by Kathy Austin, CVA
“It started in a dimly lit restaurant where I was dining with my brother. He gradually disappeared behind tall grasses, shrubs and soon was hidden by a weeping willow tree with a brook running by. I looked to my side, looked back, and my brother was back. The bucolic scene was gone but it […] Read More »
Tags: Charles Bonnet Syndrome
by Reprinted with permission from the International Low Vision Support Group Newsletter, Volume 14, Issue 11 – November 2019
You are the best judge of when driving is no longer safe. But, don’t wait until you have an accident before you give up the car keys. Signals That Might Mean it’s Time to Give Up the Car Keys You are nervous behind the wheel. Your reactions are too slow due to your […] Read More »
Tags: driving, giving up driving, Vision loss
by Polly Abbott, CVRT
It’s easy to get caught up in a daily habit of making many small choices that seem harmless at the time. But, these can end up creating a giant snowball of health-related issues. I am not a nutritionist or health professional. However, over the past 20 years of working with people with vision loss, I […] Read More »
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