New Friend and Program to Teach Sewing and Crafting to People with Vision Loss

Over the past year during the pandemic, the American Council of the Blind (ACB), a national consumer group for people who are blind or visually impaired, has held Community Calls where people can connect with one another and often learn something along the way. I’ve enjoyed these calls so much that I learned how to … Continued

How One Craftsman Uses Woodworking to Depict His Vision Loss

Alan Shrebtienko not only has an artistic vision, he’s starting to use his art to reflect his vision loss – sharing what he is, and what he isn’t, able to see with those who might never otherwise understand.  National Crafting Month in March is a great time to showcase Alan’s work, which tied him for first place in the craft category of the 2020 APH InSights Art competition for artists who … Continued

Netflix and Chill? Making Home Entertainment More Accessible

Technology Enhances Date Night At Home This Valentine’s Day – or any date night in the near future – many people won’t be going out for fancy dinners or to the movies, given the risks and restrictions related to COVID-19. But there’s no reason not to plan a special celebration at home enjoying your favorite movie or TV … Continued

Blind Dating While Gay

Unless you are lucky enough to have met your significant other in a traditional way like in a church, a social circle, or club; like many of us, you may have turned to online dating. What I will talk about in this article can certainly apply to anyone of us, straight or gay, but sometimes the latter presents some interesting challenges. Here are … Continued

Inspire Your Heart with Art Interview with Lynda McKinney Lambert

Observed on January 31st, Inspire Your Heart with Art Day is a time to think about how art affects your heart. Lynda McKinney Lambert, VisionAware peer advisor and award-winning artist, poet and author, is just the kind of artist that this day epitomizes.  Lynda doesn’t let vision loss hinder her creativity. She has taught classes in writing and art in Austria, Italy, the Czech Republic and … Continued

Including Yourself in a Faith Community as a Person with a Visual Impairment

When you lose vision, at first it might feel like you are unable to participate fruitfully in a faith community. Whether you’re new or a long-term member, some aspects of congregation life that you’ve always taken for granted can suddenly feel uncomfortable as a worshipper with blindness or visual impairment. Who’s saying hello? What are … Continued

A Tactile Roadmap to Help You Learn to Use an iDevice

Do you have one of those new iDevices? That’s right. Those marvels of technology that are supposed to do almost anything. Everyone is constantly telling you how great their smartphone or iPad is and all of the fantastic things that they can do with it. But you can’t imagine how they are doing it. After … Continued

Searching for Those Elusive Magic Glasses

What Are Magic Glasses? Show of hands or better yet, clap if you like to make fundamental changes in the way you do everyday, daily living activities! Are you one of those folks who relish the idea of throwing away the computer mouse and trackpad to rely solely on keyboard shortcuts to do your work? … Continued

Camping with Low Vision

Editor’s note: As spring begins to blossom, our thoughts turn to enjoying the outdoors again after the winter months. Beckie Horter talks about the joys of camping, listening to the call of animals, and sitting by the campfire….Enjoy! Grab a lawn chair and come sit by the campfire a while. The night is cold, and … Continued

Smart Speakers: How They Can Help People with Vision Loss

In a very short period of time, a whole new genre of devices has evolved called, "smart speakers." It started with the Amazon Echo a couple of years ago, spread to the Google Home, and now, there is the Apple Home Pod, the Sonos One, and more. The major differences are in the sound quality, … Continued