12 Favorite Tech Apps and Gadgets
We sat down with several Hadley staff members and asked them about their favorite tech tips, apps, and gadgets. Whether you consider yourself a tech expert or novice, the group recommends a variety of high-tech and low-tech options that fit your comfort level and interests.
Hadley Presents
12 Favorite Tech Apps and Gadgets
Presented by Ricky Enger
Ricky Enger: Welcome to Hadley Presents. I'm your host, Ricky Enger, inviting you to sit back, relax, and enjoy a conversation with the experts. In this episode, Hadley staff join us to share their favorite impactful and accessible technology. Welcome to the show everybody.
Jennifer Ottowitz: Hey.
Tiffany Mpofu: Hey.
Douglas Walker: It's good to be here.
Steven Kelley: Hey everyone.
Ricky Enger: Wow. This is amazing. I can honestly not think of anything better than spending time with a few of my favorite people and discussing one of my big passions, which is technology. Before we kick things off and get into everybody's favorite picks, we'll do just quick intros for each of you. So first we've got Douglas Walker, who is our director of research and development, and he might sound familiar to anyone who has checked out our Apple workshops. Welcome to the show, Douglas.
Douglas Walker: Thanks. This is going to be a lot of fun.
Ricky Enger: Great. Next up we have Jennifer Ottowitz who is a learning expert in the adjustment, independent living, and recreation team. And you'll also be familiar with her from a few Hadley Presents, whatever the plural of that is, and also from the Resource Roundtable discussion group. Welcome, Jennifer.
Jennifer Ottowitz: Hi, happy to be here.
Ricky Enger: Great to have you. And next up then is Tiffany Mpofu, who is a learning expert in assistive technology. Has joined our team fairly recently. She used to be on the adjustment, independent living, and recreation with Jennifer, and now we are happy to have snagged her for ourselves on the assistive technology team. You'll also know her from Get Up and Go! and Travel Talk discussion groups. Welcome, Tiffany.
Tiffany Mpofu: Hello. Hello. I'm excited to be here.
Ricky Enger: Great. So good to have you. And finally, Steve Kelley. You've been on a Hadley Presents or two. Also learning expert in assistive technology. And people may have heard you on Get Up and Go! with Tiffany and our new Book Nook discussion group. Welcome, Steve.
Steven Kelley: Hey everyone. Delighted to be here.
Ricky Enger: All right. With those introductions out of the way, we get to move on to the fun bit of the program, which is to talk tech. It is so, so amazing to have you all here. We thought about doing this because we all have a lot in common, but we each approach things differently as well. Some of us love technology for its own sake. We love playing with all of those gadgets and gizmos and jumping right into the software and hardware. And some of us use technology because it's a necessary thing and it finds a place in our lives. Even though we may not be in love with the concept of technology, the things that it can do for us, that's where technology really shines.
So, I thought it would be really nice to get everyone's perspective on how they use technology and what kinds of things each of us chooses to pick up on a daily basis, the things that we adore and can't live without. I happen to know what each person has chosen for their favorite technology, but no one else on the panel here knows what each of the others has chosen, so it'll be a fun reveal here. First, I think let's start with Tiffany. What did you choose for your can't live without technology? What did you choose and why did you choose it? How do you use this technology?
Tiffany Mpofu: Now, Ricky, this is the hard part that I had with doing this, because choosing just one favorite technology was so hard to do. I will say that my smartphone is one of my favorites, and it's my favorite because I can do so many things with it, I don't have to carry around so many other devices. I have an iPhone 8 Plus. In the Apple world, it is ancient, but it works, and it does what I need it to do.
And with my phone, other than making phone calls and text messages, there's a few things that I enjoy doing on it, and one of them is doing online banking. Just being able to do that on the go is really nice. Also, I use the camera, and not just to take pictures of scenery or selfies, but I use it for a mirror. Sometimes when you're out at a public restroom, inside the mirror is mounted up on the wall. Then there's maybe a sink in front of you. It's hard to get up close, so I'll use the camera on my phone as a mirror to make sure my lunch isn't showing in my teeth.
My other go-to app is Visor. Visor is a magnifier app. And this app is my lifesaver. It turns my phone into a digital magnifier so I can contrast the colors, adjust the magnification of course, and it also has a light function on it. If I need to read printed material on the go, or maybe I'm at a family member's house and I need to heat up something in the microwave and their microwave doesn't look like mine and it's not set up like how mine is, I can use my magnifier or Visor to adjust the settings. My phone is one of my favorites, but I do have a few others.
Next up is my iPad. I have an iPad Air, fourth generation. It has a 10.9” screen, so of course the screen is bigger and I'm able to do different things on my iPad. I use the Zoom feature on it and also on my phone too. I use Siri, Zoom, and VoiceOver, so it kind of depends on what I'm doing on my phone. But on my iPad, I mostly use Zoom and I mostly use it for entertainment purposes. So, like, if I'm just kicking back, I'll be on social media or streaming Netflix and Hulu or playing a game or something. That's what I mostly do on my iPad. And I also do internet searches.
But if I want to be more productive and really focusing in on what I'm doing, if I'm doing more extended tasks, like extended reading and writing activities, I like to use my desktop computer. I have a 32-inch monitor so I can split the screen. I also use my video magnifier too. When you are mentioning Ricky about the discussion groups, sometimes we have learners who may make suggestions or provide resources or some helpful information that I can quickly jot down using my video magnifier and then be able to provide those in the resources. That's my technology. That's my favorite.
Ricky Enger: What I so love about this is that you have all of these different devices, and they all serve a different purpose. The larger screen for the iPad is great for entertainment, or for if you're doing a little bit of reading and you're using that larger screen, and same of course for your computer. And then the phone, being able to use it as a magnifier is super cool, because like you said, you don't have to carry around multiple devices. You can do a lot of things with this one single device and different apps. Very, very cool. I love it. I'm not sure why I think this, but something tells me that Doug Walker may have some similar things on his list, being a self-professed Apple fan boy.
Douglas Walker: Self-professed. Yeah. I think everybody points at that. It's probably no surprise to anybody that my devices today are Apple devices. The first one that I want to talk about is fairly new to Apple, and this is the Apple AirTags. If you don't know what an AirTag is, it's Apple's device that's made for finding lost stuff or missing items. It's about the size of a quarter. It's really small, but Apple and lots of other people sell all these different accessories that you can buy to put your AirTag on or in. I put one in my wallet. It clips in there and I can slide it in my wallet. Also, I have a key chain that I can put one in. But they're kind of pricey. I mean, you can get one for, I think $29, but I went ahead and splurged for the four pack. Still not enough. I need more of them.
So, I have one in my wallet, one on my keys. I keep one in my backpack and then I have one on my white cane, because I'm always putting my cane in a corner somewhere, propping it up and it's like, which corner is that? It's really cool because you can use your Find My app, then if you start missing one of these devices, to find it, you can actually say, "Hey," or you can use Siri. So, you can do the whole Siri thing and say, "Hey, find my keys." And then it starts chirping or playing a sound so you can locate it. A lot of times I don't have to go beyond that, but if you open your Find My app and you find that item, you can get it to play a sound from there.
Or if you still can't hear it, there's a find button there that you can tap. It'll pop up on the screen and visually, it points an arrow in the direction that your item is and says, it's like 15 feet away, 10 feet away as you get closer to it. Or, if you happen to have VoiceOver running, it actually speaks that it's to the left or to the right, and it's 10 feet away. Now it's eight feet away. And then when you get close enough to it, you can have it play the sound and pinpoint it right there.
Yeah. We have three workshops there. One that shows you how to set it up. No worries. It's super simple to set up. And then one that shows how to find items nearby. And then one that shows how to find items further away that you can actually get walking or driving directions to find it there. So, it's a pretty cool device.
My other thing, Tiffany kind of hit on this already. And it was so hard, Tiffany, for me too, because I'm like, everything on my iPhone is my favorite thing. But I have one thing that I've actually probably used a half a dozen times already today, and that's the built-in magnifier that's on the iPhone, and it's also on the iPad, and on the iPod Touch as well. And it uses your device’s back-facing, or as of late, your front-facing camera too, to enlarge image images that are on your screen, just like a magnifier would. The magnifier has actually been around for a while. I've been around with it, so I've been able to constantly see it improve over the years, and it's really gotten better and better. And iOS 15 just came out and had a lot of improvements. One interesting thing with iOS 15 is that it's no longer in the accessibility area of the phone. Apple has actually placed it right there on your home screen as an app. It's crept outside of accessibility and become a mainstream app on your home screen then.
Ricky Enger: Yeah. You can open it right from there instead of, okay, I got to go to settings, and then I got to go here and then I got to go there.
Douglas Walker: Now you can still set the accessibility shortcut, the triple click to the side button if you'd like, to pull it up, which is what I do. And I use it from everything. This morning I checked the thermostat and it's gotten chilly here, so I turned the heat on. I use it for things like checking menus and price tags and signing receipts.
And again, Tiffany mentioned this with her app that she uses. It has a flashlight and all kinds of cool color filters in it. One thing that I don't use much, it has people detection in mine, because I have the LIDAR sensor in it, and I guess that would be good for social distancing and stuff.
With iOS 15, if you have VoiceOver running now, and you point it at something in the view area and you touch that view area, it's going to do artificial intelligence and start trying to recognize that object and tell you what the objects are. It's doing a better and better job with recognizing the text that's there. But if it won't read all the text, I found that if I share it or save it to my camera roll, like Tiffany's talking about, that it'll pretty much read all the text right there. So, I'm using my magnifier tons and tons. So yes, Apple products for me today, AirTags and the magnifier app.
Ricky Enger: Not a surprise to anyone, but I love hearing how both of you use the same devices for similar things and for different things. It really speaks to the versatility of some of these smartphones. And if you're listening and you have an Android instead of an iPhone, fear not. A lot of these features are also in Android phones. Next up, Jennifer, share with us your words of wisdom on your favorite tech.
Jennifer Ottowitz: Okay. Well, first of all, I have to say that I'm more of an average technology user and an as-needed user. I like technology, I value all that it can do, but I honestly get kind of intimidated by it. Once I get over that initial anxiety, I find that I'm using it more and more in my everyday life, even if it's just to get started with things, because I do like to be off the grid, but it can be really helpful to get started. And so, my first pick is a good example of that, and that's a money reader. And there are different options for this. I want to talk about the iBill. Here in the U.S., our paper money does not have any tactually distinct characteristics. It's all the same size, same shape, nothing super special that makes any one type of bill stand out.
So, these money readers, and the iBill in particular, you just slide the end of your paper money into it, hit a button, and it'll tell you what it is. It'll say if it's $1 bill, $5 bill. It has a AAA battery and it's just a separate unit. It's not a part of a smartphone, so it's really portable and nice to use if you don't have your smartphone with you. You can even get it to announce what the denomination is in a pattern of sounds or a pattern of vibrations, if you want some privacy, it's a really noisy area too.
It's available commercially, you can buy it, but if you're a U.S. citizen or a legal resident of the U.S. or a U.S. citizen living abroad, you can actually get a free iBill through a program offered by the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing. And we're actually going to have a link to the application for this in the show notes for this podcast, right Ricky?
Ricky Enger: Yeah, absolutely. And if you don't have one, even if you do have a smartphone, I still carry mine because for me, it's quicker and easier honestly than unlocking the smartphone and making sure that there's enough light and all of that's stuff. What a great tool.
Jennifer Ottowitz: And if you are already using the Talking Book Service, you're automatically eligible to get one. You still need to fill out the application, but you just mark that on and you're good to go. Otherwise, you can get a doctor or a vision rehabilitation professional to sign off that you're legally blind or visually impaired, and they'll send it off to you. Just a note though, because I know Doug did a wonderful workshop for Hadley on the Seeing AI app, and that does have a money reading feature also built into it. And I use an app called the LookTel money reader and there may be some other apps out there too, but it's really great option for technology.
My second choice, I think is revolutionary. It really is, in terms of managing health, and that's a continuous glucose monitor. And my husband actually uses it, but there is a part that I use too that I'll talk about in just a sec. This technology will let somebody know their blood sugar levels throughout the day and night, without having to stick their finger, to get a drop of blood that they put on a strip, and then they get those results. And it is truly liberating. For anybody who uses insulin to treat your diabetes, insurance will cover the cost of it. There are a couple different companies that offer products. But how it works, it has a sensor, that's a little wire that inserts under your skin, and that's held in place with an adhesive patch. That connects to a transmitter that's going to rest on the surface of your skin and it's about maybe an inch and a half by half an inch and about a quarter inch high.
So that's how high it would stick up. And you can put this sensor transmitter kind of combo, insert the sensor itself maybe in the back of your arm or in your abdomen, and then you're going to change that sensor and where it's located about every 10 to 14 days, depending on which brand of CGM you're using. Then that transmitter sends a signal to a receiver, which is a separate unit, or to your smartphone.
And the apps used for whichever company's product you're using are accessible with VoiceOver, which is really cool. So, I can actually go on my husband's phone and check his readings. But even better, they make companion apps. So, I have an app on my phone where he shared his data with me, and I can check his blood sugar levels. And you not only get the blood sugar reading, you get trend information, are you steady? Are you slowly rising, slowly falling, rapidly rising, or falling? And you can set alerts to let you know if your blood sugar's too low or at a certain low point, a certain high point. And I'll get those alarms on my phone too if his blood sugars at a certain low point so I can help support him in whatever he needs.
It's so great because it really helps people make more informed decisions about how they're treating their condition. What's cool is with the one he has, he can even say, "Hey Siri, what's my blood sugar?" And she'll say, "Your blood sugar is..." And let him know. It really is a game changer. Just one real quick disclaimer, we really encourage you... We're going to share some links to learn more about the two different companies. Check with your doctor to make sure that this is an appropriate choice for you and to learn about the different options, maybe get a demo of them, and definitely for training on them.
Ricky Enger: Absolutely. And you're right when you said revolutionary. The ability to independently check your sugar and to do it easily and literally painlessly. I mean that has to be so, so nice. All right, Steve, you are last, but certainly not least. You're up to talk about your favorites.
Steven Kelley: I love the iBill. When it first came out a couple of years ago, I got one. It seemed like I got it right through Talking Books. It was so easy to get, and it was great to share with clients. And the magnifier, I haven't tried it with the latest upgrade. I just upgraded yesterday on my iPad, but I use the magnifier all the time too. It is terrific and it's just gotten better, and I love the fact now that it's right there on the home screen. That's going to make it so much easier.
With all that said, my top pick, and it's not going to be a surprise to any of you guys, is actually kind of a low-tech device. It's the talking-book player that you get free from NLS, and that's one of the reasons I love it. If you have a disability that affects your ability to read print, you can get it at no charge. And if you don't mind, I'm just going to give out the number. It's 8-8-8, N-L-S, Read. R-E-A-D. And that's, 8-8-8-6-5-7-7-3-2-3.
And the great thing about the talking book player, it's not real high technology, but it's so cool because not only is it free, it is so easy to use. I mean, you can pull it out of the box and in a couple of minutes you can get it going. And if you're not able to get it going, I know where you can get a little bit of training on it. We have two workshops on Hadley for both the standard player and the advanced player. And what's really cool I think for a lot of learners is, maybe they don't have access to the internet, maybe they're having difficulty seeing the computer screen the way that they used to, so the whole internet thing is not available to them at the moment. The cool thing about the talking book player is because it uses audio cartridges that are pretty simple, you just slip them in, you push the play button, you can get a lot of the workshops from Hadley on the talking book cartridges sent to you. So, I see it as a basic technology building block.
The next device, which is kind of similar, is the Amazon Echo. And I'm surprised none of you mentioned the Echo, just because again, it's kind of... Once it's connected... You've got to have Wi-Fi in the house. If you're not a technology person, just get that 12-year-old grandson or granddaughter in there to get it set up. And once it's set up, everything can be done by voice. Once you have the Amazon Echo set up, you can do so much cool stuff. I mean, you can do the reminders and you can do the timers and all that other stuff, but one of the things that I really love about the Amazon Echo is that you can do things like get radio reading services.
And if you don't know what a radio reading service is, you are in for such a treat. Oftentimes volunteers or human beings that read the newspaper or magazine in your local area or national area, and sometimes they even read books or play podcasts, but there's probably about 10 or 12 of them out there that broadcast on the internet. You can get those with the Amazon Echo. If you go to the section in the Hadley technology workshops and look up the Alexa, in one of those workshops, I believe it's the last one, it's the one on music, podcasts and radio reading services, you'll find a great handout in addition to a wonderful workshop, but click on that resources section and you'll get a handout that lists all of those cool radio reading services so you can just have your digital assistant start one up and you can listen to it during the day. So, if you want to catch the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, or maybe your local paper, you can do that all with the Amazon Echo, which I think is so cool.
And last but not least, it's the Voice Dream Reader app. I'm a real reader and I use that app all the time. Just about every night, I have a book that's open and using Voice Dream Reader app to read it. It's so cool because it not just Bookshare that you can use. You can use a wide variety of things. You can drag in a webpage, you can drag in a PDF file or a Word document, or pretty much anything that you want and have Voice Dream Reader read it to you. And the cool thing, for low vision folks like myself, is you can change the background and foreground color, you can change the font size, change the speed, the voice, all of that stuff. And I think it's a $10 app. I cannot believe the value that I personally have gotten out of it. So those are my three. Great choices I think everybody.
Ricky Enger: Yeah, I would agree. I love Steve how all of yours are related to books, which is no surprise given that you're a co-host of the Book Nook. So, it's great to hear so many versatile choices for technology and how each of you is using those things. I am happy to have gotten the chance to listen to you all, because even though I knew what your choices were, I didn't know exactly how you would explain those things and talk about how you use them in your daily lives. So, it's been really, really nice. Any final words from anybody as we wrap up this?
Douglas Walker: I tell you what's fun for me is that I learned a lot today. From Tiffany and the app that she mentioned, the magnifier app and the glucose thing that Jennifer shared and Steve, the Voice Dream Reader app is one of my go-to things too. A lot of fun.
Jennifer Ottowitz: And just to throw out, everyone else on the panel, including Ricky, is a testament to this. For anybody that's a little intimidated by technology, just dive in, explore, figure things out from trial and error. They are experts at it. They have a real passion for it. But even if you're not, you're an average user, a little intimidated, technology can be a really helpful part of your everyday life.
Ricky Enger: All right. Thank you everybody for spending a little bit of your time with me, it has been a delight. It's been a lot of fun and it's been really informative. So, thanks again for joining me for this.
Steven Kelley: Great pleasure.
Tiffany Mpofu: Thanks, Ricky.
Ricky Enger: Got something to say? Share your thoughts about this episode of Hadley Presents or make suggestions for future episodes. We'd love to hear from you. Send us an email at [email protected]. That's [email protected] or leave us a message at 847-784-2870. Thanks for listening.
-
Smartphone Apps
All Episodes
-
Episode 115
Voting can be tricky if you've lost some vision. In this episode, we discuss a variety of ways to cast your ballot, no matter your level of vision.
-
Episode 114
The Bright Focus Foundation funds research to find cures for macular degeneration and glaucoma, among other conditions. In this episode, we learn about their glaucoma and macular degeneration monthly chats. These sessions with scientists are open to the public and offer insights into the latest breakthroughs, treatments, and promising research on the horizon.
-
Episode 113
Artificial Intelligence (AI) has a lot to offer people with vision loss. Whether it's reading menus, describing pictures, or even narrating scenery, AI can make a big difference. This week we chat with Steven Scott, host of the Double Tap podcast, about some of the best AI-powered tools out there… so far. Link to Double Tap on Apple Podcasts.
-
Episode 112
When the doctor says, "there's nothing more I can do for you," what next? Who can help you make the most of your remaining vision and learn how to live more comfortably with vision loss? We break it down for you.
-
Episode 111
This week we talk to Dave Epstein, the visually impaired creator of the All Terrain Cane. He shares about his life with a progressive eye disease and his love of hiking. These two pieces of Dave lead him to develop his unconventional cane.
-
Episode 110
When you have vision loss, scams can be even more challenging to avoid. Listen in as we get some tips and tricks from Veronica Lewis who runs a low vision assistive technology website.
-
Episode 109
Be My Eyes CEO, Mike Buckley, joins us to talk about how this free, smart phone app merges technology and human kindness and how it's now using AI to describe the world in front of you.
-
Episode 108
Recently retired, David Tatel served for decades on the US Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. He also happens to be visually impaired. In this episode, he and Ricky talk about his recently written memoir, a book about his life as a judge, a husband, a father, a grandfather, and how all of these roles intersect with his experience with vision loss.
-
Episode 107
This week we talk smartphone tools and when you might want to use the different options. Jennifer Shimon from the Wisconsin Office for the Blind and Visually Impaired joins Ricky.
-
Episode 106
Sometimes, navigating life with vision loss goes a bit sideways. Things don't always turn out exactly as we've planned, and it can help to just laugh at these strange situations.
We've shared several episodes of listeners' stories, what we're calling vision loss bloopers. Today, Ricky Enger and Doug Walker share some more of these bloopers along with a few of their own.
-
Episode 105
Prevent Blindness' patient advocacy program empowers people facing vision impairment. Patients learn how to promote change with their physicians, their families, drug companies, and even policy makers.
-
Episode 104
Ever thought about getting a guide dog? Listen in as we chat with members Jeff Flodin and Ed McDaniel about their experiences with guide dogs and some common misperceptions.
-
Episode 103
The National Library Service has a free talking book program for anyone in the US with vision loss. Tonia Bickford, an advisor from Michigan's talking books program, joins us to discuss how to get the most out of this free service.
-
Episode 102
This week we learn more about visual hallucinations that sometimes accompany vision loss, a condition called Charles Bonnet syndrome.
-
Episode 101
Sometimes vision loss can make us feel less secure. This week we talk about personal safety with Hadley's Chief Program Officer, Ed Haines.
-
Episode 100
For many living with vision loss, watching TV is less enjoyable as they can't see what's happening on the screen very well anymore.
Audio description fills the void by narrating key visual elements. Listen in as Ricky chats with Hadley member and avid audio description user, Judy Davis. -
Episode 99
Listen in to our conversation with Dr. Mondal, a low vision optometrist and professor at the University of Wisconsin. We chat about what to expect from a visit to a low vision specialist and the kind of help they can offer.
-
Episode 98
Have you listened to Hadley's community-generated audio podcast yet? In this episode, Ricky and Marc Arneson, Hadley's Director of Community, share a few stories from Insights & Sound Bites and discuss how to contribute your own story. Insights & Sound Bites | Hadley
-
Episode 97
Listen in as artist Chloe Duplessis explains how a degenerative eye disease changed, and didn't change, her life and love of art. "I thought art required sight. I was wrong."
-
Episode 96
Dr. Judy Box, a Hadley member living with macular degeneration, shares her tips for managing those important conversations with your eye doctor.
-
Episode 95
In this episode, the Hadley team talks all things gifts. Giving them, getting them, what's on their wish lists, and how vision loss may, or may not, impact these activities.
-
Episode 94
Friendships often change when one has vision loss. Whether it's adaptations to the activities you enjoy together, asking for help, or turning that help down … there are conversations to be had. Let's tune in as two Hadley members, Eugenia DeReu and Tara Perry, share their experiences with what's changed for them — and what's stayed the same.
-
Episode 93
Losing some vision can make for shopping challenges. Here are a few mishaps that Hadley members have run into. Have your own to share? Email us at [email protected]
-
Episode 92
This week we chat with the chief technology officer from Envision as he shares how their free mobile app or camera-enabled glasses can help those with vision loss. It speaks aloud written information, describes surroundings and objects, and even tells you who's nearby.
-
Episode 91
Lots of questions, concerns, and stereotypes connected to use of the white cane. In this episode, we address several of them from past discussions on the topic.
-
Episode 90
Listen in as Hadley's Director of Community, Marc Arneson, chats with Hadley members Bill Massey and Gregory Peterson about their participation in Hadley's new Peer-to-Peer program.
To learn if getting a peer connection is for you, call us at 1-800-323-4238. -
Episode 89
Listen in as we chat with Ed Haines about getting the most out of our magnifiers.
-
Episode 88
Listen in as we chat with animal lovers Debbie Worman and Sheri Robinson about the joys and challenges of caring for a pet when you have vision loss.
-
Episode 87
Listen in as Hadley member, Wendy Spencer Davis, shares why she decided to learn some braille and how it's helping her in everyday life.
-
Episode 86
Ed McDaniel, a psychologist with low vision, joins us to talk about common emotional triggers people with vision loss face and how to recognize and manage them.
-
Episode 85
Jessica Grogan from the American Diabetes Association joins us to talk about managing your blood sugar with vision loss.
-
Episode 84
Tune into our chat with Sarah Clark, a visually impaired marriage and family therapist, as she offers her unique insight into some common family dynamics that often make adjustment more challenging and how to navigate through them successfully.
-
Episode 83
Join us as we chat with Hadley member, Kris, about her experience living with vision loss in a senior community.
-
Episode 82
Listen in as Hadley staff share their real-life bloopers—times when things didn’t quite go as planned.
-
Episode 81
Join us as we take a dive into the features of the BlindShell cell phone.
-
Episode 80
Listen in as Pastor Scott Himel shares his advice for participating in religious services no matter your level of vision.
-
Episode 79
Join us to learn about how ScripTalk technology translates medication labels into speech and where you can find a participating pharmacy.
-
Episode 78
Join occupational therapist from Duke Eye Center, Fay Tripp, in a conversation about bioptic glasses—what they are and who can benefit from them.
-
Episode 77
Listen in as we chat with birding expert Freya McGregor who shares her tips on how you can enjoy this hobby, no matter your level of vision.
-
Episode 76
Listen in as Hadley's Doug Walker and Ricky Enger chat about how they use GPS in their daily lives. From walking directions to finding items or assisting a driver by navigating a trip, GPS can be a very handy tool.
-
Episode 75
Listen in as we chat with Dave Steele about his life, poetry, and vision loss.
-
Episode 74
Listen in as we discuss some common situations that can make us feel unsafe and share ideas on how to address them. We're joined today by Christy Ray and Ricky Jones of STRIVE4You.Org
-
Episode 73
Unfortunately, it's not uncommon for feelings of shame to creep in when we've lost some vision. Join social worker Jeff Flodin and psychologist Ed McDaniel, both visually impaired themselves, as they explore where these feelings come from and how they have worked through these emotions in their own lives.
-
Episode 72
Listen in as Dorrie Rush of OE Magazine shares how she resisted using a white cane for years, the stigma she feared, and the confidence and security she found once it was in her hand.
-
Episode 71
Learn how CVS pharmacy customers throughout the US can access a free service that reads aloud prescription medication information.
-
Episode 70
Join us as we chat with author Hannah Fairbairn about the tips and tricks she has learned to take some of the stress out of holiday get-togethers, no matter your vision.
-
Episode 69
We're joined by the creator of The Blind Life YouTube channel, Sam Seavey. Sam shares his personal journey with vision loss and advice he has for people who are newer to vision loss.
-
Episode 68
Whether you like to read for enjoyment or need to check your mail, reading is an essential part of your day. We're sharing tips and tricks for how to continue reading, the best low-tech and high-tech gadgets, and the benefits of learning braille.
-
Episode 67
Chief Innovation Officer Doug Walker chats with us about the launch of Hadley's newest podcast, Insights & Sound Bites. This new podcast will offer short stories shared by listeners. By tapping into the power of our community, we hope to share ideas, discoveries, and moments of inspiration along the journey through vision loss.
-
Episode 66
Jim Hoxie and Joanna Jones join us to discuss their children’s book, "Grandpa's White Cane." Jim shares how vision loss shaped his life and how he and Joanna, a retired teacher, began instructing children about the importance of white cane awareness and the do's and don'ts for helping people with visual impairment.
-
Episode 65
Blogger and social worker Jeff Flodin talks about his personal journey with vision loss and how his passion for helping people led him to blog about his experiences.
-
Episode 64
Hadley has partnered with the National Eye Institute (NEI) to offer a Spanish-language version of our popular cooking workshop series. Devina Fan, director of the National Eye Health Education Program at NEI, joins the podcast to talk more about this new initiative, NEI’s expanding Spanish content, and the importance of connecting Hispanic and Latino communities to important vision resources.
-
Episode 63
A change in your vision may make some parts of your job more challenging. But with a bit of help and some new skills, you may be able to stay in your job. Hadley Chief Program Officer Ed Haines and Learning Expert Steve Kelley join the podcast to talk about our new Working with Vision Loss workshops and to share tips for where to find support and how to ask for what you need.
-
Episode 62
Certified accessible travel advocate Melvin Reynolds joins the podcast to share tips for getting the most out of traveling, no matter your level of vision. Melvin gives advice on what to research ahead of a trip, considerations for traveling with a guide dog, and how a certified accessible travel advocate can help.
-
Episode 61
Karen and Dan Leonetti share how vision loss has changed their relationship and the advice they have for other couples.
-
Episode 60
Rabbi Lenny Sarko joins us to talk about how his vision loss journey led him to create a first-of-its-kind braille Sefer Torah that people around the country can access.
-
Episode 59
Actor and artist Bruce Horak talks about his personal journey with vision loss, how he got interested in painting, and his role in the new television series Star Trek: Strange New Worlds.
-
Episode 58
CEO of Eschenbach Optik of America Ken Bradley joins the podcast to discuss how Eschenbach has adapted through the pandemic to help people with visual impairment access low vision devices remotely. Through their "Telelowvision" program, you can try out magnification devices from the comfort of your home to find what works best for you before you buy.
-
Episode 57
Scottish radio broadcaster and podcaster Steven Scott loves finding and talking about tech stuff. He's especially fond of apps and gadgets that make life easier for him and others with vision loss.
-
Episode 56
NYT Columnist Frank Bruni returns to the podcast to talk about his new book. Frank describes his personal experiences with vision loss and how, with time, his perspective has grown.
-
Episode 55
IT professional and stand-up comedian Todd Blenkhorn talks about his personal journey with vision loss and how his passion for stand-up helped him find and share the humor in daily interactions.
-
Episode 54
In this episode, we're sharing highlights from previous interviews with a glaucoma specialist, retina specialist, and a low vision doctor. Listen in to learn more about common eye conditions, treatments, and what to expect at these specialist appointments.
-
Episode 53
Master Gardener Sue Brasel and Hadley's Chief Program Officer and gardener Ed Haines join us for a chat about gardening, no matter your level of vision or gardening experience. They share tips for how to get started, common challenges, and the many benefits of gardening.
-
Episode 52
We're joined by Carol Mackey, an avid discussion group participant, and co-host Debbie Worman to chat about what Hadley groups are, how to join, and what you can get out of them. With 10 groups on a variety of topics, there's something for everyone. Listen in or chime in – it’s up to you.
-
Episode 51
Bold Blind Beauty blogger Stephanae McCoy joins us for a chat on beauty, style and confidence. Stephanae talks about how vision loss shaped her life, and then shares some of her favorite fashion and beauty tips.
-
Episode 50
Hadley staff share their favorite kitchen gadgets and tips. Whether you're an experienced home chef or a total novice, you're bound to pick up a few ideas that fit your vision needs and make your time in the kitchen more productive (and fun).
-
Episode 49
We sat down with Kim Walker, co-director of research and development at Hadley, and Mark Andrews, one of the Hadley advisors who reviewed our exciting new approach for adults with vision loss to learn braille. From labeling items in your home to identifying buttons on an elevator, braille can be a wonderful tool for everyday use.
-
Episode 48
New York Times Best-Selling Author, Gretchen Rubin, chats about her research on how tapping into different senses can enrich our lives and connect us to each other in surprising ways.
-
Episode 47
Twin sisters Jenelle and Joy join the podcast to share their personal experiences with vision loss and adjusting to it emotionally. While they look identical, their perspectives and journeys differ, highlighting their mission to show that "there is no right way to go blind."
-
Episode 46
Hadley learner Sharon Noseworthy shares tips and tricks for hosting get-togethers of any type or size, no matter your vision. Sharon has always loved the role of hostess and has learned to adjust her approach now that her own vision has declined.
-
Episode 45
We're joined by Teepa Snow, occupational therapist and founder of Positive Approach to Care, to learn more about the challenges of having both vision loss and dementia. Teepa addresses common misconceptions about dementia and shares practical tips for supporting someone with both conditions.
-
Episode 43
Judge David Tatel has served on the second most powerful court in the country since 1994. He also happens to be blind. Judge Tatel joins us to share his story on building a law career and family while dealing with changing vision, the technology and resources he's found useful, and what made him consider getting a guide dog in recent years.
-
Episode 42
In honor of White Cane Safety Day today, we're joined by Hadley learner Larry Carlson and Orientation and Mobility Specialist Elijah Haines for a conversation about this important tool. Larry shares what made him decide to use a white cane, and Elijah shares tips for what to consider and how to adjust to using a white cane.
-
Episode 41
Supriya Raman, manager of the Disability and Multicultural branches of the TSA, shares tips on traveling among shifting COVID restrictions. Supriya covers what to expect at the airport and what resources are available for people with visual impairment.
-
Episode 40
Photographer Michael Nye chats with us about his latest art exhibit, "My Heart is Not Blind," a collection of photos and audio interviews of people with visual impairment. Through these stories, Michael provides a look into what he calls "our shared humanity and shared fragility," as well as common misunderstandings about blindness.
-
Episode 39
Champion blind golfer Chad NeSmith talks about how vision loss shaped his life, and how he shares his passion for golf with others with vision loss.
-
Episode 38
Doug Walker, Hadley co-director of R&D, and Ed Haines, Hadley Chief Program Officer, chat about the making of Hadley's "Adjusting to Vision Loss" workshop series. The series guides people through the emotional aspects of vision loss. Doug serves as the series' personal storyteller and narrator.
-
Episode 37
In this episode we chat with ophthalmologist Dr. Angela Elam from the University of Michigan. Dr. Elam addresses common questions and concerns, and shares her advice for returning to the eye doctor among shifting COVID restrictions.
-
Episode 36
Dorrie Rush, OE's Chief Content Officer, joins us for a chat about this wonderful online resource chock full of tips for living well with vision loss. You'll find great articles on using tech tools, tips for health and well-being, stories from others living with vision loss, a terrific podcast, and more.
-
Episode 35
Learn about a new service that’s just launched in 2020 called Accessible Pharmacy. Accessible packaging and labeling and personalized customer support all free of charge to the end consumer, and specifically designed for those with vision impairment.
-
Episode 34
Audio Describe the World! That’s the mantra of UniDescription: a free smartphone app that provides audio descriptions and navigation tips for US National Parks and other public places.
-
Episode 33
In this episode, we chat with low vision optometrist Dr. Mark Wilkinson from the University of Iowa. Dr. Wilkinson answers common questions and shares his advice for getting the most out of low vision optometry appointments.
-
Episode 32
Jan and Elgie Dow share how vision loss has changed their relationship and the advice they have for other couples.
-
Episode 31
Join Hadley advisor Eddie Becerra as he shares about losing his sight from diabetic retinopathy, and how he gained a new perspective on life.
-
Episode 30
Classically trained chef Regina Mitchell shares how vision loss shaped her life. Regina worked her way back into the kitchen and is now helping others cook with confidence, no matter their vision.
-
Episode 29
In this episode we sit down with the director of Well Connected, an organization that offers free, call-in groups for adults over 60 on a wide variety of interest areas: games, music, meditation and more.
-
Episode 28
Support groups can be a great way to connect with others who "get it." Listen in as as low vision support group leaders Lynndah Lahey and Judy Davis describe how their groups are run and what their members get out of them.
-
Episode 27
World-renowned artist John Bramblitt describes how vision loss has shaped his painting and his life.
-
Episode 26
In this episode, we chat with Dr. Tim Murray of the American Society of Retina Specialists. Dr. Murray treats eye diseases such as macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. He answers common questions and shares his insights into the future of treatments.
-
Episode 25
In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Jullia Rosdahl, a glaucoma specialist from the Duke Eye Center, and ask her some of the many questions we’ve heard about glaucoma, its risk factors, and how to treat the disease.
-
Episode 24
Hadley learning expert Jessica Smith shares her experience raising a puppy that may eventually become a guide dog. She covers what she’s learned and things to consider if you’d like to volunteer to help out a guide dog school.
-
Episode 23
October 15 is White Cane Safety Day, a day to recognize this important tool that empowers people with visual impairment to travel safely and independently. It also brings attention to the general public to be mindful of visually impaired neighbors, giving them additional consideration and right-of-way when needed. We sat down with Kellee Sanchez, an orientation and mobility specialist, to talk about the history of White Cane Safety Day, and how a white cane can help those with vision loss.
-
Episode 22
Be My Eyes is a free smartphone app that connects visually impaired users with sighted volunteers for help with visual tasks. We sat down with Will Butler from Be My Eyes to hear how the app started, tips for using it, and exciting new features that provide specialized assistance, including with Hadley.
-
Episode 21
Tracy Simon from Eye2Eye peer support program shares her story of vision loss, how her program works, and the benefits of connecting with and supporting each other.
-
Episode 20
Ophthalmologist Dr. Lori Provencher chats with us about how the coronavirus pandemic has changed doctor's visits. She shares tips for staying safe, questions to ask, and what to expect before, during and after your next office visit.
-
Episode 19
Mindfulness expert Tiffany Guske returns to the podcast to share tips and insights on how to cope with life's challenges, such as vision loss or an illness, building resilience and focusing on self-compassion instead of judgment.
-
Episode 18
Author of "When You Can't Believe Your Eyes," Hannah Fairbairn, chats with us about how to communicate in everyday situations when you can't rely on visual cues. Hear Hannah's own story about losing vision, her practical tips on adjusting to vision loss, and advice she has on regaining confidence in social situations.
-
Episode 17
In this episode, we continue the conversation on living during the COVID-19 pandemic with a visual impairment. Listen in as we share some experiences, tips, and strategies for coping during these difficult times.
-
Episode 16
The COVID-19 crisis has brought a wave of change and uncertainty to our everyday lives. Listen in as we share personal experiences, resources and some helpful tips...all from a blind or low vision perspective.
-
Episode 15
Assistive technology experts Ricky Enger and Steve Kelley review BlindShell, a mobile phone built for those with visual impairment. They discuss the basic features, how it differs from a traditional smartphone, and how to decide if it's right for you.
-
Episode 14
This week we sit down with Dan Roberts, author of "The First Year-Age-Related Macular Degeneration: An Essential Guide for the Newly Diagnosed" and founder of MDSupport website and support group. Hear Dan's own story about being diagnosed with macular degeneration and what prompted him to reach out to others facing similar circumstances.
-
Episode 13
Listen in as we explore the basics of using hand tools with a visual impairment. Gil Johnson, a visually impaired home repair expert, shares tips on everything from measuring, to leveling to hammering.
-
Episode 12
Elections are right around the corner. So we gathered a panel to talk about options for voting no matter your level of vision. Listen in as we explore everything you need to know, from registering to vote to the many ways you can cast your ballot.
-
Episode 11
Ricky sits down with Android Accessibility Product Manager Brian Kemler to discuss what is available on Android phones for those with visual impairment. From adjusting font size and color, or opting to listen with TalkBack instead, the commitment to making these powerful tools more useful to a wider audience is clear.
-
Episode 10
In this episode, we chat with Gil Johnson, an experienced home repair and woodworking enthusiast about things to consider when undertaking home repair with blindness or low vision.
-
Episode 9
Hadley's Debbie Good sits down to continue a conversation with author and visually impaired world traveler Dr. Wendy David. Together they explore a wide variety of helpful hints covering train, plane, and cruise travel as well as practical information on traveling internationally and navigating hotels.
-
Episode 8
In this episode, Ricky Enger chats with Joe Strechay, associate producer on the Apple TV+ series SEE. The show takes place in a future where, after a viral apocalypse, all humans are blind. Joe takes us behind the scenes of the show and his work to help build an inclusive set for the cast and crew, including those with low to no vision. From casting to costumes, scripting to scenery, hear how Joe helped create a science fiction world that strives to be authentic to life with vision loss.
-
Episode 7
Hadley's Debbie Good sits down with travel author Dr. Wendy David in this latest episode. In part one of this two-part interview, Debbie and Wendy discuss tips for traveling with confidence as a blind or low vision person, advice on picking destinations, considerations for traveling alone and in a group, and more!
-
Episode 6
Ricky Enger is joined by Hadley's Debbie Worman and mindfulness expert Tiffany Guske in this latest episode. Debbie and Tiffany talk about what mindfulness is and the specific benefits that mindfulness can offer for those living with vision loss. Tiffany then walks listeners through a short mindfulness exercise.
-
Episode 5
In this episode, Ricky Enger speaks with New York Times columnist Frank Bruni, who shares the story of his sudden vision loss from NAION. Bruni speaks candidly on his adjustment to the change, maintaining a realistic attitude towards his vision loss, and the failure of medical professionals to provide resources after diagnosis.
-
Episode 4
Listen in as we share practical tips on how to keep your handwriting readable. This resource-packed episode includes many useful techniques and solutions to common handwriting challenges. Hadley Learning Expert Jennifer Ottowitz chats with Sue Dalton, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist.
-
Episode 3
In this episode, Hadley's Steve Kelley speaks with Kendra Farrow, from the National Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision, located at Mississippi State. The episode serves as a guide for those new to vision rehabilitation, including determining who is eligible for services, key differences between the medical and social services models, and how to locate services in each state.
-
Episode 2
In this episode, Ricky Enger chats with Microsoft's Jeremy Curry, a Senior Program Manager with the Windows Accessibility team. New vision accessibility features are now available in Windows 10 for low vision and screen reader users.
-
Episode 1
In the inaugural episode of Hadley Presents, Ricky Enger and Jonathan Mosen of Aira chat about the ways in which a visual interpreter service, such as Aira, can be used to gain valuable visual information and enhance travel and leisure activities for blind and low vision users.