Visually Impaired Texas children given the tools they need
Sight Savers America recently partnered with West Texas school districts and optometrists specializing in low vision to identify and help school children with low vision. SAN ANGELO, Texas has no low vision specialists in their area, so Sight Saves America stepped in giving children an hour-long low vision assessment and visual aids. This is such a great cause.
Low Vision goes unidentified and untreated so many times in children. I’m glad to see organizations like Sight Saves America partnering with school districts to provide children the visual aids they need. If the teachers don’t identify the needs of the child, it often goes unnoticed and those children can fall behind in their school work. We all know that things move very fast in schools these days, and not being able to see the information being presented in class can make an already accelerated course curriculum very difficult for students with low vision.
We here at Blind Travels love to work with non-profit organizations just for this sort of thing. We have reached out to Sight Savers America to see how we can help, and will update this story when we learn more. If you would like more information about Sight Savers America or the original story follow the links below.
Sight Savers America is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that works to identify and secure the eye care needs of children, from their first pair of eyeglasses to extensive sight-saving treatment and high-tech vision aids for those with severe visual impairment.
Original Story from FOX news
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Abandoned Mine in Wyoming
Bouncing around the 4X4 accessible trails near Centennial Wyoming, we came across this awesome abandoned mine. The view from the mine is pretty spectacular and I bet during its operational days it was beautiful to work at. Unlike a lot of other abandoned place I have been to, this one was not picked clean of the cool stuff – which is good and bad. From a visually accessible standpoint this place, like many abandoned locations was a nightmare to traverse with the sheer amount of debris on the ground and in surrounding areas.
Getting there
The location for this photo was only accessible by 4X4 vehicle, I went there so you don’t have to. Since COVID, I have done more 4X4 trips with friends than I ever have. Maybe it it the social distancing, but I really am enjoying it. The toughest part about riding on a 4X4 trail when blind or visually impaired is that you don’t really get a clear understanding of what is coming. Riding in a car on the freeway is no big deal, you get the occasional bump and the natural action of the car accelerating and slowing, but with 4X4 travel, that is all thrown out the window. We roe in a lifted Jeep, and it had recently rained. Jeeps are inherently bouncy as it is, but driving through the ruts, and splashing through the mid puddles can be exhausting. You can’t expect to have the fully sighted riders tell you every bump coming up, so it is best to just brace yourself and be ready for the constant bouncing. I also find that branches are commonly very close to the side of the vehicle as your drive the paths, so keep those hands and arms in the vehicle at all time.
The image
The photo I took is of the abandoned mine is a black and white image of an a small building used for mining. The large structure for hauling material up and down the mine juts out of the top of the small building. There are lumber pieces and debris scattered around the area in front of the small building. The trees around the building have lost their leaves already and the sky is dark and moody. A door is visible on the left side of the building, but there is no back wall and you can see straight through to the opposite side.
I don’t know the history of this site, but I appreciate that there is so much of it remaining after the years standing on this ridge. While not visible in this image, I am told that the view from the ridge is spectacular giving clear views of Centennial Wyoming as well as Laramie Wyoming in the far distance.
What do you think?
I always love to hear from my readers, and I would like to hear what you thought about this presentation. My goal with this series is to tell a bit about the story behind the images I take, as well as provide a better description of the image. The blog forum lets me explore a bit more detail than would be available on twitter or Instagram. Feel free to drop me a message here on the contact page or on my social media links below. Follow me and I will happily follow you back.
My Photography: www.tahquechi.com
Twitter: @nedskee
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Wandering in Wyoming
I live in northern Colorado, and it is only a couple hour drive to Wyoming. With all the COVID restrictions starting to ease a bit, traveling has become a bit safer and more fun. Throughout 2020, I stayed pretty close to home like we all did, but ever after things started to relax a bit I still opted to play it save and only take a few trips here and there. A result of all the “non-people” time created an real interest in wandering the less traveled path for me. Rather than flying off to who knows where, I was forced to find places here in Colorado and Wyoming that I had great intentions of visiting, but never took the time. I spent a lot of time in Rocky Mountain National Park, and up in the Rockies in general. Early 2021 prompted me to expand my circle of travel into Wyoming. A good friend of mine is originally from Wyoming, and is still very passionate about showing off the abundant natural beauty of that state. The biggest hurdle to overcome is the weather. Its colder on average than Colorado, and they see more snow than we do. As a result, the really cool higher elevation areas of the state close during the snowy season. We took a few trips during the spring and summer, but it wasn’t until this fall that we really took the time to delve into the backroads and explore some amazing abandoned sites.
Throughout the time we spent wandering around Wyoming, my constant companion was my guide dog Fauna. She is always willing to lead me along a new path, no matter how challenging or strenuous. We drove the backwoods trails on gravel roads, bounced along trails only accessible to 4X4 vehicles, and Fauna took it all in stride spending her time sleeping in the back seat waiting until it was time to lead me somewhere. Whether it was 4 in the morning to catch a sunrise or 9 at night, returning home late after sunset she did it all, without complaint, even when it was 18 degrees and freezing cold (she has booties and coats for cold weather and was toasty warm the whole time.). In the coming weeks I will be posting images from our journeys.
I love to hear from my readers! feel free to drop me a message here on my contact form, and follow me on social media, I will happily follow you back.
My Photography: www.tahquechi.com
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Things have been a bit bonkers for me.
Sorry for the absence, and thank you for all the message and well wishes while I was away. I needed some time over the last few months to resolve some family issues. Thigs are finally back on track and I’m back and refreshed. I’ll be posting some new travel tips soon as well as starting a new section here on Blind Travels about something I am really passionate about: photography. Stay tuned!
Thank you Pup Talk!
A big shout out and thank you to Pup Talk for the great article on BlindTravels! You guys are awesome.
Guide Dogs UK celebrates 90 years!
With Guide Dogs UK celebrating their 90th birthday today, the Shropshire Star took some time to publish a great article and shout out how amazing guide dogs are. The article emphasizes just how much independence working guide dogs give their handlers. I write quite often here on BlindTravels about my guide dog Fauna, who was raised and trained by Guide Dogs for the Blind. She is my first guide and I got her in 2018. I lost my sight in 2000 and waited 17 years before putting my hat into the ring and became a client with Guide Dogs for the Blind. The first time I took Fauna for a route was nothing short f life changing for me, the feeling of being able to travel down the sidewalk knowing that I would not run into anything was exhilarating. The net result of getting Fauna meant that I was now able to travel solo again. We traveled constantly throughout 2019, and took a break for COVID in 20202. Since things have settled down a bit in terms of the virus, we have done more traveling, especially to less-traveled locations.
Resources
Herse a link to the article about Guide Dogs UK celebrating 90 years: https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/newport/2021/10/11/how-utterly-incredible-guide-dogs-help-liberate-the-visually-impaired/
Support
Guide Dogs UK and Guide Dogs for the Blind are donation driven, and if you are looking for a good place to donate that will literally change a person’s life then either of these organizations are amazing places to help out. Guide dogs for the Blind are totally donation supported, and I support them several times a year by donating prints of my photography to auctions with all the proceeds going to Guide Dogs for the Blind. Click either of the links above and you can donate directly from their pages.
My story
If you are partially sighted and considering getting a guide dog, you can check out my story at the link below, I documented the whole process of traveling to the Guide Dogs for the Blind campus and spending two weeks learning to handle Fauna.
Guide Dogs UK celebrates 90 years! Congratulations again to Guide Dogs UK! I for one appreciate everything you do for your clients and wish you all the best on your next 90 years! Follow me on social media at the links below. I always love to hear from my readers.
My Photography site: http://www.tahquechi.com/
My travel site: http://www.blindtravels.com/
Twitter and Instagram: @nedskee
Ted | Blind Photographer (@nedskee) • Instagram photos and videos
Blind Badminton
Anyone who regularly follows this blog knows that I am a big fan of travel related technology, and how it affects the lives of f he blind and visually impaired community. But, I love to hear and read about technologies being reimagined for new purposes, especially if those purposes allow members of the visually impaired community to participate in activities that were previously unavailable to them, like sports.
Blind Badminton?
Recently, Yoichi Ochiai, an assistant professor at the University of Tsukuba challenged his students to devise a way for visually impaired participants to play racket sports. The team set out to make one of the most visually demanding games, badminton accessible. They replaced the traditional shuttlecock with a DJI Tello drone and developed a set of rackets (with the strings removed as not to damage the drone) which allow players to “hit” the done to the opponent. The system is still a prototype, and it works with a variety of sensors allowing participants the ability to swing the racket at the drone and change it’s trajectory in predictable ways.
Te teams have successfully integrated the sensors into the handle of the rackets, and players use the sound of the drone as an auditory cue like you would with beeper ball. The drone flies with a cage around it so that players are safe from the spinning propellers and the rackets do not impact the drone when playing. The system shows a lot of promise and I look forward to seeing how the final version of the system is to play a game with. As with anything else, this technology should be leveraged to allow blind community members to participate in other similar sports like tennis.
Here is a link to the original article: https://dronedj.com/2021/09/16/dji-tello-drone-visually-impaired-play-badminton/
My Photography site: http://www.tahquechi.com/
My travel site: http://www.blindtravels.com/
Twitter and Instagram: @nedskee
Ted | Blind Photographer (@nedskee) • Instagram photos and videos
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Winter is coming!
As summer winds down, and the signs of fall are all around us, it is a great time to think about keeping your dog safe during those wintery walks. While I will gear this article toward guide dog users, this information is appropriate for anyone who loves to venture out and walk their dog in brisk weather. You may be thinking to yourself, but Ted, it was 90 degrees outside yesterday, why are you already talking about winter weather? It is never too early to get prepared for bad weather, and some of the things you do to prepare for cold weather can help you when the temps are toasty outside.
How hot is too hot? How cold is too cold?
First and foremost, do not consider this medical advice, and since all dogs (and people) are different take the information here as informational, and please understand that I highly recommend that you check with your veterinarian about your specific dog’s health before beginning a walking regiment or considering taking your dog outside in extreme temperatures. My guide dog Fauna is a 60 pound Black Labrador, and fits within the “average” and “medium” definitions set forth by her veterinarian. She is within a couple pounds of her ideal weight, and we walk and hike regularly for long periods of time. I have coordinated with Fauna’s Veterinarian and the medical staff at Guide Dogs for the Blind, where she was trained to determine that she has a safe operating temperature range between 32 and 68 degrees Fahrenheit. In this range she can walk safely, outside of this range however, precautions need to be observed. If the temperature is over 77F degrees, I always carry some water in a camel back backpack with water and a collapsible bowl for Fauna. I plan stops ahead of time at the halfway point where I offer water and the chance for her to relieve herself. When it is cold is where I tend to err on the side of caution.
Most healthy medium or large dogs can walk for 30-minutes if the temperature is above 20 degrees F. Smaller dogs should limit the walk to 15 or 20 minutes if temps are between 20 to 32 degrees F. If it’s below 0 degrees, no dog should be out for a walk.
Black Labs love to walk, and especially play in the snow. I have been told that Fauna is fine walking regularly without a coat in as low as 20F degrees. I’m not a big fan of walking in that cold of temperature, so I usually limit our outside times to 32 degrees and above when it is cold. I’m sure they are right, and she would be just fine, I just don’t like to be out when it is that cold.
Preparation
If I am going to be outside when it is super warm or freezing cold I will usually put booties on Fauna to protect her feet. In the summer, it doesn’t take long for the asphalt to get over 100 degrees, and icy sidewalks are miserable to walk on, so training our dog to walk in booties BEFORE you need him/her to can be a lifesaver. Even though Fauna is well versed in walking in booties, and uses them year round, we always start our refresher course in September to prepare for winter walking. I suggest buying your booties now, and practicing slowly with them around the house so when it comes time to use the booties in the great outdoors, your dog will be used to them.
Start by putting the booties on your dog for a few minutes a day and building up to longer wearing around the house. Remember to derail any concerns by offering a high value treat during the time your pooch is wearing their new booties. Build up to wearing them outside and for longer periods around the house. The goal is to have your dog comfortable in their booties before they are needed. During this time, your dog will alo train you in the fine art of checking to see if their booties are still on while they learn the bootie life.
My brand
Dog booties get lost all the time, even the most careful of us need to replace a missing bootie. This is why I use Ruffwear booties, it is super easy to order one or two booties as they need to be replaced (pro tip if you are serious about protecting your dogs feet buy an extra set.). Note: this is not a sponsored advertisement, I use the Ruffwear booties on Fauna all the time and trust their fit and ability to stay on even during long walks. Guide dogs are notoriously tough on toys and toher gear, and I have had no issues with their equipment. I also carry a Ruffwear collapsible bowl in my backpack. I’ll put links to the ones I use at the end of this article.
In 2019, Fauna and I photographed The Special Olympics winter games at Eldora Co. The temperature was 20 degrees and Fauna was decked out in her cozy sweater (something I bought at the end of the season on a clearance track) and booties for quite a long time while we shot each of the events. Most times, a sweater is just fine, I reserve booties for when it is especially icy or if the Temperature is close to that 20 degree range.
Conclusion
If you plan to walk in extreme temperatures, getting your pooch used to the gear they will be waring ahead of time will save you a lot of headaches. This goes for booties, sweaters or even water bowls. I know quite a few dogs that aren’t comfortable drinking out of a collapsible bowl when on the trail, so get them used to all the things they need for a trip out in the weather.
Now that you know all there is to know about taking our dog out and walking in extrema weather, get out there and have some fun!
Fauna’s Booties: https://www.amazon.com/RUFFWEAR-Waterproof-Winter-Weather-Obsidian/dp/B08H7TD2FH/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=ruffwear+boots&qid=1631732068&sr=8-4
Fauna’s Bowl: https://www.amazon.com/Ruff-Products-BarkBowl-Tiffany-800ml/dp/B085X4CFX3/ref=sr_1_7?dchild=1&keywords=collapsible+dog+bowl&qid=1631733251&sr=8-7
My Photography site: http://www.tahquechi.com/
My travel site: http://www.blindtravels.com/
Twitter and Instagram: @nedskee
Ted | Blind Photographer (@nedskee) • Instagram photos and videos
Follow me and I will happily follow you back.
Apple adding new disability friendly features to iOS
Apple today is announcing improvements to the iOS operating system, adding new features for users with a variety of disabilities. Of particular interest to the visually impaired community is the improvements to the voice over screen reader which will wil now allow users to identify the contents of images onscreen. If at it’s core, the screen reader will be able to identify people and their emotional state – smiling, crying etc. and be able to read the text on memes it will be a boon to the blind and low vision communities. I know Apple have been working on this technology for a few years now and I for one an happy to see it being implemented as a core feature of the operating system,.
I’m a huge advocate for accessibility in social media, and as part of that I am constantly on a crusade to educate social media influencers on the importance of proper hash tag usage and how image descriptions can not only make the social media experience better for those who are blind and visually impaired, but can have the added benefit of reaching a new audience for their content. Good job on Apple for continuing to make accessibility in their products a priority
Meanwhile, improvements are coming to Apple’s VoiceOver screen reader to allow users to explore objects within images. Apple Watch will become more sensitive to muscle movement and tendon activity to give people with limb differences control over the device without using touch. And, the company is launching a new service called SignTime to allow customers to communicate with Apple support and retail representatives using American Sign Language.
I love to hear from my readers, if you have comments or questions about this or any other article on Blind Travels, please drop me a message on my contact form. You can read my article about making social media more accessible below, and also read the entire article on upcoming developments Apple is working on for their iOS platform
Disability Scoop’s article
Apple Launching New Accessibility Features For Those With Disabilities – Disability Scoop
My article on making social media more accessible.
Making your social media content accessible to the visually impaired
Honda creates new shoe-based navigation for the visually impaired
With the rise of vision impairment disabilities in the population, Honda is joining other companies like Microsoft in creating products for the blind and visually impaired market. From Honda on the creation of Ashirase, Inc.
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. recently announced the establishment of Ashirase, Inc. It is the automaker’s first business venture to come up from Ignition, Honda’s new business creation program.
The Product
Ashirase, Inc., has created an in-shoe navigation system (also called Ashirase) which utilizes a smartphone app and GPS to aid the user in navigating a route entered into the app. Navigational alerts are delivered to the user through vibrators in the shoes. If the user is “on track” for their route, the vibrator in the front of the shoe activates. If the user is off course, there are vibrators in the left and right sides of the shoe to steer the user in the proper direction. The product is slated for market availability before March 31, 2023. According to the articles about the new device, it is intended to replace the white ane and free up th user’s hands when traveling.
Questions
When I hear about new products that are intended to replace the white cane, I always have questions. First, would be obstacle avoidance. According to the available information, the shoes are intended to have a route input into the smartphone app then the vibrators keep you on track to your destination. For me, 90% or traveling from point A to B with my white cane is avoiding things in my path. If I am on a known route, then I know when I am off course and have landmarks along the path to rely on. A navigation aid like this would give a second source of reissuance that I am indeed headed on the proper path to my destination.
I wonder why there are only three vibration points in the shoes. I pass my destination all the time and having a source of input that vibrated on my heel to let me know that I have passed my destination would be a big help.
We reported recently on shoes that use LiDAR to detect obstacles in the user’s path and help them get around their environment. It sounds like a navigation system that tells you were you are going combined with a LiDAR system that tells you what is in your path could really be the next step in visually impaired navigation. These two companies should combine their technology and create an all in one solution.
Conclusion
I love to hear from my readers! Feel free to drop me a message here if you have questions bout this or any other article on blindtravels.com. Follow me on social media – I’ll follow you back.
Instagram: @nedskee
Twitter: @nedskee
My Photography: www.tahquechi.com