Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Celebrating a skill / proficiency milestone for this newbie to visual impairment :) (self.Blind)
submitted by potato_rock_bandit
Hi folks, I am still getting my sea legs when it comes to visual impairment, but today I did something I thought was impossible two years ago, and even a year ago. Well, not impossible, but beyond my reach. I got a six page letter from the government about my disability benefits and pension stuff, and read it all completely independently. :). Not only that, but I understood it all, did not have a panic attack, and did not get frustrated about having to deal with a massive tome of government speak.
For me this is a big achievement, and I'm very happy and proud of it. I've also been working at regaining my comfort level in my art studio, and have been working on projects for a while now . It's different from what I used to do, but still mine and I'm doing some things I'm really pleased with.
For me this is a big achievement, and I'm very happy and proud of it. I've also been working at regaining my comfort level in my art studio, and have been working on projects for a while now . It's different from what I used to do, but still mine and I'm doing some things I'm really pleased with.
TripedalCyclops 3 points 1y ago
Way to go, this is a bigger deal than you make it to be! I remember the frustration, the panic attacks, the confusion from paperwork, from doctor's offices mainly, which I was unable to independently fill out for five years. But that first form or magazine article you can finish by yourself is SO rewarding, right?
Keep up the positive mindset, it will help you immensely :)
Keep up the positive mindset, it will help you immensely :)
ravenshadow2013 3 points 1y ago
If you understand all that mumbo jumbo can I send the next letter I get to you for translation
Glad to hear you are getting there with everything, it does and will get easier
Glad to hear you are getting there with everything, it does and will get easier
Amazing_Ad7386 3 points 1y ago
Great to hear! You should definitely share some of art and your workflow when you get more comfortable. It's always very interesting to see creators overcome difficulties!
bradley22 3 points 1y ago
Well done!
r_1235 2 points 1y ago
Congratulations.
How did you read this letter? OCR app?
Also, if possible, do share whatever creative work you are doing, I am sure lot of us would like to support our fellow blind creators in whatever ways possible.
How did you read this letter? OCR app?
Also, if possible, do share whatever creative work you are doing, I am sure lot of us would like to support our fellow blind creators in whatever ways possible.
potato_rock_bandit [OP] 2 points 1y ago
I've got four methods for reading mail, by far the easiest is when I take a photo on my iPhone and use their text detected feature to read via OCR. The issue with this method is that it isn't the most secure, as the OCR on Apple phones requires net access.
The most secure method I have is my OrCam My Eye, the one that gets mounted on glasses frames on one side. All the OCR there is completely on-board in multiple languages. I find it awkward for reading mail with tho, at least long letters like this government agency beast.
I also picked up an IPEVO document camera, the bright blue one that has wi fie. Some folks in my peer suport group use theirs daily in conjunction with the IPVEO Visualiser software that has OCR and colour filters. I think the model name is vee zed dash ex, VZ-X, tho since the pandemic they have released a number of newer models. If I used it more as a visual aid and enhancer it makes sense to me to use it for mail and going through paperwork. But sometimes things are hard for me to wrap my head around so I am mostly using it to livestream and recording art projecty stuff.
And the fourth method is one that is last on my list because it involves scanning documents into my computer using my Lexmark printer. I always have to re-learn how to do this, as there is a step for sending it to the computer after scanning, , and then figuring out which software to try to read it with.
This was much more information than you asked, but maybe folks out there might find this helpful? Plus, I kind of have some shame and regret about buying a bunch of tech and having a hard time learning and remembering how to use it. The brain fog of the newly visually impaired is real, there's a lot of rewiring that goes on imo as our brain gets used to our new normal. At least the IPVEO and my printer are multi-functional, and I've had plans to use the OrCam walking around now that my cane skills are developed enough to get around reasonably well. I originally got it to go to shopping centres and practice with, but shortly after that, we had lockdown.
The most secure method I have is my OrCam My Eye, the one that gets mounted on glasses frames on one side. All the OCR there is completely on-board in multiple languages. I find it awkward for reading mail with tho, at least long letters like this government agency beast.
I also picked up an IPEVO document camera, the bright blue one that has wi fie. Some folks in my peer suport group use theirs daily in conjunction with the IPVEO Visualiser software that has OCR and colour filters. I think the model name is vee zed dash ex, VZ-X, tho since the pandemic they have released a number of newer models. If I used it more as a visual aid and enhancer it makes sense to me to use it for mail and going through paperwork. But sometimes things are hard for me to wrap my head around so I am mostly using it to livestream and recording art projecty stuff.
And the fourth method is one that is last on my list because it involves scanning documents into my computer using my Lexmark printer. I always have to re-learn how to do this, as there is a step for sending it to the computer after scanning, , and then figuring out which software to try to read it with.
This was much more information than you asked, but maybe folks out there might find this helpful? Plus, I kind of have some shame and regret about buying a bunch of tech and having a hard time learning and remembering how to use it. The brain fog of the newly visually impaired is real, there's a lot of rewiring that goes on imo as our brain gets used to our new normal. At least the IPVEO and my printer are multi-functional, and I've had plans to use the OrCam walking around now that my cane skills are developed enough to get around reasonably well. I originally got it to go to shopping centres and practice with, but shortly after that, we had lockdown.
[deleted] 2 points 1y ago
Have you thought about ocr software on the computer like kurzweil 1000 or open book?
potato_rock_bandit [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I've definitely thought about it but very quickly get overwhelmed in my efforts. I recently switched from Windows / Android to Mac Os /iOS so I'm still learning how to use their on-board accessibility features and how far they will go before I'm better off trying to use something else. Even finding things in the App Store that aren't a demo version for a time limit is beyond my experience level at this point.
I've got heaps of e-books stores on my hard drive, would those programs you suggested be good options for trying to read them?
I've got heaps of e-books stores on my hard drive, would those programs you suggested be good options for trying to read them?
[deleted] 2 points 1y ago
Oh you’re a mac user? Then try something like docuscan or abbyfinereader or something like that. It will scan and you just need to save it. Docuscan is also much cheaper then k1000.
And yes if they’re not already accessible and in epub format. What format are your books in?
And yes if they’re not already accessible and in epub format. What format are your books in?
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
Well nice.
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