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Motion Blindness: A Brain Blindness Disorder

April 14, 2022 | Leave a Comment

by Siobhan Midgley, CVRT, COMS, TVI

This post is the second in a series by Siobhan Midgley, CVRT, COMS, TVI, on blindness disorders occurring in the brain.   Legal blindness is defined as having central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with correction or field of vision less than 20 degrees. During my grad school days, if […] Read More »

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A pool cue is abour to strike a cue ball.

Last Pocket

March 15, 2022 | Leave a Comment

by Brian Marchetti

As a random disruption in my genetic code has replaced my vision with a constant series of swirling lines and exploding dots, I miss two things the most. I haven’t seen a human face in a decade. I have no idea what my wife looks like though I sleep next to her every night and […] Read More »

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a grid of faces_face blindness

Face Blindness: A Brain Blindness Disorder

February 18, 2022 | 1 Comment

by Siobhan Midgley, CVRT, COMS, TVI

This post is the first in a series by Siobhan Midgley, CVRT, COMS, TVI, on blindness disorders occurring in the brain. In 2019, I was completing my teaching clinicals in a classroom with blind and visually impaired kindergartners. The classroom was set up with a desk in each corner for each teacher and paraprofessional. Each […] Read More »

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Make exercise fun with bright colors. Shown here are pink weights, yoga block and yoga band on a pink yoga mat

Accessible and Fun: Exercise Programs You Can Do at Home

January 19, 2022 | Leave a Comment

by Kathy Austin

Did you have a few too many delectable dishes and spirits over the holidays? Are your clothes a little bit more snug? Or perhaps the mix of Omicron and January’s cold and snow is preventing you from visiting the gym. If so, we have compiled some at-home exercise programs for you to try. You can […] Read More »

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Sheet of paper with "Holiday Traditions" written on it surrounded by evergreen sprigs, glass ornaments and golden snowflakes

Holiday Traditions

December 15, 2021 | Leave a Comment

by Kathy Austin

Second Sense staff shares their holiday traditions

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Bat using echolocation to find a flower for its sap

Echolocation: It’s Not Just for Bats

November 15, 2021 | 2 Comments

by Siobhan Midgley, CVRT, COMS, TVI

  Bats, whales and other animals create sounds that bounce off objects to learn information about their environments. This strategy, called echolocation, helps them find prey and navigate under deep ocean depths and dark nighttime skies. Echolocation is now currently being researched as a tool for people with vision loss to also learn about the […] Read More »

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Catharine is stopped at a street corner asking for assistance from a fellow pedestrian.

A Tool for Your Orientation and Mobility Toolbox: Asking the Public for Assistance

October 20, 2021 | Leave a Comment

by Eleni Gaves, COMS

As we celebrate White Cane Awareness Day, Eleni Gaves, our orientation and mobility specialist, talks about a skill that many with vision loss are reluctant to use – asking the public for assistance. Check out her suggestions and tips to become more comfortable with this useful tool for independent travel. Getting out and around brings […] Read More »

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Two dogs from Guild Eyes Guide Dog School: Rowan, an active guide, is a yellow lab and Weller, a retired guide, is a black lab.

You’ve Made the Decision, Now it’s Time to Choose Your Guide Dog School

September 15, 2021 | 2 Comments

by Kathy Austin

  One lazy summer afternoon relaxing in a lounge chair while vacationing on a lake, I said to my husband, “I think I need to get a guide dog.” I’m not quite sure why I had the sudden realization but it just seemed like time. I was becoming wary of stairs  and tripping on curbs. […] Read More »

Someone holding a sticker announcing they got their Covid 19 Vaccine

Creating a Digital Copy of Your Vaccination Card Using VoiceOver

August 16, 2021 | Leave a Comment

by Kathy Austin

When I got my first COVID19 vaccination, I was presented with a card with the date for my return visit for the second dose. I thought, as with most of the little cards you get at a doctor’s office to remind you of your next appointment, this card would eventually be tossed. Who knew back […] Read More »

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Aly does the plank pose on a bench looking across the pond to the Taj Majal on her travels to India

Travel to India? Why Not?

July 20, 2021 | 2 Comments

by Aly Slaughter

“Is there anything in your life that your vision prevents you from doing?” This was the question I was asked by the resident ophthalmologist in November 2017. I was at the University of Iowa where I go every 2 years for a full day of tests and eye exams. This was a question I had […] Read More »