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Lighthouse: Guiding People Through Vision Loss in Tallahassee
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| As We See It! By Lynda Jones | | | Have you ever wondered how a person who is blind gets ready for work in the morning… makes the coffee, picks out clothes that match and arrives at work on time? You may be surprised to learn there are computer programmers, social workers, bankers, scientists, even doctors who have impaired vision... but how to they do it? And do you wonder how a mother who is visually impaired takes her child's temperature or knows when her ten year old is getting more than two cookies from the cookie jar? We hope this column will eliminate misconceptions about blindness and the people who live with it every day. | 
| One of the most common questions is how does a blind person use a computer? People who are totally blind use software that talks and sounds something like a robot. However, many “legally” blind people have usable vision and use a mouse to get around the computer screen just like fully sighted people. Another frequently asked question is “When you lose your sight do your other senses get better?"
Computer Access
People who don't know anyone who is blind are frequently surprised to learn that people who are blind use computers and other technology devices. How does a blind person use a computer to check e-mails and surf the internet? People who are totally blind interface with computers using software that reads the screen with artificial speech...a voice similar to HAL. | | All commands are performed with the keyboard keys such as control, tab, alt, arrows, etc. For example, if your computer or mouse has ever frozen up, you may have had to reboot your computer with the keyboard command, “Control + Alt + Delete.” Just like that command, everything that is done with a mouse can be done with the keyboard. For example, “Shift-Down Arrow” highlights, “Control X” cuts, and “Control V” pastes. Yes, they're mouse-less—no icons, no clicks. Even more amazing—these techies have all of the commands memorized! | | Some totally blind people who read Braille use an electronic Braille display to access the computer screen. These devices display approximately one line of text. As the user scrolls through the text, small electronic pins pop up-and-down in the shape of brailled words while the reader's fingers fly over the pins. |  | | You may be surprised to learn that most legally blind people have some usable vision and use a mouse to get around the computer screen just like fully sighted people. However, they use software that REALLY enlarges the cursor and the print on the screen—two inches if necessary. It can also make the background dark and the lettering white, or yellow, or pale green, or whatever the person prefers to read the screen more clearly. | 
Lynda Jones
Public Awareness Specialist
Lighthouse of the Big Bend | The Lighthouse wants residents of the Big Bend who may be dealing with vision impairment to know that there is life after vision loss--exciting, meaningful, independent life--just a phone call away! For more information contact the Lighthouse of the Big Bend (850) 942-3658 or check-out the websitewww.lighthousebigbend.org. |
Tags: Lighthouse Tallahassee Vision Loss
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