Thread by @veron4ica

Instead of retweeting a photo taken without consent of a woman using a blindness cane and a phone, why not retweet this thread and learn about how people with vision impairments use phones to help with orientation and mobility? Here's how I use my phone as a blindness cane user

So what is orientation and mobility? Also known as O&M, it allows people to learn how to navigate their surroundings independently and with the use of different techniques. Many people who receive O&M services use blindness canes, but that isn’t the case for everyone.

Some examples of where people can request O&M services include:

College campuses
Public transportation systems
Conference orientations
Vision rehabilitation centers
State departments for vision impairment

Now, let's talk about the different apps and techniques I use with my phone. Some of these are built-in functions and apps and others are available for download

I use Google Maps in many different ways. Examples include:

- Get walking directions to almost any location
- While riding in a bus or car, you can track your location in real time on the map
- Listen to directions to a specific location
- Locating information about a business

Aira is a paid service that connects vision impaired users with professional sighted guides. Users can use special Aira smart glasses or use the Aira app on their phone. I prefer to use Aira when navigating indoors because they have maps of several buildings and businesses

Be My Eyes is a free service that connects vision impaired users with volunteer sighted guides. I prefer to use Be My Eyes for quick and simple tasks, i.e reading signs above my head or finding a seat in the dining hall. Be My Eyes can also be used for navigating in the community

Nearby Explorer is an app from American Printinghouse for the Blind that is specifically designed for VI users. I tested this app when I visited Louisville and used it to navigate the APH buildings and the surrounding area. My friend uses it to navigate our college campus often

Lazarillo is designed for VI users and shows places around them. Users can ask Lazarillo to go to a location or use exploration mode to hear about what's around them. I like that you can adjust preferences for what locations to announce and choose settings for walking vs driving

Google Assistant has a camera function that can read text, handwriting, and identify images. Besides using the camera, Google Assistant can find information about businesses, read information from websites, and answer simple questions.

I frequently use ridesharing services to get to doctor’s appointments, conferences, restaurants, social events, and more. I can call a ride by:
- Using the app
- Asking Google Assistant for directions via rideshare
- Calling Aira to request a ridesharing service
- Using dictation

Sometimes, I just need to get an idea of where I am and don’t need any fancy apps to help. I use my phone camera to take pictures of my surroundings or to zoom in on items that are far away, sort of like binoculars or a telescope.

Many websites for large areas such as college campuses, parks, or train stations have maps for people to download. If I’m in a crowded area, I will step to the side and zoom in on a map to ensure that I know where I am going. Trust me, getting lost in the city isn’t very fun!

Besides reading maps, I also use my phone to check for written directions or instructions on how to get somewhere. My friends frequently text me directions if I need help getting somewhere, and I check my email before entering a building to ensure I am in the right location

Whenever I want to use my phone eyes-free, I use a screen reader like TalkBack, Select-to-Speak, or VoiceOver. Screen readers allow me to use apps, send texts, make calls, and take pictures with voice assistance. I also use Google Assistant/Siri to control my phone with my voice

There are times that I use my phone merely as a phone and call for additional assistance to figure out where I am going. I’m not ashamed of asking for directions, and sometimes the easiest thing to do is talk to a human being. When I’m on campus, I will call for a security escort

I use assistive technology on my phone for helping me with orientation and mobility every day. So do many other blind and vision impaired people worldwide. By having access to a phone, people with reduced eyesight can travel independently and go to work, school, etc

So next time you see someone with a blindness cane using their phone, don’t question whether they really need a cane or if they are faking their condition. Just ask them if they need any help to get where they are going, and then go about your day.

If you want to read this thread in blog post form with extra links, check out the link below. I post about assistive technology and vision impairment multiple times a week.

Thanks for reading!
veroniiiica.com/2019/01/28/how…