Covid
19/Corona Virus Resources for Blind and Low-Vision
Updated 5/12/2020
Most of the news, information, and resources offered by the mainstream media are
not given with Blind or Low-Vision people in mind. On this page I will share
information and resources that I either use personally or have become aware of
during this process and believe to be helpful particularly to people who are
Blind or low-vision. Also, some of what I share will be Southern California
centric, since that is where I live, but may still be helpful no matter what
part of the U.S. you live. If you have suggestions for things that I should add
to this list, please feel free to contact me by email at:
help@techjv.com
Staying Informed - Covid 19 news
Accessible Covid 19 statistics
tracker
In the rapidly changing landscape of the Covid-19 outbreak, staying informed is
more crucial than ever.
For many people with disabilities, much of the data available regarding the
COVID19 (corona virus) outbreak is in a graphical format, which is impossible to
access. This website aims to solve the lack of accessible information by making
critical statistics available in a text format that is easy to read and
understand.
The accessible Covid-19 statistics tracker provides information about the spread
of Covid-19. The website provides statistics by country, as well as individual
states within the United States. You can also see and sort the data by total
cases, active cases, cases reported today, deaths today, overall deaths, those
who have recovered, those in critical condition, and cases per million people.
Government services and information
Los Angeles City - Meals to Angelenos with Disabilities Program
Direct link to
application
Covid 19 Testing
- Los Angeles City and County
Los Angeles County WDACS Critical Delivery Service
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the California Safer at Home
Initiative, our aging population has an increased need for timely delivery
services. WDACS has launched a free pickup and delivery program for older adults
and individuals with disabilities. The Countywide program, called Critical
Delivery Service, will deliver groceries, household items, and other vital
necessities to individuals who are unable to leave their homes due to the
COVID-19 pandemic.
Items may be delivered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at no cost to the client.
No application process is required, however, items must be pre-paid and ready
for pickup. Deliveries may be scheduled by calling 1-888-863-7411 between 8:00
am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Clients may utilize this service up to
four times or 40 miles per month, whichever comes first.
Social Security -
Economic Impact Payments
IRS - Economic Impact Payments
Staying informed - Blindness organizations
and other sources
Blind Bargains
National Federation of the Blind Covid 19 Resources
American Council
of the Blind Covid 19 Response
American Foundation for the Blind Community Resources
Braille Institute Library (NLS)
Audio Internet Reading Service
of Los Angeles
Los Angeles Radio Reading
Service
Accessible World
Accessible World seeks to educate the general public, the disabled community and
the professionals who serve them by providing highly relevant information about
new products, services, and training opportunities designed specifically to
eliminate geographic and access barriers that adversely affect them.
Education and Working from home
Vispero/Freedom Scientific
Freedom Scientific is now offering JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion free of charge for
personal computers at home, until June 30, 2020.
This offer is available to every household in the US and Canada.
Dolphin Computer Access
Dolphin is offering a free 3-month trial for SuperNova Magnifier, Magnifier &
Speech or Magnifier & Screen Reader
Humanware
Humanware is also offering a free live webinar series.
HIMS Inc. Free
webinars
Mosen Consulting
Free audio book, “Meet Me Accessibly – A Guide to Zoom Cloud Meetings from a
Blindness Perspective
National Braille Press - Free digital book downloads until April 30, 2020
Dinner Delivered - Accessible and Easy Ways to Receive Meals Direct to Your Door
by Kim Loftis and Chris Grabowski
Getting Visual Assistance with an iPhone - by Judith Dixon
Navigating Healthcare, When All They Can See Is that You Can't
by Deborah Kendrick
Hadley Institute
Aira - Remote visual
assistance by trained agents
Be My Eyes - Remote visual
assistance by volunteers
Grocery and food delivery
Shopping Helpers LA is a
community-based organization focused on helping to make the world around us a
better, healthier place. With the help of our tireless volunteers, we organize
shopping and deliveries free of charge for Seniors and disabled in the Los
Angeles area. Even though the site doesn't specifically mention it, they are
willing to provide assistance to blind and low-vision people.
Apps such as: Instacart, Uber Eats, and Door Dash are accessible but it can be
challenging getting available time slots for grocery delivery, sometimes it
could be several days later, if you're lucky. I've had the best luck so far
using Walmart Grocery All of these apps are available on both IOS and Android.
My favorite restaurant delivery service so far is
Denny's which
is very accessible and quick, as in 15 minutes. For the time being, they are
offering free delivery. You don't need an app,
just click here.
Go Go Grandparent Now
offers food and grocery delivery service in addition to access to ride share
services like Uber and Lyft without the use of a SmartPhone.
Entertainment
Audio Description Project
Are you stuck at home? Are you bored? Are your kids driving you crazy and you
want to give them something to do? Want to know if there is anything good on TV
that has audio description? Want to know what is on Broadcast television, cable,
and streaming services with audio description? If so, the Audio Description
Project is here to help during these challenging times.
The Audio Description Project (ADP) website has all this information and more.
It has up to date listings of what is on NBC, Fox, CBS, and ABC. It has listings
for TNT, TBS, HGTV, and more.
Want to stay culturally relevant and know why people think Baby Yoda is so darn
cute, then check out “The Mandalorian” on Disney+. Want to learn what the fuss
is with “Stranger Things” on Netflix that is also audio described? To learn
about these titles and more then check out our listing for the streaming
services which include Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, HULU, iTunes, Apple TV
Plus, CBS All Access, and IMDb TV.
We also have an up to date listings of which titles with audio description get
released on DVD.
To learn more about audio description, where and when you can watch it, and what
titles are available, check
them out here.
Audio Vault
This site contains the audio only portion of audio described film and TV shows.
Banana Vision
Putting the Vision back in Television
Welcome. We created Bananavision in 2008 because mainstream television drove us
bananas, and to reflect a simpler time. We offer an array of television audio
for your enjoyment.
The Listen Factor
Here at The Listen Factor, we stream a variety of great media sound tracks
specifically designed for folks who are blind and/or visually impaired making it
difficult to see the TV screen.
Some of our offerings include:
Old Time Radio, including crime/detective, mystery, suspense, westerns, family,
comedy, adventure and SciFi.
TV and movie sound tracks (sound only, no video) both described and non-described,
all genres
Music and other special events in conjunction with a partner radio station.
BUZZR TV
BUZZR is a pop culture time capsule – an unending celebration where viewers can
play along to some of Fremantle's vast portfolio of more than 40,000 iconic game
show episodes, which are shown around the clock.
Free full length movies on YouTube
If the information and resources that I provide on this page have helped you in any way, and you feel moved or motivated to do so, please feel free to donate. Your donations are greatly appreciated and will help to offset the costs of keeping up with technology and the gathering of knowledge and resources which are shared on this page. |