5 Apps for People with Vision Loss
Posted On: June 15, 2020
Categorized: Assistive Technology, Blind and Low Vision
Tagged: apps, Assistive Technology, AT, blind, consumer opportunity, phone, tablet, vision loss, Visual Impairment
I get questions many times about available apps for people who have vision loss. I thought I’d write a brief description of 5 apps that have great features for people who are blind or visually impaired.
- LookTel Money Reader – This app uses the camera on the back of the phone/tablet and then says out loud along with large print on the screen what nomination the bill is. This allows easy money identification at home or while out.
- Tap Tap See – This app also uses the camera to take a picture of an object the person needs to identify. Using an internet search Tap Tap See will give an audio description of the item.
- Be My Eyes – Be My Eyes is similar to Tap Tap See, it uses the camera but you connect to a live person. This person is a volunteer so they do not have any training with working with people with vision loss. The person with the vision loss uses their camera to show what item they need identified or read and the volunteer assists them.
- KNFB Reader – While this app is not free like the others it has a purpose most would find priceless. This app converts text to speech and/or Braille for users. It can read documents long and short by taking a picture using the camera on the phone/tablet and using ocular character recognition (OCR) can read the document out loud.
- Seeing AI – This is one of my favorite apps. Seeing AI has multiple purposes again using the phone/tablet’s camera. This app can identify text such as KNFB Reader using OCR for short and longer text. And unlike any other OCR it is able to read some handwriting! It can also identify money like the LookTel Money Reader. It has a bar code reader to give product description and read labels. It can also give a description of people and the scene/surroundings indoors.
These apps are not a one size fits all or needed for everyone but a great tool for a person’s tool kit. If you have questions on how to download or anything else please contact Mandy Smith at (785)528-3105.
Attention! Self-Directing Consumers Learn how to be a better employer!
Posted On: May 8, 2019
Categorized: Consumer Education, Consumer Opportunities, Independent Living, Information and Assistance
Tagged: consumer opportunity, direct support workers, Enhanced Care Services, home and community based services, information and assistance, KS AuthentiCare, self direction, Sleep Cycle Support
Please join us for an informative session on Self-Directing your Home and Community Based Services. Topics will include information on:
- How to Recruit, Select, Interview, Hire, Train, Supervise and Dismiss Direct Support Workers (DSWs)
- Understanding Enhanced Care Services (Sleep Cycle Support)
- KS AuthentiCare (the Electronic Visit Verification Call In System)
- Having a Backup Plan (of DSWs)
- Medicaid Fraud
- Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation
Snacks Provided
Drawings will be held for prizes!
Monday, May 20, 2019
1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Broadview Towers Apartments
110 W. 6th Ave, Emporia
Space is limited! Please call Mandy Kline or Becky Brewer at 1-800-580-7245 to reserve your spot!
South Central Kansas Employment First Summit
Posted On: April 25, 2019
Categorized: Employment
Tagged: consumer opportunity, Employment, job, job coaches, job opportunity, Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities, kansas employment, kansas jobs, south central kansas
Employment First Summit is an opportunity for professionals, employers, job coaches, caregivers, people with disabilities, family members, students, etc. to learn about raising awareness, increasing opportunities, and sustaining competitive, integrated employment for people with disabilities.
This event is FREE thanks to our sponsor Kansas Council on Developmental Disabilities and will be held Friday, May 3rd. Registration begins at 7:30am and morning keynote begins at 8:30am.
Keynote speakers:
Rob Hoffman, Owner/Senior Partner, Employment Analytics, Crystal Bell, Coordinator of Missouri Family to Family, Dan Meers, KC Wolf mascot of the Kansas City Chiefs
Breakout session topics include: education, employment, self-advocacy, quality assurance, and employment inclusion.
Facebook event link: https://www.facebook.com/events/290128901613338/
Contact Macy Collins at our El Dorado office for more information or to register (316)322-7853
RCIL Expands Coverage Area for Older Blind Program
Posted On: August 9, 2017
Categorized: Independent Living
Tagged: 55 or older, age 55, Allen County, Anderson County, blind, blind low vision, Bourbon County, Brown County, Chase County, Chautauqua County, Cherokee County, Clay County, Coffey county, consumer opportunity, Crawford County, Dickinson County, Disability, Doniphan County, Elk County, Geary County Greenwood County, iKan-RCIL, Independent Living Skills, Jackson County, Kansas, Kansas Counties, Labette County, low vision, Lyon County, Marion County, Marshall County, Montgomery County, Morris County, Nemaha County, Neosho County, older blind, Osage County, Pottawatomie County, Riley County, Shawnee County, Visual Impairment, visually impaired, Washington County, Waubaunsee County, Wilson County, Woodson County
The iKan-RCIL program started in August of 2010 and its purpose is to teach people who are blind/have low vision and are 55 years or older how to live as independently as possible. IKan-RCIL has been possible with contracts awarded from Kansas Rehabilitation Services (KRS) that allows funding for orientation and mobility training, assistive technology aids and devices, and independent living training. RCIL recently received its third contract which will last through 2020.
Since inception, iKan-RCIL has more than doubled in size from 15 counties in 2010, to 32 counties beginning in July 2017. The coverage area includes the following counties: Allen, Anderson, Bourbon, Brown, Chase, Chautauqua, Cherokee, Clay, Coffey, Crawford, Dickinson, Doniphan, Elk, Geary, Greenwood, Jackson, Labette, Lyon, Marion, Marshall, Montgomery, Morris, Nemaha, Neosho, Osage, Pottawatomie, Riley, Shawnee, Wabaunsee, Washington, Wilson, and Woodson. This is including the nine counties RCIL began covering in July (Chautauqua, Cherokee, Crawford, Elk, Labette, Montgomery, Neosho, Wilson, and Woodson.)
To be eligible for this program you must live in one of the above mentioned counties, be 55 years or older and have a vision loss that affects your daily living. Mandy Smith, Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist, who is based out of the Osage City office provides the services for this program. She travels to individuals’ homes to teach the skills and/or give items that will allow individuals to be as independent as possible. This program is free to the individual and can be provided in any home setting. Mandy also does presentations to promote services and educate the public. Mandy will also be hosting independent living classes through the next three years throughout the 32 counties. Look for more information on these classes in the near future.
KanCare HCBS Waiver Integration Information and Comment Tour
Posted On: October 29, 2015
Categorized: Consumer Opportunities
Tagged: consumer opportunity, Disability, HCBS, Information and Referral, KanCare, KDADS, medicaid, waiver
KDADS is hosting a “KanCare HCBS Waiver Integration Information and Comment Tour” and are encouraging consumers and their families to attend. All locations will feature meetings at 1:30pm-3:30pm for providers and 5:30pm-7:30pm for consumers and families.
Topeka Tuesday, Nov. 10th Capitol Plaza Hotel 1717 SW Topeka Blvd
Wichita Thursday, Nov. 12th Doubletree Wichita Airport 2098 Airport Rd
Kansas City Thursday, Nov. 12th Hilton Garden Inn 520 Minnesota Ave
Hays Monday, Nov. 16th Ambassador Hotel 3603 Vine St
Pittsburg Monday, Nov. 16th Holiday Inn Express 4011 Parkview Dr
If you are unable to attend in person there will be conference calls on Friday, November 13th from 12:00pm-1:30pm and Tuesday, November 17th from 5:30pm-7:30pm. To access the conference call dial: (866) 620-7326 Enter code: 527-268-5242.