Blind Resources
Many with MOG-AD, despite the efforts of their medical professionals find themselves with permanent damage to their optic nerves and therefore have low or no vision in one or more eyes. With improved testing and diagnosis, our hope is that no person loses their eyesight. Until then, we are proud to provide resources for our Blind MOG-AD patients.
For those who need help finding ways to adjust to a new way of living, our Director of Blind Advocacy, Andrea Mitchell is working to provide information and tips for helping those in need. Having her life changed by MOG-AD, she has learned many new things in order to regain her independence, and is passionate about helping others who find themselves blinded by this disease.
Blind Insight
Our own Andrea Mitchell has launched a series she calls Blind Insight, which is an educational series designed to tips and other useful information to those who are sight impaired. The Latests in the series shown below and can be found on our YouTube Channel.
The first in our series demonstrates Script Talk, which is a prescription drug reading system for the sight impaired.
In this QR Digital Access Menu demonstration, Andrea not only orders a delicious pizza but shows us how to order using her smartphone and a QR code for menus now being offered by many restaurants. For more on QR codes visit: 7 Best QR-Code Contactless Digital Menus for Restaurants
Useful links
Below is a summary of the resources used in Breaking Through the Darkness by Andrea Mitchell. Some are particular to the greater San Francisco area, but many are in the US nationwide, or are useful to anyone in general, worldwide. There are a lot of other resources out there depending on location. We are in the process of gathering and publishing resources from around the world.
- List of Vocational Rehabilitation Agencies by State: https://www.askearn.org/state-vocational-rehabilitation-agencies/ https://www.dor.ca.gov/
- All About Vision – Resources for the Visually Impaired: https://www.allaboutvision.com/lowvision/resources.htm
- San Francisco are Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired: http://lighthouse-sf.org/
- Orientation Center for the Blind:
https://www.dor.ca.gov/Content/DorIncludes/documents/OrientationCenterfortheBlind/OCB-handbook-07-18.docx - Ambutech: https://ambutech.com/
- Guide Dogs For the Blind: https://www.guidedogs.com/
- JAWS Screenreader Software from Freedom Scientific: https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/software/jaws/
- ZoomText Magnifier/Reader Software: https://www.freedomscientific.com/products/software/zoomtext/
- Talking Typing Teacher: https://www.maxiaids.com/talking-typing-teacher-standard
- USPS Informed Delivery: https://informeddelivery.usps.com/box/pages/intro/start.action
- KNFB Reader: https://knfbreader.com
- TapTapSee: https://taptapseeapp.com
- Be My Eyes: https://www.bemyeyes.com
- Seeing AI: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/ai/seeing-ai
- LookTel Money Reader: http://www.looktel.com/moneyreader
- LookTel Recognizer: http://www.looktel.com/recognizer
- NantMobile Money Reader: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/nantmobile-money-reader/id417476558
- Blind Square: https://www.blindsquare.com
- Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps
- List of Smartphone Apps for the Visually Impaired: https://www.visionofchildren.org/voc-blog/2018/7/13/smartphone-apps-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired
- HumanWare Victor Reader Trek: https://store.humanware.com/hus/victor-reader-trek-talking-book-player-gps.html
- Colorino Color Identifier-Light Detector: https://www.maxiaids.com/colorino
- List of Additional Apps: https://www.visionofchildren.org/voc-blog/2018/7/13/smartphone-apps-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired
- More Color Identifer Apps: https://techigem.com/color-identifier-apps/
- Hadley Non-Profit Organization for the Visually Impaired: https://www.hadley.edu/
- PenFriend: https://www.maxiaids.com/penfriend2-voice-labeling-system
- ID Mate Galaxy: https://www.envisionamerica.com/products/idmate/
- BARD: https://www.loc.gov/nls/enrollment-equipment/register-for-bard-get-bard-mobile/
- Xfinity: https://www.xfinity.com/learn/digital-cable-tv/x1
- Netflix: https://www.netflix.com/
- AMC Theaters Assistive Moviegoing: https://www.amctheatres.com/assistive-moviegoing
- clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired, Guide Dogs vs. White Canes: the Comprehensive Comparison: https://clovernook.org/2020/09/18/guide-dogs-vs-white-canes-the-comprehensive-comparison/
Great Instructional Videos from The Visually Impaired Designer
The Visually Impaired Designer YouTube Channel has a huge collection of instructional videos geared toward helping those who are blind do all kinds of things that sighted people often take for granted. Relearning how to do just about anything can be a daunting task, but Angela, the Visually Impaired Designer, provides tips and encouragement to learn.
Some of our favorite videos are linked below:
Blind or Visually Impaired and Attending College?
- This comprehensive resource on Navigating College with Visual Impairments is a great tool to help you learn to advocate, know your rights, get prepared and find the best technology to get started in college the right way.
UK Resources
This list was compiled by our UK Outreach MOG Squad member, Sarah-Huson Whyte:
- Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB): https://www.rnib.org.uk/
- BBC radio program called In Touch: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b006qxww
- Here is an excellent collation of organizations for people with visual impairments:
https://www.charitychoice.co.uk/charities/visual-impairments - Guide Dogs: https://www.guidedogs.org.uk/
- This is an organization that helps you find local support groups: https://visionary.org.uk/
- National Health Service information: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vision-loss/
- For children: https://www.rsbc.org.uk/
From our Partners
Our partner, the Siegel Rare Neuroimmune Association, held the 2020 RNDS Symposium and offered this talk on How to Manage Visual Issues.
From Our Partners for Patient Education
- Hadley Vision Resources offer great resources for those who are blind and have low vision.
- With free help from Hadley, you can discover new ways to do things that have become more difficult with vision loss. No paperwork. No waiting list. No charge.
- MyVision is a free digital resource led by expert ophthalmologists and optometrists to provide trusted information on eye health and vision.
- They have some notable articles on optic neuritis:
- NVISION Eye Centers, is a community of eye care professionals dedicated to helping people live better by seeing better. In honor of Blindness Awareness Month, in October of 2021, they provided us with some helpful resources for the visually impaired. Please take a look: