Gift Guide for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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Gift Guide for the Blind and Visually Impaired

With the holidays right around the corner, we’re bringing you a gift guide for the blind and visually impaired! If you’re looking for a present for someone who is blind/visually impaired or you’re looking for a few things to add to your wish list, we’ve got you covered! We also have a wide range of prices and categories for everyone on your list!

Small gifts and gestures with a big impact

Braille cards

At the beginning of the year we featured these amazing Quilled cards with braille! If you’re looking to send a holiday card, why not grab a braille holiday card for one for your blind and visually impaired friends?

Offer a ride

A gift doesn’t always have to cost money. If you can drive, offering your blind or visually impaired friend a ride can have a huge impact.

Help a friend sign up for Libby

Another free gift idea! Do you have a friend who loves to read? The Libby app is through your local library where you can download ebooks for free. Small gestures can have a huge impact, and helping someone who maybe isn’t as technology savvy download and use the Libby app is a great gesture.

Gift Cards  

Uber gift card

An Uber gift card is not only practical, but it is something you know your blind or visually impaired friend will love! 

Audible Gift membership

For someone who loves a good audio book, you can’t go wrong with an Audible Membership. With a monthly subscription, you get an audiobook credit each month. And they have almost every book you can imagine!

Technology  

Google home

One product that we love at WSB – a google home! Google homes are great to make your entire house more accessible. We talk more in depth about how to use a Google Home in your kitchen in this post. You can go with a google home mini for a more affordable option as well.

Tiles

We’ve talked about Tiles a few times on the WSB blog, but they are certainly worth a mention on the gift guide! Tiles attach to any item and then you use an app on your phone, when triggered, that creates a beeping sound on your item to help find it! We love Tiles for traveling or even trying to find your keys!

Charging bank

As people who are visually impaired and blind, we use our phones a lot. A portable charging bank is the perfect gift to ensure you never run out of battery.

Sunuband

A more extravagant gift but if you’re looking to give someone a new piece of assistive technology, a SunuBand is a great choice. If you’re feeling charitable, you can even gift a SunuBand for those in need! SunuBand is a wearable device that can help detect objects in the way. We even have a great tutorial on how it works here:

Bluetooth headphones

Bluetooth headphones are everywhere these days, and we can see why! They are the perfect tech accessory for those who use VoiceOver, JAWS, or NVDA. With Bluetooth headphones, you won’t have to carry around clunky wired headphones. And they come in a wide variety of kinds now from airpods to over the ear headphones.

iPhone SE

Another gift on the pricey side but an iPhone SE is the perfect gift for someone in need of a new phone. iPhones are accessible right out of the box! (Simply go to settings > accessibility and turn on VoiceOver or enlarge the text or you can simply ask Siri to turn on Voiceover). And if you know someone who needs help learning about their new technology, be sure to check out our Online Fundamentals Courses! WSB offers an Assistive Technology fundamentals course that can help new assistive technology users.

Apparel

Eyeswear apparel

There are so many great Etsy shops, but one of our favorites is Eyeswear Apparel! The slogan is “Blindness Advocacy with a twist!” Eyeswear Apparel features a wide variety of items with great, funny slogans! The shirts feature a print saying with a different brailled saying underneath (which are normally very sarcastic and humorous!).

Check out our CEO, Sharon Giovinazzo, wearing one the shirts!

Sharon wearing a face mask with a halloween smile with a black sweatshirt that reads “blindness is a spectrum” with braille font underneath

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Grief and Vision Loss

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Grief and Vision Loss: How to cope and how to help a loved one

With vision loss comes a lot of grief. At WSB we work with many clients who have lost their vision later in life. Whether they’ve lost it in the past few years or have had vision loss for years, it is still an extremely difficult process of grieving the loss of your vision. Today on the blog we wanted to bring you some tips on how to cope with vision loss and how to help those who may be grieving the loss of their vision and how you can help.

How to cope with grief and vision loss

1.     Be Patient

The grief process is different for everyone and can take as little or as long as you need. Be patient with yourself. Take things one day at a time. 

2.     Learn about your vision condition

It might be helpful in your grieving process to learn about your vision condition. This can help when you go to the doctor so you can ask any relevant questions.  

3.     Don’t isolate yourself. Talk with someone you trust

Isolation is one of the biggest detriments to those who have lost their vision. We covered the effects isolation can have on the blind and visually impaired back in March with the pandemic, but social isolation is a big problem for the blind and visually impaired community during normal times. Reach out to someone you trust and let them know how you are feeling.

4.     Seek professional help

There is no shame in seeking professional help. Counselors can help provide tools and ways to process grief.

5.     Know you are not alone. Connect with peers.

There are so many different groups you can connect with. Whether it is an in-person group or online, there are many different ways to connect with others who are going through the same thing. There are so many Facebook groups you can join or you can read books by people who have gone through something similar.

6.     Start small

When you are dealing with grieving your vision loss you don’t need to do everything at once! Start with small tasks like learning to make a simple meal for yourself. During this time, it is especially important to be nice to yourself.

What you can do to help those with vision loss

1.     Listen

One of the most important things you can do is listen. While you may not be able to give any concrete advice, providing a listening ear can be one of the most helpful things you can for someone who has lost their vision.

2.     If they are new to vision loss, help them find resources to help

The person experiencing vision loss may be feeling overwhelmed, lost, and scared. Reaching out and helping them find resources to help (when they are ready) is another great option to help those grieving their vision loss. Vocational Rehabilitation can be a great resource to help someone get back to work, or even attending a program at WSB! We even have a wide variety of social work services available to clients who are grieving their vision loss.

3.     Be Patient

The grief process is different for everyone. Be patient with those who have lost their vision. It may take them weeks or months to adjust to a new way of living. Give them the grace and time to process what they are going through.  

4.     Ask Directly how you can help

The person experiencing vision loss may not know what to ask for or want to ask for help. By asking directly if they need a ride or need help going to the grocery store, you are giving them concrete things you can help them with.

If you or someone you know is struggling, we have also compiled a list of resources to help on our social work services webpage.

Physical Fitness Tips for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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Physical Fitness Tips for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Physical fitness is important for everyone. But it can be especially hard for the blind and visually impaired community. You, or someone you know, may not know how to participate or how to do so safely. And don’t get us wrong, there are so many barriers for the blind and visually impaired when it comes to working out. From transportation, fear of getting hurt, or financial, there are plenty of reasons why people may not partake in physical fitness. But at WSB, we want to encourage everyone to get fit even if that means going for a small walk around your neighborhood! So, here are some tips to get you started if you’re looking to incorporate some physical fitness into your life!

1.     Find an online program

Be sure to check out the United States Association of Blind Athletes! They provide resources and even online group challenges you can take part in on their Facebook page.

There are also so many great YouTube videos and online programs you can try. From yoga to HIIT, there is a wide variety of workout programs you can try. Yoga With Adriene is a great beginner-friendly yoga practice, while not specifically made for the blind and visually impaired, is a great option. There are also audio described only workouts on BlindAlive, a great resource for all kinds of workouts.

2.     Find an exercise you like

If you’re new to exercise (or sick of the exercise you’ve tried!), try something new! There are so many ways to get exercise from walking around the block to yoga to even a high-intensity workout. Try as many as you want until you find something you really enjoy.

Overview shot of the WSB gym

3.     O&M instructors can help

Did you know if you are a student on-campus at WSB you can use the UALR gym for free? We also have a gym facility on campus! And our O&M Instructor can help you get started at the gym if this is your first time going into one with low vision or blindness.

4.     Grab a friend

Working out with friends is a lot more fun! Friends can help keep you motivated. But sighted friends can also be great guides if you’re looking into running or walking.

5.     If you go to a group class, let your instructor know

Letting your instructor know that you need a bit more description in the class will probably not only benefit you but everyone else in the class!

6.     Join a group

This advice might be good for post-pandemic workouts but joining a group is always a great strategy! At WSB, we have a weekly running/walking club with volunteer guides. Be sure to look around in your city to see if you have a group of other people who are visually impaired or blind workout groups.

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Blindness in Literature: Best Nonfiction and Fiction

Blindness in Literature | Nonfiction & Fiction

We’ve talked about Content Creators who make videos or podcasts on the blog before, but we’ve never mentioned literature that has blindness as a theme! There is a wide selection of books all about blindness and low vision whether you’re looking for an inspirational tale or an escape to a fictional world. Almost all are available as audiobooks so you can enjoy them in any format.

1.     All the Light We Cannot See

First on our list of must-read books is All the Light We Cannot See. A nonfiction story based in Germany and France during WWII is a New York Times Best Seller. The novel tells the story of a blind French girl and a German boy trying to survive during the War. This book will certainly get you hooked!

2.     The Story of My Life – Helen Keller Autobiography

Her autobiography is a classic nonetheless, but we couldn’t help but mention it! You’ve probably heard of the Miracle worker, the play and movie adaptation of Helen Keller’s autobiography. Helen Keller was an author, activist, and lecturer. She was a pioneer in advocacy for those with disabilities. We highly recommend her autobiography for anyone interested in disability advocacy and history. 

3.     Molly Burke Autobiography

A very modern autobiography, but we had to mention the Audiobook by Molly Burke. Molly Burke is a motivational speaker and YouTube sensation. Last year she released her own audiobook on Audible. She depicts her story of losing her sight at 14, and thriving, with such honesty.

4.     Lion’s Story by Roy Kumpe

We couldn’t have a list of books without mentioned WSB’s Founder – Roy Kumpe! This book tells the history of Arkansas Enterprise for the Blind. It’s a great look into the history of Lions and World Services for the Blind! You can purchase it on Amazon (and while you’re there, why not donate using our wish list!).  

5.     Now I see You

Now I See You is a memoir of a woman who lost her sight due to retinitis pigmentosa. Nicole Kear battles at first with her vision loss but eventually, she uses humor to tell her story of accepting her vision loss and still living her life to the fullest.

6.     Thunder Dog: The True Story of a Blind Man, His Guide Dog, and the Triumph of Trust at Ground Zero

An inspirational tale for all the dog lovers! Thunder Dog tells the story of Roselle, the guide dog, leading the way during September 11th at the World Trade Center. While Michael couldn’t see what was happening, he was able to trust his guide and be led to safety. This story details the heroism and trust that goes into a guide dog pair.

7.     The Unseen Trail

For most people, blind or not, hiking the Appalachian trail might seem impossible. Michael Hanson is not the first blind person to hike the Appalachian trail, but he is the first to use only a GPS and trekking poles to do so!

8.     Touch the Top of the World

Another inspiring tale! In this memoir, Erik shares his pursuit of pushing boundaries and push past the limits. While Erik lost his vision at the age of 13, he is pursuing a dream to hike all of the world’s Seven Summits (something only a few hundred have done!).

Have you read any books about blindness that inspired or touched you lately? Let us know in the comments!

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The Benefits of Being Blind or Visually Impaired

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The Benefits of Being Blind or Visually Impaired

On the WSB blog, we’ve talked a lot about tips and tricks for people who are blind and visually impaired. But one thing we haven’t touched on are the positives of being blind and visually impaired! This is a lighthearted post but we wanted to highlight some of the positives of being blind or visually impaired.

Here are our top 10 benefits of being blind and visually impaired: 

1.     The Community

One thing we hear from our graduates all the time is the sense of community they gain when they come to WSB. What people may not realize when they lose their sight is that they gain a community! The blind and visually impaired community is always there to help. There are so many different (virtual this year!) conferences, events, and groups you can be a part of if you haven’t found that community just yet.

2.     Taking Your Dog with you everywhere

Guide dogs bring so many benefits. But one big plus, if you have a guide dog, is that you can take your dog everywhere with you.  

3.     Never have to be the designated driver

Don’t worry about not being able to drive home after a few drinks. You’ll never have to be a designated driver as someone who is blind or visually impaired!  

4.     Travel perks & Discounts

There are plenty of travel perks for the blind and visually impaired. At the airport, you can skip the long security line and you can board the plane first! In our last post, we mentioned you can receive discounts for public transportation, which is definitely a plus.

5.     Unique View of the World

Being a part of the blind and visually impaired community gives us a unique view of the world (literally!). It’s estimated that only around 2.4% of the United States adult population is blind or visually impaired, which means our view of the world is even more unique!

6.     Read in the dark

If you’re a braille user, you can read in the dark! This also leads us to our next point…

7.     No need to worry if the lights go out!

If you ever lose power, no need to worry as a blind or visually impaired person! We’ve got the tools to travel in the dark.

8.     People more willing to help you

This benefit is especially helpful when traveling but if you’re a cane or guide dog user and you look lost people are more willing to help you.

9.     Better Listener

Whether you lose your sight later in life or have been blind or visually impaired your whole life, listening becomes even more important.

10.  Don’t Judge a Book by its cover

Unlike a lot of people, the blind and visually impaired community don’t judge people based on their looks because most of the time, we can’t see them! Based on our other benefits, like being better listeners, we are able to gain a better first impression of someone instead of basing it on how they look.

What are some of the benefits for you as someone who is blind or visually impaired? Let us know in the comments!

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Public Transportation Tips for the Blind and Visually Impaired

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Public Transportation Tips for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Using public transportation is a way of life for the blind and visually impaired community. In today’s blog post, we’re sharing tips on using public transportation as a blind or visually impaired person. Many of these tips can also be great if you’re traveling as a blind or visually impaired person but we’re bringing them up again in ways that can be especially useful for public transportation. Many of these tips are specific to the United States but they can still be applied if you are reading from another country!  

1.     Different kinds of Public Transportation  

There are several types of public transportation from buses, trains, paratransit, and even using rideshare services. Most cities have some kind of fixed bus route or train system while rural areas may not but it always worth looking into. Another option for public transportation is paratransit, which we will touch on later in this post. For getting farther distances without flying or using expensive rideshare services, Amtrak trains and Greyhound buses are a great option.  

2.     Discounts  

Did you know that public transportation offers (often pretty hefty!) discounts to the blind and visually impaired? Each transit system is different on the discount, for example, Little Rock Region Metro offers half-price 10-day or 31-day passes, whereas, in Atlanta, the fare for the metro and buses only costs $1 per ride, which is over a 50% discount. Each city is different and has different requirements but most require a form filled out by a doctor to gain access to a discount pass. Amtrak and Greyhound also have discounts for those with disabilities. If you are taking Amtrak or Greyhound, be sure to call to order your ticket to get the discounts as the website often does not work for the discount.  

3.     Plan ahead  

We’ve talked about the importance of planning ahead on the blog before, but it is critical to plan ahead when you’re taking public transportation! From knowing where the closest bus stop to your home is to what bus to take, it can take time to plan a trip using public transportation. Knowing what bus/train you need to take is important when traveling using public transportation. This not only helps you but can allow someone at the station to help you get to the right train or bus. Tricks like using street view on google maps before you go can help you identify where to go beforehand or if there are even sidewalks available, if you are low vision. But thats brings us onto our next tip…

4.     Download google maps ahead of time  

Google maps of specific locations have the ability to be downloaded so you can use the map of your city or town offline. It even shows you the bus or train stops in your area! They even have created detailed speaking directions if you are walking somewhere specifically for the blind and visually impaired.

5.     Download mobile apps for the train system you are using  

Many public transportation systems have apps you can use to help know when the bus/train will arrive, maps of the system, and even help with planning the best route!  Make sure you download the app before you head out so you can get the most out of your trip.

6.     Don’t be afraid to ask!  

While public transportation doesn’t provide the help that an airline might, there are still people at the stations who can help you find which train or bus you might need. Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you are lost! Many people are willing to help whether you’re looking for the bus or train.

7.     For Greyhound, print ticket beforehand.  

Greyhound has very specific guidelines for tickets. Make sure when you book your ticket beforehand that you print the actual ticket and not just the confirmation page. They won’t let you board if you just show the confirmation page.  

8.     Let your uber driver know ahead of time  

This might be a controversial tip and certainly one that is a personal preference, but when requesting a ride, you can let your uber driver know ahead of time that you are visually impaired/blind. This allows the driver to know that you might not be able to see them pull up or which car to look for. You can also just let them know where you are standing, whether it’s outside a specific store or at a specific corner.  

9.     Orientation and Mobility training  

If you’re moving to a new city or just need help to understand the public transportation systems, Orientation and Mobility training is a great option. WSB offers Orientation and Mobility training to those who receive training on-campus but Orientation and Mobility instruction can be provided through your local Vocational Rehabilitation services.  

10.  Paratransit  

Paratransit is available in cities with fixed bus/train routes for those with disabilities. Paratransit is available to those who are not able to use the fixed bus or train routes in the city. Paratransit allows you to schedule rides and they will pick you up and drop you off at certain locations.  

What is your favorite mode of transportation? Let us know in the comments!  

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Disability Pride Month | Americans with Disabilities Act 30th Anniversary!

July is Disability Pride Month and this year is the 30th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act!

image by ADA National Network (adata.org) Image description: Red and blue text logo ADA 30 with stars around the year 1990 - 2020.

With July ending, we would be remiss if we didn’t have a post celebrating Disability Pride Month! This July is not only Disability Pride Month but also the 30th anniversary of the American with Disabilities Act! Disability Pride Month was started as Disability Pride Day to commemorate the passing of the Americans with Disabilities act in 1990. It has since turned into a whole month with the parade taking place in cities all over the United States. You can learn more about the ADA here.

“The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart." – Helen Keller

For Disability Pride Month, we wanted to share what Disability Pride means to our clients and staff at WSB. Below are several quotes from clients and staff on what disability pride means to them.

Disability pride means accepting the disability that a person has and making the best of every challenge.

“People are always going to bring you down, but it’s up to you if you let them.”

As a totally blind individual, I have encountered challenges and obstacles through life. Even though life is challenging, (and disability even much more so), we all have the ability to use our disability to keep us down, but we also have the ability to let our disability help us by allowing ourselves to be heard by the public. After all, no one can help those with disabilities if the person does not explain what is going on.

-Joshua G., WSB Client  

            “To me, disability pride means not being ashamed of the disabilities you have and living your life despite them. No one goes into life asking to be disabled, but those who take pride in their disabilities mean they acknowledge that they have disabilities, but they refuse to let them dictate what they are able to accomplish. People with disability pride see obstacles as challenges to overcome, and they face them with little or no complaints.”

-Austin N., WSB Client

“Blindness is a gift. It provides a different perspective of the world. I judge people based on their personalities, rather than superficial visual details which are not important in the grand scheme of things.”

-Christopher W., WSB Client

“I am not ashamed of my disability nor does my disability define me. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

-Keith W., WSB Instructor

When I think of disability pride I think of diversity.  Being proud of who you are and the obstacles you had to overcome to get where you are. No one asks to be different, but everyone is in one way or another.  It is the ability to appreciate the differences in others who don’t think, act or look the same as you. 

-Jerri-Ann M., WSB Assistive Technology Instructor

What does Disability Pride mean to you?

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If you have any topic you would like us to cover on the blog or are interested in writing a guest post, please contact Development and Communications Manager, Lee Rogers, at lrogers@wsblind.org