What are /r/Blind's favorite Products & Services?

From 3.5 billion Reddit comments

There are needle threading devices made of diamond shaped fine wire that go through the needle hole and you put the thread through the diamond and then pull the diamond back through the needle eye. Here are some on Amazon

https://www.amazon.com/Silver-Needle-Threader-Insertion-Machine/dp/B00WHEG588/ref=pd_sbs_201_3/130-3860428-2733913

So they make a 2 pan sifter system that would work. So it's two little pans and then there's a sifter grid. You set the sifter in one of the pans, pour the litter on top, then to sift just pick up the whole grid. Then you put the grid into the new pan and dump the sifted litter on top

https://www.amazon.com/Sifting-Litter-Frame-Kitty-Clean/dp/B01NAR4Y38/ref=sr\_1\_17?dchild=1&keywords=litter+box+with+sifter&qid=1620861771&sr=8-17

Good Day Adaptive Technology Instructor here:

Mac OS systems are good for Blind individuals in general but may be more expensive then what you or your friend is willing to spend. Windows based systems have Windows Magnifier for Screen Magnification along with Windows Narrator that is a Screen Reader built into the Operating system similar to Zoom and Voice Over in Mac OS systems. You can get a good Screen Reader that is more advanced then Windows Narrator called NVDA link provided here (https://www.nvaccess.org/). If you want Industry Standard then go to Freedom Scientific Jaws but NVDA is free and does many of the same things. If your friend is using Linux or Unix I would have to research that more but that should help your friend.

What about learning another language? I've had a lot of fun with Duolingo. The site has its own audio and NVDA works well with most of it.

There are audio games available and you can still play some fighting games.

Audio books, writing... those don't require braille. I don't know, just throwing out ideas. I really feel ya on the boredom. It's raining today and I've done absolutely nothing but listen to music in bed.

Not mentioned yet and I may be biased, But computer literacy is important if not required in today's world and mainstream screen reader software for desktop is terribly expensive($400+ every year or two for an updated version of JAWS). If you run Windows, Look into installing NVDA, for linux, use fedora or talking arch, If they own a smartphone, Talkback for android and the build in equivalent for Iphone. If your son is able to learn these tools early, he will be able to function online like a sighted person and can function independently in most cases.

Sighted artist here... I'm not sure if this suggestion will be helpful or obvious, but since nobody else has commented so far I will give it a shot. Have you tried using an embossing stylus with a smaller nib for your tactile drawings? I have not used the Draftsman, but after digging around a little online it looks like the stylus that comes with it is has a nib size roughly the same as a ballpoint pen. Will it make a smaller line if you use a smaller tool? If possible, lines of varying widths might get your more of the detail and depth that you're after.

I recently made a little series of embossed drawings using a five-dollar set of styluses ordered from amazon. There are many options, but here is the link to the set I bought: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00LQYS1GE/ref=oh_aui_search_detailpage?ie=UTF8&psc=1 It comes with three double-sided styluses: the largest is about the same ballpoint pen size, and the smallest is so tiny that it's practically a needle. It might be worth trying if you haven't before.

I also really enjoy carving drawings out of those rubber and linoleum blocks used for making stamps, but I have sliced my fingers a few times in the process!

It gave meaning to my life.

I was suicidal and hopeless when my sister gave me this book called Man's Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl. The book is a meditation on what the gruesome experience of Auschwitz taught Frankl about the primary purpose of life: the quest for meaning, which sustained those who survived.

I read the book in one night and have since read / listened to it many times over. The book is still with me on a day-to-day basis. Frankl views suffering not as an obstacle to happiness but often the necessary means to it, less a pathology than a path.

”If there is a meaning in life at all, then there must be a meaning in suffering. Suffering is an ineradicable part of life, even as fate and death. Without suffering and death human life cannot be complete.

The way in which a man accepts his fate and all the suffering it entails, the way in which he takes up his cross, gives him ample opportunity - even under the most difficult circumstances - to add a deeper meaning to his life. It may remain brave, dignified and unselfish. Or in the bitter fight for self-preservation he may forget his human dignity and become no more than an animal. Here lies the chance for a man either to make use of or to forgo the opportunities of attaining the moral values that a difficult situation may afford him. And this decides whether he is worthy of his sufferings or not.

Such men are not only in concentration camps. Everywhere man is confronted with fate, with the chance of achieving something through his own suffering.”

Looking back, I can shout to the world “I went through it all!” The suffering of becoming blind had become an inspiration. It had become a trophy. It had become an achievement that no one can ever steal.

To quote Frankl; “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing; the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.”

I don't think NVDA is a registered non-profit in the US, unfortunately; Australia only. They're the one "blindness organization" I give monthly to. Not having to spend tens of thousands of dollars on screen reading software is the entire reason I have the chance to support myself. Without NVDA, it's no exaggeration to say that I could not live the life I live today.

We have found using a hammock-style backseat cover works best for my husband's shed-happy golden retriever guide dog. It's easy enough to remove and fold up if needed, washable, and it helps the dog feel more secure so he won't roam around trying to find a good spot. We also carry a lint roller in the car which has been super helpful to get any stray hairs that get on the upholstery. I purchased this seat cover from Amazon a year ago and it's still going strong: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019EOQ6AK/ref=oh_aui_detailpage_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

I read through some of your posts on reddit and it looks like you're really reaching out and trying to find support and a community. Have you found the r/deafblind reddit yet? It's not very active, but you might find some folks there to connect with.

Have you read Haben Girma's memoir? I really enjoyed her storytelling about her experiences growing up deaf/blind both in Eritrea and the United States. She also faced a lot of obstacles to getting the education she wanted... I think though, that she had a supportive family and friend network and that made all the difference. https://www.amazon.com/Haben-Deafblind-Woman-Conquered-Harvard/dp/1538728729

Also i find using a mobile view of a website (by minimizing browser window) makes websites more straight forward.

Note: In mobile view some functions of website can be hidden thus requiring to maximize the window. (shortcut [win] + up arrow/down arrow

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From my experience social networks are quite uncomfortable to use (facebook, twitter) would recommend starting with some blogs. Most of them have a common heading followed by the entry structure. I find reddit quite a easy to use platform for basicfeed viewing, maybe introduce it to her, there are a lot of communities that can be interesting.

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Nvda user guide, quite a read, can be started from chapter 4:

https://www.nvaccess.org/files/nvda/documentation/userGuide.html

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Learn keyboard shortcuts for everything: browser, nvda, windows

NVDA is free and straightforward as far as screen readers go. It is also one of the most used, so web content that is build with accessibility in mind should be fully compatible.

Just for the tech side of things, NVDA is free, and cheap training material is available. If you have the time and interest, you don't need the CNIB (or anyone else) to get you started.

Have you tried Dark Reader? I use it on all my browsers. It's free everywhere, except on Safari and it intelligently adjusts colors.

Every website has a dark theme, whether they want to or not!

Admittedly, there are issues sometimes, so you might have to switch between dynamic mode and filter mode, but one or the other usually works and you can save they setting globally or for each website. You can also turn it off specifically for some websites, when their own dark theme is good enough. There's also a contrast adjustment.

It's the first thing I paid for on the Mac App Store, because it's just that good.

If you're looking for something between a folding cane and a rigid cane, a great option is a telescopic cane! They're usually easier to break down, too.

You can find this one here on Amazon. It has solid reviews and might be worth a look.

Best of luck!

Most of the Low Vision Specialists and eye doctors I know recommend Amber sunglasses for cutting out blue light and making it easier on the eyes.

The glasses themselves can be UV protected and still be clear.

https://www.foreyes.com/blog/do-clear-sunglasses-work/

Also, the fitover glasses made of plastic are usually not a coating, but the plastic itself is that colour, so you wouldn't scratch off a coating (but the lenses themselves can still scratch with enough abuse). For example, that colour is solid through the lenses.

https://www.amazon.ca/Solar-Shield-Fits-Over-Sunglasses-LENSES-29008AMBER/dp/B000LWJCJW

SeaTrekLaw,

You will find good feedback from blind android users on the eyes-free google group:

https://groups.google.com/forum/#!forum/eyes-free

They usually discuss the pros and cons of various devices and would be knowledgeable about recommendations.

You could look at https://ifttt.com/ and make a custom script that would tell google home or something compatible to read the weather but it would take some fiddling. Only thing I can think of for you.

Drupal does it with an order field, so that's the way I'm used to it, at least. In Drupal, "lighter" items (IE items with a smaller number) always float to the top. Easy to remember, and easy to think about.

Can he see at all? Scratch is a graphics-based programming 'language' that was designed by MIT to help teach kids to code. I bet the'd have some fun with that.

You can also get legos to help him with his spatial reasoning skills.

It may also be worth cross-posting to r/teaching or r/matheducation or subs like that to see if any teachers have direct experience or advice for you.

Also, you should be aware that the math education system in the US is utter garbage. A kid at 7 that is into math is kinda rare, please try to encourage him as much as possible and not let the awful machine that is US public education beat it out of him.

The EnVision AI app is similar and runs on Android. It is subscription based ($5 / month) and is very similar to SeeingAI. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.letsenvision.envisionai&hl=en_US&gl=US

Not in front of my windows computer to confirm, but flipping through the NVDA docs, I found this:

"Besides the NVDA Settings dialog, The Preferences sub-menu of the NVDA Menu contains... Punctuation/symbol pronunciation. This dialog allows you to change the way punctuation and other symbols are pronounced...To change a symbol, first select it in the Symbols list. You can filter the symbols by entering the symbol or a part of the symbol's replacement into the Filter by edit box. The Replacement field allows you to change the text that should be spoken in place of this symbol."

What are the resources like where you live? In some countries, blind people can get training how to use technology or help purchasing it through the government.

Computers, smartphones, tablets, etc are accessed with a screen reader. On a computer typically a person will type with the keyboard, and then receive audible feedback. The cheapest fully functional computer option is to buy a windows PC and install NVDA on it. Macs are great too, but more expensive. (Don't bother with linux for a blind person who is new to using a computer.)

iphones and ipads are very accessible to blind people using voiceover. Applevis has good info. You use the touchscreen for most things (using gestures) but you can also use Siri and dictation. Android devices are also accessible with talkback, but there is typically more of a learning curve and it's not as consistent between apps and devices. For a new smartphone user, I would definitely recommend an iphone if it's affordable.

If your friend reads braille, braille displays can be attached to a computer or smartphone using a USB cable or bluetooth. They show the same text that is being read out loud by the screen reader in braille, using raised mechanical pins. They're typically expensive however. The cheapest one (by far) you can buy currently that I know of is the Orbit Reader 20, which is $449 through APH. A braille display is not necessary if your friend is able to hear and understand speech.

There are also dedicated devices for blind people, like notetakers which are basically PDAs designed for blind people. They're very expensive, and honestly not necessary for most blind people these days with how accessible regular computers and smart phones are.

> the best solution available

It isn't, unfortunately. If you read that privacy policy...if you wouldn't feel comfortable livestreaming it on youtube, don't put it in front of Seeing AI. Because you get pretty much no data protection at all. So I can't use it to OCR my mail (even though it can read documents) because I wouldn't know if it's my bank statement, junk mail, or a credit card bill, until it's too late! Instead, I need to use KNFB Reader for that. Plus, Seeing AI can't identify colours. I have to use AIPoly instead. So I have to flip regularly between three different apps. First world problems, I know! :-) At least all three apps exist and are all being improved. It's an exciting time to be blind.

> be really cool if Perigo Sight becomes an open source initiative,

That would be really cool! It seems to work for NVDA, and has allowed NVDA to become the best screen reader anywhere, on any platform. Though I wonder how many people can really contribute to code involving cutting edge AI like this? I'd be surprised if there were more than a hundred programmers currently living who can do this kind of work.

> if you do try it out.

I will! I did a post a few months ago giving a comparison between the OCR quality of Eye of Providence and KNFB Reader. It's time to do another one, comparing the new options, now that we have multiple object identification apps.

Another release and once again I will remind everyone that NVAccess relies on your donations to continue development of NVDA. Consider a monthly donation if you can afford it. The steady cash flow really helps with planning and budgeting.

Donate to NVAccess

For digitizing records, Audacity is probably all he needs, and it works perfectly with NVDA. He doesn't need any of the fancy features of something like Reaper, after all.

You'll get more false positive with the heavier duty anti-malware/AV software out there.

A "secret" is that the vast majority are using an almost identical signature database. Check out av-test.org and https://www.av-comparatives.org/consumer/ for objective (as much as it's possible) comparisons.

The smartchef scales https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B009LCM8YY work well though they require a cell phone app. They are available in 3 capacities with different accuracy levels.

0-500g with 0.01 gram accuracy

0-3kg with 0.1 gram accuracy (the accuracy seems to be 2-3g in practice)

0-15kg with 1 gram accuracy.

I can no longer recommend the My.Weigh VOX 2 talking scale as the most recent unit (the 4th since 2008 but we use it a lot and are not always the best about not dropping it on the floor, etc) failed after only about 3 months. The unit is supposed to have a one year warranty but the manufacturer has been entirely unresponsive.

Hi there, you could try a plastic bin on wheels with a retractable handle that should only take one hand to manage such as this one from amazon

My other advice is just to make your trips more frequent (which is a drag unfortunately) and not let laundry pile up so that it is unmanageable. It will make taking it to and from much easier!

you can get ones that fit over your Rx glasses (although you should ask your eye doctor if it's safe to drive with them!)

I have https://www.amazon.com/Pyramex-Prescription-Glasses-Safety-Welding/dp/B00YA25XI8 these from amazon, no idea if they're safe to drive with for obvious reasons.

https://noirmedical.com/ makes glasses (including clip ons, fitovers, and glasses with an Rx insert) in a ton of shades.

Interesting system. It's very similar to the system some children use to trace letters when learning how to write.

What is the expected cost of the device?

Off Amazon, this Magnatab is essentially the same thing without the braille cell overlay, and costs about $23 Canadian. I can replicate the braille cell effect by using fabric paint to glue over a few columns/rows. Would the cost be significantly higher than that?

https://www.amazon.ca/Kid-Free-form-Magnatab-Red/dp/B004PR49EM/ref=pd_lpo_75_img_2/140-0623984-5742827?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B004PR49EM&pd_rd_r=72840f77-659a-43d9-833c-a681c840ad32&pd_rd_w=4y9No&pd_rd_wg=cmlwJ&pf_rd_p=256a14b6...

When people first start learning Braille, they often push harder than average (it's called scrubbing) and it wears out (the older paper) beginners Braille textbooks faster. Is the tolerances tighter to hold on better than the over-the-counter boards?

Not blind but work on improving accessibility. So I came across this article about making chemistry more accessible in a specific lab and they mentioned using fixed volume micropipettes with braille labels for measuring out drops of substances. I found these fixed volume pipettes on amazon that come in 50 microliter volumes which based on googling seems to be about 1 drop. There's probably other fixed volume micropipettes but those seemed cheap and usable.

I did some searching on the Play store and the first one I found that seemed to work OK with TalkBack is this:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.krazeapps.pythonprogrammingcompiler

From some searching, it seems like his device does have the play store and I assume uses TalkBack since it's Android.

Although I would like to ask, is his plan to become a programmer as a career? Or is this just a required class he has to get through and has no plans on programming again?

If he plans to program professionally, he really needs to be able to use a normal computer. While he could maybe get by with an android-based device, it would be very non-standard and there will probably be some software he needs that just can't be used on Android. So in my opinion, it would be worth learning how to use a laptop with a screen reader since it opens up a lot more doors for the future.

Thanks for the GOLD! This is the first time I've had this.

The ideas of affordances, constraints and feedback I learnt from the book The Design of Everyday Things.

Best wishes for success in your project. I hope you and your grandfather have some fun with this.

You can use whatever emulator and download the talkback APK and install it.

Or if it's a full-fledged emulator and you have Google Play up and running, grab it off there.

I have the brawn one: Braun Series 3 ProSkin Electric... https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00J05R9DW?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

I used to have the one with the three circles, but it kept on falling apart. This razor is easy to clean, and when you take off the head, it just comes off as one piece.

If you are looking for an accessible AM/FM pocket radio, I just picked this one up from Amazon and am really enjoying it:

PRUNUS J-189 Bluetooth AM FM... https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07H2XHPH8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share

Not only does it do radio, but also acts as a Bluetooth speaker with really decent sound, can take microSD cards or USB flash drives full of music, and my favorite part is that you dial in your station with actual tactile buttons instead of using a scroll wheel. I regularly use mine at SAP Center in San Jose when I attend Sharks hockey games, and I just set my radio up once to 102.1 FM, and it stays on that station after turning it off and on again at the next game, so no need to constantly reset it. The radio is rechargeable and comes with a charging cable and a replaceable Li-ion battery.

The only drawback is that it uses your earbud cable as an antenna extender, so depending on the signal strength, static can start coming through the radio, but I've only ever used that in the hockey rink with the transmitter in the building. Just setting the radio up normally and tuning to a terrestrial radio station sounds just fine both with and without earbuds, so I think my static and fidelity issues just come from the low-power transmitter meant to only be heard within the building.

It looks like VS Code has an Jupyter integration.

https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/python/jupyter-support

I've messed around in VS Code with a screen reader before and it atleast acknowledged that I was using one, so I feel like VS code is worth a try (I primarily work in Visual Studio unless doing some front end work).

I think the tape + rope will be your best bet, and I doubt the rope would be thick enough to interfere with the machinery you need to move around. But if you absolutely can't do that, you could try textured/grip tape. You can get rolls up to 8in wide. A good wide path of grip tape may suffice: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07SDD224K

You've had many great suggestions already, and I will add one that, if it is practical for you to do, might also be of help to him.

If all of your glassware is clear glass, consider picking up a few colored glasses. After knocking three glasses off the counter in one day (I am 20/400), I bought this set on Amazon:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0928MRM47/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

You can also pick up enexpensivveplastic glasses at the dollar store, or you might find some bargains at Goodwill. It might be worth picking up one or two of these for his visit and possible future visits!l.

I amin the process of slowly replacing all my clear glasses, but it is obviously different becauseI live here and will use them all the time.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.hostedgames.omnibus here is the hosted games collection the two games in particular I was talking about are missing wings and I'm not quite sure the title the other one I think it has the word casino in it though

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.oxothuk.puzzlefeedblind

Here's the other one

And I have a few others that might be of interest there is one that's basically just riddles

Similar vision here, but also a narrowed visual field in my right eye enough that I am also considered legally blind.

I use my cane. I started regularly using it earlier this year. Before that, I'd use it on occasions where I felt like it would help, like traveling alone, or going out at night.

I also keep a small flashlight with multiple brightness settings in my pocket in case I need light at night, since my visions' much worse in the dark, specifically this one. It's also handy if I drop something under my desk or things like that.

At restaurants with dim lighting, I'll ask to be seated in a well-lit area. If I need to, I'll use my phone to take a photo fo the menu so I can lighten it and zoom in to read the text. If the menu is online, I just use that.

I'll second that. It's easier on the joints and safer. I recently ordered this one and it's affordable, sturdy, has a comfortable seat, takes up very little space, and is easy to operate. It has a "computer" on it of sorts to monitor distance, pulse, etc. but you don't need it at all to operate it and there's a big, easy to find dial to adjust resistance. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09875FRMT

If he doesn't have them already, metal fidget toys are so much nicer than the cheap plastic stuff - find a couple of his favs and buy him solid brass versions of them.

This is my current fav: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08M92WK2T

I'm not sure if these would work for that type of screen, but I know some of my co-workers have used these for the touch screens for iphones, so clients can use them to locate specific things on the screen.

https://www.amazon.com/Loc-Dots-Keyboard-Location-Dots-Clear/dp/B00II5T80M

As a specialist, I buy the same things from the dollar store. You can also use cabinet bumpers (https://www.amazon.ca/GorillaGrit-Clear-Drawer-Cabinet-Bumpers/dp/B06XCGM8JT) like these or stick-on velcro if you need different textures. They also work well on microwaves.

Might try finding a FPV drone setup that uses a headset or your phone. I was thinking of trying a FPV drone using my phone in VR goggles to block surrounding light.

This one from Amazon is 100 bucks, but is a complete kit: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B087TGVJYM/ref=ox_sc_saved_title_1?smid=A3QTILSGJZUURE&psc=1

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Solo-Personal-Audio-Player-Bluetooth-Black-Yellow/dp/B07W6NKZL7/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2ZM0V35OCVTSN&keywords=kings+access+technology&qid=1653549433&sprefix=kings+access%2Caps%2C179&sr=8-3

I bought this one for my wife after she went through a couple of expensive daisy players. It's very basic and well built. It only has a SD card slot, no memory, But does resume play where she stopped so she doesn't have to find her place when she starts again. The company ships overseas, I'm in Canada and I think the total was about $120 Canadian.

i don't know much about the quality here, but there's a listing for a talking glucose meter with test strips, lancets, the whole nine yards to get started for only $24.99...

https://www.amazon.com/Embrace-Talk-Diabetes-Testing-Kit/dp/B0945GX114/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=talking+glucose+meter&qid=1652747600&sr=8-5

and another brand with a whole starter kit with travel case, same price...

https://www.amazon.com/Clever-Choice-Voice-Talking-Glucose/dp/B007JVQQRE

If you're using through the web browser, you can go to this link that is a portal to open directly Gmail in HTML. There is 2 links: one to the latest, one to HTML Gmail.

Gmail portal

Over the past month or so, /u/QuantumBadger and I have been doing a lot of work to create a pleasant, accessible Android (and Chrome OS, and Windows Subsystem for Android) Reddit experience for screen reader users. It's now available on the Play Store!

The app is extremely customizable, here are a few suggested settings changes for accessibility:

• Appearance:
  • "show comments button": disable for a cleaner swipe order on the front page (one swipe to move from post to post).
  • "show link buttons": disable to remove extra buttons that activate links at the end of comments containing them (links are focusable from the TalkBack LCM).
• Accessibility:
  • "separate body text lines": should be on by default now, but if you've previously used the client, you'll probably want to enable this, else long comments will run off the screen and TalkBack will stop reading in the middle of them.
  • "use concise language when possible": similar to Dystopia's option of the same name.

By default, long pressing a post or comment will display a list of actions (voting, replying, etc.), and double-tapping a comment is equivalent to Dystopia's "collapse comment". I've filed an issue to add support for "collapse thread" via a TalkBack accessibility action.

Over the past month or so, /u/QuantumBadger and I have been doing a lot of work to create a pleasant, accessible Android (and Chrome OS, and Windows Subsystem for Android) Reddit experience for screen reader users. It's now available on the Play Store!

The app is extremely customizable, here are a few suggested settings changes for accessibility:

• Appearance:
  • "show comments button": disable for a cleaner swipe order on the front page (one swipe to move from post to post).
  • "show link buttons": disable to remove extra buttons to activate links at the end of comments containing them (links are focusable from the TalkBack LCM).
• Accessibility:
  • "separate body text lines": should be on by default now, but if you've previously used the client, you'll probably want to enable this, else long comments will run off the screen and TalkBack will stop reading in the middle of them.
  • "use concise language when possible": similar to Dystopia's option of the same name.

By default, long pressing a post or comment will display a list of actions (voting, replying, etc.), and double-tapping a comment is equivalent to Dystopia's "collapse comment". I've filed an issue to add support for "collapse thread" via a TalkBack accessibility action.

Over the past month or so, /u/QuantumBadger and I have been doing a lot of work to create a pleasant, accessible Android Reddit experience for screen reader users. It's now available on the Play Store!

The app is extremely customizable, here are a few suggested settings changes for accessibility:

• Appearance:
  • "show comments button": disable for a cleaner swipe order on the front page (one swipe to move from post to post).
  • "show link buttons": disable to remove extra buttons to activate links at the end of comments containing them (links are focusable from the TalkBack LCM).
• Accessibility:
  • "separate body text lines": should be on by default now, but if you've previously used the client, you'll probably want to enable this, else long comments will run off the screen and TalkBack will stop reading in the middle of them.
  • "use concise language when possible": similar to Dystopia's option of the same name.

By default, long pressing a post or comment will display a list of actions (voting, replying, etc.), and double-tapping a comment is equivalent to Dystopia's "collapse comment". I've asked the developer to add support for "collapse thread" via a TalkBack accessibility action.

Over the past month or so, /u/QuantumBadger and I have been doing a lot of work to create a pleasant, accessible Android Reddit experience for screen reader users. It's now available on the Play Store!

The app is extremely customizable, here are a few suggested settings changes for accessibility: * Appearance: * "show comments button": untick for a cleaner swipe order on the front page (one swipe to move from post to post). * "show link buttons": untick to remove extra buttons to activate links at the end of comments containing them (links are focusable from the TalkBack LCM). * Accessibility: * "separate body text lines": should be on by default now, but if you've previously used the client, you'll probably want to enable this, else long comments will run off the screen and TalkBack will stop reading in the middle of them. * "use concise language when possible": similar to Dystopia's option of the same name.

Sure, here's the [Amazon link](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07RJXV5W8?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share]. I'm in the U.S. Also, there may be other locks for cheaper that still work, especially if you don't care about HomeKit. Good luck with your search.

You can get fit over Amber sunglasses, that fit over prescription lenses. This is the pair I personally wear.

https://www.amazon.com/Solar-Shield-Fits-Over-Polycarbonate-50-15-125mm/dp/B000LWJCJW/

If you don't wear glasses, there are ones that are much more stylish, that also work.

Look up ocular vitamins. They usually suggest ones with lutein, although I'm surprised your doctor wasn't a bit more specific.

I’m not your lawyer, or anyone’s lawyer for that matter. Now that this is out of the way…

This will be done by DDS. When you apply for disability, SSA only handles the initial application, and then, if you are considered disabled, the calculation/dispensation of pay. After SSA takes your application, they send it to DDS (disability determination service), which is a subcontracted agency local to your state.

First claims are often denied, but if you are determined statutorily blind, it’s unlikely you’ll be denied.

I recommend looking at the blue book, which is also called the listing of impairments. That’s the metric DDS uses to determine if you’re disabled or not. If you match the specifics of a listing, you’ll be deemed disabled.

Blue book can be found here:

https://www.ssa.gov/disability/professionals/bluebook/listing-impairments.htm

Knowing the medical evidentiary requirements can help a ton, because it helps you more adequately advocate for yourself. If you’re going to be seen by one of their doctors, it is definitely in your best interest to make sure they test you up to their own standards.

Also, I recommend this book for understanding the ins and outs of the whole process:

https://www.amazon.com/Nolos-Guide-Social-Security-Disability-ebook/dp/B085LTY1DF/ref=nodl_

Good luck. It’s a brutal process. The best thing you can do for yourself is to get educated about how everything works. It’s practically a full-time job in and of itself, but that’s the US for you.

Again, best of luck.

yes probably, that's the one thing that offends me. Just say they're more equipped to teach her because of her blindness. Also since "Handicapped" is a word out of the late 1800's, it's just old-fashioned. You could say "disability." [[https://www.slideshare.net/yourkamden/a-history-of-the-word-handicap-extended-by-keith-armstrong]]

While it would be nice for you to have a braille reader around to support you, it's certainly do-able to learn to read braille by yourself. I did it (without vision loss) myself, then again in a formal graduate class, and honestly it is not that hard. Since you still have some amount of vision, I would recommend "Handbook For Learning to Read Braille By Sight." It has leveled and structured lessons that make sense and are easy to comprehend, and it also has real braille practice pages that you can use to tactilely practice (which is what you really need).

https://www.amazon.com/Handbook-Learning-Braille-Sight-7-51450/dp/9991087354

Additionally, since I'm guessing you have access to the whole home delivery thing, I would recommend ordering some children's books in the 1st-2nd grade range. When I started, I ordered uncontracted braille to simply practice the letters (you can "filter" results by contracted/uncontracted to find what you need). Then when you've learned contracted, you can order some more kids books with a bit more of a challenge. This is what I would recommend so as not to burn yourself out.

As for reading the braille itself, you will need to learn the proper hand movements if you want to develop speed. The most efficient method is Scissoring. This is the video I used to learn how to do this: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=fbUmaUV02gg

As I learned, I also found that creating braille on a normal Perkins brailler REALLY significantly helped my memory of the symbols. It gave me a concrete way to DO my practice and for me, this is what really solidified it in my brain. Since you are VI you may be entitled to loaning a brailler from the library system.

Hope this helps!! I am a TVI so please do message me if you want to talk further!

Yep, I use NordVPN on Linux though, but close enough to Mac. Just download and install the nordvpn client available on their site, and in terminal anytime type:

nordvpn c COUNTRY

Replace with any country (or even city) you wish to route connections though, and that's it. Couldn't be easier.

I would definitely recommend you get them some fun sensory toys. You best bet will probably be any chewy toy so he can hold it and investigate it with his mouth. Plus since he is under a year all babies use their mouth as a main way of investigating something. I’ll link a cute necklace I found. Really any sensory toy is a great gift though as they grow!

Here’s a cute Dino sensory chewy necklace

There is a red glitter duct tape that’s a pretty nice deep red color. Amazon link: Duck Brand Glitter Crafting Tape, 1.88-Inch x 5-Yard Roll, Red (252504) https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00GO529JU/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_Z26HBFGQ4RY6S27PTTXV

You can search for different braille contractions on the Braille Contraction Lookup app, it has a list to browse, or you can search by braille cells, or you can search by transcribed letters. (Not sure how much if any sight you have, sorry if this suggestion isn't appropriate)

I would try something like embroidery, you can set it up for her to be larger and more tactile. Use cross stitch fabric that has a looser weave and a grid so it will be easy for her to find holes to stick the needle through. You can get a big plastic needle and thin yarn instead of embroidery thread to start. Start with something basic like the outline of a flower, something that will be easy for her to feel. Get her a needle threader or thread a bunch for her in advance.

Boye Plastic Yarn Sewing Needle Set, 2pc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07K7D2RS9/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_J18MJFRSG219S9D2RWDA

Here are two apps that will assist you with text on your Android device. Both links will take you directly to each app in the play store.

@Voice Aloud https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.hyperionics.avar

Lookout - Assisted Vision https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.google.android.apps.accessibility.reveal

I use NordVPN on Linux laptop, and it's excellent. They offer a "nordvpn" CLI tool, so I can just type into terminal "nordvpn c COUNTRY", specify any desired city or country, and it'll connect to its VPN.

Same would be for your Mac if you're ok with connecting via terminal. Not sure about the phone though.

I’m not sure how to do that on facebook, but if you want to use a screen reader to test it out to see what it would sound like, Windows has a built in screen reader called narrator that you could use. However, many more blind people use a screen reader called NVDA. It is free to download. Here’s the website.

https://www.nvaccess.org/

This is supposed to be a free, fully accessible graphing calculator. I have no idea how useful this is because I've never used a graphing calculator, but maybe others can chime in. https://www.desmos.com/calculator

hey you might be interested to know that edx web accessibility course is free and goes over much of this. There is also googles course which is also free.

It looks like Duolingo has Korean, https://www.duolingo.com/courses. The accessibility of the iOS app is pretty good with just a screen reader, so I would imagine that it would be usable using low-vision tools. It is also free to learn.

I use VS code for pythone and it works fine with JAWS. I did not try it with Java but it should work. it has number of key board commands which is helpful for screen reader users

link to download https://code.visualstudio.com/

Oh yeah, my brain is a bit shot today (my kid decided to wake me up at 3 AM and wouldn't let me go back to bed).

Upper and lower protective techniques are always useful skills ;) Did you guys need to get the Blue Book? :P (https://www.amazon.ca/Orientation-Mobility-Techniques-Practitioner-Foundation/dp/B00E31FYPI ) That was a required text for the Independent Living Specialists as well (ILSs are the Canadian equivalent of ADLs, I believe).

How common are induction cooktops/ranges in the US? I've seen them for sale in Canada, but I've never actually had a client who had one before. I believe they are quite costly.

Depending on how big the cane is when it's folded, he could use something like a water bottle sleeve with a strap, like this one: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B012S9FZL4

They come in a variety of sizes.

So I have really enjoyed the bible app that the church of Jesus Christ of latter-day saints has. It has tons of fount sizes and audio options. It is also available through an app and a web browser. I have found that it has the best note sync across platforms. It has some non bible books but there esey to ignore.

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.lds.ldssa

Can you get a wheeled carrier? This specific one is "up to 22 pounds" ELEGX Expandable Pet Rolling Carrier Backpack with Detachable Wheels,（13.6" Lx10.4 Wx19.1 H）, Plenty of Room, Collapsible, Breathable, for Medium Dog & Cat Car Seat Travel and Outdoor Hiking https://www.amazon.com/dp/B092D6MS2V/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_glt_fabc_WD657BANTAVRHG76SSS0?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Are you serious about not having heard of Rust? It's been considered the most loved language for the last few years on StackOverflow, and with good reason, as its dependency manager, documentation, performance, and safety are all top notch. Rust is like a spiritual successor to C and C++, and is a competitor to Swift when it comes to safety, but focused on zero-cost abstractions with strong static analysis instead of runtime protections. It also features a unique borrow checker that solves all kinds of memory problems at compile time, including concurrency problems that many people considered impossible to tackle statically, without affecting performance. If you really want to learn more, check out the side bar at /r/rust which is full of links to documentation, and of course, the official site. What I'm saying may sound a lot like overselling or hyping, especially the parts about safety and performance, but I swear that it's all true.

Ambutech has some but they’re expensive for what it is. I ended up buying some cloth straw pouches on Amazon. Cheap and works perfect in any of my bags so the dirty cane tip doesn’t touch everything. Measure your cane folded to make sure it’ll fit.

Here is the link to what i ordered.

I would recommend a "Cool Touch" oven guard. It clips onto the (ideally top) oven rack and is made of Kevlar/Nomex (some are silicone also), so it won't be hurt by the hot oven temperatures. It allows someone to brush up against the top rack without getting scars on their forearm (and yes, I have those scars) and gives them enough time for brain to say "ooh, hot; move away" and not "instant sizzle".

https://www.amazon.com/Oven-Rack-Guards-Touch-Extra/dp/B001QGIPG8

Marker dots would be the first thing, however.

Cool. Well I'm a total so can't help you with high contrast. But can play with any of the audio stuff if you'd like. But also probably could find others with some vision to test those parts of the app. Just message me a link or whatever works, and let me know if it's OK to share with others. You could also join or post to the Eyes-free Google Group It's a very busy group and it has its share of assholes but you could also get a lot of constructive feedback there as well.

There are lots of free poetry and audio books available online and you don't need an app for them:

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Librivox has lots of poetry: https://librivox.org/eighteenth-century-poetry-and-prose-collection/

I'm just going to leave this here.

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Addon developers had two years to prepare for this.

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https://kodi.tv/article/kodi-broke-my-addons

This may be helpful. It’s rechargeable and can be used as a power bank. They get reallly warm. You can put them on your desk and take warning breaks

Hand Warmers Rechargeable, 4000×2mAh Electric Portable Pocket Hand Warmer/Power Bank, Great for Outdoor Sports, Hunting, Golf, Camping, Warm Gifts for Women, Men https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08JZ34SXP/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_ZXEJCXCZQPYGV5XWVJMN

I'll start off with the item which inspired this post, the egg separator that my wife, /u/accessaces, prefers and recommends: https://www.amazon.com/Internets-Best-Separator-Breakfast-Strainer/dp/B01LZ5NHDA

It is nice and cheap but is reliable and easy to use. It works better with fresh eggs and you should always separate eggs one at a time into a small bowl and then transfer the whites to the larger bowl to avoid any chance of yolk contamination, or worse, a bad egg spoiling the whole batch.

Yes, it would only work for cyclists approaching directly from the front, not the sides or back. I think most frequent users use something like this for navigation.

Pellking Mobile Phone Chest Mount Harness Strap Holder Cell Phone Clip Action Camera POV for Samsung iPhone Plus etc https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0928DVLQN/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_TJA05S7FTWGKTC4R849B?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

Oh and before I forget, here is a link to a survey I made.

http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/XLEVY/

I don't expect you to answer it because we've covered quite a bit already haha, but if you know anyone who would be keen please share :) Also, I couldn't find a free tool to make one that I could customise for accessibility... Hope it's not a pain for anyone. Thanks!

No thanks, no need for it or interest in it.

If you are interested in voice recording, there are a lot of places where your talents could be helpful or entertaining to others. Librivox (which offers volunteer recordings of public domain books) is a great example, and their advice to beginners is excellent. Especially in your case, I recommend:

• Investing in a better microphone if you plan to do this as a hobby.

• Pre-reading the material so it comes out naturally when you record.

• Cutting down the "ums"!

With practice you will definitely improve.

Another idea is to do podfics, which is when you volunteer to read an author's fanfiction for them if that's something you'd like to do. There are many sites where people post podfics (such as archiveofourown.org) of every fandom and type of story imaginable. Some people have quite a following doing this, and you can pick materials you're really interested in.

I use mostly websites, but do use clients for Twitter and email. Reddit is very easy to navigate because I'm using the old version, and I know how to navigate by buttons. Those are inherently form elements, so you could use that too. I'm able to use Instacart on the web without any problem. The only problems lately have been payment processing issues on their end. I currently use https://simplerssreader.com for my RSS reader. I would also recommend https://theoldreader.com. If I'm going to use email via a web interface, I'll usually use a mobile/basic interface. I'm able to bank online successfully, without any problems.

Hey, we built it! If you would like to be a beta tester, please fill out this form: https://goo.gl/forms/7hMgW5SRoTEo5Cgx1

If you would like to be updated on the progress and launch of this project, please subscribe here: https://www.producthunt.com/upcoming/meme-recogniser

Hey, we built it! If you would like to be a beta tester, please fill out this form: https://goo.gl/forms/7hMgW5SRoTEo5Cgx1

If you would like to be updated on the progress and launch of this project, please subscribe here: https://www.producthunt.com/upcoming/meme-recogniser

Sighed or not, it's a pretty cool game. There's a browser version here, http://adarkroom.doublespeakgames.com/.

Thanks for pointing this out. I've played text adventures for years but wasn't aware of this one.

Some engines have what is called self voicing to refer to blind accessibility. Ideally you would have a voicover before even the title screen saying something like "press v now to enable self voicing". Having to navigate to enable it is a little self-defeating after all.

Here us the documentation on it for a popular engine renpy

NV Access sell training material and phone support in the US and Australia.

Narrator won't give you the required feedback for the speech recognition software. The main thing you'll be missing is that it won't tell you what text was just entered when you finish speaking, and it won't read you the windows that come up when you want to correct an error with your voice.

What I would suggest is get NVDA which is a free screen reader. On its own, it won't do much beter than Narrator, but you can get the Dictation Bridge add-on which makes it work better with dictation software - by making it speak what you dictated and any correction windows that come up.

Dictation Bridge supports 2 speech recognition apps. The first is the speech recognition built-into Windows which you can find in the ease of access settings. It's free and should be OK to get you started, though it's not very accurate. So if you're planning to do a lot of dictation, pick up Dragon Naturally Speaking which a few others already recommended here. It's not free, but will give you far better results especially if you take the time to train it.

Actually, you don't need anything special. All you need is a computer which has speakers or headphones and you're good to go. Only aditional software you'll need is https://www.nvaccess.org/ and it's completely free.

I use Emacs with some modifications I ginned up. There's something called Emacspeak which is kind of heavyweight and maximalist and hard to set up but which is really amazing for coding if you can sink the time into it. A lot of people like coding on Windows with NVDA and Visual Studio or Notepad++, there are ways of turning on the characters and having your screen reader read them.

Check out the NVDA developer's guide for a bit more: https://www.nvaccess.org/files/nvda/documentation/developerGuide.html#toc2

There are a lot of blind coders out there.

NVDA IS WONDERFUL!

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I am a sighted person, and this is my first post to this subreddit.

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This is also my first experience with NVDA. I downloaded NVDA to a public computer, and it can be used without installation! Most publicly available computers are password protected to activities restricted to administrators such as installation, but the program can be used immediately following download!

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This is also my first experience of Google Slides. I found that Google Slides did not appear to be compatible with NVDA, and have sent feedback to Google through the Help feature:

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"Google Slides do not appear to be navigable by NVDA.

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https://www.nvaccess.org/

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I don't know if the compatibility issue is inherent to NVDA or Google Slides, but individuals with disabilities of sight that depend on NVDA do not appear to be able to utilize Google Slides.

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Thank you for your consideration."

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With nvda on windows, pressing enter doesn't seem to remove the overlay. Also, both NVDA and the extension read out the caption. If it were me, what I would probably do is modify the alt-text of the original image that the user right clicked on, to make the alt text be equal to the returned caption. Then just play a small sound to signify that the work has been done. That way, the user can review the caption with his regular screen reader commands, without losing his place in the web page, or having to listen to a third party voice reading it.

Also, if the image contains text, your extension doesn't seem to indicate that at all. It would be useful, even if it couldn't do OCR, if it returned something like "Also contains text". Many screen readers (NVDA and JAWS at least) have a command to perform OCR on an image. However, that doesn't describe the image at all, just recognize text. So, for example, the first image on this page, when I OCR it with NVDA, returns: > Testimonial > > This is a test of the testimonial section. > > -- John Doe, US

When I ask your extension for a caption, it returns: > a close up of a person holding a wii remote

I have no idea where it's getting that; I'm totally blind myself. Never-the-less, the point of the image is the text. So a hint that the user should try OCR would be useful.

No, when my wife is home alone she often forgets to turn lights on for the dogs. Forgetting to turn on lights is pretty common for totally blind people. It's a good habit because if you can't tell when the lights are on you are unlikely to remember to turn them off. We now have some of the house lights automated and they shut off as part of the Google Home "Good night" routine, but that's mostly for the dogs.

As the sighted spouse I am frequently mocked for being "light dependent" though I turn on lights much less than most sighted people.

My wife and a friend once called "Be My Eyes" to ask someone to read the recipe off of a cake box. The person kind of fumbled and then eventually said in a cute Dutch accent "It is all black". My wife and her friend as well as the BME volunteer all had a huge laugh when they realized that they were making a cake in the dark. Once the lights were on the cake box was successfully read.

Hi! This article helped me this week. It’s from an app called “Be My Eyes” where people can look at things for you, for free, and she’s using it to run her business! I’m looking for ... things to improve my life too. Suicide is a problem. Feel free to PM me any time. We can strategize of vent!!

From Graphic Artist to Jewelry Designer

https://www.bemyeyes.com/community-stories/from-graphic-artist-to-jewelry-designer

If you are interested in creating a positive outcome for blind or vision-impaired persons, you could consider giving a "gift of self", rather than a gift of money. For example you could volunteer for "Be My Eyes", which is a global service in which typically sighted people volunteer to talk on the phone with a vision impaired person to describe things for them. You can learn more here: https://www.bemyeyes.com/. There are probably other volunteer things you could also look into. Just an idea for you. :) .