#low vision

[fledglingfujoshi]

i really hate how so many trends or like running jokes online are just ableism towards visually impaired people

things like hating on light mode seem like funny jokes until elon musk says he wants to remove light mode from twitter or websites are designed without a light mode because “who needs that?” (i need it. i need the high contrast to read and i can’t read at all if it’s dark)

also “the big light”. i’ve argued with people in real life over whether i should turn my lights off. being able to see in my own home is something people are always causing problems over because they think it’s funny. same with insisting i get warm toned lights.

i am not an asshole. if you’re sitting in the dark i will ask if i can turn off the light and if you say no i will do whatever i need to do without needing to see. since the majority of people can see with just a lamp on it’s considered socially acceptable to take away the option for other people to see in their own spaces though and it’s worsened by the fact that light sensitivity can also be a disability and people use that to their advantage to dismiss other people’s needs instead of acknowledging the conflict in necessary accommodations. that’s why we need both options!! just because you don’t need my option doesn’t mean it doesn’t matter

[frankiensteinsmonster]

People who need or use Image Descriptions (ID), where is the best place to put them?

ID in Alt Text

ID on post beneath image

ID both in Alt Text and on post beneath image

Secret fourth answer that I will put in the tags

I'm able bodied but curious (and will quietly reblog 👀)

Voting ended onSep 26, 2023

People in this demographic, please let me know how to tag to get a hold of you as someone who doesn't need Image Descriptions!!

[why-animals-do-the-thing]

Feedback please - accessible zoo tour design for low-vision feedback

Hey folk, some colleagues reached out to me this morning with ideas for making a special tour at their facility so it can be accessible to people with visual impairment/low vision. Since that's not my wheelhouse, I offered to ask the tumblr community.

So here's what's up: this is a medium-sized facility with a lot of big and small cats, and they're trying to find a way to make visiting more successful for people with visual impairment. (Especially because cats camouflage so well and hide most of the time). They're thinking about setting up a private tour experience and want to make sure they do it well.

If you are visually impaired or have low vision, I'd love to hear from you about what things would a) make an accessible tour appealing to you and b) what are common accessibility pitfalls that should be taken into consideration, and c) what cost would seem reasonable / what would you pay for something like this?

The current idea is:

Private golf cart tour (the walking surfaces aren't paved), multiple hours of time, ability to stop at habitats where animals are visible for prolonged periods

Led or accompanied by a staff member who can encourage the cats to move closer to the viewing area

Bringing pelts / skull replicas / other biofacts along on the tour for tactile interpretation at habitats

The possibility of a private "close encounter" added at the end for an additional cost (no direct contact, but ability to approach an ambassador and learn about them without fences).

Thanks in advance to everyone who is up for giving their input! I'll pass feedback along to the facility. and you can always PM me if you don't want to comment publicly.

[cdx1016]

Get LOW. Take the HIGH road.

(viacarad1016)

[disabilityaidpositivity]

Idk jf this is super relavent, but for usa students with disorders relating to reading (list from the website below) you can join bookshare and get free books in acessable formats.

You can get everything from personal reading to textbooks, all for free. You can start in kindergarten or at any point including during higher education. You can even request books for it, I've requested textbooks that cost hundreds of dollars be added and they were added. In an acessable format! Ive also requested books ive wanted just for fun. You can also request any type of book, although things with excessive images dont always translate into bookshare correctly. (House of leaves IS in bookshare but it is exactly as much of a mess as youd expect it to be)

The anual membership for nonstudents is about $79.99 which is fairly expensive, but for students its free.

Here's the info on types of disablities on the website, unfortunately you do need proof of disablity but its an AMAZING program that I HIGHLY recomend!

Learning or Processing Impairment

Dyslexia

Other related reading or specific learning disabilities

Cognitive processing differences that affect decoding or comprehension

Cortical processing differences that affect visual interpretation

Vision Impairment

Low vision or blindness

Visual field loss (e.g., tunnel vision)

Eye movement disorders (e.g., nystagmus)

Conditions that cause visual fatigue or distortion

Physical Impairment

Limited hand or arm mobility

Difficulty holding books or turning pages

Chronic pain that makes sustained reading difficult or impossible

Fatigue-related conditions that make traditional reading unsustainable

This is awesome, thanks for sharing! I think this probably does count as an aid, but I'm posting it either way because people need to know about this!

[gwydionmisha]

ACTION ITEM Missouri!

"If you use Libby app to read your library books, like many people do, Sec of State Danny Hoskins of Missouri is canceling funding for overdrive/ libby- the ebook services for public libraries, Allegedly to protect children from pornography

Seniors, disabled, and others without transportation, and many others depend on this service.  "

Call to complain: 573-751-4936.

The friend who alerted me to this adds:

Also, to some at least there may be a work around: 

"This is a link to the Bard App which is through the library of Congress.  It is a free service for the disabled to listen to audiobooks through the free bard app on their phone or tablet.  Not sure if it works on a full blown computer but it's worth looking into.  Let's get around their utter bollocks as well as forcing them to retract it!"

[writing2changetheworld]

There's this thing people are saying going around (I've just noticed it recently, but it may not be and probably isn't new) that if you wear glasses and they fully fix your vision they're not a disability aid.

This is entirely incorrect.

To demonstrate just how absurd that is, here are a couple examples substituting glasses and vision.

An example I saw someone else say: if you're paralyzed and use a wheelchair and said chair gets you from A to B, it's not a disability aid

My example: if you're hard of hearing and hearing aids help you understand, they're not a disability aid

I also saw someone put it like this: If that person breaks their glasses or whatever and is unable to get another pair, they're screwed.

[autistictrekky]

Tanyl and his long cane/white cane! He rarely uses this, since his vocal echolocation works for him well enough, but in wide open spaces or when he’s overwhelmed, he finds the cane easer:)

(His has a ceramic tip to make more sounds so he can echolocate better)