Tag: visually impaired

Your Driver Has Arrived
Ride-hailing apps offer a cash-less convenience, that is often quicker and cheaper than the taxis and car services we once depended on. They also add a most welcome element of freedom to the non-driving population.

While we were patiently awaiting the self-driving car, the transportation concept, formerly known as “taxicab,” was disrupted by technology. The driver is still completely necessary, but the method of getting a ride, where and when you want it, is now transacted primarily on mobile apps. Uber and Lyft are the dominant services, and there are others to choose from depending on your location. Finding a service / app that works for you will help to keep the process within your comfort zone. If ride-hailing apps are just not your thing, there are options for ordering the cars by phone.

Making transportation more accessible, naturally has many upsides, and of course, there a few downsides as well. Here are some tips for getting yourself the smoothest ride.

Silver car with a Lyft sticker on the windshield.

Ordering A Car
- With app downloaded and account created, set pickup location, select destination, choose ride type, confirm pickup, review driver details and head to pickup location.
- Cars can be ordered for immediate pickup or scheduled in advance.
- Uber rides can also be ordered alternatively, without the app, from a mobile phone, by calling 1-833-USE-UBER (1-833-873-8237). Car and driver details are confirmed to you by text message.
- Cars from Uber and Lyft can also be ordered by phone through GoGo Grandparent, a service that manages the process and the ride for an added fee.
Hand holding up smartphone to display yellow screen for Uber Spotlight. Image credit: Uber

Finding the Car

The apps provide the license plate, make and model of the car, the name and a photo of the driver, and an alert when the car has arrived. None of these details are helpful if you are unable to identify those elements visually. In a quiet location or at a private home, the car will be obvious. On a busy city street, finding the car is usually a challenge for anyone, particularly when you are blind or have low vision.
- Speak directly with the driver, through the app, and let them know you are visually impaired, and tell them exactly where you are waiting, so they can get to where you are or let you know exactly where they are.
- Ask the driver to honk twice to help you identify the car.
- Use Uber’s Spotlight feature, in crowded locations and at night, by tapping the Spotlight button on the bottom right corner of the app. Your phone screen lights up with an assigned color, the driver sees the same color on their screen. Holding up the light helps them find you.
- To confirm you have the right car, ask the driver “Who are you picking up?,” or “What is your name?”
- Order an Uber Assist or Lyft Assist, in areas where it is available, and the driver will meet you at your front door and see you to the door of your destination.
Safety Measures
- Communicate your trip details to family or friends through sharing options in the apps.
- There is an emergency button in most apps, but even quicker to call 911.
Give Feedback

We always recommend providing feedback. If there are ways your experience could be improved, say so. Your suggestions can ultimately benefit all ride-sharers.

Post originally published Apr 19, 2019 and updated Feb 6, 2025
February 6, 2025
What’s Up with Smart Glasses?

By now we expected smart glasses to be all the rage. They’d be on lots of faces, in the same way smartphones are in (just about) every hand. Actually, they were predicted to replace the smartphone, providing the wearer with voice access to information and apps. And, of course, they’d be accessible to visually impaired or blind users, because smartphones are. It would be wonderfully inclusive and normalizing, glasses that made information accessible, whether you could see the screen or not.

Apple’s Rumored Glasses Are Unveiled

For years the rumors abound, with stories of Apple’s smart glasses in development. They would somehow replace iPhone, and they would be accessible, of course. Years of gossip on the subject, should have taught us not to believe everything we read. Nonetheless, the rumors continue. According to Bloomberg, and published on Apple News, “Apple’s long-anticipated mixed-reality headset is an ambitious attempt to create a 3D version of the iPhone’s operating system, with eye- and hand-tracking systems that could set the technology apart from rival products.” Now said to be launching in early 2023 at a price of $3,000, they also report, Apple decided to offload the battery pack, roughly the size of 2 iPhones, to rest in the users pocket, at the end of a cable, which sounds rather antiquated.

The Apple vision Pro was officially unveiled in June, but it will not be unboxed until early 2024. It doesn’t look like the smart glasses of our dreams, but hey, who are we to naysay? Apple’s track record in Accessibility is as good as it gets, no one else has come close, so let’s wait and see. In Forbes, Gus Alexiou asks, Could Apple’s Vision Pro Significantly Augment Sight for people with vision loss? He notes this has been “a long held aspiration within the field of assistive technology,” that has failed to materialize. “This could well be about to change” when Apple’s Vision Pro launches, “though,” he says, “the price point of the $3,499. Mixed reality spacial computer doesn’t exactly scream out accessibility.” But actually, the assistive low vision head mounted devices he mentions have been sold at a similar price point. So it’s hard to complain about the price, hopefully this one will be worth it.

Google’s Early Glass

It was the anticipated, but short-lived promise of Google Glass. Launched in 2013, with a $1,500 price tag and the intention to create a ubiquitous computer whose wearers would communicate with the internet via natural language. An excellent idea, but failing to reach critical mass. Google discontinued its public product in 2015, re-introducing Glass for enterprise in 2017. Was the technology not quite ready, or was it the customer who was not in sync?

Person wearing Apple Vision Pro (image credit: apple.com)

Wearable Low Vision Devices

If anything has taught us to manage expectations, it is the classification of Wearable Low Vision Devices, also referred to as Electronic Glasses or Smart Glasses. These are head-mounted devices that enhance vision, predominantly through video magnification for people with central vision loss, or field expansion for those with a narrowed visual field, while others offer non-visual assistance. Low vision devices have also been in development for more than a decade with improvements in technology and price.

Visual assistance comes mainly in the form of Trekkie-looking headsets that are slowly coming down in size and weight. Some devices are not designed for mobility and all should be carefully evaluated for specific applications that include reading, watching TV, movies, theater, cooking, crafts, card and board games. IrisVision, Eyedaptic and eSight may serve the need at prices ranging from $2,000 to $6,000.

Non-Visual Low Vision Options

People with uncorrectable vision loss want to see better; no question about that. However, when artificial vision from clunky headsets does not do the trick, there are non-visual options. The OrCam MyEye, at $4,500, reads text, identifies colors, products, and faces. OrCam is not technically smart glasses; it’s a talking camera that clips quietly to the arm of any eyewear. Aira’s visual interpreting assistance can also be access through Envision Glasses for $3,000 plus the monthly service fee, now starting at $50 for 30 minutes.

No smart glasses are needed to magnify images, read, convert text-to-speech, recognize objects and faces, read barcodes and handwriting on an iPhone or most Android phones. Some people consider it less convenient as it requires holding a phone and tapping the screen.

First published Jan 31, 2023 and updated Aug 25, 2023

August 25, 2023
5 Sight-Saving Habits To Start Today

Vision loss is an element of aging, but that is not to say it is out of our control. To what degree we experience changes in eyesight actually has a good deal to do with nutrition and lifestyle. It is really never too soon to begin taking care of your eyes. Starting young and developing good habits can help maintain visual function for the long term. No matter where you’re at in life, thinking about preserving your precious sight should compel action. Here are 5 good habits that can counteract the degenerating aspects of aging on the eyes.

Ripe tomatoes with fresh basil, garlic, and herbs.

Eat right and save sight.

Enjoy a nutrient-rich diet, emphasizing fish high in omega-3, a colorful assortment of whole fruits and veggies, along with plenty of citrus and lots of leafy greens, legumes, olive oil, nuts and grains.

The Mediterranean diet is known to keep the heart and brain in peak condition and to lower the cancer risk. A new study shows it can also significantly lessen the long-term effects of age-related macular degeneration. Read more about the study from American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Prevent sun damage and injury to your eyes.

The importance of shielding eyes from the damaging rays of the sun cannot be overstated. Be sure your sunglasses block out at least 99% of UV rays. Wear safety goggles or protective glasses when engaged in sports or when working with hazardous and airborne materials. Read our 10 tips on keeping your eyes protected.

Don’t smoke.

Smoking is the most common factor in developing macular degeneration. It also contributes to cataracts and damage to the optic nerve. Smoking causes vasoconstriction, which restricts the blood supply to the eyes.

Get your eyes checked annually.

An annual comprehensive eye exam is essential at every age. It will help keep your eyes healthy and detect any early changes or the onset of disease. Early detection remains the most important factor in preventing loss of sight.

Give your eyes a break.

The computer screens our eyes spend so much time trained on, can and will cause blurry vision, dry eyes, difficulty focusing and general strain to the eye, neck and back. Get into the habit of giving your eyes a rest every 20 minutes by looking away for at least 20 seconds and refocusing into the distance.

And, yes, now is the perfect time to take that break. Go ahead…look away.

Post first published Oct 07, 2018 and updated Mar 17, 2023.

March 17, 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
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

Olympian Gia Pergolini holding
her gold medal.

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
in 2015.

At 90, Edythe Gets Her iPad

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

OE Patients Podcast in white text with magenta and
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

Graphic Image shows many hands coming together
in helping gesture.

Asking for Help is a Strength

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

August 30, 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
Is Vision Rehab the Best Kept Secret?
Patients with progressing vision loss, for which there is no treatment or correction, are frequently told, “Nothing can be done.” The statement is meant, specifically, to say there is no medical intervention available. Too many times the patient interprets the words to mean, “There is nothing anyone or anything can do for you.” But that’s not true. At this point in the dialogue between doctor and patient, would be a good time to consider vision rehab services. But it often goes unmentioned.

The process equivalent to physical and occupational therapy, for loss of sight, is vision rehab. It is the “best kept secret, “according to Stephen Kelley, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist, quoted in the Web MD article titled, “Vision Rehab Helps People With Low Vision Navigate the World.” Kelley says, not only patients, but many medical professionals do not know the service exists. Perhaps because it does not qualify as medical and is not covered by health insurance, instead it’s considered a social service, usually funded by state agencies. Another issue, Kelley explains, is that vision rehab services are provided at agencies for the blind, which is intimidating because people who are visually impaired do not see themselves as blind. Getting past the obstacles and getting services, as soon as possible, is the priority, and Kelley knows, that to be true, because twenty years ago, he started having vision problems and lost his job in web design, while he was trying to figure out how to keep it.

The Web MD article also illustrates how a cardiologist, Joseph Fontenot, MD, developed untreatable macular problems at age 50. As his vision quickly declined, he learned about vision rehab from another patient with a similar condition. Rehab services enabled him to continue working. In the process, he too shared his experience with other low vision patients, and he began to understand how little patients knew about the kind of assistance that is available to them. At age 65, Dr. Fontenot became a certified vision rehab therapist, opened a practice, and went on to serve as chair of the Vision Rehabilitation Committee for the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO).

Watch the video below, conceived and created by Dr. Joseph Fontenot for the American academy of Ophthalmologists, to send the message loud and clear, “There is something you can do.”

Video: There is Something Else You Can Do

A full-service program will include a comprehensive evaluation with a low vision specialist. It’s about a thorough review of the patient’s vision and an understanding of their needs and goals. What do they have to do, want to do, love to do? The objective is to improve the individual’s ability to function at home, at work and out in the world. Improving the quality of life, elevates everything.

Finding a vision rehab program
- Ask your eye doctor to recommend a program
- Look for a program affiliated with a university or medical school
- Find a nonprofit organization that serves the needs of visually impaired persons with a full range of rehab services
- Veterans should contact the VA
May 26, 2022
Make Web Pages Easier on the Eyes
Accessibility and inclusion go hand in hand. The goal of universal design is to make products that are better for everyone. It’s a simple, very sensible concept, and when executed properly it’s also a beautiful user experience. Bells and whistles are not required to achieve this feat, more often, the basics of a vision friendly interface light the way. Keep it clear and simple!

On Global Accessibility Awareness Day, it feels particularly appropriate to report, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), globally 2.2 billion people have a near or distance vision impairment. The number is considerable and begs us to ask the question, why are so many web pages designed to make reading difficult? Who decided it was a good idea to cram all kinds of extra stuff onto a page which distracts us from the content we came to read and ruins the reading experience? It defies sensibility and makes you wonder, why not make it easier to see content published for the purpose of being read and appreciated. Doesn’t the writer’s work, and our attention span of the reader, deserve better treatment?

Screenshot of Show Reader
option in iOS AA menu.
Image credit: Apple

What Readers Can Do

When a busy, cluttered page is encountered, make it easier to read by turning on the Reader view in your browser, which can magically remove ads and pop-ups, leaving the text you wish to read without distraction. In Safari on iOS, tap the AA button to the left of the address field, select Show Reader. On a Mac, at the left side of the address bar click the icon that resembles lines on a page. In Microsoft Edge, Firefox, and Vivaldi, a similar icon launches Reader Mode from the right side of the address bar. It’s a bit more complicated in a Google browser. Contact Google, Apple, or Microsoft for Accessibility Support by Phone.

What Web Designers Can Do

The acronym KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) is a design principle which states that most systems are best when kept uncomplicated. Here are a few ways to simplify for the eye.
- Highly contrasted text and backgrounds are the easiest to read. Go black on white, with an option to reverse to white on black. Pale font colors are not good and darkish backgrounds aren’t good either.
- Don’t put text on top of darker toned Don’t use decorative, script or serif fonts, clean sans serif font styles are easier to read.
- Moving text is hard to read and moving images are hard to see, so keep it still and your content won’t disappear in front of our eyes.
- Text size matters, be generous with the points and the weight.
- Clean layouts are appreciated by all, cluttered, chaotic pages are not. Keep it as linear as possible with no more than two columns.
- No pop-ups.
- Don’t place ads or create distractions in the middle of an article.
- Don’t interrupt an article in progress to promote other articles.
Understand inclusion. Don’t assume visually impaired people are not on your website — we are everywhere.
May 20, 2022
What’s In Your Go Bag?
Extreme weather, and war, have a special way of eroding our, already tenuous, sense of safety. At this point flash floods and wild fires affect more people than we would have ever imagined, yet many are still caught totally off guard. Don’t be surprised by the urgent need to evacuate. By now we know everyone should have a bag ready to go when you have to get out in a hurry.

Obviously, the need for preparedness is essential for people with vision loss, as it is much more difficult to gather things in a rush when you cannot identify them easily with your eyes. An organized bag, waiting to be scooped up at a moment’s notice, will give you some peace of mind and a better sense of security.

NASA image inside massive storm.

Heed the warnings. I was ill prepared for the damage done to my building, overlooking New York City’s East River on October 29, 2012. The evacuation order seemed extreme, so I ignored it and hunkered down at home. Power was lost hours before Hurricane Sandy wreaked her historic havoc on the island of Manhattan, breaching the rivers on both east and west sides. The super storm’s surge brought in nearly 2 feet of water, flooding the main lobby and destroying everything in it, including the majestic fig trees that stood in its beautiful atrium for 25 years. It left behind several inches of mud and decimated all the power, heat and air mechanisms contained on the lower level. It took more than a week to restore essential services to my home, while many New Yorkers were displaced for much longer periods. The day after, I packed the Go Bag, and walked it down 19 floors in a pitch black stairwell, never to challenge an evacuation order again.

Start putting together that Go Bag today and then review and update it periodically. Think of it as a bag that holds the things you need to get by, with some degree of comfort, if displaced from home for a week. Keep it in check, don’t create a kit for surviving the wilderness. Begin with a list of must-have items, along with important documents.

Image of Backpack ready to go.

Contents of the Go Bag
- Waterproof Sealable Bags – Protect everything
- Documents – Passport, emergency contacts, etc.
- Backpack – Select for comfort and don’t overstuff it
- Emergency Cash – Small bills are best
- Mobile Phone Chargers – Wired and portable
- Masks – Protection from virus, flu, smoke from fires
- Disinfectant Wipes to clean everything
- Flashlight with Batteries
- Travel Kit Holding all Personal Hygiene Items
- Eye Glasses, Contacts, Solution, Magnifiers
- Sunglasses
- Hearing Aids and Batteries
- Medications – Prescription and OTC
- Changes of Clothing
- Food and Water – Bottled water, protein bars, nuts, dried fruit
- Pet Food and Water
Grab and Go
- Wallet with ID, Credit Cards
- Mobile Phone
- Laptop, Tablet, Earphones
- Sunglasses
- Glasses, Contacts
- Magnifier
Keep your Go Bag in a designated place and let family members know where it can be found. Keep the things you use everyday, together and in a place where you can grab them, with your bag, and go.
March 23, 2022