Work, education, home life and citizenship all require the exchange of information. Computers are the most common way of participating in this exchange for people who are blind or have impaired vision. Instead of looking at a computer monitor, with the use of specialized software, you can listen to the computer. Think of it as an “audio monitor” rather than a video monitor. Or with specially designed hardware, you can use braille to work with a computer. For people with low vision, screen enlargement software will make everything on the screen bigger.
- Send and receive E-mail
- Browse the web
- Communicate with friends and family on Social Media
- Complete school and work assignments
- Read a library book
It is all at your fingertips with technology. The technology training program offers a course of study that teaches students to use a computer and the appropriate access technology to meet individual needs, so that maximum participation in today’s information world is possible.
Accessible Apps
Seeing AI: Seeing AI is a free app from Microsoft that uses your phone’s camera and artificial intelligence to describe the world out loud for people who are blind or have low vision. It can read text, identify objects and products, recognize people and currency, and describe scenes in real time. Seeing AI – A Visual Assistant for the Blind
Be my eyes: Be My Eyes is a free app that connects people who are blind or have low vision with live sighted volunteers and specialized helpers through video calls to get real-time visual assistance. Users can ask for help with tasks like reading labels, navigating new spaces, or identifying objects. Accessibility Technology for blind & low vision people – Be My Eyes
Aira Explorer: Aira Explorer is a mobile app that connects people who are blind or have low vision with trained live visual interpreters who can see through your phone’s camera and describe, read, guide, and help you with visual tasks in real time. It’s used for things like navigating unfamiliar places, reading signs or menus, identifying objects, and getting step-by-step assistance with whatever you need help with. Aira | Aira Explorer App
Blind Square: BlindSquare is a GPS-based navigation app that helps people who are blind or have low vision explore the world independently by announcing nearby places, intersections, and points of interest as you move. It uses location data and crowdsourced information to provide spoken guidance about your surroundings in real time. BlindSquare
Lazarillo: Lazarillo is a free accessible GPS and wayfinding app for people who are blind or have low vision that gives real-time audio guidance about your surroundings, like nearby streets, intersections, places, and points of interest as you move. It also lets you search for locations and get turn-by-turn directions to your destination so you can explore both outdoor and, where available, indoor spaces more independently. Lazarillo – Inclusive Navigation and Accessible Mapping for Indoor and Outdoor Spaces