Best Close Reading Distance, Optimal Print Size
 
When calculating print size, know that you will have the opportunity to take a class with an Optometrist (you get a broader understanding of vision conditions, correction and optics) and a Low Vision class where you will have the opportunity to administer portions of tests and observe low vision exams being performed.  So no need to think you need to know it all in this class. 
 
When determining print size a few things are necessary. The standard for this is M Units.  When looking at printed material, you test for this.   Some basic informtion 8 pt Times New Roman is equal to 1 M, 16 pt TMR = 2 M and 32 pt TNR =4 M. 
 
Best Close Reading Distance is where print material should be placed for the child to most effectively read.  To do this you have a child read a reading chart at a comfortable distance, measure the distance at which they are holding the card.  Then you will multiply that distance by 1.5 to get the Best Close Viewing Distance.  So if you measure 10 cm multiply that by 1.5 and 15 cm become the best close viewing distance for that student. Any student needing to hold the card closer than 15 cm or 6 inches should be one that you consider teaching braille. 
 
Next you want to find the Optimal Print Size.  To do this you have the student complete a reading test where print begins large and gets smaller (commercial test).  The student holds the reading card at their Best Close Viewing Distance and begin reading down the card until their reading speed decreases quickly.  At that point you move up 1 line on the card and that is the Optimal Print Size or Critical Angular Size. 
 
If you have a Best Close Reading Distance of 10 inches and 4 M is the Optimal Print Size then you can convert that number to get the Optimal Print Size at various distances.  At 5 inches use 2 M and at 20 inches use 8 M. Each of these equates to a visual acuity of 20/400 on a Snellen chart. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

1. Why doesn't the mm double as point size and inch increments double- that is because the conversion from mm to inches is 0.39.  So inches = mm x 0.39. 
    
2. Best Close Viewing Distance is measured by handing the child something to read and having them read to the smallest print they can.  Measure the distance in cm.  Usually I do this by holding a ruler along side the child head, beginning at the side of the eye and extending to the side of the paper they are holding.  I try not to interfere with their reading.  Then you multiply that distance by 1.5 and you get the BCVD. 

 

1. When you have calculated the BCVD and the Optimal Print Size it is possible to convert that to Snellen equivalents. 
   

Low Vision Optical DevicesThis category lists low vision optical devices, which include a variety of devices, such as stand and handheld magnifiers, strong magnifying reading glasses, loupes, and small telescopes. Magnifying devices are generally either handheld or mounted on a stand, with zoom ranges from 2x to 10x. Monoculars and binoculars are intended to help the user see items at a distance, often 15-30 feet away. These handheld telescopes are usually small enough to fit in the user's pocket.

Low vision optical devices are task-specific. You should see a low vision specialist, who may prescribe several different low vision optical devices for various tasks or help you determine the right type of device or devices that will help you with the tasks you want to perform. Learn more about optical devices on VisionAware, AFB's website for adults who are losing their sight.

The Chicago Lighthouse will donate a portion of your eligible purchases back to AFB. Just select the Chicago Lighthouse product links to support AFB with any

MAGNIFIER APPS

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com

The following is a small list of magnifier apps that are available for download that can be used to turn the iOS device into a magnifier. You may want to download a variety of magnifier apps to trial with your student.

 

 

Free. BigBrowser by Braille Institute is an internet browsing application designed to help Low Vision users more easily navigate the web on their iPads. It offers an extra large keyboard and controls, expanded pinch zooming, and multiple color themes make content easy to read. 



$99.99. KNFB Reader converts printed text into high quality speech to provide accurate, fast, and efficient access to documents. Picture accuracy is faciliated by a Field of View Report, Automatic Page Detection, and Tilt Control. It will determine the words and read them aloud in high quality text-to-speech and will also highlight text.


$0.99. Lumin is an electronic magnifying glass for your iPhone or iPod. It can also keep a running history of images.


$0.99 The MagLight+ Magnifying Glass with Light app transforms the iPhone into a well lit magnifying glass. Magnifies up to 10x with the option to turn the light on or off. 


Free. Magnificent app turns your mobile into a talking portable electronic video magnifier. Increases magnification up to 16x and offers color filter modes. Allows user to connect with a cable or wireless to view on an external screen. 


$19.99. The See It - Video Magnifier app is a handheld video magnifier that works by streaming a real time video feed to your iPhone/iPad screen from your device's back-facing camera. It also features a flash light for extra illumination.


$0.99. The Seeing Assistant Magnifier app allows user to use the phone as a magnifying glass. 


$1.99. The SRC Magnifier app combines many of the features usually found in dedicated portable handheld electronic magnifiers.


Free. The SuperVision+ Magnifier app offers live image stabilization. It magnifies images and reduces blurred images due to shaking. Buttons are large and highly visible.


$5.99. The  VisionAssist app is a type of handheld magnifier that utilizes the smartphone. It can be connected wirelessly to an apple TV or computer monitor for extra large viewing

 APPS FOR ACCESSING BOOKS
 
By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com

Below you will find resources for accessing electronic texts as well as a list of apps that provide access to electronic texts in an accessible format. 

 

 

Free The Audible an Amazon Smart Phone app, that works on the iPhone and Android devices, provides instant access to its entire store of audio books and podcasts recorded and narrated by actors.


Free. The BARD Mobile app is a service of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS). It provides access to braille and talking books directly from the NLS Braille and Audio Reading Download (BARD). It contains nearly 50,000 (and growing) books, magazines and music scores in audio and braille formats. Connect your Bluetooth ready device and instantly access braille materials. In order to use the app, you must be registered with a braille and talking-book library in the NLS network of cooperating libraries. 


Free Download books fro Amazon.com with the Kindle app. Reading options include large print, computer generated speech and human narrators.


Free Learning Ally provides access to a library of ore than 65,000 audiobooks is considered the best source for K-12 and college-level textbooks. Users can download and play on all iOS devices. ​Learning Ally is a national nonprofit provider of books in accessible format for people who cannot read standard print due to visual, perceptual or physical disabilities. Provides thousands of titles available on digitally recorded audio books, DC, and computer disk, including textbooks.


$19.99 Read2Go, by Bookshare is the most accessible DAISY ebook reader for iOS. From within Read2Go you can browse, search, download, and read books directly from Bookshare using your Bookshare membership, as well as read DAISY books from other sources. ​Bookshare provides access to books that are legally scanned for people who are visually impaired or print disabled. The books can be read with adaptive technology or in embossed braille.


​$14.99 Voice Dream Reader is an accessible reading tool with advanced text-to-speech and a highly configurable screen layout that can be tailored to auditory readers and visual readers. Voice Dream Reader supports reading PDF and Word documents, DRM-free EPUB and DAISY eBooks, Web pages and more. It's directly integrated with Bookshare, Dropbox, G-Drive, Evernote, Pocket, Instapaper, and Gutenberg. 


$4.99 The only ePub book reader for the iPhone, iPad and iPod that reads out loud. vBookz has a magnifying glass interface indicating your current reading location, the magnifying glass follows the text as the book is being read, making the reading experience much more enjoyable and fun.


Free. vBookz PDF Voice Reader. This version of the ePub book reader for the iPhone, iPad and iPod reads out loud as the basic vBookz app, but this app can also read pdf files!


$19.99 ​ZoomReader lets you magnify and read text by first taking a picture of an object like a book or menu, then converting the image into text using state of the art Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. ZoomReader will then read the text back to you using a natural sounding voice.


  

NOTE TAKING APPS

By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated September 1, 2018

The iPad is a great tool to use with students who are visually impaired and there are more and more apps that are creating more accessibility. The following apps assist with note taking. 


Text to Speech Apps

$.99 Audio Memos - The Voice Recorder is a professionally made audio recorder.


Free
Dictate your message, and Dragon types it out on the screen with Dragon Anywhere.  Your options for delivery of this message include text message, email, copy-and-paste, facebook, and twitter.


Free. Evernote is an easy to use app that helps you remember everything across all of the devices you use. It lets you take notes, capture photos, create to-do lists, and record voice reminders.


$99.99. KNFB Reader converts printed text into high quality speech to provide accurate, fast, and efficient access to documents. Picture accuracy is faciliated by a Field of View Report, Automatic Page Detection, and Tilt Control. It will determine the words and read them aloud in high quality text-to-speech and will also highlight text.


Free.​ iTalk Recorder is a full-featured recording app with a streamlined and intuitive user interface. Press the big red button to record; press it again to stop. You can append to existing recordings, choose from three levels of recording quality and manage your recordings, all with just a fingertip.


$0.99. The List Recorder app combines making lists with an audio recorder. The app allows you to jot down and organize information as audio, text or both. It is designed to integrate with VoiceOver and braille displays.


$1.99 Speak It! is a text to Speech designed to work with multitasking features.


Voice Messenger

Free. Hey Tell is a cross-platform voice messenger that allows you to instantly talk with friends and family. No account needed.


Free. The TalkBox Voice Messenger app is a voice messenger on mobile that allows users to exchange, share and publish their voice messages. It is similar to a global walkie talkie! 


 

This web sight has a simulation of low vision problems like blur, waviness, and holes  This is a great resource to help general education teachers to see what students might be seeing.

https://www.looktoyourfuture.com/low-vision?ecid=PSEYLTYF-GSN-LowVision-General