National Resources

Read all National Resources or jump to the categories using the following links:

 

ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY/DEVICES and PRODUCTS

Accessible Cell Phones for the Blind

The purpose of the page is to provide a brief overview of the various solutions available for blind and low vision cell phone users. In general this site will stick to providing a general rather than detailed overview without much opinion offered, leaving it up to the person who is interested to pursue further research on their own. When opinions are given, they are just that, opinions. Cell phones are defined in the broadest terms, something that can provide voice communications in a small portable package.

Visit Accessible Cell Phones for the Blind website

Accessible Products Hotline

Consumers with vision loss will no longer have to spend hours searching for products that fit their unique accessibility needs, thanks to the launch of the first-of-its-kind Accessible Products Hotline by Envision. The new hotline, 316-252-2500, is staffed by trained customer service representatives who are blind or visually impaired. Learn more at:

https://www.workforceforall.com/Accessible-Products-Hotline

Assistive Technology for Visually Impaired Adults

Available products from Perkins aid in independent living for the blind and visually impaired. Visit Assistive Technology for Visually Impaired Adults website

ClickAndGo Wayfinding

This information has been taken and we have compiled additional adaptations that meet the specific needs of the blind and deafblind, and are now able to provide non-sighted travelers with customized “mobility-friendly” walking directions.

Visit ClickAndGo Wayfinding website

Enhanced Vision

A leading developer of assistive technology for the visually impaired including Macular Degeneration, Glaucoma, Cataracts, Retinitis.

 

Independent Living Aids

 

Jewelry in Braille

Jewelry designer and artist Kelly Fehr has been creating art since she was a small child. Always drawing, painting and wanting to make the world a prettier place lead her to pursue a career in art.

 

National Federation of the Blind Free White Cane program

 

Sonokids – Accessible applications and games for blind children

Here you find games and fun centered around sound and music, all for free.

Southwestern Eye Center

Blog article titled "Low Vision Devices for Macular Degeneration: Reviews, Cost, Comparison" 

Visit Low Vision Devices for Macular Degeneration: Reviews, Cost, Comparison
 

The Braille Superstore

They have tons of Braille books and cool products to choose from; so grab a cup of coffee, relax, and take a quick tour.

 

The Low Vision Store

Free product catalog

 

The Mountbatton Brailler

The Braille and early computer literacy solution.

 

Vision Aware

 

Vision Technology

Vision Technology® revolutionizes how people with low vision engage with essential, everyday activities and improves their quality of life.

 

INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES

All Hot Keys — Keyboard Shortcuts Everything

This site increases work speed. Want to know how exactly the site is going to do that? Hotkeys. They are also called keyboard shortcuts, or “Magic keys”. All this means one – using hotkeys will increase speed of your work. So, we’re going to collect and list all software hotkeys available.

 

Braille Authority of North America (BANA)

The mission of the Braille Authority of North America (BANA) is to assure literacy for tactile readers through standardization of braille and/or tactile graphics.

 

Consumer Affair Eyeglass Review

The Consumer Affairs team developed a buyer’s guide all about purchasing glasses online. The guide was created to help consumers find verified reviews, compare brands and determine which online eyeglasses best fit their needs.

 

Directions for Me

Your one stop source for accessible packaging information. Directions provides the information that is on consumer packages or labels in an online format for anyone who has trouble reading the small print including people who are blind or visually impaired.

 

Non-24

Learn about a chronic circadian rhythm disorder that affects 70% of people who are totally blind.

 

Resources & Fun Activities for Visually Impaired Children

Fun activities for today’s youth.

 

Statistical Snapshots

Relying upon the most recently available data, this regularly updated site is always evolving and should answer your most frequently asked questions.

 

The Braille Bug Learning Website

A fun way to become familiar with Braille.

 

The History of the White Cane

Learn about how the use of white canes for people with low vision and blindness became a thing.

 

Vision Through Words

This is a blog with poetry and short essays by visually impaired and blind people, for blind and visually impaired people.

 

Visionaware.org

A free, easy-to-use informational website for adults with vision loss, their families, caregivers, healthcare providers, and social service professionals.

 

We Connect Now

They are dedicated to uniting people interested in rights and issues affecting people with disabilities, with particular emphasis on college students and access to higher education and employment issues.

 

SERVICES

Audio Description Project

Involves the accessibility of the visual images of theater, television, movies, and other art forms for people who are blind, have low vision, or who are otherwise visually impaired. It is a narration service (provided at no additional charge to the patron) that attempts to describe what the sighted person takes for granted — those images that a person who is blind or visually impaired formerly could only experience through the whispered asides from a sighted companion.

 

email2phone

Delivers your email as high quality phone messages.

 

Enable Savings Plan

Savings accounts for individuals with disabilities.

 

Music for the Blind

Lessons for over a dozen instruments demonstrated and explained totally “by ear” in everyday language.

 

Newsline for the Blind®

Would you like a newspaper with your morning cup of coffee? The service handles thousands of calls each day for individuals across the country who now access daily newspapers and magazines via landline or cell phones.

 

The Global Voice

This site brings together an international team of blind and sighted broadcasters, producers and radio journalists to present for you a wide range of entertaining and informative programs.

 

Through the Looking Glass

A nationally recognized center that has pioneered research, training, and services for families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability or medical issue. TLG is a disability community based nonprofit organization, which emerged from the independent living movement.

 

WRBH 88.3 FM

WRBH 88.3 FM began as the dream of a local mathematician, Dr. Robert McClean. Dr. McClean was blind, but he had a vision: a reading radio station that would operate on the FM dial (rather than on sideband frequencies which require special radios to pick up the signal), with strong programming content that would change and improve the lives of blind and visually impaired persons who wanted to lead productive, fulfilling lives in their communities. He leased airtime from WWNO, then bought the 88.3 FM signal and rented space from the Lighthouse for the Blind facilities in New Orleans.

 
 

SUPPORT GROUPS

Audio Description Project

Involves the accessibility of the visual images of theater, television, movies, and other art forms for people who are blind, have low vision, or who are otherwise visually impaired. It is a narration service (provided at no additional charge to the patron) that attempts to describe what the sighted person takes for granted — those images that a person who is blind or visually impaired formerly could only experience through the whispered asides from a sighted companion.

 

email2phone

Delivers your email as high quality phone messages.

 

Enable Savings Plan

Savings accounts for individuals with disabilities.

 

Music for the Blind

Lessons for over a dozen instruments demonstrated and explained totally “by ear” in everyday language.

 

Newsline for the Blind®

Would you like a newspaper with your morning cup of coffee? The service handles thousands of calls each day for individuals across the country who now access daily newspapers and magazines via landline or cell phones.

 

The Global Voice

This site brings together an international team of blind and sighted broadcasters, producers and radio journalists to present for you a wide range of entertaining and informative programs.

 

Through the Looking Glass

A nationally recognized center that has pioneered research, training, and services for families in which a child, parent or grandparent has a disability or medical issue. TLG is a disability community based nonprofit organization, which emerged from the independent living movement.

 

WRBH 88.3 FM

WRBH 88.3 FM began as the dream of a local mathematician, Dr. Robert McClean. Dr. McClean was blind, but he had a vision: a reading radio station that would operate on the FM dial (rather than on sideband frequencies which require special radios to pick up the signal), with strong programming content that would change and improve the lives of blind and visually impaired persons who wanted to lead productive, fulfilling lives in their communities. He leased airtime from WWNO, then bought the 88.3 FM signal and rented space from the Lighthouse for the Blind facilities in New Orleans.