veroniiiica.com

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# Veronica Lewis

## Sitemaps
- [XML Sitemap](https://veroniiiica.com/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages.

## Posts
- [Ad-Free Video Magnifier Apps For Android](https://veroniiiica.com/ad-free-video-magnifier-apps-android/): Free video magnifier apps for Android phones and tablets that don’t have advertisements, perfect for low vision users and visually impaired students
- [Accessible Summer Reading Programs For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-summer-reading-programs-for-low-vision/): Free accessible summer reading programs for low vision and blind students that offer incentives for reading braille, audiobooks, and other accessible books
- [A to Z of Screen Magnification For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/screen-magnification-for-low-vision/): Introduction to screen magnification for low vision, software features and free tip sheets for built-in and third-party screen magnifiers
- [My Experience Using Kagi Search With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/using-kagi-search-with-low-vision/): How I am using Kagi Search with low vision to manage my visual fatigue, plus my favorite Kagi accessibility features for low vision + CVI and a Kagi low vision theme
- [Accessible Metronome Apps For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-metronome-apps-low-vision/): Free accessible metronome apps for low vision and blind users that can be used for playing and practicing music, or as part of Expanded Core Curriculum-related lessons
- [Background Sounds and Ambient Audio for Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/ambient-audio-for-low-vision/): Ad-free background sounds and ambient audio for vision breaks, classroom music, studying, and relaxation. Includes options with keyboard shortcuts and low vision accessibility features
- [Accessing Online Readings For College Classes](https://veroniiiica.com/online-readings-for-college-classes/): Tips for accessing online readings in college, including adjusting font sizes and removing distractions like ads. I use these strategies every week as a visually impaired student!
- [Typo Protection and Typosquatting: Online Safety Tips For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/typo-protection-typosquatting-safety/): Strategies for typo protection, typosquatting prevention, and other high-impact online safety tips for low vision and blind users, especially those with dysgraphia
- [Choosing Paint Colors For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-paint-colors-for-low-vision/): I’m visually impaired, here are the strategies I used when choosing paint colors for low vision and selecting a paint color with adequate contrast for a bedroom
- [Five Apps I Use In Statistics Classes As A Low Vision Student](https://veroniiiica.com/statistics-apps-for-low-vision/): A list of statistics apps for low vision access that I have used in my high school, college, and graduate statistics classes as a visually impaired student
- [My Most-Used Keyboard Shortcuts For Academic Writing](https://veroniiiica.com/keyboard-shortcuts-for-academic-writing/): Time saving keyboard shortcuts for academic writing and formatting papers in APA Style with Microsoft Word, a vital skill for students with visual impairments!
- [Pre-Teaching Programming Languages To Visually Impaired Students](https://veroniiiica.com/pre-teaching-programming-vi-students/): Tips for pre-planning student access needs in programming and coding courses, and proactively addressing accessible coding barriers through pre-teaching programming languages
- [Google Colab Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/google-colab-low-vision-accessibility/): Google Colab low vision accessibility settings that I use for my R/stats class to read notes and accessible coding resources in large print
- [How I Keep Track of Assignments With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/keep-track-of-assignments-low-vision/): Free accessible apps for to-do lists that help students with visual impairments keep track of homework, plus tips for staying organized in school from a visually impaired student
- [Implementing Shared Folders For Online Classes](https://veroniiiica.com/shared-folders-for-online-classes/): How to eliminate access barriers and create a bridge by converting course websites to shared folders for online classes, suitable for students with disabilities
- [How I Take Math Tests With Double Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/take-math-tests-with-double-vision/): Tips and strategies I use for taking math tests and statistics tests with low vision and monocular double vision that help me access information visually
- [Attending The Hybrid ASSETS Conference With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/attending-the-assets-conference-with-low-vision/): My experiences attending ASSETS virtually with low vision, and how I use assistive technology at hybrid conferences
- [How I Keep Track Of My Schedule With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/keep-track-of-schedule-with-low-vision/): tips and strategies to keep class schedules and meetings organized using digital calendars for students with visual impairments, from a PhD student with low vision
- [Tips For Teaching R Programming To A Low Vision Student](https://veroniiiica.com/teaching-r-programming-to-low-vision-students/): I have low vision and a degree in computational and data sciences, here are my tips for introducing R programming to a low vision student.
- [Organizing a PhD Portfolio With Microsoft Sway](https://veroniiiica.com/phd-portfolio-with-microsoft-sway/): How I organized my first PhD Portfolio with Microsoft Sway as a student with low vision that uses large print and responsive layouts
- [How To Create An Accessible Formula Sheet](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-an-accessible-formula-sheet/): In math and statistics classes, instructors often provide students with a formula sheet that contains equations, tables, and other helpful definitions that students can refer to during assignments and exams. As a student with low vision that primarily accesses information visually, a lot of these instructor-provided formula sheets or "cheat sheets" are impossible for me to read since they often contain small symbols, low-contrast visual elements, blurry tables, and multi-column layouts that stack information side-by-side. Until I started college, I had no idea what options were available for creating an accessible formula sheet for low vision, and I rarely used formula sheets in middle school and high school (which definitely contributed to higher levels of stress from having to memorize everything and lower scores on exams).
- [Modifying Assignments To Remove Flashing Lights](https://veroniiiica.com/modify-assignments-remove-flashing-lights/): I have an eye and brain condition affected by flashing lights. Here’s how I work with instructors to modify assignments and course content as needed
- [Apple Pencil Customizations For Writing With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/apple-pencil-customizations/): As a student with low vision and dysgraphia, I love using my iPad along with an Apple Pencil to help with writing tasks, drawing, and completing assignments for my classes, especially since my handwriting is neater on an iPad compared to paper. Because the white Apple Pencil often blends into other white surfaces like tables or counters, I started looking into Apple Pencil customizations for writing with low vision to make it easier to locate my stylus, and have since used several of these options to customize Apple Pencil for other students and clients with low vision as well. Here is a list of ways to customize Apple Pencil for low vision and other Apple Pencil customizations for writing, which can make it easier to see and easier to write with.
- [Ten Questions To Ask When Buying Digital Textbooks](https://veroniiiica.com/questions-to-ask-about-digital-textbook/): When I first started buying digital textbooks (eTextbooks) during my first year of college, I assumed that all textbook publishers and platforms offered similar accessibility features and that I would be able to access any book as long as it was in a digital format. As a student with low vision, I quickly learned that a digital format is not necessarily an accessible format, and realized that I would need to do more research when buying eTextbooks for my classes instead of just choosing whichever platform had the lowest price. Here are ten questions to ask when buying digital textbooks for students with print disabilities and/or visual impairments, from a college student with low vision.
- [April Fool’s Day Prank Lessons For Low Vision Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/low-vision-assistive-technology-prank/): Practical and positive creative prank ideas for introducing low vision assistive technology concepts with humor on April Fool's Day and beyond
- [Customize Microsoft Edge Accessibility For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/customize-microsoft-edge-accessibility/): An in-depth guide to customize Microsoft Edge accessibility for low vision. Make it easier to access web content with high contrast, custom fonts, and custom colors
- [Creating Flower Arrangements With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/creating-flower-arrangements-low-vision/): A few years ago, a friend invited me to learn about creating flower arrangements with low vision and taught me about how to arrange flowers while putting together a bouquet for another friend’s birthday. I was excited to learn something new, and the lessons they taught me about how to arrange flowers helped a lot when I was helping a student with low vision a few years later in a floral arts/floral design class at their high school. Here is a list of tips and strategies for arranging flowers with low vision, which can be used for therapeutic horticulture (or therapeutic floriculture) as well as for describing flowers for low vision and teaching low vision learners how to arrange flowers.
- [Creating Audio Description For College Fight Song](https://veroniiiica.com/audio-description-for-college-fight-song/): Make school spirit accessible to all! Learn how to create audio description for college fight song and gameday cheers for low vision and blind students
- [How To Write Alt Text For Educational Content](https://veroniiiica.com/alt-text-for-educational-content/): How to write alt text and image descriptions for classroom materials for students with visual impairment
- [Purposes of Media Descriptions for Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/purposes-of-media-descriptions/): Here are specific ways that I find media descriptions and tools like image descriptions and audio description helpful as someone with low vision.
- [Navigating Project Task List Spreadsheets With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/project-task-list-spreadsheet-low-vision/): Simple strategies I use to read project task list spreadsheets in Google Sheets and Microsoft Excel with low vision and large print text
- [How I Access PowerPoints with Microsoft Sway](https://veroniiiica.com/convert-powerpoint-to-sway/): As a student with low vision, I sometimes have trouble reading the PowerPoint slides that my instructors post on the course website or share with me so I can follow along with class. Things like small font sizes and multi-column layouts are great for presenting a lot of information on a single slide, but can be difficult to read for students with print disabilities or make it challenging to locate important items like hyperlinks or reminders/instructions for an assignment.
- [Configuring Padlet For Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/padlet-for-low-vision-accessibility/): Digital bookmarking tools and web applications are awesome for students with visual impairments because everything can be found in one place and opened/enlarged in a new tab if needed, but things like multi-column layouts and visual clutter can make it challenging to make sense of information or figure out where to start reading. Here are my favorite tips and strategies for configuring Padlet for low vision accessibility that I have personally used as a student with low vision.
- [iPhone Accessibility Settings For Occipital Stroke](https://veroniiiica.com/iphone-accessibility-settings-for-stroke/): When one of my best friends (D) had an occipital stroke shortly before Christmas, one of the first things they mentioned when they got out of the hospital was how they were having trouble using their phone. They didn’t know at the time about the multitude of iPhone accessibility settings for stroke and neurological vision loss that are available on their device, and I’ve since received several messages about how much easier it is for them to type and use their device independently now that we’ve enabled these settings. Here is a list of iPhone accessibility settings for stroke and neurological vision loss that I enabled after their occipital stroke, which highlight several ways to make iPhone easier to see. Unless otherwise noted, all of these settings are also available on iPad.
- [Digital Rulers For Dysgraphia and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/rulers-for-dysgraphia-low-vision/): When I was working on adapting a math worksheet for one of my classes, I noticed that it was challenging to keep track of scratch work and problems written in a vertical layout with double vision. I was looking for a way to draw lines on my screen or partially obscure other visual elements I didn’t need, preferably with a stylus so that I didn’t have to click and drag multiple lines. I remembered that several of my favorite productivity applications had a digital ruler tool, so I started using this to help with making math worksheets accessible for low vision and for supporting academic access in other ways. Here is a list of ideas and strategies for using digital rulers with low vision and dysgraphia.
- [E-Ink Displays and Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/e-ink-displays-and-low-vision-accessibility/): I've been using eReaders to read books since I was in middle school, primarily using e-ink displays that mimic the appearance of paper and that don't have distracting applications or features that take away my focus from reading. While I prefer e-ink displays from a user experience perspective because it doesn't involve bright screens, no way of accessing digital text is 100% perfect and I've learned to use different workflows to access content on my device independently. Here are my tips for using eReaders with e-ink displays and low vision accessibility strategies that can make content easier to access.
- [iOS Magnifier and Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/ios-magnifier-low-vision-accessibility/): An overview of the built-in iOS Magnifier and low vision accessibility settings. Use your iPhone or iPad as a video magnifier, with options for VoiceOver access
- [Secret Microsoft Office Accessibility Features I Use Every Day](https://veroniiiica.com/secret-microsoft-office-accessibility-features/): When I wrote the first version of this post in 2019, I included seven accessibility features most people didn't realize existed in Microsoft Office products, many of which I had learned about during my time as a Microsoft intern. Since then, Microsoft Office has added even more "secret features" that aren't often publicized as accessibility options or included in posts about Microsoft Office accessibility, which have helped to streamline my experience and digital workflows as a user with low vision that accesses information visually. Here is a list of "secret", hidden, and little-known Microsoft Office accessibility features I use every day with low vision.
- [Adapting Accessible Z-Tables: Math Problems and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/free-accessible-z-tables-for-low-vision/): Statistics assignments that require the use of a z-table can be challenging for students with low vision who often receive copies of z-tables that are not optimized with visual impairment access in mind. Honestly, I had so much trouble finding accessible z-tables for visual impairment and print disabilities that I decided to create my own templates that I could use in my Statistics classes. I was looking for something that could be downloaded for offline access, used clear fonts that could be easily enlarged with screen magnification or browser zoom, and that matched the formula sheets used in high school and college classrooms, and have shared these files below that anyone can use. Here are my favorite tips and free resources for adapting accessible z-tables for low vision and large print formats, part of my Math Problems for Low Vision series that covers topics related to math accessibility.
- [How To Describe Science Experiments For Visually Impaired Students](https://veroniiiica.com/description-for-science-experiments/): When watching science experiments or participating in science labs, I would constantly find myself thinking or saying "what just happened?" after every step of the experiment. Since I have low vision, I often have trouble noticing subtle changes in science experiments or focusing in visually cluttered or crowded environments, so I would often rely on lab partners, instructors, and others to describe what was going on during an experiment. Here are my tips for how to describe science experiments for visually impaired students, inclusive of Blind (nonvisual) and low vision students. Many of these strategies are also effective for students with Cerebral Visual Impairment/Cortical Visual Impairment (CVI), sometimes referred to as neurological visual impairment.
- [Tuva Tools and Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/tuva-tools-and-low-vision-accessibility/): For students who haven't developed the same love for graphs and charts due to accessibility barriers, I have discovered several resources for creating graphs and charts in customizable formats, which is especially helpful for visually impaired students. One website that I've really liked using is the free Tuva application, which incorporates several universal design features and a no-code approach to data analysis and exploration. Here is an overview of the free Tuva web application and its low vision accessibility features for creating and interpreting data visualizations, including options for keyboard access and sonification.
- [Using YuJa Panorama and Anthology Ally With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/yuja-panorama-anthology-ally-with-low-vision/): How I use alternative formats menus like YuJa Panorama and Anthology Ally with low vision for accessing content in my online and hybrid college classes
- [The Best Study Tips For Visually Impaired Students](https://veroniiiica.com/study-tips-for-visually-impaired/): A list of my favorite study tips for visually impaired students, inclusive of Blind and low vision. Includes study tips for auditory and tactile learners too!
- [Customize Accessibility Settings For Specific Apps](https://veroniiiica.com/accessibility-settings-specific-apps/): I have several accessibility features enabled on my Android phone and iPad that help me access information with low vision effectively, but there are times where these settings don't work as expected with specific applications. Instead of turning off the accessibility setting entirely, I find it helpful to customize accessibility settings for individual apps or quickly customize accessibility settings for specific apps that I can turn on/off without having to go to the Settings menu. Here is how to customize accessibility settings for specific apps on iPad/iOS devices and Android devices to improve display and performance for visual accessibility settings, with a focus on large print and display scaling.
- [Tips For Using VDWrite In The Classroom With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/using-vdwrite-in-the-classroom/): Some of the students I've worked with find the feature-rich layouts of applications like Microsoft Word or Notability to be visually overwhelming and prefer a simpler layout for authoring and editing text. Many of them prefer the VDWrite application for iPad as it provides several accessibility features for low vision and print disabilities, but it does require some planning for accessing assignments in plain text formats instead of using .docx file formats. Here are my favorite strategies and tips for using VDWrite in the classroom with low vision students, and how to incorporate VDWrite into digital workflows for students with print disabilities.
- [How To Use Invert Colors With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/invert-colors-with-low-vision/): Earlier today, my friend and I were looking at routes for the DC Metro on Google Maps when my friend realized they couldn't see the Silver line at all. Google Maps color codes each of the routes, but the silver color doesn't provide much contrast against the other transportation options, making it difficult to see where the Metro lines were in relation to the road. This problem was solved instantly when I inverted the display colors to provide better contrast with the different display elements, and we could easily identify where the Metro route was on the map. Here are my tips for how to use invert colors with low vision, and examples of how I use it personally.
- [BlueSky Accessibility Features For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/bluesky-accessibility-features/): When I first created a BlueSky account, I couldn’t find much information about BlueSky accessibility settings or using BlueSky with low vision. To make it easier for new users to navigate the platform, here is an overview of BlueSky accessibility features for low vision and blind users that I have personally used that go beyond just adding alt text to images.
- [Choosing Accessible Microscopes For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-microscopes-for-low-vision/): When I think back to my high school biology class and using a microscope with low vision, I remember my lab partner (and best friend to this day) would provide detailed verbal descriptions of what different slides looked like and attempt to draw some of them with high contrast markers, since I couldn't see any of the slides. Accessible microscopes weren't available at my high school, so it wasn't until college that I used a microscope with low vision for the first time and learned about the variety of microscope options for visually impaired users. Here is a list of tips for choosing accessible microscopes for low vision and making microscopy accessible for visually impaired students who access information visually.
- [Low Vision Assistive Technology For Discussion Board Posts](https://veroniiiica.com/assistive-technology-for-discussion-board/): Discussion board posts are a key part of college experiences, especially in online classes and in graduate school programs. I love discussion boards because I often learn so much from students and instructors alike about different topics, problem solving ideas, and areas of interest, but most discussion board posts and interfaces are inaccessible to me as a student with low vision, as they often require a lot of reading or block other reading extensions or tools that I use in other contexts. Here are examples of how I use low vision assistive technology and accessibility tools for discussion board posts, based on my experiences taking 60+ online classes across multiple platforms.
- [Implementing Shared Folders For Accessible Materials](https://veroniiiica.com/shared-folders-for-accessible-materials/): In order to streamline the digital workflow process, my second high school suggested implementing shared folders for accessible materials so I could get copies of digital assignments more easily. This worked well from the teacher perspective, since they could easily add documents to a folder on their computer, and from the student perspective, since I didn't have to rely on someone to make large print paper copies. Over the years, I have refined my process for creating shared folders to improve the organization and efficiency for all members of the support team, while promoting technology skill development and self-advocacy opportunities for the student themselves. Here are my tips for implementing shared folders for accessible materials, targeted at students with visual impairments (inclusive of low vision/blind).
- [How To Use Hover Text For iPad With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/hover-text-for-ipad-with-low-vision/): I love using simplified reading displays to read text content in large print, but they aren't always available or practical for certain tasks like filling out forms, interacting with content that has a lot of images, or viewing small sections of text. When I was working with another student that had difficulty accessing simplified reading displays as well, I learned how to use Hover Text for iPad to make it easier to enlarge text in a consistent format, and both the student and I were happy with this option for improving text access and viewing content with large print. Here is how to use Hover Text with low vision for iPad, including options for customizing the appearance of text and viewing content with large print sizes.
- [Meet The Cast: Supporting Literacy For Students With CVI](https://veroniiiica.com/meet-the-cast-with-cvi/): Learn more about supporting literacy for students with CVI by utilizing “Meet The Cast” handouts that can provide context for plot elements and visuals
- [Nail Trimming and Low Vision: Adapted Nail Clippers](https://veroniiiica.com/nail-trimming-and-low-vision/): As part of my coursework for EDAT 527: Assistive Technology for Independent Living and Employment at George Mason University, I completed a project where I documented a list of adapted nail clippers for low vision and characteristics of low vision aids for nail trimming. Here is an edited version that may be helpful for others with low vision.
- [Highlighting Information With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/highlighting-with-low-vision/): I rely a lot on color for labeling information, so highlighters and colored overlays are a helpful tool for locating text or making it easier to see, especially when it comes to making information stand out against a bright white background. Here is a list of strategies for highlighting information with low vision, including options for improving visual access and ideas for nonvisual access.
- [Blind Barbie and Assistive Technology For Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/blind-barbie-assistive-technology/): In July 2024, Mattel released Barbie Fashionista Doll 228, also known as “Blind Barbie,” which was developed with guidance from the American Foundation for the Blind and the Royal National Institute of Blind People. As a white cane user with low vision who loves wearing colorful outfits, I thought that the doll served as a great conversation starter for talking about using different types of assistive technology and skills used by people with visual impairments, plus it could be a great confidence boost for a white cane user looking for representation. Here is a list of examples of accessible design elements for Blind Barbie and how Barbie might use assistive technology.
- [How To Choose Accessible Usernames](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-choose-accessible-usernames/): I spend a lot of time in online spaces, so I often learn to identify people based on their usernames, display names, or similar account names. As someone with low vision and a print disability that makes it challenging to read standard print, accessible usernames make this a lot easier. An accessible username isn’t just something that can be detected by a screen reader; accessible usernames extend into being something that can be read with a print disability, shown in large print sizes, or that can be read out loud by a screen reader or displayed on a braille display with ease.
- [The Best Study Tips For Auditory Learners](https://veroniiiica.com/best-study-tips-for-auditory-learners/): I consider myself a primarily visual learner, but my eyes and brain don't always agree with that. Factors like eye strain, fluctuating eyesight, and fatigue from reading can make it more challenging for me to study visual materials, which means I often pivot to audio access and utilize study tips for auditory learners to reduce the amount of visual demands I place on my eyes. Here is a list of the best study tips for auditory learners and tips for accessing study materials through audio modalities that promote nonvisual access, from a visually impaired student.
- [How I Receive Accessible Quizzes and Tests in the Classroom](https://veroniiiica.com/receive-accessible-quizzes-and-tests/): When I was in high school, my instructors would provide copies of assignments and classroom materials using a shared folder system that was set up with Dropbox. With this system, I could download copies of instructional content, work on the assignment using my personal device and assistive technology, and then save the content to my personal folder and the shared folder for grading. This system worked well for day-to-day class work and assignments, but my instructors were worried about having me save copies of quizzes and tests to my personal device and sharing them with other students. To address this concern, my instructors and I used other alternatives to provide me with the accessible quizzes and tests I needed without giving me the option to view the content before or after class ended. Here is how I would receive accessible quizzes and tests in the classroom setting as a student with low vision and a print disability.
- [How I Use Moodle With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-moodle-with-low-vision/): At the time of writing this post, I have taken fourteen online classes on the Moodle learning management system platform, including a mix of high school and college classes across all core subject areas. As a student, I don't have control over which platforms my instructors use for classes, and it can be challenging to find Moodle accessibility resources specifically for students with low vision. To help with this, I've created a list of different tools and strategies that share how I use Moodle with low vision as a student user, including tips for how to use Moodle with large print and web extensions for Moodle that I have found helpful.
- [How I Use Espanso Text Expander With Dysgraphia](https://veroniiiica.com/espanso-text-expander/): One strategy that has helped me a lot is the use of text expanders to help with streamlining the writing process and copying repetitive information or templates, and I started using the Espanso text expander to help with notetaking and putting together discussion board posts when using my computer. Here is how I use the free Espanso text expander software with dysgraphia and low vision.
- [Tips For Transferring Cox Email to Yahoo Email With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/transferring-cox-email-to-yahoo-email/): When my mom’s Cox email address was transitioned to Yahoo as part of a planned migration transferring Cox email addresses to the Yahoo Mail program, she couldn’t access her email for several days from Microsoft Outlook or from the Apple Mail app, and asked me to fix this issue for her. Once word got out that I was able to fix it, three more people contacted me asking for help, and I ended up organizing a series of notes on tips for transferring Cox email to Yahoo email. After reading a story in the Washington Post about a woman with low vision who experienced similar barriers that only got resolved after contacting a journalist, I started reorganizing my notes to turn them into a post for people who are still struggling with this issue. Here are my tips for transferring Cox email to Yahoo email across multiple platforms compatible with low vision assistive technology.
- [BioSig-ID Accessibility For Low Vision and Dysgraphia](https://veroniiiica.com/biosig-id-accessibility/): During the first week of an online graduate school class, students were prompted to create a biometric password with BioSig-ID, which would serve as an additional security measure for accessing course websites. I didn't realize it at the time, but my first week of class would include a lesson on BioSig-ID accessibility for visual impairment and handwriting difficulties, as my dual diagnoses of low vision and dysgraphia meant that I couldn't use the tool with its default settings and had to research solutions with my professor. Here is what I learned about BioSig-ID accessibility for low vision and dysgraphia, and how I requested disability accommodations to use it.
- [Unique Summer Reading Prizes For Print Disabilities](https://veroniiiica.com/unique-summer-reading-prizes-for-print-disabilities/): Many of the students I have met over the years haven't been motivated to participate in summer reading programs because they aren't excited about the prizes being offered. Many summer reading programs hosted at libraries offer copies of books as prizes, which are inaccessible to participants with print disabilities who are unable to read the books since they are in an inaccessible format. Even though these students love reading and enjoy meeting reading goals, they don't feel like these prizes celebrate their progress in a meaningful way. However, there are many unique summer reading prizes that can be enjoyed by participants with print disabilities that celebrate reading and community involvement without revolving around physical text. Here is a list of low-cost and unique summer reading prizes for print disabilities that can be enjoyed year-round and celebrate different reading experiences.
- [Disability Accommodations For Graduation](https://veroniiiica.com/disability-accommodations-for-graduation/): Examples of disability accommodations for graduation and other commencement events for graduates of all ages
- [How To Create Accessible Summer Reading Lists For Print Disabilities](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-summer-reading-lists/): I love getting recommendations for new books to read from my university or local libraries, especially when it comes to summer reading lists with all of the new and upcoming releases. However, there are times I miss out on being able to access the reading lists because I have a print disability that impacts my ability to read small or standard-sized print materials, which make it more difficult for me to not only read the list of recommendations, but find accessible copies of the books listed on them. Here are my tips for how to adapt summer reading lists for print disabilities and how to create inclusive and accessible summer reading lists for dyslexia, visual processing disorder, low vision, blindness, and other print disabilities that affect access to standard materials.
- [A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text](https://veroniiiica.com/a-to-z-of-assistive-technology-for-reading/): When I'm doing research on assistive technology for reading digital text or eBooks, I often search for specific display customization options or accessibility features to determine if this app will be useful for me or for a student/client I'm working with. With students and clients, I'll also ask if there are any features that they consider a must-have (such as a specific font or large text sizes), so that I can make sure whatever I recommend will work for them. Here is an A-to-Z list of assistive technology for reading digital text that are helpful for readers with low vision or other types of print disabilities, as well as different ways that they can be used.
- [Implementing UDL For Data Science Lessons: Free Resource List](https://veroniiiica.com/udl-for-data-science-resource-list/): Mostly free resources and strategies for implementing Universal Design for Learning/UDL for data science and statistics lessons, curated for EDAT 524.
- [Wakelet Accessibility Features For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/wakelet-accessibility-features-for-low-vision/): I created my first Wakelet account several years ago after attending a virtual presentation on Wakelet accessibility features, but I didn't really use it very often until I completed the free self-paced Wakelet Certified course and discovered how I could Wakelet not only with assistive technology, but to learn about assistive technology and view curated collections and resources from other users around the world. Since then, I've used Wakelet for creating interactive notebooks for school projects, organizing links and documentation for trainings, and saving resources that I can use for future posts or assignments. Here is how I use Wakelet accessibility features for low vision and print disabilities, and an overview of how to use the free Wakelet tool for digital bookmarking and organizing content.
- [Visible Body Suite Accessibility For Low Vision: 3D Anatomy Models](https://veroniiiica.com/visible-body-suite-accessibility-for-low-vision-3d-anatomy-models/): Visible Body Suite accessibility features for low vision, including options for viewing accessible 3D anatomy models with a screen reader.
- [Sideloading and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/sideloading-and-low-vision/): One of the most helpful skills I've developed for accessing digital media with low vision is learning how to sideload content into another application. In this context, sideloading refers to loading titles into a reading or productivity application that were purchased or downloaded from another source using the file browser or cloud storage tool and is a valuable skill to have for accessing downloaded content or files and displaying them with the user's preferred reading settings. Here is an overview of how to sideload content on an eReader or tablet, and examples of how I use sideloaded content on my eReader and tablet.
- [How I Use Send-To-Kindle With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/use-send-to-kindle-with-low-vision/): One of my favorite things about the free Amazon Kindle app is the Send-to-Kindle feature, which offers an easy way to sideload content and does not require users to have a Kindle device. Send To Kindle content is added to the device library and can be used across devices just like other titles purchased from the Kindle store, making it easier for me to configure display options like large text, highlights/annotations, and line spacing. Here is how I use Send-to-Kindle with low vision, and how this free tool has helped me tremendously in college and for leisure reading.
- [Google Reader Mode and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/google-reader-mode-and-low-vision/): Google Reader Mode and Reading Mode support the following fonts:
- [Free Digital Bookmarking Tools For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/free-digital-bookmarking-tools-for-low-vision/): I started using digital bookmarking tools and bookmarking apps to organize research sources, website links, and other multimedia content after I realized that my previous strategy of adding everything to my bookmarks or copying links into a single document wasn't particularly effective. Learning to use bookmarking tools is an important skill for students to develop, especially when preparing for college transition or entering the workforce, as they are a valuable way to organize several different types of content and have it synchronize across multiple devices.
- [Solar Eclipse Accessibility Resources: Assistive Technology For Blind and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/solar-eclipse-accessibility/): My review of the Eclipse Soundscapes app on iPad and Android, and how it helped me understand a really cool event
- [How I Use Graph With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-graph-with-low-vision/): When I was in high school, I used a laptop that did not have internet access to complete assignments and access materials in my in-person classes. I was still very new to researching assistive technology for math, and knew that I couldn't see the graphs on the TI-84 calculator that my teachers often used, so I had to find another way to read graphs with low vision. This solution ended up being Graph, a free and open-source application for Windows that provided me with an easy way to plot graphs and enlarge them as a student with low vision. Is Graph a fantastic tool with lots of accessibility features? Not exactly, but I've talked about it frequently when I do presentations or interviews about my experiences with assistive technology for math, so I wanted to put all of my notes on it in one place. Here is how I use Graph with low vision, and how it helped me in high school.
- [Amazon Kindle App and Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/using-the-amazon-kindle-app-with-low-vision/): I started using the Amazon Kindle app when I was in high school after a textbook for one of my classes was purchased from the Kindle marketplace. It quickly became one of my favorite apps for reading eTextbooks as a student with low vision, because I could enlarge images and text on my own, as well as configure additional display options. Since then, I've continued using the Amazon Kindle app on my iPad, Android phone, and Windows computer to read textbooks purchased from Amazon, as well as content from other applications like the Libby app from my local library and files from my computer. Here is an overview of the Amazon Kindle app and low vision accessibility features, with information on how to use Kindle with visual impairment and print disabilities.
- [Reading VitalSource eTextbooks With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/vitalsource-accessibility-low-vision/): As a student with low vision that can’t read standard print, I rely on eTextbooks and accessibility settings like adjustable font sizes in order to access readings and required materials for my classes. Unlike physical textbooks that can be purchased from several dozen different sources in various conditions, eTextbooks are generally more limited in terms of where they can be purchased and what types of reading tools are available. Many of the websites I have used for renting and buying eTextbooks over the years used the VitalSource Bookshelf web reader for providing access to content, which I can read from my iPad, Android tablet, or computer with no additional downloads required. To help other students with visual impairments and print disabilities learn more about VitalSource accessibility features and display customizations, here are tips and strategies for reading VitalSource eTextbooks with low vision and using the VitalSource Bookshelf eReader application, as well as general information about VitalSource accessibility for assistive technology users.
- [Activity Ideas For Vision Breaks](https://veroniiiica.com/activity-ideas-for-vision-breaks/): As a student with low vision who also has photophobia/photosensitivity to bright lights, I often take vision breaks throughout the day to rest my eyes. When I'm working on visually demanding tasks such as reading, working on my computer, or taking notes in a classroom, it becomes more difficult for me to focus my eyes over an extended period of time, and taking a break for five minutes or less can provide me with a much-needed "reset" so that I can use my vision effectively. I've received a few questions from students about how I spend my vision breaks and asked if I had any activity ideas for vision breaks that don't involve just sitting in silence, so I've put together this list of ideas. While most of the listed ideas are "good", I've also included a few "bad" ideas that aren't particularly helpful for decreasing eye fatigue or that can actually make it worse.
- [What I Wish I Learned About Assistive Technology Before Starting Grad School](https://veroniiiica.com/i-wish-i-learned-at-before-grad-school/): I gave a talk about what I wish I learned about assistive technology before starting college a few years ago, based on my experiences preparing for transition from high school to college at the undergraduate level. Recently, I had someone ask me if there was anything I wish I learned about assistive technology before I started graduate school, and without hesitation, I answered “absolutely” and started drafting this post.
- [Mainstream eReader Apps and Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/ereader-apps-and-low-vision-accessibility/): Details about popular eReader apps and low vision accessibility features available for each app, including font sizes, page colors, display customizations, and reading tools.
- [Adapting Accessible Charts: Math Problems and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/adapting-accessible-charts-for-low-vision/): When it comes to working with charts and visual representations of data, students with low vision may find it challenging to locate and interpret information, as well as explain why it is significant or important. When I was first introduced to charts as a student, I found them to be blurry, hard to understand at times, and difficult to enlarge or present in a format that I could see without straining my eyes. Over the years, I have learned to use several tools and strategies for adapting accessible charts and making charts easier to see with low vision, and began to appreciate charts as a great way to organize information and engage in digital storytelling, many of which I learned during my coursework for Computational and Data Sciences and have since applied to showing students and their teachers how awesome accessible charts can be.
- [Adapting Math Sketches: Math Problems and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/adapting-math-sketches-for-low-vision/): Math assignments that involve drawing, sketching, or graphing elements by hand can be challenging for students with low vision who may have trouble with fine motor skills, creating visualizations or drawings of concepts, or viewing their own drawings/sketches. Even though I would understand what a solution should look like and could visualize it in my head, my hands and eyes didn't quite get the message and I would end up drawing something that looked distorted, messy, or that didn't quite align with the coordinates or ticks after all. Here are my most-used tips and strategies for adapting math sketches and drawings for low vision and dysgraphia, part of my Math Problems for Low Vision series that covers topics related to math accessibility.
- [Adapting Digital Equations: Math Problems and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/adapting-digital-equations-low-vision/): Tools and strategies for adapting digital equations using math editors and web applications to display content in large print for low vision students
- [How I Decorate A Bedroom For CVI](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-decorate-a-bedroom-for-cvi/): For one of my class projects, I worked with a tween-aged student who had a confirmed diagnosis of Cortical Visual Impairment (also known as Cerebral Visual Impairment or CVI) and wanted to redesign their bedroom to make it a more accessible and fun space. Designing for CVI is unique, since it is a neurological form of visual impairment that is underrepresented in research and conversations about accessibility, and a lot of the resources I found about designing a bedroom for CVI were targeted at babies or very young children, with limited resources for older kids that wanted a say in their own space. Here are my tips for how I decorate a bedroom for CVI, and examples of design elements that can be used for designing a bedroom for low vision in general.
- [Adapting Coordinate Planes: Math Problems and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/adapting-coordinate-planes-low-vision/): When learning to identify and plot coordinates and points on a coordinate plane, students with low vision may find it challenging to orient themselves to where items are located on a page or draw coordinates on paper. Even though I would understand the steps I would need to take to identify where something is on a coordinate plane, I would often get these types of questions wrong on assignments, quizzes, and exams because I'd strain my eyes to try to see where things are located or end up with a lot of fatigue by the time I got to these questions. Even though I have a degree in data science and work with graphs and visualizations all the time, it's still challenging for me to identify individual coordinates without the use of magnification or other forms of assistive technology. Here are my most-used tips and strategies for adapting coordinate planes in large print, part of my Math Problems for Low Vision series that covers topics related to math accessibility.
- [Adapting Page Layouts: Math Problems and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/adapting-page-layouts-low-vision/): I'm grateful that I had several math teachers who were awesome about providing materials in an accessible format, but there were also times where I blamed myself for failing a math problem, when in reality the math problem failed me by not being in a format that I could read. Here are my tips for adapting page layouts for math assignments and formatting math assignments in large print, part of my Math Problems for Low Vision series that covers topics related to math accessibility.
- [Adapting Math Symbols: Math Problems and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/adapting-math-symbols-low-vision/): Elementary school math lessons introduce arithmetic and math symbols to students as they learn to add, subtract, multiply, and divide, which can be challenging for students with low vision that find it difficult to tell the difference between different types of math symbols. At one point, I struggled so much with identifying math symbols with low vision that I was tested for dyscalculia or a math disability to determine if I had trouble actually doing math, or with seeing it printed on a page. Through this testing, I learned that my low vision and dysgraphia played a major role in my ability to solve math equations correctly, and it was important that I find strategies for adapting math symbols so that I could see them. Here are my tips for adapting math symbols for large print materials, part of my Math Problems for Low Vision series that covers topics related to math accessibility.
- [Adapting Coin Activities: Math Problems For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/adapting-coin-activities-for-low-vision/): Elementary school math lessons often include coin math lessons and activities for learning to identify coins, which can be challenging for students with low vision who have trouble with recognizing coins. I remember as a young student that I knew all of the visual characteristics of a quarter, including who was on it, what color it was, how large it was, and what it was worth, but when it came time to identify a quarter on a black-and-white worksheet that included small images, it was much harder for me to tell the difference between a quarter and a nickel since the majority of visual characteristics I relied on were now either missing or much harder to see. Here are my tips for adapting coin activities for low vision students and learning to identify coins, part of my Math Problems for Low Vision series that covers topics related to math accessibility.
- [How I Use Pinterest For Studying In College](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-pinterest-for-studying/): When I first started using Pinterest in high school, it was mostly for finding fashion inspiration, new recipes to try, and college prep/college transition resources; I wasn't exactly using Pinterest for studying anything in school. While I still use Pinterest to browse these types of content, my favorite way to use Pinterest is as a study tool for my college classes in both undergrad and graduate school classes, as the visual search engine and wide variety of creators help me to find inspiration for my own school projects and engage in further research. Here is how I use Pinterest for studying in my college classes and tips for finding and organizing educational content on Pinterest.
- [Organizing Hanging Storage With Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/organizing-hanging-storage-with-vision-loss/): Instead of keeping items in drawers or locations with less-than-ideal lighting conditions, some people with visual impairments may prefer to use hanging storage organization tools that attach to walls, doors, or other vertical spaces. These hanging storage organizers place items within the line of sight so they are easier to locate, and also potentially easier to store compared to folding items or placing them in bins. Here are tips and strategies for organizing hanging storage with vision loss, inclusive of low vision and blind/nonvisual strategies.
- [How To Create Accessible Classroom Posters For Students With Visual Impairments](https://veroniiiica.com/create-accessible-classroom-posters/): Creating accessible classroom posters and anchor charts for students with visual impairments ensures that all students have access to the same resources in the classroom, especially when it comes to working on assignments. I've curated a list of several resources that can be used to adapt classroom posters and make anchor charts easier to read for students with low vision as well as blind students who prefer non-visual formats. I've also included a few case studies and examples of how I've helped teachers across the country implement accessible posters and materials in their own classrooms, and how these strategies have benefitted their visually impaired students.
- [Language Learning Tips And Resources For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/language-learning-tips-and-resources-for-low-vision/): Many of my friends speak two or more languages, and enjoy teaching me how to say various words and phrases in other languages. Sometimes, these lead to me learning something useful, while other times my friends seem to have fun teaching me random slang words or sentences that don't make sense, such as "my shoes are filled with potatoes" or "the giraffe smells like strawberries." Over the years, I've discovered several language learning tips and resources for learning a new language with low vision, which have helped me to learn core vocabulary and phrases in different languages; phrases that are much more useful than talking about potatoes inside of shoes or the scent of a giraffe. Here are helpful language learning tips and resources for low vision learners of all ages that can be applied to various languages and world language classes. I've included options for both low vision access as well as nonvisual access for audio-based learning.
- [Organizing Jewelry With Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/organizing-jewelry-with-vision-loss/): I love wearing necklaces and earrings, and I can find my favorite pieces in less than a minute thanks to learning strategies for organizing jewelry with vision loss. I've experimented with a few different systems for jewelry organization over the years, including the use of a smaller jewelry box, trying out different organizers, and placing items close together, but I always go back to my favorite options for low vision organization that emphasize vertical space and keeping items in a place where I can easily see them. Here are my favorite tips for organizing jewelry with vision loss, and how I keep my favorite pieces from breaking or going missing.
- [Organizing Dresser Drawers With Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/organizing-dresser-drawers-with-vision-loss/): One of my friends asked me to help them learn how to organize a dresser with visual impairment after they admitted they had given up on trying to keep clothes organized and just shoved things in drawers, feeling around to locate items and having trouble with fitting everything inside. I'm glad they asked for help, because I had also experienced frustration with trying to organize my dresser in a previous dorm, and we spent an afternoon figuring out the best ways to organize a dresser for vision loss and what strategies worked for them to locate items independently. Here are my tips for organizing dressers with vision loss and how to organize drawers for low vision and blind/nonvisual access.
- [Free Braille Art and Tactile Image Libraries: World Braille Day](https://veroniiiica.com/free-braille-art-tactile-images/): As part of a semester-long school project for one of my graduate classes, I researched several free braille art and tactile image libraries that could be used for educational activities relating to science, agriculture, ecology, and several other topics. Even though I don't personally use braille due to neuropathy in my hands, I can often access some components of tactile graphics and braille art, examining high-contrast lines and other details through touch. Here is a short list of free braille art and tactile image libraries that provide resources on accessible images for blind and low vision audiences, in honor of World Braille Day. I've also included links to graphics and other resources I used specifically for this school project when possible.
- [Streaming Audio Description For Performing Arts Videos](https://veroniiiica.com/streaming-audio-description-for-performing-arts/): I was introduced to streaming audio description for performing arts videos when I watched Twelfth Night with audio description through the National Theatre At Home service. Since then, I've discovered several other paid and free streaming services offering audio description for plays, ballet, opera, musicals, original films, and so much more from all over the world, making it possible for me to enjoy professional productions using my own personal technology. Here are several services offering streaming audio description for performing arts content, including a mix of classic and modern titles.
- [Organizing Shoes With Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/organizing-shoes-with-vision-loss/): I love how a pair of colorful, comfortable shoes can pull an outfit together, or how the right pair of athletic shoes can make a huge difference for exercise or going for a walk. I've tried a few different strategies for organizing shoes with vision loss over the years after realizing that I would have trouble locating the pair of shoes I wanted to wear for a specific activity and that I would spend a lot of time searching for things. However, it wasn't until I accidentally wore one black shoe and one blue shoe to a school event that I accepted that I needed to figure out how to organize shoes with low vision so this didn't happen again. Here are my tips for organizing shoes with vision loss, with a mix of tips for low vision and blind (nonvisual) access.
- [Accessible Dice For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-dice-for-low-vision/): Some of my friends love playing tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs), and one of them recently sent me a message asking if there was a way to make accessible dice for visually impaired players or a dice rolling device for a player with visual impairment (a term inclusive of blindness, low vision, and neurological visual impairment). After talking to my friend about this other player’s access needs, I sent them a copy of a list of solutions that were successful in helping everyone to have a chance to play this game. Here is a list of tips for how to make dice accessible for low vision gamers and visually impaired gamers in general, including options that go beyond the standard six-sided die.
- [Helping Visually Impaired Students Thrive: My DonorsChoose Giving Page](https://veroniiiica.com/my-donorschoose-giving-page/): November 14th is the day that I first published my first blog posts about low vision and assistive technology on my website, Veroniiiica (Veronica With Four Eyes). I started this website because I love finding new ways to use mainstream technology as assistive technology and enjoy sharing strategies that I've learned for living with vision loss, and I would often receive requests to share what I had learned with others. I've continued to update my posts over the years to reflect new innovations in assistive technology and disability services, but one message that has remained timeless is that investments in assistive technology, accessible educational materials, and disability supports can have a profound effect on student success in the classroom, the workplace, and beyond.
- [Accessible Maps and Wayfinding Tools For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-maps-wayfinding-tools-for-low-vision/): When I'm traveling or visiting a new/unfamiliar place as a person with low vision, it's tremendously helpful to use accessible maps and wayfinding tools that can help assist me with orienting myself to my surroundings and planning routes to other areas of interest. This can be as simple as locating the nearest bathroom at a museum or as complex as locating a building on my college campus and then finding a classroom or event space. Wayfinding and map interpreting strategies are important for all people with visual impairments to develop and utilize, whether they use a mobility aid like a cane or guide dog or have a less-obvious visual impairment that can make indoor or outdoor navigation a challenge. Here is an overview of different types of accessible maps and wayfinding tools for low vision that are available, along with examples of how I have personally used them.
- [Lemon On A Pear: Accessible Memes For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-memes-for-low-vision/): Take my hand, and we’ll make it accessible I swear, learn about accessible memes for low vision in this story about a lemon on a pear/Livin’ on a Prayer
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Headphones](https://veroniiiica.com/mainstream-technology-and-low-vision-headphones/): While many people associate assistive technology with specialized devices that are expensive or hard to find, many mainstream technology devices have started supporting accessibility features and built-in assistive technology that can make specialty tools more financially and publicly accessible for all. Peripheral accessories like headphones enable users to customize how and when they access information through auditory modalities, and are an essential part of workflows that involve audio access. Here are features to consider when choosing headphones for users with vision loss, as part of my ongoing Mainstream Technology and Low Vision post series.
- [Writing Aids For Low Vision: My Personal Superlatives](https://veroniiiica.com/writing-aids-for-low-vision/): As someone with both low vision and dysgraphia, I spent a lot of time in school experimenting with different writing aids, discovering what writing utensils worked best for reading handwriting or drawing a picture, as well as which ones made content difficult or impossible to read. When a former teacher asked me about my favorite pens for low vision and other writing aids, I remembered that they had helped with the school yearbook and started organizing my favorite writing aids based on yearbook superlatives for fun, updating my original writing utensils post from 2019 with new information. Here is a list of different writing utensils and writing aids for low vision, and the superlatives I associate them with.
- [School Cafeterias and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/school-cafeterias-and-low-vision/): Sometime around sixth grade, I came to the conclusion that the combination of school cafeterias and low vision contributed to a great deal of frustration for me at school. Other than the school gym, the cafeteria was one of the places at school where I felt my visual impairment was the most obvious because I didn't have access to so many of the visual cues that my classmates were using. Some of the barriers I encountered as a visually impaired student in the cafeteria became easier to deal with as I got older and learned how to live with low vision, while others continued to exist or became a problem later on that I had to brainstorm solutions for.
- [How I Manage Dysgraphia In Online Classes](https://veroniiiica.com/manage-dysgraphia-in-online-classes/): While a lot of people associate dysgraphia with illegible or hard-to-read handwriting, dysgraphia can often extend to difficulties with typing and other types of written expression as well. Even though I type all of my notes and assignments for my online classes, my dysgraphia doesn't "disappear" just because typing is easier than handwriting- typing with dysgraphia can still be a challenge at times. I've had to learn a few different strategies for managing dysgraphia in online classes, including the use of accessibility settings, assistive technology, and receiving disability accommodations in the form of an IEP or college disability services file. Here is how I manage dysgraphia in online classes, including online class accommodations for dysgraphia that I've used in high school, college, and in graduate school.
- [Using The Envision App With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/using-the-envision-app-with-low-vision/): I'm always looking for new functions and ways to use different features in visual assistance applications, and first downloaded the Envision app a few years ago when my friend was raving about its text recognition features at a low vision accessibility event we were both attending. When Envision became free for all users in 2022, I began recommending Envision and Envision AI more often for users looking for a visual assistance app that would work on multiple platforms and support helpful features like file upload, multiple languages, and recognizing faces. Here are my tips for using the Envision app with low vision for a variety of tasks.
- [Blindness Canes and WonderWord: An O&M Word Search](https://veroniiiica.com/blindness-canes-and-wonderword-an-om-word-search/): To celebrate White Cane Safety Day on October 15th, I had the opportunity to collaborate with WonderWord word search puzzles to create a blindness cane themed word search that introduces players to common terminology associated with white canes as well as orientation and mobility (O&M) techniques used by Blind and low vision people around the world. Here is a more in-depth look at the words that were included in this puzzle, originally published on October 2nd, 2023.
- [OCR Scanner Apps For Low Vision Students](https://veroniiiica.com/ocr-scanner-apps-for-low-vision-students/): A list of OCR scanner apps for low vision students, useful for extracting text that can be read out loud with text-to-speech or displayed in large print.
- [How To Modify Accessible Anatomy Graphics For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/modify-accessible-anatomy-graphics-for-low-vision/): When I first published this post in 2019, I was researching solutions on how to modify anatomy diagrams for the visually impaired (inclusive of low vision/blind) for a friend with low vision. Since then, my friend has earned their doctorate, and I've learned about several other digital resources for finding high resolution anatomy diagrams and images for students with low vision at the high school and college level. Here are my tips for creating accessible anatomy resources for low vision and blind students, as well as tips for how to modify anatomy diagrams to make them easier to see.
- [How To Adapt Puzzle Games For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-adapt-puzzle-games-for-low-vision/): When I was in elementary school, my parents would buy large print word search and other puzzle books that would keep me entertained for hours at home or on a long drive. Over time, the font size of the large print puzzle books has become more difficult or impossible for me to read, so I started coming up with ways to adapt puzzle games and access large print word searches, large print crossword puzzles, and other large print games so that I can still enjoy them with assistive technology. Here are my tips for how to adapt puzzle games for low vision using technology.
- [How To Use Dictation As Assistive Technology With Mainstream Devices](https://veroniiiica.com/dictation-as-assistive-technology/): I use dictation as assistive technology frequently when I am using mainstream technology devices such as my computer, phone, and tablet. Also known as speech-to-text, dictation tools take spoken words, numbers, punctuation, and other formatting information as input, and transcribes the audio as text that can be output into a text field, word processing document, or onto a printed page. Learning to use dictation as assistive technology is a valuable skill for learners with low vision who often use multiple input methods, so today I will be sharing my tips for how to use dictation across a variety of different contexts.
- [Zine Accessibility and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/zine-accessibility-and-low-vision/): I started learning about zine accessibility when one of my favorite cooking blogs released a zine filled with several different recipes that I was excited to try, which had been made available both as a print and a digital copy that I downloaded from their website. Zines are small-circulation self-published works that are created by one person or a small team, and cover various topics in-depth, including (but not limited to) fandom, disability, mental health, cooking, and social issues. I get questions from readers about zine accessibility and how to create an accessible zine often, so today I will be sharing my favorite resources for zine accessibility, with a special focus on accessible zines for low vision.
- [Online College Library Resources For Digital Access](https://veroniiiica.com/online-college-library-resources/): I mentioned in my other post about college libraries that I only checked out a single book from my college library while living on campus for four years. Even though I can count the amount of physical materials I borrowed on one hand (or rather one finger), I have used countless online college library resources, especially in my online graduate school program where I access digital content from libraries pretty much every day. Here are my favorite online college library resources for digital access, which are fantastic for students with print disabilities that benefit from accessible materials.
- [Sora Accessibility Features For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/sora-accessibility-features-low-vision/): How to set up Sora accessibility features for low vision, including large print eBooks, keyboard access, audiobooks, and read aloud. Great for school libraries!
- [How To Create Image Descriptions For Red Carpet Looks](https://veroniiiica.com/writing-image-descriptions-for-red-carpet-outfits/): Learn how to describe looks from red carpet awards shows and galas for people with vision loss (low vison/blind)
- [How To Create A Custom Android Home Screen With Microsoft Launcher](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-a-custom-android-home-screen-microsoft-launcher/): After my previous favorite home screen customization app was discontinued (RIP Buzz Launcher), I went looking for another custom home screen app that would support a custom gesture UI and other customization features. I found that the Microsoft Launcher app would work perfectly for what I was looking for, and have been using it every day since. Here are my tips for how to create a custom Android home screen with Microsoft Launcher, aimed at users with low vision/vision loss.
- [How I Use Microsoft Immersive Reader With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/microsoft-immersive-reader-with-low-vision/): Out of all of the simplified reading displays I use, the tool I turn to the most often is Microsoft's Immersive Reader, a free built-in simplified reading display available across several Microsoft products with no extra downloads required. Updated in 2025, here is how I use Microsoft Immersive Reader with low vision and information about Immersive Reader accessibility for large print.
- [Therapy Dog Reading Programs and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/therapy-dog-reading-programs-and-low-vision/): One of my favorite events to attend at the library as a child was the therapy dog reading programs that allowed participants to read books to a trained therapy dog. Therapy dog reading programs helped foster my love for reading and writing, as well as my love for dogs, and I later became a certified therapy dog handler with my pet dog and participated in the reading programs as a dog handler. I recently received a message from a librarian asking how to make their therapy dog reading programs more inclusive and accessible for kids with vision loss and print disabilities, so today I will be sharing my tips from the perspective of someone who has been both a participant and a dog handler.
- [Mainstream Educational Technology Certifications For Teachers of the Visually Impaired](https://veroniiiica.com/educational-technology-certifications/): Google, Apple, and Microsoft have partnered with educators and technology trainers to develop educational technology certification programs for educators, including K-12 teachers, college professors, IT specialists, and more. One of the most underrepresented groups of people that can benefit from these certification programs are "techie TVIs", or Teachers of the Visually Impaired who are interested in learning about how to use mainstream technology applications for their students. Having TVIs that are familiar with the technology that their students use in the classroom and will eventually use in the workplace is important for helping students to be successful, and this post provides an overview of the mainstream educational technology certification programs I have completed myself as an assistive technology educator with a special interest in low vision.
- [Audio and Nonvisual Entertainment Ideas For Blind and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/audio-and-nonvisual-entertainment-ideas-for-blind-and-low-vision/): I've received a few emails from readers asking about nonvisual entertainment and ideas for listening to different types of content that goes beyond the typical listening to music or listening to an audiobook. There are a ton of different types of audio content for blind and low vision listeners that are engaging to listen to and that has a large online community for discussion, including members that are sighted as well as those that are visually impaired. Here are my favorite audio and nonvisual entertainment ideas for blind and low vision listeners.
- [How To Create A DonorsChoose Project For Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-a-donorschoose-project-for-visual-impairment/): As someone who donates to DonorsChoose and that has helped with setting up projects for teachers in the past, I love browsing DonorsChoose projects that benefit students with visual impairments because I can see what different teachers from schools across the United States are requesting and how they are using assistive technology (or hoping to use assistive technology) in their classrooms. Whether it is a self-contained classroom for special education or a mainstream classroom, learning how to create a DonorsChoose project for visual impairment is helpful for teachers who are looking to get tangible support for their students, including those who are blind, have low vision, or that have CVI (cortical visual impairment/cerebral visual impairment). Here are my tips for how to set up DonorsChoose projects to increase the chances of getting funded and participating in targeted match offers.
- [Decorating Easter Eggs With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/decorating-easter-eggs-with-low-vision/): Decorating Easter eggs is a fun springtime activity, and the internet is filled with a ton of different tips for ways to dye Easter eggs, hacks for decorating Easter eggs, and ideas for decorating Easter eggs with a variety of materials. I've decorated Easter eggs at various activities over the years, and have learned many helpful tips and strategies for decorating easter eggs with low vision and how to make the decorating process easier for people with disabilities in general. Here are my favorite tips for decorating Easter eggs with low vision. Please note that while I use the phrase "Easter egg" throughout this post, the "egg" does not actually have to be a chicken egg and these techniques can work for other items as well.
- [Supporting Patients With Low Vision In Medical Environments](https://veroniiiica.com/supporting-patients-with-low-vision/): I have low vision in addition to a few other medical conditions, so I have spent a lot of time visiting hospitals, doctor's offices, outpatient testing facilities, and other medical environments. Since a lot of my conditions are unrelated to my vision loss, I get questions from medical staff on how they should help me navigate different environments or how to make different tasks easier, so I've put together this list of tips for supporting patients with low vision in medical environments. Items in this list can also be requested by patients and their caregivers as well.
- [How I Show Work For Math With Low Vision and Dysgraphia](https://veroniiiica.com/show-work-for-math-with-low-vision-and-dysgraphia/): I love math and am very good at it, but often struggle with organizing scratch paper and "show your work" prompts when handwriting math assignments— I would tell people that my brain loves math, but my eyes do not. I have a combination of low vision (which affects my ability to read handwriting) as well as dysgraphia (which affects my ability to write legibly), so a lot of my scratch work for my early math classes consisted of hard-to-read numbers, uneven spacing, and writing the wrong number when working through a problem. This didn't improve until I started taking trigonometry and calculus in college, and I found a way to show work for math that also worked well for me. Here is how I show work for math and organize scratch paper with low vision and dysgraphia when typing isn't an option.
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Keyboards](https://veroniiiica.com/mainstream-technology-and-low-vision-keyboards/): While many people associate assistive technology with specialized devices that are expensive or hard to find, many mainstream technology devices have started supporting accessibility features and built-in assistive technology that can make specialty tools more financially and publicly accessible for all. I spend a large part of my day interacting with both physical and digital keyboards for writing and communicating, but also for using assistive technology and accessibility features with full keyboard access. Here are features to look for when choosing a keyboard for users with vision loss and how to make keyboards easier to see, as part of my ongoing Mainstream Technology and Low Vision post series.
- [TumbleBooks: Audio Narrated Picture Books For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/tumblebooks-audio-narrated-picture-books-low-vision/): When I first learned about TumbleBooks and their online audio narrated picture books, one of the first questions I had was "where was this when I was a kid?" I have a print disability that makes it near impossible for me to read books in traditional formats, and I remember wondering why so many books seemed to be printed with blurry fonts, not realizing that my low vision was playing a role in why I had trouble reading. TumbleBooks is a free library of picture books that include a mix of new titles and classic picture books, and today I will be sharing my tips for how to access TumbleBooks audio narrated picture books with print disabilities, with a special focus on low vision.
- [Five Accessible Calculator Apps For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/five-accessible-calculator-apps-for-low-vision/): I was first introduced to the world of calculator applications for low vision when I was in middle school and discovered that I couldn’t see the graphing calculator that was used in my Algebra 1 class. The buttons on the calculator had a small font size and were difficult to identify, and the non-backlit display was impossible for me to read since it had poor contrast and was not in a very high resolution. While ideally I would have started using accessible calculator apps while taking Algebra 1, my school district did not actually approve a large print graphing calculator accommodation until a few years later, and since then I have used a few different calculator apps in my various high school and college math classes. Here are five accessible calculator apps and web applications that can help students with low vision in the classroom, including a mix of low-cost (less than $5) and free calculator apps.
- [Services Provided By State Unit/State Department for Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/state-department-for-visual-impairment/): If you or a loved one has just been diagnosed with low vision or blindness, here’s why you need a case with your state vision impairment department
- [Computer Mice and Mouse Alternatives For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/computer-mice-mouse-alternatives-for-low-vision/): As I type this post, I currently have six different computer mice and mouse alternatives within a five-foot radius of my desk that can be used to access information on my computer and/or tablet. These are a mix of mainstream technology devices, specialty devices designed for users with disabilities, and mainstream tools that have been adapted for use as assistive technology.
- [How I Use Blackboard With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/use-blackboard-with-low-vision/): I write about a lot of different websites and apps I use for in-person and virtual learning, but there isn't a single website for college that I spend more time on than the Blackboard Learn LMS portal, which hosts websites for all of my classes and provides access to course readings, assignments, projects, quizzes, grades, and so much more. Since I use Blackboard for at least an hour every day during the semester, I've developed my own workflow for interacting with content and using different strategies to overcome accessibility barriers like small font sizes and display scaling issues when they come up. Here is how I use Blackboard Learn with low vision, based on my experiences as a student using Blackboard for my undergrad and graduate classes at George Mason University.
- [Smartphone Apps For Orientation and Mobility](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-my-phone-for-orientation-and-mobility/): My favorite tool for O&M and independent navigation as a person with low vision isn't my blindness cane— it's my Android smartphone. While I love my blindness cane and all of the ways that it helps me to navigate my community on my own or with limited assistance, I use my phone for orientation and mobility a lot more often than I use my cane in a variety of contexts, and often use smartphone apps and tools in conjunction with my blindness cane as well. Here is a list of popular smartphone apps I've downloaded for orientation and mobility as a blindness cane user with low vision, inclusive of Android and iOS devices, including accessible GPS applications. Unless otherwise noted, each application is available on Android and iOS, though the exact features between operating systems may vary.
- [Accessible Picture Books For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-picture-books-for-low-vision/): Free and low cost resources that offer accessible picture books for low vision and blind readers, including eBooks, Braille/Print, audiobooks, and more!
- [Learning to Self-Advocate With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/learning-to-self-advocate/): Many of my IEP goals involved self-advocacy and learning to self-advocate with low vision. Here is a list of advice and strategies that helped me as a student.
- [Why I Prefer My Schoolwork Digitally: Updated Edition](https://veroniiiica.com/why-i-prefer-my-schoolwork-digitally/): Why I prefer to receive digital accessible materials instead of print ones
- [How I Use Quizlet With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-quizlet-with-low-vision/): How I use Quizlet, a free study app that supports large print and screen readers.
- [Questions To Ask When Choosing A Laptop For College](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-a-laptop-for-college/): I received a message from a reader asking if I had any tips for choosing a laptop for college, because they were interested in finding the "best" laptop for their soon-to-be college student. While I can't recommend a specific laptop brand or model that would be considered the "best" laptop for college since colleges and major programs can vary with their tech requirements, here is a list of questions that can help students find the best laptop for their needs, factoring in details such as operating system, storage, screen size, and more.
- [Audio Workouts and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/audio-workouts-and-low-vision/): Nonvisual fitness and audio workouts for people with vision loss, perfect for gentle exercise, recreation, Adaptive PE, and ECC
- [How To Request Multiple Library Cards For Digital Content](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-request-multiple-library-cards-for-digital-content/): In recent years, I have collected multiple library cards for digital content so that I can access books and media I am interested in without having to leave the house. My local library has a ton of awesome online services, but I've been able to discover even more programs through reciprocal library agreements and applying for digital library cards in the surrounding area so I can check out a seemingly unlimited amount of content that I wouldn't be able to find at home or through accessible libraries for people with print disabilities. Here are my tips for how to request multiple library cards for digital content and search for library services, aimed at homebound library users or blind/low vision users like me. After all, having fun isn't hard when you've got a library card!
- [Two of Everything: Living With Double Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/two-of-everything-living-with-double-vision/): I've lived with diplopia for almost my entire life. Here are my favorite assistive technology tools and strategies for living with double vision
- [My Ideas For Improving Alt Text Features On Social Media](https://veroniiiica.com/improving-alt-text-features-on-social-media/): I was quoted in the Wall Street Journal talking about how I would improve existing alt text features on Twitter and other social media. While the actual quote is only a sentence long, I have many other thoughts on improving alt text features on social media, and today I will be sharing my extended thoughts on how alt text features can evolve to further benefit Blind and low vision users on social media.
- [Managing Chronic Migraines in College](https://veroniiiica.com/managing-chronic-migraines-in-college/): I've had chronic migraines since I was in high school as a component of a then-undiagnosed neurological condition, which was later diagnosed as Arnold-Chiari Malformation Type 1 (also known as Chiari Malformation or Chiari 1 Malformation). Even though my migraines had a significant impact on my ability to attend school and led to me having a hybrid schedule senior year of high school, I still wanted to go away to college and have some parts of the "college experience", even though it meant I would have to balance a chronic illness and choose what parts of the traditional college experience I would participate in— “having it all” was not an option. Here are my tips for managing chronic migraines in college, and how I lived on campus for four years at a state school with a chronic migraine diagnosis.
- [Unwritten Tech Skills For Tech Internships: PM Intern With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/unwritten-tech-skills-for-tech-internships/): Tech skills I used daily as a PM intern with low vision at a major technology company that visually impaired students can start practicing before new employee orientation
- [How I Set Up My Tech Internship Desk: PM Intern With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-set-up-my-tech-internship-desk-pm-intern-with-low-vision/): When I was a program management intern at a major technology company in 2019, one of the first questions my mentor had for me was how I wanted to set up my tech internship desk as a PM intern with low vision and photophobia. At first, I wasn't sure what to ask for, especially since I didn't know what other people's offices looked like, but I was able to find an office set up that worked well for me and that closely mirrored the environment I was used to working in. Here is how I set up my internship desk as a PM intern with low vision for an in-person internship that primarily used Windows and Microsoft products.
- [Vocational Rehabilitation for College Students](https://veroniiiica.com/vocational-rehabilitation-for-college-students/): I first learned about vocational rehabilitation for college students with visual impairments when I was getting ready to graduate from high school. Even though I had been registered with the state agency for visual impairment since I was fourteen years old, I hadn’t talked to anyone from there in years, so I wasn’t sure what to expect when my mom and I met with someone who worked with the vocational rehabilitation program a month later. Here is an overview of what to expect from vocational rehabilitation for college students with visual impairment.
- [Online Safety For Visually Impaired Users: Safer Internet Day](https://veroniiiica.com/online-safety-for-visually-impaired/): Tips and strategies for digital literacy and staying safe online with vision loss, plus online safety for visually impaired users for Safer Internet Day
- [Tips For Be My Eyes Volunteers From A User With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/be-my-eyes-for-volunteers/): As a person with low vision, I've used Be My Eyes and similar visual interpreting applications many times over the years for various tasks, including reading labels, identifying objects, and getting information about my surroundings. My experience with Be My Eyes volunteers has been generally positive, though some of the volunteers haven't been very familiar with best practices on how to be a human guide or a visual interpreter for someone with vision loss. Here are my favorite tips for Be My Eyes volunteers, from a user with low vision who uses a blindness cane.
- [20+ Visual Impairment Project Ideas For DonorsChoose](https://veroniiiica.com/20-visual-impairment-project-ideas-for-donorschoose/): I've worked with DonorsChoose in a variety of different ways over the years, including helping teachers create their own classroom projects, researching tools that can be used by students with disabilities in the classroom, and donating to DonorsChoose projects as an individual or through a match offer. There are so many interesting ways that teachers can use DonorsChoose to benefit their students with vision loss (inclusive of blind/low vision), so I've put together a list of 20 different visual impairment project ideas for DonorsChoose.
- [My Thoughts On Visual Descriptions With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/my-thoughts-on-visual-descriptions/): Here are my thoughts on why I appreciate visual descriptions at events as a person with low vision, and my thought process for coming up with effective descriptions
- [How To Create Helpful Visual Descriptions For Visually Impaired Audiences](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-visual-descriptions/): When I first wrote this post on how to create helpful visual descriptions for visually impaired audiences in November 2021, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out not just how to describe what people look like, but what people should include when describing themselves or why these descriptions are helpful for people with visual impairments to begin with.
- [Choosing An iPad Keyboard For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-an-ipad-keyboard-for-low-vision/): I've been using my iPad a lot for writing lately and noticed that my hands were starting to hurt after doing so much typing on the device's touchscreen keyboard. After learning that a physical hardware keyboard could help me type more quickly and efficiently with better ergonomics and the ability to use keyboard shortcuts, I started to do more research on choosing an iPad keyboard for low vision so that I could find a solution that would work well for me. Here are my tips on choosing an iPad keyboard for low vision users.
- [Classroom Technology That Benefits Low Vision Students](https://veroniiiica.com/classroom-technology-that-benefits-low-vision-students/): When designing a classroom with inclusion in mind, there are several different types of classroom technology that can help all learners, but especially learners that have low vision. I had a high school teacher that commented on how modifying assignments and classroom tech for one visually impaired student (me) helped all of the other students as they had access to images that were sharper, clearer, and easy to look at- a few students even realized that they needed glasses by the end of the semester. When classroom technology is designed with low vision students with mind, everyone can benefit from being able to see what they are learning. Here are some examples of classroom technology that benefits low vision students, perfect for requesting from the school technology specialist or outside sources like DonorsChoose.
- [Accessible Classroom Library Ideas For Print Disabilities](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-classroom-library/): When I was shadowing an elementary school teacher, they asked me to help them design an accessible classroom library for their students with print disabilities, after we noticed that students seemed to be avoiding the library area or looking at the books in general. While print disabilities can impact the ability to read standard print, every single book in the classroom library was actually available in an alternative format that these students could read, so I encouraged students to browse the shelves to find books they were interested in and then locate them in an alternative format with the help of their support team (parent, paraprofessional, TVI, etc.). Here are my tips for how to create an accessible classroom library for students with print disabilities, with a focus on visual impairment.
- [How I Use The Apple Pencil With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-the-apple-pencil-with-low-vision/): How I use the Apple Pencil with low vision and dysgraphia for school, writing, work, and for other tasks on an 11-inch iPad.
- [How To Access Images Without Alt Text](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-access-images-without-alt-text/): Free options for blind/low vision users that can help with accessing online images that do not contain alt text or image descriptions that can be read by a screen reader
- [How To Come Up With Sample Accommodations](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-come-up-with-sample-accommodations/): When preparing for an IEP meeting, a 504 Plan meeting, or a Disability Services meeting, parents and students will often be asked to come up with sample accommodations that can be used to provide services for students in the classroom. However, it can be very overwhelming to figure out what to ask for, especially if this is the first time a student will be receiving a certain type of accommodation— I often compare it to trying to order at a restaurant without knowing what is on the menu. Here are my tips for how to come up with sample accommodations that are likely to be approved, or that will only need minimal modifications.
- [Environmental Accommodations For Low Vision Students](https://veroniiiica.com/environmental-accommodations-low-vision/): Environmental accommodations for visually impaired students that make school classrooms more accessible for blind, low vision, and CVI access
- [How To Request a Course Substitution or Course Waiver In College](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-request-a-course-substitution-or-course-waiver-in-college/): One of the things that I love about my college is that there are hundreds of classes available for students to take that cover a wide variety of topics and areas of interest. While there are certain classes that a student may need to take for their major, there are many cases where students can choose to take a different class as a direct substitute, or to receive a course waiver and take another class entirely to fill credit requirements. Here are my tips for how to request a course substitution or course waiver in college, based on my own experiences.
- [Using The iPad Markup Tool With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/using-the-ipad-markup-tool-with-low-vision/): When I am writing on top of documents or screenshots on my iPad, I often use apps like Notability or the built-in Markup tool to write, draw, and add text on top of files without changing the original formatting. This is helpful for taking multiple-choice tests or writing out forms by hand, and I have had professors request that I use Markup when writing on forms instead of importing them into another app like Notability. Here are my tips for using the iPad Markup tool with low vision and dysgraphia.
- [Tips And Advice For New Accessibility Advocates](https://veroniiiica.com/ways-to-support-new-accessibility-advocates/): While sitting in my dorm room at George Mason University in 2016, I came across an event listing from the Center for Accessibility at DC Public Library where people could come in and have conversations about assistive technology. I had been considering starting a blog/website where I would share resources about assistive technology, but I wasn’t sure how to get started as a new accessibility advocate, or if what I had to share would even have value. I decided to go to the event and see what others were sharing, with plans to more or less lurk in the background and observe.
- [Baking Banana Bread With Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/baking-banana-bread-with-assistive-technology/): Just like I learned to love using my blindness cane for navigation/travel and became more familiar with how to learn to use a screen magnifier without triggering vertigo, banana bread has quickly become one of my favorite treats to make for breakfast and snacks, especially when I have assistive technology to help me bake it. Here are my tips for baking banana bread with assistive technology, which also shows various strategies for baking with low vision and using accessibility technology in the kitchen.
- [How I Optimize My Website For Cognitive Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-optimize-my-website-for-cognitive-accessibility/): In the context of web accessibility, cognitive accessibility refers to designing digital content and interfaces so they are understandable, easy to navigate, and usable for people with cognitive disabilities or learning disabilities. Cognitive accessibility addresses challenges related to information processing, memory, attention, comprehension, and decision-making, which is especially important for users that have conditions such as ADHD, dyslexia, autism, memory impairments, mental health conditions, or executive dysfunction.
- [Seven Myths and Misconceptions About Alt Text](https://veroniiiica.com/seven-myths-about-alt-text/): I've had a lot of conversations with people on social media about alt text, including common myths about alt text and how to write alt text. Alt text isn't really talked about a lot, and many people have misconceptions about what it does or how it should be used- in fact, I recently read an article that shared a lot of incorrect information about alt text that would exclude blind and low vision users from being able to understand what is in an image, which is one of the primary purposes of alt text. For this post, here are seven myths about alt text, and how it should be used to help visually impaired users to understand what is in an image.
- [Enabling Temporary Accessibility Settings For iPad](https://veroniiiica.com/temporary-accessibility-settings-for-ipad/): I have low vision that fluctuates throughout the day, and I rely on several accessibility features for iPad to access information and interact with different types of content. While there are some settings that I always have turned on like large font sizes and display filters, there are other settings that I don't necessarily need to have turned on all of the time or that I only turn on when I need them. I think of this process as enabling temporary accessibility settings for iPad, where the temporary accessibility settings can be quickly accessed whenever I need them and turned off easily when I don't. Here is a list of temporary accessibility settings for iPad that can help visually impaired users access content, and turned on/off when needed.
- [Extended Time Accommodations For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/all-about-extended-time-accommodations/): When I was first approved to receive extended time accommodations for low vision, I remember wondering how that would work in a middle school or high school setting where students had a single class period to take an exam or work on a timed assignment. My teachers were also confused on how to implement extended time accommodations during the school day and why I needed them to begin with, so it wasn’t until late high school or early college that I finally understood how to use extended time accommodations effectively. Here is a list of tips and strategies for requesting, implementing, and utilizing extended time accommodations for low vision in an effective way, and what worked from my student perspective.
- [How To Create Accessible Pie Charts For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-pie-charts-for-low-vision/): One of the most popular topics in the accessibility space right now is accessible data visualizations and how to make graphs and charts accessible for people with vision loss- inclusive of blind, low vision, and visual impairment. Since this is such an emerging space, a lot of people have different answers for how to make information accessible for people with vision loss, and today I will be sharing my own answer for how to create accessible pie charts for low vision and blind users, based on my academic background in data science and experiences as a user with low vision.
- [How I Use WebAssign With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-webassign-with-low-vision/): My experience using WebAssign with low vision while taking Calculus 1 and Calculus 2 online as a student that primarily accesses information visually/in large print
- [Math Test Accommodations For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/math-test-accommodations-for-low-vision/): Even though I have trouble seeing information in all of my classes (and outside of my classes for that matter), my disability accommodations for math look different than the accommodations for my other classes. One of the main reasons is because math is a more visually complex subject, incorporating in a mix of symbols, letters, numbers, and subscripts/superscripts, and the size of a character is also significant when it comes to things like exponents. I tell people that my brain loves math but my eyes do not, so I need additional math test accommodations so I can see everything on the page. Here is a list of math test accommodations for low vision that I have used in various math classes, including middle school math, high school math, and college math classes like calculus and statistics.
- [Exploring Accessible Color Palettes For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-color-palettes-for-low-vision/): How to write alt text for color palettes and create accessible color palettes for low vision/visual impairment and colorblindness
- [Disability and Classroom Accommodations For POTS](https://veroniiiica.com/classroom-accommodations-for-pots/): When I was diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome (POTS) during undergrad, my neurologist told me that I had to re-evaluate how I would be taking classes and consider updating my classroom accommodations for POTS while I worked on getting symptoms under control. While I already received disability accommodations for another condition, some items were updated to reflect how POTS impacts how I access the classroom environment. Here are examples of disability and classroom accommodations/modifications I receive for POTS and an additional neurological condition; think of this post as a menu of options, not a checklist or universal description of POTS experiences or access needs.
- [Strategies For Using Lined Paper With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/using-lined-paper-with-low-vision/): Many years later, I was tutoring a student with low vision in math, and realized that there were much better strategies for using lined paper with low vision than what my teachers had originally shown me. After testing these strategies with the student and seeing positive results, here are my new favorite strategies for using lined paper with low vision in math and science classes, many of which can also be used by students with dysgraphia.
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Smart Speakers](https://veroniiiica.com/mainstream-technology-and-low-vision-smart-speakers/): While many people associate assistive technology with specialized devices that are expensive or hard to find, many mainstream technology devices have started supporting accessibility features and built-in assistive technology that can make specialty tools more financially and publicly accessible for all. Smart speakers primarily uses audio input and output for providing information, making them a popular option for nonvisual access for blind and low vision users. Here are features to look for when buying a smart speaker for users with vision loss, part of the Mainstream Technology and Low Vision post series.
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Smartphones](https://veroniiiica.com/mainstream-technology-and-low-vision-smartphones/): While many people associate assistive technology with specialized devices that are expensive or hard to find, many mainstream technology devices have started supporting accessibility features and built-in assistive technology that can make specialty tools more financially and publicly accessible for all. Smartphones are a great example of this, as they provide access to a wealth of information and provide vital access to communication applications, as well as other assistive technology features for vision loss, hearing loss, and so much more. Here are features to look for when buying a smartphone for users with vision loss, part of the Mainstream Technology and Low Vision post series.
- [Assistive Technology For Dysgraphia](https://veroniiiica.com/assistive-technology-for-dysgraphia/): Since I first stepped into my kindergarten classroom, I have used some form of assistive technology for dysgraphia every day of my life and in every single one of my classes and jobs, from K-12 to college to graduate school. Even though my handwriting has improved over the years, it is still challenging for anyone (including myself) to read my own handwriting. Some people see my poor handwriting and assume that I have trouble writing in general or that I don’t write about anything particularly interesting, and that’s why identifying appropriate assistive technology for dysgraphia is so important to me— I have a lot to say, but my handwriting makes it challenging for me to share it all. Here is a list of assistive technology for dysgraphia that can make a huge difference for writers like me that I have used across multiple contexts.
- [Teach Kids About Low Vision and Assistive Technology: Free Resources](https://veroniiiica.com/websites-that-teach-kids-about-low-vision-assistive-technology/): Learn about low vision and assistive technology with the help of free resources and activity ideas, curated by an assistive technology specialist with low vision
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Feature Phones and Landline Phones](https://veroniiiica.com/mainstream-technology-and-low-vision-feature-phones-landline-phones/): Features to consider when choosing a non-smartphone feature phone, flip phone, or landline phone with vision loss
- [College Interview Tips For Disabled Students](https://veroniiiica.com/college-interview-tips/): My tips for being successful in college admission interviews
- [Writing Media Descriptions For Current Events: My Talk At Protest Access-A-Thon](https://veroniiiica.com/writing-media-descriptions-for-current-events-my-talk-at-protest-access-a-thon/): In September 2020, I had the opportunity to give a flash talk about writing media descriptions for current events as part of the Protest Access-a-Thon, an event that focused on making content related to protests and current events accessible for users with disabilities hosted by Protest Access. Here is a transcript of my talk as well as other related resources from my website.
- [Tips For Keeping A Dorm Room Clean With Chronic Illness](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-for-keeping-a-dorm-room-clean-with-chronic-illness/): I recently came across a conversation thread on social media talking about how difficult it can be to keep a dorm room clean with chronic illness and how having a messy dorm can be frustrating not only for visitors, but for the person living in the dorm as well. While there were days that it looked like a tornado had just touched down in my dorm room, I came up with a few different strategies for keeping my dorm room clean and cleaning my room in a short period of time while living with chronic pain, and was able to maintain a calm and cozy atmosphere. Here are my favorite tips for keeping a dorm room clean with chronic illness and disability, based on my own experiences as a college student with Chiari Malformation and low vision.
- [Why Everyone Should Design For Chiari Malformation: My Talk At ID24 2020](https://veroniiiica.com/why-everyone-should-design-for-chiari-malformation/): Recently, I had the opportunity to give a talk at the Inclusive Design 24 Conference (ID24) called "Why Everyone Should Design For Chiari Malformation," in honor of Chiari Malformation Awareness Month. This talk was especially meaningful for me, as I ended up giving it the same week as I began experiencing symptoms related to Chiari Malformation nine years prior, and it was amazing for me to be able to share how that experience has influenced how I use various products and accessibility settings. Below is the link to the original audio-based talk and a transcript of my talk as well.
- [Reduce Glare In The Classroom For Low Vision Students](https://veroniiiica.com/reduce-glare-in-the-classroom/): When I was in middle school, one of my teachers had a classroom that was filled with a lot of bright lights and glare-inducing items, which was difficult for me as a student with low vision and photophobia/light sensitivity. I know that the teacher had not designed the classroom with the intention of making it difficult for me to read items, but I remembered it many years later when I was asked to help reduce glare in another classroom for a student with low vision and to find ways to make things less bright/reflective. Here are my tips for how to reduce glare in the classroom for low vision students that can be used by classroom teachers, as well as some strategies that can be used in the home environment.
- [How To Create Accessible Workspaces For Chiari Malformation](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-accessible-workspaces-for-chiari-malformation/): During my in-person tech internship and while working in other remote positions that require me to sit at my desk a lot, I have experimented a lot with creating accessible workspaces for Chiari Malformation that make it easier for individuals to do computer work and complete other office tasks. Even though I talk a lot about how the visual impairment/low vision aspect of Chiari 1 Malformation impacts how I access information in the workplace, there are other elements to this neurological condition that are also important to consider when setting up a workspace or desk, especially since individuals may be tempted to strain themselves or put up with being uncomfortable because they aren’t aware of other alternatives.
- [How I Talk To Professors About Photosensitivity](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-talk-to-professors-about-photosensitivity/): I receive disability accommodations in college for two different medical conditions- an eye condition that causes low vision and a neurological condition called Chiari Malformation. Both my eye and brain condition cause me to experience light sensitivity, sometimes referred to as photosensitivity, and my accommodations sheet doesn't do a very good job of explaining how to support a student with photosensitivity in the classroom. Since I've lived with light sensitivity since I was fourteen, I've come up with several strategies for how to self-advocate and talk to others about my condition, and today I will be sharing how I talk to professors about photosensitivity and photophobia in classroom environments.
- [Bedding Hacks For Chiari Malformation](https://veroniiiica.com/bedding-hacks-for-chiari-malformation/): I love the look and feeling of a freshly-made bed, but I’ve found that many of my Chiari Malformation symptoms like neck/shoulder pain, headaches, and poor strength/coordination in hands are aggravated when I make my bed using traditional methods. Over the years, I’ve received tips from other friends with Chiari Malformation and come up with my own ideas so that I can make my bed almost every day without starting off my day with a chronic pain flare. Here are some of my favorite bedding hacks for Chiari Malformation and similar chronic pain conditions, shared for Chiari Malformation Awareness Month.
- [How I Watch Concert Videos Without Strobe Lights](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-watch-concert-videos-without-strobe-lights/): I love listening to live music and watching concert videos and music videos from my favorite bands, but it's difficult for me to attend events in person since I have a medical condition that causes photosensitivity, or a sensitivity to strobe and flashing lights. Since it would be impossible to ban strobe lights from concerts or entertainment altogether, I've come up with a few different strategies for watching concerts without strobe lights from my favorite bands and singers. Here are my favorite tips for how I watch concert videos with photosensitivity without strobe lights and avoid seizures, migraines, and other adverse medical reactions.
- [How I Use Canvas With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-canvas-with-low-vision/): When my university switched to using Canvas as its learning management system for hosting course websites, I had to quickly learn how to access Canvas with low vision and how to use tools like Canvas keyboard shortcuts or strategies for accessing Canvas content with large print. Even though I had used Canvas when I was a visiting student at a community college, most of my assignments for those classes were submitted on other platforms (e.g., WebAssign or ALEKS), so I didn't explore a lot of Canvas accessibility features.
- [Choosing New Devices With Chiari Malformation](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-new-devices-with-chiari-malformation/): While I have spent a lot of time talking about low vision and how my neurological condition influences how I use technology, I haven’t shared too many specifics about choosing new devices with Chiari Malformation and accessibility settings for Chiari Malformation that go beyond vision loss. Chiari malformations impact individuals in so many different ways, and I often have to research accessibility features and not-so-obvious tech specifications when I am getting ready to use a new device that focus on more than just visual accessibility. Here is a list of tips and strategies for choosing new devices with Chiari 1 Malformation, and accessibility features that can help users access technology independently and comfortably.
- [Campus Deliveries: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/campus-deliveries-college-om/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is how to receive on-campus deliveries and order items to my building as a blindness cane user, so I’ve created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for how to request and receive campus deliveries for food, grocery pickup, and other same-day delivery services.
- [Painting Pottery With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/painting-pottery-with-low-vision/): Tips and tricks for painting pottery with low vision at pottery painting studios, including choosing colors and ways to make it easier to paint without mistakes
- [Must-Have Tech Skills For Online Classes](https://veroniiiica.com/tech-skills-for-online-classes/): Many years later, I have now been a student in over 60 online and hybrid courses between high school, undergrad, and distance learning graduate school programs. While these experiences have influenced my recommendations for must-have tech skills for online classes, I have since updated my list of recommended skills for online learning following my experience as a co-instructor for an online undergraduate class in special education technology. Here is a list of ten tech skills for online classes that every college student needs, written by a student with low vision who has taken over 60 classes that now co-teaches online classes as a PhD student.
- [Creating Accessible Bulletin Boards For College Dorms](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-bulletin-boards-college-dorm/): One of my friends is a resident advisor/community assistant (RA/CA) for their college dorm, and mentioned that they were working on creating accessible bulletin boards to display information for residents about events, college policies, and self-care tips. I thought this was awesome, because I often had trouble reading some of the bulletin boards in my previous dorm building, and put together a list of tips for creating accessible bulletin boards for college dorms that can be read by students with print disabilities, including vision loss (inclusive of blind/low vision), dyslexia, visual processing disorder, and similar conditions that impact the ability to read traditional printed materials.
- [Taking Online English Classes With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/taking-online-english-classes-with-low-vision/): As a high school and college student, I have taken a total of four online English classes with low vision, including two required English classes and two writing-intensive classes that involved writing an extensive research paper. While I enjoy taking English classes in-person, I have found it easier to participate in hybrid and online asynchronous English classes when it comes to courses that require a lot of reading or in semesters where I have several other visually demanding classes. Here is a list of must-have tech skills, assistive technology ideas, tips, and strategies for taking online English classes with low vision in high school and college.
- [How To Write Alt Text For Casual Outfits](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-alt-text-for-casual-outfits/): Recently, I was browsing Pinterest looking at different outfit possibilities for a casual dress that I'd just purchased online, and I started thinking about how to write alt text for casual outfits that I often see online. These images are frequently shared on social media by bloggers and other everyday people, and typically contain clothing that is accessible to a majority of people in terms of cost and style- after all, I'm not going to be browsing social media looking for ideas on how to wear an evening dress in multiple ways, but I'd almost definitely be looking for other ways that people have worn things like sweaters, different colored shoes, and scarves that I also own or am considering buying,
- [Five Questions To Ask When Buying A Blindness Cane](https://veroniiiica.com/five-questions-to-ask-when-buying-a-blindness-cane/): One of the common misconceptions I first believed when buying my first blindness cane is that all canes are one size fits all, and that the process of choosing a cane is as easy as choosing a random item online and checking out. However, I quickly found out when I received a too-small cane that wasn't very helpful that there was so much more to buying a blindness cane than I expected, and that knowing some simple information about how blindness canes are used can greatly impact the usability of the cane itself. Here are five questions to ask when buying a blindness cane to ensure that the best cane is chosen for your needs.
- [Middle School Classrooms And Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/middle-school-classrooms-and-low-vision/): When I was working with a student preparing to transition to middle school, I worked with the student’s support team to come up with a list of ideas and strategies for setting up their future middle school classrooms with low vision accessibility in mind. Since this student was still developing their self-advocacy skills and had never stepped foot in a middle school before, we wanted to ensure that their teachers would have the tools they need to help this student thrive in the classroom. Here is a list of tips and ideas for setting up a middle school classroom for a student with visual impairment, with a focus on low vision and access to print/visual information, shared from the perspective of a former middle school student with low vision.
- [Tips For Visiting Art Museums With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/visiting-art-museums-with-low-vision/): Ideas and strategies for visiting art museums with low vision. Learn about using technology and accessible museum resources for blind and visually impaired visitors
- [How To Create Accessible Map Charts For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-map-charts-for-low-vision/): One of the most popular topics in the accessibility space right now is accessible data visualizations and how to make graphs and charts accessible for people with vision loss- inclusive of blind, low vision, and visual impairment. Since this is such an emerging space, a lot of people have different answers for how to make information accessible for people with vision loss, and today I will be sharing my own answer for how to create accessible map charts for low vision and blind users, based on my academic background in data science and experiences as a user with low vision.
- [Introduction To Low Vision IEPs: Post Round Up](https://veroniiiica.com/introduction-to-low-vision-ieps/): I've received hundreds of messages over the years from parents asking me questions about Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), specifically low vision IEPs and IEPs for visual impairment. Since I had an IEP in elementary school and again in high school for low vision, I've been able to share lots of free IEP resources on Veronica With Four Eyes and share my tips about how to start receiving IEP services. Below, I am linking a preview of some of my most popular posts that talk about getting visual impairment IEPs and my low vision IEP, as well as additional links to categories and tags on my website.
- [Elementary School Classrooms And Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/elementary-school-classrooms-and-low-vision/): When I was working with an elementary school student with low vision, I collaborated with their support team and classroom teacher to make their elementary school classroom more accessible to students with visual impairments so that they could navigate the space independently. Before, the student was often hesitant to get up from their desk alone or would bump into a lot of items, so with the student’s input we worked with the teacher to address accessibility barriers so that all students could access the classroom more easily. Here is a list of tips and ideas for setting up an elementary school classroom for a student with visual impairment, with a focus on low vision and access to print/visual information, shared from the perspective of a former elementary school student with low vision.
- [How To Make Tumblr Themes Accessible For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-tumblr-themes-accessible-for-low-vision/): Learning to customize Tumblr themes often serves as an introduction to learning the basics of web design and designing spaces that can be accessed by many different types of users. However, I've noticed that while many of the custom Tumblr themes I've encountered on blogs are designed with aesthetics in mind, they often are not designed with usability or readability in mind, which can be frustrating for users with low vision. Here are my tips for how to make Tumblr themes accessible for low vision, from the perspective of someone who actually has low vision.
- [Campus Addresses Every Student Should Know: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/15-addresses-to-memorize-in-college/): Important addresses to keep in college, great for orientation and mobility instruction
- [Exploring Virtual Museums With Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/make-virtual-museums-accessible-for-low-vision/): A list of resources and ideas for browsing virtual museum tours with low vision, including keywords for finding free online museum experiences
- [How I Use The Stylebook App With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-the-stylebook-app-with-low-vision/): I started using the Stylebook app during my freshman year of college to keep my clothes organized and put together outfits inspired by Pinterest without having to take several items out of my tiny dorm closet or creating a mess in my dorm room. While my closet has changed over time, I'm still using the Stylebook app every day to try out different clothing combinations and learn about fashion through visual media. Here is how I use the Stylebook app with low vision, and my favorite tips for setting up a Stylebook closet.
- [Dorms and Campus Housing: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/blindness-canes-and-dorm-buildings/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn't get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is learning how to navigate the inside of my dorm building and the dorms of friends, so I've created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for learning how to navigate dorms and campus housing buildings with a blindness cane and without one.
- [Upcycling Yoga Mats Into Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/upcycling-yoga-mats/): A lot of people associate assistive technology with expensive specialty tools or items that are hard to find, but there are plenty of ways to transform or upcycle everyday objects and mainstream technology as assistive technology. As part of an assignment in one of my classes, I created a list of ideas for upcycling yoga mats into assistive technology, and ways to use yoga mats for people with disabilities and occupational therapy contexts that go beyond yoga and exercise. Here are my favorite ideas for upcycling yoga mats into assistive technology in the home environment.
- [Helpful Ways To Bookmark Websites For Low Vision Users](https://veroniiiica.com/ways-to-bookmark-websites-low-vision/): There are a few websites I visit daily or multiple times a week, such as my Wordpress dashboard, school website, and digital services from my public library. Instead of having a bunch of tiny icons crammed onto my Favorites tab that are hard to see with low vision, I created a list of ways to bookmark websites for easier access across my favorite devices and add websites to my device home screen or device taskbar. Here are the most helpful ways to bookmark websites for low vision users that go outside a traditional folder or notepad. This is especially helpful for students who are working on a writing project or who use a lot of web applications for school.
- [Organizing A Bedroom Closet For Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/organizing-a-bedroom-closet-for-vision-loss/): I received an email from a parent asking if I had any tips for organizing a bedroom closet for someone who is blind or that has low vision, as they felt that their child was having trouble with finding items in their closet and they often had to spend a lot of time figuring out where items were located. Earlier this year, I helped another person with no usable vision to organize a reach-in closet so that they would be able to get dressed more quickly for work, and months later this system is still working well. Here are my tips for organizing a bedroom closet for people with vision loss, with a special focus on reach-in closets that are typically found in bedrooms, dorms, and apartments.
- [How To Create Accessible Diagrams For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/create-accessible-diagrams-for-low-vision/): When I was in elementary, middle, and high school, I often struggled to read diagrams that my teacher would show in class or print on a worksheet or exam. It wasn't until college that I learned about creating and adapting accessible diagrams for low vision in a science class, and I immediately noticed that my grades on assignments that featured diagrams were higher, because I was finally able to see all of the information that had been presented to me. While I can't go back to my high school science teacher and ask them if I can retake a test I failed years ago due to the diagrams being too small to see, I can share my tips for how to create accessible diagrams for low vision and how to adapt diagrams for visually impaired students that access print/visual information.
- [Accessible Puzzle Game Apps For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-puzzle-game-apps/): When I was working on a paper for one of my classes about the activities that seniors often miss when they develop low vision later in life, many people in the study had reported missing their favorite puzzle games such as word searches, crosswords, sudoku, and others. As a companion to my post on adapting puzzle games for low vision, I've created a list of accessible puzzle game apps for low vision users that are available as web applications (which can be accessed through the web browser on a computer/tablet/phone, no downloads required) and mobile applications (which are downloaded to an Android or iOS device). Here is a list of accessible puzzle game apps for low vision that are designed to work with assistive technology tools like large print, magnification, and screen readers.
- [How I Find Research Sources In Accessible Formats](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-find-research-sources-in-accessible-formats/): Here is how I find research sources in accessible formats like large print, electronic, audio, and braille as a college student with low vision.
- [Organizing A Walk-In Closet With Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/organizing-a-walk-in-closet-with-vision-loss/): Tips and tricks for organizing a walk-in closet for vision loss, inclusive of blind and low vision people. A great independent living skill!
- [All About Visual Assistance Apps For Visually Impaired](https://veroniiiica.com/visual-assistance-apps-post-round-up/): Visual assistance apps, sometimes called visual interpreting apps, are tools that connect blind/low vision users with people or technology that can help them to get information about something that they would not be able to see otherwise. Visual assistance apps for blind and low vision users are a category of high-tech assistive technology applications that can be installed on a smartphone or tablet. By streaming video from the device's back camera or uploading a file, visual assistance apps recognize text and other objects, providing a transcript of text or visual description of items such as objects, colors, people, and more.
- [Performing Arts Centers and Low Vision: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/blindness-canes-and-performing-arts-centers/): Attending theater productions and arts events with vision impairment
- [How To Create Dorm Door Signs and Decorations For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/dorm-door-signs-decorations-low-vision/): When I lived in college dorm/on-campus housing, the resident advisors for my floor would create dorm door signs and dorm door decorations for students that included their name and a fun design. There are a lot of creative dorm door decorations, and I received an email from a community assistant at another college who was wondering how to make dorm door signs accessible and easy-to-see for a new resident that has low vision. I was so excited to read about how the community assistant wanted to include their resident with low vision and create a decoration they can see, and today I will be sharing my tips for how to create dorm door signs and dorm door decorations for low vision.
- [Clothing Shopping Tips For Sensory Processing Issues](https://veroniiiica.com/clothing-shopping-tips-for-sensory-processing-issues/): I was having a conversation with one of my friends recently where they had asked me if I had any tips for clothing shopping with sensory processing issues and tactile defensiveness. In my practice, I have met many people with visual impairments that experience sensory aversions to clothing, who get overwhelmed when shopping for new clothes, or that prefer to wear the same items over and over again. Here are some of my favorite clothing shopping tips for sensory processing issues, for people of all ages.
- [Tips For Screensharing With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-for-screensharing-with-low-vision/): I use screensharing tools frequently for my job and also for my virtual classes, and over the last few months have learned several different strategies for effective screensharing with low vision, both as a presenter and  as an audience member. A lot of traditional screensharing methods involve smaller print sizes and other visual elements that can be difficult for everyone to read, so today I will be sharing my favorite tips for screensharing with low vision that can benefit all audience members, especially those with vision loss.
- [Campus Delivery Robots: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/campus-delivery-robots-college-o-and-m/): How I use Starship delivery robots on my college campus and avoid running into them with my blindness cane
- [Filling Out Medical Forms With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/filling-out-medical-forms-with-low-vision/): When arriving at a doctor’s appointment or meeting with a specialist, patients are often expected to fill out several medical forms by hand in the waiting room, and are expected to finish by the time they are escorted to an exam room. Since patients can have anywhere from five minutes to five hours until they are called for their appointment, filling out medical forms with low vision and dysgraphia can be a challenging experience as individuals attempt to document their health history and personal information in a limited period of time and in an unfamiliar environment. Here are my favorite tips for filling out medical forms with low vision that I use at my own appointments.
- [College Mailrooms and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/college-mailrooms-and-low-vision/): While living on campus, I would typically order items online and have them delivered to me instead of going to physical stores. Since I have low vision and an unpredictable chronic illness, ordering items online in college required less energy than making an off-campus trip, and I could also save money in many cases as well. However, I would still have to go to the college  mailroom to pick up items— I couldn’t just have them dropped off outside of my building or brought to the dorms. Here is an overview of how I get mail in college, what to expect from college mailrooms, and low vision accommodations that can be helpful for students who need extra help getting their mail.
- [Remote Testing Accommodations For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/remote-testing-accommodations-for-low-vision/): Instead of traveling to the Disability Services testing center on-campus or taking exams in a traditional classroom environment, many of my professors and professional certification exams provide students with remote testing options that allow them to take exams from home with their own technology. My remote testing accommodations for low vision are very similar to my in-person testing accommodations that include items such as extended time and large print, but there have been situations where I have had to submit separate testing accommodations for remote testing or add additional accommodations that I don't normally use in-person. Here are the remote testing accommodations for low vision that I use frequently in the classroom and for other certification exams.
- [How To Write Alt Text And Image Descriptions For Food](https://veroniiiica.com/alt-text-and-image-descriptions-for-food/): If you were to open my phone gallery or a notes app to a random page, there is a very strong chance you would find something that has to do with food. My friends and I frequently text pictures of recipes we’ve made, interesting items at a restaurant, or dishes we want to try and recreate, and they often include alt text and image descriptions for food items so that I know what is in an image. Having access to alt text for food pictures is even more important when browsing content on social media, because it can provide much-needed context or clarification about what is in an image so that I don’t leave a comment about mashed potatoes on a post that has a picture of a dessert. Here are my tips for how to write alt text and image descriptions for food, both in the context of food posts from home cooks showing off what they have made and in the context of restaurants showing off food items that are available for sale.
- [Making Friendship Bracelets With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-accessible-friendship-bracelet-patterns-for-visual-impairment/): Several of the young and young-at-heart students I have worked with in the last few years have asked me about making friendship bracelets with low vision and how to find accessible friendship bracelet patterns. DIY friendship bracelets and beaded bracelets have exploded in popularity thanks to trends like VSCO bracelets and Eras Tour bracelets going viral on social media, and I often get questions about how to make these tutorials and patterns accessible or how to adapt friendship bracelets for low vision so that they can be made independently by those with visual impairment. Here is a list of tips for making friendship bracelets with low vision and finding/adapting accessible friendship bracelet patterns.
- [What If I Have To Report Disability Accommodation Violations?](https://veroniiiica.com/what-if-i-have-to-report-disability-accommodation-violations/): A few years ago, one of my best friends called me late at night feeling extremely distressed, because they were trying to figure out if they should report disability accommodation violations. Their professor hadn’t been following the accommodations listed in their Disability Services file, and they had no idea what to do next. Here is how I answer the question “what if I have to report disability accommodation violations?”, as well as tips for addressing academic ableism and collecting documentation of violations.
- [Creating Take-Away Documents With Microsoft Sway](https://veroniiiica.com/creating-take-away-documents-with-microsoft-office-sway/): One of my favorite ways to create takeaway documents and handouts after meetings and presentations is with the Microsoft Sway web application, which makes it easy for presenters and audience members alike to access content with their favorite assistive technologies. Here are my tips for creating take-away documents and conference handouts with Microsoft Sway that I've used in my own presentations.
- [ALEKS Accessibility For Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/aleks-accessibility-visual-impairment/): Back in 2020, I took an online pre-calculus/trigonometry course that used McGraw-Hill's ALEKS adaptive learning for practice problems, homework, assignments, and quizzes. As a student with low vision that primarily access information visually with large print with a secondary preference for audio access with text-to-speech, I was interested in taking an online math class that provided assignments in digital formats that I could navigate with assistive technology, since I had previously struggled with in-person math classes that presented information on the board or that involved writing on paper-based assignments. To help other students with low vision searching for information about ALEKS accessibility for visual impairment or what to expect when using ALEKS with assistive technology, I have put together this post with strategies for using ALEKS with low vision from a student perspective and updated it in 2025 to share more practical information.
- [Seven Unexpected Disability Accommodations For Virtual Learning](https://veroniiiica.com/seven-unexpected-disability-accommodations-for-virtual-learning/): When I switched to taking 100% online classes, I thought that the transition would be pretty easy because I had already had a hybrid schedule with a mix of in-person and online classes since I was in high school. What I hadn’t considered was that my disability accommodations had been written with in-person learning in mind and the assumption that I could quickly contact an office at the university if I needed assistance. With this information in mind, I ended up having to add the following seven unexpected disability accommodations for virtual learning to my Disability Services file so that I could take online classes with low vision.
- [CSS Accessibility Tips for Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/css-accessibility-tips-low-vision/): The exact CSS accessibility tips I use with my Wordpress theme to make content easier to read for users with low vision without additional plugins.
- [How To Get Disability Accommodations In Community College](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-get-disability-accommodations-in-community-college/): During undergrad, I took a few classes at a community college that satisfied the math requirements for my major, and transferred the credits back to my home university so they would count towards my degree. One of the first things I did after enrolling as a visiting student was contact the Disability Services coordinator so that I would be able to get accommodations in the classroom related to my visual impairment. I assumed that since I already had accommodations at my college that the disability intake process would be near-instantaneous, and that it would be easy to set up everything I would need for the first day of classes. While I was correct that it was easy to get everything together, a scheduling issue meant that I didn't have accommodations before the first day of class, and the disability accommodations process wasn't as automatic as I thought it would be. Here are my tips for how to get disability accommodations in community college, based on my own experiences as a student with low vision.
- [My Talk At I’m Determined Summit: Crash Course In Immersive Reader](https://veroniiiica.com/my-talk-at-im-determined-summit-crash-course-in-immersive-reader/): Hello and welcome to my session for the I'm Determined Summit: Crash Course in Immersive Reader! My name is Veronica Lewis, and I'm the Microsoft Content Specialist for AIM-VA and a Microsoft Certified Educator. I'm also a student at George Mason University and I run the website Veronica With Four Eyes (Veroniiiica) where I have hundreds of posts about using assistive technology both inside and outside of the classroom. Today, I'm going to be talking about one of my favorite free tools for reading accessible materials that transformed how I read PDFs and access content; the Microsoft Immersive Reader!
- [Web Search Tips and Operators For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/web-search-tips-for-low-vision/): My favorite web search tips for low vision, including how to use Google search with low vision and using search engine operators on any platform
- [Taking Online History Classes With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/taking-online-history-classes-with-low-vision/): Beginning in ninth grade, I have taken all of my history classes online because I find it easier to access information on my computer or tablet compared to larger lecture settings where it can be challenging to view information presented at a distance— probably because I’ve been taking online history classes with low vision for such a long time. One of my friends who is a history professor recently asked me to update my post with tips for making history classes accessible for visually impaired students in high school and undergraduate/community college settings, so here is an updated list of ideas and strategies for taking online history classes with low vision, incorporating feedback from instructors that have shared their own ideas.
- [Choosing Custom Video Backgrounds For Low Vision Audiences](https://veroniiiica.com/custom-video-backgrounds-for-low-vision/): As a user with low vision, I have discovered that custom video backgrounds can be either super helpful tools for making it easier to concentrate on video calls or super distracting tools that make it harder to concentrate. Factors such as background choice, environmental lighting, and speaker movement all play a role in how video backgrounds are perceived by users, and I often consider these things when deciding whether I should turn off incoming video when someone is speaking. Here is a list of tips and strategies for choosing custom video backgrounds for low vision audiences, written by a student with low vision that experiences double vision, blurred vision, and photophobia (sensitivity to light).
- [How I Write Research Papers On Accessibility Topics](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-research-papers-on-assistive-technology/): Learning how to write research papers and essays can be overwhelming for students with low vision or print disabilities that impact access to standard print. Students who are interested in exploring topics related to disability may experience difficulties with finding sources in accessible formats on topics of interest or locating existing research on topics that they would like to explore further. As part of my Writing Success series, here is how I write papers about accessibility-related topics in my classes, even for classes that do not relate to disability or assistive technology.
- [Learning To Explain Usable Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/learning-to-explain-usable-vision/): Questions to ask when developing an explanation about usable vision and accurately answering the question “so what can you see?”
- [Seven Tips For Adapting To Newly Acquired Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/seven-tips-for-adapting-to-newly-acquired-vision-loss/): One of the reasons I started Veroniiiica (Veronica With Four Eyes) is to share resources I’ve created for adapting to newly acquired vision loss or changes to visual impairment over time. Living with low vision that has changed over the years, I have found that the “best advice” I can give to someone revolves around learning about how they can use existing technologies to manage low vision and the importance of education and learning about what is available to them. Here are seven tips for adapting to newly acquired vision loss in general, from someone with low vision that is also an assistive technology specialist.
- [Adapting Band Uniforms For Sensory Processing Issues](https://veroniiiica.com/adapting-band-uniforms-for-photosensitivity-and-sensory-overload/): Many school band programs have a uniform requirement for specific ensembles, which can consist of a mix of school-owned pieces (such as a marching band jacket) and items purchased by the musician like shoes or pants in a specific color. Musicians that experience sensitivity to light, fabric textures, or other sensory aversions may find that they have to adapt their band uniforms so that they can play their instrument comfortably without being hyper-aware of things like seams, rough fabric textures, bright lights, or other environmental triggers. Here is a list of ideas and strategies for adapting band uniforms for musicians with disabilities, including tips that I have personally used as a musician with low vision in various ensembles.
- [How To Write Alt Text And Image Descriptions For Photojournalism Images](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-alt-text-and-image-descriptions-for-photojournalism-images/): When I encounter photojournalism images like ones posted by news outlets or images on social media that show current events, I often find myself wondering what is happening in different images. Things like crowds, less than ideal lighting conditions, and vague captions can make it challenging for me to know what I am looking at, and I really appreciate it when someone posts alt text or image descriptions for context and clarity so that I can know what is happening, and also stay in the loop. Here are my tips for how to write alt text and image descriptions for photojournalism images that show current events in the context of social media.
- [How To Describe Primary Source Videos For Visually Impaired Audiences](https://veroniiiica.com/creating-audio-description-for-primary-source-videos-with-youdescribe/): There are a few options for creating audio description for primary source videos as well as for sharing text-based video descriptions. Examples of tools I have personally used and that work well with assistive technology include:
- [Tips For Censoring Text With Accessibility In Mind](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-for-censoring-text-with-accessibility-in-mind/): Everyone has different views on what language or words are appropriate to use at given times. Instead of changing or removing words, many writers choose to censor words using additional or alternative characters or symbols. A lot of these attempts at censorship are done without consideration for accessibility or users that use assistive technology, and even the shortest words can be confusing for users as they try to figure out why there is a random number or symbol in the middle of a word. Here are my tips for censoring text with accessibility in mind in a variety of different contexts- in order to avoid using negative words, I will be showing examples of censored text with the word "Accessibility."
- [Writing Extended Image Descriptions On Social Media](https://veroniiiica.com/writing-extended-image-descriptions-on-social-media/): Write extended image descriptions that include accessible text and essential image details for blind and low vision audiences
- [How To Make Instagram Stories Accessible For Low Vision Users](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-instagram-stories-accessible-for-low-vision-users/): The other day, I received a post request on Twitter asking about how to make Instagram stories accessible for low vision users. While I am not an active Instagram user, I am very familiar with Instagram stories and how they are used, as well as how inaccessible they can be for users with visual impairments due to many different factors. Here are my tips for how to make Instagram stories accessible for low vision users— please note that this will not help with improving nonvisual access/screen reader users, as Instagram stories are currently inaccessible to screen reader tools.
- [Accessible Microsoft Sway Designs For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/sway-designs-for-low-vision/): The ultimate guide to choosing accessible Sway designs for low vision users and reading Microsoft Sway content with large print, written by a user with low vision.
- [College Game Day and Sporting Events: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/college-game-day-and-sporting-events-college-o-m/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is knowing how to navigate sporting events and the large campus arena, so I’ve created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for attending college games and sporting events as a person with low vision who uses a blindness cane.
- [Tips For Improving Confidence About Using Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-for-improving-confidence-about-using-assistive-technology/): When I first started drafting a list of tips for improving confidence about using assistive technology for Global Accessibility Awareness Day in 2020, I thought about how many people avoid using assistive technology or accessibility settings because they are worried about “standing out,” appearing “different,” or having a visible reminder of their disability. This can lead to device abandonment where assistive technology devices go unused, increased eye strain from trying to compensate for visual tasks, or even just frustration from not being able to do something as expected.
- [My Appearance On AT The Heart: Assistive And Inclusive Technology Stories Podcast](https://veroniiiica.com/my-appearance-on-at-the-heart-assistive-and-inclusive-technology-stories-podcast/): Back in May 2020, I was a guest on the AT The Heart: Assistive And Inclusive Technology Stories podcast, which is hosted by a member of the #ATChat community, Hillary Goldthwait-Fowles. I had a lot of fun getting to talk about the importance of assistive technology and how my approach to using it as a student with low vision has changed over time, and Hillary and I still talk about this episode and some of the stories shared in it many years later. Below is a lightly edited transcript of the AT The Heart podcast, including links for where to listen to my episode online.
- [Creating Accessible Crafting Tutorials For Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/creating-audio-description-for-crafting-tutorials-with-youdescribe/): Many of the people I meet with visual impairments have an interest in DIY projects or crafting in some capacity. Some are more interested in fiber arts and work on projects like crocheting or knitting with low vision, embroidery, or sewing in some capacity, while others prefer mediums like paper crafting, drawing, painting, or working on projects with their kids. A lot of them turn to social media or other websites to get inspiration for new projects, but they often are limited in what projects they can do because these picture-based or video-based crafting tutorials are inaccessible for audiences with visual impairments. Here are my tips for how to make accessible crafting tutorials (or make existing crafting tutorials accessible) for visual impairment, inclusive of blind, low vision, and neurological visual impairment (CVI).
- [How I Use Google Chromecast With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/chromecast-for-virtual-learning/): One of my favorite tools for quickly enlarging content for online classes and virtual learning is the Google Chromecast and Google Cast protocol, which is used to mirror web browser tabs and mobile device screens on a supported TV or speakers. As long as both the TV/speakers and my other device are connected on the same Wi-Fi network, I can easily view content on a larger screen and make it easier to see with low vision. Here is how I use Google Chromecast for virtual learning as a student with low vision, which uses the Google Cast protocol for screen sharing.
- [How To Write Image Descriptions For Buildings and Architecture](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-image-descriptions-for-buildings-and-architecture/): After my friend realized that the main reason I had asked them so many questions about what buildings looked like was because I have a lot of trouble seeing them, they asked me if there was anything they could do to make it easier for me to access images on my own, or if there was a way to write image descriptions that would answer questions that a viewer with low vision might have when looking at an image. Here are my tips for how to write alt text and image descriptions for buildings and architecture, shared from the perspective of someone living with low vision.
- [Global Accessibility Awareness Day: Activity Ideas for Students](https://veroniiiica.com/global-accessibility-awareness-day-activity-ideas/): Free activity ideas for Global Accessibility Awareness Day that teach students about disability, assistive technology, and digital accessibility
- [Choosing Between Light Mode and Dark Mode For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/dark-mode-for-low-vision/): When it comes to designing accessible interfaces for low vision, a common topic that comes up is the use of color and whether dark more or light mode is better for users with visual impairments. Personally, I use a mix of both dark and light mode, but there are also other accessibility settings that play a significant role in how I access visual interfaces and read text content with low vision. Choosing between dark mode and light mode isn't a black or white decision for many individuals with low vision, so here is an overview of light mode and dark mode for low vision users that can help individuals choose which option works best for them.
- [How I Use Visual Assistance Apps For Online Classes](https://veroniiiica.com/visual-assistance-apps-virtual-classes/): From a low vision student, here are my tips on using visual assistance apps for visually impaired students in online classes to navigate accessibility barriers.
- [How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions For Jewelry](https://veroniiiica.com/jewelry-alt-text-image-descriptions/): Alt text for jewelry is intended to be about 250 characters long, or a maximum of twelve words. In this context, alt text is read by a screen reader and is what will likely get someone using assistive technology to open a listing and read for additional details. With that in mind, examples of information to include when writing alt text for jewelry include:
- [Using Digital 3D Models With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/digital-3d-models-with-low-vision-accessibility/): Digital 3D models can be easier to explore than 2D images, here are tips for using digital 3D models with low vision and magnification.
- [How To Make Refrigerators Accessible For Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-refrigerators-accessible-for-visual-impairment/): Learning how to make a refrigerator accessible for visual impairment is a task that can include not only arranging the contents of the refrigerator inside, but organizing information or other items that can be attached to the refrigerator itself or placed on doors. Many of the students and clients I’ve worked with tell me that they spend lots of time looking inside or outside of their fridge whether it’s finding something to eat or finding where they put a coupon or other item for safekeeping, so having an accessible refrigerator is important for locating items quickly- especially when hunger or other distractions can make it more challenging to use vision or focus eyes effectively! Here are my favorite strategies for learning how to make refrigerators accessible for visual impairment, inclusive of blind, low vision, and other forms of visual impairment.
- [Ten Questions To Ask When Choosing A Virtual Class](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-questions-to-ask-when-choosing-a-virtual-class/): Between high school, undergraduate, and graduate school, I have taken over 50 virtual/hybrid/online classes and counting on a variety of subjects, including core subjects, required classes for my major, and even electives. One of my strategies for determining if an online class will be a good fit for me is by reading the posted syllabus to get an idea of what the class will be like both from a content perspective and a grading perspective. Here are ten questions to ask when choosing a virtual class that can help students determine if it will be a good fit for them. These questions may be answered by the syllabus, by reaching out to the academic department, emailing the professor, or contacting your disability services coordinator/case manager.
- [No-Tech Solutions For Drawing Graphs With Low Vision And Dysgraphia](https://veroniiiica.com/no-tech-solutions-for-drawing-graphs-low-vision-dysgraphia/): For some of the practice problems in my classes, I have to draw graphs or plot points by hand, a task that can be difficult as a person with low vision and dysgraphia. While there are lots of ways to draw graphs in a digital format, I received a request for ideas on using no-tech solutions for drawing graphs with low vision and dysgraphia, as educators look for tools to help decrease screen time for students who are already at a higher risk of eye fatigue. Here are some of my favorite no-tech solutions for drawing graphs with low vision and dysgraphia that I use for my classes and that are suitable for students of all ages.
- [Reading Bookshare Titles With Microsoft Word](https://veroniiiica.com/reading-bookshare-titles-with-microsoft-word/): I started reading Bookshare titles with Microsoft Word when I was working on a school project and wanted a quick way to navigate my downloaded eBooks on my computer with a software I was already familiar with. My tablet and eReader were serving as more of a distraction than useful tools at that stage, and I found it easier to use keyboard shortcuts on my computer than spend time looking for an icon or switch back and forth between two devices. As a bonus, using Microsoft Word and the Word document format gives me more control over the formatting and zoom levels of content, as well as the option to add my own notes for text. Here are my tips for reading Bookshare titles with Microsoft Word as a user with low vision.
- [My Talk At A Future Date: What I Wish I Learned About AT Before Starting College](https://veroniiiica.com/my-talk-at-a-future-date/): A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to present a short talk at A Future Date, a free virtual conference event that showcased talks on topics related to accessibility and assistive technology. While I am currently working on a write-up about attending A Future Date and all of my favorite talks, today I will be sharing the link and transcript for my own talk, entitled "What I Wish I Learned About Assistive Technology Before Starting College," a 15-minute-long video targeted at students preparing for transition, based on my post of the same name. I hope you enjoy!
- [Tips For Writing Letters To Visually Impaired Recipients](https://veroniiiica.com/writing-letters-to-visually-impaired/): Earlier tonight, a reader sent me a sweet Twitter thread trending about a young child who is working on a letter-writing project so that they can keep in touch with a variety of friends, family members, and pen-pals. The reader then asked me if I had any tips for writing letters to visually impaired recipients, and if there was anything they should avoid when writing letters to people who have low vision. Here are my tips for writing letters to visually impaired recipients, based on my own preferences as a person with low vision.
- [Ways To Use Teleprompter Apps As Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/teleprompter-apps-as-assistive-technology/): I started using a teleprompter app with low vision to show scripts for school news and other video projects, as I found it much easier to read large print from the digital display compared to a paper script while filming. Since then, I have continued to use teleprompter apps as assistive technology both for myself and for many of the students I have worked with, as they provide a quick and easy way to display large print text on a high contrast display. Here are my favorite tips for using teleprompter apps with low vision, and ways to use teleprompter apps as assistive technology for visually impaired users.
- [Addressing The Trauma Of Sight Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/addressing-trauma-of-sight-loss/): In order to satisfy the synthesis/capstone requirement for my undergraduate degree in 2019, I took a course that focused on psychological traumatology, the study of how traumatic or stressful events affect someone's mind. For my final paper, I chose the topic of addressing the trauma of sight loss and how senior adults are more likely to experience issues related to their mental health than people who are younger when they are first diagnosed. In honor of Mental Health Awareness Month, here is my paper on adjusting to life after sight loss for people 65 and older, and tips for caregivers and other professionals.
- [How To Describe Dance Choreography Videos For Visually Impaired](https://veroniiiica.com/audio-description-for-dance-tutorials/): Over the years, I have made friends with many talented dancers across various styles, many of which also have low vision or some form of visual impairment like I do. When learning new choreography or dance moves, many of them rely on video lessons or watching videos in order to understand what is happening, and read/listen to descriptions of movements to help them understand how they can replicate something in their own practice. Here are my favorite tips for how to describe dance choreography for visually impaired audiences in the context of dance tutorials and virtual dance classes.
- [Recording Video Lectures For Visually Impaired Students](https://veroniiiica.com/inclusive-accessible-video-lectures/): As part of my asynchronous online classes, I often have to watch video lectures and presentations recorded by my instructors and take notes on key concepts. This can be challenging if I have trouble reading text in the video due to poor color contrast, small font sizes, or if the display is visually cluttered or complex with a ton of information, since it's hard for me to know where I should be reading. Here are my favorite strategies and tips on recording video lectures for visually impaired students, inclusive of blind and low vision audiences.
- [How I Use My eReader For School and Online Classes](https://veroniiiica.com/ereader-to-support-virtual-learning/): I've been using my eReader to support virtual learning and in-person learning alike by sideloading content for my classes in high school, college, and graduate school. In this context, sideloading refers to loading titles into a reading or productivity application that were purchased or downloaded from another source using the file browser or cloud storage tool and is a valuable skill to have for accessing downloaded content or files and displaying them with the user’s preferred reading settings. Here is how I use my eReader for sideloading content for school and online classes, and why I love my eReader so much for accessing digital text.
- [How I Read Research Sources With Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/read-research-sources-with-assistive-technology/): Learning how to write research papers and essays can be overwhelming for students with low vision or print disabilities that impact access to standard print. Research databases, search engine results pages, and even just research articles in general can be extremely overwhelming visually, making it difficult for users to find the information they are looking for or read it effectively. As part of my Writing Success series, here is how I read research sources with assistive technology as a student with low vision, and options for getting accessible copies of research papers.
- [Learning To Type With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/learning-to-type-with-low-vision/): One of the most frequently requested resources that I receive from technology teachers and elementary school teachers alike is strategies for learning to type with low vision and typing for visually impaired students. Since I run my own website and take a lot of virtual classes, I spend a lot of time typing and using my keyboard to communicate, though learning to type with low vision was not something that always came naturally to me— I spent many hours frustrated with inaccessible typing programs and feeling like I was assigned extra work, but once I found a keyboard that I could comfortably use and learned where the keys were, it wasn’t long before I was typing anything and everything. Here are my favorite tips and strategies for learning to type with low vision, along with a mix of paid and free resources for teaching touch typing to visually impaired students (inclusive of low vision and blind).
- [Dictation and Audio-Based Assistive Technology For Writing](https://veroniiiica.com/dictation-audio-assistive-technology-for-writing/): (Mostly) free assistive technology for writing and audio-based resources that incorporate dictation and read aloud for auditory access
- [Online Activities That Help Students Prepare For College](https://veroniiiica.com/prepare-for-college-transition-online/): When I was first researching colleges in high school, I spent dozens of hours completing online activities that help prepare for college transition that I found on my own. Since then, I have been able to share many of these resources with other students who have visual impairments and show them how to prepare for a successful college experience and how to choose a college/major that they will love. Here are my favorite online activities that help prepare for college transition, great for virtual education.
- [Recognizing Images With Seeing AI](https://veroniiiica.com/recognizing-images-with-seeing-ai/): My first experiences with recognizing images with Seeing AI were not something related to my schoolwork or anything academic— it was actually for recognizing memes. One of my best friends loves to send me text posts, screenshots, and other images with lots of text in them when we are texting or talking on the phone. It can be challenging for me to read text in images due to small font sizes, and using pinch-to-zoom with horizontal scrolling can get tedious as well, so using AI-powered image recognition tools like Seeing AI can make it easier for me to figure out what is in an image quickly and read text in a format that works for me without missing a beat in the conversation. Here are my tips for recognizing images with Seeing AI, and how I use the image recognition tool specifically in multiple contexts as someone with low vision.
- [How To Create Accessible Assignments With Microsoft Sway](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-assignments-with-microsoft-office-sway/): I've been creating accessible assignments with Microsoft Sway as both an instructor and as a student for years, and often get questions from others about how I organize various types of content. Every Sway I have ever created for undergraduate and graduate assignments has earned a 100%, and students appreciate having all of the information they need to complete an assignment organized in one place so that they can write out answers in another document or use a Forms program to submit answers right from their web browser. Here are my tips on how to create accessible assignments and hyperdocs with Microsoft Sway that can be used for teachers sharing assignments, as well as students for completing assignments and projects.
- [Adapting Keys For Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/adapting-keys-for-vision-loss/): When I was cleaning out my dorm room at the end of sophomore, I found four identical-looking bronze keys and had no idea what they unlocked. While I was able to figure out the purpose of one key, the purpose of the other three keys remains a mystery to this day. One of the ways I have kept situations like this from happening again is by adapting keys for vision loss so that I would be able to tell apart the various keys in my purse— here are my favorite tips and strategies for adapting keys for low vision and blind users that I have used in my own life and when sharing recommendations with others as an assistive technology specialist.
- [Lighting And Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/lighting-and-low-vision/): Even though I wear tinted glasses and am sensitive to bright lights, learning about how to choose lighting with low vision and learning how lighting affects my usable vision has helped me tremendously with adapting my living space and workspaces so I can make the most of my vision and minimize the effects of eyestrain. Vision loss and blindness is not a binary or as simple as having a light be turned on or off with no in-between, rather it is a spectrum where every person living with visual impairment has different needs and preferences for lighting in their space, and how light affects their residual or usable vision. Here is an introductory guide to lighting and low vision, and how I personally use various types of lighting in different spaces that I encounter.
- [8 Myths About Audio Description](https://veroniiiica.com/myths-about-audio-description/): Confession: I had never used audio description until my first year in college, because I had believed one of the common myths about audio description and assumed that it wouldn't be beneficial for someone with low vision like me. I was thrilled to discover that I was wrong, and have since spent a lot of time learning more about audio description and creating resources to help others learn more about this awesome tool. In honor of Audio Description Awareness Day, here are eight common misconceptions and myths about audio description and how it is used.
- [How To Write Image Descriptions For Cosplay](https://veroniiiica.com/image-descriptions-for-cosplay/): Over the years, I have had many friends who are talented at creating their own costumes, or cosplays, of their favorite characters from their favorite movies, anime, TV shows, and other media. Even though we have different tastes in media, I love teaching them how to write image descriptions for cosplay that they designed, or how to write alt text for cosplay images that others post, so that I can learn about all of the intricate details in the outfits and looks that they spend so much time creating. In honor of National Anime Day, here are my tips for how to write image descriptions for cosplay to share on social media or similar websites.
- [Make Online Learning Accessible For VI Students: Quick Start Guide](https://veroniiiica.com/make-online-learning-accessible-for-visually-impaired/): A quick overview of how to make online learning accessible for visually impaired students and sharing accessible course materials, written by a student with low vision
- [Upcycling Music Stands into Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/music-stands-as-assistive-technology/): When I was working with a student with newly diagnosed neurological visual impairment (also known as CVI), I noticed that patterns and visual clutter played a significant role in how the student accessed information, and that they preferred items on a plain background with a slightly slanted surface. This seems like obvious information to anyone who is familiar with CVI, but the student also would frequently stand or reposition themselves in the classroom or home environment, so having a slanted surface on their desk wasn't enough to provide access. One solution that worked out really well for them was a solid top music stand, which provided a solid black background and versatile surface for displaying materials. Here is a list of ways to upcycle a music stand to use as assistive technology for CVI and students with visual impairments, along with activity ideas.
- [Ways To Practice Self-Advocacy In The Virtual Classroom](https://veroniiiica.com/self-advocacy-in-the-virtual-classroom/): Even though I took over a dozen online classes in high school (and over three dozen in college), I seemed to always find ways to practice self-advocacy in the virtual classroom. While it may have seemed frustrating at the time, my case manager and other members of my support network were always very excited whenever I had the opportunity to practice this important skill, as they told me it would help me as I got older and went to college- and they were definitely right. Here are my tips for ways to practice self-advocacy skills in the virtual classroom and how to self-advocate in remote learning environments.
- [Creating Audio Description For Recipe Videos](https://veroniiiica.com/audio-description-for-recipe-videos/): One of my favorite types of videos to watch on social media platforms is recipe videos that show someone preparing a food or drink item from start to finish, showing how the ingredients are combined and change over the course of the recipe to create something delicious. However, these types of videos can be challenging to follow along with if there are a lot of fast paced sections, poor contrast text that’s hard to read, or if it’s difficult to see how ingredients are prepared or arranged. In these situations, having access to audio description for recipe videos can be tremendously helpful for following along with a recipe, especially when it comes to making it in my own kitchen!
- [Tips For Reading Music On An iPad With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/reading-music-on-an-ipad/): Strategies I use for reading music on an iPad, and how to set up iPad for reading digital sheet music for musicians with low vision
- [How To Write Video Descriptions For Animal Videos](https://veroniiiica.com/video-descriptions-for-animal-videos/): There are many benefits to adding video descriptions for animal videos for audiences on social media, including those with visual impairments like me. Some of these benefits include:
- [How I Create Citations For Research Papers With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/create-citations-for-research-papers/): Learning how to write research papers and essays can be overwhelming for students with low vision or print disabilities that impact access to standard print. Inserting citations is something I especially struggled with when I was first learning to write research papers, as they require specific formatting and could be tedious to document, and I tried several workflows before finding something that was effective and efficient. As part of my Writing Success series, here is how I create citations for research papers and organize bibliographies and works cited pages with low vision.
- [How I Outline Research Papers With OneNote](https://veroniiiica.com/outline-research-papers-with-onenote/): Learning how to write research papers and essays can be overwhelming for students with low vision or print disabilities that impact access to standard print. Outlining papers is something that requires a strong digital workflow for organizing text and keeping track of notes, and I have found Microsoft OneNote to be a helpful tool for outlining research papers with low vision and dysgraphia. As part of my Writing Success series, here is how I outline research papers with the free OneNote application for various projects.
- [My Favorite Web Browser Extensions For Low Vision and CVI: Reducing Visual Fatigue](https://veroniiiica.com/web-browser-extensions-for-low-vision-cvi-visual-fatigue/): Mostly free web browser extensions for low vision and CVI access, great for reducing visual fatigue or distractions. A must-have for visually impaired students!
- [Digital Whiteboards and Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/digital-whiteboards-low-vision-access/): Tips and strategies for using digital whiteboard applications with low vision, including a list of low-cost and free digital whiteboard apps for classroom use
- [Instapaper Accessibility For Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/instapaper-accessibility/): Read-it-later applications are a popular tool for reading web content and saving information for offline use, and I started using Instapaper after both of the read-it-later apps I had been using for years shut down within a year of each other (Omnivore in 2024 and Pocket in 2025). Instapaper is a popular choice since it has a free tier option and several accessibility settings for visual impairment, and it’s a helpful option for students who want to read content with a consistent background color, font size/style, and limited distractions. Here is an overview of Instapaper accessibility for visual impairment, including options for low vision and blind/nonvisual access.
- [Creating Audio Narrated Images For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/audio-narrated-images-for-low-vision/): Creating audio narrated images for low vision students is great for Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) lessons! Here is a mix of paid/free apps for annotating and adding narration to images
- [How I Take Notes During Video Lectures With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-for-attending-live-video-lectures/): Over the years, I have taken over 60 virtual classes across high school, college, and graduate school, which means that I have watched a lot of live and pre-recorded video lectures. I find that video lectures are easier for me to follow as a student with low vision and a neurological condition because I can control the volume of spoken content and enlarge visual information with ease, but it took me a while to find a workflow for taking notes without getting distracted or making errors when watching video lectures simultaneously. Here is how I take notes during video lectures with low vision, and tips for attending live video lectures for students with visual impairments.
- [Options For Attending College Classes Remotely](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-attend-college-classes-remotely/): When my health status changed six weeks into the semester during undergrad, I had to move off-campus and could not attend in-person classes regularly due to ongoing medical issues. Even though I already had a hybrid schedule with a mix of in-person and virtual classes, I ended up switching to distance learning/remote learning mid-semester and had to finish the college semester virtually, which involved a lot of planning and communication with my professors. While some classes definitely went more smoothly than others, I was privileged to finish the semester remotely and even earned A+ grades in some of my classes. Here is a list of options for attending college classes remotely and finishing the semester virtually for chronically ill students and their professors.
- [How To Use Text-To-Speech With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-use-text-to-speech-with-low-vision/): Enable free text-to-speech in accessibility settings or web browsers and listen to text read aloud, a great ECC strategy for low vision!
- [How To Modify An Instrument Fingering Chart For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-modify-an-instrument-fingering-chart-for-low-vision/): Creating a physical copy of an instrument fingering chart in an accessible format can be helpful for musicians who want something they can place on their stand or explore in a tactile format. Some ideas for how to create an accessible fingering chart include:
- [Assistive Technology Options For Watching The Conductor With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/options-for-watching-the-conductor-with-low-vision/): Recently, I received a question from the parent of a middle school-aged musician with low vision asking about options for watching the conductor with low vision. The student said that they have trouble seeing the conductor from where their section is located, and it often leads to them not knowing when to use certain dynamics or getting lost when playing a new piece. As part of Music in Our Schools Month, here are my favorite options for watching the conductor with low vision, and tips I have used in various ensembles.
- [Learning Clarinet With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/learning-clarinet-with-low-vision/): When I first started learning clarinet with low vision, I was the only visually impaired musician and only clarinet player in my elementary school band. My director (who was also a clarinet player) spent a lot of time explaining different concepts verbally, always made sure I had large print music, and was patient as I learned to read sheet music and identify various notes. Although I originally chose the clarinet as a musician with low vision because it was easy for me to carry and hold, I fell in love with this incredible instrument and have been playing ever since.
- [Writing Marching Band Drill For Low Vision Students](https://veroniiiica.com/considerations-for-writing-marching-band-drill-for-low-vision-students/): A while ago, a clarinet player with low vision asked me if I had any tips for how to read marching band drill sheets and talking to their director about marching with low vision. The conversation made me think of my time in marching band and what I wish I had done differently, and how I would approach situations differently now that I know more about my visual impairment, particularly as it related to marching drill and choreography. In honor of Music in Our Schools Month, here are some considerations for writing marching band drill for low vision students, from the perspective of a student with low vision.
- [How I Use Accessible Voting Machines With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-voting-machines/): Learn about the features of accessible voting machines like ExpressVote and how I use them to vote with low vision in local, state, and federal elections in Virginia.
- [Using Google Live Transcribe With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/google-live-transcribe-low-vision/): Something I have noticed with Chiari Malformation and associated mild auditory processing issues is that it can be challenging for me to follow along with conversations if there’s a lot of background noise or distracting sounds. Since I also have low vision, it can be challenging to follow along with captioning tools that have small print or that are displayed on a screen at a distance, so I started using Google Live Transcribe with low vision accessibility settings to help with short-term captioning needs or helping me make sure that I don’t miss any information. Here is a list of strategies for using Google Live Transcribe with low vision, based on my experience using Live Transcribe for short tasks.
- [How To Write Alt Text For Gifs](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-alt-text-for-gifs/): As a user with low vision that is sensitive to strobe, flashing, and fast-moving animations, I frequently rely on others knowing how to write alt text for GIFs or how to describe GIFs so that I can engage in social interactions or posts without triggering an adverse medical effect. Writing alt text for GIFs is unique compared to writing alt text for other types of content— alt text for images focuses on a single frame or point in time, and alt text/video descriptions for videos often include sound in some capacity to provide additional context or clarification. GIFs can be several images stitched together or an excerpt from a video, and show up everywhere from social media feeds to text message conversations. Here are my tips on how to write alt text for GIFs in a variety of contexts, and how this inclusive practice benefits users with visual impairments and other disabilities.
- [How I Use My Phone As Assistive Technology In Class](https://veroniiiica.com/phone-as-assistive-technology-in-class/): How I use my phone in class as a student with low vision, and the free apps and features that make it possible to use my phone as assistive technology
- [A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/assistive-technology-for-low-vision/): 26 examples of assistive technology for low vision access that are used by people with visual impairments for work, school, and everyday life.
- [Walking In The Rain: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/blindness-canes-and-pouring-rain/): How to navigate the rain with a blindness cane
- [Using GPS Apps On College Campuses: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/gps-applications-ncc/): Learn how to navigate campus quickly and get lost less frequently
- [How I Use Google Lens With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/google-lens-review-for-low-vision/): One of the most-used applications on my Android phone is the Google Lens app, an image labeling tool that lets me take pictures or upload pictures from my phone gallery to get information about what is in an image or search for additional relevant information. In the last twenty-four hours leading up to this post update, I have used the Google Lens app twelve times to help me get information about different items related to schoolwork, items in the house, and it even helped keep me from eating something I was allergic to. Here is how I use Google Lens with low vision, and how I introduce this application to other Android users with low vision.
- [Ten Cool Things You Didn’t Know About Bookshare](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-cool-things-you-didnt-know-about-bookshare/): I’m a huge fan of the Bookshare accessible online library for people with print disabilities, and have been using the service since I was a freshman in high school. I interact with Bookshare in some capacity every day, whether it’s checking out new books, reading something I’ve downloaded, or telling someone about the service. I even had the opportunity to visit Bookshare headquarters on a trip to California, where I asked various employees to share a cool thing about Bookshare that I might not have otherwise known. Inspired by answers from employees and my own user experiences, here are ten cool things you didn’t know about Bookshare.
- [Disability Accommodations For Fluctuating Eyesight](https://veroniiiica.com/assistive-technology-fluctuating-eyesight/): When I was in middle school, I noticed that it was easier to read text early in the morning compared to later in the day when my eyesight would be worse, not realizing this was due to fluctuating eyesight. As I got older and my vision continued to change, I found that my vision would sometimes change several times throughout one class period due to factors outside my control. I wasn't sure how to tell my history teacher that I suddenly couldn't read the board even though I could earlier, and I was certain my math teacher would question why I couldn't read the large print that I could read easily earlier in the day.
- [Avoiding Flashing Lights On Social Media](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-for-using-social-media-with-photosensitivity/): I was first diagnosed with photosensitivity and photophobia as a young teenager due to an intertwining visual impairment and neurological condition. At the time, there was a popular pop song that featured a refrain with a list of all of the lights I found painful or disorienting to look at, and I felt like these types of lights were everywhere, especially on the social media and video sharing websites my friends would use and send links to. Here are my favorite tips for avoiding flashing lights on social media with photosensitivity and photophobia, and minimizing exposure to bright lights, flashing lights, and strobe lights online.
- [How To Customize Icons For Windows](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-customize-icons-for-windows/): I rely a lot on color and shapes when it comes to identifying or labeling visual information, as I find it much easier to access consistently compared to text labels. This can be helpful for quickly locating icons on my Windows desktop or in File Explorer, unless I have several identical icons that are the same color and/or shape. After I kept confusing two identical blue icons at my internship, I found a way to solve the problem by learning how to customize icons for Windows and changing the icons to two different colors. Here are my favorite tips on how to customize icons for Windows 11 and Windows 10, and tools for finding or creating icons for users with low vision.
- [Dealing With Paparazzi/Unwanted Attention: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/paparazzi-unwanted-attention-college-o-and-m/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is how to deal with unwanted attention or harassment from other students related to me using a blindness cane, so I’ve created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for handling campus paparazzi and unwanted attention that comes from me using a blindness cane with low vision, and how I handle unexpected questions from students and other bystanders.
- [Walking In The Snow: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/walking-in-the-snow/): Staying safe in snowstorms, hurricanes, and other weather events when living in the dorms on campus
- [Accessible Python IDEs For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-python-ides-for-low-vision/): As a student with low vision studying Computational and Data Sciences, I was exposed to several programming languages as part of my coursework, though many of my classes revolved around the Python programming language. Since I primarily access information visually, it was important that I use accessible Python IDEs for writing code that would support options for large print and labeling information by color, as well as options for text-to-speech and screen reader access for secondary audio access if needed. Here is a list of options for accessible Python IDEs for low vision users that can be used for learning Python and working with Python in a professional context, along with examples of how I worked with my professors to use these tools in the classroom setting.
- [Touring Colleges With A Blindness Cane: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/touring-colleges-with-a-blindness-cane/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. I wish I had gotten O&M lessons sooner, because a blindness cane would have been really helpful for touring colleges, and the specialist could have helped me figure out important places to visit. Here are my tips for touring colleges with a blindness cane, from a student who toured multiple colleges and would give tours to prospective students with vision loss (inclusive of low vision/blindness).
- [Dealing With Dorm Fire Alarms: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/dealing-with-dorm-fire-alarms/): Dealing with the infamous dorm fire alarms when you have a vision impairment
- [Accessible Flashcards For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-flashcards-for-low-vision/): Tips for creating accessible flashcards for low vision students, including resources for physical flashcards and digital flashcards
- [Satellite Campuses: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/blindness-canes-and-satellite-campuses-navigating-college-campuses/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is how to navigate the satellite campus where some of my information technology classes took place, so I’ve created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for commuting and navigating around college satellite campuses as a student with low vision who uses a blindness cane.
- [How To Write Alt Text For Amateur Art](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-alt-text-for-amateur-art/): Over the years, I have been friends with many visual artists who create wonderful amateur art across a variety of mediums. One of these friends often creates unique art with lots of bold colors inspired by pop culture and their own original characters that they have created. Recently, they reached out to me asking if I could show them how to write alt text for amateur art that they frequently post on social media, and creating a more accessible art portfolio that could be accessed within their fandom. Of course, I was happy to help with this request, and immediately pulled up their portfolio to write a couple examples of potential alt text for visual art that they could use.
- [Common Classroom Accommodations For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/common-classroom-accommodations-for-low-vision/): I frequently get questions about the most common classroom accommodations for low vision from parents, students, and support team members trying to figure out what accommodations they need for Student Assistance Plans (SAPs), 504 Plans, Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), and college Disability Services files. While my visual acuity and technology needs have changed over time, the disability accommodations I receive for low vision have remained pretty consistent throughout middle school, high school, college, and now graduate school. Here is a list of common classroom accommodations for low vision that students with low vision often use in their classes.
- [How To Make Accessible ASCII Art and Emoji Memes](https://veroniiiica.com/make-ascii-memes-emoji-memes-accessible/): ASCII art and emoji memes are a common fixture of social media, incorporating creative arrangements of letters, numbers, symbols, and emoji to create mosaic-style art, convey a message, or for aesthetic purposes. Many of these images contain a message or reminder, or may contain references, jokes, or quotes from different sources. As someone with low vision, I often have a lot of trouble figuring out what is in ASCII art or emoji memes that I see other people post or that my friends send me, because it’s hard for me to see how characters are arranged or I find myself second guessing what I am looking at. Here are my tips for how to make ASCII art and emoji memes accessible for users with visual impairments on social media, and why these types of images are inaccessible in the first place.
- [How To Organize and Identify Cords For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-organize-and-identify-cords-for-low-vision/): When I was living in a college dorm, I honestly didn't put much thought into how I would organize or identify cords for charging technology, connecting peripheral devices to my computer, or arranging items that are connected to a surge protector- I sort of just plugged everything into wherever it fit and accepted that it would take me a while to locate cords. One of my friends noticed this when visiting one day, and announced they would not be leaving until I learned how to organize and identify cords for low vision and learn to locate my chargers and USB cables independently, and an hour later my cords and cables were much more organized than before.
- [Finding College Classrooms: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/blindness-canes-and-classrooms-navigating-college-campuses/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is how to find classrooms and tips for navigating class buildings, so I’ve created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for finding college classrooms and how I find my classes as a student with low vision who uses a blindness cane.
- [Ten Questions To Ask When Changing Your Major](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-questions-to-ask-when-changing-your-major/): While I have always been interested in studying assistive technology and “other technology”, I changed my undergraduate major three times. I started as an applied computer science major, switched to information technology, and ultimately graduated with a degree in Computational and Data Sciences. Before changing my major, I conducted a lot of research and asked myself several questions to better understand why I wanted to change my major, and to ensure the new major would still fit in with my professional goals and life goals in general. Here are ten questions to ask when changing your major or considering a change in undergraduate major.
- [Building Identification: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/building-identification-college-o-and-m/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is how to visually identify buildings on campus and more in-depth practice with finding buildings, so I’ve created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for building identification and building a mental map of campus as a student with low vision who uses a blindness cane.
- [What I Wish I Learned About Assistive Technology Before Starting College](https://veroniiiica.com/what-i-wish-i-learned-about-assistive-technology-before-starting-college/): Before I started attending college, I had very limited assistive technology education, as most of what I had learned had come from reading articles online. My school had extremely limited funding and resources for assistive technology, so I never got the chance to explore different devices or fully learn my assistive technology preferences until I started at college. As a result, I had to learn how to navigate assistive technology and how to navigate the world of higher education at the same time. Even though I was successful in doing so, there are many students who are not, given that over 50% of students with vision loss stop attending college after their first year. Today, I will be sharing what I wish I learned about assistive technology before starting college, and what skills that students should develop.
- [How To Write Video Descriptions For TikTok](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-video-descriptions-for-tiktok/): I wrote my first post on how to write video descriptions for TikTok and other short-form video content in 2019 after my friends started sending me several different videos from the platform. TikTok video accessibility has changed a lot since then, and I've updated my guide for how to write video descriptions for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and similar platforms to reflect new types of content, and how content is cross-posted across multiple platforms. Here are my tips for how to write video descriptions for TikTok and what to include in video descriptions, from the perspective of a user with low vision and photosensitivity.
- [Windows Magnifier and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/windows-magnifier-and-low-vision/): The built-in Windows Magnifier is one of the first Windows accessibility features for low vision I remember using to make information on the home computer and in the school computer lab easier to see. While I don't always have Magnifier turned on, I often open it multiple times a day with a keyboard shortcut or from my toolbar to access visual content in large print, especially when things like display scaling would otherwise cut off the text or make it hard to read. Here is an overview of features available in the built-in Windows Magnifier program for users with low vision, and examples of how I personally use Magnifier in digital workflows with low vision.
- [Reporting Accessibility Issues: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/reporting-accessibility-issues-college/): Reporting accessibility issues is a form of self-advocacy or self-determination, a skill that is part of the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC) for students with visual impairments. Learning to identify barriers, communicate needs clearly, and follow through on solutions are all skills that carry over into every area of adult life, not just college, and reporting accessibility barriers and issues is a valuable way to practice this skill.
- [Adapting Accessible Trifold Posters For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-trifold-alternatives/): When I had to create trifold posters and present trifolds during class projects in middle and high school, I often struggled with adapting trifold posters or creating accessible trifold posters that I could see with low vision. While I could create a trifold presentation that had all of the information I needed for a project, I often couldn't read whatever I had written or would struggle to balance my own needs for readability with the aesthetic needs for creating a well-organized project, which would often result in projects that either a family member had to help with every step of the way or something that looked like it was put together at the last minute. Learning to adapt trifold posters for low vision and finding alternatives to trifold presentations has helped me find better ways to share information from a project I am excited about in a way that everyone can read and enjoy, including the student who originally created it. Here are my tips for adapting trifold posters with low vision, and creative alternatives to trifold presentations that students can use, including a free digital trifold template.
- [Make Proofreading Feedback Accessible For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/make-proofreading-feedback-accessible/): Learning how to write research papers and essays can be overwhelming for students with low vision or print disabilities that impact access to standard print. While teacher and peer feedback is a great way to improve writing skills and writing research papers in general, accessing feedback can be challenging if it is not in a format that students can access. As part of my Writing Success series, here are tips for making proofreading feedback and writing feedback accessible for low vision and other print disabilities.
- [Designing Business Cards For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/designing-business-cards-for-low-vision/): I've used a few different business cards for my blog and consulting work, and often receive questions about designing business cards for low vision and how I chose to design my own cards. It's always exciting to get compliments on my personal branding and hear people talk about how they want to follow along with my work, and having accessible business cards has helped a lot with this. Here are my tips for designing business cards for low vision, and examples of how I have designed my own cards.
- [Zoom Magnifier and Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/zoom-magnifier-and-low-vision/): When I am introducing students and clients with low vision to iPad accessibility settings, one of the features we often end up discussing the most is Zoom Magnifier and low vision use cases. This screen magnification software is a great example of assistive technology that is built into a mainstream device, though it can be a bit overwhelming to learn how to use effectively. Here is an overview of Zoom magnifier and low vision access for iPhone and iPad, and my personal tips for using it.
- [Navigating The Dining Hall: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/navigating-the-dining-hall/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is tips for navigating the dining hall with a blindness cane, so I’ve created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for learning how to navigate college dining halls, which are the buildings I visit the most often outside of my dorm.
- [Why You Should Register With Disability Services in College](https://veroniiiica.com/why-you-should-get-a-disability-services-file/): A prospective student recently asked me if they really needed to get a Disability Services file for college, because they didn't want to go through the intake process or go to a bunch of meetings when they would primarily be taking online classes and could enlarge their own assignments. I can understand why they didn't want to deal with the accommodations approval process, but having a Disability Services file or getting accommodations approved in college is essential for students with visual impairments that require modifications or adaptations such as large print, extended time on tests, and using assistive technology.
- [Navigating Campus In The Dark: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/blindness-canes-and-nighttime-navigating-college-campuses/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn't get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One lesson that would have been really helpful is tips for using my blindness cane when navigating campus in the dark or at night, so I've created the College O&M series to share my most-used tips and strategies for learning about this topic and others. Here are my tips for learning how to navigate college campuses at night, from the perspective of a student with low vision who uses a blindness cane.
- [Dealing With Imposter Syndrome: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/blindness-canes-and-imposter-syndrome-navigating-college-campuses/): Shortly before my second year of college, I received a few orientation and mobility lessons for learning how to navigate with low vision and a blindness cane. These lessons were helpful for learning general travel skills, but I noticed they didn’t get into specifics about navigating college campuses or using university resources available for students with vision loss. One of the reasons why I was originally unsure if I needed O&M lessons or a blindness cane in general is because I had associated blindness canes with people who were "totally blind" or had no usable vision, so I wasn't sure if I was "blind enough" to use a blindness cane as someone who has low vision and didn't meet the criteria for legal blindness at the beginning of college. Here are my tips for dealing with imposter syndrome as a blindness cane user with low vision and answering the question "am I blind enough to use a cane?"
- [High Contrast and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/high-contrast-color-schemes-low-vision/): When it comes to accessible design, one of the best pairings out there is high contrast and low vision. Color plays a significant role in how I access visual content, especially when it comes to locating items or information of interest, and items that have poor contrast can either be extremely difficult or impossible for me to access. Here is an overview of high contrast color schemes and low vision, and how high contrast and low vision can influence other environments as well.
- [How To Choose General Education Courses In College](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-choose-general-education-courses-in-college/): When my brother was planning his schedule for his first semester, one of the questions he asked me was how to choose general education courses in college that would satisfy his major requirements while letting him explore his interests. When I was taking my general education courses, I had learned what classes to take that would complement my major and focus on my research interests in data science and assistive technology, and I was excited to help him do the same and find classes that would embrace his love of film and media. Here are my tips for how to choose general education courses in college that connect to student interests.
- [Google Lookout App For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/google-lookout-app-for-low-vision/): I started using the Google Lookout app for low vision and blind users in 2019 while attending the ATIA assistive technology conference. Since then, Google Lookout has added several different features for their visual assistance app that can help users with visual impairments get information about their surroundings. Here is an overview of the Google Lookout app for low vision, and how I use it in a variety of different contexts.
- [Navigating Campus Construction: College O&M](https://veroniiiica.com/navigating-campus-construction/): While we didn't have the opportunity to practice navigating campus construction, the certified orientation and mobility specialist (COMS) that I worked with introduced me to a few other techniques that I use for navigating barriers. For example, I learned to use the two-point touch method (tapping side to side in an arc) to get information about curbs and also practiced the diagonal technique for navigating more narrow areas. In unfamiliar or uneven terrain, I shorten my cane arc and slow down so I can be more aware of obstacles.
- [Choosing Greeting Cards For Visually Impaired Recipients](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-greeting-cards-for-visually-impaired/): I love picking out greeting cards for my friends and family and receiving cards for birthdays and holidays with lovely messages inside. As my vision has declined and changed over the years, I have passed along tips and suggestions for choosing greeting cards for visually impaired recipients like me to several family members, who have responded by choosing designs that are easier for me to read independently or with the help of assistive technology. Here are my favorite tips for choosing greeting cards for visually impaired recipients, and how different design elements can impact visual accessibility.
- [Places Every Visually Impaired Student Should Visit On College Tours](https://veroniiiica.com/places-every-visually-impaired-student-should-visit-on-college-tours/): Over the years, I have given over a dozen college tours to visually impaired middle and high school students, and have created a list of places every visually impaired student should visit on college tours. For me, no tour is complete without stopping at these buildings, and I love watching prospective student's faces light up when they see these places. Here are my tips for places every visually impaired student should visit on college tours. Some of these places may not be covered on traditional college tours, so I recommend either finding them yourselves or reaching out to Disability Services in advance.
- [How To Order Custom Colors for Blindness Canes](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-order-custom-colors-for-blindness-canes/): When I had to order some more blindness canes (white canes) for college, I discovered that I could customize canes to include reflective tape in different colors that weren’t just white or red. I love anything purple, so I decided to order a white cane with a purple bottom segment, along with a few other colors. Several of my friends pointed out that I seemed to be a lot more confident when using the custom colored canes and that I wasn’t slouching or trying to “hide myself” when walking on campus, something I hadn’t even noticed that I was doing. My purple cane and pink cane even inspired some younger friends and students I work with to start orientation and mobility training and using a white cane to help them navigate unfamiliar places. Here is how to order custom colors for blindness canes and white canes for people with visual impairments, and tips for choosing custom colors from Ambutech.
- [How To Make Mouse Pointers Easier To See in Windows](https://veroniiiica.com/mouse-pointers-and-low-vision/): One of my favorite low vision accessibility features for Windows 11 and Windows 10 is the option to customize mouse pointers and cursors so they are easier to see. I've been using a large turquoise mouse pointer on my personal computers for several years now and find it much easier to keep track of where my pointer is on the screen, as well as make sure it doesn't get "lost" in a sea of similar colors. Here are nine different ways to customize the mouse pointer and mouse cursor for users with low vision.
- [How To Request Accessible Textbooks In College](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-request-accessible-textbooks-in-college/): How to request accessible textbooks in college/university for students with visual impairments and print disabilities, from a student with low vision.
- [How I Manage Conference FOMO With Chronic Illness](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-to-deal-with-conference-fomo/): When I attend professional conferences for assistive technology and computing, I often find myself overwhelmed trying to “do it all” by attending all of the sessions for a given day, trying to run around the exhibit hall to meet everyone, and attending networking and post-conference events that can run late into the night. Even though I love attending these events, I often find that I’m setting myself up for chronic illness flares or not resting my eyes enough to the point I start to have trouble recognizing people or navigating familiar surroundings. The best way I can think of to describe is it that I am torn between feeling like I am pushing myself too hard to do things, and also that I am not trying hard enough and that I need to be doing more. Learning time management strategies has helped a lot, as has learning how to overcome “conference FOMO” (or fear of missing out) by finding ways to engage with content in a way that works for me. Here are my tips for attending professional conferences with chronic illness and how to take advantage of free online resources to maximize the conference experience while honoring the need for rest breaks.
- [How To Add Alt Text On Social Media](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-add-alt-text-on-social-media/): When people ask me if I have any tips for improving accessibility of social media posts, I like to ask them if they know how to add alt text on social media platforms. While a lot of people know how to add alt text on one or two platforms, the truth is that alt text has to be added manually across all social media platforms so that blind and visually impaired users can understand what is in an image. It only takes less than a minute to add alt text to social media posts, so it's an easy way to ensure that audiences who use assistive technology are not excluded. Here are my tips for how to add alt text on social media for common platforms.
- [How To Create A Custom Dorm Skill With Amazon Alexa](https://veroniiiica.com/how-amazon-alexa-can-help-you-navigate-your-dorm/): When I first moved into my new dorm in undergrad, I felt super overwhelmed as I tried to keep track of a ton of information while living on my own. By the time I would get back from classes, my visual fatigue and cognitive fatigue would be so overwhelming that I wouldn’t know where to start when doing laundry or figuring out other life admin or school-related tasks— it was much less work to just go to sleep and figure everything out later. One of my best friends mentioned experiencing similar challenges with their own disability, and said that they wished there was a way to ask questions about living in the dorm without having to “bother a real person.”
- [How To Make Classroom Videos Easier To See](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-classroom-videos-easier-to-see/): During in-person classes and lectures, I often have trouble seeing videos presented on the projector or on other screens, and find myself asking a lot of questions about what is going on or becoming disoriented due to unexpected flickering or flashing lights. I know that I can't control how my instructors show videos in class or tell them not to share videos, so I've had to come up with several strategies for watching videos in class with low vision so I  don't miss out on important information. Here are my tips for how to make classroom videos easier to see for students with low vision, including movies, YouTube videos, and other streaming video content. I also include several tips for photophobia (light sensitivity) that can affect students with visual impairments and other disabilities as well.
- [What To Know About College Assistive Technology Specialists](https://veroniiiica.com/what-to-know-about-college-assistive-technology-specialists/): When it comes to accessing university resources and services, the office I work with the most often by far is the Assistive Technology Initiative and its assistive technology specialists. While Disability Services documents my disability and accommodations that I might need as a student with low vision and a secondary medical condition, assistive technology specialists show me how my professors and I can implement these accommodations and identify ways that I can improve access to information and content. Since most students won't learn about assistive technology specialists and how they support students when going on a tour of campus (unless I'm the one giving the tour!), I've created this list of what to know about college assistive technology specialists and how they can support students with disabilities in the classroom.
- [How To Use Select-to-speak on Android](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-use-select-to-speak-on-android/): As someone with low vision that fluctuates, I don't need to use a screen reader all the time for accessing media, but find it helpful to have text read out loud on occasion. Instead of using a screen reader that is always on, I use text-to-speech tools like Select-to-speak for Android so that I can have an on-demand screen reader at the push of a button. Here is how I use Select-to-speak on Android as a user with low vision and print disabilities.
- [Five Common Technology Behaviors That Hurt My Brain](https://veroniiiica.com/five-common-technology-behaviors-that-hurt-my-brain/): When I was in high school, I sometimes had difficulty explaining how common technology behaviors or other technology in the classroom would hurt my brain, also known as give me a migraine. Many teachers assumed that I was refusing to participate in class, but the reality is that these actions would contribute to physical pain in my brain that would make participating or even thinking extremely difficult or impossible, many of which could be connected back to my low vision and then-undiagnosed neurological condition that played a significant role in how I perceive visual information. Here are five common classroom tech behaviors that hurt my brain, and that can hurt the brains of other students with visual impairment related to eye-based conditions and/or brain-based visual impairment (also known as neurological visual impairment or CVI).
- [College Scheduling Hacks For Students With Chronic Illness](https://veroniiiica.com/college-scheduling-hacks-for-students-with-chronic-illness/): As an undergraduate student living with an unpredictable medical condition, I often relied on college scheduling hacks for students with chronic illness to put together a hybrid schedule each semester that would provide options for flexible attendance and easy access to course materials online. This included things like having a day off each week where I didn’t have classes and using assistive technology in the classroom, as well as discovering other strategies that can help schedule college classes for students with disabilities like me. Here are my favorite college scheduling hacks for students with chronic illnesses, and tips for scheduling college classes while managing a chronic illness. Many of these tips can also be used while scheduling college classes with an undiagnosed chronic illness.
- [Brainfuse Online Tutoring and Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/brainfuse-accessibility-low-vision/): The first time I used the Brainfuse Online Tutoring website was back in 2018 or 2019 when I was confused about a physics problem while working on my homework late at night. I was grateful to get an explanation for how to solve this problem, but I didn't use Brainfuse for any of my other classes until I had to study for placement exams and standardized tests. I started using Brainfuse several times a week leading up to these exams to help me review concepts that I didn't understand, take free practice exams, and get feedback on how to solve different types of problems. Here is an overview of the free Brainfuse online tutoring services and tips for using Brainfuse with low vision assistive technology, from the perspective of a student with low vision.
- [How To Store Emergency Medical Information For Android and iOS](https://veroniiiica.com/add-medical-information-for-android-phone/): I live with a disability and chronic illness along with multiple allergies, so being able to quickly locate and provide medical information to medical staff or first responders is very important to me when I am receiving medical care. One of my favorite tools for storing emergency medical information is the Medical ID feature that is built-in to many Android and iOS devices, and today I will be sharing how to store medical information for Android and iOS that can be accessed from the device's lock screen without having to unlock the phone.
- [Dorm Room Disability Hacks For Chronically Ill Students](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-hack-an-accessible-dorm/): Even though I didn’t live in a mobility access/wheelchair accessible dorm on campus during undergrad, I still used several dorm room disability hacks to make it easier and more comfortable to move around my dorm. As a student diagnosed with Chiari Malformation and then-undiagnosed POTS, I benefitted a lot from simple housing accommodations for disabled students and finding ways to make dorm rooms more accessible so that I wasn’t pushing through pain or discomfort in order to complete basic tasks. Here is a list of dorm room disability hacks that my friends and I used to make our dorms accessible for our needs, and examples of requests that dorm maintenance staff can help with.
- [Choosing A Backpack With Chronic Pain](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-a-backpack-with-chronic-pain/): As a student living with chronic pain, I often joke with my friends that I have to over-think several decisions, which includes choosing a backpack for bringing materials to class. Choosing a backpack with chronic pain isn’t as straightforward as just making an aesthetic choice (though I do that as well since I also have to account for my visual impairment), as the right backpack design can play a significant role in either helping me to avoid pain flares, or it can be the source of daily flares if the construction is not appropriate for my needs. Here are my tips for choosing a backpack with chronic pain and features to consider for students of all ages.
- [Paper Sizes and Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/paper-size-and-low-vision/): When it comes to receiving physical copies of materials and text-based content, paper size plays a significant role in how I both read and write on a page. Since my vision fluctuates often due to environmental factors, I typically prefer digital materials that I can adapt or adjust on my own to make them easier to see, but I still work with paper copies of information and accessible materials on a regular basis. Here is how paper sizes and other characteristics influence my preferences for accessible materials as a student with low vision who primarily accesses information visually.
- [Seven Things I Tell My College Suitemates About My Disability](https://veroniiiica.com/things-i-tell-college-suitemates-about-disability/): While living on campus with low vision and chronic illness, I shared a bathroom and communal living space with 1-3 other students, depending on the dorm. In many cases, I was the first person that used a blindness cane or that had a physical disability that my suitemates had interacted with, so I would be proactive about disclosing my disability and talking about different independent living strategies I use. Here are seven things I tell my college suitemates about my disability and how I ask for help.
- [Accessible Playing Cards For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/playing-cards-and-low-vision/): How to make playing cards accessible for low vision, including options to buy, DIY, and download accessible playing cards with large print and/or braille.
- [How I Organize Digital Files For My Classes](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-organize-digital-files-for-my-classes/): During my senior year of high school, I went from having a few virtual classes each year to a truly hybrid online class schedule, where 50% or more of my classes were online. This continued throughout undergrad in college, before I transitioned to having all of my classes 100% online for my final semester and then for graduate school. Since I complete all of my assignments in digital formats, it's important to have an effective file organization system so that I can quickly locate assignments for upload, as well as reference past assignments and content from previous semesters. Here is how I organize digital files for my classes, including high school assignment organization and college file organization strategies.
- [Choosing A Backpack With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-a-backpack-with-low-vision/): Between tech internships/events and flash sales at the college bookstore, my collection of backpacks and tote bags has grown to include multiple items, all of which were chosen with my visual impairment in mind. Choosing a backpack with low vision isn’t just about making sure that the backpack can hold accessible materials (though that is a major consideration!), it’s also about ensuring that the backpack can be visually identified by the person using it and that it can be used independently. Here are my tips for choosing a backpack with low vision, which can also extend to purses, bags, and similar items.
- [Accessibility Support Phone Numbers and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/why-i-use-accessibility-support-phone-numbers/): While it would be fantastic if technical support staff were trained in troubleshooting assistive technology or accessibility settings, I have had a much better experience when using accessibility support phone numbers, which are designed for people with disabilities and the assistive technologies that they use every day. Here is an overview of accessibility support phone numbers, how they benefit users with low vision, and how I personally use accessibility support phone numbers in different contexts.
- [Tips For Creating Art For Visually Impaired Friends](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-for-creating-art-for-visually-impaired-friends/): I have several friends who are wonderful artists, and one of them is currently working on a drawing that they plan to give to another friend for their birthday. Since this friend has low vision, we've been talking a lot about how to create art for visually impaired audiences, and thinking about how to ensure that our friend will be able to see the finished product. Here are my tips for creating art for visually impaired friends and audiences, from the perspective of someone with low vision.
- [How I Document Accessibility Preferences With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-document-accessibility-preferences-with-low-vision/): As a student with low vision that spends a lot of time at the computer and working with different types of software, I rely on several accessibility features and the use of assistive technology to access information. While there are some tools that I use consistently across different applications like magnification and large print, I often have to configure them in a different way depending on the default font size of the application or if I'm using a lab computer with a different operating system. One strategy that has really helped me keep this information organized is learning how to document accessibility preferences with low vision, as this makes it easier for me to remember what settings I need for a specific app/software and for my professors or other allied professionals to assist me when needed. Here is how I document accessibility preferences with low vision and how I use this information in different contexts as a college student.
- [SQLiteStudio Accessibility and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/sqlitestudio-and-low-vision/): SQLiteStudio is a free and open-source self-contained database program that is frequently used with the SQL language (pronounced "sequel"), both by professors and students in the classroom environment and by professionals in the workplace. As part of my own coursework in information technology and data science, I learned to use SQLiteStudio accessibility settings for low vision access so that I could complete assignments as well as view information in the large print sizes I needed. Here is an overview of SQLiteStudio accessibility and low vision access tools I have personally used for classroom-based assignments and professional projects.
- [Magnifying Glasses For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/magnifying-glasses-for-low-vision/): Opening my desk drawer to share the magnifying glasses for low vision I have used over the years at home, school, college, and beyond
- [How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions For Online Products](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-image-descriptions-about-online-products-for-visual-impairment/): Helpful information to include when writing image descriptions for online products:
- [What If I Get Dropped From All My College Classes?](https://veroniiiica.com/what-if-i-get-dropped-from-all-my-college-classes/): When I came back to my dorm after winter break, I told my family how excited I was to see people on campus again and that I was looking forward to getting to know my new professors. What I didn’t realize was that I would be seeing a lot of people on campus and meeting with multiple offices that week because I was dropped from all of my college classes three days into the semester due to a registration error. Since I write a lot about the importance of self-advocacy skills on my website, here is a narrative on how I handled being dropped from all of my college classes, which included re-registering for everything and getting locked out of numerous things along the way.
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Televisions](https://veroniiiica.com/mainstream-technology-and-low-vision-televisions/): While many people associate assistive technology with specialized devices that are expensive or hard to find, many mainstream technology devices have started supporting accessibility features and built-in assistive technology that can make specialty tools more financially and publicly accessible for all. One of the most common activities that people with newly acquired vision loss mention that they miss the most is watching television, since TV watching is a popular social activity and can give people access to vital information. Here are features to look for when buying a TV for users with vision loss, as part of my ongoing Mainstream Technology and Low Vision post series.
- [Explaining Disabiility Accommodations To Substitute Teachers](https://veroniiiica.com/explaining-accommodations-to-substitute-teachers/): When I was in middle and high school, many teachers and school staff members encouraged me to develop strong self-advocacy skills so that I could feel comfortable talking about my low vision and what accommodations I would need in the classroom. Talking to a substitute teacher was a great way to practice these skills, because I would have to request accessible materials from them during class and do a lot of things on my own without asking for help. Here are my tips for explaining disability accommodations to substitute teachers and practicing self-advocacy skills, from the perspective of a student with low vision and a neurological condition. This post is inclusive of accommodations from Student Assistance Plans, IEPs, and 504 Plans.
- [Making Karaoke Accessible For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/making-karaoke-accessible-for-low-vision/): If I'm attending a visual impairment or assistive technology conference that has a karaoke event, there's a very strong chance I will take the mic and perform "Livin' on a Prayer" by Bon Jovi, my favorite song of all time and one of my favorites for karaoke in general (if that one's already been taken, I've also done "American Pie," singing all of the lyrics from memory). I received a question from a reader about how these events make karaoke accessible from low vision, and after helping to organize a karaoke event at my college, I've learned a lot about accessible karaoke and inclusive karaoke tips. Here are my favorite tips for making karaoke accessible for visually impaired performers (inclusive of blind/low vision) from the perspective of a participant and an organizer.
- [How To Search For Study Resources Online](https://veroniiiica.com/using-online-homework-help-in-college/): As a student with low vision and an unpredictable chronic illness, I spend a lot of time learning asynchronously outside of the classroom. Even when I do attend classes in-person, I often search for study resources online to explore topics in-depth or get explanations about topics that confuse me in class. Here is a list of my favorite strategies for how to search for study resources online, from the perspective of a student studying data science and assistive technology.
- [Using Disability Transportation Services In College](https://veroniiiica.com/using-disability-transportation-services-in-college/): During the last few semesters of college, my disability and chronic illness made it difficult for me to walk to classes on my own. Even with the use of guides and mobility aids, I would often show up to class exhausted, since I had used up all my energy for class on the walk over from my dorm. One of the things that helped tremendously with helping me get to class on time and ready to learn was the disability transportation services offered by my college— here are my tips for using disability transportation services in college and how to set up transportation services for classes.
- [How I Decorate My Dorm Room With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-decorate-my-dorm-room-with-low-vision/): I lived in on-campus dorm housing for four years in college, and one of my favorite parts of preparing for the new school year was thinking about how I would decorate my dorm. While a lot of the items in my dorm room remained the same and I didn't buy all new items each year, I still had fun making different design changes that incorporated aesthetics and accessibility in a thoughtful way. Here is how I would decorate my dorm room with low vision and created a fun and functional space.
- [Using An Overhead Projector For Standardized Testing](https://veroniiiica.com/using-overhead-projector-standardized-testing/): My school couldn't give me a CCTV for state standardized testing, so we used an overhead projector instead
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Covers and Cases](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-a-phone-case-with-low-vision/): When choosing a phone case with low vision, it’s critical to make sure the phone and its case can fit comfortably and securely in the user’s pocket, purse/backpack, or other storage area so that it does not fall out or protrude uncomfortably. Even though tablets and laptops are less likely to be transported in pockets, the case should still comfortably fit around the device when it is being carried and help protect the device from shifting or movement during transit.
- [Swing Dancing And Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/swing-dancing-and-low-vision/): When one of my best friends and I were undergraduate students, we would go to swing dance lessons and social dances held by the swing dance club on campus, which was a fun way for us to get some exercise and get to know other students on campus that we might not otherwise have met. While my friend didn’t have much experience with dance at all, I had taken dance classes for many years as a child but not much experience with swing dancing, so I was excited to learn more about swing dancing and dancing with low vision. Here are my tips and strategies for learning swing dancing with low vision, based on my experiences attending the swing dance club on a college campus.
- [What If I Miss Assignments Or Classes In College?](https://veroniiiica.com/what-if-i-miss-assignments-or-classes-in-college/): As much as I would like to say that I’ve had perfect attendance in college and would rarely miss assignments, there have been several situations where I had to miss class or submit an assignment late due to circumstances outside of my control or outside of my professor’s control. While proactively missing a deadline sounds like an oxymoron, I have found that being proactive about planning for absences or requesting extensions has made it a lot easier to stay on track with classes compared to panicking about what to do and begging the professor for help, which I refer to as taking a reactive approach. Here is how I would answer the question “what if I miss assignments or classes in college?”
- [How To Use High Contrast in Windows 11](https://veroniiiica.com/using-high-contrast-themes-in-windows-11/): How to use High Contrast mode/High contrast themes in Windows 10 and Windows 11, and how high contrast mode looks with frequently used applications. Great for users with low vision or migraines
- [Ten Things To Know About Going To College With A Blindness Cane](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-things-to-know-about-going-to-college-with-a-blindness-cane/): I started using a blindness cane (also known as a white cane) full-time during my first semester of college while living on campus. As a student with low vision, using a cane gave me a tremendous amount of freedom and independence, accompanying me everywhere from the dining hall to trips around the DC Metro area. Of course, I also use my blindness cane when I'm at home or work, but the bulk of my orientation and mobility (O&M) training for learning to use a blindness cane effectively has taken place on a college campus, and I've been able to practice a lot of valuable cane skills when walking to classes and other buildings multiple times a day. Here are ten things to know about going to college with a blindness cane and important O&M skills to have for college, from the perspective of a cane user with low vision.
- [How Do People With Visual Impairments Guide Each Other?](https://veroniiiica.com/how-do-people-with-visual-impairments-guide-each-other/): Over the last few years, I have amassed a large amount of friends who are blind or that have low vision. It's an awesome thing, because we can all relate to various aspects of each other's lives and learn more about cool accessibility related things from each other. However, we don't just have these conversations on the phone or in someone's dorm room, as we like to go places to talk or just explore our community in general. This often means that we are being human guides for each other, or as my brother described the situation, it's the blind leading the blind (or the blind leading the blinder). Today, I'll be sharing a few of the orientation and mobility techniques my friends and I have developed to ensure no one gets left behind or runs into a pole while we travel as a group.
- [How To Make Your Instagram Feed Accessible For Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-your-instagram-feed-accessible-for-visual-impairment/): Over the past several years, Instagram has added several accessibility features and tools for creators to make their images easier to see for users with visual impairments and print disabilities, with new features being added frequently. Many of my friends with low vision love using Instagram because they can hold mobile devices close to their face, zoom in on images and videos with pinch-to-zoom, and view a diverse range of profiles from friends to brands and educational accounts. Here are my favorite tips for how to make your Instagram feed accessible for visual impairment, inclusive of blind, low vision, and neurological visual impairment.
- [Ten Templates For Emailing Professors](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-templates-for-emailing-professors/): Learning how to email professors without anxiety or apologizing constantly is an important skill for college students to develop, especially when it comes to self-advocacy and self determination, but it can still be challenging to figure out how to ask for help from professors. Here are my most-used templates for emailing professors on common topics such as extensions, late work, and absences that I started using in undergrad, and continue to use as a PhD student with low vision.
- [Tips For Watching Parades With Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/creating-audio-description-for-parades/): When my friends and I went to a 4th of July parade in a nearby town a few years ago, I realized that I didn't know very much about watching parades with vision loss or making parades accessible to visually impaired guests. Most of my parade experience up until that point had involved participating in parades, whether it was riding on a float, playing with the marching band, or walking the parade route while holding onto a friend as a makeshift human guide- from where I was, all of the other parade participants more or less looked like distorted blobs moving down the street. On the car ride there, I started thinking about how I would watch a parade with low vision and came up with a list of strategies to try, many of which were successful and helped my friends and I enjoy the parade, as well as figure out what the "blobs" moving down the street actually looked like. Here are my tips for watching parades with vision loss, inclusive of blind, low vision, and visually impaired spectators.
- [Taking Selfies With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/taking-selfies-with-vision-loss/): When I was talking to a new friend about how I blog about low vision assistive technology, they asked me if I had any posts about taking selfies with vision loss or tips for taking selfies with low vision. I told them I was working on updating a post on this topic, and they responded by saying I must be a subject matter expert when it comes to selfies and low vision, since I was a “former teenage girl” and probably had lots of experience taking photos of myself.
- [What’s In My Backpack: PM Intern With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/backpack-program-management-intern/): While I was an intern for a major technology company as a program management intern (PM intern), one of my readers asked me what I would bring to work as a PM intern with low vision/visually impaired intern, and if I was using different tools or items compared to my college classes or compared to other interns. I didn’t have much of a frame of reference, because I was the only PM intern on my team and the only current PM intern with low vision that I had met at this company, but I had noticed some changes in the types of low-tech and high-tech tools I used at my job. Here are the contents of what’s in my backpack as a program management intern at a major tech company, documented while cleaning out my backpack three weeks into my PM internship.
- [Reading Dialog Boxes With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/dialog-boxes-and-low-vision/): A dialog box is an element of graphical user interfaces that communicates key information or requests user input for a specific task, some of which require the user to make a choice/select something before they can close the box and continue interacting with their device. While it seems logical that there would be an option to increase the font size of dialog boxes or make dialog boxes easier to read with low vision, unfortunately there isn't a specific setting for customizing the appearance of dialog boxes or instantly improving their accessibility in terms of visual access. However, there are still options for reading dialog boxes with low vision, and I've put together this list of ways to read dialog boxes in large print or with assistive technology for users with visual impairments.
- [How I Respond To Questions/Comments About My Eyes](https://veroniiiica.com/questions-comments-about-my-eyes/): Even though the title of my blog is Veronica With Four Eyes, a lot of questions and comments I get about my eyes from curious strangers, friends, family, children, and medical professionals are about the two eyes in my head. I have low vision, or vision loss not corrected by glasses, and I've been asked a lot of questions about my eyes over the years, including what they look like, how I see, and whether the appearance of my eyes is proof that I have low vision or not. Here is how I respond to questions and comments about my eyes from others, with tips for helping others come up with explanations for themselves. Please note that these answers are based on my own personal experiences, but others are welcome to use these phrases for themselves.
- [Choosing Stuffed Animals For Kids With Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/plush-stuffed-animals-for-blind-low-vision-kids/): I have a large collection of stuffed animals that come in various colors, textures, and sizes, and recently received a question from a reader asking if I had any tips for choosing stuffed animals or plush toys for kids with visual impairment (inclusive of low vision/blind). I started examining my personal collection to determine which qualities I gravitated towards when looking for plush animals, and came up with this list of tips and strategies for choosing stuffed animal for visually impaired kids, or kids at heart.
- [What If I Lock Myself Out Of My Dorm?](https://veroniiiica.com/what-if-i-lock-myself-out-of-my-dorm/): When I lived in tech internship housing for the summer, I had a small “celebration” with friends when I realized that I had avoided locking myself out of my room for the entire summer. This was particularly impressive because I had struggled with locking myself out of my dorm when I lived on campus, with my low vision/visual impairment playing a small role. While the issue had improved as I discovered different strategies to avoid this problem, I was thrilled to have never locked myself out of my internship housing. Here are my tips on how to handle being locked out of a dorm, and how I would answer the question “what if I lock myself out of my dorm?”
- [Visiting The Met With Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/visiting-the-met-with-visual-impairment/): When my brother and I went to visit The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City (also known as The Met), I wasn’t entirely sure how much of the art I would be able to see. While it may seem odd visiting The Met with visual impairment, I love going to art museums and seeing how the different colors of art blend together and form different shapes, or viewing different features of art up close. As much as I enjoy viewing art with my own four eyes, it’s even more incredible to engage with descriptions that invite me to view art through the eyes of another, and develop a deeper appreciation for the context and skill that go into creating works of art. Here is a list of accessibility resources and strategies for assistive technology access when visiting The Met with visual impairment, a term that is inclusive of blind, low vision, and neurological visual impairment/CVI.
- [Reading With Novel Effect And Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/novel-effect-app-review-for-visual-impairment/): One of my favorite things to ask teachers and professors is “what is your new favorite app right now?” When I asked this question to one of my favorite professors a few years ago, their face lit up as they told me I had to try reading with Novel Effect, a great tool for reading with audio that they had recommended for students with print disabilities. At first, I wasn’t sure if the students I worked with would like it— many of them prefer reading books in large print or having people read to them, and didn’t really care for audiobooks. However, Novel Effect quickly became one of my new favorite apps too, and I have recommended it to many students that have visual impairments, including students with cerebral visual impairment/cortical visual impairment (CVI). Here is an overview of options for reading with Novel Effect and low vision, including accessibility settings and how to find supported titles.
- [Learning To Navigate My Internship Building: PM Intern With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-learned-to-navigate-my-internship-building-with-low-vision/): When I interned for a major technology company in 2019, one of the most important “soft” skills I had to learn in my first few weeks was how to navigate my internship building and hallways independently with low vision. Like most corporate buildings, this building didn’t have a lot of brightly colored landmarks or people standing around that can offer directions, but by the end of the third week I had mastered the layout of the floor my team worked on, could navigate the cafeteria mostly without assistance, and could even find the offices for my engineer friends one floor below. Here is a list of tips that helped me learn how to navigate my internship building with low vision and a blindness cane (white cane).
- [How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions For Flowers](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-describe-flowers-for-the-blind-and-visually-impaired/): Something that really helps me get context or clarification about what I am looking at is alt text and image descriptions for flowers, as I use these as a guide to figure out what I am looking at or what details are important. Here are my tips for how to write alt text and image descriptions for flowers for various contexts, including for education and leisure/fun.
- [Tips To Stay Organized In Virtual Classes](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-to-stay-organized-in-virtual-classes/): I took sixteen virtual classes in high school and over three dozen hybrid or fully virtual classes during college, and often prefer online classes over in-person ones because I find it easier to stay organized and use assistive technology. I know a lot of students with vision loss (inclusive of low vision/blind) have talked about struggling with organization skills, so today I will be sharing my favorite tips to stay organized in virtual classes, and different strategies I use to keep up with assignments.
- [Tips For Using A Human Guide At A Conference](https://veroniiiica.com/should-i-request-a-human-guide-at-a-conference/): As a student with low vision who uses a blindness cane/white cane to navigate unfamiliar environments, I find it helpful to use either a human guide or a visual interpreter when I travel to conferences, walk around exhibit halls, or attend fairs and smaller events on my college campus. Over the last few years, I have noticed that visually cluttered environments with bright, fluorescent lights make it more challenging for me to see where I am going, and can lead to me getting overwhelmed and finding an excuse to get out of the venue/area as quickly as possible due to sensory overload. Here are my tips for using a human guide at a conference and balancing access needs with independence.
- [Choosing Device Wallpapers and Backgrounds With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-wallpapers-and-backgrounds-with-low-vision/): “Hey, when did all of the computer icons disappear? I can’t see any icons on the desktop.”
- [Promoting Cast Involvement In Audio Description](https://veroniiiica.com/promoting-cast-involvement-in-audio-description/): For my undergraduate advanced English class in college, I decided to write my final paper about audio description in theater, specifically the use of audio description in amateur/local theater, and the benefits of promoting cast involvement in audio description, and today I'm sharing the paper on my website so that others can read it. While I removed the parenthetical citations to make it easier for users with screen readers to read the content, I have included the original bibliography at the bottom and additional related links from my website.
- [How I Organize Emails In College With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-organize-college-email/): When it comes to organizing and keeping track of emails in college, I strive to achieve "inbox zero", meaning that I want to ensure my emails are taken care of effectively and that I don't have to worry about important messages getting lost in a sea of other messages. Having an organized email inbox in college is important for everyone, but it is especially helpful for students with visual impairments who may become easily overwhelmed by visual clutter or that use assistive technology like large print or screen readers to access their email. Here are my favorite tips and strategies for how I organize emails in college to keep my inbox streamlined as a student with low vision.
- [Meeting Disney Characters With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/meeting-disney-characters-with-low-vision/): When I went to Disneyland the day before a professional conference in 2019, one of the questions I had for staff was how Disney character meet and greets are done for guests with visual impairments, or if any special considerations were taken for blind kids meeting Disney characters. In order to learn more about how guests with vision loss can make the most of character meet and greets, I interviewed different cast members throughout the park and even talked to some of the characters themselves about how to make the meet and greet experience awesome for visually impaired kids, inclusive of blind and low vision.
- [How To Organize Apps On iPad With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-arrange-my-ipad-homescreen/): When it comes to low vision assistive technology, my iPad is one of my most-used devices, and I use several different applications every day for accessing information in large print and audio formats. Since I'm using so many applications, it's essential that I have them organized in a way that makes sense to me and that I can access with assistive technology or with other accessibility features enabled. Here are my tips on how to organize apps on iPad with low vision, along with an overview of iPad home screen features and how they can be arranged for low vision access.
- [Seven Places I Don’t Take My Blindness Cane](https://veroniiiica.com/seven-places-i-dont-take-my-blindness-cane/): When I was moving out of my dorm at the end of the school year and rearranging items inside a box, a staff member asked why I don't take my blindness cane with me everywhere I go. They were wondering how I was able to walk independently without it and where I put it when I wasn't using it. It was a great educational opportunity and I was glad to take the time to talk to them, even though I was frantically trying to pack everything into plastic bins. Here are seven places I don't take my white cane/blindness cane, and why I don’t need it in these scenarios.
- [Dealing With Anxiety About Disability Accommodations](https://veroniiiica.com/dealing-with-anxiety-about-accommodations/): Overcoming anxiety about disability accommodations is not something that happens overnight, but it did get better as I came up with different strategies that helped me to feel more comfortable with having low vision and receiving disability accommodations. Here is a list of tips and strategies for dealing with anxiety about disability accommodations that can help students with low vision, based on my own experiences.
- [Behind The Scenes: How Bookshare Books Come To Life](https://veroniiiica.com/how-bookshare-books-come-to-life/): Over the years, I have read hundreds of titles (if not thousands) from Bookshare, an accessible online library for people with print disabilities. As someone with low vision, Bookshare provides easy access to digital text that I can read with large print or other custom reading tools, providing me with options for accessing everything from books for school to novels and cookbooks I can use outside of the classroom. In high school, I always wondered how Bookshare was able to offer books in accessible formats, and I got to take a behind-the-scenes tour on a visit to their headquarters in Palo Alto in 2018 to learn more. Here is a behind-the-scenes look at how Bookshare books come to life, and what goes into creating accessible books for people with visual impairments and print disabilities in multiple formats.
- [AlphaSmart For Low Vision and Dysgraphia](https://veroniiiica.com/alphasmart-for-low-vision-and-dysgraphia/): During the summer before ninth grade, I received an AlphaSmart for low vision and dysgraphia, specifically the AlphaSmart Neo digital typewriter as part of a device trial for taking notes and writing with low vision and dysgraphia in the classroom. I had asked to try the device after I had seen another friend use the Dana by AlphaSmart in our shared classes, and it was the first (and only) “specialty” assistive technology device I had ever received from my school district. Digital typewriters are making a comeback as students and writers alike look for writing tools that don’t require internet access or have other distractions built in, so I’ve updated this post based on my original experiences with the AlphaSmart to include more ideas on how to use digital typewriters for students with low vision and dysgraphia.
- [How To Use Audio Description at Disney Parks](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-use-audio-description-devices-at-disney-world-and-disneyland/): When I visited Disney World and Disneyland as a college student, I wanted to check out the audio description devices at Disney Parks that provide visual descriptions of select attractions and an audio map for navigating the park. While there weren’t too many instances where I was completely alone in the park, I appreciate having audio description to answer questions for me instead of constantly asking questions to friends or family members about “obvious” visual things, especially when they don’t know the answers to my questions either. Here is how to use audio description at Disney parks for guests with visual impairments, along with other how to use audio description devices at Disney parks.
- [Creating Audio Description for Music Videos With YouDescribe](https://veroniiiica.com/creating-audio-description-for-music-videos-with-youdescribe/): When Taylor Swift released the music video for the song "ME!", one of my friends immediately sent me a message asking if I had seen the video and all of the interesting visual effects. Since I have low vision, I often have to watch music videos at least a dozen times to catch all of the details, unless audio description is available. After talking to my brother about the possibility of creating audio description for music videos with YouDescribe, we created an audio description track for "ME!" and have collaborated on this guide to creating audio description for music videos and best practices for combining music and audio description.
- [Ten “Odd” Things I Do With Double Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-odd-things-i-do-with-double-vision/): Over the years, I have found better ways to explain my double vision and how it impacts my ability to access everyday objects and activities, which is especially helpful for designers, teachers, parents, and others who may be confused by the concept of seeing double. Today, I will be sharing ten "odd" things I do with double vision that people tend to notice as I try to make sense of visual information. When I showed this post to one of my professors, they exclaimed “oh, so that’s why you do that thing you do!”
- [Twelve Blindness Cane Storage Solutions](https://veroniiiica.com/twelve-blindness-cane-storage-solutions/): When I was in college, I found out that one of my friends had recently started using a white cane/blindness cane when I tripped over it while walking in the dining hall. Another time I helped a different friend look for their cane after they lost it in their dorm, only to find out it had been accidentally placed in a laundry bin— I had offered to help when I noticed they were having trouble walking back from class and didn’t have their cane with them. Learning how to properly and safely store blindness canes is an important skill for both full-time and part-time cane users that use them for identity or mobility purposes, because it helps prevent damage to the cane or having it disappear in a cluttered environment. Here are twelve blindness cane storage solutions that can be used in a variety of contexts, including some additional “bonus” ideas from other posts.
- [Ten Things I Wish My TVI Taught Me About Transition](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-things-i-wish-my-tvi-taught-me-about-transition/): Whenever I speak about my experiences with working with a teacher of the visually impaired (TVI) while attending public school, people are often surprised by how many lessons my TVI taught me in high school, even though I did not see them very often. They inspired me to learn so much about the world of visual impairment and assistive technology, and they are one of the main reasons I started writing about these topics on my own website and pursued further graduate studies. However, there were moments during my first year of college that I wish they had taught me certain things about transitioning to higher education, or at least given me some guidance about how to learn about them. Here is a list of ten things I wish my TVI taught me about college transition and preparing to go to a four-year college.
- [Eight Things I’m Glad My TVI Taught Me About College Transition](https://veroniiiica.com/eight-things-im-glad-my-tvi-taught-me-about-transition/): Whenever I speak about my experiences with working with a teacher of the visually impaired (TVI) while attending public school, people are often surprised by how many lessons my TVI taught me in high school, even though I did not see them very often. Even though I only met with them once a week (or less) and they rarely spoke to my classroom teachers, they managed to teach me a lot of things about college transition and gave me the tools to help me prepare for attending a four-year college. Today, I will be sharing eight things I'm glad my TVI taught me about college transition and preparing to attend university, and how it has helped me during my undergraduate studies.
- [How To Recognize Phishing Attempts With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-recognize-phishing-attempts-with-vision-impairment/): As part of an extra credit unit on internet safety, I presented a lesson on how to recognize phishing attempts with visual impairments, inclusive of blind and low vision. Phishing is defined as "the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by disguising as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication." Phishing attempts have decreased over the years with the improvement of spam filters, but I still regularly encounter phishing attempts over email, texting, instant messaging, and social media posts. Here are my tips on how to recognize phishing attempts with low vision and how people with visual impairments can protect themselves against phishing attempts.
- [Seeing The Future: College Transition for Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/seeing-the-future-college-transition-for-visual-impairment/): An outline for developing a college transition resource for students with vision loss, winner of the 2018 Roosevelt Institute 10Ideas policywriting competition
- [Tactile Pavement and Accessible Walkways For Visually Impaired](https://veroniiiica.com/fast-facts-about-tactile-pavement/): In March 2019, the Google homepage highlighted the 52nd anniversary of when tactile pavement was first installed in Okayama City, Japan, which literally paved the way for other cities and countries to incorporate brightly colored pavement with raised dots and lines into different environments to support independent navigation for individuals with visual impairments. While tactile pavement is a fantastic tool for helping blindness cane users like me navigate their environment, it isn’t the only example of inclusive architecture or accessible walking surfaces. Here are examples of how tactile paving and other ground-level accessibility supports enable independent navigation for individuals with visual impairments, inclusive of blind, low vision, and neurological visual impairments.
- [Kindle Unlimited Accessibility For Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/kindle-unlimited-accessibility/): When one of my friends recommended a book that they had read recently, I immediately went to look for it in an accessible format using the search tools for Bookshare and Libby/OverDrive with my library card. When I couldn't find it, my friend mentioned that the book had been self-published on Amazon, but I could read it as a Kindle eBook either by buying it from Amazon or using the Kindle Unlimited subscription service to access several other books for a flat monthly fee. I decided to sign up for the Kindle Unlimited free trial to read this book (plus a few others) and was excited to find a large array of titles that could be read in accessible formats. Here are my thoughts on Kindle Unlimited accessibility for visual impairment, including accessing Kindle Unlimited content in large print and using text-to-speech/screen reader tools.
- [Hotel Familiarization and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/hotel-familiarization-and-low-vision/): Hotel familiarization is a part of navigating travel experiences for blind and low vision visitors, and provides an opportunity to guests to learn about their room layout and other hotel amenities. Whether it's for an overnight medical trip, out-of-state school field trip, or a long-term stay for a summer internship, I often ask hotel familiarization questions whenever I arrive so I can get an idea of the hotel accessibility and figure out if I will need assistance with anything. Here are my hotel familiarization tips for travelers with visual impairments, and how hotel employees can assist with the hotel familiarization process.
- [How I Play In GMU Green Machine/Pep Band With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/gmu-green-machine-pep-band/): As an undergrad student at George Mason University, I was a member of the GMU Green Machine pep band and played bass clarinet in the stands for many home basketball games and other university events. Being in Green Machine introduced me to many amazing friends, including one of the most amazing friends of all— the incredible Mckenzie Love, another pep band member with low vision who was highlighted alongside me in a segment for NBC4 Washington, and who remains one of my best friends to this day. Here is how I participated in George Mason University's Green Machine pep band with low vision and photosensitivity/photophobia in honor of Music in our Schools Month.
- [How To Create Custom Keyboard Shortcuts in Windows](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-custom-keyboard-shortcuts-in-windows/): When one of my friends noticed they had trouble seeing their desktop icons, they asked me if there was a way to create custom keyboard shortcuts in Windows so that they could access application features and programs more efficiently. My friend liked the idea of not having to use their mouse or spend time visually scanning to look for an application, and didn't want to type in the name of an application every time they wanted to use it, so they were a great candidate for using custom keyboard shortcuts to open apps. Here are my tips for how to create custom keyboard shortcuts in Windows 10 and Windows 11, including shortcuts for accessing folders.
- [DCMP: Free Audio Described Videos For Classrooms](https://veroniiiica.com/described-and-captioned-media-program-review/): As a student with low vision, I didn’t realize how many visual details I would miss out on when watching videos for school until I watched a video with audio description for the first time in college. After learning how helpful audio description can be, I started researching accessible educational video services and learned about the Described and Captioned Media Program, a free resource for visually impaired students and their support teams. Here is an overview of the Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP) and how it can benefit students with visual impairments, inclusive of blind, low vision, and neurological visual impairment (CVI).
- [Low Vision Accessibility Settings For Mac Computers](https://veroniiiica.com/low-vision-accessibility-settings-for-macbooks/): When I first wrote about low vision accessibility settings for Mac computers in 2019, I was using a MacBook for one of my design classes at the university library and trying to figure out how to make MacBook easier to see or how to enable accessibility settings for Mac that are similar to what I would use on a Windows computer. I always knew there were more accessibility features for Mac than the ones I had used several years ago, so I borrowed another MacBook and got to work documenting low vision accessibility settings for Mac that can be useful for people with visual impairments. Updated in 2025, here is a comprehensive list and overview of low vision accessibility settings for Mac, tested with Sequoia 15.5 on a MacBook and compiled by an assistive technology specialist with low vision.
- [How I Use The Coursicle Class Scheduling App](https://veroniiiica.com/coursicle-class-scheduling-app-review/): When I had to re-register for several classes after I was erroneously dropped from all of my classes in a later semester, I typed the names of my courses into the free Coursicle scheduling app, received a notification when I could register, and added myself to the new class within a minute.
- [Making Clothing Stores Accessible For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/clothing-stores-accessible-low-vision/): The last time I went shopping at a popular clothing retailer for college students, I tripped over multiple store displays and knocked over an entire rack of clothing. I have low vision and use a blindness cane, but that didn't stop the store associates from thinking I was intentionally causing mayhem or that I shouldn't be allowed in public. I haven't been inside that store in over a year because the layout was so confusing.
- [Touring Colleges With Virtual Reality](https://veroniiiica.com/touring-colleges-with-virtual-reality/): A few years ago, I was giving a tour of George Mason University to a prospective student that ended abruptly due to a chronic illness flare. The student mentioned that they had wanted to see the inside of several campus buildings like the classrooms and dining halls, and that they wished there was an option for touring colleges with virtual reality or watching narrated videos to get more information about campus, as this would provide more opportunities for them to explore campus and learn more about campus accessibility. Even though they weren’t up for walking around campus at that moment, I was able to finish the tour and show them these places through the YouVisit platform and their virtual college tours, which helped solidify their decision to attend GMU the next fall.
- [Exploring “David Bowie Is” With Augmented Reality and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/david-bowie-is-app-review/): Exploring the life and career of David Bowie with the "David Bowie Is..." augmented reality app, based on the traveling exhibit
- [How To Create Audio Description For YouTube With YouDescribe](https://veroniiiica.com/create-audio-description-youtube-youdescribe/): YouTube accessibility has improved tremendously over the years, and one of my favorite tools for making YouTube accessible for viewers with vision loss is YouDescribe. YouDescribe gives volunteer users the ability to create audio description tracks for publicly listed videos on YouTube, recording an additional narration track that plays alongside the video without any other tools needed. I've been using YouDescribe for over five years and am a huge fan of the platform, and today's post is all about how to create audio description for YouTube with YouDescribe.
- [All About Audio Description For Broadway Plays](https://veroniiiica.com/audio-description-for-broadway/): My experience using Dear Evan Hansen audio description as a theatergoer with low vision.
- [Alternatives To The Bird Box Challenge](https://veroniiiica.com/safe-alternatives-to-the-bird-box-challenge/): Blindfold simulations are misleading when it comes to blindness. Learn more about Bird Box challenge alternatives that show off accessibility, non visual access skills, and assistive technology
- [Airport Security and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/airport-security-and-low-vision/): How to get plane safety information for blind and vision impaired travelers on any airline. Great for beginners or children/teenagers
- [How I Use Be My Eyes With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/be-my-eyes-app-review/): Be My Eyes is one of the most well-known free mobile applications for blind and low vision users, and it was one of the first visual interpreting applications I ever tried when I started practicing independent living skills for college. Be My Eyes connects blind and low vision users with on-demand volunteer visual interpreters or company representatives for visual assistance using a one-way video and two-way audio connection, similar to a video call. While it's important that users learn how to use the Be My Eyes app, it's even more important that they learn how to use it effectively and get the information that they need. Here is how I use Be My Eyes with low vision, and my favorite tips for using visual interpreting apps in an effective manner.
- [How To Describe A Christmas Tree For Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/describe-a-christmas-tree-for-visual-impairment/): When my friend and I went to a Christmas tree gallery at a church, we were surrounded by tons of beautiful trees that came in various sizes and shapes, each with gorgeous intricate decorations and lights. It was overwhelming to see all of the details, and I noticed that I was having trouble seeing what was on each tree— there was so much to see that my brain couldn’t process it all. Getting close to the tree to examine individual elements was also not an option, since each tree also had a small gate around it to keep us from approaching. If someone had asked me that day how I would describe a Christmas tree, I would say they all sort of looked like big cone shaped colorful blobs.
- [Decorating A Christmas Tree With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/decorating-a-christmas-tree-with-low-vision/): Every year, my family sets up an artificial Christmas tree and we spend a few hours hanging up various homemade and store-bought ornaments, as well as adding other details such as lights, a tree skirt, and other accessories. My family never put a whole lot of thought into decorating a Christmas tree with low vision, because I was often the one deciding how the tree should look and how to arrange things so that I would be able to see them. When a reader reached out asking me for tips on decorating a Christmas tree with low vision, I started thinking about how the various choices I have made to make trees easier to see and also fun to interact with safely for people with visual impairments. Here are my favorite tips for decorating a Christmas tree with low vision, based on my own experiences living with vision loss.
- [MyLab Math Accessibility and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/mylabmath-accessibility-low-vision/): Back in 2018, I took a business calculus class that used Pearson's MyMathLab adaptive learning platform (now called MyLab Math) for homework, assignments, quizzes, and tests. As a student with low vision that primarily accesses information visually with large print and screen magnification with a secondary preference for audio access, I was interested in taking a math class that provided almost all of the course content in a digital format, since I often struggled to read paper-based assignments or view information presented at a distance. Since I couldn't find much information about MyMathLab accessibility/MyLab Math accessibility for low vision when I was a student, I have put together this post on strategies for using MyLab Math with low vision from a student perspective and updated it in 2025 to share more practical information on MyLab Math accessibility.
- [Reading Handwriting With Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/reading-handwriting-with-assistive-technology/): Before one of my close friends moved to another country, they gave me a handwritten card that is filled with all sorts of memories and inside jokes about our friendship. Shortly after they handed me the card, my friend asked me if I can read handwriting or if they needed to take the card back and type out their message in large print instead. I reassured them that there are several options for reading handwriting with assistive technology, and that I would not have any issues with reading their message as long as they had written in pen. Here are my favorite tools and strategies for reading handwriting with assistive technology for vision loss, inclusive of low vision and blind.
- [Visiting The Museum of Modern Art With Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/visiting-the-museum-of-modern-art-with-vision-loss/): When my brother and I went to visit New York City in 2018, one of the things I was most excited about was visiting the Museum of Modern Art with vision loss. While it may seem odd that someone who uses a blindness cane would be so enthusiastic about visual art, MOMA has a lot of really cool accessibility features for guests who are blind or that have low vision. Here are my tips for visiting the Museum of Modern Art with visual impairment, inclusive of blind, low vision, and neurological visual impairment/CVI.
- [Free Accessible Coding Resources With Large Print Options](https://veroniiiica.com/free-accessible-coding-resources-large-print/): Programming resources and free accessible coding tutorials that support large print and browser zoom, curated by a student with low vision
- [Computer Lab Accommodations For Low Vision Students](https://veroniiiica.com/computer-lab-accommodations-for-low-vision-students/): As a student with low vision who spends a lot of time in computer labs, I’ve worked with several teachers to create a list of options on implementing computer lab accommodations for low vision students. Whether students are taking virtual classes, completing in-class activities, or otherwise using a computer that isn’t their own personal device, it’s important to ensure that they have consistent access to the accessibility settings and assistive technology tools that they use. Here is a list of computer lab accommodations for low vision students that I have personally used or that I have implemented for students/clients as an assistive technology consultant.
- [How To Write Alt Text For Memes](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-alt-text-for-memes/): I started sharing tips and strategies for how to write alt text for memes after I noticed how much accessible memes made a difference when I was browsing online content— things like alt text and image descriptions can help me figure out what is in an image if I have trouble seeing it or zooming in. While accessible memes may seem like they are insignificant compared to other types of content, memes are a cornerstone of social media and online communication/social interaction, and it can be isolating for people with visual impairments to not have access to images that are frequently brought up in digital or physical environments. Additionally, fewer than 1% of images online contain alt text or image descriptions for people with vision loss, which further contributes to access barriers for people with visual impairments (inclusive of blind, low vision, and CVI) and the assistive technologies like screen readers and braille displays that enable access to information. Updated in 2025, here is a guide for how to write alt text for memes, written by someone with low vision.
- [How To Write Alt Text For Digital Comics](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-alt-text-digital-comics/): Learn how to write alt text for digital comics and make comics accessible for blind and low vision audiences
- [Accessible Cooking and Recipe Websites For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-cooking-and-recipe-apps-low-vision/): Tools for accessing cookbooks and recipes with low vision, including recipe managers, voice activated cooking apps, reading recipes with large print, and more!
- [How To Embrace Assistive Technology With Limited Funding](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-embrace-assistive-technology-with-limited-funding/): To celebrate the two-year anniversary of my first public posts on Veroniiiica, I published the first version of this post with tips on how to embrace assistive technology with limited funding, including resources for finding free and low-cost assistive technology (AT) solutions for students with low vision and acknowledging that many people go without access to transformative assistive technology tools due to cost or lack of knowledge about what is available. This is still a deeply important topic to me and one of the primary reasons why I started writing so many years ago, so I've updated this post to include even more tips for sourcing low-cost assistive technology and helping to ensure individuals with visual impairments have access to the essential tools they need for information access.
- [File Formats For Low Vision and Print Disabilities](https://veroniiiica.com/file-formats-for-low-vision/): Digital doesn’t always mean accessible! Learn more about file formats for low vision and print disabilities for the classroom and beyond
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: MP3 Players](https://veroniiiica.com/low-vision-mp3-players/): While many people associate assistive technology with specialized devices that are expensive or hard to find, many mainstream technology devices have started supporting accessibility features and built-in assistive technology that can make specialty tools more financially and publicly accessible for all. One of my most-used mainstream devices for entertainment is my MP3 player and other streaming music applications, which allow me to listen to my favorite music and discover new music as well. Here are features to look for when buying an MP3 player or choosing a streaming music application for users with vision loss, as part of my ongoing Mainstream Technology and Low Vision post series.
- [How I Use Technology To Improve Handwriting](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-technology-to-improve-handwriting/): High-tech dysgraphia activities and dysgraphia strategies I use to improve my handwriting as a student with low vision
- [Tips For Visiting Aquariums With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/visiting-aquariums-with-low-vision/): When I volunteered at a local aquarium in high school, I started documenting a list of tips for visiting aquariums with low vision after I noticed how there were certain exhibits I struggled with navigating as both a visitor and as a volunteer. Even though I loved getting to watch all of the fish swim around, I wasn’t always sure of what I was looking at, and would often miss out on incidental learning or visual experiences/educational experiences as the result of not knowing what I was looking at or not being able to read the signs. Here are my favorite strategies and tips for visiting aquariums with low vision, as well as ideas for improving the guest experience for visitors with visual impairments (inclusive of blind, low vision, and cortical visual impairment/CVI).
- [Organizing A Dorm Mini Fridge With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/organizing-a-dorm-mini-fridge/): While living in a college dorm, I had a mini fridge that I kept next to my desk for storing snacks, small meals, drinks, and ice packs. Having a smaller fridge can make things easier to locate, but organizing a dorm mini fridge is still important as no one wants to find a rotten bag of carrots or a cheese stick that somehow rolled out without anyone noticing and got trapped under a desk. Here are my favorite tips for organizing a dorm mini fridge with low vision, with ideas for items to stock.
- [History Podcasts and Audio-Based Resources For VI Students](https://veroniiiica.com/history-podcasts-audio-resources-for-vi-students/): Mostly free audio resources and history podcasts for students, great for teaching students with visual impairments and auditory learners
- [Tips For Passing Time On Flights With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-for-passing-time-on-flights-with-low-vision/): I rode a plane for the first time when I was 21 to travel to San Diego for the CSUN Assistive Technology Conference, and one of my friends had given me a few tips for passing time on flights with low vision in advance of my first ever plane trip. I was super excited to be on a plane and ended up just observing my surroundings for the entirety of the trip, but have since used a few other strategies for staying entertained on cross-country flights with vision loss, including watching content with audio description. Here are my favorite tips for passing time on flights with low vision, based on my experience with traveling through the continental US.
- [How To Create Custom iOS Icons and Custom Home Screen Designs](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-custom-ios-shortcuts/): How to customize iOS icons for low vision users and design home screens that are easier to see with vision loss
- [Ten iOS Shortcuts For Visual Impairment](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-ios-shortcuts-for-visual-impairment/): One of my favorite features in the Shortcuts app for iOS is the Gallery, which allows users to view over 100 shortcuts that they can use immediately on their device or customize for their own use. These shortcuts can help make applications easier to use for blind and low vision users, as well as make it easier to access accessibility settings and pair well with other assistive technology options. Here are ten iOS shortcuts for visual impairment that can be accessed from the Shortcuts gallery, no additional downloads or coding required.
- [Getting a Reduced Fare SmarTrip Card With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/getting-a-reduced-fare-smartrip-card-with-low-vision/): While attending college in the Washington DC Metro area, I qualified for the reduced fare SmarTrip card since I have low vision, which gave me discounts on Metrorail services and other fares. A lot of students with vision loss at my college didn't know about this program, so today I will be sharing my tips for getting a reduced fare SmarTrip card with low vision, and what to expect from the process.
- [Ten Spooky Inaccessible Assignments For Low Vision Students](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-spooky-inaccessible-assignments-and-how-to-fix-them/): When I was in middle school and high school, I didn’t know very much about document accessibility or how to create or remediate accessible assignments for low vision, but I could quickly figure out if someone handed me an assignment if I could read it or not. Receiving inaccessible assignments can be scary for students with low vision who may not know how to describe what is wrong with the assignment, how to fix it, or that are worried about telling their teacher or other support team members out of fear/anxiety that they will be told to deal with it or that they can’t get it in an inaccessible format.
- [Visiting The Gateway Arch Museum With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/visiting-the-gateway-arch-museum-with-low-vision/): When I visited St Louis in 2018, one of my favorite parts of the trip by far was going to visit the Gateway Arch Museum, also known as the St Louis Arch. When I was visiting, the Gateway Arch Museum had recently reopened to the public with an amazing new design that put an emphasis on principles of universal design, inclusive design, and improving the museum experience for guests with vision loss, inclusive of low vision and blind. Here are my favorite things I noticed while visiting the Gateway Arch Museum with low vision.
- [Incorporating Blindness Canes into Halloween Costumes](https://veroniiiica.com/incorporating-blindness-canes-into-halloween-costumes/): When I started using a blindness cane (white cane) in college, I felt a bit self-conscious about using my cane because I felt like I stood out wherever I went, especially since I was still learning to get around and answer questions about my vision loss. To help boost my confidence, I decided to find a way to incorporate my cane into my costume for a Halloween party that year, and the compliments I received helped me to view my cane as an extension of my arms that helps me navigate independently, not as a reminder of my vision declining. Here is a list of ideas for incorporating blindness canes into Halloween costumes by making the cane part of the costume, many of which have DIY options and can be put together at the last minute.
- [Tips For Siblings Going To The Same College](https://veroniiiica.com/siblings-going-to-the-same-college/): Over the years, I have met many older siblings who refused to let their younger sibling attend the same college as they did, because it was "their" school and they couldn't even fathom siblings going to the same college or having their sibling sharing the same space as them, no matter how large and diverse that space may be.
- [Ten Ways Visual Impairment Influenced Classic Artists](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-visually-impaired-artists/): A list of ten visually impaired artists from throughout history that are suspected to have had vision loss not corrected by glasses.
- [Decoding The Tips of Blindness Canes](https://veroniiiica.com/decoding-blindness-cane-tips/): What I didn't realize at the time was that the pencil tip cane would not be a great fit for me as a college student using a constant contact method, and I was incredibly frustrated with my cane until I met with a Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialist (COMS) who introduced me to the rolling marshmallow tip. Up until that point, I had no idea there were so many different types of blindness cane tips available, and felt like I had "cracked the code" for figuring out how to effectively use a blindness cane. Here are some of the most popular blindness cane tips used by blind and low vision people around the world.
- [How To Use VoiceOver With Low Vision on iPad](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-use-voiceover-with-low-vision/): Helpful features for learning to use VoiceOver with low vision on an iPad, and tips for pairing VoiceOver with large print and visual access
- [How To Check Videos For Flashing Lights](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-check-videos-for-flashing-lights/): As part of my eye condition and brain condition, I experience photophobia (sensitivity to bright lights) and photosensitivity (sensitivity to strobe and flashing lights) that affect how I engage with video content and indoor/outdoor environments. Over the years, I have developed a list of tips and strategies for how to check videos for flashing lights and strobe lights that I have shared with teachers, friends, and family members so they can screen videos and let me know if they are safe for me to watch, or if I should read a transcript instead of watching the video. Below, I have included tips and strategies for how to check videos for flashing lights, including examples of potential flashing light triggers and how to provide content warnings for flashing lights or strobe lights.
- [How I Access Historical Documents With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-historical-documents-accessible-for-low-vision/): Using free assistive technology resources to make primary sources accessible for vision impairment
- [Using PicsArt To Simulate Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/using-picsart-to-simulate-low-vision/): After struggling to describe my vision using words alone, I started editing pictures of The Beatles using the PicsArt app on my iPad to simulate how double vision impacts how I see information presented at a distance, and shared it with my TVI. They said that these images were super helpful, and asked me to create more that would show different aspects of my vision, so I edited different materials like lyrics sheets, posters, photos, and other Beatles memorabilia I found online to describe different elements of my usable vision. Here is a list of strategies for how to use PicsArt to simulate low vision and visual impairment, and tips for editing photos to show examples of residual vision/usable vision.
- [My Favorite Free Fonts For Print Disabilities](https://veroniiiica.com/my-favorite-free-fonts-for-print-disabilities/): A list of free fonts for print disabilities, including the best fonts for low vision readability with serif and sans-serif options
- [Emoji Accessibility and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/emoji-and-low-vision/): The topic of emoji accessibility and visual impairment comes up frequently in social media feeds on digital accessibility. When most people think of emoji accessibility, they think of how emoji are read by a screen reader or how blind people interact with emoji non-visually in different contexts— there isn’t as much of a focus on emoji accessibility and low vision, or how people with visual impairments who still access information visually interact with emoji.
- [Watching MLB Baseball Games With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/mlb-baseball-game-with-low-vision/): In 2018, I attended a Major League Baseball (MLB) game while visiting St. Louis, where I got to watch the St. Louis Cardinals play the Atlanta Braves. On that trip, I had the opportunity to learn about MLB baseball game accessibility for visually impaired spectators, how a blind person watches a baseball game, and ways to enjoy MLB baseball with low vision. Here is a list of my tips for going to a MLB baseball game with low vision and watching MLB baseball games with low vision at home using assistive technology.
- [High School Hallways and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/high-school-hallways-and-low-vision/): When I first started high school, one of the first things I noticed was how spread out all of my classes were. In middle school, my classes were all within one specific hallway, and I could get from one class to another in two minutes or less. High school hallways were an entirely different story though, as I often had classes in different sections of the school or on multiple different floors, and it took me longer to figure out where my classes were and learn routes to get there. Here are my tips for navigating high school hallways with low vision based on my own experiences. It's worth noting that I didn't use a blindness cane while I was a student in high school, though I've also included links to posts about how I use blindness canes to navigate school hallways as a visitor.
- [How To Deal With Broken Glasses](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-deal-with-broken-glasses/): When I was visiting St Louis, I had a list of places that I wanted to visit, which included the St Louis Zoo, the Gateway Arch, a MLB baseball game, and a few other places. However, I had to rearrange a few of my plans to accommodate having to deal with broken glasses after my glasses got eaten by a goat at the St Louis Zoo. While I would hope that many of my readers can't relate to having a goat steal their glasses, it's important to know how to deal with broken glasses and get repairs as part of living independently. Here are my tips for how to deal with broken glasses while living at college, on vacation, or in the workplace- unfortunately, I don't have any tips for how to avoid getting your glasses eaten by a goat.
- [CLEP Exams and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/clep-exams-and-low-vision/): When I was in high school, I took three different classes related to information technology, including two Microsoft certification classes and then an IT student leadership course. These classes were incredibly helpful for preparing for college-level IT classes, but I did not qualify for a course waiver or substitution for my introductory level IT class. Instead, I decided to use what I had learned from my classes to take the Information Systems CLEP exam, and earned credit for the introductory level IT class so I could take more interesting subjects. Here is the ultimate guide to CLEP exams and how I used CLEP exams to get college credit towards my bachelor's degree in data science.
- [Wearing Tinted Glasses for Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/tinted-glasses-for-low-vision-light-sensitivity/): My experiences with non-polarized prescription tinted glasses for low vision and light sensitivity from an eye and brain condition
- [Fast Facts About Audio Description](https://veroniiiica.com/fast-facts-about-audio-description/): In 2018, I advocated to add a content warning for strobe and flashing lights in the movie Incredibles 2, after I got sick while watching the movie with my family in theaters. While talking to various media outlets about my experience, I mentioned how audio description had helped me follow along with the movie, and people almost always responded by asking "what is audio description?" or by asking what captioning had to do with strobe lights. Audio description is different from captioning, which has stricter legal requirements, but is still an incredible asset for helping people with vision loss to enjoy visual media. Here are some fast facts about audio description and how is used by blind and low vision viewers.
- [The Real Villain In Incredibles 2 – Strobe Lights (NO SPOILERS)](https://veroniiiica.com/incredibles-2-strobe-lights/): What you and your family need to know about strobe lights in Disney/Pixar’s new movie, Incredibles 2
- [Using Aira With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/using-aira-with-low-vision/): How I use Aira smart glasses in college with low vision and how they have helped me travel independently
- [Assistive Technology For Medication Labels](https://veroniiiica.com/assistive-technology-for-medication-labels/): Ten ways to identify prescription and over the counter medication for people with vision impairments, with no-tech and high-tech assistive technology options available
- [How A TSA Pre-Check Helps Me As A Visually Impaired Traveler](https://veroniiiica.com/how-a-tsa-pre-check-helps-me-as-a-visually-impaired-traveler/): Get through TSA screenings in minutes and avoid taking everything out of your carry on for $17 a year.
- [Tips For Visiting Amusement Parks With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/going-to-amusement-parks-with-low-vision/): Tips for going to amusement parks with low vision, including ideas for finding theme park accessibility information, O&M strategies, and finding info in advance
- [How I Use My Smartphone For Traveling With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/smartphone-traveling-with-low-vision/): How I use various apps, accessibility settings, and high-tech strategies for traveling with low vision and supporting orientation and mobility skills/O&M skills
- [Audio Games For Blind/Low Vision Gamers](https://veroniiiica.com/audio-games-for-blind-low-vision-gamers/): Several of my friends enjoy playing audio games for blind/low vision gamers, which use 3D audio/binaural audio and other audio engineering techniques to create an immersive gaming experience that prioritizes sound over visuals. Since there isn't a dedicated audio game category on most app stores or video game marketplaces, it can be challenging to find audio games for blind audiences, though I've been able to find several accessible games for the visually impaired that can be played on a computer or mobile device. Here are free sources that can help users find audio games for people who are blind, live with low vision, or who are fully sighted.
- [How To Identify Money With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-identify-money-with-low-vision/): When I was in college, I had the opportunity to meet with staff from the US Bureau of Engraving, which designs and produces paper money for the United States government. During our meeting, I learned about several different tools and strategies that can help people with visual impairments (inclusive of low vision and blind) identify currency, ranging from high-tech apps to ideas for organizing cash. Here are my tips on how to identify money with low vision, along with information on qualifying for free assistive technology for reading currency.
- [Accessible Yearbooks and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/yearbooks-and-low-vision/): Yearbooks are a fun end-of-school-year tradition that allow students to celebrate their accomplishments and friendships that they have made during the year and provide opportunities for documenting memories. My school yearbooks are the only books I own that have a small/standard print size, and it’s always fun to flip through the pages with friends and share stories from the school year. Here are some tips and strategies for making yearbooks accessible for low vision and participating in yearbook signing traditions with dysgraphia/poor handwriting.
- [My Large Print Music Binder](https://veroniiiica.com/my-large-print-music-binder/): How I organized a large print music binder with over 80 songs for college pep band as a bass clarinet player with low vision
- [Audio Art Resources For Visually Impaired Students](https://veroniiiica.com/audio-art-resources-for-visually-impaired/): (Mostly) free art resources for visually impaired students, including podcasts, audio artwork, and ideas for accessible art lessons
- [How I Talk About Disability With New Friends](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-talk-about-disability-with-new-friends/): I'm often one of the first people that people at my school meet that has low vision or that lives with a chronic illness. While there are several other students that have vision loss or that live with other invisible disabilities, I have chosen to be open about my disability experience in order to help others, and often receive questions from new friends about my own experiences or if there is anything they need to do to make communication or hanging out easier. Here is how I talk about disability with new friends or in casual environments with people in my age group.
- [Simplified Reading Displays and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/simplified-reading-displays-and-low-vision/): One of my all-time favorite tools for reading digital content with low vision is a simplified reading display, which applies a consistent font size, font style, and background color to digital text. This makes it easier to read content without having to zoom in on a page, edit content, or enabling other accessibility settings, and makes it easy for users to simplify reading with technology. Here are my tips for using simplified reading displays with low vision, and a list of popular simplified reading tools that can be used for low vision.
- [How To Improve Your Blog Theme For Visually Impaired Users](https://veroniiiica.com/improve-your-blog-theme-for-visually-impaired/): Accessibility features and considerations for designing websites that can be used by people with blindness and low vision
- [Concert Band and Low Vision Accommodations](https://veroniiiica.com/concert-band-low-vision/): Tips for musicians participating in concert band programs with visual impairment, based on my experiences as a clarinet player with low vision
- [Ten Information Technology Skills Every College Student Needs](https://veroniiiica.com/information-technology-skills-for-college/): Since I was in a tech-related major during undergrad, I became the default IT specialist and device troubleshooter for friends, family members, people who lived in my dorm building, and other students who had trouble using their computer or other mobile devices. Practical information technology skills for college students aren’t something that is generally taught in classes or at the high school level, so I’ve put together a list of ten information technology skills every college student needs, based on frequently asked questions that I would receive as the “tech support” person in my peer group.
- [How To Use Guided Access For Testing And Exams](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-use-guided-access-for-testing/): As a student with low vision who uses a personal iPad for classes, I find it easier to use my own device when I am taking exams or other proctored assignments because my device is already configured with the accessibility settings I use every day. To ensure I am following the Honor Code, my testing proctors enable another built-in accessibility setting called Guided Access so that I can use a single app and avoid accessing unauthorized resources. Here is an overview of Guided Access and how I use it as a student with low vision, including how to set up Guided Access and using Guided Access as a testing accommodation.
- [How To Make Things On The Board Easier To See](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-things-on-the-board-easier-to-see/): How to improve readability and make it easier to see whiteboards, document cameras, and computer projectors.
- [Free Math Websites For Low Vision Students: Instructional Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/free-math-websites-for-low-vision/): Instructional technology for math that supports low vision accessibility, including free math websites that I have used as a student with low vision.
- [How My Guidance Counselor Helped Me As A Low Vision Student](https://veroniiiica.com/how-my-guidance-counselor-helped-me-as-a-low-vision-student/): I had three different guidance counselors when I was in high school, including two at my first high school and one at my second high school. Even though a lot of people don't associate guidance counselors with special education and having an IEP, each of my guidance counselors were a valuable part of the team of school staff that helped implement my disability accommodations in the classroom, and helped provide insight into different situations that my case manager or teacher of the visually impaired didn't know about. Here are some of the many ways how my guidance counselor helped me as a low vision student with an IEP and helped me prepare for success in college.
- [How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-write-alt-text-image-descriptions-visually-impaired/): The ultimate guide on how to write alt text and image descriptions for the visually impaired, written by someone with low vision who uses alt text
- [How I Use Microsoft Seeing AI With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/microsoft-seeing-ai-low-vision/): Living with low vision, I often use smart cameras and visual assistance tools to provide additional context or clarification about something I am looking at, especially if it is something ambiguous or hard to see. I started using the Microsoft Seeing AI app with low vision when it was released in 2017 to help with different visual tasks in my dorm so that I didn’t have to call someone else for help, and have continued to use it on my iPad and phone for accessing images, reading short text, and so much more. Here is an overview of the Microsoft Seeing AI smart camera application, and how I use Seeing AI with low vision.
- [Science Labs and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/science-labs-low-vision/): Including students with blindness and low vision in classroom science labs and experiments
- [Free Science Websites For Low Vision Students: Instructional Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/free-science-websites-for-low-vision/): Instructional technology for science that supports low vision accessibility, including free science websites that I have used as a student with low vision in my classes
- [Common IEP Terminology For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/common-iep-terminology-for-low-vision/): Ten words to know before your first IEP meeting so that you can be prepared and get the best services as early on as possible!
- [Five Myths About Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/five-myths-about-assistive-technology/): Five common assumptions about assistive technology- my 200th post!
- [Decoding The Colors of Blindness Canes](https://veroniiiica.com/decoding-the-colors-of-blindness-canes/): The meaning of blindness cane colors and what the color of a blindness cane can tell you about someone's sight loss.
- [How To Transfer To A Virtual Class Mid-Year](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-transfer-to-a-virtual-class-mid-year/): How to transfer to a virtual class partially through the year or at the mid-year mark from a traditional classroom environment. Great for students with IEPs, 504 plans, or other emergency situations.
- [How I Listen To Textbooks With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/listen-to-textbooks-with-low-vision/): How I use tools like Amazon Alexa, text-to-speech, and other reading applications to access course readings and listen to textbooks with low vision
- [Accessing The News With Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/accessing-the-news-with-assistive-technology/): A list of accessibility strategies for accessing the news with assistive technology for individuals with visual impairments, inclusive of low vision/blind/CVI
- [How To Create High Resolution Images For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-high-resolution-images-for-low-vision/): Learn what high resolution images are, why they are important, how to create high resolution images, and where to find them.
- [Reading Magazines With The Libby App And Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/reading-magazines-with-the-libby-app/): Tips for reading magazines with the Libby app for blind and low vision users, with information about assistive technology, accessibility features, and keyboard access
- [Digital Notetaking and PDF Annotation Apps For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/notetaking-and-pdf-annotation-apps-for-low-vision/): Strategies for using digital notetaking and PDF annotation apps to access digital worksheets and assignments with low vision students.
- [US Government Programs For Blind/Low Vision Residents](https://veroniiiica.com/us-goverment-programs-blind-low-vision/): Low-cost and free resources for visually impaired Americans available through federal government initiatives. Great for blind and low vision students!
- [How I Back Up Mobile Devices With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-back-up-mobile-devices/): How to protect your data and settings in case your iPad suddenly fries on a Friday night.
- [Visiting Holiday Lights With Light Sensitivity](https://veroniiiica.com/visiting-holiday-lights-with-photosensitivity/): Visiting Christmas and holiday light displays with migraines, epilepsy, and similar photosensitive conditions.
- [How To Create Tactile Images With Everyday Objects](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-tactile-images-with-everyday-objects/): How to use common household objects and craft supplies to create tactile (3D) images, great for math and science classes.
- [Dysgraphia Accommodations In The Classroom](https://veroniiiica.com/dysgraphia-accommodations-in-the-classroom/): Examples of dysgraphia accommodations in the classroom that I have used in elementary school, middle school high school, and college for writing with limited modifications
- [Science Fairs and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/science-fairs-and-low-vision/): A low vision student’s tips for participating in science fairs, including choosing science fair projects, organizing data, creating accessible presentations, and more!
- [Inclusion in Action: My Microsoft Feature](https://veroniiiica.com/inclusion-in-action-veronica-with-four-eyes/): Watch a video produced by Microsoft for the Inclusion in Action project, where I demonstrate how I use various Microsoft products in college (not sponsored)
- [Eight Things You Need To Know About Your Disability Accommodations](https://veroniiiica.com/things-to-know-about-disability-accommodations/): Eight items every student must know about their IEP so they can self-advocate.
- [Seven Myths And Misconceptions About IEP Students](https://veroniiiica.com/seven-myths-about-iep-students/): Common misconceptions about receiving an IEP and the students who have them that I encountered as an IEP student with low vision
- [How To Make Music Accessible With Microsoft PowerPoint](https://veroniiiica.com/make-music-accessible-with-powerpoint/): Here is how I make print and digital copies of music accessible for low vision with Microsoft PowerPoint. Also works with Microsoft Publisher and Google Slides
- [How To Create Accessible PowerPoints](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-accessible-powerpoints/): Ten tips for ensuring PowerPoint presentations are accessible for people with disabilities from the start.
- [Disclosing Disability In College Applications](https://veroniiiica.com/disclosing-disability-in-college-applications/): Should you mention your disability when applying to college? Here's how I did it, and got into my top choice college
- [How To Create Secure And Easy To Remember Passwords](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-secure-and-easy-to-remember-passwords/): Balancing security and accessibility, an IT major's guide to improving your passwords
- [Free Accessible Periodic Tables For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/accessible-periodic-tables-for-low-vision/): Ten options for making the periodic table accessible for students with blindness, low vision, and vision impairment.
- [How I Respond To Questions/Comments About My Glasses](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-respond-to-questions-comments-about-my-glasses/): How I answer common questions about my glasses from strangers or curious friends in a simple and positive way
- [Ten Lessons My TVI Taught Me](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-lessons-my-tvi-taught-me/): A must-read for teachers of students with visual impairments, here are lessons my TVI taught me as a low vision student and resources for visually impaired students
- [Model UN Disability Accommodations For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/model-un-disability-accommodations/): Examples of Model UN disability accommodations for low vision and ways to use assistive technology for participating in Model UN with visual impairment
- [Choosing Jewelry With Chronic Pain](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-jewelry-with-chronic-pain/): Strategies and tips for choosing jewelry with chronic pain and things I look for when buying necklaces, earrings, and scarves with Chiari Malformation
- [How To Make A Dorm Room Completely Dark](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-a-dorm-room-completely-dark/): Products that help to make a dorm room completely dark for college students with migraines, based on my own on-campus experience
- [Designing Accessible Documents With Microsoft Word](https://veroniiiica.com/designing-accessible-documents-with-microsoft-word/): A guide for how to create accessible documents for low vision and print disabilities with Microsoft Word, and how to make documents easier to read with assistive technology
- [Questions To Ask Other Students With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/questions-to-ask-other-students-with-low-vision/): How having friend with low vision and Chiari Malformation has helped me accept my disability and diagnoses
- [School Pictures and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/school-pictures-and-low-vision/): How to make sure school pictures come out great when you have low vision
- [Creating A College Shortlist With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/creating-college-shortlist-low-vision/): Free resources, tips, and strategies for finding colleges to apply to, researching disability services, and shortlisting colleges, written by a visually impaired student
- [School Field Trips And Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/school-field-trips-low-vision/): How to include students with IEPs and 504s on class trips, with a special focus on low vision and blindness
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Printers](https://veroniiiica.com/mainstream-technology-and-low-vision-printers/): What features you need when purchasing a printer, with a special focus on low vision users
- [How I Explain My Brain With Chiari Malformation](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-explain-chiari-malformation/): Phrases that describe what it's like living with Chiari Malformation
- [School News and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/school-news-low-vision/): Tips for including students with low vision on pre recorded and live school news programs, written for students in all grade levels
- [How I Use Microsoft OneNote With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-microsoft-onenote-with-low-vision/): How to use OneNote, a free note taking software that allows users to create multimedia notebooks and use accessible materials
- [Ten More Questions to Ask When Choosing A College](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-more-questions-to-ask-when-choosing-a-college/): Ten more questions I asked myself and others when choosing a college, that helped me find my perfect match
- [Disability and Classroom Accommodations For Chiari Malformation](https://veroniiiica.com/accommodations-for-chiari-malformation/): Here is how I explain my brain condition, Chiari Malformation, to people
- [How I Respond To Children’s Questions/Comments About Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/childrens-questions-about-low-vision/): Here is how I answer questions about vision loss for curious younger kids
- [Using A Laptop In High School With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/high-school-laptops-and-low-vision/): Tech skills and strategies for using a laptop in high school with low vision, great for Expanded Core Curriculum lessons or learning to use technology independently
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Tablets](https://veroniiiica.com/mainstream-technology-and-low-vision-tablets/): What to look for when choosing an iPad and features to consider, aimed at students with low vision
- [Dance Classes and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/dance-classes-low-vision/): My favorite tips for taking dance classes with low vision and teaching dance to people with vision loss, based on my experiences taking dance classes for 10+ years at a local studio
- [I Don’t Need An IEP!: Overcoming Internalized Ableism](https://veroniiiica.com/i-dont-need-an-iep/): When my first high school taught me my IEP was an inconvenience, I spent a week imagining what life would be like without one
- [Preferential Seating and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/preferential-seating-and-low-vision/): How do you choose a seat in class with low vision? Here are some things I think about when using preferential seating accommodations in K-12 and college classrooms as a low vision student
- [My Experience With Disability Law Center of Virginia](https://veroniiiica.com/all-about-the-disability-law-center-of-virginia/): My experiences with my state Protection and Advocacy organization, and why every student with a disability should know about them
- [Choosing A Tutor For Low Vision Students](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-a-tutor-for-low-vision-students/): Why having a tutor from the same school or school district is beneficial for students, especially those with IEP or 504 plans
- [College Move-In Day and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/college-move-in-day-and-low-vision/): How my family and I survived college move-in and didn't lose anything, including our minds
- [Participating In Drama and Theater Programs With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/drama-theater-programs-with-low-vision/): Tips and strategies for supporting students with visual impairments on stage in theater and drama programs, from a student with low vision
- [School Lockers and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/school-lockers-low-vision/): How to make lockers accessible, an accommodation many people don't think of
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: Computers](https://veroniiiica.com/mainstream-technology-and-low-vision-computers/): What to look for when buying a laptop, aimed at students with low vision
- [Art Classes and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/art-classes-low-vision/): Including students with vision impairment in art classes and art projects. Get ready for things to be inside and outside the lines simultaneously
- [What’s In My Backpack: High School Student With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/whats-in-my-high-school-backpack/): Everything I brought in my bag in high school
- [Flashing Lights and Photosensitivity in the Classroom](https://veroniiiica.com/photosensitivity-in-the-classroom/): Ten common items with flashing lights to watch for in the classroom
- [Texting and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/texting-and-low-vision/): Tips for texting with low vision and making texts easier to see for visually impaired users. Learn strategies for texting with large print, texting with braille, and more!
- [Marching Band and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/marching-band-low-vision/): How I participated in high school marching band with a vision impairment, thanks to an optimistic band director
- [Dear High School Teacher With A Visually Impaired Student](https://veroniiiica.com/dear-high-school-teacher/): Dear high school teacher with a visually impaired student, here are things your low vision student/legally blind student might want you to know about that aren’t on a visual impairment IEP
- [Dear Middle School Teacher With A Visually Impaired Student](https://veroniiiica.com/dear-middle-school-teacher/): Dear middle school teacher with a visually impaired student, here are things your low vision student/legally blind student might want you to know about that aren’t on a visual impairment IEP
- [Dear Elementary School Teacher With A Visually Impaired Student](https://veroniiiica.com/dear-elementary-school-teacher/): Dear elementary school teacher with a visually impaired student, here are things your low vision student/legally blind student might want you to know about beyond a visual impairment IEP
- [How To Use Microsoft Sway With Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-use-microsoft-office-sway-with-assistive-technology/): Using Microsoft Sway, a free PowerPoint alternative that impresses professors and is accessible to screen readers
- [Why I Study Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/why-i-study-assistive-technology/): Why I chose to study assistive technology
- [ScanMarker Air: OCR Scanner Pen for Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/scanmarker-air-for-low-vision/): Using the ScanMarker Air, a portable OCR scanner that takes notes 30x quicker, great for students with dyslexia, dysgraphia, or low vision
- [My View On The Word See And Other Disability Language](https://veroniiiica.com/my-view-on-the-word-see-and-other-disability-language/): I have low vision, or vision loss not corrected by glasses, here is what I think of the word see and other terms used to describe vision and vision loss
- [Mainstream Technology and Low Vision: eReaders](https://veroniiiica.com/mainstream-technology-and-low-vision-ereaders/): Why I love eReaders and how they help students with print disabilities
- [How I Set Up My College Desk With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-set-up-my-college-desk/): Everything at my dorm desk, complete with shopping links
- [Strategies for Hand Raising and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/strategies-for-hand-raising-and-low-vision/): When I was shadowing a classroom teacher in an elementary school, I noticed that I had trouble noticing when students were raising their hands, or figuring out which student was raising their hand. When I talked about this with one of my professors, they helped me come up with several strategies for hand raising and taking note of visual cues with low vision, which was really helpful for teaching in the classroom as well as for conferences and other events. Here are my favorite strategies for hand raising and calling on participants with low vision.
- [How I Learned To Use The City Bus System With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/use-the-city-bus-system-with-low-vision/): How to use the bus system with low vision/blindness and master college and city buses
- [Microsoft Office Specialist Certification and Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/microsoft-office-certifications-and-low-vision/): My experience taking the Microsoft Office specialist certifications with low vision. A great addition to any resume and more impressive than taking an AP/advanced classes!
- [My Experience With Virtual Classes in High School](https://veroniiiica.com/virtual-classes-in-high-school/): My experiences taking 16 virtual classes across 4 platforms
- [10 Ways College Is Better Than High School For Disabled Students](https://veroniiiica.com/ways-college-is-better-than-high-school/): Ten things that surprised me about college, written with a special focus on students with IEPs and disabilities
- [Building A College Technology Toolbox For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/college-technology-toolbox-for-low-vision/): Here are the mainstream devices I use as assistive technology for low vision that make up the college “technology toolbox” that I use for classes and assignments
- [Questions To Ask When Choosing A Desktop Computer For College](https://veroniiiica.com/choosing-a-desktop-computer-for-college/): How having both a laptop and desktop computer has helped me in my classes
- [Ten Weird Things I Brought to College](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-weird-things-i-brought-to-college/): Ten non-traditional/weird things I brought to college that have really helped me
- [Awesome On-Campus College Library Resources](https://veroniiiica.com/college-libraries-and-low-vision/): Ten free resources in college libraries that aren't found on shelves
- [What’s In My College Backpack As A Low Vision Student](https://veroniiiica.com/whats-in-my-college-backpack-as-a-low-vision-student/): Here's what's in my bag when I go to class
- [Create A Personal Accessibility Checklist for Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/personal-accessibility-checklist-for-low-vision/): Learn how to create an informal personal accessibility checklist for low vision and determine if an app or website is accessible for a specific student
- [Ten Staff Members To Meet Before Starting College](https://veroniiiica.com/10-staff-members-to-meet-in-college/): Ten staff members you should meet before or at the beginning of college
- [AP Exam Accommodations For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/ap-exam-accommodations-for-low-vision/): When I was in high school, I took a total of three AP classes and exams: AP Psychology, AP English Language and Composition, and AP Environmental Science. In addition to studying for my exams, I also had to study how to get AP exam accommodations for low vision, as traditional pencil and paper exams with standard-sized print are inaccessible to me. Since I was somewhat familiar with testing accommodations for low vision, the process for getting disability accommodations for AP exams wasn't overly stressful, though it's critical that students and parents know what accommodations are available and how to request them, and that they start working with their school testing coordinator as soon as possible. Here are my tips on requesting AP accommodations for low vision, based on my own experiences.
- [Using The Disability Services Testing Center With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/what-to-bring-disability-services-testing-center/): All about the Disability Services testing center and what to expect when using disability accommodations for testing in college, from a student with low vision
- [How I Use Dry-Erase Boards With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-i-use-dry-erase-boards-with-low-vision/): I use my own dry-erase boards with low vision and dysgraphia every day, especially for math class. Here are strategies for using whiteboards with visually impaired students
- [Five Myths About Print Disabilities](https://veroniiiica.com/five-myths-about-print-disabilities/): Common misconceptions and myths about print disabilities and how they impact a person's ability to access information, from a student with low vision
- [Tips For Taking Online Classes As An On-Campus Student](https://veroniiiica.com/online-classes-on-campus-student/): Why to take virtual classes in college, from someone who has taken over a dozem
- [Tips For Going To Prom With Chronic Illness](https://veroniiiica.com/going-to-prom-with-chiari-malformation/): Over 50 ideas and strategies for attending prom with chronic illness and disability, from the perspective of someone with low vision and a neurological condition
- [Virginia SOL Test Accommodations For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/sol-test-accommodations-for-low-vision/): What to know about Virginia Standards of Learning SOL test accommodations for low vision students, from a student with low vision that uses large print
- [Paper Colors For Low Vision Accessibility](https://veroniiiica.com/paper-colors-for-low-vision/): How selecting paper colors for low vision materials can impact visual accessibility and support compensatory skills for visually impaired students
- [ACT Accommodations For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/act-accommodations-for-low-vision/): All about my experiences applying for accommodations, being denied accommodations, and taking the ACT test
- [Smartphone Accessibility Settings For Photosensitivity](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-choose-a-new-phone-when-you-have-photosensitivity/): Functions to check before purchasing a phone if you have sensitivity to flashing lights
- [SAT Accommodations for Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/sat-accommodations-for-low-vision/): What to expect when applying for SAT accommodations and taking the test
- [Having An Undiagnosed Chronic Illness In High School](https://veroniiiica.com/having-an-undiagnosed-chronic-illness-in-high-school/): Questions I was asked about my undiagnosed chronic illness in high school
- [How To Make Easter Egg Hunts Accessible For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-easter-egg-hunts-accessible-for-low-vision/): Here are my favorite tips for how to make Easter egg hunts accessible for low vision kids, focusing on low cost tools and adapting existing easter egg hunt materials
- [Going To Restaurants With Low Vision Assistive Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/going-to-restaurants-with-low-vision/): Tips for going to restaurants with low vision, including finding accessible menus, free apps for visual impairment accessibility, and using assistive technology independently
- [Receiving Accessible Educational Materials With NIMAC and AIM-VA](https://veroniiiica.com/all-about-aim-va/): All about AIM-VA and their services
- [Gym Classes and Low Vision: My Personal Experiences](https://veroniiiica.com/gym-classes-and-low-vision/): My experiences taking gym classes in the general curriculum, why I was later exempt, taking adaptive PE, and taking gym/health online
- [Quiet Places At School For Students With Visual Impairments](https://veroniiiica.com/quiet-places-at-school-for-students-with-visual-impairments/): How my support team implemented “quiet place” accommodations so I could manage visual fatigue and sensory overload at school
- [How To Approach Someone with Low Vision Without Scaring Them](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-approach-someone-with-low-vision/): An etiquette guide for interacting with people with low vision and blindness without scaring them
- [Tips for Going To Movie Theaters With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/tips-for-going-to-movie-theaters-with-low-vision/): Tips and strategies I have used when going to the movies and visiting movie theaters with low vision and light sensitivity (photophobia and/or photosensitivity)
- [Low Vision Accommodations For Print Materials From My Low Vision IEP](https://veroniiiica.com/accommodations-for-print-materials/): Here are the accommodations I request for accessible print materials
- [Fast Facts About Bookshare](https://veroniiiica.com/fast-facts-about-bookshare/): Learn all about Bookshare, the accessible text service that changed my life!
- [What I Have Learned About Print Disabilities](https://veroniiiica.com/what-ive-learned-about-print-disabilities/): What I've learned about print disabilities as a low vision student who uses large print
- [Tips For Doing Laundry In College With Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/doing-laundry-in-college-dorms/): Learning to do laundry at home and college
- [Requesting Extracurricular Accommodations](https://veroniiiica.com/requesting-extracurricular-accommodations/): How to explain your disability accommodations and ensure they are followed in extracurricular settings
- [How To Choose A Dorm And Pick College Housing](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-choose-dorm-pick-housing/): The ultimate guide to selecting dorms and on campus housing, with a special focus on disability housing
- [Staying Warm With a Blindness Cane](https://veroniiiica.com/staying-warm-with-a-blindness-cane/): How to dress and stay warm when you use a blindness cane
- [Veronica’s Four Eyes: All About My Glasses For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/glasses-for-low-vision/): How to choose the best glasses for your prescription
- [How To Create A Disability Services File](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-create-a-disability-services-file/): How to create a disability services file in college and make sure services are set for the first day
- [How To Explain Disability Accommodations To Professors](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-explain-disability-accommodations/): How to tell college professors about your disability services file
- [How To Schedule College Classes](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-schedule-college-classes/): How to schedule college classes to avoid burnout
- [All About The Eschenbach SmartLux Digital Video Magnifier](https://veroniiiica.com/all-about-the-eschenbach-smartlux-video-magnifier/): My review of the Eschenbach SmartLux video magnifier/portable CCTV
- [How I Use The HIMS E-Bot Pro In College](https://veroniiiica.com/e-bot-pro-review/): My review of the E-Bot Pro, a video magnifier/portable CCTV approved for standardized testing
- [Testing Accommodations For Low Vision Students](https://veroniiiica.com/testing-accommodations-for-low-vision-students/): Print accommodations and assistive technology for taking tests and assessments in the classroom
- [Ten Ways To Reduce Eye Strain From Screens With Technology](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-reduce-eye-strain-from-screens/): Using applications and settings to reduce eyestrain from blue light.
- [How To Be An Effective Human Guide For People With Vision Loss](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-be-an-effective-human-guide/): How to be a human guide for someone with low vision and avoid having them walk into a pole
- [Ten Questions to Ask When Choosing a College](https://veroniiiica.com/ten-questions-to-ask-when-choosing-a-college/): Questions to ask yourself and others in order to find the best college for your needs
- [Low Vision Accessibility Settings For Windows 10 and 11](https://veroniiiica.com/low-vision-accessibility-settings-for-windows-10/): Accessibility settings for low vision and vision impairment for Windows 10
- [Assistive Technology and Dressing Aids For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-people-with-low-vision-get-dressed/): Using assistive technology to get dressed in the morning with low vision
- [Low Vision Assistive Technology For The Bathroom](https://veroniiiica.com/assistive-technology-for-the-bathroom/): Ever wonder “how does a blind person use the bathroom?” or “how does someone who is visually impaired take a shower?” I've had many people ask me these questions, including children, teachers, friends, and even people I shared a bathroom with in student housing. Like a lot of questions of this nature, the answer is “with assistive technology of some sort”, with most types of items being low-tech or no-tech solutions that don't require electricity or a power source. Here is an overview of tools, tips, and strategies related to accessible bathroom design for low vision and blind individuals. The majority of people use multiple strategies and combinations of tools instead of relying on a single system, and I indicate some of the items I personally use with low vision as well.
- [Low Vision Accessibility Settings For Android Phones](https://veroniiiica.com/low-vision-accessibility-settings-for-android-phones/): Accessibility settings to enable for Android phones for users with low vision
- [Five Apps That Help Students With Low Vision In The Classroom](https://veroniiiica.com/5-apps-that-help-students-with-low-vision-in-the-classroom/): I recommended them in 2015 and I still do today! Five iOS and Android apps that help students with low vision in the classroom.
- [My Favorite Digital Library Resources For Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/digital-library-resources-for-low-vision/): Four free online services for low vision users and others at your local library
- [How To Make iPad Accessible for Low Vision](https://veroniiiica.com/how-to-make-ipad-accessible-for-low-vision/): Accessibility settings on the iPad for users with vision impairment/low vision
- [Make Android Easier To See With Large Print Apps](https://veroniiiica.com/make-android-easier-to-see-with-large-print/): Five low vision Android accessibility apps that make any Android easier to see with large print and high contrast for less than $20

## Pages
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- [About Veronica Lewis and Veroniiiica (Veronica With Four Eyes)](https://veroniiiica.com/about-veronica-lewis/): Welcome to Veroniiiica®, a trusted resource for low vision assistive technology filled with practical tips for visually impaired students, their families, and educators that align with the Expanded Core Curriculum (ECC). I’m Veronica Lewis, and I’ve been sharing how I live with low vision and learn with assistive technology since 2016, so students with low vision can thrive in the classroom and beyond.

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