Articles

The holidays are here and gift giving is a tradition that is celebrated by millions of people. We gather with family, fill our bellies with good food, and exchange neatly wrapped presents with the people we love. Ok, not all presents are wrapped neatly, but it’s the thought that counts, right? Although a lot of […]

Voting. All Americans have the right to have their voices heard.  With election season around the corner, we want to highlight a few ways for individuals who are blind or visually impaired to cast their ballots. Before we talk about the options available to you, it is important to highlight several laws that ensure individuals […]

Submitted by Mitchel Hansen, Certified Orientation & Mobility Specialist All travelers need to know where they are and where they are going. This is called “orientation.” Everyone routinely uses one or more basic methods to set up and define relationships between themselves and the objects or space around them, in order to keep track of […]

What is white with a touch of red, and is a basic Mobility tool allowing great independence for blind travelers? Yes, it is the “long cane.” Its white color is exactly the feature that makes it effective during outdoor travel. People understand what it means, and that fact can lead to increased safety for cane […]

When you walk, you probably notice a series of small yellow domes in a grid pattern on sidewalks. While these may seem like an aesthetic choice, they are there to help those living with a visual impairment safely navigate their surroundings. What is Tactile Paving? These patterns are called tactile paving (also known as ground […]

The white cane. A tool that many who are blind or visually impaired rely on to navigate their surroundings. While at first glance, these canes might look the same. However, they are many variations on the simple white cane that allows users to safely navigate the world around them. Here are some of the different […]

Books can transport you to new worlds, help you learn about new topics, and expand your way of thinking. Vision loss can make experiencing those stories a struggle. However, adaptive technology makes it possible to enjoy your favorite stories. Here are a few ways to read books with a visual impairment: Using Magnifiers and Screen […]

Video games are a great way to transport players to new worlds and tell new stories. However, video games are a very visual medium, while also needing fast reflexes, good hearing, and great vision to be able to play. These can make it hard for those who are blind or visually impaired to interact with […]

If you noticed a rubber band when you filled out this year’s US Census, we had a hand on that band. The rubber bands are part of the AbilityOne program, meaning that we have the rights to sell this product to the federal government. Mike Blake, the product manager for the rubber bands, oversaw progress […]

Social Media is a great way to connect with family, friends, and people all around the world. It’s how we celebrate important moments in life, and also, cat pictures. However, social media platforms were not designed to accommodate those with visual impairments. In recent years, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter rolled out features dedicated […]