by Amber Miller, Guest Blogger
There are plenty of challenges that come with blindness. Cats lounging on camoflaging area rugs. Eye contact. Stairs…bedeviled stairs. There are, however, some unexpected perks. It sounds cool. The acronym VIP makes me feel important. ‘Nuff said. Fewer distractions. When performing a reiki session, intuitive reading, or even getting to know someone on a […] Read More »
Tags: artistic perspective, imagination, Visually impaired
by Kathy Austin, CVA
Puppy Raisers A lot of love, hard work and dedication go into the first year of life for a guide dog puppy. Who does this kind of work? Families of all sizes, single men and women, kids in 4H and FFA, grandparents and college students, just to name a few. They have all done […] Read More »
Tags: Guide dog, puppy raiser
by Rachael Eschbach, COMS
Do you turn into a pumpkin if you are not home by a certain time? For Cinderella, midnight was her unforgiving curfew. But for many people with vision loss, it’s around dusk. Many adults with partial vision express that they have more challenges when it becomes dark outside. Although they may travel freely and […] Read More »
Tags: mobility at night, night travel, orientation and mobility
by David Flament
It is time to say goodbye. Yes, it is time to say goodbye to Windows 7. Many of you may be saying, “No I love my Windows 7! I don’t want to switch to Windows 10.” So, why do you have to upgrade to Windows 10? Microsoft has been saying support for Windows 7 will […] Read More »
Tags: Assistive Technology, upgrading to Windows 10, Windows 10, Windows 7
by Cody Froeter, CVRT
With technology’s ever-progressing advancement, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed when considering a new smartphone. Smartphones, particularly iPhones, are impressive devices that can perform a plethora of tasks and settings out of the box. With accessibility features and apps, there are even more options available to users. Start with the Basics The beauty […] Read More »
Tags: Accessibility, iPhone, Vision loss
by Cheryl Megurdichian
Learning to use a white cane can be terrifying. You have to trust this simple tool to find your way in a world that can be very complicated – from cracks in the sidewalk to traffic signals to electric cars that make no noise. For 20 years, Mary Pat let fear dictate part of her […] Read More »
Tags: Mobility, white cane
by David Flament
Sometimes, you just need to borrow a pair of eyes! Today, that personal visual assistance has become a reality with two apps, BeMyEyes and Aira. With the improvements in cameras on smart phones, a live person is ready and willing to assist. Aira and BeMyEyes are two apps that connect you to a person who […] Read More »
Tags: Aira, BeMyEyes, visual assistance
by Rosemary Fortney
Born an Artist Drawing and being an artist was always in my genetic makeup. It has developed through years of art exploration and fine arts studies at Mt. Mary University in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and Cardinal Stritch College in Fox Point. Art to me is the warmest, most fulfilling experience of my life. Sharing something […] Read More »
Tags: Art, coping with vision loss, Vision loss
by Andrea O'Donnell
Meeting My Girl I will never forget the day I met my first guide dog, a beautiful black Labrador retriever named Fiona. It was around 1:00 in the afternoon, and I was patiently waiting in my room at Guide Dogs for the Blind (GDB) in San Raphael, California. I could hear the sounds of […] Read More »
Tags: Guide dog, Vision loss, working with a guide dog
by Rachael Eschbach, COMS
Mobility in Every Season Chicago! It’s so wonderful to have all four seasons. Of course, every season presents its own set of challenges when traveling with vision loss. Here are some of the mobility problems that crop up season-to-season. And some tips for overcoming them. Winter Ice Ice is something that worries everyone, vision […] Read More »
Tags: mobility training, O&M