When I interned at Microsoft as a program management intern in 2019, one of the first questions my mentor had for me was how I wanted to set up my tech internship desk as a PM intern with low vision and photophobia. At first, I…

Ten free resources in college libraries that aren’t found on shelves

I mentioned in my other post about college libraries that I only checked out a single book from my college library while living on campus for four years. Even though I can count the amount of physical materials I borrowed on one hand (or rather…

Hotel familiarization is a part of navigating travel experiences for blind and low vision visitors, and provides an opportunity to guests to learn about their room layout and other hotel amenities. Whether it’s for an overnight medical trip, out-of-state school field trip, or a long-term…

I started using the Google Lookout app for low vision and blind users in 2019 while attending the ATIA assistive technology conference. Since then, Google Lookout has added several different features for their visual assistance app that can help users with visual impairments get information…

My review of the Eschenbach SmartLux video magnifier/portable CCTV

I have a large collection of stuffed animals that come in various colors, textures, and sizes, and recently received a question from a reader asking if I had any tips for choosing stuffed animals or plush toys for kids with visual impairment (inclusive of low…

I started using a blindness cane (also known as a white cane) full-time during my first semester of college while living on campus. As a student with low vision, using a cane gave me a tremendous amount of freedom and independence, accompanying me everywhere from…

If I’m attending a visual impairment or assistive technology conference that has a karaoke event, there’s a very strong chance I will take the mic and perform “Livin’ on a Prayer” by Bon Jovi, my favorite song of all time and one of my favorites…

Important addresses to keep in college, great for orientation and mobility instruction

When I receive emails from students and parents asking about free tutoring for blind and visually impaired students, one of the first things I ask them is if they have contacted the National Homework Hotline, provided by VISTAS Education Services. Founded in March 2020 as…

One of the common misconceptions I first believed when buying my first blindness cane is that all canes are one size fits all, and that the process of choosing a cane is as easy as choosing a random item online and checking out. However, I…