For someone with normal vision all their lives, experiencing low vision may be terrifying, depressing, and cause self-isolation. It is not easy to reach out for help in this area as some may have difficulty in explaining their vision loss and what they actually can and cannot see properly. There is help available.
Who Can Help
John Murphy
North Resident
717-464-6169
kb2rif@hotmail.com
John used adaptive technology as a Purchsing Agent in a hospital setting. This allowed him to continue working while legally blind for over 20 years.
He can offer help in the following areas:
Low or No Cost
- Some simple no cost solutions would be; change the contrast to high contrast black, change the font size; change the brightness settings and your existing devices.
- OCR (optical character reading) text to spoken words.
- Introduce National Library Service talking books. John can show how to become a member, download books to pc and extract, order cartridges, or use an Iphone for audio reading. This service is provided free of charge, for anyone who experiences difficulty reading because of visual, cognitive, or mechanical (mobility or physically holding a book) issues. Many residents could benefit and may be unaware of the service.
Software
- To assist those experiencing low vision, John would open his apartment to allow the resident to try low vision software on his PC.
- Installed on his PC is ZoomText, offered by by Freedom Scientific. There is an annual subscription cost. The software allows for screen enlarging, change in video contrast, and screen reading in certain applications.
Devices
- Amazon Alexa demo and explanation to show how it can be used as a personal assistant, listen to music, as an information source, and to control lights and outlets in your residence.
- John can show how mobile phones may have built-in accessibility features such as voice to text and other features.
- Show closed circuit tv for magnification, changing contrast and reversing to black background and white letters.
Other Resources
John can help those get further assistance by contacting Vision Corps, located in downtown Lancaster. Services they offer include; evaluation and training, low vision medical referrals for evaluation and possible medical assistance and low vision therapy, mobility training, low vision evaluation of the home and appliance tactile marking, residential layout and suggestions for efficiency and safety and adaptive technology and technology training.