While we hope that the medical profession can help those of us with vision problems, realistically, many of us like myself are beyond medical assistance (I have Advanced Dry Macular Degeneration and cannot read normal text) and have to work out our own aids to make life tenable.

    I hope to get suggestions from people who are outspoken but buttress their comments with facts as much as possible. Also, helping each other is infinitley more important than making points.

   Immediately below, are vision aids developed by and for Macintosh computers. I know they work, I use them all the time, and I am quite dependent, particularly upon the first one, which is conversion of text to speech. It enables me and anyone else to “read with your ears” any newspaper, magazine, websites, email, etc, as long as it is on the computer.

   I understand that there may be comparable programs involving Microsoft, but I have never seen them. I would welcome anyone familiar with them to send me details about them, so I can print these also for those who only use IBM compatibles. If they require additional software, please name the software, the source, and the cost. Incidentally, there are no additional costs in using the Macintosh (aids) assistives.  

Select SPEECH:

Select TEXT TO SPEECH:

Click SPEAK SELECTED TEXT WHEN THE KEY IS PRESSED

Click SET KEY

Hold COMMAND OPTION and press S to set combination

Text to speech is now enabled.

To use this feature, highlight text and press COMMAND OPTION S.

The computer will speak the selected text back to you.

____________________________________________________________________    

SPECIAL PERSONAL COMMENT:  

I am especially disturbed by the fact that some of the outstanding eye research institutions in the United States, have in their low vision departments, a wide array of hand held aids (assistives), but IN A MAJOR SENSE, ABDICATE THEIR ROLE IN IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE OF THEIR PATIENTS. They do not teach patients how to have their computer’s read to them for reasons which I cannot fathom or accept. I find this infuriating. Some of these hand held devices which generally do what they are advertised to do, may be priced from $1700-$2370. They are clumsy and awkward to handle, and while portable, provide very limited reading assistance. If any of you know of organizations which do show their patients how to have their computers read to them, whether it be with Microsoft or Macintosh or both, please send us information concerning who they are, their phone number and email contact information. They deserve special meritorious mention, upon confirmation. 

It would also be greatly appreciated if any reader can contribute ideas and suggestions relating to visual aids (rehabilitation). I would be particularly interested in respondence knowledgeable about what is being done in Europe and Asia.  

_______________________________________________________________________ 

Visual Aid ( Assistives links) 

                  . Low Vision Coping Resources

                  . The Macular Degeneration Partnership

ORGANIZATIONS

                   . Association for Macular Diseases

                   . Foundation Fighting Blindness

                   . The Macular Degeneration Partnership

These organizations publish newsletters of value. Subscriptions are approximately twenty to twenty-five dollars a year, and all are non profit.

OLLI HANDOUTS

                   . New multiple assistives- Europe

                   . Many new assistives-Europe

                   . Vision Aware- Johns Hopkins

                   . Apple Accessibility

                   . Adaptive Technology Resource Page

                   . AssistiveWare Newsletter

                   . Assistive Podcasts and Videos

                   . Visio Voice

                   . Audible Audio Books

                   . International Society for Low Vision

                     Microsoft Accessibility

                  . Microsoft Guide for Aging Computer Users

                Guides by Impairment

 As this is the first blog in this area, all constructive criticism is welcomed. Another blog will be prepared when there are pertinent things to say and show.

Herb Halbrecht

herbzh@gmail.com