Low Vision Strategies

On November 5th millions of Americans will head to the poles to cast their vote for the next President of The United States. How do people with low vision mark their ballots? One option is the accessible voting machine. This allows those with low vision to vote independently. Simply rotate a dial until you hear your preferred candidate’s name, then press the select button. Once you have made your selections, press the cast Ballot button. These voting machines are not available at all polling sites or it may not be working. Have a backup plan. You can have someone trustworthy help you. They will need to sign a document stating that they agree to mark your ballot according to your wishes even if it goes against their views. The final option is to have a polling staff member assist you. If you are low vision and choose to vote absentee, you can have two witnesses observe you fill out your ballot. You do not need to have it notarized if you have low vision. The witnesses need to sign an affidavit stating that he or she did not mark your ballot or persuade you one way or the other. Pictured is someone with low vision proudly displaying his I voted sticker after early voting. For information about the services we provide please reach out on social media or call Low Vision Strategies at, 405-255-2579.

Do you use Voice Over or Siri on the iPhone? It can be difficult to dial a number when asked to enter an extension.  Apple has designed a way to make dialing an extension easier. Find the contact information and tap edit. Scroll to the phone number and make sure you are at the end of the number. If you use Voice Over, swipe to the left of the pound key and you will hear shift. Tap shift and swipe left until you hear the word comma. Enter two commas followed by the extension number.  Now when you call, your iPhone will automatically dial the extension you need. This works well for places you call often.  We are glad to accept any referrals for training. For information about the services we provide please reach out on social media or call Low Vision Strategies at, 405-255-2579

Eye injuries can happen at home! According to prevent blindness.org, accidents involving household items make up for 125,000 eye injuries a year. 90 percent of these injuries can be prevented by taking proper safety measures. Encourage your patients to follow these safety steps. Wear impact resistant safety glasses while working with power tools. This prevents debris from getting lodged in the eye. Safety glasses should also be worn while working with chemicals. Chemicals should be securely stored and out of reach of children. For information about the services we provide please reach out on social media or call Low VisionStrategies at, 405-255-2579.

White Cane Day was first observed on October 15th 1964. White Cane Day brings awareness of the importance of the white cane. It is a symbol of independence for those with low vision or total blindness. Every year, several blind and low vision individuals across the country gather to demonstrate their independence. Do not feel sorry for someone with a cane, instead, be happy knowing they are independent. For information about the services we provide please reach out on social media or call Low Vision Strategies at, 405-255-2579.

Do you live in an area prone to hurricanes? Here are some safety tips if you have low vision. -Pack an emergency bag. This may contain legal documents as well as medication or extra canes. -Pack at least a week’s worth of food and water. If you have a service dog, pack items needed for your dog. -Have your emergency bag ready to go at a moment's notice. -Have several evacuation routes and master them. -Be sure to have several emergency contacts. You can find these tips and many others at, houstonlighthouse.org. Stay safe this hurricane season. For information about the services we provide please reach out on social media or call Low Vision Strategies at, 405-255-2579.

Do you have more than one Alexa device in your home? You can communicate with the other devices using Drop In. Simply say, Alexa, drop in. This will allow you to talk to people in other rooms. When you are finished, say, Alexa, disconnect. This is helpful if you are busy in one room but need to talk to people in another room. For information about the services we provide please reach out on social media or call Low Vision Strategies at, 405-255-2579.

Testimonial provided by Kenneth M. Where do I start? Marlene is professional and polite. She showed me many things I wanted to work on. The biggest help is the magnification on my phone. I can now send my own mail. I am grateful for these things. I will call Marlene again if I need additional assistance. For more information about the services we provide please reach out on social media or call Low Vision Strategies at, 405-255-2579.

Official service dogs are welcome anywhere! It is illegal for a business to deny access to a proper service dog. Doing so can result in substantial fines. There are few exceptions to this rule. One exception is a Church or any place of worship. Refer to the Americans With Disabilities Act for questions about service dogs. https://lnkd.in/gf7_dEM3 For information about any services we provide please reach out on social media or call Low Vision Strategies at, 405-255-2579.

Should you pet a guide dog? Short answer, no. A guide dog has been trained to guide its blind person. Petting the dog or distracting it in any way can lead to injury or worse. A guide dog needs to focus on the task at paw. It is illegal to negatively interfere with a guide dog team. Punishments vary by state. These dogs are beautiful, but please allow them to safely do their job. For information about this or any services we provide please reach out on social media or call Low Vision Strategies at, 405-255-2579

Today Low Vision Strategies Honors those that lost their lives in a senseless act of violence and stands with the survivors.