Do you wonder if blindness will prevent you from being a good gardener? Jan is the go-to expert for indoor and porch gardening at the Carroll Center One morning a coworker came to me, “Jan, I need your help.” I turned from my computer, expecting something needed to be filed or electronically retrieved. “I was given […]
Read more "Saving Fern: from contributor Jan Peccarrari"
Another guest post from Janet Pecorari, who lives in a second floor apartment with a small balcony. This does not stop her from being a keen indoor and outdoor gardener. This post is about growing parsley from seed. It could be adapted for other seeds such as the tomato and egg plants in the photograph. […]
Read more "Planting Seeds for Summer, a Guest Post from an Apartment Gardener"
When you first lose vision you may not want to go near the TV set or the movies for a long time. You miss the faces, the expressions and the action too much. And it is horrible having to keep asking what is happening or where the ball is. After some years this may change […]
Read more "Do You Know when Your TV Shows Are on? Do They Have Audio Description? Or Are You Still in the Dark?"
What does each kind of video magnifier do? Who can get good use from them? Where can you get one? How much will you pay? I interviewed Bob McGillivray, Director of Low Vision Services at the Carroll Center and Low vision Engineering Consultant to the Mass. Commission for the Blind. First what is a video […]
Read more "Video Magnifiers: An Expert Leads You Through The Maze"
It is March and the snow continues to drizzle down. We all wish it was spring, but why not take advantage of the snow to make your houseplants happy? You can use snow for watering and even feeding houseplants. Snow melt may give plants extra nitrogen, and certainly avoids the chemicals used to treat […]
Read more "If Life Gives You Snow, Water Your Houseplants!"
Do you have any of these in your home? ~ Steps and stairs without railings ~ Clutter and unorganized spaces ~ Tripping hazards such as cords running across the travel paths ~ Corner of a bedspread drooping onto the floor ~ Furniture in the travel path so you have to turn sideways to get through The Safe […]
Read more "A Hazard-Free Home for Seniors with Vision Problems: the Safe Home Project"
The Good Old Money folding system This works best if you have a long slot or pocket in your wallet that will hold the 6-inch bills unfolded. There are alternative folding systems but here is a good one: The $1 is left open and unfolded either in a front pocket for easy access for tips […]
Read more "Organizing Your Cash By Touch: Part 2 of Identifying Your Money, The Good Old Money folding system"
How to use Be My Eyes After a short and simple registration, you tap the screen to connect to a helper, and then point the camera at whatever you need read or explained. What is different about this crowd sourcing app from previous ones like VizWiz is the voice connection with your helper. Your helper […]
Read more "Be My Eyes: A New App For a New Kind of Public Assistance!"
This is a great step forward. Finally the U.S. government has been made to acknowledge that all its citizens need to identify paper money. But is it worth having another tool in your pocket? There are other ways to identify your money. This week the electronic methods and next week the good old money folding […]
Read more "Hey, the iBills Are Coming! But Will You Use Yours?"
Since 2001 there has been a cyber revolution in how books are read by everyone, especially people with vision problems…but the old ways are still there and still good, and most people start there. How can I read a book now? You may be able to read enlarged or highly contrasted print on a large […]
Read more "How to Read a Book: the Twenty-First Century has Revolutionized Reading for Everyone"