The world of radio – connection & community for blind & partially sighted people
By Scarlett Humphrey Everyone is familiar with the radio - it’s often on in the car, used as a background noise, or turned on to listen to specific shows. With so much choice now available to listen to and watch on so many streaming platforms though, the world of radio can easily be thought of as slipping away. But for many it still stands strong, bringing with it a sense of connection and community. I class myself in this bracket, an avid listener and radio enthusiast… and so do many other blind and partially sighted people. But [...]
Using technology & cooking when you are vision impaired
By Ikra Shakoor Hi, my name is Ikra Shakoor, I am 27 years old and from Bradford. I have a condition called Bardet Biedal Syndrone which is a rare genetic condition which can affect different part of your body and I also have an eye condition called RP and cataracts. I wanted to share how I use technology and cook in a every day life as a blind person. Accessible Technology A helpful event for accessibility and technology which I attend in Leeds is Sight Village. It's a great event and there is lots of [...]
Digital accessibility – Blackboard Ultra
Hello, my name is Mohammed Alomrani. I am a second year student, studying a degree in Digital Education at the University of the West of England. As a blind student using the Non Visual Desktop Access (NVDA) screen reader, I was invited by UWE's Digital Capability team to test the accessibility of Blackboard Ultra. This opportunity enabled me to challenge the social barriers faced by disabled students in digital learning environments. Some of these challenges included use of virtual learning environments and the inaccessibility of learning materials. The collaboration resulted in a comprehensive blog post titled "Blackboard Ultra and [...]
Nine ways ChatGPT can help you live a smarter, more independent life
Top ChatGPT Hacks You Need To Know: Charlotte shares her thoughts on how ChatGPT can be especially helpful for VI users: I was very sceptical about ChatGPT. I assumed it would be unreliable and clunky and full of misinformation. But I can honestly say, I was wrong. It is so clever and it has made a huge difference in not only my job, but also my daily life as a blind person. Here, I discuss my top hacks for living a smoother, smarter and more independent life with ChatGPT. What is it? Developed by OpenAI, [...]
GSCE and A-Level Revision Tips
It's the final push before exams - here are our top ten revision tips! Revising for exams like GCSEs and A-Levels can be tough. But with the right tools and strategies, you can absolutely thrive. Whether you use Braille, screen readers or large print, here are our top revision tips for blind and VI students. 1. Make a revision plan In a document, write out a list of all the subjects you are taking. Divide each subject into topics. Put a star or symbol next to the topics you find most challenging. This will help you [...]
Celebrating our love of books together!
Let's celebrate all of our entries! We'd like to say a massive thank you to all the children who entered our World Book Day celebration! Here is the final line up of submissions where you’ve dressed up and told us about your favourite books. All of the children who took part this year received a a free Voxblock audiobook reader so you can continue to explore your love of literacy! Catherine from the VICTA team has also selected some of her favourite entries to receive a pair of POGS The Elephant headphones, we’ll be in touch soon if you [...]
The World’s First Period Detection Product for the Blind
What is FlowSense and how is it useful? As you approach your teens, you will start to notice changes in your body. You might get spots. Your voice might change. You might discover hair growing in new places, like down there or under your arms. Emotionally, you might also find your mood changes a lot and feelings become more intense. Whatever it is, the most important thing to remember is, you are not alone. These changes are all normal, and every one of your classmates, both male and female, will be experiencing them too. In today's [...]
New Technology: The Hable One External Braille Keyboard
Is the Hable One Worth It? As a blind Apple fan, I rarely leave the house without my iPhone. I use it for everything: sending and reading messages; making phone calls; Googling; online shopping; reading articles and social media; ordering Ubers; watching TV shows; listening to Spotify... the list goes on. But despite being one of the most accessible devices in my arsenal, there is one thing I find challenging about the Apple iPhone: typing. I'm a lot slower at typing on a touch screen than I am on a BrailleNote Touch. [...]
Blind Dancing | So you think you can’t dance?
VICTA Changemakers Blindness Awareness Month So you think you can't dance? That assumption is not strictly true! Today, 10 October 2024 is World Sight Day and also World Mental Health Day. And as part of Blindness Awareness Month, VICTA Changemaker Grace busts some myths around dancing when you are blind or partially sighted and the positive impact is has had on her mental health. Dancing is an incredibly visual art form, but it is also very inclusive, even if you live with a vision impairment. This is something I didn't think could [...]
AI tools for blind & visually impaired students | Blindness Awareness Month
VICTA Changemakers Blindness Awareness Month Artificial intelligence (AI), much like the internet, has become an integral component of our daily lives in recent years. Despite popular scepticism fuelled by mainstream media and misinformation on social networks, AI plays an important role in improving educational accessibility. Specifically, for blind and visually impaired learners, AI tools can significantly improve the learning experience by providing personalised assistance, increasing independence, and improving the accessibility of educational content. In this article, details are presented of various apps and websites that utilise AI to assist blind and visually impaired people, particularly [...]
