Making the Best of Your Vision
What's New!
OrCam MyEye 2.0
For blind and partially sighted people, an artificial vision device with a lightweight smart camera that instantly reads text aloud – from any surface – and recognizes faces, products, and money notes in real time
All packed into a tiny device the size of your finger.
OrCam MyEye 2.0 provides increased independence to wearers who can access newspapers, books, restaurant menus, signs, product labels, computer and smartphone screen, with the device’s Instant face recognition improving social situations. Identification of consumer products, colours, bar codes, labels and money notes makes navigating everyday life more manageable. OrCam MyEye 2.0 is the only wearable artificial vision technology that is activated by an intuitive pointing gesture or simply by following the wearer's gaze – allowing for hands-free use without the need of a smartphone or Wi-Fi.
Register for the Talk to the Experts webinar
Tuesday, 30 June 5 pm AEST
Register Now
Please contact us if you would like assistance with the registration process.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.quantumrlv.com.au/news/new-product-orcam-read/
Introducing the latest product from OrCam; OrCam Read the handheld OCR for any reading difficulty. OrCam Technologies, a leader in personal, AI-driven innovations, has launched its newest assistive technology optical character recognition/text to speech.
OrCam Read brings a novel approach to reading assistance, meticulously designed for people with reading difficulties stemming from mild to moderate vision impairment, reading fatigue, dyslexia, aphasia and those who consume large amounts of text.
The device is intuitively operated, with just the press of a button. Either listen via the mini speaker on the device or through headphones (wired or Bluetooth). OrCam Read is the most efficient smart pen on the market, with Speed Reading and the only one with ‘Full Page Capture’. It is designed for all ages and does not require an internet connection.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
OrCam MyEye has been generating a staggering amount of news. Such is the interest and excitement about OrCam that it has been featured on prime time news and current affairs for the last year and continues to feature in newspapers and on radio around the country. There is a very simple reason for this level of interest. It works!! Orcam offers a new way to access the written word, anywhere and at any time, independent of your age, eye condition or reading capability.
https://www.quantumrlv.com.au/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/LiveWire-Low-Vision-Issue-43-May-2019-.pdf
OrCam MyEye has been making a huge difference to the lives of people that have purchased one. People like Susie Barrington, who purchased hers with funding from the NDIS. “The OrCam is incredible. It has made such a huge impact on my life” says Susie. Unfortunately, the NDIS has been a mixed blessing with a number of people being refused funding. If you need help with your NDIS application please contact us; we can work with you and your planner to make sure your application meets the NDIS requirements. We know that the Orcam is positively ensuring daily living goals are met. Also in this issue we provide some reasons why OrCam provides such a unique opportunity for accessing information. Tel: 1 300 883 853 32
VERY Good video: https://www.orcam.com/en/about/
Gives what IS Possible...
https://www.orcam.com/en/
https://www.orcam.com/en/myeye2/
The OrCam MyEye 2.0 is a the size of your finger device that latches to the side of sunglasses or spectacles and reads out loud - on demand. By using simple pointing gestures, OrCam can detect the print or electronic text that you wish to read, and instantly read it back in your ear with a natural sounding voice.
In addition to reading near and distant print, OrCam 2.0 can also :
• Recognise faces of friends, colleagues and family
• Identify products by reading barcodes, banknotes and colours.
Reads text
Reads any printed or digital text: newspapers, books, restaurant menus, signs, product labels, computer and smartphone screens. // All become accessible to you in an instant.
Recognise Faces.
Real-time identification of faces. // Recognize products, credit cards, money notes and more. // Great in social situations and gives independence.
For everyone.
All you have to do is point. // Recognizes simple hand gestures. // Ideal for use at work or at school, at home or on the go. // Good for all ages and any level of vision.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on April 23, 2020
New AI technology released in handheld reading device
OrCam Read – The handheld OCR solution for any reading difficulty.
See OrCam Read in action: youtu.be/FtfOCFO8CKA
OrCam Technologies, a leader in personal, AI-driven innovations, has launched its newest assistive technology optical character recognition / text to speech (OCR/TTS) device, the handheld OrCam Read.
OrCam Read brings a novel approach to reading assistance, meticulously designed for people with reading difficulties stemming from mild to moderate vision impairment, reading fatigue, dyslexia, aphasia and those who consume large amounts of text.
It is the first-ever lightweight, handheld device with a highly sophisticated AI-driven smart camera that seamlessly reads text from any printed surface or digital screen. It enables you to enjoy the morning paper, read any book and even read all that appears on your computer or smartphone screen. Read the text that you choose privately, improve your time studying, work more efficiently!
Call Now: 1300 883 853.
The device is intuitively operated, with just the press of a button. Either listen via the mini speaker on the device or through headphones (wired or Bluetooth). OrCam Read is the most efficient smart pen on the market, with Speed Reading and the only one with Full Page Capture. It is designed for all ages and does not require an internet connection.
OrCam Read is the perfect solution for students, working professionals and individuals with a heavy reading volume. The lightweight and compact design can be easily accessed from its case or simply worn around the neck for quick use.
BUY ORCAM READ
and now
Microsoft’s Seeing AI app for visually impaired people released in the UK.
https://news.microsoft.com/en-gb/2017/11/15/microsofts-seeing-ai-app-for-visually-impaired-people-released-in-the-uk/
Microsoft’s Seeing AI app, which helps blind and partially sighted people by narrating the world around them, has been released in the UK.
The free program uses artificial intelligence to recognise objects, people and text via a phone or tablet’s camera and describes them to the user.
The program lets users recognise:
and
OrCam MyEye: An intuitive portable device with a smart camera mounted on the frames of your eyeglasses, OrCam harnesses the power of Artificial Vision to assist people who are visually impaired. OrCam recognizes text, products and faces, and speaks to you through a mini earpiece.
Easy to use. Watch the video here to give you a feel for what Is Possible...
and this Very Good Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__qk7RX74r4
Breakthrough artificial vision technology – built into a miniature smart camera which sits on the wearer’s eyeglasses frame – converts visual information into the spoken word.
OrCam reads any printed text, on any surface, including newspapers, books, computer screens, restaurant menus, labels on supermarket products, and street signs, instantly relaying it to the user through a built-in mini speaker. OrCam MyEye also recognizes stored faces of individuals and identifies consumer products.
OrCam MyReader focuses on the revolutionary text-to-speech functionality, activated by simply pointing your finger or pressing a button.
OrCam gives independence.
All you have to do is point.
OrCam is a small wearable device that will change the way we think about accessing information. https://www.quantumrlv.com.au/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/LiveWire4Education-Issue-16-5.pdf
OrCam utilises a small camera mounted on a user’s eyeglass frame, to instantly read any printed text in the immediate environment.
Via a discreet earpiece, the device can read text from any source – including newspapers, books, computer screens, phones, restaurant menus, and street signs. There are 2 versions of OrCam;
OrCam Reader – designed for people who struggle to read due to dyslexia and other cognitive issues.
OrCam MyEye – designed for people who are vision impaired or blind.
Read Just What You Need
All you have to do is point! As you point your finger at any printed information, the software in OrCam MyEye will recognise the text and read it out to you. You can interrupt it as it is talking and point to the next piece of text you want to read. This means that a person can scan and skim read a document, just like regular reading.
Read the Whole Page
If you know you want to read the whole page you can simply look at the page and press a button on the small control box and it will read the whole page. The control box is about the size of a smartphone and sits in your pocket when not in use.
Just 10 years ago this product would have sounded like science fiction. But today it is a reality and we have units to demonstrate and show you how well it works.
Check out this YouTube clip to see how OrCam can change lives: https://youtu.be/bYTmUNdBqAg.
The OrCam MyEye device responds to a simple intuitive gesture – a point of your finger or the press of a single button. Whether it’s to read, find an item or recognize a product, it responds instantly. No need to search for audio books, learn new software or use other tools.
Contact us
NSW: 02 9479 3100
VIC: 03 9545 4100
QLD: 07 3831 4894
When vision loss occurs, the way in which we use light, size and colour contrast becomes very important for reading, seeing detail and doing everyday tasks. Using other senses such as touch, hearing, taste and smell can also help.
Four Key Principles:
There is a set of key principles that can help to make the most of your vision and other senses. When faced with everyday tasks for which you need to see detail, think:
Brighter: Is there enough close light?
Bigger: Can the detail be made bigger?
Bolder: Is there enough contrast?
Other senses: Can I use my other senses?
One, or a combination of these factors, can often make a task easier to complete.
In addition, you may need to consider getting advice on visual or tactile makers, ways to re-organise the task or area, or using a piece of adaptive equipment to assist with completing the task.
Brighter environments allow better vision Improving general and focused or task lighting can make objects and printed material easier to see. An adjustable desk or task lamp can be useful for specific tasks. It should be bent down very close, sometimes only 30cm (12 inches) away from your work.
The light should shine directly onto what you are looking at and should be below eye level.
Natural light is also useful. Keep windows as clean as possible to transmit the greatest amount of light. Work with your back to the window in order to minimise glare.
Big is generally easier to see than small
· Move closer to what you are looking at, e.g. the television.
· Whenever possible, choose large print, e.g. calendar, clock, books.
· Use a photocopier to enlarge crosswords or music or recipes.
· A magnifier or magnifier light can help with tasks such as reading and sewing. Vision Australia staff can prescribe the most appropriate magnifier for your needs.
Bolder colours and surfaces stand out Make an object stand out visually from its background. Black on white or white on black produces the best contrast for many people, but sometimes just putting light colours against dark backgrounds is enough to see more clearly. It is not difficult to use colour contrast well, nor is it expensive.
Here are some examples:
· Use a black felt tipped pen for writing.
· Put a white cup and plate on a dark coloured placemat (avoid patterns), and vice versa.
· Have a chopping board that contrasts to your kitchen bench or your food. You may like to have two chopping boards; a dark one to contrast with lighter foods, and a light one to contrast with darker foods.
· In work areas, like garages, have a white plastic placemat so you can place small dark objects on it, and vice versa.
· Use contrasting electrical tape around light switches and power sockets.
· Paint the edge of difficult steps with a 2.5 cm (1-inch) wide strip of contrasting paint. Paint the riser as well, so that the step can be seen when ascending and descending. Paint handrails darker, or lighter, to contrast with the wall.
· Contrast the edges of tables in the dining room or any piece of furniture where you are likely to knock yourself.
· Use a contrasting towel or cloth when doing handicrafts, e.g. use a light coloured cloth on your lap when knitting with dark wool or vice versa. Use dark needles with light wool and vice versa.
· Place white electrical tape, coloured stickers or a dab of liquid paper on the buttons of your TV remote, CD player or other appliances. Only mark a couple of buttons on each appliance. Too many markings can be confusing.
Using Your Other Senses As well as using these principles, some of the frustrations and difficulties with daily tasks can be overcome by using your other senses - touch, hearing, smell and taste. Trusting other senses can be a challenge for many people. Give yourself time to practice and to build up your confidence in new ways of doing things
Here are some examples of using other senses to do everyday tasks.
Touch:
· Run your hand over a surface when you have wiped it down to check if it is clean.
· When peeling vegetables, use touch to feel if there is still skin left.
· Identify coins by their shape, size and milling.
· Use touch when fitting keys into locks.
· Knitters can learn the feel of the different types of stitches.
The 'bolder' contrast principle can be applied to tactile contrast. Make something stand out from its background by making it feel different. Tactile markings such as Polymark or Velcro can be put onto appliances to locate the various settings. Mark only the settings you use all the time. Vision Australia stocks a number of different tactile markers.
Sound · Pour liquid into a container and listen to the change in sound as it fills.
· Listen to how vigorously something is cooking - is it simmering or boiling?
· Listen for the clicks of switches as you turn an appliance on and off.
· Use talking and audible devices such as clocks and kitchen scales.
Taste Differentiate between different foods such as salt or sugar, or different herbs and spices
Smell:
· Check for freshness of fruit and vegetables or other foods.
· Is your food cooked or burning? What does the smell indicate?
Learning to trust your other senses may require some practice but can lead to feeling safer and more confident on a daily basis.
Be organised:
One additional strategy that people find useful is organisation. Eliminate clutter around the home. Have a place for everything and everything in its place.
Contact us Call: 1300 84 74 66
TTY: 02 9334 3260
Fax: 1300 84 73 29
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.visionaustralia.org
The Vision Australia Connect App is free and connects to the online library catalogue using a smartphone, iPad, tablet or other compatible devices. It is easy to download and use.
The i-access Library is the online library catalogue of Vision Australia. and includes 40,000+ audio and braille titles, 400+ newspapers, magazines and podcasts. You need to enter login details and if you are not a member, you can contact by phone or email to obtain these.
The material can be either read immediately (streamed with Wifi) or downloaded (with Wifi) to be read later. The online catalogue can be searched, and selections added to the bookshelf. Vision Australia Radio can also be listened to through the app.
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You can navigate with a keyboard:
If you are not using a mouse to navigate on the website, you can navigate on the keyboard. Refer to your browser's help for details on the keys to use.
You can change the font size:
If the text on our site is too small for you to read you can change the font or text size in your web browser to make it easier to read the information. You can change the font size for all websites you visit.
To change the font style or colours:
If you find some colours and font styles clearer than others you can change them to make reading the webpage easier. Change the font style in your web browser to suit your needs.
-------------------------------
Gold Coast City Libraries have a Special Needs Library at Southport and Nerang.
Cnr Price and White St., Nerang Phone 5581 7180
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 9am to 6pm; Thurs 9am to 7pm, Sat 9am to 1pm.
Nerang Branch library has disabled parking and a lift.
To borrow from the Special Needs Library and under 18 yrs of age, a referral from a health, GP or education professional is required.
Gold Coast City Libraries at Southport and Nerang have a large range of specialised equipment and resources to benefit adults. Their resources may prove helpful for those caring for anyone with the following conditions:
Specialised equipment can be used to:
Assistive reading help for people with low vision
City Libraries now have helpful Clearview Readers - unique magnifiers that are designed to improve the reading experience for people for who find reading has become difficult or tiring due to low vision.
Each Clearview Reader can also convert printed text into speech in over 30 languages and can assist with literacy skill development.
-----------------------------------
Are you vision impairment or have limited vision?
Many assistive technologies are becoming widely available to assist people with low vision or vision impairment to maintain their independence and safety in the home, workplace and the community.
Our occupational therapist can recommend the appropriate assistive technology for low vision enabling you to:
If you are not quite sure what vision aids you require, we are also able to help you with recommendations on how you can get vision assistive technology into your NDIS plan (needs assessment).
CONTACT DETAILS 400 Newmarket Road, Newmarket Qld 4051
[email protected]
1300 LIFETEC (1300 543 383)
OPEN TIMINGSMon – Fri : 8.30 am – 4.30 pm
What's New!
OrCam MyEye 2.0
For blind and partially sighted people, an artificial vision device with a lightweight smart camera that instantly reads text aloud – from any surface – and recognizes faces, products, and money notes in real time
All packed into a tiny device the size of your finger.
OrCam MyEye 2.0 provides increased independence to wearers who can access newspapers, books, restaurant menus, signs, product labels, computer and smartphone screen, with the device’s Instant face recognition improving social situations. Identification of consumer products, colours, bar codes, labels and money notes makes navigating everyday life more manageable. OrCam MyEye 2.0 is the only wearable artificial vision technology that is activated by an intuitive pointing gesture or simply by following the wearer's gaze – allowing for hands-free use without the need of a smartphone or Wi-Fi.
Register for the Talk to the Experts webinar
Tuesday, 30 June 5 pm AEST
Register Now
Please contact us if you would like assistance with the registration process.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
https://www.quantumrlv.com.au/news/new-product-orcam-read/
Introducing the latest product from OrCam; OrCam Read the handheld OCR for any reading difficulty. OrCam Technologies, a leader in personal, AI-driven innovations, has launched its newest assistive technology optical character recognition/text to speech.
OrCam Read brings a novel approach to reading assistance, meticulously designed for people with reading difficulties stemming from mild to moderate vision impairment, reading fatigue, dyslexia, aphasia and those who consume large amounts of text.
The device is intuitively operated, with just the press of a button. Either listen via the mini speaker on the device or through headphones (wired or Bluetooth). OrCam Read is the most efficient smart pen on the market, with Speed Reading and the only one with ‘Full Page Capture’. It is designed for all ages and does not require an internet connection.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
OrCam MyEye has been generating a staggering amount of news. Such is the interest and excitement about OrCam that it has been featured on prime time news and current affairs for the last year and continues to feature in newspapers and on radio around the country. There is a very simple reason for this level of interest. It works!! Orcam offers a new way to access the written word, anywhere and at any time, independent of your age, eye condition or reading capability.
https://www.quantumrlv.com.au/news/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/LiveWire-Low-Vision-Issue-43-May-2019-.pdf
OrCam MyEye has been making a huge difference to the lives of people that have purchased one. People like Susie Barrington, who purchased hers with funding from the NDIS. “The OrCam is incredible. It has made such a huge impact on my life” says Susie. Unfortunately, the NDIS has been a mixed blessing with a number of people being refused funding. If you need help with your NDIS application please contact us; we can work with you and your planner to make sure your application meets the NDIS requirements. We know that the Orcam is positively ensuring daily living goals are met. Also in this issue we provide some reasons why OrCam provides such a unique opportunity for accessing information. Tel: 1 300 883 853 32
VERY Good video: https://www.orcam.com/en/about/
Gives what IS Possible...
https://www.orcam.com/en/
https://www.orcam.com/en/myeye2/
The OrCam MyEye 2.0 is a the size of your finger device that latches to the side of sunglasses or spectacles and reads out loud - on demand. By using simple pointing gestures, OrCam can detect the print or electronic text that you wish to read, and instantly read it back in your ear with a natural sounding voice.
In addition to reading near and distant print, OrCam 2.0 can also :
• Recognise faces of friends, colleagues and family
• Identify products by reading barcodes, banknotes and colours.
Reads text
Reads any printed or digital text: newspapers, books, restaurant menus, signs, product labels, computer and smartphone screens. // All become accessible to you in an instant.
Recognise Faces.
Real-time identification of faces. // Recognize products, credit cards, money notes and more. // Great in social situations and gives independence.
For everyone.
All you have to do is point. // Recognizes simple hand gestures. // Ideal for use at work or at school, at home or on the go. // Good for all ages and any level of vision.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on April 23, 2020
New AI technology released in handheld reading device
OrCam Read – The handheld OCR solution for any reading difficulty.
See OrCam Read in action: youtu.be/FtfOCFO8CKA
OrCam Technologies, a leader in personal, AI-driven innovations, has launched its newest assistive technology optical character recognition / text to speech (OCR/TTS) device, the handheld OrCam Read.
OrCam Read brings a novel approach to reading assistance, meticulously designed for people with reading difficulties stemming from mild to moderate vision impairment, reading fatigue, dyslexia, aphasia and those who consume large amounts of text.
It is the first-ever lightweight, handheld device with a highly sophisticated AI-driven smart camera that seamlessly reads text from any printed surface or digital screen. It enables you to enjoy the morning paper, read any book and even read all that appears on your computer or smartphone screen. Read the text that you choose privately, improve your time studying, work more efficiently!
Call Now: 1300 883 853.
The device is intuitively operated, with just the press of a button. Either listen via the mini speaker on the device or through headphones (wired or Bluetooth). OrCam Read is the most efficient smart pen on the market, with Speed Reading and the only one with Full Page Capture. It is designed for all ages and does not require an internet connection.
OrCam Read is the perfect solution for students, working professionals and individuals with a heavy reading volume. The lightweight and compact design can be easily accessed from its case or simply worn around the neck for quick use.
BUY ORCAM READ
and now
Microsoft’s Seeing AI app for visually impaired people released in the UK.
https://news.microsoft.com/en-gb/2017/11/15/microsofts-seeing-ai-app-for-visually-impaired-people-released-in-the-uk/
Microsoft’s Seeing AI app, which helps blind and partially sighted people by narrating the world around them, has been released in the UK.
The free program uses artificial intelligence to recognise objects, people and text via a phone or tablet’s camera and describes them to the user.
The program lets users recognise:
- Text – speaks text as soon as it appears in front of the camera
- Documents – provides audio guidance to capture a printed page, and recognizes the text, along with its original formatting
- Products – scans barcodes, using audio beeps to guide you; hear the name, and package information when available
- People – allows users to saves friends’ faces in their contact list so they can be recognized later
- Scenes (early preview) – hear an overall description of the scene captured
- Images in other apps – just tap “Share” and “Recognize with Seeing AI” to describe images from emails, photos, Twitter and more.
- The app is now available for iOS devices in the UK, Ireland and Australia, after being released in the United States, Canada, India, Hong Kong, New Zealand and Singapore earlier this year.
and
OrCam MyEye: An intuitive portable device with a smart camera mounted on the frames of your eyeglasses, OrCam harnesses the power of Artificial Vision to assist people who are visually impaired. OrCam recognizes text, products and faces, and speaks to you through a mini earpiece.
Easy to use. Watch the video here to give you a feel for what Is Possible...
and this Very Good Video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__qk7RX74r4
Breakthrough artificial vision technology – built into a miniature smart camera which sits on the wearer’s eyeglasses frame – converts visual information into the spoken word.
OrCam reads any printed text, on any surface, including newspapers, books, computer screens, restaurant menus, labels on supermarket products, and street signs, instantly relaying it to the user through a built-in mini speaker. OrCam MyEye also recognizes stored faces of individuals and identifies consumer products.
OrCam MyReader focuses on the revolutionary text-to-speech functionality, activated by simply pointing your finger or pressing a button.
OrCam gives independence.
All you have to do is point.
OrCam is a small wearable device that will change the way we think about accessing information. https://www.quantumrlv.com.au/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/LiveWire4Education-Issue-16-5.pdf
OrCam utilises a small camera mounted on a user’s eyeglass frame, to instantly read any printed text in the immediate environment.
Via a discreet earpiece, the device can read text from any source – including newspapers, books, computer screens, phones, restaurant menus, and street signs. There are 2 versions of OrCam;
OrCam Reader – designed for people who struggle to read due to dyslexia and other cognitive issues.
OrCam MyEye – designed for people who are vision impaired or blind.
Read Just What You Need
All you have to do is point! As you point your finger at any printed information, the software in OrCam MyEye will recognise the text and read it out to you. You can interrupt it as it is talking and point to the next piece of text you want to read. This means that a person can scan and skim read a document, just like regular reading.
Read the Whole Page
If you know you want to read the whole page you can simply look at the page and press a button on the small control box and it will read the whole page. The control box is about the size of a smartphone and sits in your pocket when not in use.
Just 10 years ago this product would have sounded like science fiction. But today it is a reality and we have units to demonstrate and show you how well it works.
Check out this YouTube clip to see how OrCam can change lives: https://youtu.be/bYTmUNdBqAg.
The OrCam MyEye device responds to a simple intuitive gesture – a point of your finger or the press of a single button. Whether it’s to read, find an item or recognize a product, it responds instantly. No need to search for audio books, learn new software or use other tools.
Contact us
NSW: 02 9479 3100
VIC: 03 9545 4100
QLD: 07 3831 4894
When vision loss occurs, the way in which we use light, size and colour contrast becomes very important for reading, seeing detail and doing everyday tasks. Using other senses such as touch, hearing, taste and smell can also help.
Four Key Principles:
There is a set of key principles that can help to make the most of your vision and other senses. When faced with everyday tasks for which you need to see detail, think:
Brighter: Is there enough close light?
Bigger: Can the detail be made bigger?
Bolder: Is there enough contrast?
Other senses: Can I use my other senses?
One, or a combination of these factors, can often make a task easier to complete.
In addition, you may need to consider getting advice on visual or tactile makers, ways to re-organise the task or area, or using a piece of adaptive equipment to assist with completing the task.
Brighter environments allow better vision Improving general and focused or task lighting can make objects and printed material easier to see. An adjustable desk or task lamp can be useful for specific tasks. It should be bent down very close, sometimes only 30cm (12 inches) away from your work.
The light should shine directly onto what you are looking at and should be below eye level.
Natural light is also useful. Keep windows as clean as possible to transmit the greatest amount of light. Work with your back to the window in order to minimise glare.
Big is generally easier to see than small
· Move closer to what you are looking at, e.g. the television.
· Whenever possible, choose large print, e.g. calendar, clock, books.
· Use a photocopier to enlarge crosswords or music or recipes.
· A magnifier or magnifier light can help with tasks such as reading and sewing. Vision Australia staff can prescribe the most appropriate magnifier for your needs.
Bolder colours and surfaces stand out Make an object stand out visually from its background. Black on white or white on black produces the best contrast for many people, but sometimes just putting light colours against dark backgrounds is enough to see more clearly. It is not difficult to use colour contrast well, nor is it expensive.
Here are some examples:
· Use a black felt tipped pen for writing.
· Put a white cup and plate on a dark coloured placemat (avoid patterns), and vice versa.
· Have a chopping board that contrasts to your kitchen bench or your food. You may like to have two chopping boards; a dark one to contrast with lighter foods, and a light one to contrast with darker foods.
· In work areas, like garages, have a white plastic placemat so you can place small dark objects on it, and vice versa.
· Use contrasting electrical tape around light switches and power sockets.
· Paint the edge of difficult steps with a 2.5 cm (1-inch) wide strip of contrasting paint. Paint the riser as well, so that the step can be seen when ascending and descending. Paint handrails darker, or lighter, to contrast with the wall.
· Contrast the edges of tables in the dining room or any piece of furniture where you are likely to knock yourself.
· Use a contrasting towel or cloth when doing handicrafts, e.g. use a light coloured cloth on your lap when knitting with dark wool or vice versa. Use dark needles with light wool and vice versa.
· Place white electrical tape, coloured stickers or a dab of liquid paper on the buttons of your TV remote, CD player or other appliances. Only mark a couple of buttons on each appliance. Too many markings can be confusing.
Using Your Other Senses As well as using these principles, some of the frustrations and difficulties with daily tasks can be overcome by using your other senses - touch, hearing, smell and taste. Trusting other senses can be a challenge for many people. Give yourself time to practice and to build up your confidence in new ways of doing things
Here are some examples of using other senses to do everyday tasks.
Touch:
· Run your hand over a surface when you have wiped it down to check if it is clean.
· When peeling vegetables, use touch to feel if there is still skin left.
· Identify coins by their shape, size and milling.
· Use touch when fitting keys into locks.
· Knitters can learn the feel of the different types of stitches.
The 'bolder' contrast principle can be applied to tactile contrast. Make something stand out from its background by making it feel different. Tactile markings such as Polymark or Velcro can be put onto appliances to locate the various settings. Mark only the settings you use all the time. Vision Australia stocks a number of different tactile markers.
Sound · Pour liquid into a container and listen to the change in sound as it fills.
· Listen to how vigorously something is cooking - is it simmering or boiling?
· Listen for the clicks of switches as you turn an appliance on and off.
· Use talking and audible devices such as clocks and kitchen scales.
Taste Differentiate between different foods such as salt or sugar, or different herbs and spices
Smell:
· Check for freshness of fruit and vegetables or other foods.
· Is your food cooked or burning? What does the smell indicate?
Learning to trust your other senses may require some practice but can lead to feeling safer and more confident on a daily basis.
Be organised:
One additional strategy that people find useful is organisation. Eliminate clutter around the home. Have a place for everything and everything in its place.
Contact us Call: 1300 84 74 66
TTY: 02 9334 3260
Fax: 1300 84 73 29
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.visionaustralia.org
The Vision Australia Connect App is free and connects to the online library catalogue using a smartphone, iPad, tablet or other compatible devices. It is easy to download and use.
The i-access Library is the online library catalogue of Vision Australia. and includes 40,000+ audio and braille titles, 400+ newspapers, magazines and podcasts. You need to enter login details and if you are not a member, you can contact by phone or email to obtain these.
The material can be either read immediately (streamed with Wifi) or downloaded (with Wifi) to be read later. The online catalogue can be searched, and selections added to the bookshelf. Vision Australia Radio can also be listened to through the app.
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You can navigate with a keyboard:
If you are not using a mouse to navigate on the website, you can navigate on the keyboard. Refer to your browser's help for details on the keys to use.
You can change the font size:
If the text on our site is too small for you to read you can change the font or text size in your web browser to make it easier to read the information. You can change the font size for all websites you visit.
To change the font style or colours:
If you find some colours and font styles clearer than others you can change them to make reading the webpage easier. Change the font style in your web browser to suit your needs.
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Gold Coast City Libraries have a Special Needs Library at Southport and Nerang.
Cnr Price and White St., Nerang Phone 5581 7180
Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri 9am to 6pm; Thurs 9am to 7pm, Sat 9am to 1pm.
Nerang Branch library has disabled parking and a lift.
To borrow from the Special Needs Library and under 18 yrs of age, a referral from a health, GP or education professional is required.
Gold Coast City Libraries at Southport and Nerang have a large range of specialised equipment and resources to benefit adults. Their resources may prove helpful for those caring for anyone with the following conditions:
- Stroke
- Head injury
- Intellectual impairment
- Dementia
- Arthritis
- Parkinson's Disease
- Memory problems
Specialised equipment can be used to:
- Enhance hand and finger movements
- Stimulate thinking
- Practise memory tests
- Encourage planning and organisation
- Practise communication
- Develop visual perceptual skills
- Encourage interaction between the generations
Assistive reading help for people with low vision
City Libraries now have helpful Clearview Readers - unique magnifiers that are designed to improve the reading experience for people for who find reading has become difficult or tiring due to low vision.
Each Clearview Reader can also convert printed text into speech in over 30 languages and can assist with literacy skill development.
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Are you vision impairment or have limited vision?
Many assistive technologies are becoming widely available to assist people with low vision or vision impairment to maintain their independence and safety in the home, workplace and the community.
Our occupational therapist can recommend the appropriate assistive technology for low vision enabling you to:
- Be safe and independent at home
- Read newspapers, books and magazines
- Enjoy and participate in leisure and recreational activities
- Communicate with loved ones
- Navigate the community
- Recognise faces of people you know and products when shopping
- Continue to have access to the digital and social world
- Use computers to support you in the workplace
If you are not quite sure what vision aids you require, we are also able to help you with recommendations on how you can get vision assistive technology into your NDIS plan (needs assessment).
CONTACT DETAILS 400 Newmarket Road, Newmarket Qld 4051
[email protected]
1300 LIFETEC (1300 543 383)
OPEN TIMINGSMon – Fri : 8.30 am – 4.30 pm