The staff and volunteers at New Vision continually research and find new resources that may assist in your vision loss journey. Have a resource that should be here? Email Chantel at cbuck@newvisionfl.org
Local Support Groups
Phone Apps for the Visually Impaired
Blind and Visually Impaired Specific
Aria Explorer connects people who are blind or low-vision to professional visual interpreters for secure access to visual information, anytime, anywhere.
ACB Link: Only available on Apple iOS. American Council of the Blind is an advocacy organization with some good resources including state affiliate info and radio broadcasts on various topics.
AiPoly: Real-time identification of objects, colors, text, and landmarks (free with in-app purchases).
Be My Eyes: Provides sighted assistance on demand from volunteers. It’s very similar to FaceTime on the iPhone.
CapBot: Describes pictures using AI for Android
Claro MagX: App that turns an Apple device into a powerful visual magnifier. Makes small text in books and newspapers readable. Offers a wide range of magnification, high-contrast and color viewing options to make text easier on the eyes.
Dragon Anywhere: Dragon dictation software. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
DigitEyes: Barcode identification for Apple iOS.
EyeNote: Currency identification app from the Bureau of Engraving and Printing (free).
Seeing Al: Provides descriptions of text or facial recognition. Only available for Apple iOS.
Sero: Serotek software app. If you are subscribed to Serotek products, you can access movies, podcasts, articles, resources etc.
Transportation
Amtrak: Book train reservations.
Flush: Quickly find public restrooms (free with adds). Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Greyhound: Book bus reservations.
Lyft: Affordable and efficient transportation.
Moovit: Updated fixed bus route schedules and directions based on addresses you input.
Transit: Accurate bus gps.
Uber: Convenient and affordable transportation.
Wanderu: Compare and book bus and train travel deals in the US and Europe (free).
Navigation
BlindSquare: It’s a type of GPS that describes what is around you. For Apple iOS.
Lazarillo: Announces places around you as you travel past them.
Nearby Explorer: Announces places around you as you travel past them.
Rome2Rio: Discover how to get anywhere using various modes of transportation (free)
Whereami: Provides the exact address you are located at. This is great in emergency situations or if you are lost. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Reading
Bard Mobile: Download and read NLS Talking books (free). Download for Android. Download for Apple iOS.
Capti: Text to speech app.
EasyReader: A free accessible reading app. Browse and download from the world’s largest collection of talking book and newspaper libraries. Open your own DAISY, ePub or text books or copy text from anywhere on your phone and have it read back to you.
KNFBReader: Converts text to speech or text to Braille. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Learning Ally: Educational books in DAISY format (requires annual membership).
NFB-Newsline: Provides various newspaper content, tv listings and more. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Prismo Go: Read printed materials, and save/share files (free). For Apple iOS.
Speaky: Reads articles aloud from links you input.
Talking Goggles: Read text in real-time (free with adds)
Voice Dream Suite: Includes Voice Dream Reader, Writer and Scanner for printed materials. $19.99. For Apple iOS.
Shopping
Amazon: Shopping on Amazon. If you are Amazon Prime member you can order nonperishable items delivered to you within hours. You can also order food delivery from local restaurants. It’s great if you are sick and can’t get out to get soup or water or OTC medication. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
BlindBargains: Offers discounted prices on technology and other blindness related items.
Instacart: A grocery delivery subscription service. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Publix: Make grocery lists from the Publix weekly ads.
Health
Blood Pressure Companion: Track your blood pressure, heart rate and weight. For Apple iOS.
CalorieKing: For those that need to keep track of calories when they grocery shop or go out to eat.
MyDiabetes: Diabetes management tracker. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Health: You can input your medical information for emergency situations or if you are unable to remember all of your medications. For Apple iOS.
Heart Rate: You can test your heart rate. For Apple iOS.
Icare Health Monitor: This app has various features to monitor your health.
Medscape: Extensive info about medications and health conditions.
MyNetDiary: Diabetes management app.
Mysugr: Diabetes management app.
Local Resources
ATIA Events: This is the app for the Assistive Technology Industry Association conference that is held in Orlando every January.
Meetup: Listings of various interest groups to become more social and integrated in the community.
Orlando News 96.5: Most accurate local news and weather reports. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Nextdoor: Neighborhood contacts, resources and happenings around your local neighborhood. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Finance
Credit Karma: Provides free credit and accurate credit scores. You can also do your taxes for free though their website. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Employment
EF Mobile: Employ Florida mobile app. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Goodwill: Provides info on all Goodwill locations near you. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Indeed Jobs: Provides job listings that you can apply for through the app.
JobServe: Provides job listings that you can apply for through the app.
LinkedIn: Professional networking tool.
Snagajob: Provides job listings that you can apply for through the app. Download for Android. Download for Apple.
Food
Grubhub: Food delivery app. Download for Apple. Download for Android.
UberEats: Food delivery app. Download for Apple. Download for Android.
Weather
Dark Sky: Will notify you when it is going to rain in your location.
Notetaking
Evernote: Allows users to take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, record voice reminders and make these notes completely searchable. Basic storage is free, but a larger storage will require a subscription.
Just Press Record: For Apple iOS. This app takes place of a digital recorder. You can record anything for any length of time. You can save and rename files as well. You can also save content to iCloud.
Keeper: Where you can safely store all of your passwords.
Find Blindness Services Outside Lake, Sumter & The Villages
Blindness Services in Florida
Florida Agencies Serving the Blind member list: look up by county the agencies throughout Florida serving people with vision loss (like New Vision)
Blindness Services Outside of Florida
Vision Serve Alliance member list: look up by state agencies throughout the U.S. and Canada serving people with vision loss
Vision Conditions
Glossaries of Eye Conditions
APH ConnectCenter’s Glossary of Eye Conditions
Foundation Fighting Blindness’s Vision Loss Glossary
Prevent Blindness’s Common terms to help you learn more about your eyes and vision
Cataracts
Hadley’s Living with Cataracts
Choroideremia
Charles Bonnet Syndrome
American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) Retina Health Series: Charlies Bonnet Syndrome
American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO): What is Charles Bonnet Syndrome?
Macular Society: Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS)
The Charles Bonnet Syndrome Podcast
Diabetic Retinopathy
Hadley’s Living with Diabetic Retinopathy
How Diabetes Affects Your Vision
Prevent Blindness: What is diabetes-related eye disease?
Leber Congenital Amaurosis
Macular Degeneration (AMD)
American Macular Degeneration Foundation
Hadley’s Living with Macular Degeneration
Macular Degeneration Foundation
Retinitis Pigmentosa
Stargardt Disease
Usher Syndrome
Research
Foundation Fighting Blindness – retinal diseases:
- My Retina Tracker Registry: a research database of people and families affected by rare inherited retinal degenerative diseases (IRD). There are over 20 retinal degenerative diseases which the Foundation Fighting Blindness studies. The list, includes retinitis pigmentosa, Leber congenital amaurosis, Stargardt disease, Usher syndrome, Best disease, choroideremia, and achromatopsia, amongst others.
- Clinical Trial Pipeline
Prevent Blindness: Clinical trials for eye diseases and vision
Living with Vision Loss
Living with Vision Loss
Hadley: practical and social/emotional help to older adults adjusting to vision loss, empowering them to adapt and thrive
APH Vision Aware: free, easy-to-use informational service for adults who are blind or have low vision, their families, caregivers, healthcare providers, and social service professionals
- Living with Blindness or Low Vision: If you are new to blindness or low vision, take the journey one day and one step at a time. Utilize our tips for adjusting to vision changes, living independently, caring for yourself, navigating relationships, getting around your environment, redesigning your home and fall prevention, making home and vehicle repairs, maintaining employment, and choosing where to live.
The Connection Between Health and Vision Impairment
What Are Vision Rehabilitation Services and How Can They Help Older Adults?
Working with Vision Loss
APH’s CareerConnect
How Vocational Rehabilitation Can Translate Vision Loss into Career Success
Job Assistance Guide for People with Disabilities
Legal Rights and Protections for Disabled Workers in Florida
For Families & Friends of Adults with Vision Loss
APH Vision Aware: Families and Friends
Prevent Blindness:
For Caregivers of Children with Vision Loss
APH Family Connect: APH FamilyConnect ® is here to support you, your child, your family, and your child’s medical and educational team members. Discover tips, ideas, information, and personal stories to support your family in raising your child. Getting Started guides birth to 3rd grade and 4th to 12th grade
College: Navigating College with Visual Impairments
National Organization for Albinism and Hypopigmentation:
Seedlings Braille Books for Children
Vision Serve Alliance’s “Interacting with Children who are Visually Impaired”
Counseling Resources
Janice Barrocas, LPC, CRC, NCC
Therapist specializing in personal adjustment and vision loss
Career Development Facilitator
janice@adjustingtovisionloss.com
470-635-9499 call or text
Special Interests
Music
Music By Ear: learn guitar, piano, or other instruments non-visually
Reading
Sports
Accessible Outdoor Adventures: Environmental Travel Companions
Beep Baseball: National Beep Baseball Association
Skiing: American Blind Skiing Foundation
US Association of Blind Athletes: goalball, soccer, endurance races, and much more
Technology
American Foundation for the Blind’s AccessWorld: A trusted source of information for the intersection of disability and technology. Published quarterly, view our honest commentary, expert insights, and trending discussions in AccessWorld®.
Computers for the Blind: provides refurbished computers with accessibility software, as well as training and other services to individuals across the United States
Hadley’s Technology Workshops: free workshops on iPhone, iPad, Android, computer, and other useful tech
Top Tech Tidbits: The world’s #1 online resource for current news and trends in access technology
Veterans
Blinded Veterans Association: serving blind veterans since WWII
Accessing Medical Care
New Vision is not a medical provider. We cannot improve your vision or assist in the purchase of eyeglasses (sorry!), but these resources may be useful.
Resources for eye medical assistance and eyeglasses
EyeCare America: no-cost medical eye exams by an ophthalmologist for eligible seniors and those at risk for glaucoma
American Academy of Ophthalmology’s Resources for eye glasses
Prevent Blindness’s Medicare Benefits and Your Eyes
Prevent Blindness’s Vision Care Financial Assistance Information
Accessibility
Access Information News: The world’s #1 online resource for current news and trends in access information
What Is Accessibility and Why Is It Important for People with Vision Loss?
Legal Assistance
Community Legal Services
Community Legal Services provides no-cost legal services to the most vulnerable in Central Florida and help them protect their families, health, and livelihood.
- Web: https://www.legalaccessforall.org/
- Tavares office: Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Office open by appointment only.
- Phone: (352) 343-0815
- Fax: (352) 343-8853
- 226 W. Main St., Tavares, FL 32778
Community Legal Services HELPline 1-800-405-1417
CLS HELPline 1-800-405-1417
Community Legal Services (CLS) Helpline is an intake and attorney-staffed telephone advice, brief services, pro se, and referral system serving low income individuals, seniors, and other vulnerable people with civil legal issues throughout Central Florida. The attorneys who answer Helpline calls provide eligible clients with immediate brief legal services and/or referrals.
CLS Helpline attorneys are trained to counsel holistically, working with each caller to look at all areas of their life (such as housing, finances, family stability, education, safety, and healthcare) rather than simply addressing only a single need.
Helpline attorneys also provide on-the-spot referrals to a wide variety of governmental and social service providers, including local domestic violence shelters, housing resources, prescription drug programs for low income persons, and emergency food resources.
Disability Rights Florida
https://disabilityrightsflorida.org
Tel 1-800-342-0823
Disability Rights Florida was founded in 1977 as the state’s designated Protection and Advocacy (P&A) system for individuals with disabilities in the State of Florida. The P&A system exists to ensure the safety, well-being, and success of people with disabilities.
Disability Rights Florida is a nonprofit organization that provides legal advocacy and rights protection for adults and children with a wide range of disabilities. Our staff attorneys, advocates and investigators address civil rights violations, abuse and neglect, and discrimination specifically in these areas:
- Disputes involving Medicaid eligibility including Protected Medicaid, Home & Community Based Services Waivers, and Medicare Savings Programs.
- Discrimination in housing, architectural barriers, service animals, transportation, and access to public and private programs and services.
- Abuse, neglect, and rights violations in an institution, prison or jail.
- Rights to a least restrictive environment, privacy, choice, dignity, and other basic human and civil rights.
- Barriers to a free and appropriate education, K-12 special education, transition services, and post-secondary education.
- Access to mental health and support services that provide individualized treatment including adults and students with psychiatric disabilities.
- Employment accommodations, as well as accessing, maintaining or regaining employment, and vocational rehabilitation (through our Client Assistance Program).
- Rights to effective and accessible communication like American Sign Language and accessible print and electronic information.
- Access to services that will enable veterans with service-related injuries a successful transition to civilian life.
- Investigation of stolen or misused funds, exploitation, or neglect by representative payees.
- Voting registration, vote casting, and accessible polling places.
- Access to assistive technology and devices such as communication devices and power wheelchairs.
- Supported Decision-Making as an alternative to guardianship.
If we can’t be of direct assistance, we refer people to other sources of help.
All services are free and confidential.
Statewide Initiatives
- Educating policy makers about the needs of people with disabilities
- Systemic and legal advocacy
- Collaborative work on disability rights issues
- Monitoring of public programs and facilities
- Workshops and trainings
Disability Resources and Publications (Disability Rights Florida)