NEWS / EVENTS

When you finish a conversation with a person who is blind, let them know when you are leaving. It's embarrassing to realize one is talking to him- or herself. Help them orient themselves in a room also – tell them which way a speaker, stage or podium is so they can...

Some businesses in our community go above and beyond with their kindness. One of those is ShopRite – every week, they donate baked goods to our students for breakfast. Thank you! Pictured (from left): ShopRite of Parsippany Store Manager Frank Sblendorio, VLANJ...

Ever fallen asleep with your contact lenses in? 👁️👁️ The Center for Disease Control reports that this is the most common offense for contact lens users. But what's so bad about it anyway? Eyes, like the rest of our bodies, need oxygen to survive, and if you have...

Going out with a person who is blind or has low vision? Let them take your arm and follow, rather than grabbing their arm and pulling them or pushing them ahead of you. Help them feel at ease by telling them about the surroundings: the street you're walking on, what...

Shout out to Panera Bread for having an accessible ordering system! The self-service ordering stations feature both Braille and VoiceOver, which make ordering simpler for people who have low vision or are blind. Well done, Panera Bread. 👏 We're always happy to see...

TapTapSee is an application designed specifically for users who are blind or have low vision, utilizing your device's camera and VoiceOver functions to take a picture or vide of anything and identify it out loud for you! 📸 TapTapSee is one of the apps our students...

Not all Vision is 2020 – have you ever heard of age-related macular degeneration (AMD)? It's the leading cause of severe, permanent vision loss in people over age 60. AMD happens when the small central portion of your retina, called the macula, wears down. Because the...

There are different levels of vision loss and different levels of blindness – being considered legally blind does not necessarily mean the person can't see anything. Using nonvisual techniques and tools like a cane when some vision remains doesn't mean the person is...

On Tuesdays, we offer a program that centers around accessible technology. 📲 Students learn about various features of the iPhone and iPad that are designed to make the user experience easier for people who are blind or have low vision. They also learn basic functions...

According to a recent survey by the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), most folks fall short when it comes to knowledge about eye diseases. 👁️ Although 81% of the 3500 surveyed adults were knowledgeable about vision health, only 19% knew the three main causes of...

People who are blind are still ordinary people. It can feel quite awkward for them if you say they are amazing for accomplishing ordinary tasks like walking or tying shoes. They too like ordinary things and have ordinary hobbies, but it's not necessary to make a big...

Be My Eyes is a free app that was created to help people who are blind or low-vision with daily tasks. Through a live video call, blind and low-vision users connect with volunteers who provide them with visual assistance for tasks ranging from matching colors, to...

Breaking News! Governor Murphy signed the bill to make the Seeing Eye dog the state dog of New Jersey!  

How to be courteous in social settings with people who are blind or low vision? Please talk to them directly, rather than to their companions, and talk like you would with other people. It’s ok to still use words such as see and look. People who are blind/low vision...

Eye Facts! 👁️👁️ Did you know eyes can’t start producing tears till they are 4 to 13 weeks old? 💧 Tears are produced in the lacrimal glands (tear ducts) that are in the outer corners of your eyelids. These glands produce tears from your blood plasma, selecting some...

Tinting your eyelashes, micro-blading your eyebrows... with all these enhancements available to the general public, what are the actual risks? Enhancing your eyelashes and eyebrows via tinting or adding extensions could cause problems with the eyes and affect vision,...

In all 50 states, the law requires drivers to yield the right of way when they see an extended white cane or guide dog. Only people who are blind or have low vision may legally carry white canes. They listen to traffic patterns to know when to cross streets and to...

Glaucoma is often referred to as the silent thief of eye sight. 👁️👁️ The signs and symptoms of glaucoma vary depending on the type and stage of your condition. If left untreated, glaucoma will eventually cause blindness. Even with treatment, about 15 percent of people...

Glaucoma is one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness. Known as the silent thief of eye sight, glaucoma often progresses with no symptoms or warning signs, making it crucial to detect it early. Although more common in people over 60, glaucoma can affect...