OE Patients

Tag: vision loss

  • 10/18 Electronic Glasses

    10/18 Electronic Glasses

    Join Us October 18, 2018 At MEETH

    Let’s take a closer look at wearable assistive devices, including IrisVision, OrCam, Jordy, eSight, RevSight, and Aira, designed to help you see, read, work and navigate with vision loss. To allow for demonstrations, we’ve extended this session to 2 hours.

    Please RSVP for this as seating is limited.

    [easy_media_download url=”mailto:[email protected]?Subject=RSVP for October 18″ target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”RSVP Now”]

     

     

    The session is led by:

    Dorrie Rush
    Chief Content Officer
    OEPatients.org

     

    WHEN

    Thursday, October 18, 2018
    3 to 5 pm

     

    WHERE

    Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital
    The Great Hall, 1st Floor
    210 East 64 Street
    (between Third and Second Ave.)
    New York, NY 10065

     

    WAYS TO RSVP

    Phone: (212) 702-7760
    Email: [email protected]
    Online: meethaccessibility.eventbrite.com

     

     

     

    Event Flyer

     

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/2018-10-18_Electronic-Glasses.pdf” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”Download PDF”]

     

     

    Accessibility Resources for People With Visual Impairments Series

    Save the date for our next session:

    App Happy
    November 15, 2018, 3 to 4 pm

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/11-15-app-happy” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”View Event Details”]

     

     

    Presented by OE Patients

    Hosted by the Department of Ophthalmology

    Supported by Association for Macular Diseases, Inc.

     

     

  • Explore Accessibility Resources at MEETH Fall 2018

    Explore Accessibility Resources at MEETH Fall 2018

    Our popular series on Accessibility Resources for People With Visual Impairments continues this fall at Manhattan Eye, Ear and Throat Hospital in NYC. There is an abundance of great topics to cover and we’re pleased to present 3 new sessions, all hot topics on OEPatients.org. Join us for a conversation about the expanding availability of audio descriptive technology, a review of the latest electronic glasses, and an update on the best in accessibility apps.

     

    The sessions are led by:

    Dorrie Rush

    Chief Content Officer

    OEPatients.org

     

    Event location:

    The Great Hall, 1st floor

    Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital

    210 East 64th Street (3rd & 2nd Ave.)

    New York, NY 10065

     

     

    Our Fall Schedule

    Please RSVP below for these events as seating is limited.

     

    September 20, 2018, 3 to 4 pm

    Audio Description

    Now available on-demand for Broadway shows, museum tours, at the movies, on TV and much more. We’ll talk about how this visual voice fills in the missing detail, vividly.

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/event-recap-audio-description/” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”READ THE RECAP”]

     

     

    October 18, 2018, 3 to 5 pm

    Electronic Glasses

    Let’s take a closer look at wearable assistive devices, including IrisVision, OrCam, Jordy, eSight, and Aira, designed to help you see, read, work and navigate with vision loss.

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/event-recap-electronic-glasses/” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”READ THE RECAP”]

     

     

    November 15, 2018, 3 to 4 pm

    App Happy

    The apps we love continue to improve and empower us to function better every day. We’ll tell you what’s new in our favorite apps and what’s coming up. And you’ll tell us what apps are changing your life!

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/event-recap-app-happy/” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”READ THE RECAP”]

     

     

     

    Ways to RSVP:

    Phone: (212) 702-7760

    Email: [email protected]

    Online: meethaccessibility.eventbrite.com

     

     

    Presented by OE Patients

    Hosted by the Department of Ophthalmology

    Supported by Association for Macular Diseases, Inc. 

     

     

  • You’re Never Too Old To Learn

    You’re Never Too Old To Learn

    Having chaired a support group for more than 20 years in Florida, the land of seniors and thus the land of visual impairment, I see an interesting story.

    From my own observation at my meetings, where I often invite presenters, such as Magnifying America, Enhanced Vision, Optelec, Freedom Scientific, Magnifeye, OrCam, eSight, I see surprisingly little buying.

    There is interest, of course, as some of these new devices now are portable and can read to you, along with other delightful add-ons and gadgets to allow us to function as independently as possible.

    I know that I couldn’t function without one such device and I have four: one in my office, one in my bedroom and another on my patio, plus a “mini” that I carry with me.  These must-have devices of mine are video magnifiers, also known as CCTVs.

    I’m legally blind: 20/400 in my left eye and 20/300 in my right. I have lectured on the advantages of adaptive devices, iPhones, as well as others that have been developed over the years, and I would love to know what keeps some people holding back.

    I had a member recently call me asking where he could get a large-number flip phone. I said, “Get a smartphone. You don’t have to look for numbers, you just have to program the phone and then ask them to call that person.” Then I added, “Even if that person is not on your contact list, you tell the phone the number you need.”

    I don’t think a day goes by that I’m not on my computer. I wake up to search my email and close down at night, seeing what else came in. I do research, catch up on the news of the day and visit my friends and family as well as the stock market.

    The doctor tells us our hearing is bad and we run to buy a hearing aid for an average price of $3,000. We run to the eye doctor, retina specialist, or low vision optometrist, and fit new glasses, yet don’t run to buy a CCTV. We ask others to read our mail, may not be able to read a newspaper or magazine or book, yet hesitate to get an electronic magnifier to open up the world.

    One thing I picked up on while lecturing on “Low Vision Rehabilitation” really opened my eyes. A lady in the front row said, “Why should I bother? I’m 95 years old.” I came back with, “What are you waiting for?”

    No one knows for sure how much time we have left. Why not make the time we do have left as good as we can make it? If we can better our lives on this Earth, let’s go for it!


    Get started with OE resources:

     

  • 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.

  • Microsoft’s Inclusive Workplace

    Microsoft’s Inclusive Workplace

    The 28th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) reminds us the law prohibits job discrimination and requires the provision of ‘reasonable accommodations’ for employees with disabilities, except when such accommodation would cause undue hardship.  That is, the undue hardship of the employer, not the employee.

    The need for accessible technology in the workplace often created both the accommodation and the hardship.  In fact, it was not so long ago, that the word “accessible” was mostly preceded by the word “not.”  Special third-party assistive technology was usually required to add screen magnification and speech to a desktop computer.  Because it was by nature a retrofit, the special software could be incompatible with some systems and was rarely supported by a company’s IT staff. It was not always seamless or elegant but, what really mattered was, it could keep you working, long after vision loss might have otherwise shut you down.

    That was then. Now the accessibility is built into the operating systems and the applications we use at work, decreasing the need for that awkward conversation, with an employer, to request an accommodation. The significance of this cannot be understated. It empowers employees with vision loss to make computer adjustments, as needed, and continue working without major interruptions. And in today’s workforce, it’s not even unusual to adjust your visual settings or to use speech features. It’s actually quite normal.

    ADA surely set the stage for the inclusive work environment still unfolding decades later.  The 21st Century Telecommunications and Video Accessibility Act of 2010 (CVAA) also must be credited for triggering the impressive progress in elevating the equality of access for all. In this scenario, it appears, legislation and innovation converged for the greater good.

    In somewhat of an equal measure, we have Microsoft to thank for elevating the accessibility of its enterprise software. Satya Nadella took the helm of the tech giant in 2014 with a strong desire to embrace accessibility, inspired by the needs of his son, born with cerebral palsy.  Just 4 years later the company’s products and workforce clearly reflect this major priority.  Jenny Lay-Flurrie, who is deaf, was appointed Microsoft’s Chief Accessibility Officer in 2016.  She is an enthusiastic champion for all people with disabilities and a powerful advocate for an inclusive workplace.

    Here are some of the built-in Microsoft Accessibility features for Vision, designed to make your computer easier to use.

    • Customize Colors for Increased Contrast
    • Do Things Quickly with Tell Me
    • Make Windows 10 Easier to See
    • Use Accessibility Checker
    • Use Magnifier to Enlarge Text & Images
    • Learn Keyboard Shortcuts to Move Faster
    • Customize Your Mouse Pointer
    • Use Narrator to Read Screen Text
    • Use Seeing AI for iPhone to Read Text, Identify People, Currency & Color, Read Product Barcodes, Describe Scenes

    *Please note, while these features accommodate a large majority of the population with vision loss, they are not meant to replace screen reading software for totally blind and non-visual computer users.

    Learn more about all of it on Microsoft’s Accessibility page.

     

    And, no need to figure anything out on your own, just call:

    Microsoft Disability Answer Desk – 800-936-5900

     

    Jenny and Satya at Abilities Summit 2018

     

    More on the subject from OE Patients:

     

  • Artists Work Through Macular Degeneration

    Artists Work Through Macular Degeneration

    You might think the work of an artist who is losing sight would come to a tragic end. Think again.

    “The Persistence of Vision”, an exhibition at the University of Cincinnati, is meant to change that perception. The collection highlights the works of 8 artists, before and during the progression of their vision loss from age-related macular degeneration.   

    Macular degeneration is the leading cause of legal blindness among people over age 65. It depletes the central vision and impairs the ability to differentiate color and detail. The peripheral vision usually remains and can be used in some ways to compensate for the loss in central.

    The process of adapting included strategizing, experimenting and improvising. Many took on a less intricate, more abstract style and all showed changes in their use of color. One artist discovered a great sense of freedom in a new less precise, more relaxed technique.  Some went from drawing to painting, others ventured from painting to drawing. In most cases, the lines became blurred but still beautiful.  In their 70’s, 80’s, and 90’s, they all continued creating exquisite work.

    Beyond the obvious commonalities, the 8 artists possess a strong desire and willingness to find new ways of compensating their partial loss of sight. The subject matter is specific, but the overriding theme is universal and can be applied to all work. This is actually about the art of adjusting.

    “The Persistence of Vision” is at The Philip M. Meyers, Jr. Memorial Gallery at the University of Cincinnati, through July 29, 2018. It is part of the Vision and Art Project funded by the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

     

    For more on The Vision and Art Project exhibition, Click Here

    For more on this in the NY Times, “Artists Who Lose Their Vision, Then See Clearly,” Click Here

     

    Image Credit: Dahlov Ipcar “Sunlight in Forest Glade” (unfinished, 2015) at The DAAP Galleries: Philip M. Meyers Jr. Memorial Gallery.

  • 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

     

  • 5/17 The Many Voices of iPhone

    5/17 The Many Voices of iPhone

    Join Us May 17, 2018 At MEETH

    Learn how to make the iPhone easier on your eyes using VoiceOver & Speak Screen for text to speech, Dictation to replace typing for speech text, and Siri for voice commands.

    Accessibility Resources for People with Visual Impairments

     

    Presenter:

     

     

    Dorrie Rush 

    OphthalmicEdge.org Patients

     

    WHEN:

    Thursday, May 17, 2018 

    3 to 4 pm

     

    WHERE:

    Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital 

    The Great Hall

    1st 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/2018/04/Accessibility-Center-Info-session-May_17-v1a.pdf” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”Download PDF”]

     

    iPhone Dictation Handout:

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Accessibility-Center-Info-session-May_17-HANDOUT-1.pdf” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”Download PDF”]

     

    iPhone VoiceOver Gestures Handout: 

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Accessibility-Center-Info-session-May_17-HANDOUT-2.pdf” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”Download PDF”]

     

     

    Save the date for our next session:

    June 21, 2018, 3 to 4 pm

    Accessible TV 

     

    Hosted by the Department of Ophthalmology

    Supported by Association for Macular Diseases, Inc. 

     

     

     

  • 4/19 Smart Speakers

    4/19 Smart Speakers

    Join Us April 19, 2018 at MEETH

    Alexa, Google, and Siri are the virtual assistants that make life easier for everyone, especially people with vision loss. We’ll talk about 20 things they can do if you ask. 

    Accessibility Resources for People with Visual Impairments 

     

    Presenter:

     

     

    Dorrie Rush 

    OphthalmicEdge.org Patients

     

    WHEN:

    Thursday, April 19, 2018 

    3 to 4 pm

     

    WHERE:

    Manhattan Eye, Ear & Throat Hospital 

    The Great Hall

    1st 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/2018/03/Download-MEETH-Accessibility-Session-Event-Flyer.pdf” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”Download PDF”]

     

    20 Things Alexa and Google Home Will Do Handout: 

    [easy_media_download url=”https://oepatientsbu.xyz/2025/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Accessibility-Center-Info-session-April_19-v4dd-HANDOUT.pdf” target=”_blank” class=”directpdf” text=”Download PDF”]

     

     

    Save the date for our next session:

    May 17, 2018, 3 to 4 pm

    The Many Voices of iPhone

     

    Hosted by the Department of Ophthalmology

    Supported by Association for Macular Diseases, Inc. 

     

     

     

  • Let iPhone’s VoiceOver Do the Reading

    Let iPhone’s VoiceOver Do the Reading

    A totally accessible touch screen was brought to us by Apple nearly a decade ago.  The iPhone 3s was delivered with a fully functioning VoiceOver screen reader, right out of the box.  It was our first experience with truly inclusive design, nothing to add on and no added cost.  This was indeed a pivotal moment, a game changer!

    For me, it was a dream come true.  Already past the point of reading any size text on a small screen, I was feeling left behind. So I seized the opportunity to learn to navigate the iPhone with a screen reader.  It seemed a pretty steep learning curve, but really not all that different for anyone learning to use a touch screen for the first time.

    After several bouts of avoidance and fear of failure, I rediscovered the key to learning anything; Practice, practice, practice.  Learning VoiceOver is a matter of repetition.  It was time to get rid of the backup flip phone (as my 9-year-old nephew advised) and stop prolonging the process.

    Today, I am fluent in VoiceOver for iOS, it is embedded in my muscle memory, the result simply of repeating the gestures each and every day.  I realized that my ability to learn this was more dependent on how many times I touched the screen each day, not any real skill.  The point being, if I did it…so can you.

    Having said all that we know that transitioning from visual to audible function also has its challenges.  If you cannot read your phone screen visually with a fair level of comfort, it may be time to give VoiceOver a try.  Consider how amazing it would be to have everything you can’t see, read to you right out of the iPhone, or more discreetly through an earbud (or Air Pod).  Once you’ve adjusted, it feels like you’re reading everything again, like you once did.  Try it.

    The easiest way to turn VO on and off, as you learn, is by asking Siri.  There is also a triple click shortcut that can be activated, or the long way through Settings, General, Accessibility, VoiceOver, On/Off.

    It all boils down to learning a very manageable set of VO gestures and practicing every day for at least 1 hour.  It will all become second nature in a few short weeks and you’ll never regret a minute of your effort as you move around the iPhone (iPad, iPod Touch, Apple Watch) with ease.

    Below are the resources you need to succeed.

     

    YouTube “VoiceOver” Tutorials

    iFocus Tutorials from the Hadley Institute are beautifully produced and very user-friendly.  Play these videos on a big screen, or just listen, while you practice on your iPhone.  Repeat as many times as needed.

    iFocus Beginning VoiceOver Gestures

    iFocus Advanced VoiceOver Gestures

    iFocus iPhone X VoiceOver Gestures

     

    Additional Resources

    List of VoiceOver Gestures

    David Pogue VoiceOver Video

    And Apple Accessibility Support is available 24/7 by phone to answer your questions and help you learn. To contact them, call 877-204-3930.

     

    It’s worth the work — just do it!

     

    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.

     

  • Frank Bruni Faces Vision Loss with Grace

    Frank Bruni Faces Vision Loss with Grace

    It is one of those things you hope never happens to you, and then it does. “Am I Going Blind?” (NY Times Feb. 23, 2018) is Frank Bruni’s intense and honest account of the life-altering experience known as vision loss. In his case, a stroke of the eye took a “chunk” of sight from one eye as he slept.  And it might come back for more.

    In the months that ensue, he navigates an altered dimension.  There is the cycle of doctors, diagnostics, and treatment (or lack thereof).  The seemingly endless stream of questions that sometimes are left hanging in the air.  He resists the pull of fear or anger.  Despite the increase in typos, he finds careful determination is key to adjusting as he works. He discovers the best antidote to weakness is strength.

    He draws inspiration from others. David Tatel, a Federal Appeals Court Judge, who lost his sight 40 years before and coped successfully by never dwelling on it.  Peter Walsten, Senior Politics Editor for the Washington Post, is not deterred by a lack of central vision.  He tells Frank to remember, “it’s not your brain that’s affected, it’s your eyesight.”  Joe Lovett, a filmmaker who documents his slowly progressing glaucoma in “Going Blind,” advises respect for the “blessings of the here and now’ because you cannot live in fear of “future losses.”

    He is grateful for all the sights he can take in today and states, “My eyesight is in jeopardy.  But I see some things more clearly than ever.”  The fact is, he knows seeing clearly has little to do with visual acuity.  I think it would be safe to say we can look forward to Frank Bruni’s clarity on the op-ed pages for a long time to come.

    The article is recommended reading for anyone living with vision loss. It reminds us that life goes on.

    Read “Am I Going Blind?” on the NY Times.

    Frank Bruni. Source: MSNBC
    Frank Bruni. Source: MSNBC

     

    Main Image Source: Ben Wiseman