We all have holiday moments forever stamped into memory.

Here are two of mine.

It is the first Christmas of being married and my new family of in-laws is pulsing with excitement as two brothers-in-law uncover an enormous gift for my husband and me. Too large to wrap, the trigger for unforgettably happy tears, and many deliriously thrilling miles, was my first tandem bicycle! Most significantly, this bike was a gift that demonstrated that these people really loved and understood me. They knew that in order for me, a person with no physical eyesight, to enjoy a bike, it had to be a tandem bike.

Now, fast rewind two years to my first Christmas with that same family. I was just the girlfriend of one of the sons at that time, but a very close friend to every member of the family. Opening one small gift from my future mother-in-law, I felt a sleek plastic cube with a few knobby buttons on the back.

"What is it?" I whispered to my boyfriend.

"An alarm clock," he replied.

"But what am I supposed to do with it?" I blurted, with an instant flash of embarrassment that to this day burns my cheeks when I remember it.

The problem, of course, was that it was a completely visual, inaccessible clock, a clock that I would never be able to set or read or use in any way. Someone who loved me had given the gift in sincere and earnest kindness. I was going away to graduate school, living alone, and would need an alarm. It hadn't crossed her mind that I couldn't see its numbers.

Most of us who are blind or have low vision have experienced such moments. In fact, most of us have probably been guilty of giving a gift that, for one reason or another, was not useable by the recipient.

This year, we've rounded up some gift ideas that you can give with confidence and pride to your friend or loved one who is blind or visually impaired. They range in price from absolutely free to hundreds of dollars, with plenty of sparkling ideas on the continuum between the two. They also range from ideas for the person new to vision loss to the well-seasoned tech geek!

Gifts of Freedom Found in New Approaches

For the friend or loved one who is new to experiencing vision loss, or whose vision has always been low but has recently declined substantially, there are plenty of gifts that don't cost anything but can open a door into newfound independence and adventure.

Audio Books

The National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) has been providing books and magazines to people unable to read conventional print since 1933. Anyone whose vision prevents reading conventional print is eligible and the service is entirely free. To apply for library service, visit the enrollment page.

Patrons receive a completely free player—a digital talking book machine—that will play audio books recorded on cartridges designed for the machine. Cartridges are sent and returned free of charge through the mail in small plastic boxes.

More technologically sophisticated patrons can sign up for free for the Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD) service, enabling them to download books to a computer, iPhone, iPad, or Android device.

Help a friend or loved one through the process, and they will think of you for years to come every time they read a book.

Braille Books

Of course, people with limited vision don't have to only listen to books. The NLS also offers plenty of books in braille. Braille books, too, can be either sent free of charge through the mail or downloaded to a computer for reading on a braille-aware device.

For someone new to vision loss who wants to continue that direct connection to the written word, you can sign him or her up for a free correspondence course to read and write braille.

Enroll your friend (or yourself) as a free gift that will last a lifetime..

The Long White Cane Is a Magic Wand

Two common laments of people losing vision are, first, the fear that reading is no longer available and, secondly, a concern about traveling independently.

More than once, I have heard an adult new to vision loss express the sentiment that the acquisition of a long white cane—and learning how to use it—is akin to acquiring a magic wand. Suddenly, the freedom to walk around the block or around the world becomes possible again, with or without eyesight.

There are a number of sources for purchasing white canes, but the National Federation of the Blind (NFB) will provide a free white cane to any blind person in the United States who requests one. Surprise that friend or loved one struggling with independence issues by gifting a magic wand – and, of course, some advice on how to use it.

Order a white cane online from the NFB or call 410-659-9314. While you're there, you can order a free slate and stylus for writing braille as well.

Talking Devices to Help Around the House

If you can't see to read the controls on the microwave, numbers on the clock, or numbers on the bathroom scale, there are plenty of devices that will deliver such information through digitized voices.

A wonderful array of talking clocks and watches can be found at Independent Living Aids with prices to fit every budget. You can find a one-button talking watch and even a watch that announces the time in Spanish for as low as $10.95 on this site. And for the friend who wants to talk to a clock as well as hear its announcement, the Moshi IVR Talking Clock ($45.95), will respond to 12 voice commands, telling you such things as the time, date, indoor temperature, and more, whenever you ask.

Blind Mice Mart offers some 70,000 products, from toys to tools to kitchen gadgets, many of which talk or feature braille labels. The Magic Chef Talking Microwave Oven ($319) is a microwave unit with a lot to say! In a clear male voice, all controls, including the AM/FM clock radio, speak. The Magic Chef Talking Microwave includes a braille user's manual.

Fun and Games for People with Vision Loss

People of all ages love to play games and there are more sources than ever before for games that blind and low vision people can play. Braille and large-print playing cards are available from a variety of sources, including the National Federation for the Blind's Independence Market, which also carries a variety of other games ranging from the popular card game Phase Ten, to board games as familiar as Chess and more obscure games like Shut the Box and Nine Men Morris.

Many contemporary games involve loads of cards with an abundance of print. A new kid on the accessible games block is 64 Oz. Games. A kickstarter graduate, 64 Oz. Games is the brainchild of one couple, Richard and Emily Gibbs, who love games themselves and have plenty of blind friends.

Using 3D printing for some game pieces and QR codes that can be read by smart phones, this small company takes a fresh approach to games. You buy the game anywhere games are sold and order the accessible game kit from 64 Oz. Games. Where appropriate, some games offer tactile game boards. Games range in price from $10 to $50 and include Apples to Apples, Dominion, Cards Against Humanity, Love Letter, and many others.

For the iOS device user or other blind game-playing geek on your list, National Braille Press has released a book that you'll want to put under the tree. Edited by Judith Dixon, Anyone Can Play is a collection of games that can be played if you have an iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch. Recommended by a group of blind game lovers, the book includes word games, strategy games, role-playing games and more. Available in braille hardcopy or several downloadable formats, the book costs $12 and is available online or by calling 800-548-7323.

While you're visiting the National Braille Press bookstore, you'll find plenty of other books for the new or seasoned iOS device user, all available in braille or various downloadable formats.

If you know a blind child (or just love reading to children as a parent, grandparent, or storyteller), NBP is offering a holiday sale on children's books through December 31. Buy two books from a selected list and get the third half price; buy three and get the fourth one free.

The High End: Computers and More

If you are reading AccessWorld, chances are pretty good that you use or have blind friends who use technology. If a new computer is within your reach as a gift-giver, mainstream products are more accessible than ever before.

We all know that Apple products are now accessible straight out of the box with the built-in screen reader called VoiceOver. Purchase a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro from your local Apple store and throw in an extra $99 for your recipient's training. While not every store location has a staff member with VoiceOver expertise, most are willing and eager to learn. If you purchase training, you can go as often as you like for one year and learn from the experts.

For the dedicated Windows lovers, Microsoft Signature computers are a real find for blind and low vision users—and too long an unintentionally well-kept secret! At your local Microsoft store (or online) you can purchase a computer from Dell, Asus, Lenovo, and other popular brands as a Microsoft Signature machine, which means the computer will come without any manufacturer bloatware. For an additional $129, you can get two years of tech support and personal training from Microsoft.

Last Minute Gifts for People with Visual Impairments

Of course, you can buy everything from furniture to cosmetics to tool kits online and get it fast! A few items that might be overlooked and that are pretty sure to put smiles on the faces of most blind or low vision recipients include:

• A DVD of an old or new movie with descriptive video. (Many first-run movies are now released with description available in the menus. Check the jacket to be sure.)
• Headphones (find out if your friend or relative prefers the in-the-ear or over-the ear style).
• An extra external storage device (USB drive, SD card, micro SD).
• A CD from a new singer/songwriter.

My own favorite online sources for such purchases include Amazon, Drugstore, and Overstock.

Whether your budget and inclination lead you to gifts in the free or extravagant category, have a wonderful holiday season.

And remember that whether your gift is a new movie, a game, a laptop, or a long white cane, the best way to present a present is to throw part of your own time and company into the giving!

Comment on this article.

Related articles:

• Office for Mac 2016: A First Look at Accessibility by Bill Holton
• AccessWorld's 2014 Online Holiday Shopping Guide by Janet Ingber

More from this author:

• TactileView: Leveling the Playing Field With Raised Images by Deborah Kendrick
• AccessWorld 2014 Holiday Gift Guide: Great High- and Low-Tech Ideas Under $100 by Deborah Kendrick

Dear AccessWorld readers,

Last month, AccessWorld celebrated Disability Employment Awareness Month by providing information about employment resources, strategies, and insider perspectives. Good job search strategies and resources are important all year long, so I encourage you to look back at last month's issue and forward information to anyone you know who may be looking for employment or for better employment opportunities.

I also want to offer a special thanks to CareerConnect Program Manager, Joe Strechay, and CareerConnect Employment Specialist, Detra Bannister, for sharing their insights and perspectives in last month's Editor's Page.

As you know, there is now a chill in the air, and the days of fall are well upon us. It's time to start thinking about the holiday gift-giving season. Ready or not, the shopping season is just around the corner, and the AccessWorld team wants you to be ready with gift ideas for those in your life who experience vision loss. You may even want to use this month's ideas to add to your own wish list for the holidays!

In this issue, Deborah Kendrick provides great gift ideas ranging from low-tech items to high-tech productivity tools. Janet Ingber also provides information, advice, and tips to get the most of holiday shopping using your iOS device.

The AccessWorld team hopes this issue provides inspiration for finding just the right holiday gifts for you, your family, or friends with vision loss.

We wish you and yours health, happiness, peace, and prosperity as we enter the holiday season. As Helen Keller once said, "Peace and prosperity will come when we realize, and incorporate into our lives, the truth that we live by each other and for each other and not unto ourselves."

Sincerely,
Lee Huffman
AccessWorld Editor-in-Chief
American Foundation for the Blind

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I just read 2015 Employment Resources for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired by Joe Strechay in AccessWorld. Thanks for all the effort he must have put into it.

I find it difficult to find the right path back to employment. Most resources seem to be geared toward younger blind people and blind people who are looking for work in nonprofessional roles.

I was an applications developer for 25 years in a major financial institution. Unfortunately the department I worked in was disbanded and everyone lost their jobs. Because of the type of system we worked on there weren't opportunities for any of us to upgrade our skills. Since my separation from the company in December 2013, I've struggled to find any opportunities for someone in my position.

So, my comment on this article is there needs to be more resources for middle-aged blind workers who were displaced from their old careers. There is also a need for help for those people who went blind in middle-age and can no longer do their old jobs. We aren't entry level and we shouldn't be expected to start from the ground floor in our 50s.

Thank you for listening,

Glen A. Rivara

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

As a confirmed AccessWorld fan for many years, I look forward to every issue with excitement and attentiveness. There is one area which would make the magazine even more useful and well-rounded: information for those in every stage of life who are blind and who also have other disabilities. Which tools and apps are thought most useful for this population? What strategies are felt most preferable in daily living and employment situations? What about employment for this population, concerning thoughts on best fits regarding specific jobs, acquisition, accommodation, and employment maintenance? Lifelong total blindness in my situation has been joined by 50 percent hearing loss, leading to balance and orientation issues, including in my home. Moderate nerve damage in both arms prohibits cane or dog use, notwithstanding my choice of also using sighted guides in former times. How about a review of orientation aids, maybe apps, possibly making use of RFID tags on objects and landmarks for identification and guidance, also consideration of the Humanware Trekker Breeze. Thank you for your consideration of my thoughts and for such a wealth of knowledge, written in a concise, friendly format. Keep up the great work!

Beth Terranova

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Thanks for the article LinkedIn Career Networking Website and App: Assessing Accessibility for People Who Are Blind by Jamie Pauls. I have tried using the LinkedIn website with JAWS and have also used the iPhone app. I wouldn't say LinkedIn is inaccessible but I did find it a bit daunting to figure out where I should start. Perhaps someone should create a LinkedIn tutorial. It also has been a challenge to find another blind person who uses LinkedIn to help me get started.

Sincerely,

Dan TeVelde

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

I am a retired 74-year-old social worker with some limited vision. I've been legally blind all my life due to retinopothy of prematurity but during the past few years my vision has progressively worsened to the point where I can no longer read newspapers or magazines. Fortunately with today's widespread use of personal computers there is the ability to magnify text with word processors and read online periodicals and have them read with text-to-speech programs.

Also, I have purchased a Magnilink S electronic magnifier with OCR to get help with reading the mail and other material not online. I find it very useful and convenient to use at home [but it is not portable enough] to take it outside to use when I go shopping.

There are a number of hand held products on the market. But low vision products are not conveniently available to examine and compare, even in New York City. This makes it difficult to decide which products would be best suited for the individual.

There is the Jewish Guild/Lighthouse in Manhattan that has some electronic magnifiers on display to look at and try but not a large selection. And there is a charge to the client if taking more than a half hours' time.

MaxiAids—a private retailer of products for the physically challenged—has a display showroom at their Farmingdale, L.I. location, though a salesman is in attendance to encourage purchase.

In addition to this, there are various distributors representing various manufacturers that will make home visits to demonstrate products like electronic magnifiers. However I have always felt pressured in a home demo situation and would very much prefer to visit a Best Buy or a Staples if they would carry electronic magnifiers and just take my time examining products and only ask for help if needed.

In the absence of this, I find that YouTube is a good resource for demonstrating and sometimes reviewing electronic magnifiers and other products. The YouTube videos display a range of quality in their presentation. Sometimes they are quite informative, sometimes they are very limited use showing merely still shots of a product from different angles with blaring music accompanying.

Most informative is when a live person shows the product in demonstration and discusses its uses.

One should understand that these videos are basically commercials produced by the retailer or manufacturer and should be viewed critically, but nevertheless they can provide useful information for the consumer to help him decide which product to choose.

At present I would like to see if a handheld electronic magnifier with OCR would be convenient enough for me to carry around comfortably in a shirt or pants pocket.

There is the Aquos 5-inch which seems to be the same as the Mercury 5-inch. There is the Mercury 7-inch and the Prodigi Tablet (5-inch).

I think it would be a very helpful service if AccessWorld could evaluate and review these handheld electronic magnifiers with OCR. There are so many electronic magnifiers out there to choose from though they are quite expensive and an objective comparative evaluation can help us make an informed decision.

Although iPhone and other smartphones have apps with functions similar to handheld magnifiers, it may be that a dedicated device for this purpose may be better (or not) and not everyone wants a smartphone.

Thank you,

Ray Turbin

Dear AccessWorld Editor,

Thank you for this great article, Digital Task Management Solutions: Barriers to Accessibility are Barriers to Productivity and Convenience by John Lilly and Olivia Milam, about task management and its accessibility (or lack thereof). Did you try Omnifocus2? I only use it on my iPhone, which is fine for me, but it seems to be very accessible. At least, I haven't noticed any issues with the functions that I have wanted to use. Just thought I would mention it, since you hadn't.

Thanks again. This is such a great publication!

Regards

Tom Dekker

Editor's Response

Hi Tom,

Thank you for reading AccessWorld and for your kind comments; both are appreciated.

In response to your question, I checked with the article's authors. They originally looked at Omnifocus2 for inclusion in the review, but they ruled it out, because it only supports iOS and Mac. They were looking for software that supports multiple platforms for that particular article.

Best,

Lee Huffman

Reader's Response

Hi Lee,

Well, the multi-platform approach makes sense all right. But for those who are happy doing it on their iOS device or Mac, the Omnifocus people have even gone so far is to build in all kinds of VoiceOver hints that really make Omnifocus2 a breeze to use. And given their great attitude, I wonder if AFB could encourage them to develop it for other platforms, because it really does rock! Anyway, keep up the great work.

Regards,

Tom Dekker

Global Disability Inclusion is Awarded $100,000 Grant to Enhance Delivery of Disability Competitiveness Solutions

Global Disability Inclusion, a leading consultancy firm that designs and develops comprehensive disability employment and inclusion strategies for Fortune 500 companies and U.S. Federal contractors, announced it is a 2015 recipient of a Mission Main Street Grants award from Chase. Global Disability Inclusion was chosen from a field of 30,000 applicants to be one of 20 small businesses to receive a $100,000 grant, and a trip to Premier Sponsor LinkedIn's California headquarters to receive insights and expertise to help the company continue growing its disability inclusion business.

Created by Chase to celebrate National Small Business Week, the Mission Main Street Grants program helps worthy and successful small businesses grow and improve. After a period of public voting, businesses who receive at least 250 votes are judged by a panel of experts from a diverse group of companies supporting small businesses.

Global Disability Inclusion, led by two of the nation's top disability employment experts, Meg O'Connell and Deb Russell, focuses strategy and programming on three key areas — the workplace, the workforce, and the marketplace — to help companies realize the advantages of disability inclusion across their business.

"Employees with disabilities have 48 percent greater tenure than all other colleagues, and 40 percent less absenteeism," said Deb Russell, Managing Partner at Global Disability Inclusion. "These statistics can affect companies' efficiency and profitability, and are just one of many reasons why we believe it pays to think of disability inclusion not as charity, but as valuable workplace diversity."

Calling for Applications for the Touch of Genius Award

The Louis Braille Touch of Genius Prize for Innovation is calling individuals, groups, or companies who have developed an innovative and accessible product in one of the following categories:

• Professional or educational software & apps
• Gaming software or apps that promote tactile & braille learning
• Braille or tactile-related hardware

Projects must demonstrate some aspect of tactile literacy for blind people and promote braille literacy or access to information. The deadline is February 1, 2016. Winnings up to $20,000.

IBM Research and Carnegie Mellon Create Open Platform to Help the Blind Navigate Surroundings

Scientists from IBM Research and Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) announced the first of a kind open platform designed to support the creation of smartphone apps that can enable people who are blind to better navigate their surroundings.

The IBM and CMU researchers used the platform to create a pilot app, called NavCog, that draws on existing sensors and cognitive technologies to inform people who are blind on the CMU campus about their surroundings by "whispering" into their ears through earbuds or by creating vibrations on smartphones. The app analyzes signals from Bluetooth beacons located along walkways and from smartphone sensors to help enable users to move without human assistance, whether inside campus buildings or outdoors. Researchers are exploring additional capabilities for future versions of the app to detect who is approaching and what is their mood. NavCog app will soon be available at no cost on the App Store.

The first set of cognitive assistance tools for developers is now available via the cloud through IBM Bluemix at Mybluemix.net. The open toolkit consists of an app for navigation, a map editing tool and localization algorithms that can help people who are blind identify in near real time where they are, which direction they are facing and additional surrounding environmental information. The computer vision navigation application tool turns smartphone images of the surrounding environment into a 3-D space model to help improve localization and navigation for the visually impaired.

"While visually impaired people like me have become independent online, we are still challenged in the real world. To gain further independence and help improve the quality of life, ubiquitous connectivity across indoor and outdoor environments is necessary," said IBM Fellow Chieko Asakawa, visiting faculty member at Carnegie Mellon. "I'm excited that this open platform will help accelerate the advancement of cognitive assistance research by giving developers opportunities to build various accessibility applications and test non-traditional technologies such as ultrasonic and advanced inertial sensors to assist navigation."

The combination of these multiple technologies is known as "cognitive assistance," an accessibility research field dedicated to helping people who are blind regain information by augmenting missing or weakened abilities. Researchers plan to add various localization technologies, including sensor fusion, which integrates data from multiple environmental sensors for highly sophisticated cognitive functioning, such as facial recognition in public places. Researchers also are exploring the use of computer vision to characterize the activities of people in the vicinity and ultrasonic technology to help identify locations more accurately.

IBM has been committed to technology innovation and accessibility for people with disabilities for more than 100 years, helping to ensure that employees, customers and citizens have equal access to information they need for work and life. Some early innovations for the blind include a Braille printer, a talking typewriter, and the first commercially viable screen reader.

Apples Updates iWork

Apple has updated its iWork suite of productivity apps! The latest update to iWork for iOS and Mac now include some accessibility improvements for VoiceOver users. In Pages, Numbers and Keynote, VoiceOver users can now read relevant text formatting details including font name and font size while editing. It is now easier for VoiceOver users to add, remove, rearrange rows, columns, add and review comments, edit chart data and chart elements, get table header information, and more. Also in Keynote, VoiceOver users can now edit and read presenter notes.

With this update, Pages, Numbers and Keynote take full advantage of the great features recently introduced in iOS 9, including Split View, 3D Touch, Slide View, and Picture in Picture. iWork for iCloud is now out of beta. A host of new features have been added like commenting and version history that make the collaboration experience on the web more powerful.

For more a full list of updates to iWork (new and existing), please visit:

Pages

Numbers

Keynote

NoteStream™ App Debuts VoiceOver Accessibility Feature

NoteStream™, the mobile learning app designed to enable users to find, enjoy and follow long-form articles and content on their mobile devices, has announced it is now compatible with Apple's VoiceOver accessibility feature. According to the American Foundation for the Blind, nearly 10 percent of all adult Americans have some form of vision loss or impairment. With the new VoiceOver feature, NoteStream users are able to use hand gestures to access the content in the app. VoiceOver also includes a braille keyboard and braille displays, offering additional accessibility for individuals with vision impairments.

Part of the NoteStream business model is to provide a voice for nonprofits looking to spread awareness of their missions, research and causes to a widespread audience on mobile. The inclusion of the VoiceOver feature in the app furthers the missions of NoteStream's nonprofit partners by allowing them to share their activities and accomplishments with a growing audience of mobile users, including those with visual impairments.

To learn more about NoteStream, visit www.notestream.com and download the NoteStream app at www.notestream.com/app.

Release of O&M for Independent Living: Strategies for Teaching Orientation and Mobility to Older Adults

AFB Press is pleased to announce the recent publication of O&M for Independent Living: Strategies for Teaching Orientation and Mobility to Older Adults, Nora Griffin-Shirley, Ph.D., and Laura Bozeman, Ph.D., Editors.

O&M for Independent Living is a resource guide that provides information for practitioners on orientation and mobility skills and strategies that represent best practice and evidence-based practices for older adults who are blind or have low vision. It also provides insights essential for helping these individuals remain independent and self-reliant This book is 286 pages long and is now available in paperback for $39.95; The electronic formats: e-books for $27.95; and online subscription for $23.95 , will be available shortly.

Computers for the Blind to provide Talking Typing Teacher for Windows

Computers for the Blind (CFTB) and MarvelSoft have formed a special agreement to provide Talking Typing Teacher for Windows (TTT) to CFTB Consumers, agencies, and schools for $50 to be used on CFTB computers by persons who are blind or have low vision. CFTB, a non-profit 501 (c) (3) agency is pleased to announce a special agreement between CFTB & MarvelSoft Enterprises Inc. A license key for MarvelSoft's product, Talking Typing Teacher (TTT) can be purchased from MarvelSoft for $50 on CFTB computers from this date going forward, not only for consumers who purchase CFTB computers but for agencies, schools, and lighthouses who purchase it to be used by a person who is blind or has low vision on a CFTB computer.

Agencies and schools who wish to obtain a CFTB computer for a consumer can do so with a purchase order. Once the computer is obtained they can activate a license key for the TTT which has already been installed on a CFTB computer by contacting MarvelSoft at 1-800-987-1231. Once payment of $50 is authorized through a purchase order or credit card, a 6-digit key will be provided which can be passed along to the consumer to activate the key. No physical media will be sent.

Consumers may likewise purchase a computer from CFTB by calling 214-340-6328. After they receive their computer they can call MarvelSoft at 1-800-987-1231 and state they have received a computer from CFTB and that they wish to activate the copy of TTT that has already been installed. They will be asked for a money order or credit card to collect the $50. Once payment has been received a 6-digit key will be provided to the customer over the phone and they can activate and start using the software immediately. No physical media will be sent. Please note, this software cannot be installed at this price on previously purchased CFTB computers. Consumers & agencies who wish to purchase TTT at the retail price from MarvelSoft on a previously purchased CFTB computer may do so my contacting MarvelSoft.

CFTB is committed to providing fully accessible refurbished computers to persons who could not otherwise afford a new computer and the expensive software that makes them accessible. We are very pleased with this generous agreement with MarvelSoft which we feel will help open up the world of information technology to persons who are blind or have low vision.

For most of us, holidays involve food, fun, friends, and family. Turkey and dressing with all the fixings, catching up on old times with loved ones we haven't seen in a while, and sitting around a warm fire while the snow falls outside are all part of the excitement that surrounds the holiday season. For many, playing games as a group helps to foster that feeling of togetherness that we all try to capture during this "most wonderful time of the year!" Though for people who are blind being truly able to participate in the game play experience can be a bit of a challenge. Sighted people are willing to help as much as they can, by reading game cards, reading the numbers on the dice the player who is blind has just rolled, and the like, but this presents some real challenges. How do other game players give the blind player the information they require without spoiling game play for everyone else? What about the extra time it takes to read that information out loud? Save for a few well-worn classics such as Monopoly and Scrabble, most board games have, up to now, been mostly inaccessible to the blind.

64 Oz. Games: A Dream Is Born

Richard Gibbs is an avid board game player and collector. When he isn't working as a special education teacher with visually impaired students, he is most likely gaming. Back when he and his wife Emily, also a teacher, were working at the Louisiana Center for the Blind, they became increasingly aware of the lack of board games that were accessible to blind players. They contacted companies who were producing games for blind individuals, and asked if they would consider making more board games accessible. They were told that those companies didn't do custom game designs. When they approached mainstream board game companies, it became apparent that they didn't wish to get into the business of making games accessible to the blind.

The Gibbs' decided that if existing companies wouldn't make board games accessible for blind people, then they would start their own company and do it themselves!

Along with being game enthusiasts, the Gibbs' are also fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones. In Game of Thrones, each house has a symbol or name associated with it. While spending time with friends who were also Game of Thrones fans, the Gibbs' began musing about what the name of their home would be. Noting that Richard was a Diet Coke lover, one of the friends suggested that the name of the Gibbs home should be Big Gulp. Out of that light-hearted banter, the name 64 Oz. Games was born, and that's what the Gibbs decided to name their new company.

The Gibbs' needed funding for their new venture, so they launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise money. Their goal was to raise $7,000. They ended up raising over $20,000. Some of the biggest contributors to the Kickstarter project were board game developers themselves. Even though they weren't willing to get into the business of designing games for the blind, they were excited about what the Gibbs' were doing and wanted to contribute. By the end of 2014, Richard and Emily Gibbs were in business, and 64 Oz. Games was a reality.

Some Assembly Required

Every board game is different, and Richard Gibbs has to figure out the best way to approach each game in order to make it accessible to the blind. Gibbs has designed what he calls an accessibility kit for each game. He uses a 3D printer to place braille on dice, adhesive braille labels to be placed on game cards, and sleeves for each card if the blind player does not wish to place the braille label directly on the card itself.

The cost of each accessibility kit is generally no more than the price of the game itself. The gamer first purchases the game and then purchases the accessibility kit for that game from 64 Oz. Games. After receiving the accessibility kit in the mail, gamers who are blind will need to seek sighted assistance to apply the braille labels to each game card. In some cases, QR codes are also used to provide additional information to the gamer that cannot be included in braille. Anyone with a smartphone, a pair of earbuds, and a QR reader app can access this additional information during game play. 64 Oz. Games will assemble accessibility kits for an additional fee, but their website states that it will probably be more economical for purchasers if they have the kits assembled themselves. The company is also looking at the possibility of selling games along with accessibility kits in the future.

It is important when purchasing a game to obtain the latest version. If someone has an older version of, say, Apples to Apples lying around and decides to purchase an accessibility kit from 64 Oz. Games, the game and the kit might not match up properly. For maximum compatibility, the newest version available for each game is recommended. Gibbs works hard to keep up with any version changes for the games offered by the company.

64 Oz. Games Promotes Braille Literacy

Richard and Emily Gibbs are both educators who work with visually impaired children, so it is no surprise that they would find a way to use the tools they have developed with 64 Oz. Games to help children learn braille. Each summer, they work with the National Federation of the Blind's BELL (Braille Enrichment for Literacy and Learning) program. Texas, where they currently reside, is one of the states that offers this two-week program for children ages 4 through 12 who are not currently receiving enough braille instruction. The Gibbs' have devised fun strategies for children to examine larger-than-normal braille cells, and arrange them into words.

Parents of special needs children who have difficulty understanding braille when touching normal-sized cells have also contacted 64 Oz. Games. It seems that where there is a need, the Gibbs are not afraid to work hard to find a solution.

Community Reaction to 64 Oz. Games

Ironically, Richard and Emily Gibbs have been interviewed by more mainstream board game podcasters since the launch of 64 Oz. Games than by podcasters and bloggers in the blind community. The Gibbs' believe one possible reason for this is that blind people are simply not aware of the numerous board games on the market today. 64 Oz. Games has released over 50 accessibility kits to date for games ranging from Apples to Apples and Cards Against Humanity to a German game called Bohnanza, where the players grow beans and sell them for gold.

Richard Gibbs, the designer of the accessibility kits sold by 64 Oz. Games, is more than happy to take suggestions from the community for new games to add to the catalog, but there is no way he can possibly build kits for every game in existence. 64 Oz. Games is a labor of love, and requires evenings and weekends apart from his full-time job.

Although Emily is a strong partner in 64 Oz. Games, her passion is not gaming, but rather reading. Check out her blog here.

Conclusion

As you prepare to spend time with those you care about this holiday season, why not visit 64 Oz. Games and purchase some accessibility kits for games that you and yours can play together. The Gibbs' say that once people purchase a product from their site, those people are generally repeat customers. It is evident that Richard and Emily Gibbs have a lot of energy and enthusiasm for what they do, and they have only just gotten started making accessibility kits for games that the blind and sighted can play together. Let's give them our support, shall we?

Product Information

Visit the 64 Ounce Games website

Follow 64 Ounce Games on Twitter

Support 64 Ounce Games with a regular monthly donation on Patreon

Comment on this article.

For tech-savvy computer users who have low vision, options for enlarging text and adding speech are plentiful. Operating systems, web browsers, and third-party accessibility technology tools offer a variety of accessibility options. But many people who could benefit from low-vision tools don't use them, either because they don't know what's available to them, or because they don't consider themselves to be print-disabled. sitecues, a tool developed by ZoomText maker Ai Squared, seeks to make the web easier to read for users who could benefit from text magnification or speech, especially those who don't use other assistive technology solutions.

Released in 2014, sitecues allows website owners to offer screen and text magnification, and spoken access to the site's content. Ai Squared believes this software benefits people with low-vision who need occasional magnification or speech access, as well as seniors, people with learning disabilities, and non-native language speakers. When sitecues is present on a website, users can magnify the current page, zoom into and navigate between text blocks, and/or hear the page's content, all using a few straightforward keyboard shortcuts. The challenge for the Ai Squared, and for those seeking to use the web with zoom or speech, is getting a wide range of organizations to add the tool to their websites.

Using sitecues

When you encounter a website where sitecues is installed, you will find a sitecues control badge that resembles a text sizing control you might encounter in a word processing application. The site owner can place the badge where they wish; it usually appears in the upper-right corner of the page, or elsewhere above the site's navigation menu. The sitecues control is designed to provide a consistent, recognizable presence on the site that does not connote the presence of an accessibility tool. The badge is designed to be visible to users with vision better than 20/200. When you mouse over the sitecues badge, it enlarges significantly to show labeled controls for zoom and speech.

Zoom

Use the large and small As or the slider to change the zoom level for the page as a whole. The zoom setting you've chosen remains in effect as you move through pages on the site. To zoom to specific text blocks instead, turn zoom on, and move the mouse onto the webpage. Text blocks will be selected (surrounded by a boundary box) as you mouse over them. Press the spacebar. sitecues zooms the selected block, and grays the rest of the page's content, so you can concentrate exclusively on the selected material. Use the arrow keys to move to another text block. Control + H and Control + Shift + H move focus forward or back through headings on the page. Press the Esc key to view the full page again. Once you've enabled sitecues on a page, zoom with the + and − keys on your keyboard to increase or decrease magnification as needed. You can view all of the sitecues keyboard commands by clicking the Help button on the expanded sitecues badge.

Speech

You can use sitecues speech alone or in combination with zoom. Mouse over the sitecues badge, and click the "Speech" button to turn it on. sitecues speaks a quick explanation of how to use the speech feature, in the native language of the site. Move to the area of the page you wish to read and press the spacebar to hear the contents of the heading, paragraph, or other highlighted area. With speech on, pressing the spacebar to focus on a text block dims the rest of the current page, just as it does when you're using Zoom. sitecues speaks the content. While you're focused on a text block, use the arrow keys to move to adjacent text, which is then spoken. Escape returns to the standard site view. You can use speech without isolating the text block you're reading by holding down the Shift key while a text block is selected. This works whether or not speech has been turned on. If you hold down Shift while using an arrow key to move to a text area, sitecues speaks the text.

sitecues supports a number of languages, including English, French, Spanish, Dutch, German, Italian, Turkish, and Russian. Ai Squared says more languages are coming in future versions, including Arabic and Japanese.

See sitecues in Action

A number of websites associated with providing accessibility services, or that serve a large number of consumers who are blind or who have low-vision have added sitecues. They include: Perkins School for the Blind, The Florida Alliance for Assistive Services and Technology, Baum USA, Duxbury Systems, The Texas Assistive Technology Network, and WindowEyes for Office. Ai Squared has also sold sitecues licenses to libraries, educational institutions, government agencies, and a few financial services organizations focusing on the needs of seniors. Among these are: Warren County Library (New Jersey), Insulin Nation, OurAgingMarket, The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, TICC Capital Corp., and Easter Seals' N.A.T.E Project, You'll find a list of sitecues-enabled sites on the Customers page of the sitecues website.

To make the tool truly useful to the tremendous number of people Ai Squared identifies as underserved by traditional accessibility tools, sitecues will need to gain acceptance in a wider range of mainstream organizations and sites, including shopping outlets, social media, employers, and general-audience government sites.

Limitations

sitecues works in most modern desktop web browsers, including Internet Explorer 9+, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari for Mac OS X. Ai Squared intends to support Edge, the Windows 10 replacement for Internet Explorer. sitecues doesn't work with browsers in most mobile environments: Apple iOS and Google Android are gesture-based operating systems, the company notes, and sitecues currently depends on access to a keyboard. The company intends to develop mobile support in future releases, but was unable to provide specifics. Other planned compatibility improvements include an improved ability to navigate web forms with zoom and speech, and the addition of color themes to assist low-vision users who benefit from enhanced visual contrast between backgrounds and text.

Implementing sitecues on a Website

Once an organization buys a sitecues software as a service (SaaS) license, the Webmaster adds a snippet of code to the website template. The code places the sitecues badge at the top of each page within the site, and links the site to the sitecues server infrastructure, which is maintained by Ai Squared. All functions are performed by the sitecues server, not the organization's website. sitecues delivers the zoomed and/or spoken content to the website visitor. This also allows Ai Squared to make updates to sitecues immediately available to all customers. Organizations pay a license fee, the amount of which is based on the number of unique visitors to the site per month. Though the percentage of visitors accessing sitecues varies by customer, Ai Squared says the engagement rate averages five to eight percent.

Next Steps: sitecues Everywhere

The Ai Squared sitecues development path is proceeding on two fronts: adding more kinds of accessibility, and bringing sitecues functionality to a wider range of sites. The next release of sitecues will add color theme selection, a valuable tool for low-vision users who need greater contrast between backgrounds and text on all sites they visit, and for anyone who struggles with sites whose stylized color palettes focus on design rather than maximum readability. Ai Squared has also released a Chrome browser extension called sitecues Everywhere, that places a sitecues badge on any website you visit with a compatible version of the Chrome browser. The extension effectively adds sitecues to any website you visit, placing the familiar badge above the site's contents, and offering the same zoom and speech options available with the server-based version of the product. Ai Squared currently licenses the extension to individuals and organizations, including shared-computer labs.

Product: sitecues
Available from: Ai Squared

Comment on this article.

Related articles:

• What the Ai Squared and GW Micro Merger Means for You by Bill Holton
• AudioEye: Providing Web Accessibility as a Managed Service by Bill Holton

More from this author:

• Overthrowing the Desktop: The Revolution 22-inch All-In-One Magnifier and Tablet

Whether you are a first-year college student or you attended college 20 or 40 years ago, chances are that, if you have difficulty reading conventional print, most or all of your textbooks came from a single source in Princeton, New Jersey. Originally it was known as Recording for the Blind and later became Recording for the Blind and Dyslexic. Today Learning Ally has been in the business of recording texts for students pursuing postsecondary education for close to 70 years.

But earning a college degree for a student who is blind or visually impaired is far more complex than simply obtaining access to the texts your professors will require you to read.

In 2014, Learning Ally launched an extensive research effort to find out just what kinds of help college students who are blind needed to succeed in college life, and the result is a new curriculum. It was designed by Learning Ally staff and others to guide students through most aspects of adapting to life as a college student. Launched in April 2015 and still growing, Learning Ally's College Success program offers an online curriculum to guide students through acquiring the necessary tools to adjusting to life as a college student—and doing so with confidence and success.

Spearheaded by Kristen Witucki, Learning Ally community coordinator for students who are blind or visually impaired, College Success already has 237 members and well over a thousand views of some pieces of its core curriculum after just six months of going live on the Learning Ally website. Although Witucki is quick to point out that she has had plenty of help developing the curriculum content, she also possesses a deep pool of personal experience from which to draw. At 34, she has an undergraduate degree and three master's degrees, all of them obtained as a student who is blind.

"My own experience has actually been pretty positive," she says, "but I know that not everyone is as lucky as I have been." There are plenty of barriers new college students can encounter, situations for which a student might not be prepared and that can derail the college experience. College Success is designed to assist students by preparing for problems before they arise.

College Success Basics

Students entering college directly after high school have often had a fair amount of problem-solving handled by a parent or teacher for the visually impaired (TVI). If a teacher was apprehensive about having a student who is blind in class, the TVI or parent ran interference. If the student did all work on a braille notetaker, teachers were willing to accept e-mailed versions of assignments. If research needed to be done, someone else might have done the heavy lifting and provided the information to the student in an accessible format.

College Success offers resources to students on advocating for oneself, having up-front conversations with professors, organizing academic materials, and making sure that technology skills and equipment are equal to the demands of college classes. An assessment tool helps the student determine where technology skills and/or equipment might need strengthening, and a technology overview guides students through the combinations of devices that might comprise the college-ready technology tool kit.

Particularly commendable is the attention given in the curriculum to aspects beyond textbooks and technology. Henry Wedler, for instance, a College Success mentor currently working on his PhD in chemistry, provides instruction on how students can teach a fellow student or other assistant in making tactile images for science and mathematics classes even without any costly technological equipment. Recognizing that the well-rounded and ultimately employable college student is not one whose nose is always in a book, mentor Cindy Bennett offers her three-pronged approach to having a full college experience beyond the classroom.

Most colleges and universities today have offices serving students with disabilities. The College Success curriculum acknowledges up front that not all disability service offices (DSOs) are made equal and offers guidance in navigating those DSO waters accordingly. What does the law say about the rights of a college student who is blind? And what are the responsibilities each student must assume when claiming those rights? And, how can you best partner with the DSO on your particular campus to get the assistance you need? These concerns and more are gathered in the curriculum resources.

College Success Packaging and Delivery

The resources in the College Success curriculum are organized with outstanding clarity on the Learning Ally site. One simple sentence drew me in immediately: "In college, you are the leading representative of yourself."

This direct statement captures the essence of the College Success curriculum as it guides students who are blind through the various components needed to assemble a well-rounded student life of capability, control, and empowerment.

Clearly indicated headings and links render the site one of the most effortless online navigation experiences you will encounter, so that getting directly to the information you are seeking is fast and easy.

Concise, easily digested articles present each topic in a convenient (and short) package, so that you can work through the entire curriculum in a relatively short period of time or, alternatively, go directly to a topic of immediate concern for answers.

Most resources include a text transcript that you can read with your screen reader, notetaker, or smart phone. Many have audio versions of the text transcript as well.

This audio aspect—the voice of the author of the resource or another human reader voicing the transcript—is absolutely the simplest, most accessible audio interface I have ever encountered online.

When an audio reading of the resource is available, you are prompted with the necessary keystrokes to play or pause, move forward or back in the audio file, etc. The simplicity and ease of use is truly commendable.

Become a College Success Member

At this writing, 237 students have joined College Success. While joining is not a prerequisite for accessing curriculum content, there are definite advantages to membership.

First, due to the generosity of the Lavelle Fund, the same organization that funded the original research that led to College Success, a student who joins College Success gets a free membership to Learning Ally. Secondly, and perhaps of greater significance, membership opens the door to mentorship. A College Success student who requests a mentor begins a one-on-one relationship with a College Success mentor, a blind college graduate who is a seasoned veteran of the college experience and who can thus provide direction and support.

Conclusion

Learning Ally has identified a kind of secret ingredient in pulling together the overall college experience for students who are blind and visually impaired. It takes more than reading comprehension or a knack for testing well to succeed in college. Blindness skills are essential as are an understanding of technology, a flair for self-advocacy, and the willingness to step outside one's comfort zone.

In its first year, the curriculum holds promise. There are some inconsistencies in the content – some pieces are offered as human audio only while others are text transcript only. To appeal to all learning styles, it is hoped that all content will eventually be made available in both text and audio formats.

Witucki reports that more than half of those who have joined the College Success program are nontraditional students. Recognizing that demographic, a stronger representation of mentors over 40 would be a welcome addition.

For now, the curriculum is a fabulous beginning and the site worth more than a look by every college student who is blind.

To join College Success or just ramble around in its content, visit Learning Ally.

Comment on this article.

Related articles:

• The Blackboard Online Coursework and Learning Environment: Accessibility Reports from Two College Students and One Instructor by Jamie Pauls
• BARD Mobile for Android: It's Finally Here by Bill Holton

More from this author:

• LowViz Guide: Indoor Navigation for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired
• Richard Beausoleil: A Musician Harmonizing with Technology

There is a new player in the video assistance arena called CrowdViz, and like Be My Eyes it is currently only available in the iOS App Store, though an Android version is also in the works. Unlike Be My Eyes, however, after eight complimentary video assistance sessions, new sessions must be paid for via in-app purchase.

Free versus paid for the very same assistance? At first glance this would seem like a no brainer. Free is always better, isn't it? Not necessarily, and after you have read this article I think you will agree.

The Current State of Free Video Assistance

From the day I first installed Be My Eyes I have found it increasingly essential in my daily life. I've relied on the app for everything from obtaining cooking instructions for a box of frozen chicken wings to deciphering an error message on a pre-speech Windows boot-up screen.

As good as it is, the Be My Eyes experience can still use improving. For example, the app still doesn't fully release when a session has been completed, and the app must be manually removed from the apps list before VoiceOver speech returns to normal. Other concerns I have experienced and that are shared by others include:

• Time: There may be over three hundred thousand volunteers who have registered to offer Be My Eyes assistance, but not all of them are online at any given moment. The app only polls a single user at a time, and it is not unusual for it to take up to five minutes and multiple attempts before you are connected to a sighted assistant.
• Security: Be My Eyes does not collect any information about either those seeking or those offering assistance. I, for one, would rather not rely on a complete stranger at some unknown location to help me orient myself to a busy intersection; the gentleman standing physically to my right is infinitely less likely to be an Internet troll looking to wreak havoc.
• Independence: I have read any number of social media posts from blind individuals who refuse to even try Be My Eyes because to them it feels too much like "Let's help those poor blind folks" charity. I do not agree with this assessment, but I do understand it. I do also find myself feeling a bit guilty if I keep a volunteer on the line for longer than two or three minutes.

The CrowdViz Alternative

Despite its name, CrowdViz is not technically crowd sourced. The service is a startup profit seeking venture, and instead of crowd sourced volunteers, users are connected with a company that employs a pay-as-you-go cost structure. As mentioned above, the first eight sessions are free; after that, sessions currently cost $1 each, with quantity discounts (one free session when you purchase three sessions via an in-app purchase; six bonus sessions when you purchase ten, for example). The company is also planning a subscription model, but price information was not available at the time of this writing.

I initiated a number of sessions, some free and some obtained via the completely accessible in-app purchase process. The app works on any device running iOS 8 or later. I tested the service using app version 1.0 on both an iPhone 5 and an iPhone 6, though to change devices I had to log off one device and then sign onto the other. I called at various times of day. The service is currently offered around the clock during the weekdays, but the company says weekend coverage is currently spotty until additional employees can be hired and trained.

All of my weekday calls were responded to within 30 seconds, as were all of my weekend calls. Unlike Be My Eyes, which makes a direct, one-way video connection, CrowdViz uses FaceTime. When you initiate a session a worker FaceTimes you back, so you will need to have FaceTime enabled (go to Settings/FaceTime to adjust this setting) and be familiar with its use.

By default, FaceTime uses the device's front facing camera. Consequently, low vision individuals will be able to see the session helper.

After establishing a video connection, CrowdViz and Be My Eyes work similarly. Point the iPhone camera in the correct direction and the assistant can tell you which door has your new doctor's name on it, help distinguish the peanut from the canola oil on your pantry shelf, verify that the package you found on your doorstep is indeed addressed to you, or any other sight-based help which can be successfully transacted using a video connection.

Reps I spoke with were without exception friendly and blindness savvy. According to CrowdViz CEO Akash Khanolkar, "Our workers each undergo a background check, and training includes blindness awareness and courtesy." They also tend to be fairly computer savvy. When I invoked a session to help decipher a boot problem with a VM Fusion Windows startup error, I did not have to educate the rep on my need to use cursor and tab keys instead of the mouse to resolve the issue.

The CrowdViz Interface

The first time you invoke the CrowdViz app "Request assistance" button you are directed to an account setup page, where you must create a user name and app password, and enter your Apple FaceTime ID. All forms are properly labeled. The only minor stumbling block I experienced was the lack of the @ and period keys on the main e-mail entry onscreen keyboard; the numbers keyboard must be toggled. Happily, this only needs to be done once. After that you can stay signed in, or use the account name and password created during account setup.

The next screen informs you how many calls you have left. You can also purchase more sessions from this screen via an in-app purchase. If the service is congested, you may receive a message alerting you to this and stating your assistance session will be limited to ten minutes. In the nearly dozen calls I placed I only received this message once.

When you request assistance, the representative FaceTimes you back when it's your turn. I found this set-up much preferable to listening to the tone loop on Be My Eyes. I can also use my iPhone during the wait, though I only had time to check my e-mail once during all of my connections before the FaceTime ring tone began to play and I was greeted by an assistant.

Final Thoughts

CrowdViz builds nicely on Be My Eyes, addressing many of the concerns I and other users have experienced. The service does not have to waste a lot of time attempting to connect to volunteers who are not ready or able to answer a call. Any security or other issues can be tracked back to the company employees, not some nameless volunteer. And since this a service I am paying for, I am much less likely to feel guilty if the call goes long, and others may not feel they are seeking charity with each call.

I do have concerns about their business model. Currently, four calls cost $3. Subtract Apple's 30 percent and you are left with approximately $2, or 50 cents per call. At the time of this writing, all CrowdViz employees work in the company's US offices. The only way I can envision this business model succeeding long-term would be if they raised prices, went offshore, or introduced a viable subscription plan.

In the meantime, the app is free to try. And at 75 cents or less for each session it's an extremely inexpensive way to keep a sighted reader at your constant beck and call. I will keep CrowdViz in my home screen folder alongside Be My Eyes for those times when I don't want to wait for an answer, when I plan to display private information, or when I feel the session may get a bit complicated.

Product Information

Product: CrowdViz
Manufacturer: DbComConsulting Inc.
Contact Information: 609-751-0686 or contactus@crowdviz.org

Comment on this article.

Related articles:

• A Review of the Be My Eyes Remote Sighted Helper App for Apple iOS by Bill Holton
• LowViz Guide: Indoor Navigation for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired by Deborah Kendrick

More from this author:

• Running Galaxy TalkBack on the Sprint Galaxy S6 Smartphone
• BARD Mobile for Android: It's Finally Here

On September 16, 2015, Apple released iOS 9, a new operating system for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. This new system provides VoiceOver accessibility improvements along with other general improvements. It is not possible to describe all the changes in one article. Spend time reviewing apps and checking out settings. An iPhone 6 was used for this evaluation.

VoiceOver Accessibility Improvements in iOS 9

Apple has made some useful enhancements to VoiceOver including offering more voices and a faster speaking rate.

New VoiceOver Voices

Go to Settings/General/Accessibility/VoiceOver/Speech

For English US, in addition to the Alex and Samantha voices, Apple has added Siri Male and Siri Female. All four voices come as either compact or enhanced. Enhanced voices take up more space but generally have better sound quality. Below the English US voices are options for other dialects.

VoiceOver Speaking Rate

Go to Settings/General/Accessibility/VoiceOver

The speech rate for the VoiceOver voices can now be made even faster. On the VoiceOver screen, find the Speech Rate picker and flick up and down to explore the new speaking rates.

VoiceOver Practice

Go to Settings/General/Accessibility/VoiceOver/VoiceOver Practice

There are now two new options in the VoiceOver Practice section: Braille Screen Input and Handwriting. In order to use either of these options, the input method must already be in the rotor. You can practice gestures that accompany these forms in the VoiceOver practice sections.

Changing Bluetooth Modifier Key

Go to Settings/General/Accessibility/VoiceOver/Keyboard/Modifier Keys

By default, the VoiceOver modifier key is set to Control-Option. There is now a second choice, Caps Lock.

Selecting Text

Selecting text has become easier with iOS 9. There is more control regarding how much text is selected. Before beginning the process, Text Selection must be in the rotor.

Locate the text to be selected and go to Text Selection in the rotor. Flick up or down to choose whether to select by character, word, line, page or select all. Next, swipe right and VoiceOver will speak the text as it is selected. Swipe left to deselect text. VoiceOver will also announce when text is deselected.

Once all desired text is selected, use the rotor and go to Edit. Swipe down to the Copy option, and double tap. The selected text is now copied to the clipboard. Tap the screen with three fingers to hear what has been selected. Go to Edit in the rotor and choose what you want to do with the text.

Apple Music

It is now easier to follow or unfollow artists. Activate the "My Account" button and then the button labelled "Following." Flick up or down on an artist's name. There will be an option to unfollow the artist. Find new artists to follow by activating the "Find New Artists and Curators" button above the list of artists you are currently following.

A new list will be displayed. When you find an artist you want to follow, flick up or down. There will be an option to follow. Double tap on it. Unfollow the artist by flicking up to Following and double tapping.

iOS Changes

There have been many changes in iOS 9. Take some time to explore apps and the Settings options.

Apple News

This new app from Apple cannot be deleted. Get started with it by first choosing news sources. There is a long list of sources including the New York Times, Vanity Fair, and ESPN, along with a search box. Double tap on a choice to view recent stories. There is an "Add to Favorites" button to add the news source to your Favorites list within the app. The app also has several additional tabs: For You, Explore, Search, and Save. The For You tab is where content is stored. There is a list of news items based on your source selection. Double tap on an item to read the entire story. The Explore tab offers suggestions based on your previous selections. The Search tab brings up a search box for finding content. The Save tab lets you store content that you want to keep.

Spotlight Search

There are now two ways to access Spotlight Search: a three-finger flick to the right or three-finger swipe down in the middle of the page. My iPhone 6 works fine with the three-finger flick to the right. If three-finger flick down is used, my search box is already selected for text input and only apps are shown. If you encounter this issue, use the three-finger swipe to the right. The search box is at the top of the page. "Dictate" and "Cancel" buttons are to the right of the search box. Search results are broken into categories such as Top Hits, Suggested Web Sites, and Contacts. Headings will depend on the search query.

Swipe right to the heading labeled Siri Suggestions. Within this heading are four sections: Frequent Contacts (which formerly appeared in the app switcher), Recently Used Apps, Nearby, and News. Rotor headings will bring you to Siri Suggestions and Nearby. Flicking brings you through each category. On a contact's name, flick up or down for options such as text or call. Double tap on an app to open it. Nearby gives several options including restaurants and shopping. The News section gives a brief description of news stories. Double tap to read a story.

Find My iPhone

Apple automatically added this app to the iOS 9 download. It can be extremely useful in finding your device, especially if it is lost or stolen. A very good podcast on how to set up the app comes from AppleVis: Find your iPhone.

Settings

There is now a search box in Settings. You can move quickly to the desired option rather than flicking through the settings list. For example, typing "VoiceOver" in the search box gets you into the VoiceOver section. Prior to iOS 9, you had to go to Settings, swipe down to General, swipe down to Accessibility, and then go to VoiceOver. Search results are directly below the edit box. Results will appear immediately as you type letters.

Battery

Battery information is now located above Privacy in Settings. The first option is Low Power Mode. When this feature is activated, some features (such as background app refresh and automatically retrieving e-mail) are stopped until the battery is charged. When the iOS device battery level goes down to 20 percent, an option to enter low power mode is displayed on the screen along with the option to close the notification.

The next section of Battery settings shows how much power was used by individual apps in the past 24 hours. The information about stand by and usage is now at the bottom of the screen.

Apple Pay

You can now access your Apple Pay credit cards on the locked screen. In Settings, select the Wallet & Apple Pay option. Flick down to the Double Click Home Button option and select if it isn't already selected. When the screen is locked, double click the Home button, and your Apple Pay credit cards will appear.

The App Switcher

Open apps that used to be to the right of the Home button are now to the left of it. Nothing is located to the right of the Home button.

iCloud Drive

While upgrading to iOS 9, VoiceOver will ask whether you want iCloud Drive on the home screen. Depending on how many apps are on your home screen, it may end up on a different screen. If you don't put iCloud Drive on the home screen during the iOS 9 set up process, you can easily add it later. Go to Settings/iCloud/iCloud Drive. Make sure iCloud Drive is on. Select it and activate the "Show on Home Screen" button.

Siri

Siri is now faster. Siri can now give directions without going into the Maps app. Siri can now give reminders for tasks such as to e-mail someone or call someone. After you activate Siri, double tap on the Help button to get a list of commands.

There is an option in the Siri settings menu to train Siri to recognize your voice when you use the "Hey Siri" command. Within Siri's settings, activate the button labeled "Allow Hey Siri." Next select the "Set Up Now" button. VoiceOver will prompt you to speak into the microphone.

The Notification Center

Within the Notification Center there are options to clear an entire section or flick up or down on an item to hear available options. Options will depend on the specific notification. The button to clear a section is above the list of items in the section.

Maps

Transit directions are now available in Apple Maps though as of this review, not all cities are available. The app worked well in New York City. There are three buttons at the bottom of the screen: Drive, Walk, and Transit. Be sure the Transit button is selected. Transit directions include bus and/or train numbers. If there is more than one way to get to a location, activate the More Routes button at the bottom of the screen. Siri can also give directions.

Safari

Safari's "Share" button is now located at the bottom of the screen. There are new options that can be reached via the Share button including Save PDF to iBooks, Add to Home Screen, and Request Desktop Site.

Notes

This app has new upgrades in iOS 9. The first time Notes is launched, there will be a brief description about the new app and an option to upgrade. There is now an option to move a note to a folder. Flick up or down on a note until you hear "Move" and select it. A new screen will appear with options to create a new folder or move the note to an existing folder.

Below the edit box for writing a note is an option to show a toolbar. Options in the toolbar include Sketch, Checklist, and Photos.

Apple Music

There is now an option to play Apple Music at lower quality when you are on your cellular network. This reduces data use and it may take less time for a song to load. Go to Settings/Music and deactivate the button for high quality.

Mail

You can now send content from iCloud Drive as e-mail attachments. Double tap and hold in the body of the message. VoiceOver will say, "Show more Items." Select it if you want to attach photos. Swipe left to begin the selection process. To attach an item from iCloud Drive, select the "Show More Items" option again. This time, when you flick left, the first option will be "Add Attachment." Select this option. iCloud Drive will open. Find the item to be attached and select it. Activate the Done button in the upper right corner. Insure that your attachment was added by flicking through the body of the message until you hear that the attachment was added.

It is now also possible to save e-mail attachments to iCloud Drive. Double tap and hold on the attachment. There will be a list of options including Save Attachment.

Ad Blockers

In iOS 9 it's now possible to install an ad blocker to your iOS device. One accessible ad blocker is "Purify." It costs only 99 cents in the App Store. An AppleVis podcast on the app is Purify podcast.

Conclusion

iOS 9 has a number of good system and accessibility updates. There isn't a downside to upgrading.

Comment on this article.

Related articles:

• Out and About: Our Favorite iOS Travel Apps, by Judy Dixon and Doug Wakefield: A Book Review by Deborah Kendrick
• A Review of the Be My Eyes Remote Sighted Helper App for Apple iOS by Bill Holton

More from this author:

• Apple Music: A First Look with Access in Mind by Janet Ingber
• Focus on the Hospitality Industry, Part I in a Series: A Guide to Online Reservations for Marriott and Hyatt Hotels by Janet Ingber