My experiences attending ASSETS virtually with low vision, and how I use assistive technology at hybrid conferences

As a user with low vision, I have discovered that custom video backgrounds can be either super helpful tools for making it easier to concentrate on video calls or super distracting tools that make it harder to concentrate. Factors such as background choice, environmental lighting,…

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to present a short talk at A Future Date, a free virtual conference event that showcased talks on topics related to accessibility and assistive technology. While I am currently working on a write-up about attending A Future…

I’ve used a few different business cards for my blog and consulting work, and often receive questions about designing business cards for low vision and how I chose to design my own cards. It’s always exciting to get compliments on my personal branding and hear…

When I attend professional conferences for assistive technology and computing, I often find myself overwhelmed trying to “do it all” by attending all of the sessions for a given day, trying to run around the exhibit hall to meet everyone, and attending networking and post-conference…

When I was in high school, I sometimes had difficulty explaining how common technology behaviors or other technology in the classroom would hurt my brain, also known as give me a migraine. Many teachers assumed that I was refusing to participate in class, but the…

As a student with low vision who uses a blindness cane/white cane to navigate unfamiliar environments, I find it helpful to use either a human guide or a visual interpreter when I travel to conferences, walk around exhibit halls, or attend fairs and smaller events…

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…

In 2019, I attended the Assistive Technology Industry Association’s annual conference in Orlando, Florida, which is held yearly in January/February. As a college student with low vision who is passionate about assistive technology, I was excited to attend the conference with a student discount and…

In 2018, I was selected as one of ten winners for the Microsoft Women in Computing award and had the opportunity to attend the Grace Hopper Celebration for Women in Computing. This conference is held in September/October and is the largest gathering of women and…