who travels throughout the country, helping others learn, through his experience and by his powerful example.
I can’t expound enough about the ways I have benefitted from this excellent program.It allows me to function as a writer and lecturer. The technology enables me to stay up to date on the latest information and resources that help people living withmacular diseases, and to communicate to my readers and listeners. This article is one of those very efforts, intended to inform many more people about the inclusion and equal access afforded by digital technologies.
A heartfelt thank you to President Obama and the FCC, from Jerry Rosenberg.
Change is notoriously difficult, especially when it is unwelcome. Adjusting the way we do things to compensate for vision loss requires — flexibility.A willingness to change is the gift that keeps giving. The more you do, the more skillful you become. With each new learning experience the brain gets a boost, and your confidence gets a bump too.
Uncorrectable changes in eyesight can make some things seem like they are just impossible to deal with. Actively engaging in the process of adjusting, will help you to continue doing the things you love to do, and need to do. Some changes involve a significant learning curve, while others simply require you to show up and enjoy.
The key to successful adjusting is knowing when and how. Here is a reference guide to changes that can improve the quality of your daily life.
Headphone on a side stack of books.
Reading Books
A visual impairment does not stop a book lover from reading. It is so important to understand that reading books is not about seeing the words, it is actually about being absorbed by the narrative. So to continue this wonderful pursuit, the two things you should first know are NLS Talking Books and Audible, more about both on OE links below.
TV programming is more accessible than ever. We have options through cable providers and streaming services. Audio description is available for TV, Broadway productions, movies, and museum visits.
View of the left side of a black care with Uber sticker.
Driving
This is a tough adjustment for many people, but a very important one. It is best to stop driving sooner, rather than later, for the safety of yourself and all those around you. Vision loss is unlikely to kill you, unless you get behind the wheel.
The good news is, we’re living in the ride-sharing generation. Order a car and get a driver to take you where you want to go. It’s totally cool, driving is so yesterday.
Mastering a mobile device has the potential to benefit you in many multiple ways. Use accessibility options for communication, banking, news & weather, control smart technology, track fitness, and much, much more. This is one of those learning curves that is totally worth the work.
We develop many habits during the course of our lives, but not until we reach a certain age do we begin to understand their long-term effects. The proof of our good and bad habits begin showing, if not in our physical appearance, they begin revealing themselves in our medical records.
Maintaining overall good health is a key factor in preventing or slowing the progress of vision loss caused by age or genetics. May is awareness month for Healthy Vision and for Older Americans, a perfect opportunity to reiterate, the many ways healthy aging is good for the eyes.
Take some of these steps today to preserve better sight for tomorrow.
Fresh vegetables and fruits spread out on a gray table.
Nutritious Diet
This is your first line of defense against age-related disease and good habits can be developed at any time. The earlier the better, so don’t delay. Lower rates of heart disease, diabetes and age-related macular degeneration are directly attributed to diets abundant in colorful whole fruits, leafy green vegetables, fish, chicken, nuts, beans and whole grains.Do your best to lower intake of refined sugar, saturated fat, sodium, and process foods in general.
The number one controllable risk factor for both AMD and heart disease. Quitting today will significantly improve your health.
Eye Exams
A dilated eye exam can be the early detection that helps prevent or minimize vision loss from age-related macular disease, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy. If you haven’t seen your eye doctor lately, it’s time to schedule that appointment, and keep them up on a regular basis, at least annually.
Happy mature man in a gym exercising.
Exercise
Regular exercise is a key ingredient for good overall health. Several hours a week of moderate aerobic exercise and strength training are recommended for all adults. Walking, hiking, swimming and dancing are also good options.
Sleep
Getting enough sleep is directly related to good mental, physical and emotional health. It is quite possible you’ll see, feel, look and eat better following a restful night’s slumber. And don’t let anyone tell you that older people need less sleep. All adults require the same 7 to 9 hours per night.
Healthy Weight
The combination of a nutrient rich diet and regular exercise, with good sleep habits, will help you maintain a healthy weight. On the other hand, obesity has a long list of related illnesses, including diabetes and heart disease, which have a direct relationship to vision loss.
Group of happy seniors laughing outside.
Socialize
The theme of this year’s Older American’s Month is “Connect, Create, Contribute,” and there is no question that the connection with family, friends and community is an essential element of healthy aging.
A healthy lifestyle is all about balance. There are no magic formulas, create the mix that works best for you. And remember, we are always a work in progress.
Falling is unpleasant at any age, for older adults it is downright dangerous. Getting up from a fall becomes more difficult with each decade, and we are much slower to recover, both physically and emotionally. There are many contributing factors that increase the risk, vision loss is certainly one of them.
Hindsight is, as they say, 20/20. Succumbing to injury is always regrettable, and in retrospect we often realize, it could have been avoided. With the help of Alice Massa, an experienced Occupational Therapist and low vision expert, we’ve organized a list of guidelines to elevate your awareness about falls prevention and keep you on your feet.
Vision
Consult with your ophthalmologist to insure you are maximizing the vision you have. Updating prescriptions and having cataracts removed can help make your surroundings a little more clear and easier to negotiate.
Balance
Remaining steady on your feed has a lot to do with good balance. If you are feeling unsteady or faint, sit down immediately to avoid the fall. Regular exercise and strength training is highly recommended. Each day practice standing on 1 leg to improve balance. For more about the Single Leg Stance click here.
Floor Coverings
Rugs and runners can be treacherous, be sure they are flush to the floor and have non-slip backing. Get rid of rugs or carpet with fraying or curled edges. Repair damaged or uneven flooring.
Walkways
There should be zero tolerance for clutter on floors. No wires or cords that can catch a foot and take you down. Something as innocent looking as a single sheet of paper can cause a deadly slip. Shoes, particularly dark shoes on a dark floor, can go unnoticed, creating a serious hazard.
Footwear
Wear well fitting shoes and boots with flat, non-skid soles. If you do not feel secure in a shoe, get rid of it. Walking around the house in socks, or barefoot, is not recommended, broken toes are also extremely painful and debilitating.
Lighting
Don’t skimp on lighting. Make sure rooms are well lit and light switches are easily accessible. Keep night lights on and a flashlight on hand.
Kitchen
Clean up spills immediately to prevent slips. Keep frequently used items on lower shelves, to minimize the need for step stools.
Bathroom
Make sure your tub has a non-skid surface and grab bars if needed. Keep a light on for travel to and from the bedroom during the night.
Streets
Cracked and uneven sidewalks create serious risk. Pay attention and step carefully.Using a cane can help you identify changes in the elevation of walkways and street crossings. Read “Consider The Long White Cane” on OE.
You know, they also say, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. Take steps today to avoid the fall, and the regret.
We learn so much from each other about living with vision loss. Let’s get together and share our best finds. We’ve got lots to offer, and you’ll get to give one tip and take many.
Please RSVP for this as seating is limited.
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Like everything else it does, Amazon’s commitment to accessibility is big! Join us for a complete run-down on all features and services that make their products friendlier for people with vision loss.
Please RSVP for this as seating is limited.
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Vision loss has a way of making all art appear a little too abstract. It changes the way you perceive color and detail. Sometimes it’s just impossible to figure out what it is exactly, that you are looking at.
For all of those reasons, the verbal description and touch tours offered at many museums have a profound way of giving us back the vivid detail we feared was forever lost. If you have had the pleasure of this experience, you’re nodding in agreement right now. If you haven’t, well then it’s time to book yourself a tour right away!
Let this list of museum access programs, in NYC, be your inspiration. Enjoy the amazing experience whenever you can, in New York, or find out what’s happening in your town.And we’ll keep updating this list as we discover more programs.
American Folk Art Museum
2 Lincoln Square (Columbus Avenue between 65th and 66th Streets) New York, NY 10023
Large Print labels are available in all galleries. Verbal imaging and touch tours are offered with one-month advance scheduling, and the museum participated in Art Beyond Sight events.
American Museum of Natural History
Central Park West at 79th Street New York, NY 10024
Monthly Science Sense Tours highlight specific themes and exhibits, engaging participants through extensive verbal descriptions and touchable objects. Advance registration is required for individuals and groups.
Dynamic verbal description + sensory tours are offered monthly at Cooper Hewitt. Join a Cooper Hewitt educator, curator, or staff member in conversation and explore a selection of objects through detailed narration and touch.
Guggenheim Museum
1071 Fifth Ave (at East 88th Street) New York, NY 10128
Monthly Mind’s Eye tours and workshops for visitors who are blind or have low vision are conducted by arts and education professionals through verbal description, conversation, sensory experiences, and creative practice. Mind’s Eye tours are free with an RSVP required one week before the program date.
Metropolitan Museum of Art gallery showing sculptures by Auguste Rodin.
The Met offers Touch Collection, Verbal Imaging Tours and Guided Touch Tours, to enhance the experience for people with vision loss, available upon request to individuals and groups. Picture This! workshops explore works of art through detailed description and touch.
Seeing Through Drawing workshops enable the artist in you to create your own work with the inspiration of the museum’s collection, verbal imaging, experimentation with techniques and materials.
Touch Tours are a very special experience, particularly at MoMA where you’ll get to touch a work of art by Picasso, Matisse or Rodin. Art InSight tours are scheduled monthly, offering exploration of the museum’s entire collection through vivid, detailed descriptions. Both tours are also offered by request.
Accessible audio guides with verbal description are available on the MoMA app and on MoMA.org. The museum will soon make audio description available for its movie screenings.
The Rubin Museum offers verbal description and sensory tours for visitors who are blind or partially sighted. These free tours, which include Museum admission, take visitors on a journey that weaves together the culture, history, religion, and art of the Himalayas.
Tenement Museum
108 Orchard Street (at Delancey Street) New York, NY 10002
To experience the life of a 19th-century immigrant living in a tenement on New York’s Lower East Side, tours that combine verbal description and touch can be arranged for groups of 5 or more.
The Whitney’s verbal description tours provide an opportunity to enjoy the twentieth- and twenty-first-century American art exhibitions with a museum educator trained to provide vivid, detailed verbal description of the works on display, while experiencing a selection of objects through touch. These free, 90-minute tours take place when the galleries are closed to the general public. Tours are held monthly as well as by request with three weeks advance notice.
Resistance to change is a naturally occurring phenomenon among humans. So don’t be too hard on yourself if you’ve been putting off that upgrade to an iPhone X.
The newest design, which does not have a home button, presents a minor learning curve, but given the fact that you already learned how to get around your iPhone with just one button, learning a few new gestures is really nothing to get worked up over. Don’t forget, there was a time not long ago, when conventional wisdom said, people with vision loss must have phones with big tactile buttons. Apple Accessibility busted that myth more than a decade ago.
Big changes in hardware and software tend to trigger our techno-insecurity, but the impending doom is often quickly replaced by a rather pleasant surprise. Remember when you heard Apple was removing the headphone jack from the iPhone? We were up in arms…it was unthinkable! How could there be no place to plug in our buds? That was actually much ado about nothing, because Apple now includes a set of wired buds that plug into the same Lightning port that charges the phone.
iPhone has taught me there is no good reason to cling to the past. Software updates automatically without hesitation, as do the apps. I upgraded to iPhone X early on.During personal setup of the new phone at the Apple Store, they also reviewed and helped me practice the new gestures.This is why you need not worry, it literally takes about 20 minutes to start life without a home button.
Apple iPhone X on white background.
Here’s how it works without the home button. Many of the new gestures are the same with VoiceOver, the few that differ are noted by * symbol.
Wake – press the power button or raise to wake and let Face ID unlock
Siri – long press on the power button (right side) or set for “Hey Siri”
Accessibility Shortcut – triple click on power button
Shut Down – press power button on right with (either up or down) volume button, then slide power off
* With VoiceOver – same, but last step needs a double tap to power off
Return to Home Screen – slide 1 finger up from bottom edge to the top of screen
* With VoiceOver – slide 1 finger up from bottom edge to first vibration and lift
App Switcher – slide 1 finger up to center of screen
* With VoiceOver – slide 1 finger up past center of screen to second vibration; slide up with 3 fingers to close app
Control Center – slide 1 finger down from top right edge
*With VoiceOver – slide 1 finger down from top right edge to first vibration and lift
Notifications – slide 1 finger down from top left edge
* With VoiceOver – slide 1 finger down from top right edge to second vibration and lift
Apple Pay – double click on the power button
Screen Shot – click power button and volume up button together
We love the iFocus tutorials from Hadley, a great way to learn iPhone X VoiceOver Gestures.
