by Polly Abbott, Director of Services at Second Sense
CNIB 2013 National Braille Conference I recently returned from the CNIB National Braille Conference in Toronto. The conference is entirely devoted to braille: production, transcription, instruction and how it all intermingles with the new developments in technology. The morning keynote was given by Peter Osborne, Head of International Development, RNIB (Royal National Institute for Blind People). […] Read More »
Tags: Braille, Independence, UEB, Vision loss
by Fred Nickl, Sr., Guest Blogger at Second Sense
Forming the Shape I had the good fortune to be in Second Sense’s Masks and Mayhem workshop. The word Mayhem in the title is what really caught my attention. That’s all it took to get me to sign up for the workshop. The workshop was led by Jeff Semmerling from Semmerling and Schaefer Mask Artists Studioand helped […] Read More »
Tags: Art therapy, Counseling, Creativity, Mask making, Vision loss, Workshops
by Marcia Knudson, Manager of Counseling Services at Second Sense
I Can Do It Myself! Independence is a goal that motivates us throughout our lives. A forceful “I can do it myself” is a solid part of a toddler’s vocabulary. At the same time, children will easily and without drama, ask an older sibling or a parent to reach that bag of cookies that is […] Read More »
Tags: Counseling, Independence, Support groups, Vision loss
by Doug Anzlovar, Guest Blogger
From rural communities to bustling cities, pedestrians who are visually impaired or blind often contend with a variety of obstacles as they move through their environment. Good weather tends to not only bring out the flowers and birds but also shrubbery that over extends onto sidewalks, tree branches that hang down overhead, sprinklers watering everything […] Read More »
Tags: Blind, Mobility, Travel, Visually impaired
by David Flament, Manager of Adaptive Technology at Second Sense
I have been getting asked a lot about two things that are very closely tied together. One question is “Should I get Windows 8?” The other is, “Should I get a tablet instead of a laptop?” Let’s start with Windows 8 Windows 8 is the newest Microsoft operating system. It is primarily designed for touch screen […] Read More »
Tags: Adaptive technology, Tablets, Windows 8
by George Abbott, Guest Blogger
Considerations for Your Guide Many of us who travel with a long white cane or dog guide may choose to benefit from the services of a human guide from time to time. Noisy, crowded unfamiliar areas, such as an airport or major train station, a buffet line, or construction site, to name a few. While […] Read More »
Tags: Blind, Independent Travel, Mobility, Sighted Guide, Visually impaired by Lauri Dishman, LCPC, Manager of Counseling Services at Second Sense
When it Comes to Working, Blind Workers Face Bias. That was the title of an article published recently by the Wall Street Journal. 400 or so HR and hiring Managers were surveyed by the non-profit organization, National Industries for the Blind, in an effort to find out why 70% of those who are blind or […] Read More »
by Kathy Austin, Community Engagement Specialist at Second Sense
For anyone who knows me, they know I’m a guide dog user through and through. Maybe I need someone to hold my hand – a cane just doesn’t give me that same sense of security. I know a guide dog isn’t for everyone, but for me, it’s the only way to travel. In my attempts […] Read More »
by Polly Abbott, CVRT, OMS, Director of Rehabilitation Services at Second Sense
A co-worker recently commented with how lucky I was to have a blind husband because I was able to bring a gigantic Christmas gift in the door right under his nose, let the bag crinkle at my feet as I greeted him and store the item in plain view in a corner of a room […] Read More »
by David Flament, MA, Manager of Adaptive Technology at Second Sense
About a year and a half ago, I made the switch from using a screen magnifier, Windows 7 Magnifier, to using a screen reader, JAWS for Windows. My vision had changed enough that I found I could be more productive at work using a screen reader. Why did I choose JAWS you ask? Well, JAWS […] Read More »