At The Lighthouse of Houston, we are committed to enhancing the lives of individuals who are blind or low vision by providing them with the tools and support necessary for independence.
Adaptive technologies are at the forefront of accessibility solutions, allowing people with vision loss and other challenges to navigate the digital world and daily tasks more easily. Here are some key technology devices, software and accessibility settings that are making a significant impact.
Adaptive Technology
Adaptive technology is designed to provide accessibility solutions for individuals with disabilities. There are many different types of assistive technology software and specialized devices to assist people who are blind or low vision. Here are a few examples:
JAWS (Job Access With Speech): It’s a screen reader developed for computer users whose vision loss prevents them from seeing screen content or navigating with a mouse. JAWS provides speech and Braille output for the most popular computer applications on your PC.
CCTVs (Closed Circuit Televisions): These are electronic magnifiers that use a camera and a television screen to enlarge printed materials. They are often used by people with low vision to read, write, or do other detailed tasks. For instance, the Second Sight CCTV Inventory lists various models with different magnification levels and screen sizes, such as the Enhanced Vision Merlin Ultra Full HD and the Freedom Scientific Topaz XL HD.
OrCam: A wearable device that assists individuals with vision impairment by reading text, recognizing faces, and identifying objects through audio feedback.
ZoomText: A magnification and screen reading software designed to help users with low vision navigate their computers with ease.
Handheld Video Magnifiers: Devices like the RubyA provide portable, electronic magnification for reading and other visual tasks on the go.
Braille Displays: Braille displays convert on-screen text to tactile Braille
Envision Glasses: combine AI-powered technology to assist users in reading text, recognizing objects, and more.
Accessibility Settings on iPhones
Voiceover: A gesture-based screen reader that lets you enjoy using iPhone even if you can’t see the screen.
Magnifier: Turns your iPhone into a digital magnifying glass.
Display Accommodations: Adjust the display settings to support color blindness and light sensitivity.
Speak Screen: Have the content of the screen read aloud to you.
These settings can be found under Settings > Accessibility on your iPhone.
Accessibility Settings on Android Devices
Android devices also offer various accessibility features, which can be found under Settings > Accessibility.
TalkBack: Android’s screen reader which provides spoken feedback.
Magnification: Enlarge parts of your screen or the entire screen.
Color Correction: Adjust colors for users with color blindness.
Select to Speak: Select something on your screen or point your camera at an image to hear text spoken.
Embracing the Power of Technology
At The Lighthouse of Houston, we are dedicated to staying at the cutting edge of adaptive technology to help our clients live more independently and confidently. Whether through screen readers like JAWS, electronic magnifiers like CCTVs, or smartphone accessibility features, these tools are transforming the way individuals with disabilities interact with the world.
“Without assistive technology, I would not be able to communicate with others via my phone,” says Steven Johnson, Assistive Technology Trainer at The Lighthouse of Houston. “I would have to pay people to read printed materials for me, I would not be able to secure my own ride without sighted assistance, I would not be gainfully employed in a meaningful job, and so much more.”
