Hello Everyone!

I'm Cabian from uTest/Applause, and we're reaching out to our blind and low vision community members. We're partnering with a leading cloud computing company to enhance the accessibility of their services specifically for users like you. We're inviting individuals from our community who use cloud computing tools with assistive technology to participate in a moderated focus group. Your lived experiences and insights are invaluable in shaping more inclusive digital workspaces.

Opportunity Details:

• Participate in a 90-minute remote moderated focus group
• Share your experiences as a blind or low vision user of cloud computing platforms
• Contribute your unique perspective on improving accessibility features

Compensation:

• $275 for completing the session (via PayPal)
• + $50 referral bonus for successful referrals

We're Seeking Participants Who:

• Are blind or have low vision
• Use cloud computing platforms with assistive technologies
• Are based in the US and 18+
• Are fluent in English

Ready to help create a more accessible future? [APPLY HERE]

Please mention you found this opportunity on Reddit. Our application process is designed to be accessible with various assistive technologies.

We're committed to ensuring a comfortable experience for all participants. If you need any accommodations or have questions, please don't hesitate to reach out. Comment below, send me a DM, or visit r/UTEST.

Your privacy is our priority. This study is GDPR compliant.

Dear community, one of my friends is deaf blind and is becoming disoriented with time.

Can anybody recommend a watch that vibrates to tell the time? Finding it hard to find anything online (!)

Thanks in advance :)

Partner with us to create banking experiences that work for everyone!

We're inviting people with disabilities to collaborate on a 60-minute remote user research study. Share your valuable insights with our UX team and earn $200 for your time. Your feedback will directly shape the future of accessible banking. 

Please note that the research team may record the interview for reference purposes.

Project Details:

• Start Date: 11/08/2024
• Location: United States
• Project Type: User Experience Study
• Time Commitment: 60 min
• Payout: $200

Interested? [Click Here to Apply]. Make sure to mention you saw this project on Reddit!

If you have any questions, feel free to ask in the comments or reach out on our official subreddit, 

Don’t miss out on this opportunity and Happy Testing :) Please apply if you are interested. Happy testing!

This has always confused me , she talked about the moment like it was a lightbulb and that’s it . How did she understand the concept of a name or letters or how to talk about abstract concepts when at the age she lost her two senses she probably had never seen an alphabet ? Also did she know a lot of words before she went deaf/blind and how long was it before she lost those memories and quit talking ? Pls note I ask this as a seeing hearing person , so if you were blind/deaf from birth , pls tell me what learning language was like for you as this mystery is driving me crazy

Hi everyone! I’m writing an article about an issue in WCAG 2.2, where some websites only offer audio descriptions for pre-recorded media, but leave out the text transcripts that deaf-blind users need to access the visual information.

Have you faced this problem when using websites? If you’re open to sharing, I’d love to include your experience in my article to help raise awareness of this gap. Thank you!

Hi everyone,

I'm a fashion design student currently working on a project aimed at making the fashion industry more inclusive for individuals with sight loss. My project focuses on highlighting the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals when shopping for clothing, especially in retail environments that are overwhelmingly visual.

As part of my research, I am creating a life-sized garment that incorporates braille and tactile elements to convey the experiences of the sight loss community. I am seeking real stories of your experiences—positive or negative—related to shopping in stores or online. I’d love to hear about any struggles, frustrations, or even victories you’ve had when trying to navigate clothing stores, from dealing with unhelpful staff to inaccessible layouts, or any other barriers that made shopping difficult.

I really want to change the fashion industry‘s perspective on the sight loss community and break down barriers. Please feel free to leave any comments! Thank you!!

Does anyone know or have any resources about teaching a young adult how to blow their nose? This is a young adult who is DeafBlind and has cognitive challenges.

I bought 5X magnifier from Walmart store when I clicked delivery from store is awesome job. I got my new magnifier then I am curious this item have batteries inside and I looked around for slide the battery cover. I grabbed new batteries for magnifier have LED light. I liked this product is good for blind and low vision. I have Usher Syndrome type 1B and legal blindness. My eyesight is poor and fair because I was cataract surgery to replacement natural lenses to monofocal IOL impaired in my both eyes. I used 5X magnifier, Eye candy magnifier and another existing magnifiers.

Hello everyone.

I married my beautiful wife a little over 5 years ago, knowing she has Usher Type 2. He and I meld perfectly, and everyday is amazing. At that time, she had around 10° of central vision, and it was crystal clear.

Yesterday however, we had the first of two major conversations about our future:

"I'm starting to see less."

It's been obvious for about 6 months now, but we've both been denying it, just trying to keep things as normal as they can be for our lifestyle. She's having trouble distinguishing colors (pink from brown, green and blue, and oddly, darker reds and black), and the number of "mystery bruises" (impacts from everyday objects) on her abdomen and legs have greatly increased.

She broke down last night, terrified that her vision loss is accelerating, and we both cried together. I reasserted exactly what I said in our wedding vows, and promised her that I'm not leaving her, not matter the circumstances. She called her Optometrist and left a voicemail, whom I'm sure will react with haste to get her reexamined.

Not gonna lie, I'm beyond terrified. I have little idea on how to care for her when the day comes that she loses her sight, let alone her hearing as well. I have no idea where to start, and I have no idea what resources I need to activate/investigate.

She's already receiving SSDI, and plans on working until the day she physically can't anymore. She's receiving Occupational Mobility Training as well, and her trainer is amazing. In the past, she was denied for SSI, but we may try that again considering her worsening condition.

For those out there, both with Ushers, and especially those who care for loved ones with Ushers: what is helping you? What resources are you engaging with? What organizations have you talked with? Which ones are worth your time, and which ones should I just not bother with?

To clarify, I'm the husband of the person with Ushers Type 2, located in the USA; Indiana specifically. Any type of response is going to be read and appreciated, so please, any advice you can give, I'll listen with everything I have.

Hi all! We are a group of high schoolers working in the Management and Technology Summer Institute at the University of Pennsylvania. We are making a device that is a portable braille printer. It converts spoken words into Braille text in real time and imprints it on paper. Our aim with the project is to help people communicate with deafblind individuals easily and effectively without having to learn tactile sign language. Users can talk out loud as they would normally, and the printer will print out a transcript in braille for the deafblind individual to read. We are trying to make the device much cheaper than all the current devices for this in the market and add more functionality.

We want to post two short 15-20min surveys so we can understand the problems deafblind individuals face when communicating. Based on the information, we can then understand if our idea is useful, and focus on the main features and issues that the community would want us to on such a device. We want to do two surveys, one catered towards deafblind individuals, and one towards family/friends of deafblind individuals (click on the links below to do the survey)

Survey for blind/deafblind individuals

Survey for friends and family

We would really appreciate y'all taking the time to respond to our survey. Please share the survey with your family and friends; their input would be invaluable for us. Thanks for sparing a few minutes of your day to help us out!

Hey y’all. I have bilateral cochlear implants and a couple of degenerative eye conditions and I’m curious about alert tech. I want an in-home system for one, preferably that has a pager or something also.

I’m also curious about what people use day to day and such. Particularly for individual “ hey pay attention to me for a second” kind of alerts as well. Because I have roommates and have worked in places where I have to focus on what I’m doing, but then somebody needs my attention and I need to know they need it, is there a device or something like that?

I will admit to living in a mostly “blind“ leaning kind of way lately due to the fact that my cochlear implants compensate for a lot. However, I’m getting more and more blind as time goes on, and I’m just really interested in alerting devices and systems and what they can do. Any feedback would be much appreciated. and yes, I am learning Braille and hope to learn tactile sign language soon. .

Hi! My name is Ria! Having my own experience with disabilities and knowing people with disabilities, I am super passionate about disability accessibility and inclusivity. I am distributing a survey that gets direct feedback from people with disabilities regarding what they want to be changed in society. I can then use this to advocate for the disabled community and educate companies and people in daily life.

As this survey is completely confidential, your privacy and information is 100% maintained. Here is the survey link: https://forms.gle/9rmrMCLnQVpzzH986. I am hoping to get responses by 7/1 but just let me know if you need more time! Also, let me know if you have any questions, comments, or concerns! 

What do we think about this poster? Is it accessible ? any suggestions ?

Hello,

I am currently in a Disability Studies class and we are doing an advocacy project. Our goal is to improve more accessibility for the community.

I want to focus on barriers in education regarding communication and transportation. When doing research, I learned that teachers do not have the proper training to accommodate a student in their classroom which leads to difficulties.

In regards to transportation. I read that although transit drivers do have training, not all drivers always follow through and do not always stop at the location they are supposed to. (one of the most recent was in 2023)

My goal with this project would be to write a letter to LAUSD, regarding why it is important for student at a young age to learn how to communicate using Sign Languages or investing on Tactile Signing course to better open the opportunity for one to be able to communicate with an individual who might need help etc.

Also I would like to see what else can Metro Transit (since this is one of the biggest company in Los Angeles) do to help give more services to those who might need it.

I would appreciate any feedback. Thank you.

Hello! I am not DeafBlind but I have a couple of questions for the community. I have reviewed the research literature and heard from DeafBlind individuals about their mental health experiences and their experience accessing mental health care. I would love to learn more so I have a few questions: What do you think are the significant barriers to mental health care for those experiencing dual sensory loss? What resources or accommodations do you wish were available in mental health spaces to better address the needs and desires of the dual sensory loss/DeafBlind community?

Hi everyone! I am currently in a Disability Studies class focusing on DeafBlind individuals and communities. We are completing an Advocacy Design project this quarter and I am currently seeking feedback for my project! My project focuses on increasing accessibility for DeafBlind individuals seeking mental health services. The mission is to create a bridge for communication between DeafBlind individuals and mental health agencies; DeafBlind individuals who need these resources have access to them and mental health agencies need to be aware of what services these individuals need to be able to be properly cared for. 

The communication problems between DeafBlind individuals and mental health agencies creates a division that lessens the likelihood of these individuals receiving care. DeafBlind individuals may miss visual and auditory cues, or their communication partners might provide partial or incomplete cues or messages during interactions. The noise level or lighting of the environment can also create challenges to following conversations, detecting non-verbal cues, or being aware of what is happening in their surroundings. These can all lead to feelings of isolation and misunderstanding that can result in DeafBlind individuals feeling unmotivated to receive mental health services.

I plan to create a procedure for mental health agencies to use when they get DeafBlind patients: using the answers to the previous step to understand the main reason there is a communication barrier and why this impacts DeafBlind individuals from accessing mental health services. Making sure that mental health agencies understand the impact of them not making all different types of communication for DeafBlind individuals accessible. Creating a procedure so that all communication types are accessible. I hope to receive feedback on my design and procedure to ensure this project is on the right track!

Hi everyone,

I hope you're all doing well. I'm sorry for the repetitive post, this is for a class where we are doing advocacy projects for the DeafBlind community with help from individuals at the Helen Keller National Center, etc. I’m currently working on a project aimed at improving accessibility for the community in medical settings. A man who is DeafBlind shared a personal story about his friend who struggled to understand what was happening during a medical visit because there wasn't a physical interpreter available. Many hospitals rely on Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) services, which are not effective for individuals who are Blind, as these services depend on visual communication. This experience highlighted the critical need for tactile ASL interpreters.

To tackle this issue, I plan to reach out to local hospital administrators to find out whether they have tactile ASL interpreters available. If they don't, I aim to advocate for the inclusion of this essential service.

I’m reaching out to this community to gather feedback and insights:

1. Have you or someone you know faced challenges in medical settings due to the lack of tactile interpreters?
2. What specific issues did you encounter with VRI or other interpretation services in a medical context?
3. What strategies or solutions have worked for you in improving communication in these settings?
4. Do you have any suggestions for effectively advocating to hospital administrators to include protactile interpreter services?

Your input would be invaluable in shaping my approach and ensuring that the needs and preferences of the DeafBlind community are accurately represented. Thank you in advance for your feedback and support!

Hi Everyone! I am working on an advocacy project that is desires to implement a universal disability awareness course. In many cases, institutions have a mandatory sexual assault awareness course in which all students and faculty have to finish it. However, there are no disability awareness and culture courses instituted at many universities. Often times they are proposed, however, fail to target the current faculty and students. This means current faculty and students do not have to finish the mandatory course. I am helping develop a module for this mandatory course so all current and future members of faculty and students need to finish it. I will be reaching out to different members and survey their opinions regarding the survey. I also will be emailing specific individuals to institute it.

Hi everyone! My university project investigates how DeafBlind individuals face significant barriers to higher education, including insufficient resources and inadequate university accessibility support. Given the time stipulations, I aim to synthesize research for the university’s disability office with specific recommendations for improving accessibility and support services for DeafBlind students. I would appreciate any feedback if there are any suggestions for investigating this topic. Thank you!

Hi!!

I am hoping to do an advocacy project on the topic of increasing accessibility and accommodations on air travel for the DeafBlind community in order to ensure their safety on planes.

One solution I would like to focus on is to make sure the DeafBlind community who are traveling are able to be informed and aware of the pilot announcements or any major announcements that are made on the plane. Since planes do not have all the communication methods that might be necessary for everyone on board. I believe it is important that they start implementing them to ensure everyone including the DeafBlind community is safe and informed while air traveling.

I am hoping to get more insight as to what other accommodations will help make air travel for the DeadBlind community more safe and accessible. And will developing an app that will give alerts showcasing the pilot and major announcements be a possible effective solution?

Hi everyone, I'm doing an advocacy project and I was wondering if I could get some advice from you all as a means of making federally funded healthcare plans more accessible and obtainable for the DeafBlind community in the US/California. I'm wondering if anyone who's open to sharing their thoughts on their experience obtaining Medicaid/Medical/Medicare would like to connect and talk about their thoughts on the process, the benefits, etc. as a DeafBlind person? Or if there are specific changes you wish to be seen? I'm welcome to all ideas/concerns!

Hello! I, like many others on this thread right now, am doing an advocacy project about DeafBlindness and would love some input!

I want to do a project that focuses on the unjust challenges of DeafBlind motherhood. The project will address familial stigma surrounding DeafBlind mothers, as well as the inaccessibility that DeafBlind women of reproductive age face. This includes communication issues with doctors, and lack of access to accommodating reproductive care and educational resources. 

I plan to do a review of various policies and initiatives conducted in California, such as the California Preterm Birth Prevention Initiative, which aim to expand access but often fall short in expanding access to DeafBlind individuals. 

I aim to produce a research zine, which I will promote at school and possibly clinics in LA. I am a pre-public health student, and hope to do reproductive healthcare community outreach and policy analyzing as a career. I hope to use this research in my future endeavors as well as now. I want to share my findings with The World Health organization where I have contacts. They have focused on health care for women with disabilities before, but from what I know not specifically DeafBlind women. 

I know this is a lot, and I need to narrow down my ideas, but do you have any advice for how to best understand the experience of a DeafBlind mother besides doing literature reviews and reviewing policy?

And what would you say are the most pressing issues surrounding DeafBlind motherhood?

Any and all feedback is appreciated!

Hello, with our disability department we are advocating for the university to formally adopt the usage of the term DeafBlind rather than "Deaf-Blind" due to community feedback that the hyphenated version is outdated. We were seeking feedback on how we can spread the word and whether there is consensus among the community over preferred language! We appreciate any suggestions and comments:)

Hi everyone, for a course, I am doing an advocacy project on improving workplace accessibility for the DeafBlind community. I have conducted this survey to understand the experiences of DeafBlind individuals in various work environments. I aim to identify the strengths and gaps in current training and knowledge regarding accessibility and to use this information to advocate for better support and resources. Here is the link to the survey, your participation would mean a lot! https://forms.gle/pqct7VfR1NMW7wrAA

Hello everyone,

I’m looking to spread awareness about orientation and mobility training.

In particular, older individuals who are deafblind and have mobility issues in the alpine county in upstate california where internet access is limited. I will be making a poster with accessibility adaptations to make it easy to get information across. This poster will help those who need orientation and mobility trainings get the resources they need and it will be posted in highly frequented areas like supermarkets and cafes, and senior centers.

My question for every one is what are some features that make posters really accessible to all, and what apps does everyone use to modify posters ?

Also, what are some areas of high frequency that could attain a higher audience ?

Thank you all so much for<3

Hey everyone!

For my minor I’m doing an advocacy project regarding the naming of the current Disability Studies course I’m taking at my university. As of now, the name uses outdated terminology that misrepresents the DeafBlind community, so I’m part of a group that is petitioning to have the course name updated.

I would really appreciate any feedback regarding our project and perhaps joining our cause!

I have linked our petition which includes an informational brochure about our research, any advice or tips on how to spread the word would be wonderful!

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfa_T7HZ8e9vHN94L_uvOeS6WJIYDB4XMiHKSYzm49ekPXdmg/viewform?pli=1

Hello everyone,

I’m a student working on an advocacy project for one of my classes on Deaf Blindness. My project is a children’s book that aims to educate the youth about the white cane. I believe that engaging kids early in the Disability Rights Movement can help erase the stigma, discrimination, and stereotypes of disabilities. 

Goals of my Project:

1. Reduce the stigma related to using the white cane.  
2. Increase awareness and educate the public about the white cane, thereby reducing the stigma seen and misconceptions formed. 
3. Boost confidence and promote acceptance for white cane users, eventually leading to more representation in the future– hopefully seen in public spaces, the media, etc. 

My Plan:

1. Research Phase: Research about the stigma of using the white cane and gather insights from individuals who have experienced it. 
2. Development Phase: After the data has been collected, development of an educational material such as a children’s book will begin. During this stage, collaboration with other organizations with similar missions (i.e. HKNC and schools for the Blind) will take place. This is an important part of the process because additional feedback, input, and ideas will make this educational material all that more successful– with the goal of raising awareness about the white cane, promoting acceptance around the white cane, and reducing stigma around the white cane. 
3. Distribution Phase: After the development, I will begin brainstorming what schools, DeafBlind events, libraries, nonprofits, centers (Regional, for example), and community events I should sell the book at to reach as wide as an audience as possible. 

I would greatly appreciate any experiences, website recommendations, or any additional resources that could assist me with this project. 

Thank you!