Father's Day gift ideas for fathers with vision loss

Grandfather outside holding his granddaughter.

Father’s Day is coming up and I needed some gift ideas yesterday! Here’s a short list of really useful downloads and tools for your dad who has everything but perfect eyesight.

iOS access for everyone Shelly Brisbin is one of the best books you’ll find about using an iPhone or iPad with accessibility features, like the VoiceOver screen reader, screen magnifier, Zoom, or any of the other accessibility features built into iOS. No matter how long you’ve used your iOS device, you’ll learn something new from this book! Note: The latest version of the book covers iOS 18.

Personal Power: iOS version by Michael Feir is another option for a new iPhone/iPad user trying to learn VoiceOver (a text-to-speech screen reader). Fair’s book is comprehensive, adds a personal touch to his teaching style, and is a free download.

Here’s a tip. Personal Power is available in a variety of text and audio formats, including… Personal Power: iOS version in MP3 format. This is the format that can be played on the National Library Service Talking Book Player, which will make reading much easier for those who prefer to read using the Talking Book Player. Unzip the file to a blank or thumbnail USB drive Howell’s Mobility Talking Book Cartridge (Make sure you get the cable too), and it’s ready to read.

Does my father have an Amazon Echo? If not, this is yours Father’s Day gift idea there! If Alexa is already part of the household, tell him about all the radio playback services he can listen to with the help of Alexa with a simple voice command. (Using Smart Speakers and Home Automation for People Who Are Blind or Visually Impaired – APH ConnectCenter

Many radio reading services (also called Voice information services) are broadcast online, as well as on their local over-the-air FM station. These services use human readers for local and national newspapers, magazines, and books. Check their schedules, and you’ll find a time and station to listen to publications like USA Today, the NY Times, the Wall Street Journal, and other local newspapers. Download the list of radio playback services on smart speakers And voice commands for use with Alexa for Dad.

Meet Alexa in Hadley

If Dad is new to Amazon Echo, how about some training with Amazon Echo? Alexa Workshop Series in Hadley. There is no cost for Hadley’s workshops. Register online at hadleyhelps.orgor by phone by calling 800-323-4238, and participate in as many workshops as you like. Participate in online workshops or have them sent to you on a talking book cartridge, in large print or in Braille.

Read the newspaper with NFB NEWSLINE®

Of course, if my father is a big newspaper reader, and he hasn’t found out yet National Federation of the Blind (NFB) NEWSLINE ®You are about to become his favorite child! This accessible news service is available in most states to anyone with a print disability and provides access to hundreds of newspapers and many magazines.

With NEWSLINE®, Dad can listen to the newspapers live via the landline, using the dial pad to open menus and make selections – perfect for those who keep their technology simple. You can also use your iPhone, the web, email, other digital audio players, and even Amazon Echo to access NFB NEWSLINE®.

If Dad uses a smartphone, here are two apps he’ll pay for over and over again — in fact, they’re both free! Microsoft’s vision for artificial intelligence For iPhone, and Google Observatory For Android phones.

Both Lookout and Seeing AI are designed to use a smartphone’s camera and artificial intelligence (AI) to read text out loud, describe an image, or read a bar code. They each have slightly different features and are really useful for reading papers, mail, magazine articles, items in the pantry, and even currency.

Speaking of artificial intelligence, Mystic Access offers a Free audio tutorial for Meta Ray-Ban In MP3 file format pr DAISY. Get more from your Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses!

the Micro Speak Digital audio recorder is back! The preferred and easy-to-use digital recorder with talklist is ideal for anyone who wants the simplicity of a small, hand-held audio recorder. For more information, see Micro-Speak review at AccessWorld.

We wish you a very Happy Father’s Day! And hey, Dad, if your kids aren’t thinking about finishing one of these downloads for you, who says you can’t treat yourself to a download for Father’s Day, or a new pair of Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses?