[ Browse by Service Category : Assistive Technology Equipment : Sub-Topics of Visual/Reading Aids (3) ]
Braille and Tactile Aids
Programs that pay for or provide equipment which can be used to create materials that are written in Braille (a system which uses raised dots to represent numerals and letters of the alphabet that can be identified by the fingers), Optacons or other devices that help people to read and/or write using their sense of touch. Included are devices such as calculators, alarm clocks, watches, calendars, kitchen equipment, scales and other items which have tactile displays.
Descriptive Video Services
Programs that pay for or provide equipment which provides access to narrations of television programs, feature films, home videos or other visual media that describe actions, costumes, gestures, scene changes and other key visual elements that a visually impaired viewer would ordinarily miss. Descriptive video services are accessed via a stereo television set or VCR with a second audio program (S.A.P) feature or through a separate S.A.P receiver which can be used with or without the television. Some S.A.P receivers can also receive radio reading services. Some DVD's offer video description as a special feature. The video description track can be heard by selecting "visually impaired" from the "language" menu. In rare cases the DVD menus are audible.
Glasses/Contact Lenses
Programs that pay for or provide corrective lenses for people who have defective but correctable vision, with or without a prescription, or which provide vouchers which can be exchanged for glasses or contact lenses.
Low Vision Aids
Programs that pay for or provide magnifiers, magnification equipment, light intensification equipment, night vision equipment, closed circuit television devices and other products which help people who have visual impairments use their remaining vision to greater advantage.
Voice/Audio Output Aids
Programs that pay for or provide equipment such as talking watches, talking scales, speech output glucometers, talking pocket memo systems, tone-based measuring devices, voice-based notetaking equipment and other devices which allow people who have visual impairments or learning disabilities to access text or scalar information.
The above terms and definitions are part of the Taxonomy of Human Services, used here by permission of INFO LINE of Los Angeles.
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