Tag: visually impaired

Toyota Spotlights Visually Impaired Athlete

The story depicted in “Brothers,” a 60-second Toyota ad created to air during the 2022 Super Bowl and the Beijing Olympics, is based on the real lives of Brian and Robin McKeever. It opens with Robin teaching his younger brother to ski with glee. Growing up in Calgary, Canada, they develop a love for cross-country skiing and as their skills and training advance, they are preparing to compete with the best skiers in the world.

The tenor suddenly changes, and the video image becomes blurry in the center. There is a close-up of his eye, then his face, and we hear a doctor say, “Brian, we have found that you have a condition known as Stargardt macular degeneration. At this time, there is no treatment.” Upon diagnosis he is 19 years old, but his athletic career is far from finished.

The brothers continue training together, Robin providing his brother with vocal guidance. The work they do will take Robin to the Olympics, and both to the Paralympic Winter Games, with Robin as Brian’s guide. As Brian’s central vision loss progressed, the McKeever brothers competed together at the 2002, 2006 and 2010 Para Games, winning 10 medals. Brian has won 17 Paralympic medals, 13 are gold, making him the most decorated Para cross-country skier, ever. He is currently training for the Beijing Paralympics in March.

In a press release Toyota said the ad “shares an inspiring message of determination and spotlights the power of sport.” It is also a testament to the power of support. “I hope my story inspires viewers to start their impossible – whatever that might be,” said Brian McKeever. “I’ve learned firsthand that anything is possible with perseverance, and the support of a brother, like Robin.” Vision loss is not completely new to Brian’s family, his father is also affected by Stargardt Disease, as is his aunt. Having this point of reference and a positive role model, in time, helps him accept the diagnosis and understand the long game. “Looking back, those things that maybe did change are just tiny barriers compared to the big picture,” Brian says. “I’m losing my eyesight, and that’s a big challenge. But the reality is, once you start to look at how to move forward, the things that seemed like a big deal at the start ended up being inconsequential.”

Thanks to Brian, Robin and Toyota for reminding us of what is possible.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_UgHZdjgvQ
Watch the Toyota Ad featuring the McKeever Brothers story

February 11, 2022
Inspiring Stories of People Thriving With Vision Loss

We love to share stories of people succeeding with vision loss, at every age and stage of life. It reminds us all that there is no limit to what is possible. Each story has the power to inspire so many more to find the potential in perseverance. Read on to meet the artists, athletes, writers, filmmaker, judge and restaurateur who have flourished. There is a common thread that runs through these stories, vision lost and perspective gained.

Rachel Christian says working remotely is a game changer for people with vision loss.

Rachel Christian, Journalist

Rachel, a personal finance writer who is legally blind from cone dystrophy, finds working from home is profoundly empowering. She has control of her work environment, does not feel self-conscious around coworkers and she does not have to deal with the transportation hurdles inherent for visually impaired commuters. It’s a game changer.

Here’s Why Working From Home Works for Rachel

Issac Lidsky, Author

Most of his sight was lost, by the age of 25, to retinitis pigmentosa. In the process he discovered that fear can be much more debilitating than vision loss. In his memoir, Eyes Wide Open, he discovered blindness could be overcome by letting go of overarching anxiety and inhibitions. Isaac says, “I’ve gained vision by losing my sight.”

More on Issac’s Enlightenment in “Don’t Be Blinded By Fear”

Alexandra Joy Crocco, Photographer

She has a white cane in one hand and a camera in the other, which can be a confusing sight, but that just goes to show you can have an eye for photography without having good eyesight. Alexandra’s multiple vision problems are caused by albinism, and although she can’t see a lot of detail she has proven her ability to capture the special moments her clients treasure.

Here’s how Alexandra Achieves Career Milestone

Lynda Lambert wearing her jewelry design.

Lynda McKinney Lambert, Artist

A retired professor of fine arts and humanities has not let vision loss stop her from creating award winning art. Her vision loss resulting from ischemic optic neuropathy precipitated a new life, that for her had to remain centered in art.

Read Lynda’s story, Creative Vision: Blind Artist Earns Another Award

Lily Mitchell, Filmmaker and Athlete

She is determined to let nothing get in her way and looks forward to helping make the film business more accessible for people who are differently abled while helping to dispel the perpetuation of stereotypes. Lily is legally blind from cone rod dystrophy, a condition she was diagnosed with at the age of 11.

More on Lily’s Experience in Filmaking and Para Sports

DC Circuit Judge David Tatel

He has served on the United States Court of Appeal since 1994. Along every step of that way, he dealt with progressive vision loss, from retinitis pigmentosa, and found the resources he needed to succeed.

Listen to Life, Law and Vision Loss on Hadley Presents

Gia Pergolini, Athlete

Legal blindness from, Stargardt Disease, would not deter this world-class athlete. She set her sights on gold and took it in the 100 meter backstroke at the Tokyo Paralympics. At 17, she is inspiring people of every age to achieve their goals.

Read “Gia Pergolini is a Champion”

Ben Benson, Restaurateur

Legally blind from the age of 18, he built a storied career in New York City’s legendary restaurant business, beginning with the creation of the first Friday’s location, which would become an internationally recognized chain.

Liston to Ben’s Extraordinary New York Success Story

Frank Bruni, Journalist, Author and Professor

He entered the realm of vision loss, without warning, in 2017 as he awoke to a forever changed view caused by a stroke of the eye. Now a Duke University professor, he continues to communicate with readers through The New York Times and is about to publish his tenth book, The Beauty of Dusk: On Vision Lost and Found.

Read The Frankness of Bruni

Monet, da Vinci, Degas, O’Keefe, Renoir, Rembrandt, Artists

Thanks to Perkins Learning for this enlightening article on the array of visual impairments that affected the most renowned artists in history. Vision loss did not hinder, in many cases it actually enhanced their work.

Ten Ways Vision Impairment Influenced Classic Artists

January 14, 2022
OE Patients Best Of 2021

It’s that most wonderful time of the year, when we circle back and take a look at OE’s most popular posts from 2021. Move forward and discover an audio guide for baking, advice on utilizing peripheral vision and the power of small changes. The list includes our most read content on accessible technology and emotional well-being. We want you to be inspired to develop a new skill or create a good habit for the fresh new year!

If you’d prefer to have the text of pages read to you, just click the button marked “Listen” on the upper right menu.

Gia Pergolini shows gold medal triumph. Image Credit: Cady Studios

Gia Pergolini is a Champion

She is OE’s Person of the Year. At 17, Gia Pergolini is a world class, world record braking swimmer, and a gold medalist in the Tokyo Paralympics. She teaches us about strength and grace while living with vision loss.

Read Now

Image shows plate of delicious freshly baked brownies.

Breaking Eggs Makes Baking Audible

Take a delightful baking class with professional baker and former Great British Bake-Off contestant, Ruby Tandon. Both the experience and the results are delicious! It will maKe you wish more cookbooks were audible.

Read Now

Woman practicing eccentric viewing.

8 Ways to Practice Eccentric Viewing

Advanced macular degeneration leaves a blind spot in the center, eccentric viewing can help you learn to actually see around it, utilizing the unaffected peripheral sight. Here are some easy ways to practice and make it natural.

Read Now

Image shows: 2021 Happy New Year banner.

This Year Small Changes Are Big

Feeling overwhelmed by vision los, or the pandemic, try dealing with change in smaller, bite-size increments. Join us and explore ways to get things done in minutes instead of hours. Breaking up monotony and boosting efficiency will help restore our sense of stability.

Read Now

Image shows Hadley workshop image of iPhone in hand.

Meet Hadley 2.0, Your Private Tutor

Hadley is the vision loss resource everyone needs to know. A welcoming place to learn technology, access podcasts, attend workshops, join discussion groups and more. Log in to this user friendly environment online, or they’ll even mail the printed content to you. It’s unique and amazing!

Read Now

Image shows: large screen with video meeting participants

Pandemic Silver Linings for Low Vision Patients

Well yes, we are so tired of talking about the pandemic, however, it cannot be denied, there were many interesting surprises in it for visually impaired people.

Read Now

Image shows Apple AirTag in case with holder.

Lost and Found with AirTags

Once again, Apple has created a product that is inclusive and exclusive, all at once. It’s also good for your health, because it eliminates the anxiety that occurs when you can find keys, wallets, etc., as you’re leaving the house.

Read Now

Old friends playing chess

Don’t Allow Vision Loss to Affect Your Cognition

We like to say, “vision loss affects your eyes not your brain,” but that is not totally true. Here are the tips for avoiding cognitive issues and dementia related to low vision.

Read Now

Image shows serene woman relaxing with a cup of tea.

Prioritize Your Emotional Health

Mental health does not take care of itself, you must be an active participant. Here is the excellent advice of our health & well-being expert.

Read Now

December 29, 2021
Get Accessible News at NFB-Newsline

It would be completely reasonable to expect that reading the news on a mobile app should be more accessible than ever, for people with vision loss, but this is not actually the case. The navigation of your favorite newspaper still feels rather unrefined. Whether reading with your eyes, or a speech feature, the pages may suddenly lurch back or forward, leaving you searching to find your place again. Articles loaded with ads, and other links, chronically disrupt your focus. Depending on the day, a mobile screen reader might just leap over an entire section of text or mispronounce a bunch of words. The images frequently are not labeled, instead providing long digital codes in place of descriptions. It all makes you wonder, why is award winning journalism so hard to read?

The solution that may resolve many of these issues is NFB- Newsline. A fee free news service offering audio content to anyone who is blind, has low vision or is print disabled. Subscribers are granted access to over 500 publications including the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, USA Today, Time, Consumer Reports and hundreds more. Select options for local news publications, emergency alerts and even local TV listings by provider. There are many ways to get NEWSLINE, on an app, with Alexa on an Echo device, online or by email, or dial in to listen on any phone.

Image shows young woman listening to the news on an iPhone.

iOS NEWSLINE MOBILE APP

Get the Apple iOS app, on the App Store, for use with iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch, all fully accessible with VoiceOver or Braille display. The app has a free version of KNFB Reader Basic with functions that scan any printed text and read it aloud, on the go.

AMAZON ALEXA

Hands free access via Alexa on any Echo product. Personalize settings and navigate to sections and articles using voice commands.

Visit Alexa instructions

visit Alexa training video

ONLINE & EMAIL

Go to http://www.nfbnewslineonline.org/ to access or email full publications, sections or articles.

DIAL IN BY PHONE

NFB-NEWSLINe audio content can also be accessed by phone with the touch of buttons that enable reading and voice controls.

Visit NEWSLINE phone instructions

There’s a lot available here, and it may seem overwhelming, so step back and take a breath. First sign up. Then decide how you want to access your news? Now follow the links for more info, or even better yet, call the wonderfully helpful information line for help getting set up and acclimated.

Call NFB-NEWSLINE: 866-504-7300

To sign up for Newsline call NFB or complete the application online. All subscribers to NLS Talking Books program are pre-approved.

Online Application

Email: [email protected]

November 30, 2021
Legal Blindness Can Be Confusing

There is a term related to vision loss that is misunderstood and chronically misinterpreted. Most people have heard the term but do not know what it means. It consists of two words which do not clearly articulate their purpose. Let’s clarify what Legal Blindness is, and what it is not.

What is legal blindness?

Legal blindness is a government standard measurement of visual acuity that qualifies a person for disability benefits and disqualifies their ability to drive. The US Social Security Administration defines legal blindness as vision no better than 20/200 or a visual field of 20 degrees or less in both eyes. This means if something is 200 feet away, you have to stand 20 feet from it in order to see it clearly, but a person with 20/20 vision can see it clearly from 200 feet away.

What is the difference between legal blindness and total blindness?

Total blindness denotes a complete lack of vision, also referred to as no light perception (NLP). Approximately 15% of people who are legally blind are totally blind, the majority have varying degrees of visual impairment. The terms are frequently conflated, causing a good deal of the confusion.

Can you be legally blind in one eye?

No. The vision in both eyes must be no better than 20/200 OR must have a visual field of 20 degrees or less.

It is also possible to be deemed legally blind if one eye has a field of 20 degrees or less and the other eye has an acuity no better than 20/200.

Can you be legally blind if your vision is correctable?

No. There is no such thing as, “legally blind without my glasses,” if your vision loss is correctable with lenses, be very grateful, you are not considered legally blind.

Is your driver’s license revoked if classified as legally blind?

No. There is no requirement that legal blindness be reported to the Department of Motor Vehicles. An eye doctor may advise you to stop driving long before you reach legal blindness. Don’t resist that advise, it should be taken seriously for your safety and the well-being of others you’ll encounter on the road.

Image shows woman looking at eye chart with one eye covered.

Is legal blindness the same as actual blindness?

No. About 15% of people who are legally blind are totally blind, 85% have impaired vision. Referring to everyone who meets the legal blindness qualification, as “blind” is not accurate or appropriate. It is really up to the individual, how they wish to identify. While many vision loss terms have become largely outdated, the two that are widely used today are visually impaired and low vision, representing a spectrum that describes vision loss ranging from 20/70 to 20/1000 and beyond.

According to the CDC, approximately 12 million people in the US, over age 40, have low vision, or uncorrectable vision with an acuity of at best 20/70.

What are causes of legal blindness?

Most legal blindness occurs in adults over the age of 40 and is caused by progressive eye diseases including age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Some people are visually impaired since birth and others inherit eye diseases, like retinitis pigmentosa, Stargardt Disease and Leber’s, that present earlier in life. Other illnesses and accidents can also cause severe vision loss that reaches the level of legal blindness.

How do people deal with legal blindness?

Legal blindness need not be a watershed moment, don’t be derailed by the psychology of it. Dealing with progressive vision loss should begin long before this point. If you are not notified of this milestone, it will more than likely pass without your knowledge. Keep things in perspective and use this opportunity to explore potentially new resources available to you. Ask your doctor for referral to vision rehabilitation services in your area, which you now may fully qualify for.

What benefits does legal blindness qualify for?

Legal blindness means that you qualify for some government benefits that may include vision rehabilitation services, vocational training, disability benefits and some tax exemptions. Most benefits require further qualifications and an intensive application process.

Additional resources at:

VisionAware: Vision Rehabilitation Services

VisionAware: Visual Impairment and Social Security

October 29, 2021
Take the VoiceOver Challenge
For people who are visually impaired, learning to use the iPhone’s gesture based screen reader, VoiceOver (VO), is challenging, to say the least. While working on a series of VO training tutorials, I was reminded how steep the learning curve for this iPhone accessibility feature is. It will test your metal, for sure, but don’t be deterred by the difficulty, millions have learned to use the iOS screen reader with fluency, including me. It can be maddening and the urge to resist will recur. I managed to learn, and to even teach others, so I can promise all beginners, the gain will well outweigh the pain. Stick with it, don’t give up!

The size of a smartphone screen necessitates a screen reader for a much wider audience than a larger screen computer or tablet. Although it may be initially a disquieting experience, the learning process is far less displeasing than not being able to navigate a smartphone at all. Having said that, I congratulate all users of VO on iPhone, and TalkBack on Android, for successfully flattening the curve. These are skills that continue to develop and enrich our lives ongoing. Accessibility and inclusion are empowering. And let us not forget, every smartphone comes with many more low vision and blindness aids, in built-in features and apps, which are frankly, priceless.

Although it is no piece of cake, the process of learning to navigate a touch screen with a unique set of gestures, absorbing the information with your ears, more than your eyes, will ultimately give back much more than it takes. Remember learning keeps your mind young, particularly complex activities that require practice for proficiency.

Image shows woman at work using iPhone with voiceOver.

A Word About Typing

Typing with VoiceOver on an iPhone keyboard requires practice. Many have mastered it and you will too. Practice typing by sending yourself text messages or emails. The default typing mode in VoiceOver is Standard Typing, which requires a double tap on each key, and it is the perfect practice mode. Put in the time and soon you’ll be advancing to Touch Typing, which requires only a single tap on each key. Siri and Dictation can circumvent, but not totally replace, the need for typing.

4 Stages of the Learning Curve

Understanding the stages of a learning curve can also fuel the belief that you will succeed, and this applies to all learning, particularly technology.
- Unconscious Incompetence
You don’t know what you don’t know.
- Conscious Incompetence
You know what you don’t know and begin learning.
- Conscious Competence
You’re learning but painfully aware of every step.
- Unconscious Competence
You have practiced to proficiency, the skills are now second nature.

Go forth and conquer!
October 15, 2021
Smart Speakers: You Ask, They Answer
It should come as no surprise that the voice-activated smart speaker is a favorite technology product for people with vision loss. Finally, a talking technology that is truly uncomplicated and incredibly intelligent.

If you don’t yet have one, chances are you soon will. According to Smart Speakers Statistics: Report 2021, the largest consumer of smart speakers is the United States. Amazon currently leads the pack however, by 2025, the annual unit sales for smart speakers could reach 300 million with Google projected to grab a 50% share of the market.

Just for starters, the speakers enable voice interaction with the internet, family, friends, home appliances and fixtures, news, shopping and entertainment. Often called voice assistants, they are known to most of us on a first name basis as Alexa, Google, and Siri. From their earliest stages of development, smart technology has been a dream come true for everyone because it truly does makes life a little easier.

The speakers are sold in a range of prices from $30 to $250, depending on the size and the sound quality. Smart hubs may combine a speaker with a display screen and run upwards of $250. The functionality of voice assistant Alexa and Google is consistent in all size speakers regardless of price. Apple recently introduced the HomePod Mini at $99 to replace the original high end HomePod (priced at $349). Unfortunately, Apple’s Siri still ranks way behind Google or Alexa, in terms of job performance.

Amazon Echo Dot. Credit: Time

Amazon announced they will reallocate company resources to maximize the Echo Alexa business. Google and Apple will do their best to elevate their assistants to try and outdo Alexa. We’ll see plenty more competition from the likes of Microsoft, Samsung, LG, and others. That means more choices and even better technology to come.

The thrill of turning on the lights with your voice is here for the asking. The speaker can become the hub for your smart home. Wifi connected outlets make upgrades easy to execute and there are thousands of Alexa, Google, and Siri compatible products on the market already.

Here are just some of the things you can do with your smart speaker:
- Play music by artist, song, album or genre
- Get the news
- Set a timer or an alarm
- Listen to popular podcasts or radio
- Find a TV program
- Get calendar events and reminders
- Get weather, traffic, travel and flight information
- Turn on the lights
- Check the dictionary for spelling and definitions
- Control the thermostat
- Play games
- Calculate simple and complex mathematics
- Create a shopping list
- Cook with step by step recipes
- Answers a multitude of questions
- Request a Lyft
- Get stock quotes
- Find a restaurant or local business
- Turn on the lights
- Find out what movies are playing locally
The setup process begins with an app downloaded to your smartphone. This is exactly where we became acquainted with our first virtual assistant, Siri. Visually impaired iPhone users were delighted to be among the earliest beneficiaries of this accessible technology, and now it’s nice to see everyone else follow.

Main image credit: Google

This post was originally published on Feb 16, 2018 and updated Sep 23, 2022
September 23, 2021
Starbucks Focus on Accessibility

There’s a lot to choose from at Starbucks, and for a person who is visually impaired, or blind, it can be a very tall order. Browsing the menu, posted high above the barista, is simply out of reach. We stick with the usual Caffe Latte, or Chai, because we have no idea a Strawberry Funnel Cake Frappuccino even exists. If we want something to eat with our delicious beverage, that selection too will require a certain degree of sight. Identifying the sandwiches in a refrigeration case may be possible with low vision, but reading the label, to figure out what lies between the bread, will not be so easy. We wonder, are there any sous-vide egg white bites available today?

Image shows hand holding a triumphant Frappuccino

Working around obstacles is something people who are visually impaired do everyday. Starbucks is working to minimized the challenges in their stores. To improve access to visual information, the Seattle based coffee chain is offering several options to address accessibility issues and elevate inclusion.

Image shows logo for Aira app

Aira guest access is now available in all US Starbucks locations. Aira is a smartphone app (pronounced I-ra) that connects users to a live agent trained in reading and navigation assistance for people who have low vision or are blind. The Aira service utilizes a combination of human and artificial intelligence, providing instant access to a sighted guide when you need it. The app will tell you when you’re in a sponsored location like Starbucks, Target, Bank of America, Walgreens and Wegmans, in which case the business is paying Aira to provide you, the customer, with visual assistance. The Aira agents will help you get around the store and tell you what’s on the menu, in the cases and on the counter. More about Aira

In the US and Canada, Starbucks added a large print and braille menu, actually the braille is a textured overlay on top of the large print pages. It is the largest large print menu we’ve ever seen, weighing in at 30 pages. For people who don’t read large print or braille, the menu on Starbucks website and mobile app, with newly improved accessibility, are probably better options.

The accessibility updates are linked to Starbucks new diversity and inclusion initiatives and company wide goals. The commitment is serious and there will be more attention paid to accessibility and the inclusive design of everything.

Stop in and celebrate your freedom of choice with a Green Tea Frappuccino!

August 20, 2021
No Apologies Necessary
According to the Oxford Dictionary, sorry means: feeling distress over someone else’s misfortune, feeling regret, or in a poor or pitiful condition. So why do we frequently use it so casually and out of context? Is it distress, pity or regret that compels us to insert “Sorry” ahead of a reasonable and valid request? Or is it just an unfortunate habit in need of a conscious correction?

An expression of regret, when you haven’t done anything wrong, is completely unnecessary. The preemptive apology tells the person it is directed to that you are not feeling good about what you are saying to them, which is not helpful to either of you. Knowing that you are feeling bad does not make the other person feel better. This applies across the board to family, friends and colleagues. Keep in mind, if the person you are saying “sorry” to is in a position that involves customer service, helping you is actually in their job description. The important thing to remember is, people usually feel very good when helping others, so don’t disrupt that positive energy.

Image shows man looking apologetic and saying “sorry.”

This topic has been recurring, on our pages since it came up in the OE Patients Podcast: Working With A Vision Coach. “I Don’t Have to Apologize,” is one of the Mindsets & Beliefs we examined in conversation with Jaydan Mitchell. The podcast also inspired a post titled, Asking for Help is a Strength. Both subjects are familiar to people with vision loss, and frankly to all humans.

The unnecessary apology can make you look, and feel, less confident. It’s perfectly okay for you to ask for what you need. Think of and begin using better words to communicate with clarity. Take the cringe out of your requests and turn them into mutually gratifying experiences. How about trying some simple word replacements for sorry, that can begin your request without “sorry.”
- I am visually impaired and…
- Excuse me, I need some help….
- Hi, can you help…
- Is there someone who can assist me with…
- Unfortunately, I am not able to read this…
- I’d appreciate your help with…
- Please can you show me where…
- Pardon me, may I ask you for help reading…
Take back the power by eliminating the knee-jerk apologies and replacing them with clear and specific requests. It will take some time, some thought and some practice. And ultimately, it will be better for everyone involved.
August 6, 2021
Lost and Found with AirTags

Who else but Apple can solve a problem for people who are visually impaired, with a beautiful balance of inclusivity and exclusivity. This product is good for everyone, because you don’t have to be visually impaired to misplace or loose essential items like keys, wallets and backpacks. Apple’s AirTag trackers might even be good for your health, minimizing the stress and self-loathing that occurs when an everyday personal necessity goes missing.

The disk-like tag, just over an inch in diameter, is tracked by the Find My app, which also keeps tabs on your iPhone, iPad and AirPods. AirTags are set up with a simple tap gesture, in much the same way AirPods are, and each tag can be identified with a name or description. Only your device can track your AirTags. The app will identify the tags exact location and you can play a sound on the tag through the app or by asking Siri to find an AirTag with a sound signal. A lost AirTag can be scanned by any smartphone to bring up contact information. Apple is adding Separation Alerts, in iOS 15, so you’ll be informed, right away, if you leave a tag enabled item behind.

Image shows selection of AirTag case key rings in blue, red and tan colors.

Like all things Apple, AirTags at first glance carry a little sticker shock. The actual tag is $29 each, or get 4 for $99. AirTags do not attach to anything independently, thus they have spawned an entire industry of related accessories. You might drop an AirTag into a wallet or the pocket on a backpack, but most items including keys or travel bags require an AirTag case on a keyring, a luggage loop, or a case that will stick to a surface. There are AirTag cases attached to a strap for your eyeglasses, or for the collar of your dog (although tracking pets and people is discouraged). Accessories are typically priced in a range from $10 to 50. If price is not an object, take a look at the accessories designed by the iconic fashion brand Hermes, with prices topping out at $699 for a luggage tag.

More about AirTags at Apple

July 29, 2021
Spectrum Access App Enables Private Audio Description
The TV commercial gets your attention. It’s surprising to see a commercial about accessibility for people with vision loss, in primetime. It is powerful, as it elevates awareness for everyone who sees it when this kind of information still typically travels through word-of-mouth. And that’s not the only unusual aspect, this is a commercial about a product from Spectrum Communications which is available, free of cost, whether you are a Spectrum customer or not.

The 60-second spot shows a movie clip running along with an audio description track, providing the visual details pertinent to understanding what’s happening on screen. We then see a group of friends watching together and reacting to the movie’s unfolding events. One friend in the group is visually impaired and she is hearing the audio description privately from an app on her phone. “The Spectrum Access app gives the visually impaired audio description right from their phone, so nobody misses a thing.” This is a solution that gets you the information needed to enjoy movies and TV, without imposing it on others. The app puts you back in control.

Watch the Spectrum Access App TV Commercial

https://www.spectrum.com/access?v=tguide&opredirect=tguide

Here’s how it’s done.
- Select the title to sync with your streamed TV program or movie. There are currently over 450 titles available on the app, with more being added regularly.
- Download the title’s audio description.
- Sync the audio description to your TV audio using the microphone on your smartphone. It syncs quite impressively to the exact same spot as the TV audio.
- The video content on TV can originate from any streaming platform including Spectrum, Netflix, Hulu, PrimeVideo, On-Demand, and more. Spectrum is also partnering with NBC, CBS, and others to build the library of titles read to sync.
Get the Spectrum Access Enabled Media app on the App Store and on Google Play.

Your feedback is meaningful, share it at [email protected] and leave a rating or review in the App Store or on Google Play.
April 16, 2021
GoGo Grandparent Gets An Uber Without An App
Uber and Lyft are technology companies operating new-age transportation networks on a global scale. Their names have become synonymous with dated terminology like taxi or cab. They deliver transportation to people where and when they need it. The entire process fully transacted on a smartphone app.

Naturally, this seems like a perfect fit for the transportation needs of older adults. But according to a study by PEW Research, less than 1% of Uber customers are 65 and older, while about 4 in 10 seniors are using smartphones.

Justin Boogaard was living with his Grandma Betty, after college, when she gave him the idea for GoGo Grandparent. Betty noticed her grandson was taking a lot of Ubers wherever he needed to go. She recognized this could be a great way for her to get around as well and she wanted to get in on the action. One problem: Uber can only be summoned by app, and Betty didn’t have a smartphone.

Image shows a grandmother happy and talking on the phone.

Necessity is, after all, the grandmother of invention. Justin set out to find Betty an easier way to get an Uber, and a startup was born. GoGo Grandparent takes the app out of the equation as it adds people back in. Less technology and more personal attention open up these transportation services to a significant demographic they would not have otherwise attracted. With GoGo Grandparent the transaction is conducted by phone, with customer service agents. They order the car, communicate with the driver, and monitor your trip.

There is technically no age requirement, so you don’t actually have to be a Grandparent and you can schedule a ride from any phone you choose. The concierge fee for this service is $0.27 a minute, which means if the ride takes 15 minutes the fee added to your fare is $4.05.

Uber and Lyft cars are notoriously difficult to locate, particularly if you are visually impaired. GoGo Grandparent can help by making the driver aware and by providing the customer with more detailed location information.

Image shows a smiling grandfather talking on phone.

GoGo Grandparent recently added a membership requirement and new services – here’s an update.

Basic Membership

The basic membership now carries a monthly fee of $9.99, enabling customers to order an Uber or Lyft from any phone, no app required. There is also a Concierge Fee, of $0.27 per minute, added to the fare and billed to your credit card by GoGo Grandparent. No cash is exchanged. Set up custom pick up locations, use voice commands for ordering, and set up family alerts to keep your loved ones in the loop.

Gold Client Membership

An upgrade to GoGo Gold Client is $30 a month and and it offers premium perks including:
- Driver rings your doorbell, buzzer, or house phone
- Driver accompanies you to the car
- Gold Client calls are priority transferred to an operator
- One cancellation free every month
- Prescription pickup & delivery
GoGo Gourmet & Grocery Deliveries

Just in time for the COVID-19 pandemic, GoGo Grandparent expanded its app-free ordering to include food and groceries delivered to your door. Restaurant orders are fulfilled by delivery services like DoorDash, GrubHub, Postmates and Uber Eats, with a Concierge Fee of $6.50 per order for Basic Members, $2 for Gold Clients. Groceries are fulfilled locally by Instacart, Walmart, Postmates and Shipt, with a Concierge Fee of $13 for Basic Members and $5 for Gold Clients.

If this sounds interesting and you think you’d like to try it out, GoGo will also give you a 30-day free trial.

Phone: 855.464.6872

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Please note, 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 October 2, 2017 and updated on June 17, 2020.
June 18, 2020