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Second Sense - Beyond Vision Loss

Archive: July 2022

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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Cameras on iPhone 13 pro and 13 max

Seeing AI’s World Channel: Is it Useful?

May 16, 2022 | Leave a Comment

by Cody Froeter, CVRT

  Back in December of 2020, Microsoft’s Seeing AI released an update for the app that included a brand new channel. The new channel, called World, uses an iPhone’s LiDAR sensors to gain a spatial, 3D depiction of the environment in the phone’s camera lens. Using 3D spatial audio, the app notifies the user of […] Read More »

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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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Compass Directions on the outside of circle are used in creating a mental map

Mental Map: A Tool for Traveling with Less Worry

October 1, 2020 | Leave a Comment

by Eleni Gaves, COMS

  When you travel to a new destination, how do you know how to get there? What steps do you take to prepare so you will find your destination with minimal risk of getting lost? A sighted person can use GPS, consult a physical map, read street signs and look out for visual landmarks. People […] Read More »

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Mary Pat uses her cane to detect the back wall of her house and the beginning of the patio.

Learning to Use a White Cane: Mary Pat’s Journey

June 12, 2019 | Leave a Comment

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 »

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Angela standing with her cane next to the sign for the 'L' in the Loop.

A Wake-Up Fall: Do You Need to Refresh Your Mobility Skills?

July 16, 2018 | 1 Comment

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 »

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Rachael Eschbach

Who is Rachael Eschbach?

September 1, 2017 | 1 Comment

by Rachael Eschbach, COMS

I am a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, who is fortunate to be a full time employee at Second Sense.  Although I am a young professional, I have been working in the field and training clients of all ages in Orientation and Mobility (O&M) for the past 6 years.  I love what I do! I […] Read More »

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Kathy with her three guides, past and present, Rowen, Weller and Solomon.

Retiring a Guide Dog: When is it Time to Throw in the Towel?

August 1, 2017 | 3 Comments

by Kathy Austin, CVA

His nose twitches constantly. Lamp posts cannot be resisted. Another slimy chicken bone taken out of his mouth. This is my regular two-block walk from the office to the train station. I have a very sweet, sometimes naughty, Labrador Retriever guide dog named Weller. He is a gorgeous dog with long ears, a sharp nose […] Read More »

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Kathy and her guide Weller stand at the corner of Randolph and Wabash in Chicago

Extreme O&M: Sharpening Orientation and Mobility Skills

January 16, 2017 | Leave a Comment

by Kathy Austin, CVA

  You’re standing at a busy intersection, white cane in hand. Cars are whizzing by, turning in all directions and horns are honking. You need to cross the intersection. You feel like you are on the edge of a pool, waiting to jump in, but the water is icy cold and you are very hesitant. […] Read More »

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