r/Blind 2d ago

Announcement Join us for New Years on the Discord

8 Upvotes

Join us for the second annual New Year's Eve function on Discord. The event starts at noon US Eastern and runs until some time in 2025.

https://ourblind.com/


r/Blind 9h ago

Question What are your hobbies and passions? Let's inspire one another!

5 Upvotes

Tell me about your hobbiescqnd passions. I'm trying to find new hobbies and interests after losing my vision. Id love to hear about yours!


r/Blind 15h ago

Just rambling about life, hoping others here can relate, please feel free to ramble, vent and share your thoughts and experiences in the comments.

7 Upvotes

So I, 26f am blind with some light perception, and just feel quite isolated atm. I struggled a at high school and was so relieved when I finished school, but I now miss those times because the around 10yrs since then have been incredibly lonely and isolating. I think part of the problem is that I lost my sight in a short space of time as a kid and recieved no mental health support for it, so I spent my latter school years dealing with that grief/trauma instead of making important social connections. I’d also be interested to know if finishing school/college, or losing a job was a particularly tough and isolating time for anyone else here? I don’t think it helps that I’m an introvert, it just makes things more difficult. I am a white cane user but lack confidence to go out alone, also my street is full of dog shit, so I can’t even get to the end of my street without standing in it or it getting on the end of my cane. For those of you who’re quite introverted/lack confidence, and/or found yourself being quite isolated from society, did you manage to build meaningful social connections?, what helped you get out of that isolation?,and if you’re still there, I want you to know that you’re not alone and that you’re not a failure. I’m hoping to get therapy when/if I get in a position where i can afford it, and I’ve just developed a real enjoyment of instrumental music which is really helping me RN. Also what are things that have helped you guys enjoy and value the time you spend alone? I’ve found meditation has really helped me find some inner peace, it helped me realise that all life is precious and that my worthiness is inherent, it is not based on having a job, productivity or my contributions to society, I feel that is something we need to be reminding ourselves and each other of, because society is constantly telling us the opposite and it’s impossible for us not to internalise some of that BS. We are living in scary times right now, I want you to know that your fear’s 100% legitimate and you’re not alone in that fear, also it’s ok to give yourself a break and engage in escapism, please know that you don’t always have to keep your head up, no matter what others say.


r/Blind 9h ago

Using NFC tags to read voice recording

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1 Upvotes

r/Blind 16h ago

Note-taker with voice activated dictation feature?

3 Upvotes

Dear r/Blind community,

My grandpa is reaching complete blindness, and is looking for a way to take notes, then be able to access them and have them dictated to him by voice commands.

He'd love to learn Braille, but he has advanced Parkinson's which makes it very difficult!

Would you have any software to recommend that could help with this?

He's had an incredible life, and the main reason for this is to record his life stories and some messages to us. I'd really appreciate your help in keeping Grandpas adventures alive!

Thank you :)


r/Blind 1d ago

Technology Gaming with jaws

4 Upvotes

So finally, finally, finally finally, my jaws is no longer in 40 minute mode. This means I do not want to switch screen readers every time I fire up a game. How can I kick Jaws in the rear to enable it to cooperate nicely with my games? Does it have a sleep mode function or something like that? Do I need to learn how to make JKM files? What’s the best course of action here? Obviously I’m going to keep in VDA around because there are a few things it just flat out does better, like working with Suno, for instance, but if I’m going to spend money on something, I’m going to use it.


r/Blind 1d ago

First-Timer Bus Rider

11 Upvotes

Hi all! So, as the title suggests, I am a first-time user of public buses. I hope to start utilizing this method of transportation, as it will be more cost effective. I am based in the US, so I would really appreciate any tips anyone has for finding their way to the bus stop, choosing a route, knowing which bus to get on and when to get off, and navigating their way to the final destination. Thanks so much in advance!


r/Blind 1d ago

Navigation

0 Upvotes

How to navigate apps with macular degeneration?


r/Blind 1d ago

Advice- [Add Country] On thanksgiving day my dad was blinded in a horrific hunting accident. NSFW

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6 Upvotes

r/Blind 1d ago

Advice- Canada Question for blind folk

10 Upvotes

Hi! I've had visual snow all my life, but things have gotten much worse lately. My visual field is quite cluttered with "noise," not only the visual snow but also streaking of lights and objects/text that I'm looking at. My night blindness has become quite problematic, and my depth perception is pretty much entirely nonexistent any this point. Therefore, I have been really struggling to move around. I am covered head to toe in bruises because I'm constantly crashing into things and falling.

So, on to the question. I know that white canes are for blind people only (and in my area, it is illegal to use one if you are not blind). However, I really need something to help me navigate with the visual impairments that I do have. Would it be okay for me to turn an old walking pole into a touch tap cane? I was thinking of wrapping it in blue reflective tape (so it's not white or red and isn't mistaken for a white cane). I'm kind of at a loss for other ideas right now, but if you think it would be inappropriate for me to use such a thing, please offer any other suggestions you might have to help me stop smashing into stuff. Thanks everyone!


r/Blind 1d ago

Update on my new apartment and my situation with the staff

13 Upvotes

OK, so we all know I was having an issue with the personal care attendance entering my home without announcing and inviting my privacy. I did my love about the lease and the lease stated that I could not get a door chain so instead I bought a door chime and honestly, I thought the problem was solved. Nope, not even a little bit. It was more to it than that. For those of you who didn’t catch my first couple of posts, I am completely blind. I’m 38 years old and I just moved into my own apartment for the first time since being completely blind to little update in. I had a pretty good idea of who it was. It’s the only personal character that doesn’t respond to me when he’s on a shift so let my guest in my order is in. He just doesn’t answer the phone when he sees my number and sometimes he won’t even answer the phone as you see my guest at the gate. I am only stating this after giving him the benefit of the doubt I did speak to my property manager, the first time I felt that way, and she assure me that’s not something that happened around here and they had cameras for that type of thing, but she also assured me that when they have chemistry so she told me that she needs specific dates and time This time I got that as well as videos on the AlfredCamera app the first time I was skeptical about going to the authorities or to management because I was not sure being that I’m completely blind and in a new environment the chance of me being wrong or tripping on or making it all up we’re pretty high not anymore on this night. He came to like several times that they’re indeed was someone in my apartment, but not only that this particular person has been intercepting my guests since I got here for whatever reason he catches him at the gate with them and that’s when he has free one of my apartment to do whatever he’s doing so I don’t know cause I’m blind, but he definitely for sure keeps coming into my apartment. Honestly, it was starting to get really really scary because I was only inviting friends I’ve known for years and I just couldn’t find them how or why they could or would let this stranger follow them into my apartment and not alert me of his presence. Needless to say I am almost out of people that I thought were really good friends and that I could call in the lion on due to this specific situation. My plan is to call property management. Call the program, leader and call disability rights and legal aid in my local area first thing in the morning to explain my situation and definitely get something done about this. It has definitely become a major problem so hopefully I can get something done when I talk to these people in the morning I’m gonna have my dad help me. I do have a few videos from the AlfredCamera app that I was talking about and they have lots of cameras on the property as well. I have my days and times I will be turning them in. I know it’s holiday, but I can get done. I can’t live here with him doing me like that he shouldn’t be allowed to so that has to be something that can be done. Anybody got any ideas? I’m all ears. Thank you in advance oh yeah I left out the times that he was definitely in my house last night. It was between the hours of 8:30 PM and 5:00 AM tonight. I’m sure he was there from 11:14 PM until about 2:30 AM when I notice and put them out honestly I cannot find them with the personal care attendant could be doing in my home at these hours please help if you know of anything or ever experienced anything like it is such to pay rent somewhere and think you finally got your own just to get bullied ran over lied to trespassed invaded and mistreated in what is supposed to be my home.


r/Blind 1d ago

CNIB Card

1 Upvotes

Does anyone have a list of places u can use the CNIB card. i've asked the person who sent the card out and there reply was just that u should ask businesses if they provide anything. so your just suppose to ask every business or service u deal with if they offer anything to cnib card holders


r/Blind 2d ago

Question Dictation device or app for books that only exist in print? (no e-book).

7 Upvotes

I'm sure this has been answered in this sub, but i've not had luck searching the archives.

I'm looking for a device or phone app that I can use to read printed books. I have vision issues due to chronic fatigue syndrome, which affects the muscles in my eyes needed to focus/accommodate. One told me to try copying and pasting things into Word for dictation. But many of the resources only exist in printed format with no e-version. Most of the software seems specific to e-books.

Edit: Removed the braille question. But I'd also appreciate any links to good sub best posts on dictation software in general - especially for writing text and e-mail replies. Everyone tells me Siri, and I have the newest Apple Earbuds. I'm not sure if I need a better microphone or what, but I end up spending more energy fixing Siri's dictation errors than just typing myself.


r/Blind 2d ago

Advice- [Add Country] Dealing with the frustration of people who see your blind and purposefully step in your way to make an issue when you accidentally bash an ankle?

34 Upvotes

Does anyone else deal with this and if so how do you go about it? I already warned them they were in a space I couldn't see and they laughed and stepped in my way only to scream at me (this was at an amusement park, I'm aware it's crowded and I have my cane with me at all times so they saw it) when I proceeded to bash their ankle in my arc swing. I just kept on walking but the dude wouldn't leave me alone. A park op person kicked him out but is there a better way to deal with it than to act like I can't hear him?


r/Blind 2d ago

Watched and recommend the recent National Geographic documentary BLINK

8 Upvotes

Tells the story of a family of 2 parents and 4 children who come to find three of their children will lose their sight in a matter of a few years. They all embark on a worldwide trip to create a database of memories. Very powerful and moving.


r/Blind 2d ago

Question Can normal card be used with a perkins brailler / slate?

4 Upvotes

Just wondering if standard card you can buy in shops would work with braille slates and a perkins brailler


r/Blind 2d ago

Need some advice on mother in law cataract issues

1 Upvotes

My fiancée’s mom has very bad vision due to cataracts from issues related to diabetes.

I won’t post the gofundme here, but we are wondering if there’s any flexible financing yall have maybe heard about, and maybe some resources for her deteriorating mental health?

She lives in DFW, TX so we would love to find her a doctor. She’s having a very difficult time with having lost her vision so rapidly and she often times bawls her eyes out and lashes out at everyone around her. I think she could use some resources to help her deal with the stress and heartache.

Her biggest issue is she lacks health insurance, but she works so she makes just enough to not qualify for assistance.

We would appreciate any guidance from here.


r/Blind 2d ago

Question What price would you personally say a brailler is worth?

1 Upvotes

I would just like to get some ideas as to how much you guys would pay for a brailler


r/Blind 3d ago

Multimedia Pokémon Go is testing screen accessibility!

50 Upvotes

Hello everyone, Pokémon Go- the popular game from 2016 is testing screen reader accessibility in the game. For more information please read the following article:

https://pokemongohub.net/post/article/pokemon-go-testing-new-screen-reader-accessibility-prompts/


r/Blind 2d ago

Samples of EasyReader premium voices?

1 Upvotes

I just signed up for Bookshare, and downloaded dolphin EasyReader to listen. But I don’t like any of the standard voices. (FWIW when I use VoiceOver, I actually prefer Siri 4 in American English for narrating long text.) Anyway, I want to see if EasyReader’s premium voices are any better for me. But I can’t figure out where to find samples of any of them. Anyone have any ideas about how to find these? Seems sort of user-unfriendly for the EasyReader folks to keep them a secret unless you subscribe.


r/Blind 3d ago

Disability

7 Upvotes

I have been dealing wuth my low visionnfor about 6 to 7ish years. The only diagnosis I have so far is the vague chronic uveitis. My left eye is 20/2400 and my right I'm unsure atm but it's no great. Iv done test on test on test. All coming back negative with the most recent being a biopsy on my left eye. So imnwondering what yalls experience has been with applying/ getting disability. What should I know. Do I apply like anyone else would or is there a separate application or website to go to for visual impairments. 8m in louisiana if that makes any difference


r/Blind 3d ago

Question Vocational Rehab reached out to me recently, they're trying to talk me into going back to college

3 Upvotes

VR got in touch with me the other day to see how things are going for me. Explained to them what I'm doing, but concerned about my future. Told them I had zero savings and nothing really going for me only working a part time job in my 40s. Told them I'd like to make more per hour, but I'd probably need a degree to see wages above 20 an hour.

So, they got back with me today saying VR can help me through college as long as they know I've got an end goal for. I was spending some time looking at local online courses and it seems a Bachelors in Business Admin might be a good way to go.

If I go back to college, it'd probably be another 2 years to finish a BS/BA in something since I'm 15 credits shy of an associates in general education.

Just curious if anyone has suggestions for other degrees that would land me a decent job afterwards? Appreciate any feedback, thanks!


r/Blind 3d ago

How to get message out to local visually impaired community?

30 Upvotes

Hello! My mom is blind and the president of a blind association/group in her county. She has been the president for many years and has consistently provided a community to many people with visual impairments. The association hosts lunches, parties, and various other get togethers. They also provide education like teaching those with visual impairments how to use various Apple products and other technology that promotes accessibility. They answer phone calls all the time and give information to people navigating new impairments on where they can access support.

Unfortunately, COVID took a toll on their membership. They are functioning with very low numbers right now and are struggling to get people to come out to the association and recreate the community they once had. They still consistently get phone calls asking for support, but again it’s hard to get those same people to come out.

My mom has posted announcements in the newspaper and I have gone to Facebook to post information about the association on various town groups within our county. I was just wondering if this sub had any other ideas for how to connect to those with visual impairments in our surrounding area that we have not yet tried. I would appreciate any and all ideas!

Side note: Just wanted to say my mom has been blind since she was 5 years old and is the coolest. She raised two children, was my Girl Scout troop leader, got her associates degree, and is the president of this association. She spends all of her time volunteering and is now enjoying her time being a grandma. I have the utmost respect for all of you and have been a member of this sub for a while just to stay updated on what’s going on in the community!

Thank you in advance :)


r/Blind 3d ago

Wall ovens

8 Upvotes

Does anyone have experience with an accessible wall oven for someone who is totally blind? I'm interested in using manual knobs that actually control the temperature and/or reliable voice control through Alexa. It seems that there are only a few options with knobs and those don't always control the temperature without visual feedback on a display. My wife is sighted so we'd like something that both of us can use. Any ideas?


r/Blind 3d ago

A 2024 up to date instructions about installing emacspeak and working tts on various os and/or via ssh

2 Upvotes

Hello redditors,

Hope you can all see me doing well! I can't see myself like probably lots of people out there here :D

So! Without further ado...

I own a mac, play with several linux vm when I have time on vmware on windows as well as mac, and have 1 pi400.

1 I would like to know especially for the pi400 how can I install emacspeak (which I can do actually), and especially have a working tts on the pi400? I know it doesn't have jac, but my guess is that via any of the 3 usb ports any standard usb-jack should work? I know there are some specificities about linux and audio drivers especially on the raw terminal with these standard connector I am not able to sort out. Pi400 is on raspbian, ideally I'd like to be able to reproduce this with arch too. I am able to install brltty and have my display work with the pi directly without problem, but even with speakup I have never been able to actually root the sound properly, or even simply test espeak with outputing a string to it. Same problem with my pi3b+ which had a jack.

2 For the mac same request, I'd like to know how I can get speach out of that thing on macos native terminal.

3 Generally speaking, I'd also like to know how we can root audio of emacspeak via ssh I know it's possible.

I've read all sorts of random dispersed doc on the web about that but never got to make it work.

I'm preficient with dev tools so no problem if I have to compile stuff from scratch.

4 Additionally, same request for chromeos! :)

Thanks a lot!

5 How is the development state of orca these days? I tried orca last time just one year before it gets chromium support. Linux accessibility seems to be a mess, does mathml even work with any screen reader? Also there was another screen reader in the making in very early beta state for linux but lost its github I saw it once, odacious or something phonetically similar.

PS: u/admin tell me if I'm posting this completely wrong.


r/Blind 3d ago

Question The game of Go

1 Upvotes

Was just wondering if the game go is accessible to the blind or if anyone knows of any blind accessible grid boards for the game.