How to help the low-income blind or visually disabled get this technology? (see description)

My mother has severe macular degeneration (she’s 87) and finds out about stuff through her state agency that deals with the blind. She probably couldn’t be convinced that these apps would help her as she’s a technophobe, but I also have a friend in a very similar boat because of albinism. I’ll ask him, and anopther blind friend who works with exactly this kind of stuff. This is very cool, @Dog , I’ll see what I can do.
Anyway, a state agency is a good place to start, as a group with the infrastructure already in place would be set up to distribute…

W hat a wonderful idea @Dog !
I hope that you can find the resources that you need.
I think that @JilltheTooth has the right idea, organizations that are already in place to help the visually impaired would be where I would start. perhaps if there is nothing included in one of these organizations, then you can be the catalyst to start such a project.

I’d contact the Lions Club, since this is right up their alley. They typically collect used eyeglasses for distribution to those who can still make use of them – around the world.

Fidelco, the guide dog organization for the blind, might also be a good place to check with.

Excellent idea, @Dog.

Great idea! Have you contacted the Lighthouse in New York City? I know they sell equipment and resources for the blind; maybe they know of existing charities.

(Also, you might e-mail this query to a former Jelly whose fiancee might well know of such things.)

@Dog, how absolutely exciting. Please, contact the National Federation for the Blind.

From their website: Products and technology have become increasingly critical to the NFB and its members. The NFB’s products and technology programs provide tools of independence for the blind and serve as models of consumer leadership in designing and implementing innovative services. All of our efforts to promote new products and new technology are carried out through the NFB’s model of grass-roots participation to test and implement new initiatives. Blind consumer leaders from throughout the United States take the lead in setting priorities and in promoting the use of new devices which hold promise. Much of our work, such as evaluation of technology at the International Braille and Technology Center and other programs of the Jernigan Institute, is carried out in conjunction with engineers and developers who work as partners with the Federation. However, for products and technology, such as NFB-NEWSLINE® and the Kurzweil-National Federation of the Blind Reader, our involvement is much more direct. Nonetheless, using either model, or some combination of both, the NFB is improving lives for blind people through the use of effective products and technology programs that are changing what it means to be blind.

National Federation of the Blind
200 East Wells Street
at Jernigan Place
Baltimore, MD 21230
Phone: 410–659-9314
Fax: 410–685-5653

http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Contact_Us.asp?SnID=608192505

And/or a state affiliate:

http://www.nfb.org/nfb/State_and_Local_Organizations.asp?SnID=608192505

The website provides a list of NFB – Technology Resources.

http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Technology_Resource_List1.asp?SnID=608192505