Mind and Body Entertainment from The Chicago Lighthouse

Tech Tools for Living: Mind and Body, Entertainment and Brain Health

Narrator: From our partners at the Chicago Lighthouse, introducing My Tools for Living, an overview of everyday tools for low vision. When it comes to living independently, it's easy to focus on getting your daily tasks done and finding the right tools to help. But let's not forget about entertainment. From books and movies to games, puzzles and more. There are plenty of ways to keep your mind connected and engaged because vision loss may change how you do things, but it doesn't mean giving up the activities you love. Reading is a great example.

Whether you like to keep up with the latest news, your favorite magazines, or a novel for your book club, there's a reading format that can work for you, including programs that offer free access to many types of materials.

NLS Player: Moby Dick, or the Whale.

Narrator: For example, the National Federation for the Blind has a news reading service called Newsline. It provides newspapers and magazines in audio format, and you can listen through a variety of different devices.

VoiceOver: AARP Bulletin 09/01/2025.

Narrator: And the National Library Service has a huge selection of audio books and magazines available through its Talking Books program. These are delivered right to you and there's no waiting list even for popular titles.

Screen Reader: The Boys a Memoir of Hollywood and Family author Ron slash Howard.

Narrator: You can listen to all these through smart speakers or apps, or you can use dedicated devices that are provided for free.

VoiceOver: Play the Three Musketeers audio book please.

Smart Speaker: Okay. The Three Musketeers Adapted for Modern Readers by Alexander Dumas.

Narrator: If audio reading is not your style, eBooks are another great option. You can adjust the font size, spacing, and contrast through the built-in app. Or if you like reading on a bigger screen, you can make these adjustments on your computer too.

Judith: I've registered to get access to these talking book program, which is called BARD. It's wonderful. So I download on my iPad various titles. I thought reading was gonna be out of the question, but this talking book program is, is a, a lifesaver.

Narrator: If you like to watch TV, movies, and videos. Did you know that many are available with audio description? This feature adds spoken narration during pauses in the dialogue to describe key visual details like the action that's happening, scenery descriptions, and even the look on a character's face, so you don't miss a thing.

Audio Description Voice: At night, now falls on a sign reading You are now in Bedford Falls Different buildings and houses in the small town appear.

Narrator: For shows and films that have this feature. You can turn on the audio description settings through your streaming service or through your smart TV or app settings, and you can listen to the audio description through headphones so it doesn't distract the people who are watching with you. Many smart TVs also include large print menus and screen reader options, making navigation easier.

Monty: My TVs are smart and I'm able to push a button on the remote control and tell them to change the channel.

Narrator: Games and puzzles are another great form of entertainment, not to mention fantastic exercise for the brain. They can provide a fun way to keep your problem solving skills sharp and to work on your memory as well as your ability to focus. And there are plenty of ways to access the activities you like. For example, there are large print and tactile versions of many types of puzzles, including crosswords and Sudoku. And if you'd like to play board games or cards with others, many have tactile, large print or high contrast versions, or you can adapt them yourself with simple materials. If you like using your smartphone or computer, there are plenty of game apps that include spoken instructions and accessible controls, and using a smart speaker lets you play voice controlled games like trivia, hands free.

Voice: What trivia games are available to play?

Smart Speaker: Okay, I love trivia games. Here's one called Question of the Day. Want to give that one a try?

Narrator: Isolation can be a real challenge with vision loss, but there are opportunities and tools to help you stay connected. Platforms like Zoom make it possible to join virtual book clubs, discussion groups, classes, and more. Accessible apps and smart devices also let you participate in social events like games, meetings, and lectures. Organizations that focus on connecting people with others often design their programs to be inclusive and welcoming. And screen readers, magnification and keyboard shortcuts can all help make these platforms easier to use too. Vision loss doesn't mean giving up the activities that bring you joy, but it may mean adapting, learning something new or using a different format to read what you want, watch what you like, play your favorite games and keep learning, and you don't have to search for the right tools and resources on your own. The Chicago Lighthouse is here to help you find what you need. In our final episode, we'll explore even more ways to stay connected and engaged with community, resources, and ongoing support. And we'll show you how to find help, training and encouragement so you can keep learning, and stay empowered and know that support is always within reach. To learn more, visit www.MyToolsforLiving.com or call the Chicago Lighthouse's Tools for Living Store at 1-800-919-3375.