On Memorial Day, we remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to this country. For the hundreds of

 thousands of veterans living with vision loss — whether from combat injury, exposure, or age-related cond

itions that developed later — today is also a reminder that independence and connection remain things worth supporting actively. vision loss veterans support

Vision loss affects veterans at a higher rate than the general population. The Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that visual impairment is among the most common service-connected disabilities. And because many forms of vision loss — macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma — develop gradually over years, the connection to service may not be immediately obvious when symptoms appear.

This guide is for veterans with vision loss, and for the families and caregivers who support them.

Hi

VA Blind Rehabilitation Services

The VA operates one of the most comprehensive vision rehabilitation systems in the country through its Blind Rehabilitation Service (BRS). Services include:

• Comprehensive low vision evaluations
• Inpatient rehabilitation at VA Blind Rehabilitation Centres
• Outpatient low vision clinics at VA medical centres
• Visual Impairment Services Teams (VIST) at most VA facilities — these coordinators help veterans navigate the full range of VA and community services available to them

Your VIST coordinator is typically the most useful first contact for any veteran newly navigating vision loss. They know what’s available locally, what funding applies to your situation, and how to fast-track the process.

Hi

Assistive Technology Through the VA

Veterans with vision loss may qualify for assistive technology devices at no cost, including accessible sm

artphones, screen magnifiers, talking devices, and navigation tools. Coverage depends on eligibility and the specific device, but the VA has a strong track record of funding AT for vision-impaired veterans.

RealSAM Pocket — a voice-operated smartphone that replaces the standard phone interface entirely with voice control — is available to eligible veterans through VA programmes. If you or a family member is a veteran with vision loss and has been researching accessible phones, it’s worth asking your VA provider or VIST coordinator specifically about technology funding.

Our veterans and financial assistance page has more detail on how to approach this conversation and what to ask for.

Hi

Organisations Supporting Blind Veterans and Vision Loss

Blinded Veterans Association (BVA) The BVA is the only congressionally chartered veterans service organisation specifically for blinded veterans. They provide peer support, advocacy, and help navigating VA benefits — and can connect veterans with others who have gone through the same process.

VA Visual Impairment Services Teams (VIST) Every major VA medical centre has a VIST coordinator. If you haven’t connected with yours, it’s the most practical first step for any veteran dealing with vision loss. Find your nearest VA at va.gov/find-locations.

Blind Veterans Association Regional Groups The BVA maintains regional groups across the country that meet in person and provide peer connection — often the most undervalued resource for veterans adjusting to life with vision loss.

Hi

If Vision Loss isn’t Service-Connected

VA support is available to veterans with vision loss even when the condition isn’t directly service-connected. Non-service-connected veterans may be eligible for VA healthcare and assistive technology depending on their priority group, income, and other factors.

If you’re uncertain about eligibility, the American Foundation for the Blind’s veterans resources page provides guidance on navigating the system, and the BVA can help with appeals or benefit claims.

Hi

A Note on Memorial Day vision loss veterans support

The veterans who built this country’s military history did so at significant personal cost. For those living with vision loss today — whether the connection to service is direct or indirect — the commitment to independence that shaped their service doesn’t disappear. It just looks different.

If you’d like to find out whether RealSAM Pocket might be the right fit for a veteran in your life, schedule a free demonstration — no pressure, no obligation.

Thank you to all who served.

Hi

RealSAM Pocket is a voice-operated smartphone for blind and visually impaired people — one button, your voice, no visual interface required. Available to qualifying veterans through VA programmes. Learn more →

The post Veterans and Vision Loss: What Support is Available and How to Access it appeared first on RealSAM USA.

Hi

Hi

2008 — A foundation is built RealSAM & GAAD 2026: a History of Accessible Technology

RealThing AI is founded by a team of AI researchers and developers whose backgrounds are in defence, aviation, and research. The technology they’re developing is conversational AI: systems that understand complex, multi-part spoken requests and respond usefully.

Where accessibility stood: The iPhone had just launched. Screen readers existed, but were clunky. The idea that someone who couldn’t see a screen should be able to use a smartphone the same way anyone else could was not yet a serious design conversation in the mainstream tech industry.

Hi 

2012 — GAAD launches. The question gets asked. RealSAM & GAAD 2026

Global Accessibility Awareness Day is founded, born from a blog post by Los Angeles developer Joe Devon, amplified by accessibility professional Jennison Asuncion. The question they want the industry to sit with: why is technology that is meant for everyone, usable only by some?

The same year, RealThing AI begins focusing its conversational AI platform on people who need technology to work without a visual interface.

Where accessibility stood: Smartphones were becoming essential to daily life — and were becoming more complicated with every update. For blind and visually impaired people, accessibility settings existed but were buried, inconsistent, and designed for people already familiar with touchscreens.

Hi 

2018 — RealSAM Pocket launches in the UK

In partnership with RNIB and O2, the first RealSAM Pocket launches in the United Kingdom. A smartphone that replaces its entire visual interface with voice. One button. No gestures. No menus. You tap and talk.

It is initially called RNIB In Your Pocket. Nothing else on the UK market works this way.

Where accessibility stood: Apple had VoiceOver. Google had TalkBack. Both required learning entirely new interaction patterns on a device designed for sighted users. RealSAM Pocket was designed for blind users first, from the start. The distinction mattered enormously to the people who used it.

Hi 

2021–2022 — Research, V4, and the US launch

Working directly with RNIB and blind users across the UK, RealThing AI builds V4, the most substantial update yet. OCR text reading, object and scene recognition via camera, emergency assistance that simultaneously calls and texts nominated contacts with location data, guided walking navigation, and integration with the Be My Eyes volunteer network.

In January 2022, RealSAM Pocket debuts in the United States at the ATIA Conference in Florida — the largest annual gathering of assistive technology professionals in the country. The US product serves a different market structure: distributed through AT specialists and channel partners, reaching blind and visually impaired seniors primarily through Veterans Affairs programmes and funded institutional channels.

Where accessibility stood: The pandemic had made digital access a matter of essential infrastructure — and exposed how inaccessible most of it was for people with disabilities. The assistive technology market was beginning to attract serious attention. RealSAM had been in it for four years.

Hi 

2022 — Trusted by the Library of Congress

RealSAM technology is selected via competitive bid to create prototypes for the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) — the Library of Congress’s programme serving more than 800,000 registered readers across the United States.

It is a meaningful institutional signal. The NLS does not make these selections lightly.

Where accessibility stood: “Accessible tech” was becoming a phrase that generated investment and press coverage. The gap between what was marketed and what actually worked for people with significant vision loss remained wide. Institutional endorsement from bodies like the NLS mattered because it came from people who knew the difference.

Hi 

2024–2026 — Samsung, RNIB, Virgin Media O2

The formal partnership between RealThing AI, Samsung Electronics UK, Virgin Media O2 Business, and RNIB is made public in the UK: a four-way collaboration covering the device, the connectivity, the content ecosystem, and the user expertise. A video case study is produced. It is the first time a major network operator, device manufacturer, and disability charity have publicly aligned behind a single accessible phone.

In the US, RealSAM continues to distribute through established AT channel partners, reaching users through VA programmes and state vocational rehabilitation funding. For many users, the device costs nothing out of pocket.

Where accessibility stood: Accessible technology has become commercially interesting. Large companies talk about inclusion. The important question—which ones have been doing the work before it became profitable—is worth asking.

Hi 

2026 — GAAD 15. The A17. RealSAM & GAAD 2026: a History of Accessible Technology

RealSAM Pocket moves to the Samsung Galaxy A17. Optical image stabilisation. Lighter. Gorilla Glass Victus. Six years of software support to 2031.

One button. Your voice. Unchanged.

GAAD turns 15. Accessible technology is no longer niche. The conversation that started with a blog post in 2011 has changed how the industry thinks, and products like this one are part of why.

Hi 

If you’re researching accessible technology for yourself or a family member, our financial assistance page lists funding programmes by state — including options that may mean no cost to the end user.

Learn more about RealSAM Pocket →

The American Foundation for the Blind and WebAIM both have resources for understanding accessible technology and advocating for digital inclusion.

RealSAM. Built for blind and visually impaired people. Not adapted — designed.

The post RealSAM & GAAD 2026: A History of Accessible Technology appeared first on RealSAM USA.

May is Healthy Vision Month — an annual initiative led by the National Eye Institute (NEI) to raise awareness about eye health and encourage Americans to take steps to protect their vision. common eye diseases that cause vision loss

For the estimated 12 million Americans aged 40 and over who live with vision impairment, Healthy Vision Month is also a reminder that understanding the specific conditions behind vision loss matters. Knowing what a condition is, how it progresses, and what support exists makes a real difference — both for people navigating vision loss and for the families supporting them.

This guide covers the most common eye diseases that cause vision loss in the US,with resources for each.

Hi

Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD)

Age-related macular degeneration is the leading cause of severe vision loss in Americans over 60, affecting more than 11 million people. It damages the macula — the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision — making it progressively harder to read, recognise faces, and carry out detailed tasks.

Two forms:

• Dry AMD — the more common form, accounting for around 80% of cases. It progresses slowly as the macula thins over time.
• Wet AMD — less common but faster-progressing. Abnormal blood vessels grow beneath the retina and can cause rapid, significant vision loss.

Risk factors: Age, family history, smoking, and cardiovascular disease all increase risk. AMD is more common in white Americans than in other ethnic groups.

Treatment: There is no cure for dry AMD, but the AREDS2 nutritional supplement formula has been shown to slow progression in intermediate stages. Wet AMD can be treated with anti-VEGF injections, which can stabilise or sometimes improve vision.

The Foundation Fighting Blindness and the NEI’s AMD page both offer detailed, regularly updated patient resources.

Hi

Glaucoma

Glaucoma is a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve, most commonly as a result of elevated intraocular pressure. It is the second leading cause of blindness worldwide and affects an estimated 3 million Americans — roughly half of whom don’t yet know they have it.

The most common form, open-angle glaucoma, develops without noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Vision loss begins in the periphery, which is why glaucoma is often called the “silent thief of sight.” By the time changes are noticed, significant damage may already have occurred.

Who is most at risk: People over 60, those with a family history of glaucoma, and people of African American, Hispanic, or Asian descent all face elevated risk.

Treatment: Glaucoma cannot be reversed, but progression can be slowed with eye drops, laser treatment, or surgery. Regular dilated eye exams — especially after age 40 — are the single most effective preventive step.

The Glaucoma Research Foundation is the most comprehensive US patient resource for glaucoma.

Hi

Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy is the most common cause of vision loss among working-age adults in the US, affecting more than 7 million Americans. It develops when high blood sugar levels damage the blood vessels in the retina.

Why it matters: In the early stages, there are often no symptoms at all. As the condition progresses, blood vessels may leak or grow abnormally, leading to blurred vision, floaters, and eventually significant vision loss if untreated.

The most important step: A dilated eye exam at least once a year for anyone with diabetes. This is the most effective way to catch retinopathy early, when it is most treatable.

Treatment: Managing blood sugar, blood pressure, and cholesterol directly affects how fast diabetic retinopathy progresses. Anti-VEGF injections, laser treatment, and in some cases surgery are used for more advanced stages.

The NEI’s diabetic retinopathy page and the American Diabetes Association both provide clear, practical guidance.

Hi

Cataracts common eye diseases that cause vision loss

Cataracts are the leading cause of reversible blindness worldwide. They occur when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy, causing blurred vision, increased glare sensitivity, and difficulty seeing at night.

Unlike the other conditions in this guide, cataracts are highly treatable. Cataract surgery — one of the most common surgical procedures in the US — removes the clouded lens and replaces it with a clear artificial one. Outcomes are excellent and recovery is typically rapid.

Risk factors include UV exposure, smoking, diabetes, and certain medications. Regular eye exams remain the best way to identify cataracts early.

The American Academy of Ophthalmology has detailed patient information.

Hi

Living Well with Vision Loss common eye diseases that cause vision loss

Understanding a condition is the first step. Knowing what practical support exists is the second.

For people managing any of the above eye diseases, the everyday challenges of communication, information access, and independence matter as much as the clinical picture. Voice-operated technology like RealSAM Pocket allows people with vision loss to make calls, listen to books and news, identify objects, get navigation assistance, and manage their day entirely by voice — without needing to navigate a visual interface.

On the question of cost: Many assistive devices in the US are available at no cost to eligible users. Veterans Affairs programmes, state vocational rehabilitation, and national grants can cover part or all of the cost. Our financial assistance guide lists programmes by state. Veterans should also visit our dedicated veterans resources page.

For guidance on accessible reading formats — audiobooks, DAISY, braille, and more — our guide to how blind people read covers the options available in the US.

If you’d like to find out whether RealSAM Pocket might be a good fit, you can schedule a free demo with no obligation.

RealSAM Pocket is a voice-operated smartphone designed for blind and visually impaired people. No apps. No screen navigation. Just tap and talk. Learn more →

The post Healthy Vision Month: The Most Common Eye Diseases That Cause Vision Loss appeared first on RealSAM USA.

For many blind and visually impaired people in the United States, assistive technology is not optional — it’s essential. Devices that support reading, communication, and independence can significantly improve quality of life.

But cost remains one of the biggest barriers.

What’s less widely known is that there are multiple national and state-based financial assistance programmes for assistive technology, many of which cover part or even all of the cost.

If you’re searching for financial help for assistive technology in the US, there are several well-established programmes worth exploring. Each has different eligibility criteria, but together they form a broader support system than many people realise.

This guide outlines key options and explains how to access them, based on the resources available through RealSAM’s financial assistance page.

What Financial Assistance Is Available for Assistive Technology?

1. Assistive Technology Fund (Association of Blind Citizens)

The Association of Blind Citizens runs the Assistive Technology Fund, one of the most direct funding options available.

Key details:

• Covers 50% of the retail cost of assistive devices
• Available to individuals who are legally blind
• Household income must typically be under $50,000

This programme is particularly useful for people who may not qualify for government support but still need financial assistance to access essential technology.

2. Veterans Affairs (VA) Programmes

For veterans living with vision loss, support through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs can be extensive.

What’s available:

• Assistive technology may be fully funded
• Access to specialist vision rehabilitation services
• Ongoing support and training

Eligibility depends on service history and clinical need, but for those who qualify, this is often the most comprehensive pathway.

3. State Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) Services

Every US state operates a Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) programme designed to support people with disabilities in gaining or maintaining employment. These programmes are coordinated nationally through the Rehabilitation Services Administration.

Why this matters:

• VR services can fund assistive technology needed for work, education, or training
• Eligibility is often broader than expected
• Support may include devices, training, and ongoing assistance

If assistive technology would help you study, find work, or stay employed, VR is one of the most important options to explore.

4. Lions Clubs International Grants

Local chapters of Lions Clubs International often provide grants for vision-related needs, including assistive technology.

How it works:

• Funding is typically distributed at a local level
• Grants may cover specific equipment or partial costs
• Application processes vary by chapter

Because these are community-based, availability can differ — but they’re often more flexible and responsive than larger programmes.

5. Lifeline Program (Affordable Connectivity Support)

The Lifeline Program helps reduce the cost of phone and internet services for low-income households. While not specific to assistive technology, it plays an important role in making connected devices usable and sustainable.

Benefits include:

• Discounts on monthly phone or internet bills
• Improved access to digital services, including accessible apps and reading platforms

For many users, affordability isn’t just about the device; it’s about being able to stay connected.

Why Awareness Matters

One of the biggest barriers to accessing assistive technology isn’t just cost, it’s lack of awareness.

Many people assume:

• They won’t qualify
• Funding is too limited
• The process will be too complex

In reality, eligibility is often broader than expected, and multiple programmes can sometimes be combined.

How to Find Financial Assistance

The most effective approach is to:

• Explore multiple funding sources, not just one
• Check both national and state-level programmes
• Contact organisations directly to clarify eligibility

To make this easier, RealSAM has compiled a comprehensive list of financial assistance resources, including state-by-state options. This page is regularly updated and designed to help you quickly identify relevant programmes.

Access to assistive technology shouldn’t depend on financial circumstances—but too often, it does.

The good news is that support exists, and in many cases, more than people expect. Whether through national programmes, local organisations, or employment-focused services, there are multiple pathways to making assistive technology more affordable.

The key is knowing where to look and starting the process. Don’t hesitate to send us a message if you have any other questions.

The post Financial Assistance for Assistive Technology in the US: A Guide for Blind and Visually Impaired People appeared first on RealSAM USA.

When people ask how blind people read, the answer they usually expect is: audiobooks. It’s the format most sighted people have heard of, and it’s become a kind of shorthand for accessible reading as a whole. But it’s only one part of a much wider picture. Blind and visually impaired people in the US access books, news, and stories in a remarkable variety of ways — shaped by personal preference, how much vision they have, whether they’ve been blind since birth or lost their sight later in life, and simply what works best for them day to day. There is no single answer to how blind people read, and that’s precisely the point. Here are seven real ways people do it.

1. Braille

Reading through touch Braille is often the first thing people picture when they ask how blind people read, and it remains one of the most important forms of literacy for people with little or no vision. Developed by Louis Braille in 19th-century France, the system uses patterns of raised dots to represent letters, numbers, and punctuation, read by running the fingertips across the page. For people who learn it well, braille can be fast, private, and completely independent of any technology — you can read a braille book on a plane, follow along with a script on stage, or label your kitchen without needing a phone or a screen. In the United States, the standard is Unified English Braille (UEB), which has been in use since 2016 and aligns with seven other English-speaking countries. The American Foundation for the Blind is a strong resource for understanding braille and finding learning support. It’s worth knowing that most blind people in the US are not braille readers. Braille literacy is highest among people who have been blind since birth or childhood. Those who lose their sight later in life — which is the majority — often find it harder to learn as adults, though many do. NLS (the National Library Service) offers free braille materials and can connect you with local learning resources.

2. NLS Talking Books

The largest accessible library in the US, The National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS), a programme of the Library of Congress, provides one of the world’s largest collections of accessible audio and braille books — entirely free to any US resident with a qualifying print disability. The service includes hundreds of thousands of titles across fiction, non-fiction, biography, history, and more. Books are available to download through the Bard Mobile app, streamed online, or received as cartridges by post. Special players that work with NLS cartridges are also provided free of charge to eligible users. Qualifying for NLS is straightforward — it’s open to anyone who has a visual impairment, a physical disability that prevents holding a book, or a reading disability like dyslexia. Your doctor or eye care provider can certify eligibility, and there’s no cost at any stage. If you or someone you care for is newly losing vision and hasn’t yet registered with NLS, this is one of the most valuable services to know about. You can apply at loc.gov/nls.

3. DAISY

Navigating audio like a real book, DAISY stands for Digital Accessible Information System, and it addresses a real frustration with standard audiobooks: how do you go back to a specific chapter, or look something up, without scrubbing through hours of audio? DAISY format allows readers to navigate an audiobook by chapter, section, or page number — the same kind of control a sighted reader has when flipping through a physical book. This makes a practical difference for longer non-fiction, textbooks, or any material you need to return to. NLS distributes many of its titles in DAISY format, and the free players provided to NLS users are designed to make DAISY navigation simple. For students or professionals who rely on accessible text, DAISY is worth specifically looking for when choosing titles and services.

4. Large print books

Many people with visual impairment have some useful remaining vision — and for them, large print books are a simple, low-tech way to keep reading without needing to learn new technology or adapt to an entirely different format. Large print is typically 16–18pt or larger, with generous line spacing and high-contrast text. For people managing conditions like macular degeneration or glaucoma, where some useful central or peripheral vision remains, this can be enough to read independently and comfortably. Large print books are available through NLS, most public libraries (which often keep collections even if they’re not prominently displayed — it’s worth asking), and through retailers like Amazon. Many bestsellers are published in large print editions alongside their standard versions, often at no significant price difference.

5. Tactile and multi-sensory books

For people who want to engage with the visual as well as the textual side of a book, tactile books offer something genuinely different: stories and information you can feel as well as hear. In the US, Living Paintings — a UK-originated charity — creates tactile books that combine raised images, colour print, and audio guides. The audio component helps the reader explore what they’re touching, so the experience isn’t just about words but about the illustrations and visual world the book inhabits. Their library is free to join. For children specifically, the ClearVision Project offers braille and print books designed to be shared between blind and sighted readers — so a blind child and a sighted sibling can read the same book together. That possibility of shared reading matters beyond accessibility.

6. Screen readers and digital text

A huge amount of reading now happens through screen readers — software that converts digital text into synthesised speech or braille output. On Apple devices, VoiceOver is built in. On Android, TalkBack does the same job. For computer users, JAWS and NVDA are widely used. These tools can read anything that exists as accessible digital text: ebooks, websites, documents, emails, and news. Apps like Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play Books all support text-to-speech for ebooks. The Libby app — which connects to your local public library — gives access to thousands of free audiobooks and ebooks with good screen reader support. The Bookshare library, supported by the US Department of Education, offers nearly a million accessible titles free to people with qualifying print disabilities. Screen readers work best when the digital content they’re reading has been designed with accessibility in mind. A well-structured ebook reads smoothly; a poorly formatted one — or text embedded in an image — can be difficult or impossible to navigate. This is one reason why accessible design matters far beyond the technology used to access it.

7. Voice-first technology and community reading

The most recent shift in accessible reading isn’t just about the format of the book — it’s about how reading fits into a daily routine, and whether it connects people to something larger. Voice-first devices — operated entirely by voice without needing to navigate a visual interface — let readers access audiobooks, newspapers, and content by simply asking for them. There’s no app to locate, no screen to tap through, no settings to find. You ask for what you want, and it plays. Smart speakers like Amazon Echo can read Kindle books aloud, and apps like Alexa and Google Assistant increasingly support content discovery by voice. Dedicated voice-first devices take this further, removing the visual interface entirely for users who find even simplified touchscreens difficult. Beyond access to the text itself, the social dimension of reading matters too — and it’s something that accessible formats have historically found harder to support. Book clubs, recommendations, shared discussions — these are things sighted readers have always been able to participate in easily, but that can require more effort to access with a visual impairment. Digital reading communities designed for blind and visually impaired readers are beginning to address that gap.

How do blind people read? In whatever way works best for them

The most important thing accessible reading has learned over nearly a century of development is that there is no single right format. Braille is not better than audiobooks. Talking books are not better than large print. Screen readers are not better than tactile books. What matters is that each person can read in the way that suits their vision, their history with reading, and their everyday life. In the US, the infrastructure to support that choice is genuinely strong. NLS, Bookshare, Libby, AFB, and local library services all play a role. The challenge is often not whether a service exists, but whether people know it’s there — especially people who are newly navigating vision loss and don’t yet know what to look for. If you’re at that stage — researching for yourself or for someone you care about — the American Foundation for the Blind and NLS are both strong starting points.

RealSAM Pocket is a voice-operated smartphone designed for blind and visually impaired people — no screen navigation, no app icons, no visual interface. Just tap and talk. Learn more about RealSAM Pocket

The post How do Blind People Read? 7 Real Ways People Access Books appeared first on RealSAM USA.

A practical guide for adult children researching accessible phones for a parent with vision loss

If you’re searching for a phone for blind seniors, you’ve probably already spent time in the wrong corners of the internet — pages full of spec sheets, jargon, and options that assume you know more than you do. This guide is designed to cut through that. It’s written for adult children and family members who are trying to find something that will genuinely help a parent stay independent, and who want a straight answer rather than a sales pitch.

Why standard smartphones often aren’t the right phone for blind seniors

Most of us assume the solution is somewhere in our parents’ existing phone. Turn on the accessibility settings. Make the text bigger. Enable VoiceOver or TalkBack. And for some people — particularly those who were already comfortable with smartphones before their vision changed — this works reasonably well. But for many seniors with significant vision loss, especially those losing sight in their 60s or 70s, the standard accessibility route asks a lot. VoiceOver is a powerful tool, but it’s a learned skill. It changes the way every gesture works. It requires patience and time that not everyone has, particularly if vision loss is progressing alongside other health changes.

The family burden shifts too. You find yourself driving over to fix settings, walking a parent through steps on the phone, troubleshooting notifications that have somehow accumulated. None of this is anyone’s fault — it’s just what happens when a tool designed for sighted users is asked to serve someone who can no longer use it the way it was designed.

What makes a voice-operated phone different for blind seniors?

The best phone for blind seniors isn’t necessarily a modified smartphone — it may be a device that removes the visual layer entirely. Rather than adapting a visual interface for non-visual use, voice-operated phones designed specifically for people with vision loss are built from the ground up around voice. There’s no home screen to navigate, no apps to find, no notifications stacking up.

The phone answers one question at a time: what do you want to do?

You tap the screen. You say what you want. The phone does it.

For many families, the shift is noticeable fairly quickly, not because the technology is magic, but because it removes the specific friction points that were causing problems. Contacts become reachable by name. Messages can be sent and received by voice. A parent who had stopped attempting to use their phone independently starts using it again, because it works the way they can actually interact with it.

Early and ongoing support

Before choosing any device, it’s worth asking what training is available and how easy it is to get help when something goes wrong. A phone that comes with ongoing customer support is a very different proposition from one that ships in a box and leaves you to figure it out. The American Foundation for the Blind offers guidance on what to look for in assistive technology products, including questions to ask before you buy.

The independence piece

There’s something worth naming directly, because it comes up in almost every conversation with families: the goal isn’t to make your parents’ phone easier for you to manage. The goal is to give them back something they’ve started losing — the ability to communicate, get information, and navigate their day without asking for help every time. Independence for someone with vision loss doesn’t look like it used to. But it’s still real. It’s your mom calling you because she wants to, not because she’s stuck. It’s her listening to a book in the evening, or checking the weather, or calling her sister without anyone having to set it up for her first. That’s the version of independence a well-designed phone for blind seniors is actually trying to support. Not impressive features. Just ordinary life, reliably managed.

A note on cost and funding

One thing that surprises many families: for a significant number of users in the US, the cost of an accessible phone is covered — fully or substantially — through funding programs. Veterans Affairs offices, state vocational rehabilitation programs, and other assistance schemes exist specifically to provide assistive technology to people who need it. If your parent is a veteran, or if you’re unsure what funding might be available in your state, it’s worth asking before assuming you’ll be paying full price. Our financial assistance resources page lists programs by state. Our team can also help point you in the right direction, even if a particular program isn’t one we manage directly.

How to find the right phone for blind seniors

There’s no single right answer for every situation. A few questions are worth sitting with before you decide: • How much usable vision does your parent still have?

• How comfortable are they with technology right now—not historically, but today?
• What are the two or three things they most need to do independently?
• What training and ongoing support will come with the device?
• Is there funding available through VA, vocational rehab, or a state program?

If you’re weighing these questions and would like to talk through whether RealSAM Pocket might be a good fit, or whether it isn’t, our team is glad to help. Schedule a free demo or send us an enquiry → You can also explore our financial assistance and resources page to find out what funding may be available in your state.

RealSAM Pocket is a voice-operated smartphone for blind and visually impaired users. It replaces the standard Android interface entirely with a voice-first system — no icons, no visual navigation. Tap and talk. It ships with a 30-day money-back guarantee and unlimited customer support. Learn more about RealSAM Pocket →

The post The best phone for blind seniors: what families need to know appeared first on RealSAM USA.

When searching for assistive technology options to address vision loss, it is important to understand which everyday tasks may become more difficult to perform independently.

Reading your mail.

Checking medication labels.

Looking at expiration dates on groceries.

Understanding a restaurant menu.

When you lose sight, these small moments can suddenly require assistance from someone else. That can be frustrating — and it can also affect something deeply important: privacy and independence. For people who are blind or experience a visual impairment, the right assistive technology can make the difference between autonomy and reliance.

RealSAM can Read Any Text and Describe Any Image

The RealSAM Magnifier and Sight Assistant tool is designed to help users reclaim independence in these everyday moments by translating both printed and handwritten text and visual information.

RealSAM’s simple interface means that users can simply take a photo of something they want to read or identify. The Sight Assistant will then recognise and describe the content of the image in detail and can answer follow-up questions about it.

For example:

What is the expiration date on this food?

What does this letter say?

Is this the correct medication?

How long should this food cook?

Does this menu item contain certain ingredients?

Instead of needing to ask someone else for help, which can incur an invasion of privacy—especially in the case of reading your mail or identifying your medication—users can easily find out for themselves, using RealSAM as their independence companion.

Beyond the Magnifier: Tools That Recognise Text, Objects, and More

Modern devices for the blind and visually impaired can do much more than magnify text. The RealSAM Sight Assistant tool can help users interact with and navigate their surroundings by easily recognising:

Text and Written Information

• Printed text
• Handwritten notes
• Letters and documents

Everyday Objects

• Money and currency
• Food packaging
• Scenery
• Cooking Appliances
• Street signs 
• Food Menus 
• Bin lids

Additional Capabilities

• Text translation from any language 
• Asking follow-up questions about images
• Describing visual content 

These tools allow users to access information that would otherwise be difficult or impossible to read.

Assistive technology does not replace sight — but it can remove many of the barriers that vision loss creates. Tools designed for blind and visually impaired users can help manage everyday activities more confidently. These moments may seem simple, but they play a huge role in maintaining autonomy, privacy, and independence.

Best Assistive Technology for Vision Loss

Losing sight does not need to mean losing control over daily life.

With the right assistive technology for vision loss, people who are blind or experience visual impairment can continue to navigate everyday tasks with confidence. The RealSAM Sight Assistant tool is designed with exactly that goal in mind: helping users read, recognise, and understand the information around them without needing to ask for assistance

Because everyone deserves access to technology that supports independence, dignity, and privacy.

The post Assistive Technology for Vision Loss: Technology That Supports Independence appeared first on RealSAM USA.

Every March, the United States celebrates Women’s History Month, a time to recognise the achievements of women whose work has shaped society, culture, and civil rights. Among those stories are the lives of blind and visually impaired women whose achievements changed the course of history—often in ways that are still not widely known.

From abolitionists and educators to athletes and disability rights advocates, these women challenged expectations and expanded what independence and leadership could look like. Here are five remarkable blind women in history whose contributions continue to inspire.

Ever Lee Hairston: Civil Rights Advocate and Community Leader

Ever Lee Hairston was a pioneering activist who worked to expand opportunities for blind Americans.  

As a blind African American woman working during the civil rights era, she advocated for greater inclusion in education, employment, and community life.

Hairston worked with organisations such as the National Federation of the Blind, helping strengthen the movement for disability rights while also addressing racial inequality within access to education and services.

Her work contributed to broader efforts to ensure that blind Americans could live, work, and participate fully in society.

Harriet Tubman: Abolitionist and Freedom Leader

Harriet Tubman is widely known as one of the most courageous leaders of the Underground Railroad, guiding enslaved people to freedom in the decades before the American Civil War. 

Less widely known is that Tubman lived with significant vision impairment and neurological symptoms after suffering a traumatic head injury as a teenager while enslaved.

Despite lifelong headaches, seizures, and vision difficulties, Tubman led dozens of dangerous rescue missions and later served as a scout, nurse, and spy for the Union Army.

Her leadership helped free hundreds of enslaved people and made her one of the most respected figures in American history.

Haben Girma: Disability Rights Lawyer and Global Advocate

Haben Girma made history as the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School. 

Today she is an internationally recognised disability rights lawyer and advocate for accessible technology, education, and public spaces.

Girma has worked with governments, universities, and technology companies to encourage accessibility in digital design and inclusive policy.

In recognition of her work, she was named a White House Champion of Change under the administration of Barack Obama.

Her advocacy continues to influence conversations about accessibility and equal opportunity worldwide.

Marla Runyan: Olympian and Record-Breaking Runner

Marla Runyan is one of the most accomplished visually impaired athletes in American history. 

Diagnosed with Stargardt disease, a degenerative eye condition, Runyan gradually lost most of her central vision.

She went on to win multiple gold medals in the Paralympic Games before becoming the first legally blind athlete to compete in the Olympic Games.

Her achievements challenged assumptions about disability in sport and helped expand opportunities for athletes with visual impairments.

Helen Keller: Author, Activist, and Global Symbol of Disability Rights

Perhaps the most widely recognised blind woman in history, Helen Keller became deafblind at 19 months old after an illness. 

With the help of her teacher, Anne Sullivan, Keller learned to communicate through tactile sign language and went on to become a prolific writer and public speaker.

Over the course of her life, she published books, lectured internationally, and advocated for disability rights, women’s suffrage, and workers’ rights.

Her life helped change public understanding of disability and education, demonstrating that blind and deafblind people could participate fully in intellectual and political life.

Recognising the Legacy of Blind Women Leaders: Women’s History Month 2026

The stories of these famous blind women span centuries and fields — abolition, law, sport, education, and civil rights.

What connects them is not only their resilience, but their determination to expand what society believed blind women could achieve.

During Women’s History Month, their lives remind us that progress often comes from individuals who challenge expectations and open doors for those who follow.

Their achievements continue to shape conversations about equality, access, and opportunity today.

Take a look at our previous blog posts here. 

The post Women’s History Month: 5 Blind Women Who Changed American History appeared first on RealSAM USA.

Accessible Gardening: Why Gardening Works So Well Without Sight

Gardening is naturally suited to non-visual senses. So much of it already depends on texture, smell, and spatial awareness:

• the roughness of bark
• the scent of herbs like mint or rosemary
• the difference between damp soil and dry soil
• the sound of bees in flowering plants

Because of this, many blind and visually impaired gardeners develop highly tactile ways of working with plants.

Organizations such as the American Foundation for the Blind highlight gardening as an activity that can support wellbeing, independence, and connection with nature.

Gardening for Blind People: Simple Spring Techniques

A few small adjustments can make gardening easier and more accessible.

Use tactile plant markers

Raised labels, braille tags, or textured markers can help identify plants.

Plant in straight lines or containers

Consistent spacing makes it easier to navigate beds and remember plant locations.

Choose strongly scented plants

Herbs such as basil, thyme, mint and lavender make it easy to identify plants through smell.

Use raised beds

Raised beds help with orientation and make it easier to reach plants safely.

These techniques help create a garden that is structured, memorable and easy to navigate by touch.

Gardening Without Sight: Accessible Gardening Tools

Some tools can make accessible gardening even easier. Examples include:

• braille or large-print seed packets
• talking plant identification apps
• tactile garden markers
• ergonomic hand tools with clear grips

Across the United States, many parks and public gardens are also exploring sensory garden design, where plants are chosen for their texture, fragrance, and sound.

The National Federation of the Blind has also highlighted how accessible outdoor activities can play an important role in recreation and independence.

A Different Way to Experience Spring

Spring gardening is often associated with color and visual beauty.

But nature offers far more than what we see.

The smell of tomato leaves.

The texture of warm soil.

The sound of bees moving between flowers.

For many blind and low vision gardeners, these sensory details become the center of the experience.

Gardening without sight isn’t simply adapting a visual activity.
It’s discovering another rich way of experiencing the season.

Check out our previous blog posts here.

The post Gardening Without Sight: Spring Gardening Tips for Blind and Visually Impaired People appeared first on RealSAM USA.