Amazon Echo can now identify foods

 We all know the Amazon Alexa is a great tool for the visually impaired and blind consumer. But it just got even better! Alexa can now use a feature Show and Tell that can tell users what an item of food is. Read on to find out more! 

Original post here

Amazon has released a new feature for its Echo Show smart speaker enabling the device to identify grocery items for blind or visually-impaired users.

The update, called Show and Tell, requires customers to hold a product to the speaker's front-facing camera and say aloud: "Alexa, what am I holding?"

Digital assistant Alexa uses computer vision (tech developed to allow machines to 'see' as humans do) and machine learning (teaching computers to learn without being explicitly programmed to do so) technologies to identify the object and say aloud what it is.

“We heard that product identification can be a challenge [for blind and visually-impaired people) and something customers wanted Alexa’s help with," Sarah Caplener, head of Amazon’s Alexa for Everyone team, said in a statement.

"Whether a customer is sorting through a bag of groceries, or trying to determine what item was left out on the counter, we want to make those moments simpler by helping identify these items and giving customers the information they need."

The update is currently available for owners of first and second-generation Echo Show users in the US.

The company introduced another accessibility feature earlier this month giving users greater control over the speed at which Alexa speaks.

Users can now chose from seven speeds of speech, four rates of faster speech and two slower, triggered by speaking aloud: "Alexa, speak slower" or "Alexa, speak faster".

Despite Amazon's efforts to make its technology more accessible for all users, Alexa's robotic voice can cause "deep distress" to dementia patients who are unfamiliar with it.

Spoken reminders to take medication can cause distress to people with dementia, while people who have had a stroke or have learning disabilities may not be able to formulate questions in the way the assistants' AI understands, a report from Doteveryone, a think tank promoting responsible tech, claimed.

Mental Health Tip of the Week

12 comments that are unexpectedly detrimental to people’s mental health

By: Jamie Wiebe

If a friend suffers from mental illness, wanting to help or offer supportive words is understandable. Seeing someone you love in pain hurts your heart, too. There’s nothing wrong with reaching out about a friend’s mental health — but respect and delicacy is paramount. A callous or poorly thought-out comment can cause a spiral or depressive episode for someone with mental health challenges.

Pay attention to your words. These 12 comments might actively damage someone’s mental health — and at a minimum, they won’t help improve their well-being.

“Someone else has it worse off than you.”

Mental illness doesn’t stop just because someone out there suffers more than you. We wish we could tell our brain,

“Things aren’t so bad, comparatively!” Mental illness often doesn’t listen to reason. The world is dark and full of terrors, so don’t make us feel guilty about our own struggles.

“You can do it! You’re so strong.”

Thanks? But strength doesn’t help. Mental illness is a life-long battle, and just because we’ve knocked out the anxiety demon for the day doesn’t mean it won’t come back next week. Praising our strength now may lead to worse lows later, when our mental illness returns, and we struggle to loosen its grip.

“Snap out of it.”

Believe us: we would if we could. But if mental illnesses disappeared with a snap of our fingers, why would anyone suffer? Telling us to “snap out of it” can even make our problems worse. When our mental illness doesn’t magically evaporate, we worry we’re disappointing you.

“Everyone gets stressed out!”

Sure, this is accurate. Everyone does get stressed out! But being “stressed out” is not equivalent to “having an anxiety disorder.” Mental illnesses don’t go away when midterms are over — this is something we deal with our entire life.

“You’re making excuses.”

Yes, depression can cause avoidance or tardiness. An anxiety attack might mean leaving a party early. We might miss a date. But the mental illness isn’t an excuse — it’s the cause, and our behavior is the symptom. Saying our anxiety or depression is an “excuse” is like saying the flu is an “excuse” for a nasty cough.

“Why are you still stressed out? It happened so long ago!”

Don’t dismiss the concerns of someone suffering from diagnoses like post-traumatic stress disorder by reminding them that the event in question happened “a long time ago.” Events in the distant past can loom large in our memory, meaning they don’t feel “long ago” to us.

“Face your fears! You can do it!”

No, we literally can’t — and frankly, it’s not that easy. We’re facing our fears every day. Acrophobia (or a fear of heights) won’t be miraculously cured because we decide to jump out of a plane. And social anxiety doesn’t disappear because we attended our best friend’s birthday party. If we do face our fears, it will be on our own terms, or with a therapist’s care and guidance.

“You’re just looking for attention.”

The opposite. If our mental illnesses could stop attracting so much attention, that would be great! Please don’t look at a friend suffering from depression and think their tears are just for show.

“Chill out.”

A mental illness is not a refrigerator. Believe us: We would love to relax. We’d be thrilled if we could tap our heels together three times and suddenly be less high-strung. But requesting we “chill out” might just exacerbate our spiral and lead to more stress — for everyone — in the long run.

“Do you really need meds? Or: Maybe you need meds?”

Are you a doctor? Are you my doctor? Clearly not, because no doctor would suggest we suddenly dump our medication. And if we’re not taking medication, please trust that we’ve fully considered the slate of options and determined med-free is the best strategy for our specific illness. We want your support, not your unqualified medical opinions.

“Have you thought about what you’re putting your family through?”

All the time. Literally every day. Most people with mental illness struggle with the belief they’re hurting their family, making this guilt trip highly effective. But if you’re hoping to help us overcome our mental illness by invoking our loved ones, think again. All you’re doing is adding weight to our burden.

“Think positively!”

Yes, practicing positive thought patterns is a valuable treatment for some mental illnesses. But it’s a long process, typically undergone with a therapist’s guidance. If we could “think positively!” on a whim, we wouldn’t have a mental illness, or could at least lessen it’s symptoms. So, while your positivity may be appreciated, please keep these thoughts to yourself. Otherwise, you’re adding to the weight that mentally ill people carry every day.

We’re All Working Through Something

The best way to support someone working through mental health challenges is to listen, not talk. We all want what’s best for each other and are eager to provide any solution to help ease someone’s pain. But suggesting random solutions isn’t always the answer. Sometimes all we need is to know someone cares enough about us to stand by us and understand our issues without judgement.

Halloween Safety tips for kids who are Blind/VI

Do you have any grandchildren who are blind/visually impaired? Check out these tips on how to keep them safe for Halloween! 
original article found here: here

1. Stay away from costumes that include elaborate masks, eye patches, long-haired wigs or over-sized hats. They can become unwieldy and may frustrate children. Be prepared to wear them yourself if your child decides to discard it!

2. In lieu of a freakishly scary mask, which can feel claustrophobic and limit vision, try creating a mask with makeup or face paint. Kits can be purchased from specialty stores or just about any drugstore or supermarket. Moms, you can also use your own makeup! Just make sure it’s hypo-allergenic before applying it on your child’s skin.

3. Be careful with fake eyelashes. These can be dreadfully irritating to a child’s eyes if not applied correctly.

4. Grisly boots, princess slippers and any other shoes should fit snugly so they don’t fall off in the fog on Halloween night.

5. Ensure all your child’s costume elements are fire resistant. You can do this by checking tags or the costume packaging. (Don’t take a match or lighter to it like a mindless mummy would.)

6. If your child is uncomfortable in a traditional costume, let them pick out something they enjoy instead. Maybe they prefer a Halloween themed T-shirt, or forgoing a costume altogether. Some children with cognitive differences are uncomfortable with trick-or-treating. That’s okay! Let them hand out candy at home, with parental supervision of course.

7. After a night of fun, go through the candy haul and remove anything that looks like it may have been opened or tampered with. For those with food allergies, look for these teal pumpkins! The Teal Pumpkin Project is a movement to provide non-food treats, so children with food allergies or other conditions can still fill their bucket.

8. Don’t be afraid while walking around your neighborhood in the mysterious moonlight of All Hallows’ Eve. Sport a bright and/or reflective costume so street traffic can easily see you. Remind your ghoulish gang to walk on the sidewalk and look both ways before crossing a street!

9. Children with visual disabilities who are not fully blind should use a flashlight to brighten walkways, sidewalks and staircases. Parents: you can also utilize the flashlight function on your smartphone if you prefer not to lug around a flashlight all night.

10. Children with disabilities may need a little practice trick or treating before the big day! If your child has a visual disability, mapping the route you’ll take can help them feel more comfortable and confident. Children with cognitive disabilities may be comforted by practicing the trick-or-treat ritual beforehand. Let your kid practice knocking on your front door, or try it out on a neighbor’s house!

11. Avoid pointed or sharp costume elements like swords, spears or lightsabers. While they are fake and usually made of plastic or Styrofoam, they can still cause harm to someone if a bizarre accident occurs.

12. Younger ghouls and goblins should always trick-or-treat with one or more adults alongside. It’s better to be safe than sorry when you’re out during the one night a year when warlocks, monsters, werewolves and vampires rule the streets!

13. Tweens and teens are encouraged to troll neighborhoods in groups. Being in a group is safer and makes it less frightening if you’re approached by shadowy specters or worse yet, a spooky stranger who is walking the streets without a costume.

14. If you find yourself in a creepy or unfamiliar neighborhood, only stop at houses with bright porch lights or visible Halloween decorations. Kids with blindness should rely on sighted parents or friends to guide them to the right houses.

15. Bring a cauldron of common sense with you. Stay away from strange streets that are under construction, agonizing alleyways and horrifyingly heavy-traffic areas.

Developmental Therapy Assistants Needed

What is Developmental Therapy?

Developmental therapy is a specialized field of work that focuses on the manner in which children from birth to five years of age learn and develop. It is a discipline that takes a holistic look at child development, that is, everything from physical growth to mental functioning to personality development and so forth.

Due to the global nature of developmental therapy, it is a service provided to a wide range of clients. Children with physical disabilities, cognitive delays, sensory processing difficulties, speech delays, and visual or hearing impairments often participate in developmental therapy activities.

Likewise, children with psychological disorders, like Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Autism Spectrum Disorder, and Pervasive Developmental Disorder are often referred for developmental therapy to be evaluated and treated for their conditions.

Employment outlook

According to CareerPlanner.com, the employment of DTAs is projected to grow 29% through 2026, much faster than the average for all occupations.

DTAs are needed to assist the Developmental Therapists in the assessment and delivery of services. 

For more information about becoming a Developmental Therapy Assistant, contact Rebecca Reid at 501-664-7100 ex/265 or rreid@wsblind.org

Mental Health Tip of the Week

Mental Health? Yes, There’s an App for That

By: Domenica Favero Psy.D.

It seems there are apps for everything these days. There are apps to manage your money, to make lists, to talk to friends, and to track calories. There are even apps that could help with your mental health. This is an area of software development that has been on the rise for years and there are now several apps that could be a great adjunct to therapy and may even be beneficial in and of themselves.

Other apps are more focused on specific types of therapies, particularly Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy. These apps can help you record your thoughts and feelings and even determine what kind of dysfunctional thoughts you are having. The Veterans Administration pioneered some of this approach by developing apps to reach more veterans who were waiting for care or in-between visits. Some newer research confirms that these CBT apps can be beneficial when used in addition to face-to-face CBT for insomnia (Koffel et al., 2018), while other research found that using CBT apps may be beneficial for overall well-being (Bakker, Kazantzis, Rickwood, & Rickard, 2018).

Finally, there are even apps to help you connect with a therapist to provide you with direct one-on-one psychotherapy. Some of these apps connect you with a therapist to chat via phone, text or email, while others connect you through videoconferencing. It really depends on the app and service you use, and some insurance companies are beginning to partner with these services to provide more affordable care

It is important to note that none of these apps should be used as a replacement for face-to-face intervention, especially when someone is in crisis. It does appear, however, that some mental health apps may be helpful for people with mild anxiety or depression or those who feel they need assistance in coping. They also appear to be beneficial when used in addition to therapy or medicine and both therapists and clients report benefit from using them (Stawarz, Preist, Tallon, Wiles, & Coyle, 2018).

Here is a list of the top 10 mental health apps most commonly used

1.      Calm free from the App Store

2.     Headspace free from the App Store

3.     Moodnotes $3.99

4.     Moodpath free from the App Store

5.     Pacifica free from the App Store

6.     SuperBetter free from the App Store

7.     7 Cups free from the App Store

8.     Anxiety Relief Hypnosis free from the App Store

9.     Happify free from the App Store

10.  Talkspace free from the App Store

Football Boradcaster 'feels the game'

Article originally from Gaston Gazette

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. (AP) — Mike Mote has never seen a college football game. That has never stopped him from “feeling the game” as a broadcaster.

Mote, who has been blind since birth, loves everything about his job as a studio host of Southern Mississippi football at the Leerfield/IMG College office in downtown Winston-Salem. He loves the challenge of doing his job, which he really calls a “cool hobby,” even though he can’t see.

Technology is certainly on his side, but what he really does those others might take for granted is how well he listens to the game.

“Radio has been a way of life for me since I was a child,” said Mote, 46, who has worked in the Winston-Salem offices for the past 2 1/2 years. “I can get so much out of hearing a broadcast and learning everything I need to know to do my job properly.”

Mote and his brother, Gordon, who also has been blind since birth and is a musician, grew up in rural Alabama.

Mike says their father built an 80-foot antenna in their backyard so the brothers could have their own station. It wasn’t exactly legal, but it allowed Mike and Gordon to get involved in radio.

“It was illegal, there’s no doubt,” Mike said about the antenna that sent a signal with a radius of around two miles. “But that was our introduction, and we just kind of winged it and got to know what it was like to be on the radio. My brother and I listened to the radio a lot growing up so we thought it would be cool to have our own station.

“I’m guessing the FCC can’t go after us now.”

Mote said he doesn’t remember if their station had call letters, he just knew it was a lot of fun. He went on to major in radio and communications at Jacksonville State, and his love for sports got him in the front door.

“I came to a realization that they were going to pay me to watch sports,” Mote said. “I really loved it, and I still do. I’m grateful to be able to do this and the bottom line is this is fun for me.”

Mote is in his first season of being part of the Southern Mississippi radio broadcasts. Recently, he was in the studio helping broadcast the Golden Eagles’ game against the Alabama Crimson Tide. The game wound up being a blowout — Alabama won 49-7 — but Mote informed listeners with scores from around the country, provided highlights of the game at halftime, and did a post-game wrap-up of the Crimson Tide’s win.

Mote is no stranger to the job, having worked for several schools over the last 15 years or so. He loves the fast-paced excitement each Saturday brings, and he’s constantly staying on top of what is going on with the Southern Miss program.

For the noon game last weekend, he arrived at the IMG office at 9:30 a.m. to work on some taped pre-game analysis. He didn’t get home until around 7 p.m.

He uses public transportation to get to his part-time job at IMG and his full-time job at IBF Solutions. It’s there where he became as passionate about finding jobs for the blind as he is about his work in radio all these years.

“IFP is my full-time employment and I’ve been with them for nearly seven years,” Mote said. “It’s the largest employer of blind people or visually-impaired people in the country. We have three locations throughout the country, and here in Winston-Salem, we have about 500 employees and my role is as manager of workforce services, and we are a staffing agency to find folks jobs.”

Mote said it’s important to find those jobs for the blind.

“About 70% of the blind population is without a job, and we’re trying to change that,” Mote said.

It would seem being blind would be a disadvantage for Mote, but Cabell Philpott, the audio network manager of Learfield/IMG College, says it’s the opposite.

“The whole thing with Mike is fascinating with what he can do,” Philpott said. “Not only is he great at on-air, but he’s also got a great personality and really fits in well.”

Philpott, who has been with Learfield/IMG College for 14 years, says the radio background is a big factor in why Mote is so good at what he does.

“Because Mike’s blind, he can’t run a board, but we’ve actually tried,” Philpott said. “We were almost there where he could do it, but just didn’t feel comfortable. He would have to move sound around on the computer screen and it just wasn’t working with the program that he uses, but we might address it later.”

Mote works with a producer during the games. The Winston-Salem office for Learfield/IMG College is home to several shows from games being played around the country. On any given Saturday, close to 40 games are produced for radio.

Philpott said it can be a little hectic, but the dedicated individuals such as Mote make it all work.

“Radio, for him, is his eyes,” Philpott said. “I’m sure folks that listen to him on a regular basis have no idea that he’s blind.”