Braille for Everyday Use
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.
Hadley Presents
Braille for Everyday Use
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 learner, Mark Andrews, and co-director of research and development, Kim Walker, join to discuss braille for everyday use. Welcome to the show, both of you.
Kim Walker: Thanks, Ricky.
Mark Andrews: Thank you.
Ricky Enger: It is so good to have you here and I am delighted to have the chance to talk about this project, which I think literally every person at Hadley has had a hand in, in some way or another, which is pretty appropriate considering where we came from and why we're here in the first place. So yeah, looking forward to talking about that. But before we do, why don't we just get a quick intro from each of you. Kim, we'll have you go first.
Kim Walker: I'm Kim Walker. And as Ricky mentioned, I am part of the research and development team at Hadley. I've been in the field of vision for over 30 years now, taught children braille, adults braille, and love braille. My whole being and whole career is about braille.
Ricky Enger: Love it. Anyone who has a passion for braille is certainly welcome on this show anytime. Mark, how about you? Tell us a bit about yourself.
Mark Andrews: I used to teach photography and I used to drive a truck. Let's see, undergraduate, I would read for the blind.
Ricky Enger: Wow. So, you had a connection with the blind well before you had a more personal experience with that?
Mark Andrews: That's true. I'm not fully dark. I have low vision. I am unable to drive any longer. I am however able to navigate for example, I can walk into town and do grocery shopping. It's a little different for me. I use my earbuds and Seeing AI and it reads me the prices of things and I can get home.
Ricky Enger: Fantastic. It's great to have you here and thanks so much for that intro, and thanks for being here. As I sort of alluded to in the introduction here, we're going to be talking about Hadley's Braille for Everyday Use. It's interesting because Hadley has always been known, I mean, literally for 100 years, we've been known for teaching braille. So, it's been at the core of what Hadley does. Taking a look at how we deliver braille and how we teach braille, making any changes to that is not a decision that would be made lightly, I think. So, what was the thought process behind reexamining that?
Kim Walker: Hadley, truly, has been known for teaching braille for over 100 years. And you know, when William Hadley started braille at the time, braille by mail, that had to be very revolutionary and unheard of. And I'm sure there were some skeptics. So, we feel like this new approach to teaching braille is just as revolutionary. We were having some dropout rates. I'm wondering, why weren't people completing our courses? We were seeing people come in, sometimes they would start the course, maybe get a few lessons in and stop. Sometimes they would get the material and never even start. We went directly to our learners and said, "Hey, what's going on? What did you feel about these courses?" And we heard some very distinctive things. And we heard something like, "Well, I'm overwhelmed. There's so much here. I don't know where to start. I feel like I'm learning alone." And then when they found out that they were going to need to take a test, and they would need to turn an assignment in, they just simply said, "That just does not fit into my life at this time."
And another component was sometimes they would have an NLS player to play the cartridge on. And sometimes they had one and had no clue about how to work it. And they felt like they were just alone. Thinking about that, that's certainly not the way we wanted to be presenting our braille courses. That really started our research, looking at, "How does the adult population learn to read braille?"
Ricky Enger: Yeah. Because I would imagine it's a lot different for somebody who's an adult, than it is for a school-aged child learning the literacy for the first time. If you're an adult, maybe that's not where you're starting, right?
Kim Walker: Absolutely. And I taught children for years, we're building those reading skills. But when we were looking at our adult learner, they already know how to read. They have that prior knowledge of reading, they know the letters, they know the sounds of letters, they know words. How could we approach it from that prior knowledge of our adult learners? Of course, our content is always based on sound research-based methodology. What is the best practice in teaching? What is this adult learner want? I want it quickly. I want small chunks of learning. I want to be able to use it as soon as I do it. I don't want it to feel like I'm reading a book and I'm having to learn on my own and it's boring. So, we looked at those things and took a truly different approach.
Ricky Enger: That makes a lot of sense, and you just made me think about something actually when you mentioned reading a book or looking at a book to try and get through how to learn braille. But that got me thinking about why adults might learn braille. I would imagine that reading a book or a magazine is part of it, but maybe that's not the motivation factor for everybody at least initially. Mark, what was it for you? What made you even consider taking a look at braille?
Mark Andrews: I am not stationary. I'm not stuck in the house. I go to doctor's offices, I go to various places, and frequently I can't read the signs. But there is braille there, like in an elevator. In an elevator, there doesn't seem to be a standard. The numbers don't always go left to right. Sometimes they go vertically. So, I can't get the little color numeral every time. So, if I can feel it, it's helpful. Doctors' offices have placards outside with the name, but again, sometimes it's not really without shoving my face into the wall. I can't really be sure of where I'm going. And braille would be a big help for that.
Ricky Enger: That's an awesome practical example of something that you would do. It doesn't have anything to do with reading literature, is wonderful that as that is, it's something that you could find use for immediately in your daily life. Kim, you do a lot of communication with our learners as well. Are there some other practical examples of why somebody might choose to learn braille?
Kim Walker: We heard exactly what Mark was saying. We heard that from other testers also, they're like, "Well, I really don't want to read a book. I want to be able to use the elevator, I want to be able to read a menu. I want to be able to read room signs." We had some learners that that was their end goal. We did look at what is the end goal for this learner? Not that it's going to be, "I'm going to teach you to read a book or a magazine," but you're going to be able to be very practical with this braille. So, Mark hit it spot on. We heard that so many times, "I just would really like to read the elevator," and we actually built it into our books, teaching an elevator panel. Of course, exactly what Mark said, they're not always the same, but we have all of the components there, so that someone will be able to feel that, learn how to scan that panel, and then of course learn the braille that's on that. So, we heard lots of reasons for braille, as far as practical use. Everyday usage that I can immediately use.
Ricky Enger: What does that design look like? What's the delivery method? What is somebody going to get when they start with this?
Kim Walker: You mentioned that we do have the adult learners. Something that we did find out is that we had over 80% of our learners had usable vision. So, we decided to take a multimedia approach to it. We decided to do a large print on the top of the workbook, so that if someone had vision and they wanted to look how the braille cell is set up, how the letters are set up, what's the dot configuration. And then, there's a middle line on the pages. And below the line, it's only braille.
So, we wanted to give that person a chance if they wanted to look at it, but then go below that middle line and have that experience of taking what you saw and putting it to your fingers, and what are your fingers telling you? Now we also in the design, it is designed for someone who has no vision. Some of our testers had no vision. They didn't use the large print. It didn't matter.
They still had the braille, there's always a braille component in the top left corner of the page. So, we made it very easy to navigate. We decided to deliver some of the audio on the computer for those who have access. You can go on the computer, it will have the same page, it will show how you're scanning. And then we have telephone access for those who are offline and don't use the computer.
The really cool thing about this audio delivery is, "Hey, you're on a page." And you're like, "Oh my gosh, I really can't tell that D from that F. What do I do with that?" Or, "I have a question about something." If you're online, you select the help button. It immediately connects you to one of those braille experts that can help you answer any question, and if you you're on the phone, you'll just press the zero and that will automatically take you to a braille expert that's there to help you at any time to answer any question.
We really thought what a cool way to get immediate help because in our research, we knew that when an adult learner is learning something new, if they have a question, they don't want to wait a week. They want their questions answered immediately. So, we really like those features being built in.
Ricky Enger: Knowing that you're developing braille, not necessarily for school-aged kids, and not necessarily for someone who is totally blind, did that alter how you approached developing the program that that we're using now?
Kim Walker: Absolutely. Of course, we looked at those bite size pieces of learning. What we decided to do is to teach three or four letters or numbers at a time, and then give the learner a chance to engage with those few letters or numbers and have fun sort of a game-like. We knew we needed to keep it simple, and to build their confidence in, because we heard some people say, "I'm afraid, I can't learn it. I'm just so afraid it's going to be so hard. I've looked at braille on buildings. I just truly can't figure out what it is and how it works."
We wanted to keep it simple, we wanted to build that success in, and I can remember one tester started into the book and she got to page five, and she said, "Oh my gosh. I already know how to read some braille and I'm only on page five." She was just so excited that she was successful from the very beginning.
We really wanted to build that in, make it very conversational. Some people said, "I felt like I was all alone, no one called me. I didn't have any support." So, we wanted to build an in that conversational tone to make it feel like someone is sitting beside of the learner, where they're with you, we're teaching you the braille. Those were some very specific components that we built into this new design.
Ricky Enger: When you built it, and you're kind of all patting yourselves on the back and going, "Wow, we did great." I don't think it made its way out into the world just yet. What happened once that initial prototype was built?
Kim Walker: We had our best guesstimate. We tested it on spouses, our neighbors, just say, "Does this make some sense? Can someone navigate this?" We put it together. We built a prototype. We were like, "Okay, we have the prototype, we have the audio, and now we need people to test this." And that's where Mark came in and many others, and it was such valuable information we received from the testers, because we would test it, we would take notes, we would go back, we would redesign, we would push it back out with the new design.
We would test it; we would push it back. Even the audio parts, we felt like we had a nice booklet with the braille and the presentation, but then how are we going to deliver that audio? So, we tested that. Those are all of the components, many, many months, many, many testers going in and having that experience and saying, "I like this, I don't understand this. Don't like this." And we will always go back to the table and do a redesign. So that was our approach to this new design.
Ricky Enger: Yeah. And I think it helps a lot with that feeling of aloneness that a lot of people had, trying to learn braille on their own when you can reach out to somebody and get that help, then you're not doing it all by yourself. So, Mark, after there were a couple of prototypes, you were able to get a sneak peek at this project before it was available to everyone else. What did you think when you first got your braille book and kind of started diving into the testing?
Mark Andrews: I thought it was amazing. I never used anything like this, it's accessible. I was never stymied by any part of it. I had received a letter from the IRS asking me if I wanted my 1040 in braille and they sent me a braille form, and it was really intimidating. And so that was my introduction to braille, but the book took away all of that intimidation and in conjunction with the narrator, was very calming and very soothing, nothing was rushed, you could move at your own pace. It was a tremendous learning experience. It's not a one and done. Learning takes time and especially something like this where it's multisensory, but I found it to be wonderful. I can't say enough good about it.
Ricky Enger: What was it like emotionally making that step and deciding to learn braille? It was certainly, you mentioned intimidating. Did you have other hesitancy besides, "Oh gosh, I'll never be able to do this." And kind of what changed initially? How were you feeling about whether braille was for you or not and did that change at all?
Mark Andrews: Braille is extremely helpful for me in a practical sense. The elevator, the room placards, the finding a hotel room. That's a very practical use for me. The National Library System is so great with books and everything else, and with the assistive technology of my equipment, I get along very well. But there are times when I really need something different, and braille is that something different. I looked at it as intimidating, but more of a challenge. It wasn't necessarily scary. It was just a challenge.
Ricky Enger: And it sounds like once you dived in, it became a lot less about, "Oh yeah, here are these bumps that I'll never figure out." And now it's going to be another tool in the toolbox for you, right?
Mark Andrews: Absolutely. Again, it lines up with all the assistive technology that I have. And it's just one more thing to help me get through my life. I can't say enough good about it. It was a wonderful experience to learn it. The learning process in it was great. I like to learn. And this was so well done, polished, that I was so impressed. I was disappointed when I ran through the book. I don't need a lot of braille I need some. But I wanted to keep learning. It was such a positive experience. Again, the voiceover was great, didn't sound ever impatient or pushing you, warm and accepting and worked with you it seemed. It was great.
Kim Walker: So, Mark, listening to you and listening to what you're saying about the program, I can't tell you how we, as the research team, we were holding our breath. We did our research, we felt like we had a really good design, but as we were pushing it out to our testers, we would be so nervous. We were truly almost holding our breath to hear how a person interacted with it. It's just so wonderful to hear how you interacted with it and how pleased you were. That really kept us going, we took your information, we took the other tester information and we moved forward. We really appreciate you taking your time and it did take a bit of time and looking at this and letting us know, are you on the right track, you could do better here, I like this, improve this. We really want to thank you.
Mark Andrews: There are so many places where people have tried their best and really fallen short. There was a library thing, and they were trying to give you the help section. And I'm trying to read it and it's a blur, just so frustrating. And it was clearly put together by someone who was not vision-impaired and had no experience in teaching it. And then you compare something like that, to the braille learning system that Hadley has. And it's night and day, there's no comparison. One, you're just struggling to select the text and then get it to read it. And as opposed to sitting down with the book and the online portion of it and working through - so simple, so easy. I've only looked at the Hadley experience as being positive and I wanted to do more.
Ricky Enger: Wow. This is such a great testimonial and just hearing from each of you, Kim, you along with the research and development team, really working hard to try and build what was going to be a successful project, and then to have someone giving feedback. And it's just this continuous loop of you learning from each other and ultimately created what is going to be a very successful project. And I'm looking forward to hearing from so many people like Mark, who are able to just dive in and learning braille is not a chore. It's nothing to dread. It's fun. If somebody is interested in doing that, because for sure, this sounds like amazing and positive news for somebody who's looking to read braille, how do they get access to this?
Kim Walker: They certainly can call our Hadley 800 number, 800-323-4238 for our help desk. They will totally get you set up, they'll go over the program, they will get your book mailed out to you and tell you, you as the adult learner, you decide. Do you want to do it on the computer? Do you want to do it online? And they'll totally get you set up. You can also go to this really long address.
Ricky Enger: We'll have that at our show notes.
Kim Walker: Okay. We encourage everyone who wants to learn braille in a tactile manner. Please contact us.
Ricky Enger: This is so exciting. Any final thoughts that we did cover from either of you? Just things that you would leave someone with, who's thinking about learning braille, still maybe a little bit on the fence, because "I'm not sure if this is for me or I'm not sure I can do it."
Mark Andrews: I would only recommend it. There should be no hesitance about this. It improves your life. There's a lot more to having vision impairment than just being vision impaired. There's a huge emotional impact in this. You don't need to be feeling like you've been sidelined. Learning this, with this system, brings you back to a more full life.
Ricky Enger: It's very well said. Kim, anything from you?
Kim Walker: Exactly what Mark said. We had people that were a little hesitant. They thought maybe it's not for me, but some of the comments we heard is, "It made me want to learn braille." And then another person said, "I'm beginning to accept the fact that this is for me," there's a use for braille even for those with low vision. Our feedback, as we were testing and redefining our product, it was overwhelmingly positive. We encourage everyone to give it a try.
Ricky Enger: Thank you both so much for stopping by and discussing braille. It really is an exciting time having just this way to learn braille is an excellent tool in the toolbox. Thank you both so much for dropping by.
Kim Walker: Thanks, Ricky. Thanks a bunch, Mark, for everything you've done for us.
Mark Andrews: I can't thank you enough for what you've done.
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.
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Websites
Hadley Workshop Series: Braille for Everyday Use
Or call us at 800-323-4238 to order your workbook.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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).
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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.
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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."
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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.
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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.
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Episode 44
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Episode 32
Jan and Elgie Dow share how vision loss has changed their relationship and the advice they have for other couples.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Episode 27
World-renowned artist John Bramblitt describes how vision loss has shaped his painting and his life.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.