Starbucks coffeeshop now offers all of its customers at its stores free access to Aira, a smartphone app that connects blind and low-vision people with visual interpreters, as part of the coffee giant’s push for more inclusive retail. The app, which is free to download, offers various monthly subscription plans based on the number of minutes needed. Starbucks… Read More »Starbucks is focusing on accessibility for blind, low-vision customers at all U.S. stores
This March during World Glaucoma Week researchers from City University London, supported by Allergan Pharmaceuticals and Glaucoma UK released the latest edition of an app to help people newly diagnosed with glaucoma. The Glaucoma in Perspective app provides glaucoma education in a simple, visual, jargon-free, easy to use format, which helps patients and their families… Read More »Digital App Provides Help to those with Glaucoma
If you are looking for accessible information on COVID-19, or anything else for that matter, you can find help from Georgia Tech’s Center for Inclusive Design and Innovation (CIDI) website. Subjects include symptoms, testing, use of masks, and how to protect your service animal, and the materials are adapted versions of the CDC’s COVID-19 guidance. … Read More »In Need of Accessible Covid Information?
Danielle Burden began working with Ensight as an Orientation and Mobility (O&M) Specialist in 2017. She provides O&M training for Ensight consumers and is also a Certified Teacher of the Visually Impaired and Orientation & Mobility Specialist for Greeley District School System in Weld County. Q: Are white canes only for people who are completely… Read More »Ensight Instructor on Orientation and Mobility Training
Love learning about the latest in smart phone accessibility? Here is an exciting new development: The iPhone 12 Pro has a LiDAR sensor, the technology used in driverless cars that employs lasers to judge distances and depth. The feature provides augmented reality experiences, meaning it can provide digital and in-depth information about objects and surroundings. The feature canRead More »IPhone 12 Pro can tell you about your Surroundings
If you are looking for a good documentary to watch this holiday season, consider “A Shot in the Dark,” the story of Anthony Ferraro’s journey as a blind wrestler. Ferraro is a 24 year old who was on his way to the 2020 Paralympics when it was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Today heRead More »A Shot in the Dark tells the Story of a Blind Wrestler
While nothing can truly replace being with together with loved ones, there are many devices and online services to help you stay in touch during the era of the coronavirus while staying safely hunkered down at home. Free video chat apps and web platforms that you can download for iOS or Android, or use on your computer: WhatsApp: This app… Read More »Tools to Help You Stay Connected During the Coronavirus Pandemic
Ensight’s staff extends a hearty thank you to the wonderful sponsors of our 2020 Eye Ball! Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado, Ophthalmic Instruments, Inc., Foundation Fighting Blindness, Jackson Eye Care, Otter Cares, Bank of Colorado, and Lions Clubs International. Their support helps Ensight provide low vision services to people in need. Read on toRead More »Ensight thanks its 2020 Eye Ball Sponsors
The American Printing House for the Blind (APH) hosts a number of important career resources to assist people with vision impairments in their career development, including CareerConnect and its family of ConnectCenter websites. These sites provide job listings, advice for career exploration and development, and help and support for navigating the work world. APH has… Read More »Career Resources for People with Vision Impairments
If you like to follow the latest developments and learn about new assistive technology devices for people with vision impairments, CNN has provided an overview of new devices on it's web publication. The following navigation tools for people with vision impairments were featured on CNN on October 5, 2020. For the complete list (which includesRead More »New Assistive Technologies for People with Vision Impairments
There is an ever-increasing amount of low-vision information online in 2020. From websites to podcasts to YouTube channels, you can find individual stories of vision loss and adaptation, the latest research studies, and reviews of brand-new assistive technology devices. But one program stands out for it’s engaging, informative, and in-depth tips for living withRead More »The Blind Life YouTube Channel Covers Low Vision Tips and Tools
Living with low vision means making many adaptations and learning new ways to do old things. If you want to keep learning about new technologies, techniques, and the latest news about eye disorders, you may want to attend Ensight's online presentations. You can now watch Ensight Low Vision Education Series from the comfort of yourRead More »Ensight’s Online Low Vision Education Series Provides Helpful Tips
Are you wondering how to vote in the November 2020 election? The following accessible voting options are available for Colorado voters who have low vision. This information was provided by the Larimer County Elections Division (Vote Larimer.Org): If you live in Colorado in other counties, please visit your local Secretary of States’ website as well… Read More »Accessible Voting 2020
Podcasts can be a wonderful way to get news and information in audio formats on your phone and on demand. There are numerous podcasts created specifically for people with vision impairments, and this blog covers a few. Subjects include Colorado news, stories about living with a vision impairment, and accessibility technology. Audio Information Network TheRead More »Podcasts for People with Vision Impairments
From newsroom.uvahealth.com Exercise can slow or prevent the development of macular degeneration and may benefit other common causes of vision loss, such as glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy, new research suggests. The new study from the University of Virginia School of Medicine found that exercise reduced the harmful overgrowth of blood vessels in the eyes ofRead More »Exercise May Slow or Prevent Macular Degeneration
Ensight Skills and Curtis Strong Center are open for appointments! We are following CDC guidelines: masks are required, and we are cleaning thoroughly between client visits. Doors are closed to walk ins. Our low vision occupational therapists are also making home visits for those who need and want them. Our low vision support group isRead More »Low vision safety during COVID19
Adam Morse always wanted to make films. The 28-year-old from Kingston upon Thames, United Kingdom, began to lose his eyesight in 2009, and he told The Guardian that at that time his confidence, mobility, and social interactions were all profoundly affected. He was diagnosed with Leber’s hereditary optic neuropathy, a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder. But heRead More »Director Adam Morse releases new movie, reveals he’s blind
By Ben Shaberman on August 6, 2018 Reprinted with permission of the FFB The Foundation Fighting Blindness has announced funding for seven new research projects to advance the development of treatments and cures for retinal degenerative diseases. Each project will receive a total of $300,000 over a three-year period. The grants were selected through FFB’s annual callRead More »FFB Funding More than $2 Million in New Research Including Several Studies on Retinal Diseases
Reprinted with permission of FFB The primary goal of the landmark study, funded by the Foundation, is to provide companies and researchers with disease-progression data and potential clinical trial endpoints to drive therapy development Columbia, MD – More than 60 leading retinal disease clinical researchers from around the world gathered in Baltimore on June 11, 2018Read More »Foundation Fighting Blindness Clinical Research Institute Hosted Workshop for ProgStar, Largest Natural History Study for Stargardt Disease Ever Launched
Results inform strategies aimed at preventing vision loss From the National Eye Institute Researchers funded by the National Eye Institute (NEI) have identified 133 genetic variants that predict with 75-percent accuracy a person’s risk for developing glaucoma related to elevated pressure within the eye. Future genetic tests could identify high-risk individuals who would benefit fromRead More »NEI funded researchers identify 133 genetic variants that predict glaucoma risk
Excerpted from "Insight for Bodyworkers: Connecting with Blind and Visually Impaired Clients" By Mary Kathleen Rose Sept/Oct 2012 issue of Massage and Bodywork magazine Conditions of the eyes range from common eyestrain, myopia (nearsightedness), and presbyopia (age-related farsightedness) to diseases that threaten significant loss of vision, such as cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and retinopathy. WhileRead More »My aching neck: Massage for people with vision impairments
From nei.nih.org 5/13/18 Immune cells called microglia can completely repopulate themselves in the retina after being nearly eliminated, according to a new study in mice from scientists at the National Eye Institute (NEI). The cells also re-establish their normal organization and function. The findings point to potential therapies for controlling inflammation and slowing progression ofRead More »Immune cells in the retina can spontaneously regenerate
ARVO 2018: Mediterranean Diet May Lower Advanced AMD Risk Reprinted with the permission of the Foundation Fighting Blindness. By Ben Shaberman on May 1, 2018 Several research studies have suggested that the Mediterranean diet (MeDi) – which is rich in fruits, vegetables, legumes, cereals, and fish – may be good for your health, including lowering your risk ofRead More »Studies Show Mediterranean Diet May Lower Advanced AMD Risk
People who have vision impairments have unique career challenges: In a 2014 article for Massachusett’s radio station WBUR’s opinion page, Dave Powers wrote that “A staggering 75% of individuals who are blind or have low vision are currently unemployed despite being capable, motivated, and having access to adaptive technology that allows them to perform manyRead More »Vision Loss and Career Concerns
Reprinted with permission from the Foundation Fighting Blindness Blog Ophthotech, a biopharmaceutical company developing therapies for eye diseases, has enrolled the first patient in its Phase 2b clinical trial of Zimura® for people with Stargardt disease caused by mutations in the gene ABCA4. The 120-participant study will be taking place at more than 30 sites. Data andRead More »Ophthotech Launching Human Study of Emerging Therapy for Stargardt Disease
Bradford and Bryan Manning were diagnosed with Stargardt’s disease in childhood. The disorder caused gradual loss of their central vision, and it also gave them a mission: To raise awareness and help others with eye diseases. They decided to develop a clothing company and donate the earnings to support research to end blindness. Now calledRead More »Two Blind Brothers Support Research to End Blindness
If you have low vision, you may feel vulnerable in public places. Scott Land, a gymnast and rock climber who has retinitis pigmentosa, does. Legally blind since 2000, Scott studied 1TouchTM Self Defense to learn what to do if someone were to attack him, and he is now a teacher sharing 1Touch with Ensight consumers.Read More »1Touch Self-Defense class increases confidence and safety
For those with low-vision who struggle with substance abuse, the process of finding an addiction treatment program may feel daunting. While seeking to overcome an addiction, they must also face the challenge of finding a program that recognizes and respects their needs and provides accommodations. An online resource called Rehabcenter.net provides help with this dilemma… Read More »Some Addiction Treatment Programs Recognize Needs of People with Low Vision
Researchers at University of Virginia School of Medicine have discovered an important trigger for the inflammation causing macular degeneration. Dr. Jayakrishna Ambati, vice chairman for research in UVA’s Department of Ophthalmology and the founding director of UVA’s Center for Advanced Vision science, and Nagaraj Kerur, assistant professor in the Department of Ophthalmology, and their laboratories… Read More »New Discovery: Trigger for Macular Degeneration
Emily Davidson was a college student when she realized there was a “huge misconception” about people with vision impairments. As someone legally blind herself, she noticed that when sighted people saw the way she dressed they were surprised by her clothing choices and her “personal flare for bohemian style,” color coordination, and accessorizing. “It… Read More »Vision impairment doesn’t preclude a love for fashion
Reprinted from AAO.org news releases New Orleans — People who engage in moderate to vigorous physical activity may be able to significantly lower their risk of glaucoma, according to research presented at AAO 2017, the 121st Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. Researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles reported a 73 percent decline… Read More »Another reason to exercise–protecting your sight
Having dry eye is frustrating for many, but scientists have come up with a promising new drug-free treatment. Earlier this year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved this medical device, and it is now available through prescription. The device is called TrueTear, and it is a handheld stimulator that is inserted into the nose… Read More »New approach to managing dry eye approved by FDA
Adapted from an article on Visionaware.org Most of us take our reading and writing abilities for granted. For those who lose significant amounts of vision, the prospect of giving these tasks up is daunting. The good news is that there are many ways to adapt and to continue these essential activities. This blog gives you… Read More »Low Vision Reading Tools and Techniques
October and November 2017 Special Events: Technology is a hot topic these days and the devices that have recently come out are making a big difference in the day to day lives our individuals with vision loss! We want to give our consumers a chance to work with the latest and greatest devices so we… Read More »OrCam and NuEyes Demo Days at Ensight!
Simon Wheatcroft is an ultramarathon runner. Though he has retinitis pigmentosa and has been blind since 17, he has slowly built his mileage and his ability to traverse varied terrain. The story of his evolution to distance runner is one of daring as well as ingenuity. When Wheatcroft grew bored running from goal post to… Read More »Simon Wheatcroft, blind since his teens, runs ultramarathons
The following blog is a repost from visionaware.org New research led by the AMD Center of Excellence at Harvard Medical School, the University of Coimbra, Portugal, and Brigham and Women’s Hospital has used an emerging field of study, called “metabolomics” (explained below), to test patients’ blood and identify blood profiles that are associated with age-related macular… Read More »Can a New Type of Blood Test Identify Macular Degeneration Much Earlier? New Research Says Yes
The National Eye Institute (NEI), part of the National Institutes of Health, is funding several new technologies and tools being created to help the 4.1 million Americans living with low vision or blindness. The tools are designed to help people manage daily tasks such as navigating office buildings, crossing streets, and recognizing images and objects.… Read More »NEI Highlights New Technologies and Tools for People with Low Vision
Adapted from an article on Visionaware.org by Audrey Demmitt If you are a senior and feel that it is difficult to get out as much as you’d like, you many be pleased to know about another option for socializing. Senior Center Without Walls (SCWW) provides opportunities to connect with others and participate in activities, education,… Read More »Senior Center Without Walls Offers New Way to Connect with Others
Looking for “how to” videos that teach you how to adapt to vision loss? Check out the “Breaking Blind” YouTube channel to follow creator Maureen Neitfeld as she demonstrates everything from making fudge to working out. Maureen Neitfeld lost her sight at 17 from a disorder called Von Hippel-Lindau Syndrome that causes tumors to grow… Read More »Breaking Blind YouTube Channel Provides Advice for Living with Low Vision
You may be aware that vision loss contributes to falls because it makes it more difficult to see what is in your path, but did you know it can affect balance in general? Science just began to unlock this mystery in recent years: Read on to learn more. UC Davis Health System researchers released information… Read More »Research shows Low Vision and Balance Issues are Directly Related
“The Illumination” is a new film telling the story of Gordon and Lulie Gund’s 46-year-long mission to turn their own experience with blindness into research to restore vision to others. The documentary was produced by the Nantucket Project, and it premiered at the Cleveland International Film Festival in March and was an official selection at… Read More »Inspiring Film tells the story of Foundation Fighting Blindness Founders
Ophthalmologists at Boston Children’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School together uncovered information showing that removing excess zinc from the diet helps protect the optic nerve. It also encourages regeneration. The researchers plan to continue their research to determine whether this information can lead to future glaucoma treatments. The ophthalmologists from these two institutions spent… Read More »Excess Zinc May be Detrimental to Eye Health
If you have low vision, you may experience neck pain from straining to see or muscle tension from walking cautiously or feeling the anxiety associated with fear of colliding with an object in your path. In addition, you may experience falls because of difficulty seeing or because diminished vision affects the vestibular system’s role… Read More »Benefits of yoga for people with vision impairments
Some professionals have compared initial reactions to vision loss to the “stages of grief,” defined by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, after the loss of a loved one—taking the person from denial to anger and depression, and finally, to acceptance. Navigating the various stages successfully begins with understanding how they affect you and those around you. With… Read More »4 Helpful Tips to Cope with Vision Loss
Image from bgr.com. Have you ever been out and about on your own only to find you need to read a sign or a note, or locate an object? If you carry a smartphone, you can get immediate help without waiting for someone to walk by. There are three mobile apps that connect you withRead More »Need sighted help? Get it on demand with these apps!
If you need a little motivation for staying fit, you may want to consider using a device or an app that records your activity. Many of these are accessible to people with vision impairments, and some people find them fun and inspiring! See below for a list of devices that you can use to stay… Read More »Accessible Devices to Help You Stay Fit
Sight: The Story of Vision, is a documentary on scientific, medical, technological, and human aspects of vision that premiered in October 2016 and is now available online at PBS.org. The film, narrated by Sir Elton John, tells the story of how people discovered how eyes work as well as how to improve or restore sight.… Read More »New Documentary on Vision Available on PBS
Ensight’s Fort Collins support group recently met with Bob Machacek of AKB Visions about a helpful new assistive technology device called Orcam. Orcam is a wearable device with a smart camera designed to assist people who are visually impaired. Bob demonstrated how to use the small camera mounted on a pair of glasses along with… Read More »Orcam Wearable Device Reads Documents and Faces
Spark Therapeutics has created a genetic test for patients with inherited retinal disease that may provide important information that will help them understand their disease. The initiative was developed in response to feedback from advocates, families affected by retinal diseases and health care professionals about barriers to genetic screening. Spark is a gene-therapy company seeking… Read More »Free Genetic Testing for Inherited Retinal Diseases Now Available
Many older adults take nutritional supplements to prevent or slow vision loss. Eye doctors prescribing such supplements are influenced by results of the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS2) where researchers found that patients at high risk for visual loss from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) who took Lutein (10 mg) and Zeaxanthin (2 mg) supplements reduced their… Read More »Excess Supplements for Vision May Cause Problems
Almost half of stroke assessments do not assess vision. A recent University of Liverpool-led review of post-stroke screenings for visual impairments found that while 65-percent of stroke survivors suffer from a visual impairment, 45-percent of stroke units do not assess vision at all. The review states there is an urgent demand for a tool to examineRead More »Strokes and Vision Loss
If you or someone you know has lost vision, you may want to learn the skill of eccentric viewing and take optimum advantage of your remaining vision. This method of using one’s peripheral field to take over the central field can restore some lost abilities and help you navigate the world. Some who learn it regainRead More »What is Eccentric Viewing & How Might it Help Me?
If you have experienced vision loss and are in need of assistive technology aids, you may want to look into an iPad. These devices can serve as adjustable magnifiers, and, given their voice-over or zoom features, can provide help with a number of other activities including listening to weather reports, searching for a phone number,… Read More »iPads and iPhones Can Replace Assistive Technology Devices
The number of people with visual impairment or blindness in the United States is expected to double to more than eigh mtillion by 2050, according to projections based on the most recent census data and studies funded by the National Eye Institute. The researchers estimated that one million Americans were legally blind (20/200 vision or… Read More »Visual Impairment, Blindness Cases Expected to Double by 2050 in U.S.
The Halloween Eye Ball is Ensight’s annual fundraiser gala that’s Halloween-themed and is held the Friday right before Halloween. Eye Ball 2015 marks the third anniversary of the ticketed event. In the past two years, more than 300 people have attended the event. The 2015 Halloween Eye Ball will be held at the Agave Room… Read More »Halloween Eye Ball 2015
We hope you will join us at the second annual Halloween Eye Ball. This year’s festivities will begin the eve of October 24th. Costumes are encouraged! There will be a costume contest so please, get creative! Official invitations will soon be released. So plan to join us … if you dare. Thank you to our… Read More »Halloween Eye Ball 2014: “A Night of Eye-llusion”
Students who wouldn’t have been able to graduate high school are now able to do so from The Hadley School for the Blind. What an exciting accomplishment and opportunity for the students we serve! Students as young as 18 to seniors in their seventies are examples of the agroups that receive a diploma through the School. Because… Read More »Options for High School Students Who are Legally Blind
Many of our clients and individuals we see on a daily bases are suffering from Macular Degeneration. Knowing the signs, symptoms, and issues of Macular Degeneration may help you or someone you love. One of the most important things to remember is that any change in vision should be checked out by your primary eye… Read More »Macular Degeneration
Some of my favorite memories are visits from low-vision organizations. Many of the people who come to the groups share stories and experiences along their journey with vision loss. From being diagnosed with macular deneration and receiving shots in the eye, to lifetime achievements and great grandchildren, everyone has a story to share, and I enjoy hearing them all. This leads me… Read More »Living and Seeing with Macular Degeneration
Diabetic eye disease is a leading cause of blindness and vision loss. Because of the high risk for this eye disease, all people with diabetes aged 30 and older should receive an annual dilated eye exam. For people with diabetes younger than 30, an annual dilated exam is recommended after they have had diabetes for… Read More »November is Diabetic Eye Disease Awareness Month!
Home: the Most Dangerous Place for Eyes Study Shows More Eye Injuries Occur at Home than at Work and School Combined CHICAGO (Sept. 29, 2011) – Home may be where the heart is, but it can also be a dangerous place for the eyes. More than half of the 2.5 million eye injuries that occur… Read More »October is Home Eye Safety Month
As we begin the process of improving our vision naturally, it is helpful to look closely at how we are nourishing ourselves. We need foods that are fresh, as close to the natural state as possible, and whose water content is high. Gradually changing from the typical North-American diet consisting of white bread, pasta, meat,… Read More »Nutrition for the Eyes
Ensight Skills Center celebrated 10 years of service to the low-vision community on August 21, 2011, by hosting a BBQ! The mission of Ensight is to provide visually impaired clients and their families with adaptive techniques, training, support, tools and products to maintain independent lifestyles and ensure safety in their home and workplace environments. Ensight… Read More »Ensight’s 10th Anniversary Celebration!
Stargardt Disease runs in my family. My mother, Denny, was diagnosed with Stargardt Disease when she was 25-years-old. The research being done is fanatastic, and maybe they will know how to repair the damage from Macular Degeneration in the near-future. Below is a great article about gene therapy being used for Stargardt Disease and Age-Related… Read More »Stargardt Disease Research
For more than a century, New Yorkers have trusted Lighthouse International, a leading non-profit organization dedicated to fighting vision loss. Our services help people prevent—and overcome the challenges of vision impairment. Here are some important summer safety tips to protect your vision: Always protect your eyes from the sun’s invisible harmful rays. Prolonged exposure to… Read More »10 Summer Safety Tips on How to Protect Your Vision
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It… Read More »June is Cataracts Awareness Month
Losing my vision was certainly not part of my plan for life, but God had a different plan. And oh what a plan it is. The one thing I see very clearly is the path that led me to where I am today, the Executive Director of the Ensight Skills Center. There were events and… Read More »Victim or Inspiration?
You have control over some of the known risk factors for macular degeneration. If you have macular degeneration, a family history of AMD, or are in the “macular generation” (age 60 or above), you should be particularly attentive to these. However, it is most effective to take these steps well before you are at risk.… Read More »What Can I Do About Macular Degeneration?
There are two types of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). One form is known as “wet” and the other is “dry”. It is possible to experience both forms at the same time, in one or both eyes. It is not uncommon for a patient with the “dry” form to develop the “wet” form later. The onset… Read More »Types of Age Related Macular Degeneration
The Ensight Skills Center (ESC) which was founded on July 7, 2001 will be celebrating 10 years of service this July. It all began with a few visually impaired Lions: Carol Louks, Alan Beatty and Denny (Bettenhausen) Moyer, talking at a Fort Collins Lions Club meeting one day about how nice it would be for… Read More »Ensight Skills Center Celebrates 10 Years of Serving Coloradoans with Low Vision
In 2010 Ensight tried something new: We developed a fundraiser that was both active, fun, and unique. Our Sit 4 Sight event raised over $9,000 that went to Ensight and The Curtis Strong Centers for Visual Rehabilitation to help support the Low Vision Programs. The goal of Sit 4 Sight was to get pledges for… Read More »Fundraising: Sit 4 Sight 2010
We have so many wonderful supporters that help to keep Ensight going strong. First off, Ensight is a statewide Lions Club project. This means that we are lucky enough to have the encouragement and support of Lions Clubs all over Colorado. We exist because of the Lions Clubs. In fact, it was the Fort Collins… Read More »Our Wonderful Supporters: Lions Clubs of Colorado
Good lighting is important for performing tasks like reading or sewing; it also creates a safer environment and helps to prevent accidents. As you age, the amount of light entering the eye is reduced, causing a reduction in visual acuity, contrast and color intensity. The type of lighting and its intensity, color and direction all… Read More »Importance of Lighting for Vision Loss
When I was growing up, I never understood what visually impaired meant. I was only 4-years-old when my mother was diagnosed with Stargardts, a juvenille onset of macular degeneration. When I was old enough to understand that my mom had difficulties with her vision, I still didn’t comprehend what the problem was. I knew that… Read More »My Mom is Visually Impaired
I have worked in the field of blindness and visual impairment for the last 13 years, am the director of a visual rehabilitation center and have lived with low vision for the last 33 years, and yet, I still forget my tools and become lost! What a day. I am on my way to an… Read More »Personal Vision-Loss Story: Lost in the Rain
