Be My Eyes App

Be My Eyes goal is to make the world more accessible to people who are blind or have a low level of vision. It is a free app that connects blind and low-vision people with sighted volunteers and company representatives for visual assistance through a live video call. The app is available for iOS and Android. Download at https://www.bemyeyes.com/. 

Using the app is easy. A user who has low vision, is an older adult with failing vision, or who is blind,  who runs across something they can’t see but need to see (e.g., a prescription label or expiration date, a graphic the users screen reader couldn’t identify, text in an improperly converted document, or even help in matching a pair of socks) can make a call on the app and be connected to the first available volunteer.

The user positions their phone so that the volunteer can see what it is that needs to be seen, and the volunteer can tell them what they  are looking at.  A volunteer does not  have to take the call if they are busy — the app will move on to call the next available person.

Be My Eyes is also available for business, improving customer support for people who are blind and low-vision. “Specialized Help” is a new and better way for companies or organizations to connect with blind and low-vision customers and provide them with improved, more accessible support.

Note Taking Apps

Though we’ve written about useful apps for college students before, (see  Augsburg College Recommends: Free and Low-Cost Assistive Technology  and Apps for Academics: Mobile Websites and Apps ),  if you are looking for note taking apps, this list prepared by staff at Volunteer State Community College in Gallatin, TN, is worth a look.

Staff share the attached guide with students.  The guide summarizes key features of several apps, some are for Mac, others are for IOS and a few are available for both platforms. The list contains both free and paid apps.

Note Taking Apps

 

Apple Products and Accessibility Features

Apple has a history of building accessibility features into its products.   Though promotional in nature,  the link below provides a useful overview of the accessible features built into  Apple products, including the iPad, iPhone,  Mac,  and the Apple Watch.  Check it out, you may discover a feature you want to test out!

Technology is most powerful when it empowers everyone  (https://www.apple.com/accessibility/)