Taking Bows – RDPFS partnerships take off
American Printing House officially rolled out its Getting Started guide, a resource for those who are new to vision loss. APH “recognizes that we live in an ever-changing world” and right now people… may rely more heavily on virtual support systems.” Recognizing that reality, APH is providing the guide in a number of formats, including social media and apps, with more to be added. Those seeking information can reach out via the APH Information & Referral Line (800.232.5463) or at [email protected]. On the Getting Started page, APH acknowledged its partnership with RDPFS as follows: “The American Printing House for the Blind is honored to partner with the Reader’s Digest Partners for Sight Foundation to share the 2020 edition of Getting Started with you. We hope you will learn valuable information and gain the knowledge you need to get started on your journey.” Getting Started is available in English and Spanish. To see complete information, go to Vision Aware.
RDPFS, working with the New England College of Optometry, was the lead supporter for “Eye Care for Patients with Intellectual Disability or Neurodevelopmental Delay,” a series of six videos and two brochures posted just this week on Orbis’s Cybersight pages. The videos, which include How to Refract and Preparing for Surgery, “give eye care providers from all over the world access to materials which will provide them with the background, need for, and approach to eyecare for individuals with intellectual disabilities or neurodevelopmental delay.” Follow this link to view the videos.
How COVID-19 Changed Accessibility
The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) announced the release of the Flatten Inaccessibility research report, a survey of the experience of individuals who are blind or low vision at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. The survey sought to determine how people were affected in areas including transportation availability, healthcare, access to food and supplies, employment, education, and voting. Conducted by AFB in collaboration with 16 organizations working in the blindness community, the survey addressed “concerns about the quality of life for those most affected by community and public policy responses, such as reduced public transportation options, the quick transition mandating employees work from home, and school closings.” Use the link above to read the results.
Employment
Opportunities & Obstacles: Life On and Off the Job for Employees with Disabilities, was released in April by the Families and Work Institute. Two percent of the respondents self-identified as employees working with vision loss. Key findings from the report were that while employees with disabilities report a strong degree of job satisfaction and engagement, they are more likely to experience disconnectedness in the workplace and a greater degree of job insecurity than the general workforce. Employees with disabilities are also more likely to have responsibilities for caring for elderly or disabled family members. The study is wide ranging and data dense. To read the full report, look here. On and off the job .
Laundry Help – two ways.
Procter and Gamble and Be My Eyes are collaborating to offer specialized help with their laundry products Tide, Ariel, Gain and Downy. P&G representatives are on hand with advice from detergent selection to stain removal. Just tap on specialized help in the BeMyEyes app, then on home and cleaning to access the service. For clean, soft clothes.
Laundry Lens, available for free on the app store, gets rave reviews like “I wish I had this tool for the last several years when I have mistreated several garments by not being able to understand the care symbols.” Browse over 70 symbols, learn their meanings, and even search by description. Point the camera at the care label, and hear the care instructions for your fabric. Laundry Lens is free and accessible with VoiceOver.
Mark Your Calendars
October 19 1-3 p.m.
The Museum of Art and Design in New York has an online verbal description tour where visitors will “gain an understanding of the materials, processes, and concepts that drive innovation in the fields of art, craft, and design.” Tours include a virtual studio visit with a current artist in the museum’s Artist Studios program. To find out more go to verbal description tour.
October 21 4-5 p.m. EST
Changing the Way We See: A Vision for Children with CVI, is a live presentation on Zoom about the “emerging movement across education, medicine, neuroscience and parent advocacy, to reach more children with CVI.” The virtual event, co-hosted by Perkins School for the Blind and Hunter College School of Education is Free, but registration is required at In Action
For Macgyver Fans
Dana Elcar, who played Peter Thornton (the boss) on the original Macgyver series, didn’t start out with a vision loss, but embraced it at work. When he received a diagnosis of glaucoma in the 1990’s, he simply incorporated his own blindness into his role, adding dark glasses and a white cane to his character’s everyday persona.
Celebrate
Today is World Smile Day. Think of something that lightens your load and :).
