News from the cutting edge of assistive technology
More than 50% of US households have a dog as a pet and these furry companions make great walking partners and help to reduce loneliness. About 5% of people who are blind or vision impaired have a dog that is not only a companion but also a vital part of their everyday life and helping …
Read More Guide Dogs – Devoted and HardworkingCataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 40. They are also the principal cause of blindness in the world. Fifty percent of all Americans will develop cataracts by the age of 80. What is a cataract? A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens and …
Read More Cataract Awareness Month – Get the Facts!Accessibility is defined in the dictionary as “the quality of being easily reached, entered, or used by people who have a disability.” How does this apply to digital access? Through the years, digital content has become more prevalent in our lives with online banking and shopping, social media and messaging platforms used for connecting with …
Read More 10th Celebration of Global Accessibility Awareness DayAccording to the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), occupational therapy helps people participate in everyday activities. “Common occupational therapy interventions include helping children with disabilities to participate fully in school and social situations, helping people recovering from injury to regain skills, and providing supports for older adults experiencing physical and cognitive changes.” Occupational Therapy and …
Read More What is Occupational Therapy?As you age, your eyes and vision change. The pupil reduces in size, muscles weaken, and the lens starts to stiffen which may cause blurred vision or trouble focusing. The reduced pupil size and the weakened eye muscles allow less light in and you may notice a need for increased or focused lighting. Glare sensitivity …
Read More How Effective is Lighting for People with Low Vision?A WHO study from 2010 found that there are 285 million people who are visually impaired worldwide and 39 million of these are blind. World Sight Day, which falls on the second Thursday of October, and Blindness Awareness Month, both focus on bringing awareness to blindness causes, especially ones that are preventable. Did you know? …
Read More October is Blindness Awareness MonthThe Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind has an amazing Pre-Employment Training program for Young Adults. The program runs from October to June with the students meeting up for once a month workshops and ends with a 3-week intensive workshop in July. This years’ program consisted of 7 students completing these workshops and internships. The students …
Read More Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind Pre-Employment Training ProgramBeing diagnosed with an eye condition that will gradually degrade your vision could bring on a multitude of feelings ranging from shock and denial to depression and hopelessness. At times your visual impairment may leave you feeling isolated and alone. Having a support system surrounding you during this time can help to alleviate the stress …
Read More The Importance of a Low Vision Support GroupMost people think an annual exam is sufficient to maintain healthy sight, but if you are living with specific eye conditions like Macular Degeneration, Cataracts, Glaucoma, or Diabetic Retinopathy, you need more than just the standard exam. Once diagnosed with a low vision condition like the ones mentioned, your optometrist may suggest you have a …
Read More What is a Low Vision Exam?Garrison Keeler said, “A book is a gift you can open again and again” but for someone with low vision, reading can be a challenge without the right tools. There is a large selection of devices that can help people read with low vision. Some are “optical”, meaning that they are glass lenses such as …
Read More 3 Tips for Reading with Low Vision