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Second Sense - Beyond Vision Loss

Independent Living

Staffer at a baseball game wearing a shirt with "May I Help You?" on the back.

Why is Asking for Help so Difficult?

July 31, 2023 | Leave a Comment

by Kathy Austin

  Asking for Help is Hard No one wants to be a burden. You may feel ashamed, embarrassed or have any number of other uncomfortable feelings when asking for help. But, could your feelings be misguided? Our western society puts a large value on “independence.”  We may feel inadequate or incompetent when help is required. […] Read More »

Accessible Technology: John’s Story

March 15, 2023 | Leave a Comment

by John

  When we requested favorite tech tips and tools for our last blog, John sent along this photo of his tech set-up and the explanation below. We felt this detailed answer deserved its own blog!   John’s Accessible Technology Set-Up For people with visual impairments, we are undoubtedly living in a “golden age” of accessibility.  […] Read More »

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It’s National Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day!

November 14, 2022 | Leave a Comment

by Kathy Austin

Yikes, it’s a science experiment! Do you have one of these growing in your fridge? It’s so easy to miss a food item we think we’ll eat later only to have it hiding on the bottom shelf, Way in the back. Possibly dripping into your crisper drawer. Yuk! When you throw vision loss into the […] Read More »

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Piping Plover on the shore

What Makes a Vacation Special?

August 15, 2022 | Leave a Comment

by Kathy Austin

Since we’re learning to live with COVID19, people are venturing out and many want to travel again.  Browsing the Internet, I found dozens of practical tips for blind and visually impaired travelers, but what I felt was missing was ways to make a vacation special, enjoyable and, of course, fun. Some people with vision loss […] Read More »

A street scene under an overcast sky, with snow swirling and slick sidewalks.

Redefining Independence

July 14, 2022 | 1 Comment

by Siobhan Midgley, CVRT, COMS, TVI

It’s a blizzardy Saturday in Chicago; sidewalks slick, visibility low, fingers and toes frozen. I get a text from my client, and he has a conundrum. His usual route to his book club is just one stop away on the L. He knows the route well and normally has no difficulties traveling it. But he […] Read More »

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Helen Keller seated with Laurence Jones, Martha Louise Morrow Foxx. staff and students in front of Piney Woods School in 1945.

Disability Rights and Civil Rights Intersect

June 16, 2022 | Leave a Comment

by Siobhan Midgley, CVRT, COMS, TVI

Helen Keller visited the Piney Woods School in 1945, from the website Hall of Fame: Leaders and Legends of the Blindness Field: Laurence C. Jones, accessed 13 June 2022, <https://sites.aph.org/hall/inductees/jones/>   What is Juneteenth? When we learn about the end of slavery, we usually learn about the 1862 signing of the Emancipation Proclamation. But this […] Read More »

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Woman pouring coffee in to a white mug

Motion Blindness: A Brain Blindness Disorder

April 14, 2022 | 1 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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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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Kitchen tools organized before starting cooking include a tray, magnifier, oven glove, seasonings and the recipe.

The No-Look Cook: Adaptive Cooking for People with Vision Loss

May 6, 2021 | Leave a Comment

by Cody Froeter, CVRT

Cooking is something every person will experience to some degree at some point in their life. Some people detest cooking. Others think of it as just another task that needs to be done. Some people view cooking as a hobby. Others make it a passion or profession. Regardless of the perspective, every person will, at […] Read More »

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Terracotta pots of all different shapes and sizes are perfect for a container garden.

It’s Spring: Start a Container Garden

April 1, 2021 | 1 Comment

by Kathy Austin

When I moved into my home 28 years ago, my backyard was a blank slate. I began digging up parts of the lawn to create flower beds, raised beds and a large vegetable plot. Over the years, some beds have gotten bigger and some have long since been turned back to lawn. I’ve watched the […] Read More »

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