Those who live with vision loss, are often excluded from using everyday appliances. The Talking Laundry module was developed as a result of one person’s desire to have appliances speak their settings. The device, developed by 14 year old, Jack DuPlessis, gives voice to GE washers and dryers making them accessible to the blind and visually impaired.Learn more about the Talking Laundry module.
If you are experiencing vision loss, we have programs to help you adjust. Visit our Programs Page to learn more.
Talking Laundry Module Makes GE Washers And Dryers Accessible For The Blind.
Visual impairment is increasing at an alarming rate. As our population ages, the numbers will likely continue to go up unless a significant investment is made in the treatment of eye disease. It is believed that investing in research, interventions and remedies makes good economic sense as it creates the opportunity for to return to the workforce. Without treatment, vision loss often correlates with job loss.
Sixteen year old Kavya Kopparapu is an extraordinary young scientist who worked with a team of her peers to invent a simple and cost effective method for diagnosing diabetic retinopathy, an eye disease which is often a complication of diabetes. Her passion grew out of her concern and love for her grandfather who developed diabetic retinopathy and subsequently suffered significant vision loss. With the desire to change this familiar outcome for many living with diabetes, the young scientist began her research.
Many of today's consumers are choosing online shopping over traditional. With that, businesses are expected to serve all people which includes making their website accessible to everyone. In fact, Title III of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA) takes a stand against discrimination toward people with disabilities. While a number of businesses and organizations have made modifications to their physical structure to ensure accessibility, many are lagging when it comes to making their website accessible to the visually impaired. There have been a staggering 260 website accessibility lawsuits filed in 2016. This number is expected to increase in 2017. 
Avocados have become quite famous. Just check Instagram. You're bound to be hit with a picture of avocado toast, guacamole or maybe an avocado tattoo. Celebrities, foodies and wellness bloggers alike simply can't get enough of this super fruit. Avocados are known for performing the miraculous such as lowering cholesterol, controlling blood sugar and even supplying high performance intrauterine nutrition. Incorporating avocado into your diet can even improve eye health. As we age, eye diseases like macular degeneration and cataracts become troublesome villains. If claims are true, avocados could be the weapon that will keep enemy forces at bay.
Big Dog is not a dog at all. He's a blind man doing what he feels he was created to do - supporting and connecting with others who live with vision loss. He began losing his sight in 1968 due to a firecracker accident. Years later, he eventually lost his sight completely. Mr. Abell's friends, affectionately call him Big Dog and attach the description of fun loving boot wearing cowboy who happens to be blind. Big Dog lives life with incredible drive and purpose, counseling others to enjoy the journey in spite of low vision or blindness. 
Perhaps the greatest obstacle for blind and visually-impaired people is not their disability at all, but the ignorance of others. Even when sighted people are well meaning, they can make assumptions that can make the lives of blind and visually-impaired people and their loved ones harder.
The number of people who suffer vision loss due to retinal disease continues to grow. In fact, the effects of age related macular degeneration are experienced by 11 million people in the U.S alone. One study indicates that this number will double by 2040. However, development of a new retinal implant inserted behind the eye’s retina, is showing promise. Scientists expect human testing of these bio-inspired retinal implants to be successful offering hope to those facing vision loss from retinal disease.
For nearly his entire life, Grandpa Hal had been an artist. He created his pieces using traditional methods that engaged the simplicity of paintbrushes, pencil and paper. At the age of 82, amazing his family members and even himself, he learned to use Microsoft Paint to produce art with his computer mouse.
Every day, new apps are being introduced to help those who are visually impaired and blind in a multitude of tasks. 
Dolphin Computer Access has launched GuideReader, a device that helps those who are blind and low vision by giving easier access to books, magazines and newspapers from around the world.
A new technology emerges as the Cars 3 movie premieres this summer.
Using old knowledge, a group has given one runner the ability to train without a guide. 
Some university students in Croatia noticed that visually impaired children weren’t given the same educational opportunities as many sighted children. They sat down and decided to do something about it.
If you are a fan of podcasts, you should definitely give 
Mark Mothersbaugh is known for his musical talents, but he’s also been cultivating other artistic skills. Myopia has made him legally blind, but it hasn’t decreased his abilities.
Here’s a 
A scientist has taken another look at echolocation and how visually impaired humans can, and do, use it to navigate. Some use the tapping of their canes to practice echolocation, while others make clicking or shushing noises to do so.
A federal judge ruled that Winn-Dixie violated the Americans with Disabilities Act by not making its website available to blind and visually impaired individuals even though the ADA doesn’t specifically deal with websites. Because Winn-Dixie’s website is an extension of its physical locations, the judge ruled in the favor of the visually impaired man who sued.
Theaters around the world are slowly catching on the idea of accessibility for the visually impaired, people with autism and the hearing impaired.
This is a 
“We're not suing for damages. We're only suing them to follow the laws that have been in this nation for 27 years,” says the lawyer in the case against Winn-Dixie, a grocery chain in multiple states.
If you’re musically inclined but can’t see to read sheet music, this video may be encouraging.
Bryce Weiler loves sports, especially baseball though he has never seen the game played. This hasn’t stopped him from becoming a baseball announcer.
Many of us have heard of, or know someone who has experienced traumatic brain injury. It is a well-recognized consequence of some of the events that occur during military conflict. What is less well known is that over 80% of combat veterans with traumatic brain injury also deal with some sort of visual impairment that may develop after the injury.
A new camera allows for quick social sharing and comes in a variety of trendy colors. But that’s not the coolest part of this newly released camera. Beyond the regular photos that the camera captures, it also records audio and haptic memories with short audio clips. It also features a Braille screen that uses tactile graphics to allow users to feel objects and vibrant colors to know what to focus the lens on.
A new device has been created to help people learn Braille. Named Read Read, it “allows independent learning through the same manipulative-based instruction teachers use to teach children how to read Braille.” Sturdy Braille tiles printed on metal help those who are learning feel the differences. A voice will tell students what letter is being touched when requested.
Visually impaired as a young child, this man didn’t participate in most sports and team activities. Instead he focused on music. Starting with the piano and moving on to the cello, Jeffrey Lastrapes now plays professionally and teaches others.
A device is being used that enables blind people to “see” things using their tongue. Made of two different parts, a camera feeds information to a small plastic piece that is inserted into the mouth. Using haptic feedback, users receive information on the terrain in front of them.
A lawsuit has been filed by a visually impaired student who wants a fair shot at law school.
In January, two brothers who both have Stargatz disease, were featured on Ellen for their clothing business that donates money towards research for the visually impaired.
Visually impaired students from around the world come to the space camp each year to experience science, space and interacting with those involved in space programs.
New research has been released by the University of Southern California Roski Eye Institute, found that visual impairment in preschool children will increase 26% and will affect nearly 220,000 children over the next 45 years.
Wanda Diaz Merced was studying astronomy when she began to lose her vision. Working in this field had always been her dream and she wasn’t about to let a change in her sight take that away from her.
“You don’t need to be sighted to be a massage therapist. It’s totally tactile, about feeling the body,” says Neil Taylor, a successful entrepreneur who lost his sight during an operation on a brain tumor at the age of 28.
When the Utah Jazz learned that a seven-year-old fan couldn’t actually see them play, they got him a pair of eSight glasses and invited him to try them out at a home game.
A young group of entrepreneurs in Argentina have developed the template for a 3D printable chess set. With tactile markings on the board as well as the individual pieces, visually impaired people can now learn, and play, the game without assistance.
A new device, still in prototype, uses a small camera to translate written text to Braille in real time.
An Oxford University student has developed a synthetic, soft tissue retina that may be able to treat some degenerative conditions such as retinitis pigmentosa.
Kristin Smedley was living a charmed life when her first child was born with CRB1-LCA, a genetic mutation which causes visual impairment and blindness. In 
A lightweight and configurable tablet has been created that generates shapes, graphs and maps in 3D to allow people who are visually impaired to access previously difficult to understand images. The idea is that the tablet may help people find their way around new areas or learn difficult subjects such as geometry. For more information on the new assistive technology, visit 
Andrew Airey had significant vision loss on his wedding day 15 years ago. He wasn’t able to see his wife walking down the aisle or view the guests who had come to share their special day.
Artist Sharnita “Shugg” Smoot experienced drastic changes in her vision in her 20s when she was at university involved in extracurricular activities. The loss of vision was dramatic and sudden. She was forced to re-evaluate where she was headed, leaving school and many of her hobbies. During the changes, she started sketching which led to her now successful career as an artist. In 
Sometimes we get so wrapped up in the way we are currently doing things that we don’t go looking for new and potentially better ways. 
For many of us, running the Boston Marathon would be challenge enough, but for Erich Manser, he is adding to the challenge. He is visually impaired and running with the aid of a remote assistant who will be based 3,000 miles away. He will be wearing the AIra glasses and testing the ability of the technology, and the human who will be guiding him with the technology.
Two well known visually impaired personalities get together in this short video to discuss the difference between being born blind and losing vision later on in life.
Christie has been dealing with Retinitis Pigmentosa for twenty years, but only recently had to deal with becoming legally blind. In 
“Local Motors and IBM are equipping an autonomous electric shuttle bus with technology that assists people with a range of disabilities.” Using smartphone apps, artificial intelligence and augmented reality, the buses may be available as early as next year. Though the earliest models are still in design, they have plans for later models to incorporate the ability to direct a visually impaired passenger to an empty seat. For deaf people, a screen could be deployed to allow for text or signing. If all goes as planned, these buses could be among the earliest self-driving vehicles on the road. Read more 
Six dots is a tribute to the life and work of Louis Braille, creator of the Braille system that so many now use to read. The illustrated book is now available.
Chris Nagle is a software engineer who has earned respect in his workplace by getting the job done well regardless of his visual impairment. Chris was entering college when his eye sight started deteriorating. He entered the computer programming field because he thought it would require less reading which was a strain on him at the time. He was naturally good at many of the skills needed in his course and he now excels at his job.