When was the last time you did something simple, and it had a profound difference in your life as well as someone else’s?

This holiday season, consider something new for the family – Audio Description movies.

The blind community have been enjoying movies on the big screen and through their library where the action and settings of scenes and frames of the movie brings the story to life.

My first experience of one such movie was Finding Nemo at an assistive technology event for youth.

My second experience was watching and listening to Star Wars: The Force Awakens.

Wow, what an experience. It was better than watching it for the first time. I was experiencing it with a group, a couple of people being blind, one with some light perception and another with no light perception.

After the movie, we had a group recap of what we liked about the experience, didn’t like, and whatever else we wanted to share.

As this was my first experience in the movie with the descriptive headset. First, we went to like the concierge desk, requested the headset, then signed our names on a ledger with the headset number.

Obviously we assisted those who were unable to complete the ledger themselves.

My experience was:

On the internet, you can find more information on this:

As an But for blind and low vision audiences, these visual effects are often left a mystery at best unless there is audio description.

Also on

· acb.org – American council of the blind

· nfb.org - National Federation of the Blind

· your state Assistive Technology center

· you local library or national library for the blind

· National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled

When was the last time you visited your local library?

For me, it was prior to the pandemic and working full time.

Throughout the years, I’ve visited the local library for book, books on tape and videos.

Recently I visited the local library for the visually impaired, blind, and print disabled community.

Though I knew about the library, I didn’t know about the services for the print disabled and learning disabled dyslexic community being serviced.

I recommend you check out the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled for a friend, family member, or for yourself at:

https://www.loc.gov/nls/about/eligibility-for-nls-services/talking-books-reading-disabilities/

Download the application at:

"Applications for service are available on your local network library website or can be found below (PDFs) for individuals (in English and Spanish) and institutions. Once downloaded and completed, please print out, have it signed by a certifying authority, and mail to your local network library."

Leave a comment on this introduction to the library services, what caught your attention, or what services you have used that you found/find helpful.

Thank you for listening and make it a great day.

Kathy

Are we asking the right questions, or , is this question offensive?

Talking with sighted people, people we can see, don't see, or can not see.

Such as On Zoom vs WebX, or talking to someone who has low sight or no sight.

Language we use, questions we ask, with our family.

Language we use, questions we ask, at work.

Language we use, questions we ask, with friends.

Language we use with someone with physical disabilities.

Language we use with someone who has low vision to no vision.

Language we use with our doctors, specifically eye doctors.

I'm looking inside at how I ask questions to those with disabilites and how they might feel on the receiving side.

Let me know your experience. Like this podcast and share it with a friend. Thank you.

Where do you begin to learn about resources when you or your loved one loses their eyesight? 

Two websites, acb.org and nfb.org, are great places to learn about resources for those in the low vision to no vision community. There are many ways to connect: phone groups, chats, and activities such as game nights.

As one begins experiencing blurry vision, connecting with like situation people makes the process less frustrating.

Start here for an introduction into navigating the low vision and blind community world.

Next, like this podcast and share it with a friend who knows someone who has a fear of losing their vision. Resources are the key to connections!

Alt is short for alternative, only when is the alternative a shortcut. This is explored in a short audio lesson of less than 7 minutes. An example of less is more, less time, more content.

No need to contact me at [email protected] to let me know how much you enjoyed the podcast, just like it and share it.

Short cuts help us get from point A to point B faster, especially if we know how to use them.

The computer keyboard key Ctrl, often found at the bottom left corner of the keyboard, is short for Control. When combined with the letter S, it allows one to save the current document. The top of the keyboard also has shortcuts, allowing one to mute, increase, or decrease the volume of the speakers.

This short tutorial includes popular and not-so-popular shortcut key combinations using the Ctrl key.

Life lesson: Control your life rather than letting your computer control you.

Speech to Text (STT)  and Text to Speech (TTS) are becoming mainstream for those with visual disabilities. By the way, what is worse, saying visual disabilities or blind community?

Those who don't understand me, try understanding my assistant Alexa! She explains this in her words.

Seeing.ai is a life-saver for those with low vision to no vision. This podcast is an introduction into that app.

For more information on this topic or other types of resources for those struggling connecting with their vision loss, have a friend or loved one send me a note at [email protected].

Help -> Assisstance -> Assistive Technology -> Accessibility -> What is it going to take to make our lives easier? I go through each step within the Ease of Access on the Microsoft computer.

If you need assistance in setting up your accessibility features, contact [email protected].

Redirecting this podcast. If a person has a heart attact and survives heart bypass surgery, are they the same person?

If one changes their business perspective, are they and their business the same as before the change?

We look at what it takes so our audience hears our message. It's not about me, though I use personal examples, it's about us!

Defining Macular Degeneration central vision loss then exploring what we are not seeing in our business that is missing.

Join The New Technology in Macular Degeneration Webinar Wednesday, 5pm PT at https://bit.ly/2WNKRsO