by Kathy Austin
Asking for Help is Hard No one wants to be a burden. You may feel ashamed, embarrassed or have any number of other uncomfortable feelings when asking for help. But, could your feelings be misguided? Our western society puts a large value on “independence.” We may feel inadequate or incompetent when help is required. […] Read More »
by Kathy Austin
My first bird house was a well-crafted, sturdy red barn that hung empty for about seven years with no visitors. It came with us when we moved to a new house and amazingly, we had our first tenants, a family of sparrows. That bird house lasted for 20 years until the bottom finally rotted out. […] Read More »
Tags: birding
by John
When we requested favorite tech tips and tools for our last blog, John sent along this photo of his tech set-up and the explanation below. We felt this detailed answer deserved its own blog! John’s Accessible Technology Set-Up For people with visual impairments, we are undoubtedly living in a “golden age” of accessibility. […] Read More »
Tags: accessible technology
by Kathy Austin
When I was going to college back in the 90s and early 2000s, a textbook consisted of a cardboard box with dozens of four-track cassette tapes. I played them on a special tape recorder that I now cannot remember the name of. It was about the size of a textbook, but heavy in my […] Read More »
Tags: apps, technology
by Cheryl Megurdichian, CFRE
Ditching Resolutions My New Year’s resolutions were always bright and shiny, full of hope on New Year’s Day. But, by the end of the month they morphed into failures. When I set specific goals – I will walk 10,000 steps every day – one miss started a downward spiral. And just a few days […] Read More »
Tags: change, resolutions, self-improvement
by Kathy Austin
Rowan, a yellow lab, and Weller, a black lab, are two of Kathy’s guide dogs Around the holidays, I like to send a letter to my guide dogs puppy raisers. Included in the letter are photos of the dogs I have taken throughout the year. Finding those photos in the photo library has always […] Read More »
Tags: organizing photos, photos app by Kathy Austin
Yikes, it’s a science experiment! Do you have one of these growing in your fridge? It’s so easy to miss a food item we think we’ll eat later only to have it hiding on the bottom shelf, Way in the back. Possibly dripping into your crisper drawer. Yuk! When you throw vision loss into the […] Read More »
Tags: cleaning out the fridge, expiration dates, organization
by Richard Stauder, CVRT CATIS
QR Codes in the Community QR codes are becoming more prevalent in the community. You will find them at restaurants to order your meal, get games on your phone, and obtain information about a community event. QR Codes, or Quick Response codes, have been described as a “modern three-dimensional” form of the traditional […] Read More »
Tags: Freestyle, QR Code
by Kathy Austin
Since we’re learning to live with COVID19, people are venturing out and many want to travel again. Browsing the Internet, I found dozens of practical tips for blind and visually impaired travelers, but what I felt was missing was ways to make a vacation special, enjoyable and, of course, fun. Some people with vision loss […] Read More »
by Siobhan Midgley, CVRT, COMS, TVI
It’s a blizzardy Saturday in Chicago; sidewalks slick, visibility low, fingers and toes frozen. I get a text from my client, and he has a conundrum. His usual route to his book club is just one stop away on the L. He knows the route well and normally has no difficulties traveling it. But he […] Read More »
Tags: Independence, interdependence, Mobility