Sight Unseen LLC

01/08/2026

Reminder, ACB scholarship applications for the 2026–2027 school year are open through February 14, 2026!

Since 1982, ACB’s Scholarship Program has helped students who are legally blind pursue their educational and career goals. In partnership with generous individuals and organizations, including the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB), ACB offers scholarships ranging from $2,000 to $7,500 for incoming freshmen, undergraduate and graduate students, and those attending technical colleges.

These scholarships help cover post-secondary education financial needs, including tuition, fees, room and board, and other additional costs associated with assistive technology.

Learn more and apply at https://www.acb.org/scholarships

01/07/2026

The alarm band engineered for deaf & HoH sleepers.

12/31/2025

I’ve been thinking about why disabled people are so often expected to be grateful instead of equal.

There’s a quiet social rule around disability that most people don’t even realise they’re enforcing. The rule says: if you’re disabled, you should be thankful for whatever access, support, patience or accommodation you’re given - because it’s framed as kindness, not as a right.

A ramp becomes generosity.
Flexibility becomes charity.
Understanding becomes something you should earn by being polite, easy, non-demanding - and the moment a disabled person asks for more than what’s offered, the tone shifts.

Suddenly it’s:
“Be grateful.”
“At least you get something.”
“Others have it worse.”
“You’re asking for too much.”

It becomes inconvenient (but honestly it’s often about cost, even though ironically we would engage more in society if the plain field was equal and therefore “cost less” 🙄).

Equality makes people uncomfortable because it removes the moral high ground. If access is a right, no one gets to feel generous for providing it. If disabled people are equal, then exclusion stops being unfortunate and starts being a choice.

Gratitude keeps the power imbalance intact.
Equality challenges it.

This is why disabled people are praised when we endure quietly. When we adapt. When we don’t complain. When we push through pain, exhaustion, sensory overload or illness without disrupting others. That kind of compliance is rewarded.

But when we say, “This isn’t accessible,” or “This doesn’t work for me,” or “I need this to participate,” we’re no longer seen as “inspiring.”
We’re seen as difficult.

There’s also a deeper layer here. Many disabled people are taught early on that their needs are inconvenient. That asking too clearly risks rejection. So we learn to soften our language, apologise for existing and thank people for meeting needs that should never have been optional in the first place.

That’s not humility.
That’s conditioning.

Gratitude has its place.
But it should never be used as a substitute for justice.

Disabled people don’t need to be thankful for access to society.
We need to be included in it - without having to perform appreciation just to be allowed in.

Equality isn’t special treatment.
It’s the baseline.

12/05/2025

Take note! People with a variety of disabilities are capable just like this guy is of working and completing and doing similar jobs or other jobs and other industries! 

In 1997, a 42-year-old deaf man from Memphis named Ron Moore walked into a FedEx facility looking for work.
He had a spotless commercial driver’s license, 20 years of accident-free long-haul experience, and a hearing aid that let him pass every state DOT physical.
FedEx told him, “We don’t hire deaf drivers. Company policy. Safety reasons.”
They showed him the door.
Ron didn’t yell. He didn’t protest.
He went home, called a lawyer, and sued FedEx for violation of the brand-new Americans with Disabilities Act.
FedEx laughed. They were the world’s largest cargo airline and trucking company. Their lawyers told the judge that allowing a deaf person to drive an 80,000-pound rig on the interstate would be “reckless endangerment of the public.”
They brought in PhDs who testified that deaf people can’t hear sirens, horns, or engine trouble.
They flew in retired generals who said the same rule applied in the military for good reason.
They spent over $4 million on the case.
Ron’s lawyer was a solo practitioner from a 2-room office above a barbecue joint. His entire annual revenue was less than FedEx’s legal team spent on coffee.
But Ron had one thing FedEx didn’t expect: data.
For two years he and his lawyer gathered evidence from every deaf trucker in America who was already safely driving interstate routes (because the Department of Transportation had quietly been issuing waivers since 1993).
They found more than 400 deaf drivers with millions of collective miles and an accident rate 22% lower than hearing drivers.
The trial lasted six weeks in 2001.
When Ron took the stand, the courtroom was silent. He signed his answers; an interpreter spoke them aloud.
FedEx’s lawyer asked, “Mr. Moore, how exactly do you hear an emergency vehicle if you cannot hear?”
Ron calmly reached under the witness table, pulled out a rear-view mirror rigged with flashing red LED lights that triggered when a siren hit a certain frequency, and set it down.
The courtroom gasped. Then applauded. The judge banged the gavel for order.
In March 2002, the jury returned a verdict in 47 minutes.
They awarded Ron Moore $8 million in punitive damages (at the time the largest single-plaintiff ADA verdict in U.S. history) and ordered FedEx to immediately hire him and rewrite their nationwide policy.
FedEx appealed to the Supreme Court. They lost at every level.
By 2005, FedEx (and every major U.S. trucking company) had removed blanket bans on deaf drivers.
Today, thousands of deaf Americans hold CDLs and drive coast to coast. The flashing-light mirror system Ron demonstrated is now standard aftermarket equipment sold at every truck stop in America.
Ron drove for FedEx until he retired in 2021 at age 66.
Zero accidents. Perfect safety record.
He still lives in Memphis. Every year on the anniversary of the verdict he eats barbecue at the restaurant under his old lawyer’s office (the lawyer retired to Florida on the contingency fee).
FedEx never apologized.
But every deaf kid who dreams of driving a big rig knows Ron Moore’s name.
One man who couldn’t hear changed the rules of the road for an entire nation.

11/26/2025

So true! So well said! We just need the rest of the world to pay attention! Stop with the assumptions! 

11/08/2025

Christmas Ultimate Global Gift List for Blind, Visually Impaired & Deafblind Shoppers 🎄🌍

Everyday labelling & independence

WayAround WayTags (NFC labels) — Tag clothes, food, meds, documents; scan with the free app for your own audio/text notes.
Price: US: $14.99–$229.99 depending on pack; e.g., Starter Pack $74.99, Stickers 25-pack $29.99.
Buy: US (WayAround store). For international shipping use local distributors listed on the site. 

RNIB PENfriend 3 (audio labeller) — Record a message onto tactile stickers; touch the pen to hear it back. Brilliant for kitchens, meds, clothes.
Price: UK: £107.99 inc VAT (VAT-exempt £89.99). US: TouchSpot Audio $155.00.
Buy: UK (RNIB Shop), US (TouchSpot Audio). 

Bump-Dots / Bumpons (tactile stickers) — Mark buttons, dials, keyboards, appliances; choose shapes/colours for different meanings.
Price: UK: £6.90–£11.10; US: $2.75–$8.95; AU: stocked by Vision Australia (varies).
Buy: UK (RNIB Shop), US (MaxiAids), AU (Vision Australia Vision Store). 

Liquid Level Indicator (audible + vibration) — Hangs on a mug and beeps/vibrates when nearly full, then full. Great for hot drinks and Deafblind users.
Price: UK: £19.20; US: $12.95; AU: typically A$25–A$50 via Vision Australia and other resellers.
Buy: UK (RNIB), US (MaxiAids), AU (Vision Australia / See Differently). 

Kitchen & home

Talking Microwave (accessible controls + speech) — Simple tactile buttons, spoken prompts/timers.
Price: UK: RNIB £264.00 (VAT-exempt £220.00). US: MaxiAids ~$429–$439. AU: Vision Australia A$720 (model 2.0).
Buy: UK (RNIB Shop), US (MaxiAids), AU (Vision Australia). 

Talking Kitchen Scale + Easy-to-See Jug — Announces weights in g/oz/ml; bold, high-contrast jug.
Price: UK: £69.00 (VAT-exempt £57.50). US: popular models ~$34.95–$119.95. AU: A$187–A$195.
Buy: UK (RNIB), US (MaxiAids / Assistech), AU (Vision Australia / See Differently). 

Sonic Bomb Alarm Clock (with bed shaker) — Extra-loud alarm + powerful vibrating pad for heavy sleepers/Deaf and Deafblind folks.
Price: US: $52.99–$59.99 typical; UK: ~£45–£55 depending on model.
Buy: US (Sonic Alert / major retailers), UK (Amazon & accessibility stores). 

Bellman & Symfon Visit doorbell/alerting system — Doorbell transmitter, flashing receiver, and/or vibrating pager/bed-shaker; modular for phone, baby, smoke alarms.
Price: US: Doorbell + flash receiver kit $413.85; UK: Pager Receiver £235.94.
Buy: US (Bellman US Store), UK (AmplifiedTelephones). 

Wearables & audio

Shokz OpenRun (bone-conduction) — Open-ear design keeps environmental sound; useful for orientation and safety.
Price: US: $129.95; UK: £129. UK Pro 2: £169.
Buy: Shokz official (regional stores). 

Apple Watch SE (current model) — Strong haptics/Taptic Time, discreet vibration alerts; great for Deaf/Deafblind notifications and voice control.
Price: US: from $249; UK: from £219; AU: from A$399; CA: from C$329.
Buy: Apple regional stores. 

Mobility, finding & orientation

WeWALK Smart Cane — Cane handle with phone app integration and obstacle alerts; navigation features.
Price: US: from $699; UK: RNIB from £499.
Buy: US/Global (WeWALK), UK (RNIB Shop). 

Sunu Band — Ultrasonic wristband gives vibration feedback for obstacles; pairs with app.
Price: US: commonly around $299; UK resellers vary (~£240 ex-VAT in case studies).
Buy: US (Sunu), UK (Sight & Sound / partners). 

Apple AirTag (item tracker) — For keys, bags, canes; precise finding with audio/haptics on iPhone.
Price: US: $29; UK: £35; EU: ~€39; CA: C$39; AU: A$49.
Buy: Apple regional stores. 

Tile (Mate/Pro) — iOS/Android friendly trackers; louder ring, good for non-Apple users.
Price (Mate 1-pack): US: $24.99; UK: ~£22–£30 depending on retailer.
Buy: US (Tile.com), UK (Tile / Amazon). 

“Tech that sees” (AI wearables & reading)

Envision Glasses (Read/Home/Pro editions) — Speak out printed text, identify objects/faces; hands-free.
Price: UK: Read £2,158.80 | Home £2,758.80 | Pro £3,598.80 (inc VAT).
Buy: Envision UK store; also via Sight & Sound (UK). 

OrCam MyEye 3 (smart camera for any glasses) — Read text from paper/screens; product, colour and face recognition.
Price: UK: around £4,399.99 (Pro) depending on reseller.
Buy: OrCam UK partners and resellers (e.g., The Dyslexia Shop, Posturite). 

Envision Ally Solos (budget smart glasses) — Newer AI-powered option with open-ear audio; lighter cost.
Price: UK: ~£544 (launch pricing shown on Envision shop).
Buy: Envision Shop. 

Magnification, braille & accessible phones

HumanWare explorē 8 (handheld video magnifier) — 8” portable CCTV; 2–30× magnification, near/distance.
Price: US/EU pricing varies by store (see HumanWare stores).
Buy: HumanWare regional stores. 

Orbit Reader 20 Plus (20-cell refreshable braille display) — Stand-alone note-taking, book reading, or use with phone/computer.
Price: US: $699; UK: ~£699 (varies by reseller).
Buy: US (Orbit Research), UK (Computer Room Services). 

BlindShell Classic 2 (talking mobile phone) — Physical keypad, loud speaker, dictation, WhatsApp, Aira/Be My Eyes apps.
Price: US: $489; UK: £399–£429 depending on VAT.
Buy: US (BlindShell), UK (RNIB). 

Gaming & play (family-friendly and adaptive)

Xbox Adaptive Controller — Hub for external switches, joysticks and other inputs (Xbox/Windows).
Price: US: $99.99.
Buy: Microsoft Store (US/UK variants available). 

PlayStation Access Controller (PS5) — Customisable controller with swappable buttons/sticks; works with Logitech’s Adaptive Kit.
Price (UK typical): ~£75–£129 across retailers.
Buy: UK price comparison page; Logitech adaptive kits also available. 

LEGO “Play with Braille” (40656) — Real LEGO bricks with braille studs & printed letters; learn and play together.
Price: US: $89.99; UK: £79.99; AU: A$139.99 (regional RRPs).
Buy: LEGO regional stores. 

UNO Braille (Mattel) — Full braille on every card; audio instructions online.
Price: US: $14.99 (typical); UK: ~£15.99.
Buy: US (Mattel Shop / specialty stores), UK (Amazon). 

Tactile Chess/Draughts (peg or raised-square boards) — Classic games adapted with tactile boards and marked pieces.
Price: UK: Draughts £22.80–£40.00; peg chess sets ~£42–£69.95. US: tactile chess ~$28.95+.
Buy: UK (RNIB / Braille Chess Association / ChessBaron), US (MaxiAids). 

Smart home & media

Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) — Voice control for lights/plugs, reminders/Timers, multi-room audio; routines can add accessibility.
Price: UK: £54.99; AU: A$99.
Buy: Amazon regional stores. 

Audible Gift Membership — Audiobooks everywhere with monthly credits; a practical “any country” gift.
Price (UK): 3 months £26.99, 6 months £47.99, 12 months £69.99 (gift centre).
Buy: Audible UK (regional equivalents on Audible US/CA/AU). 

Quick ideas under £/€/$25
• Mixed Bump-Dots/Bumpons packs (US $6.95–$8.95; UK £7–£11). 
• Liquid Level Indicator (US ~$12.95; UK £19.20). 
• UNO Braille (US ~$14.99; UK ~£15.99). 

10/31/2025

10/31/2025

MSU researchers explore how advertisers can design more inclusive, accessible ads for blind and visually impaired consumers using purposive audio descriptions.

10/26/2025

November is National Assistive Technology Awareness Month!

This year, we’re going all in on celebrating the tools and innovations that make independence easier.

From screen readers to smart devices, assistive technology is opening doors for people with visual impairments every day.

At Braille Institute, our experts are here to help you discover the tech that works best for you, no matter where you’re starting from.

Learn more about our Assistive Tech programs here: https://www.brailleinstitute.org/find-services/offerings/assistive-technology/

10/26/2025

So very true! 

👁️ “I never knew that…” — Let’s change that.

Most people only learn about blindness after they meet someone who’s blind.
By then, assumptions have already formed.

So let’s flip that.
Here are 5 things most people get wrong about blindness — and 5 truths everyone should know:

❌ “Blind means total darkness.”
✅ Blindness is a spectrum — many people see light, shapes or colour.

❌ “If they don’t look blind, they’re fine.”
✅ You can’t always see sight loss — it’s not a costume.

❌ “Helping means grabbing their arm.”
✅ Ask first. Respect is help.

❌ “Braille is old-fashioned.”
✅ Braille is literacy. Tech didn’t replace it — it amplified it.

❌ “Blind people can’t enjoy films, art or travel.”
✅ Audio description, touch, sound, movement, and storytelling make the world just as rich — sometimes richer.

If more people understood this, the world would be safer, kinder, and more inclusive — not just for blind people, but for everyone.

💬 Comment with one thing you wish more people knew about blindness.
🔁 Share this so the learning happens before the assumptions do.

10/19/2025

Bad assumptions are made about us!