[Trainer-talk] [visionrehabtherapist] Re: Apps I recommend

[Scott Davert]

Hi Julie.
I have a few others to add to what you have, though this is a decent list of them for sure.
iMove. This app is good for tracking where you are on a bus, and unlike BlindSquare, it's free. You can set it to automatically announce the address nearest to you at a certain interval, and it also works well with braille displays. It's what I use to track my movements on the bus, since I cannot hear the automated stop announcements.
Braille Sonar, a braille reference app, which I think costs $3? It's fully usable with VoiceOver, and works pretty well for low vision users also. It's a great reference tool for those wishing to learn UEB changes.
Voice, which is the name of the app, is a free OCR app that is also starting to become a solid choice for people, especially with a stand like what people would use for the $100 KNFB Reader app.
Allmenus has a lot of accessible restaurant menus, with options to search nearby, by food type, or to conduct a nationwide search. This is a mainstream app that works well with VO and also with braille.
And as always, for apps specifically designed for blind and low vision users, you do have a list that is updated regularly by myself and others at:
http://www.applevis.com/apps/ios-apps-for-blind-and-vision-impaired

Take care, and hope these are helpful aditions!
Scott

Scott Davert, MA, VRT
Coordinator, New York Deaf-Blind Equipment Distribution Program
Helen Keller National Center for Deaf-Blind Youths and Adults (HKNC)
141 Middle Neck Rd.
Sands Point, NY 11050
scott.davert at hknc.org
516-393-7561 (Voice)
http://www.icanconnect.org/new-york :: HKNC: http://www.hknc.org

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-----Original Message-----
From: visionrehabtherapist-bounce at freelists.org [mailto:visionrehabtherapist-bounce at freelists.org] On Behalf Of Hannah Fairbairn
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 7:50 PM
To: assistivetechtrainer at gmail.com; 'List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology'; 'VRT Listserv'
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] Re: Apps I recommend


 Hello Julie,
 This seems like a really good list. 
  Can I interest you in making it into a blog post  - same information  but with a short intro pparagraph  and maybe a short ending for people who are losing vision? I host a website  www.VisionLossandPersonalRecovery.com, and sometimes post items on technology. 

 I would like you to take the credit for your own good work rather than me  reproducing it and mentioning your name.
 What do you think? 

 I work at the Carroll Center for the Blind near Boston and began the website and blog  2 years ago so that our clients   would have a 24 hour source of accurate  up-to-date information.  

 I have not been posting this summer but writing a book proposal, but intend to start again next month. Perhaps you would take a look at the website and let me know. 

 A list style blog post would be find with, as I mentioned above, an intro paragraph and  an ending.
 Best wishes, and hoping to hear back ,
Hannah  
 Hannah Fairbairn 
www.BLPRBlog.com 
cell: 617.272.5220 
 Work: 617.969.6200  x 248  
 

-----Original Message-----
From: visionrehabtherapist-bounce at freelists.org [mailto:visionrehabtherapist-bounce at freelists.org] On Behalf Of Julie A Adkins
Sent: Tuesday, August 18, 2015 4:44 PM
To: List for teachers and trainers of adaptive technology <trainer-talk at nfbnet.org>; VRT Listserv <visionrehabtherapist at freelists.org>
Subject: [visionrehabtherapist] Apps I recommend

A couple of people have asked in recent months for app recommendations. I'm sorry, I cannot recall who it was that was working on a list. Maureen McDuffy, maybe??  

Overall, I refer consumers to the Apple Vis website as the "big daddy" resource for information on apps. Nothing else seems to stay updated.  I also advise them to subscribe to an email listserv so they can find out for themselves from other consumers what apps are popular. I follow the idevice listserv. But here is my list of recommended apps:

No color detector apps are really any good that I know of.  The AppleVis website reviews several, but I have tried many of them to no avail.  

TextGrabber for OCR.

KNFB Reader app only if someone is completely blind. And really I still would try TextGrabber with a phone stand.  It is so much easier to use. 

BARD of course, and other ones if they apply, such as Read2Go and NFB Newsline. 

Readability is great if people read on multiple devices. They can reformat text and pick up reading anywhere. I like to have it on their PC so they can reformat articles like Safari Reader on the iPhone or iPad.  

Pocket is a reading app also (you send your articles to it to read them in there), and it has a great “reader” built into it that is like a combination of using the Reader in Safari and also the Speak Screen feature, so it would be great for iPad (low vision) users. 

YouVersion Bible app for bible readers.

Pandora for music (though I see that people on listservs use Ootunes a lot and several other ones). I just happen to be familiar with Pandora and I know it totally works with VoiceOver. 

Dropbox for anyone with major file management needs. 

Sometimes I teach Word (again, only for someone with major file management needs).

AccessNote app for anyone working or going to college. 

Netflix (since they have audio description). 

Tap Tap See

Be My Eyes

RedLaser is still the best barcode/QR code reader I have found

Downcast for podcasts. Consumers like this one because you can speed up the audio. 

iBlink Radio for learning more about the iPhone

AFB AccessWorld 

Vision Connect 

iDevices connects up to a grill thermometer and some other stuff. This is for super techy people. 

Blind Bargains

EyeNote for identifying money (if the person doesn't use Tap Tap See). 

Amazon for general online shopping

I love the Time Warner Cable app and the PBS app for iPad users.  Any TV provider has an app where you can see the Guide, change channels right there, control your DVR, watch TV on the iPad, etc. TV channels have apps, too, like HBO, Showtime, etc.  (I had to work with a guy who was majorly into TV, can you tell??).

MagLightPro for anyone with low vision.   Also Brighter Bigger for some folks. 

Voice Dream Reader, Voice Dream Writer, Voice Dream Mail (these are more for non Voice Over users or people who use both VO and vision). 

Voice Dream Reader is excellent for low vision iPad users.  You can customize it so much and block out all but one line of text like using a typoscope.    

Look for apps for your local transportation system (bus, paratransit, light rail, etc.). The Uber app is completely accessible with VoiceOver. 

On listservs I see people use Blindsquare a lot.  Sounds like people use a combination of a few main mobility apps.  Since I am not blind, I am not sure why one would not just use the built in Maps app. 

I just have a basic app on my phone that I show people called AroundMe that shows banks, gas stations, restaurants, hospitals, and so on that are nearby. 

Hopefully that helps. 

Julie Adkins
Assistive Technology Trainer



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