by Kathy Austin, CVA
These monitors show the difference between magnification set at 6X and the other at 12X. Imagine using the higher setting several years back when monitors were half as wide! David Flament, our Manager of Assistive Technology at Second Sense, tells his clients that when they need to use a 6x magnification with ZoomText on […] Read More »
Tags: coping with vision loss, letting go of vision
by Polly Abbott, CVRT
For many people, the challenge of walking along a crowded train platform is intensified by the fear of falling off the edge onto the tracks. A person could be hurt by the fall, hit by an oncoming train or zapped to death by the electric third rail. To avoid taking the ‘L’ is to […] Read More »
Tags: Mobility, mobility training, white cane
by Cody Froeter, CVRT
As a certified vision rehabilitation therapist, I have worked with many clients who have experienced recent vision loss. This has allowed me to witness the various ways clients cope. When I reflect on the strategies that have been most successful, one common thread appears. Maintaining mindfulness, or staying focused on the present, is an […] Read More »
Tags: coping with vision loss, Vision loss, Visually impaired
by David Flament
I am often asked about the choices for a screen reader for those who cannot afford JAWS. The first thing to know is that having two screen readers is always a better option than having just one. Let’s look at three options that may help. NVDA The first option, and what is quickly becoming my […] Read More »
Tags: JAWS, NVDA, System Access to Go
by Polly Abbott, CVRT
There has been a lot of buzz lately about the ELIA alphabet. The ELIA alphabet shapes are based on the Roman alphabet but contained within “frames” of different shapes (circle, open circle, square, pointy-top with a square bottom). Within the frames are details such as a dot or a line which characterize that particular letter. […] Read More »
Tags: Braille, ELIA
by Kathy Austin, CVA
Research in preventing vision loss and restoring vision due to inherited retinal disease (IRDs) has been advancing at an amazing pace. News of ground breaking new treatments was recently featured on CBS’s 60 Minutes program on April 29. For those of you with retinitis pigmentosa, stargardt, usher’s syndrome and other inherited retinal diseases, it […] Read More »
Tags: genetic counseling, genetic testing, retinal disease
by David Flament
When I was a partial, I loved my PlayStation and PC games. That all ended when I lost all of my vision 8 years ago. Or did it? I have written articles about games for people with vision loss before and have found some amazing games. But, “A Hero’s Call” by Out of Sight Games […] Read More »
Tags: A Hero's Call, Gaming, RPG
by Rachael Eschbach, COMS
So often we tell ourselves, “I am going to do (insert undesirable activity) because it will be good for me.” The funny thing is, we recognize the importance of what we want to accomplish, but something keeps us from doing it. Change is hard and learning curves are steep, but the fact we have recognized […] Read More »
Tags: Daily living skills, living independently, mobility training
by Kathy Austin, CVA
Second Sense is a small organization – we are a staff of eight people, but each year we serve over 500 individuals with vision loss. How do we do it? One huge reason is the generous gift of time and effort from our dedicated volunteers. As we celebrate National Volunteer Appreciation Week this April, we’d […] Read More »
Tags: National Volunteer Week
by David Flament
As the manager of assistive technology at Second Sense, I love to keep up with the new products and devices that can benefit our clients. When Apple brought out their new watch, I was intrigued. But I waited until a few generations had been produced before putting my money down. Just like with new […] Read More »
Tags: Apple Watch, Assistive Technology, VoiceOver
