Covid 19/Corona Virus Resources for Blind and Low-Vision

Updated 5/12/2020

Most of the news, information, and resources offered by the mainstream media are not given with Blind or Low-Vision people in mind. On this page I will share information and resources that I either use personally or have become aware of during this process and believe to be helpful particularly to people who are Blind or low-vision. Also, some of what I share will be Southern California centric, since that is where I live, but may still be helpful no matter what part of the U.S. you live. If you have suggestions for things that I should add to this list, please feel free to contact me by email at: help@techjv.com

Staying Informed - Covid 19 news

Accessible Covid 19 statistics tracker
In the rapidly changing landscape of the Covid-19 outbreak, staying informed is more crucial than ever.
For many people with disabilities, much of the data available regarding the COVID19 (corona virus) outbreak is in a graphical format, which is impossible to access. This website aims to solve the lack of accessible information by making critical statistics available in a text format that is easy to read and understand.
The accessible Covid-19 statistics tracker provides information about the spread of Covid-19. The website provides statistics by country, as well as individual states within the United States. You can also see and sort the data by total cases, active cases, cases reported today, deaths today, overall deaths, those who have recovered, those in critical condition, and cases per million people.

Government services and information

Los Angeles City - Meals to Angelenos with Disabilities Program

Direct link to application

Covid 19 Testing - Los Angeles City and County

Los Angeles County WDACS Critical Delivery Service
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the California Safer at Home Initiative, our aging population has an increased need for timely delivery services. WDACS has launched a free pickup and delivery program for older adults and individuals with disabilities. The Countywide program, called Critical Delivery Service, will deliver groceries, household items, and other vital necessities to individuals who are unable to leave their homes due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Items may be delivered 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at no cost to the client. No application process is required, however, items must be pre-paid and ready for pickup. Deliveries may be scheduled by calling 1-888-863-7411 between 8:00 am and 5:00 pm, Monday through Friday. Clients may utilize this service up to four times or 40 miles per month, whichever comes first.

Social Security - Economic Impact Payments

IRS - Economic Impact Payments


Staying informed - Blindness organizations and other sources

Blind Bargains

National Federation of the Blind Covid 19 Resources

American Council of the Blind Covid 19 Response

American Foundation for the Blind Community Resources

Braille Institute Library (NLS)

Audio Internet Reading Service of Los Angeles

Los Angeles Radio Reading Service

Accessible World
Accessible World seeks to educate the general public, the disabled community and the professionals who serve them by providing highly relevant information about new products, services, and training opportunities designed specifically to eliminate geographic and access barriers that adversely affect them.


Education and Working from home

Vispero/Freedom Scientific
Freedom Scientific is now offering JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion free of charge for personal computers at home, until June 30, 2020.
This offer is available to every household in the US and Canada.

Dolphin Computer Access
Dolphin is offering a free 3-month trial for SuperNova Magnifier, Magnifier & Speech or Magnifier & Screen Reader

Humanware
Humanware is also offering a free live webinar series.

HIMS Inc. Free webinars

Mosen Consulting
Free audio book, “Meet Me Accessibly – A Guide to Zoom Cloud Meetings from a Blindness Perspective

National Braille Press - Free digital book downloads until April 30, 2020
Dinner Delivered - Accessible and Easy Ways to Receive Meals Direct to Your Door
by Kim Loftis and Chris Grabowski

Getting Visual Assistance with an iPhone - by Judith Dixon

Navigating Healthcare, When All They Can See Is that You Can't
by Deborah Kendrick

Hadley Institute

Aira - Remote visual assistance by trained agents

Be My Eyes - Remote visual assistance by volunteers


Grocery and food delivery

Shopping Helpers LA is a community-based organization focused on helping to make the world around us a better, healthier place. With the help of our tireless volunteers, we organize shopping and deliveries free of charge for Seniors and disabled in the Los Angeles area. Even though the site doesn't specifically mention it, they are willing to provide assistance to blind and low-vision people.

Apps such as: Instacart, Uber Eats, and Door Dash are accessible but it can be challenging getting available time slots for grocery delivery, sometimes it could be several days later, if you're lucky. I've had the best luck so far using Walmart Grocery All of these apps are available on both IOS and Android. My favorite restaurant delivery service so far is Denny's which is very accessible and quick, as in 15 minutes. For the time being, they are offering free delivery. You don't need an app, just click here.


Go Go Grandparent Now offers food and grocery delivery service in addition to access to ride share services like Uber and Lyft without the use of a SmartPhone.

Entertainment

Audio Description Project
Are you stuck at home? Are you bored? Are your kids driving you crazy and you want to give them something to do? Want to know if there is anything good on TV that has audio description? Want to know what is on Broadcast television, cable, and streaming services with audio description? If so, the Audio Description Project is here to help during these challenging times.

The Audio Description Project (ADP) website has all this information and more.

It has up to date listings of what is on NBC, Fox, CBS, and ABC. It has listings for TNT, TBS, HGTV, and more.

Want to stay culturally relevant and know why people think Baby Yoda is so darn cute, then check out “The Mandalorian” on Disney+. Want to learn what the fuss is with “Stranger Things” on Netflix that is also audio described? To learn about these titles and more then check out our listing for the streaming services which include Disney+, Netflix, Prime Video, HULU, iTunes, Apple TV Plus, CBS All Access, and IMDb TV.

We also have an up to date listings of which titles with audio description get released on DVD.

To learn more about audio description, where and when you can watch it, and what titles are available, check them out here.

Audio Vault
This site contains the audio only portion of audio described film and TV shows.

Banana Vision
Putting the Vision back in Television
Welcome. We created Bananavision in 2008 because mainstream television drove us bananas, and to reflect a simpler time. We offer an array of television audio for your enjoyment.

The Listen Factor
Here at The Listen Factor, we stream a variety of great media sound tracks specifically designed for folks who are blind and/or visually impaired making it difficult to see the TV screen.
Some of our offerings include:
Old Time Radio, including crime/detective, mystery, suspense, westerns, family, comedy, adventure and SciFi.
TV and movie sound tracks (sound only, no video) both described and non-described, all genres
Music and other special events in conjunction with a partner radio station.

BUZZR TV
BUZZR is a pop culture time capsule – an unending celebration where viewers can play along to some of Fremantle's vast portfolio of more than 40,000 iconic game show episodes, which are shown around the clock.

Free full length movies on YouTube