We all take small or bigger steps, which at the right pace lead us to where we want to go!

The Half Marathon can be a challenge to keep pushing ourselves one step further. However, to ensure race day runs as smoothly as possible, planning and consistency are key. So let’s see together everything we need to know in order for our race to be crowned with absolute success!

1. The importance of preparation
Preparation is the most important part of training for a Half Marathon, and it’s not just about running long distances.
The key is to cover your weekly mileage and build it up over time to get your body used to covering long distances at a good pace. This way you avoid exhaustion from pushing yourself too hard and prevent injury from trying to go too far too soon.
When it comes to training, it’s important to follow an exercise routine that takes into account your current fitness level, setting realistic, achievable goals until you’re ready for the Half Marathon.

2. Proper nutrition
Balanced amounts of carbohydrates, proteins and fats are recommended at meals, combined with healthy snacks. We do not forget the essential micronutrients, which are important for maintaining our health and performance.
On the day of the race: Ideally, we choose meals that contain carbohydrates, such as pasta, cereal bars, etc. Good hydration before and during the race itself. In the material you will receive you will find a full nutritional bar with granola and peanut butter from Vazaki Juice Bar, which you can consume 2 hours before, and energy gel from X-TREME STORES to have with you during the race.

3. The right clothes & shoes
Choose the right shoes and socks that you will wear on the day of the match. Shoes should not only be relatively light but also provide good support. Socks must be the same type you wear in all matches. If the shoes you choose are not the ones you train in, you should wear them and run at least 10 kilometers at marathon pace. This test will show if there’s a chance you’ll be hit before it’s too late.
The clothes should also be of light composition, so that they do not weigh you down during the race. That is why we have made sure that the Amymonis T-Shirt that will be included in the material you will receive is dri-fit.

4. Training before the race
Whether you’re training on a treadmill or outdoors, you can set mini finish lines to motivate you as you go, so you’re always running toward a goal and always have that sense of accomplishment. Set a goal, whether it’s distance or time, that will motivate you and help you work steadily until race day.

5. Motivation
If you lack the motivation to include training in your daily life, find a partner. Someone to encourage you and keep you on your toes, someone to share every step of this exciting journey with, celebrate every victory together and laugh at every story.

6. Beware of overtraining
When it comes to Half Marathon training, pushing yourself to cover a long distance or run too fast could actually be disastrous. Overtraining, when we train more often than we should, can lead to muscle soreness, weakness, poor performance, and even injury. Think like the tortoise and not the hare… because he who goes slow and steady always wins the race!

7. After the match
Good hydration of the body, with plenty of water and drinks, meals of high nutritional value and avoiding alcohol is recommended. We should also not overlook the value of good sleep. In the following days, make sure that your sleep is sufficient and of good quality. Also, in the material you will receive, you will find a single dose of vegetable protein from AMINO ANIMO, which you can consume after the race, and it will help with muscle recovery, together with a mini bubble bath with the aroma of mountain tea and a soothing massage cream for the treatment of the areas around the joints, for ultimate relaxation and recovery after the race.

8. The target
Finally, every time you think about giving up, remember that you are running for a greater purpose! All of us in Amymoni are grateful that you will run for our children and we will be there at the start to give you all our positive energy and at the finish to celebrate your victory!

We thank Panagiotis Xidia, Gymnast & Head of Physical Education at the “Irida” Day Center of Amymoni, for his assistance in training and nutrition advice.

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Khalil Al-Safouri is a visually impaired student at the UNRWA Ein al Asal school in Lebanon. Khalil has been visually impaired since he was born. His limited vision greatly affected his academic attainment during his early school years. It was difficult for him to differentiate letters of the alphabet given his vision challenges.

His visual impairment hasn’t stopped Khalil from developing a strong love for knowledge. “I have a strong attachment to education. It is the only way for us to build a better future. There have been great challenges in my path to achieving my goals. But even though I’ve had to overcome difficulties because of my eyesight, nothing will be able to stop me from reaching my full potential,” he says.

One person that Khalil credits for helping him on his journey is his UNRWA school counselor. Mr Abed Albaset Hamoud and Ms. Lina Zeidan Gregularly communicated with Khalil’s parents and teachers. Khalil’s recalls, “I love my school because of the kindness and love my counselor and teachers give me. I also love the encouragement and patience that my geography teacher shows me every day. I love teacher Sanaa, who always plays with me and my friends. This support has helped me tremendously as I face the challenges in my life.”

He adds, smiling broadly from behind his small Braille book, with his glasses polished and his body upright with ambition and clear purpose: “I love to take care for animals and I dream of becoming a veterinarian one day. I want to be the first veterinarian to take care of the animals in the camp. This is my dream even though I have vision problems! I know this will make my dream harder to achieve but I’ve learned that nothing is impossible and nothing can stop a person from dreaming.” He continues, “I am supported not only by my teachers, but also by my classmates! They always make an effort to include me in extracurricular activities. I love the spirit of kindness and companionship I have been shown,” he says.

Khaled, as described by his teacher Ms. Sanaa, is a smart, active and eloquent child. He engages with his friends in his class, discusses and has initiatives. His self-confidence is unique and not typical of children his age. “He really deserves attention and care,” reiterates Ms. Sanaa, “We work hard to help him in any way we can to achieve his dreams.”

Thanks to donors like the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Centre, UNRWA was able to open the doors of its 711 schools across the Middle East on time for all its students. The Agency thanks the Government of Saudi Arabia and its humanitarian arm KSrelief for its support and dedication to Palestine refugee families in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan, Gaza and the West Bank (including East Jerusalem).

Source: unrwa.org

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Having to deal with sight loss or low vision is merely one of the challenges that the visually impaired are facing when living life. Blind individuals are just like anyone else but they just can’t see. Is this case as simple in real life as in our minds, though?

As one of Envision’s founders said in his TEDxGouda talk, we have built a world around us that serves the majority. That means that any individual different than the average, such as the visually impaired, faces difficulties because they’re not what is considered to be average. This article aims to shed light upon the challenges the visually impaired face just by living life and being the odd ones out.

Access to information: The major sensory organ of a person is their eyes. One glimpse around us is enough to make us realize how visual is most of the information in our environment. Timetables in train stations, signs indicating the right way or potential danger, a billboard advertising a new product in the market, these are all the visual types of information we all come across in our daily life. Most of this information is inaccessible for the blind and the visually impaired, inhibiting their independence, since access to information signifies autonomy.

Overly helpful individuals: It’s very common for sighted individuals, strangers, friends or family, to be overly excited to help a visually impaired person. Very frequently, this behavior holds the assumption that the blind or low vision individual requires assistance, although this might not reflect reality. Blind people might perform a regular task slower but that doesn’t mean they’re incapable of completing it. Rushing to help the visually impaired without asking or being asked to do so, might make them feel helpless instead of independent. Moreover, not allowing a visually impaired individual perform a task by themselves, does not give them the room to learn how to do so independently.
A blind man using the white cane is holding on to a sighted person who is visibly absorbed by his smartphone. The blind man says “We are almost there”.

Societal stigma: Being blind in a world suited for the sighted, it means there will be multiple normal mishaps. Stumbling upon an office chair that wasn’t neatly tucked under the desk or knocking a glass off the table because it was left right on the edge, are small accidents that can happen and that’s okay. However, such mishaps tend to be perceived by sighted individuals as the inability of the visually impaired to perform tasks, while, in reality, they stem from the inaccessibility of our world. Blindness or low vision does not indicate the intelligence of the individual nor how sad their life is. Just because the sighted cannot imagine their world without vision does not mean that the visually impaired have a sad or unhappy life because of their visual condition.

Finding and keeping a job: Work is a whole different matter if you’re visually impaired. Considering the lack of accessible work and working spaces, one can already imagine why hiring a visually impaired individual would be considered a liability for a company. This has a negative impact on the confidence and emotional well-being of the visually impaired, while it totally cripples their economic independence. Having little to no opportunity to support oneself, blind or low vision individuals are incapacitated from their independence.

Leisure: The lack of accessibility for the visually impaired is central to a number of the issues the blind or low visual individuals face. Leisure is another one on the list. There is a limited number of inclusive/accessible activities for the visually impaired, which are as simple as a museum visit. Moreover, accessible books are not abundant either. According to the World Blind Union, “more than 90% of all published material is not accessible to the blind or partially sighted.” The internet, as in the new era we all surf the internet for fun, is not fully accessible either, since numerous websites disregard their visually impaired visitors and do not curate content that is accessible for the blind and low vision individuals. Considering these points and many more that are not listed here, one can clearly see how limited leisure options there are for the visually impaired.

Often living in isolation: Considering all of the above, it’s not a surprise that living with a visual impairment might signify, often, living in isolation. Dealing with sight loss, already, is a challenge in itself. The lack of emotional support at diagnosis centers, the limited accessibility to activities and information, the societal stigma and the lack of unemployment, are all factors frequently leading blind or low vision individuals in isolation. This last point illustrates how the problem for the visually impaired is not their blindness or lower vision in itself but their segregation from anyone else.

Source: letsenvision.com

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Explore videos that provide simple, plain backgrounds, and music for children with Cortical/Cerebral Vision Impairment (CVI).

These videos have been created and shared for others to use with CVI recommendations in place. Simple words have Roman Word Bubbling, created by Christine Roman-Lantzy. Backgrounds in the videos are simple and high contrast. Learning videos include shapes, colors, animals, people, cars, and trucks.

For a full list of videos visit: CVI Vision Impairment Learning Videos

This Fish video is an example:

More on CVI Videos:

CVI and the iPad: A Near-Perfect Low Vision Device

Gaby Wolf

Source: pathstoliteracy.org

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It’s estimated that there are about 36 million people in the world who are blind, and a further 216 million who live with moderate to severe visual impairments.

Although the World Health Organization points out that up to 80% of vision impairment around the world is avoidable with better access to treatment, the number of people who are blind or have low vision is rising as the global population ages.

But technology is playing a vital role in tearing down barriers, and artificial intelligence is making real inroads into improving accessibility.

Here are seven examples of how smart technology can be a game-changer, allowing everyone to interact with the world in new ways.

The eye in AI

As we’ve reported, Microsoft’s Seeing AI is an app designed to help people with low vision or who are blind. It enhances the world around the user with rich audio descriptions. It can read a handwritten note or scan a barcode and then tell the user what the product is. Point a camera at something and the app will describe how many people it can see and where they are in the image – center, top left and so on.

3-D Sound Maps

For a sighted person, walking along the street can mean taking in every detail that surrounds them. Microsoft Soundscape replicates that behavior by building a detailed audio map that relates what’s taking place around a person with visual impairment. It creates layers of context and detail by drawing on location data, sound beacons and synthesized 3-D stereo sound to build a constantly updating 3-D sound map of the surrounding world.

Knowledge at your fingertips

Braille has been used for nearly 200 years as a tactile way of reading with fingertips. It has now jumped from the page to the screen with the updated version of Narrator, the screen-reader for Microsoft Windows, supporting digital Braille displays and keyboards.

Outside of Microsoft’s efforts, Braille touchscreens that work in the same way as tablets have already proved popular among students and teachers. At the Assistive Technology Industry Association’s 2019 conference in Orlando, Florida, innovations on display included the BraiBook, a Braille e-reader that fits into the palm of a hand, and even an electronic toy called the Braille Buzz, designed to teach Braille to preschoolers.

Beacons of change

Bluetooth beacons, such as those being used by the company Foresight Augmented Reality, act like highly precise, personalized guides for people who are blind or partially sighted. While basic GPS technology can take users to a location, beacons mounted in a store, restaurant or public building can guide them to the entrance of the building in question. And when the user is inside, other beacons can direct them to the bathroom or other important facilities.

Electric vehicles

The European Union is taking no chances with people’s safety. New legislation means electric vehicles have to be audible at low speeds and while reversing. Some manufacturers are already incorporating artificial noise into their electric vehicles.

Smart Glasses

Researchers at Ajman University in the United Arab Emirates are working on the development of a set of smart glasses that can use AI to read, provide navigation information and potentially identify faces. Glasses are connected to a smartphone through a processing unit, allowing the system to function without an internet connection. These smart glasses are still in the early stages of development but are said to work with a reading accuracy rate of 95%.

AI for Accessibility

Microsoft’s AI for Accessibility program was launched last year, with a $25 million commitment to put Microsoft technology in the hands of start-ups, developers, researchers and non-profits in order to drive innovation and amplify human capability for people with disabilities. The program is continuously looking at new projects to support.

Source: news.microsoft.com

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Fortunately, there are many things a person with low vision can do to remain independent and do the things they enjoy and love.

Below are a few helpful household tips:

1. Pouring liquids: When pouring dark liquids, such as coffee, from a container into a cup, pour the liquid into a light-colored cup to create contrast. The light-colored cup should be placed on a dark-colored placemat or tray. The opposite should be done for light-colored liquids, such as milk.

2. Chopping food: When chopping food, use a dark cutting board for light-colored foods, and a light-colored cutting board for dark food.

3. Colorful Tape: Use brightly contrasting colored tape or paint on the handles of kitchen utensils and equipment.
To avoid accidents due to reaching over a flame or touching a heated front burner, tape over the knobs of the back burners of the stove.
Use brightly colored cloth or vinyl tape to provide color contrast when locating household items such as the electrical outlets, light switches, thermostat, or drawstrings on blinds.
Mark the edge of indoor and outdoor stairs with tape that contrasts with the color of the stairs

4. Timer: Rather than visually checking on food to see if it’s ready, set a timer.

5. Recipes: Write recipes on 5” x 8” index cards in large print with a black felt tip pen and color-code the cards. For example, have one color for meat recipes, another for desserts, and a third for poultry.

6. Lighting: When eating, use bright lighting. Place a table lamp with a bright light bulb (at least 75W) in a position to illuminate your plate.
When reading or sewing, use a bright light and shine it directly on your book or work.
If using light dishes, place them on a dark tablecloth or placemat, or vice-versa. In addition, to reduce visual confusion, avoid tablecloths or placemats with a pattern.

7. Mirrors: Use magnifying mirrors to help with shaving or makeup. A towel on the wall opposite the bathroom mirror, hung at the appropriate height, can be used to provide a contrasting background for your head and hair. If you have light hair, use a dark towel. For dark hair, use a light towel.

8. TV: Sit as close to the TV screen as needed so you can see the images. People who are visually impaired will not hurt their eyes by sitting close to the screen.

Source: optometrists.org

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Visual cues usually play a vital role in social interaction. As well as being the primary cue for identifying other people, visual cues also provide crucial non-verbal social information via both facial expressions and body language. One consequence of vision loss is the need to rely on non-visual cues during social interaction. Although verbal cues can carry a significant amount of information, this information is often not available to an untrained listener. Here, we review the current literature examining potential ways that the loss of social information due to vision loss might impact social functioning.

A large number of studies suggest that low vision and blindness is a risk factor for anxiety and depression. This relationship has been attributed to multiple factors, including anxiety about disease progression, and impairments to quality of life that include difficulties reading, and a lack of access to work and social activities. However, our review suggests a potential additional contributing factor to reduced quality of life that has been hitherto overlooked: blindness may make it more difficult to effectively engage in social interactions, due to a loss of visual information. The current literature suggests it might be worth considering training in voice discrimination and/or recognition when carrying out rehabilitative training in late blind individuals.

Low vision is associated with a reduced quality of life, defined as a “complex trait that encompasses vision functioning, symptoms, emotional well-being, social relationships, concerns, and convenience as they are affected by vision”.1 Vision loss can reduce quality of life in a wide variety of ways, including difficulties in reading, restrictions in activities and employment, and limitations in both physical and practical (e.g. driving a car) mobility. As a consequence, it is easy for vision loss to result in reduced engagement in social and pleasurable activities. The effects of vision loss on quality of life are complex and multifaceted, Fig. 1; In this review we focus on one single aspect of quality of life that has not been explicitly examined – the potential causal influence of poor face recognition on social isolation, anxiety and depression.

It is now well established that low vision and blindness are risk factors for both anxiety and depression.2,3 However, the relationship between loss of vision and these psychosocial impacts is not yet fully understood.

Current models of depression and anxiety emphasize their strong comorbidity. Up to two-thirds of adults with anxiety disorders may also suffer from depression.4 Anxiety and depression share clinical symptoms as well as social, psychological, neurobiological and genetic and risk mechanisms.5

As far as psychological and social risk factors are concerned, it is believed that anhedonia (a reduced ability to feel pleasure) and the withdrawal from pleasurable activities may be a major contributing component for both anxiety and depression. The relationship is thought to be bidirectional: depression leads to a withdrawal from pleasurable and/or social activities, and the loss of pleasurable activities and social contact worsens depressive or anxiety symptoms.6–8

Consistent with this model, it has long been recognized that the susceptibility to anxiety and depression observed, based on meta-studies, in almost every low vision and blind population9 may be at least partially driven by a lack of access to pleasurable and social activities. The practical impacts of vision loss on quality of life and social function are well recognized. For example, individuals with peripheral field loss can no longer drive safely, which can easily lead to social isolation. Individuals with central field loss which impacts reading are likely to have restricted employment opportunities. This can be exacerbated by worry about disease progression, which contributes to feelings of frustration, fear, and sadness.

However, another more subtle potential cause of anxiety and depression in blind individuals, that has hitherto been unexplored, may be the loss of important non-verbal social information, such as facial expression and body language.
Schematic model of potential relationships between vision loss and reduced quality of life. Vision loss can reduce quality of life in a wide variety of ways, including restrictions in both physical and practical (e.g. driving a car) mobility and difficulties reading. The loss of pleasurable activities and social contact worsens depressive or anxiety symptoms. The relationship is bidirectional: depression can lead to a further withdrawal from pleasurable and/or social activities. In this review we focus on the need for blind and vision impaired individuals to rely more heavily on non‐visual information to recognize individuals and understand their emotions. The resulting difficulties in social processing may provide a causal route to social anxiety and depression.

Facial cues clearly have deep ecological importantance. Processing of these cues is associated with a wide network of subcortical and cortical areas that include the putamen and the cerebellum as well as visual, limbic, temporoparietal and prefrontal cortices.15 Difficulties in recognizing individuals or recognizing emotions makes social functioning more difficult across a wide range of disorders, including prosopagnosia and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD),16–20 as described in more detail below. Thus, it seems plausible that low vision that impairs face processing may be a hitherto unexplored additional risk factor for depression, social isolation and anxiety.

In this review, we begin with a selective review of early and late onset blindness as a risk factor for social anxiety and depression. Although quality of life assessments have clearly demonstrated the impact of blindness on social and mental health, and multiple potential contributing factors have been identified, the causal pathways are still not well understood, and are likely to differ as a function of the type of vision loss. Next, we discuss a potential relationship between difficulties in understanding visual facial information and social anxiety and depression in individuals with prosopagnosia and ASD. Finally, we discuss evidence that training might improve voice recognition abilities, and thereby lessen social difficulties due to face recognition loss.

Psychosocial consequences of early onset low vision

It is now well established that early vision loss has psychosocial consequences. Children with retinopathy of prematurity (ROP, bilateral abnormal vessel growth and subsequent retinal detachment due to prematurity) perform significantly worse across multiple subscales of the Children’s Visual Function Questionnaire (CVFQ),21,22 with increasing severity of ROP linked to worsening overall quality of life.21 Consistent with our hypothesis that impairments in face recognition has social consequences during development, children with ROP had lower CVFQ personality scores (e.g. “My child likes to visit with relatives.”, “My child gets along well with our other children and friends”, “My child makes new friends easily”, “My child enjoys playing with others (sisters and brothers or friends).”).

Psychosocial well-being scores are similarly reduced in children with microphthalmia (ocular malformations in newborns resulting in smaller than average eyes), anophthalmia (the eyes fail to develop prenatally) and coloboma (ocular malformation affecting the eyelid, lens, macula, optic nerve, choroid, iris, or corpus ciliare),23 as well as in children with retinoblastoma (an ocular cancer that can require removal of the eye).24

At least some of these psychosocial impairments may persist into adolescence. One small study using congenitally blind and sighted matched adolescents found that depression and self-concept characteristics of adolescents with visual impairments were similar to those of sighted adolescents; however the anxiety levels of adolescents with visual impairments were significantly higher than those of their sighted peers.

Psychosocial consequences of late onset low vision

Visual impairment is associated with reduced social participation, with a recent meta-review finding a strong consensus in the literature that visual impairments results in a withdrawal from social activities. There was also some indication that participation in group based activities (e.g. clubs/associations) was more heavily impacted than the quality of relationships with friends or family.26

Depression and anxiety is also common in individuals with late onset visual loss, regardless of whether foveal or peripheral vision is primarily affected. Although the association between visual loss and anxiety is not as clear as the association between visual loss and depression, anxiety is a significant symptom in many individuals. Consistent with a model where depressive symptoms result in social isolation, which in turn worsen depressive symptoms, agoraphobia and social phobia are the most prevalent anxiety disorders in visually impaired older adults.

Much less is known about whether psychosocial impairments vary with the type of vision loss. Unfortunately, most studies have focused on a particular type of vision loss, and have rarely clearly differentiated difficulties in social functioning, generalized anxiety and depression. One exception is the Michigan Vision-related Anxiety Questionnaire, designed to measure psychosocial outcomes across a variety of inherited retinal degenerations. This work provides one of the few attempts to differentiate different forms of psychosocial impairment based on the form of vision loss. This questionnaire revealed two domains of anxiety in patients with inherited retinal degenerations: cone dysfunction and rod dysfunction related anxiety. Only central vision loss due to cone dysfunction resulted in worries about recognizing faces.

Age related macular degeneration (AMD)

In the earlier stages of AMD (a progressive degenerative disease of the macula, the central area in the retina responsible for the high visual acuity required for reading and face recognition) symptoms include difficulty seeing objects clearly and/or apparent distortions. Over time, without treatment, vision slowly deteriorates, resulting in the loss of significant regions of central vision.

Unsurprisingly, AMD has been shown to significantly reduce individuals’ sensitivity to faces, to an extent likely to impact recognition of familiar faces and facial expressions.

Several quality of life studies examining AMD have included measures of anxiety and depression. Individuals with foveal vision loss due to AMD are more likely to suffer from depression and report poorer quality of life than individuals without AMD. Elderly individuals with AMD scored significantly worse on their quality of life, emotional distress and depression, with prevalence levels as high as 33%, especially when the loss of vision was relatively recent or there was a perceived lack of social support. This depression seems to be related to loss of social function: depressed individuals with AMD reported poorer social functioning as compared to non-depressed individuals with AMD.

The association between depression and AMD may be stronger than the relationship with anxiety. One study has demonstrated an association of AMD with both depression and anxiety34; however, in a second study, depression but not anxiety scores were found to be strongly associated with visual acuity loss severity. In a later meta-study, prevalence estimates from nine cross-sectional and cohort studies found that depressive symptoms were more common than anxiety symptoms in individuals with AMD.

Glaucoma

Early symptoms of glaucoma (a disease that damages the optic nerve) include a loss of peripheral vision, but in more severe cases of the disease a large proportion of the visual field can be impacted. Once again, quality of life studies that have specifically examined scores associated with psychosocial function have found that glaucoma negatively affect psychosocial functioning, with a higher prevalence of generalized anxiety and depression, especially in those that lack social support.

Consistent with the idea that difficulties in face recognition may contribute to depression, the psychosocial impacts of glaucoma are correlated with the extent of vision loss; With increasing glaucoma severity, at levels where face recognition is likely to be impaired, quality of life decreases and depression is more common. When comparing progressed glaucoma with severe visual field defects to glaucoma patients in general, patients with severe visual field deficits had a higher prevalence of both depression and anxiety,43 with a linear increase in anxiety as a function of worsening acuity.

Retinitis pigmentosa (RP)

In the earlier stages of Retinitis Pigmentosa (a progressive degenerative disease of the eye characterized by loss of photoreceptors that starts in the periphery of the visual field) symptoms include trouble seeing at night and decreased peripheral vision. As peripheral vision worsens, people may experience “tunnel vision”. Once again, multiple studies show that RP is a strong risk factor for depression and anxiety. Prevalence estimates suggest that approximately 37% of RP patients suffer from anxiety and 15–26% suffer from depressive symptoms.

Once again a correlation is seen between quality of life scores, including social life, anxiety and depression, and the degree of visual impairment, as measured by visual acuity and the residual visual field.

Given that individuals with RP retain the ability to recognize faces until very late stages of the disease, difficulties in face recognition are unlikely to be causally responsible for psychosocial distress. Indeed, the causal link may work in the other direction. Worry about disease progression or restricted mobility may be the primary causes of depression – which may in turn reduce social activity. Consistent with this proposed reversed directional relationship, objective visual function does not predict depression scores in individuals with RP (unlike MD), but depressed RP individuals have significantly worse social functioning than non-depressed individuals, independent of visual loss.

The post The Impact Of Low Vision On Social Function appeared first on Amimoni.

Living with low vision presents unique challenges, but it doesn’t mean compromising on independence or the ability to lead a fulfilling life. There are plenty of tools to use, and everyday tips to follow, if you or someone you love is living with low vision. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll delve into practical tips for visually impaired people, as well as innovative technologies, emotional support strategies, and VIA’s dedicated services, all designed to empower those with low vision to enhance their quality of life.

Understanding Low Vision
Low vision, a visual impairment that cannot be fully corrected, can impact daily life in various ways. To better navigate this journey, it’s crucial to understand its causes, common eye conditions, and the daily challenges individuals with visual impairments face.

What Causes Low Vision or Visual Impairments?
Low vision can result from various factors such as eye diseases, injuries, or congenital conditions. Understanding the underlying causes can shed light on potential strategies for managing and enhancing daily life. Working closely with your eye doctor, ophthalmologist, or other eye care and vision specialists will help you determine the cause of a particular visual impairment.

Common Eye Conditions
Certain eye conditions contribute to low vision, including:

• Macular degeneration – age-related macular degeneration occurs when the macula (the central part of the retina) begins to deteriorate over time.
• Glaucoma – pressure build-up in the eye damages the optic nerve, resulting in visual impairment.
• Diabetic retinopathy – a complication of Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, caused by damage to the blood vessels in the retina or the tissue at the back of the eye that absorbs light.

Daily Impact of Having Visual Impairments
Visual impairments can affect everything from mobility to independence. For some, even the simplest of tasks – getting ready in the morning, feeding oneself, getting to work – can be made much more difficult because of these impairments. However, the daily challenges individuals with low vision experience do not affect these individuals’ independence, fulfillment, and success. Addressing these challenges head-on is the best way to lead a more fulfilling life in spite of visual impairment.

Practical Tips to Help Those with Low Vision with Everyday Tasks
Living with low vision doesn’t mean compromising on independence. Here are practical tips for low vision patients to conquer everyday tasks with confidence.

1. Navigating the Home Environment
Creating a comfortable and accessible home is crucial for individuals with low vision. Good lighting plays a significant role in enhancing visibility and coziness, so consider using brighter lights where needed and adding lamps to dim areas. Contrast enhancement techniques, like using contrasting colors and labels, can help objects stand out and become easier to see. Organizing and decluttering your living spaces are also essential; keeping things in their places, using shelves and containers, and clearing paths can make moving around much smoother. By optimizing lighting, employing contrast techniques, and maintaining an organized living space, you can create a welcoming environment that caters to your needs.

2. Independent Mobility
Getting around on your own is important, and we have some advice to help you do it safely and confidently. When you’re walking, take smaller steps and use handrails when available. It’s also a good idea to wear comfortable and sturdy shoes. With these tips and tools, you can move around independently and enjoy your journeys with more peace of mind.

3. Managing Personal Care
Taking care of yourself is a priority, and we’re here to share some practical ways to make it easier. When it comes to grooming and dressing, try doing things step by step, and use your sense of touch to guide you. Tactile markers, like raised dots or sticky labels, can help you identify products like shampoo or lotion by touch. And if you’re open to technology, there are devices that can make personal care routines more accessible – from talking thermometers to electronic magnifiers. These tips help you confidently manage your personal care and maintain your well-being.

4. Efficient Meal Preparation
Preparing meals can be enjoyable and efficient with a few helpful tips. Consider using contrasting cutting boards to make chopping ingredients easier to see, and try using talking or large-print timers to keep track of cooking times. Adaptive kitchen tools like easy-grip utensils and tactile measuring cups can make cooking a breeze. To keep things organized, label food items with high-contrast labels or tactile markers, so you can quickly find what you need.

5. Staying Connected with Others
Maintaining connections with others is essential for a fulfilling life, and there are practical ways to ensure effective communication. When conversing, focus on facing the person you’re talking to and speaking clearly. If you’re using a phone or computer, consider using devices with voice recognition or screen reading capabilities. Participating in social activities is also a wonderful way to stay engaged – whether it’s joining a local club or attending events organized by VIA, connecting with others who understand your journey can be incredibly rewarding.

Assistive Tools and Technologies for Those with Low Vision
Incorporating assistive tools and technologies can significantly enhance the quality of life for individuals with low vision. There are various options designed to promote independence and accessibility. Keep reading for more tips for low vision patients on using assistive tools and technologies:

1. Optical Devices
When it comes to enhancing your vision, there are a variety of optical devices that can make a big difference. Magnifiers and magnifying glasses are like magic tools – they make text and objects bigger and easier to see. Telescopic glasses, on the other hand, help you see things far away, like signs or faces from a distance. And if you’re looking for something portable, handheld and electronic magnification devices can be a great help, letting you zoom in on things wherever you go. These devices are like your personal assistants, helping you see the world more clearly and comfortably.

2. Screen Readers and Voice Assistants
In the digital age, technology is on your side. Screen readers and voice assistants are like your virtual helpers, allowing you to control devices using your voice and commands. They read out text, tell you what’s on your screen, and even let you navigate websites and apps. The best part? They’re compatible with your smartphones and computers, making it easier than ever to stay connected, access information, and enjoy digital content with confidence. With these tools by your side, the digital world – and the real one – becomes a more accessible and enjoyable place to explore.

3. Braille Displays and Notetakers
For individuals with low vision, staying connected and organized is made easier through braille displays and notetakers. Braille displays are like windows to the digital world – they allow you to read digital content using braille, providing access to information in a way that suits you best. Notetaking devices, on the other hand, are versatile tools that help you stay organized and communicate effectively. Whether you’re taking notes in a meeting or jotting down important information, these devices can be your reliable companions for staying on top of things and enhancing your daily interactions.

4. Electronic Wearable Devices
Embracing technology opens up exciting possibilities, and wearable devices are at the forefront of enhancing vision for individuals with low vision. Smart glasses, for instance, are like your personal window to the world – they can display information, magnify objects, and even help with navigation. These glasses are like having superpowers, giving you a new way to interact with your surroundings. With features like navigation and augmented reality, wearable devices can guide you through new places or bring information to life right before your eyes. Imagine exploring a museum and having historical information pop up as you look around! Real-life stories abound about how wearable devices have transformed lives, from aiding in reading menus to identifying faces in a crowd. These devices aren’t just gadgets; they’re tools that can empower you to see the world in a whole new light.

Emotional Support and Self-Care for Those with Visual Impairments
Living with visual impairments can bring about emotional challenges, and taking care of your mental well-being is just as important as looking after your physical needs. It’s okay to acknowledge the feelings that come with adjusting to changes in your vision. Seeking support is a sign of strength, and talking to a professional counselor or joining a support group can provide a safe space to express your feelings and gain valuable insights from others who understand what you’re going through.

Additionally, practicing self-care routines can significantly improve your mental outlook. Engage in activities that bring you joy – it could be listening to music, taking walks, or even spending quality time with loved ones. Taking time for yourself and nurturing your emotional well-being can make a positive impact on your overall quality of life. Remember, you’re not alone on this journey, and there are resources and strategies to help you maintain a healthy and resilient mind.

Navigating Work and Education
When it comes to work and education, individuals with low vision have unique strengths to offer. To succeed in these settings, it’s important to harness these strengths and utilize effective strategies.

Communication is key – let your colleagues or teachers know about your vision needs and how they can support you. If you require specific accommodations to perform at your best, don’t hesitate to request them. These can include things like larger print materials, screen magnification software, or flexible work hours. Building confidence is a journey, and recognizing your own abilities is a vital step. Advocate for your needs by sharing what works best for you with those around you. Remember that your voice matters, and your insights can lead to a more inclusive and accommodating work or learning environment.

Source: viawny.org

The post Practical Tips and Tools for Individuals with Low Vision appeared first on Amimoni.

You’ll find sharing books together is a great way to bond with your son or daughter. Reading also helps your child’s language development and listening skills when you talk about the story and ask questions. Large print books can help a child with mild to moderate vision loss discover the world of books and make tracking the words easier.

Infants and toddlers

You’ll find sharing books together is a great way to bond with your son or daughter. Reading also helps your child’s language development and listening skills when you talk about the story and ask questions. Don’t forget that sitting side-by-side listening to audio books together is another way to introduce stories to your child with vision challenges.

Large print books can help a child with mild to moderate vision loss discover the world of books. These books have big print and offer high contrast between the words and the page to make tracking the words easier. Visit your library and ask for the large print book section.

Children who have little or no sight may learn to read Braille. Braille books have raised “letters.”

Tips for reading with your infant or toddler

• Each time you read to your baby, you are helping your child’s brain to develop. Reading aloud to your child allows him to hear your voice and listen to spoken words. Your child is also more likely to ask questions and learn about the world around him. So — you’ve planted the seed to reading that will stay with your child throughout his life.
• Since younger children have short attention spans, try reading for a few minutes at a time at first. Then build up the time you read together. Your child will soon see reading time as both fun time and learning time!

Here are some things you can try:

• Sit your child next to you. If your child has low vision, make sure there is plenty of light to help him see the page.
• Buy books or borrow books from the library that have textures your child can touch.
• Help your toddler feel pop-up or raised objects you name in the book.
• Read aloud. Talk about the pictures and read the text.
• Find books that have rhymes. Clap your hands and help your baby clap along to the rhythm.
• Find books that have buttons your child can press that have sounds.

Preschool and school-age children

Remember, when you read to your child often and combine reading time with cuddle and play time, your child will link books with fun times together.

Here are some things you can try:

• Sit your child next to you. If your child has low vision, make sure there is plenty of light to help your child see the page.
• Read aloud. Talk about the pictures and read the text.
• Find large print books on topics that interest your child, such as books on animals or sports.
• Find books that have buttons to press that make sounds. Buy audio books that your child can start or stop by pressing a button.
• Find Braille books if your child reads Braille.
• Praise your child’s efforts at reading!

Source: readingrockets.org

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XDA, a software development community, published an article on a new feature of Google Chrome. This feature, which will translate images into text, is powered by PDF optical character recognition (OCR) technology and builds on Google’s Reading Mode.

When a PDF file lacks alt text, a short written description of an image, Chrome’s screen reader will convert the text found in the image and read it aloud to users with visual impairments. In addition to launching image to text in Chrome, the article shares that Google will also be releasing Reading Mode, which had once only been available on ChromeOS and Chromebooks, to all Chrome users. The software removes clutter on web sites and supports many features including dyslexia support and text-to-speech in one tool.

The feature was announced at the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) conference, where the nonprofit brought together educators using technology in education, and was one of many that Google announced at the technology exhibition. The article concluded by saying that Google has not yet made the release date of the feature public, but it is expected in the coming months.

Source: perkinsglobalcommunity.org

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