Resources
A curated guide to assistive technology, AI tools, mobile apps, vocational rehabilitation, and advocacy resources for blind and visually impaired people. Built from years of hands-on experience as an AT instructor and informed by conversations with builders, developers, and advocates on The Tony Gebhard Show.
Last updated March 2026. Got a resource that should be here? Let me know.
NVDA Coach — Learn NVDA Inside NVDA
NVDA Coach is a free, open source add-on I built that teaches screen reader commands through guided, step-by-step lessons built directly into NVDA. 35 lessons across 5 chapters covering everything from basic navigation to browse mode to object navigation. No videos, no PDFs — press NVDA+Shift+C and start learning.
Now at version 1.3.2 with full Russian localization by Valentin Kupriyanov. Available in the NVDA Add-on Store or as a direct download from GitHub.
Download NVDA Coach v1.3.2 — Free, no account required.
Featured on The Tony Gebhard Show
These are people and projects I’ve interviewed on the podcast — builders, advocates, and creators doing real work in accessibility and beyond.
Martijn van der Spek — PiccyBot (3x guest). Award-winning accessible app that turns photos and videos into spoken descriptions. PiccyBot Live brings real-time AI descriptions and integrates with Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. piccybot.com
Taylor Arndt — Perspective Intelligence. Building AI that lives on your phone for real-time visual assistance and scene understanding.
Jessica Tegner — Be My Eyes. Software engineer at Be My Eyes, which connects blind users with sighted volunteers and AI-powered visual assistance. The Be My Eyes Foundation launched at CSUN 2026. bemyeyes.com
Shawn Keen — Envision. Discussed Envision’s AI-powered smart glasses, ally.me, live AI features on Meta Ray-Ban glasses, and Google AI Studio integrations for blind users. letsenvision.com
Maliaka Mitchell. Blind actor and voice actor breaking barriers in entertainment through Theatre by the Blind and the Blue Door Theater in Los Angeles.
Bill Hahey. Blind multi-instrumentalist, vocalist, and raga-inspired improviser with decades of creative work. cleanouttasightaudio.com
AI-Powered Assistive Technology
AI is the biggest shift in assistive technology since the screen reader. These tools use computer vision, natural language processing, and large language models to describe the visual world in real time.
AI Apps and Services
Be My Eyes — Live volunteer video calls plus Be My AI (GPT-4 powered image descriptions). Specialized Help connects you directly to accessibility teams at Microsoft, Google, and more. Free. iOS and Android. bemyeyes.com
Aira — On-demand trained visual interpreters through smart glasses or your phone. Access AI provides free instant image descriptions. Nationwide access points at airports and businesses. aira.io
PiccyBot — Turns photos and videos into spoken descriptions. PiccyBot Live adds real-time AI scene descriptions and works with Meta Ray-Ban smart glasses. iOS and Android. piccybot.com
Envision AI — Read text in 60+ languages, describe surroundings, identify faces, scan documents, detect colors. Also available as smart glasses for hands-free use. Free with premium options. iOS and Android. letsenvision.com
Seeing AI (Microsoft) — Reads short text, documents, handwriting. Identifies products by barcode, recognizes currency, describes people and scenes. Free. iOS. seeingai.com
Google Lookout — AI-powered scene description, text reading, document scanning, barcode identification. Works offline. Free. Android. Google Play
ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini — General-purpose AI assistants that can describe uploaded images, help with writing, answer questions, and assist with daily tasks. All are accessible with screen readers.
AI Wearables and Devices
Envision Glasses — Smart glasses with AI-powered text reading, scene description, face recognition, and Aira integration for live human assistance. letsenvision.com
Meta Ray-Ban Smart Glasses — Consumer smart glasses with Live AI features for real-time scene description and object recognition. Works with PiccyBot and Envision apps.
OrCam MyEye — Wearable AI that attaches to eyeglasses. Reads text, recognizes faces, identifies products, describes scenes. Works offline. orcam.com
Glidance Glide — AI-powered mobility device that rolls alongside you like a guide dog. Detects obstacles, recognizes doors and elevators, provides haptic and audio feedback. glidance.io
Screen Readers
NVDA — Free, open source screen reader for Windows. Supports 55+ languages, braille displays, and a massive add-on ecosystem. Learn it with NVDA Coach. nvaccess.org
JAWS — Industry-leading screen reader for Windows by Freedom Scientific. Customizable scripting, advanced Office support, AI-powered Picture Smart for image descriptions. freedomscientific.com
VoiceOver — Built into every Apple device at no cost. Deeply integrated across macOS, iOS, iPadOS, watchOS. apple.com/accessibility
TalkBack — Built into Android. Gesture-based navigation, braille keyboard support, Google Assistant integration. Google TalkBack
Narrator — Built into Windows 10/11. Basic but improving. Good for immediate accessibility without installing additional software. Microsoft Narrator
Mobile Apps
Be My Eyes — Volunteer video calls + AI image descriptions. Free. iOS/Android. bemyeyes.com
PiccyBot — AI photo and video descriptions with live mode. iOS/Android. piccybot.com
Seeing AI — Microsoft’s free visual assistant. Text, barcodes, currency, scenes, people. iOS. seeingai.com
Google Lookout — Text reading, scene descriptions, barcodes. Works offline. Free. Android. Google Play
Envision AI — Read text, describe scenes, scan documents. 60+ languages. Free with premium. iOS/Android. letsenvision.com
OKO — AI-powered pedestrian signal recognition. Tells you when it’s safe to cross. Free. iOS/Android. intuitiveoko.com
GoodMaps — Indoor navigation with meter-level accuracy using camera positioning. goodmaps.com
Soundscape (Microsoft) — 3D audio navigation that uses spatial sound to describe your surroundings and help with orientation and mobility.
KNFB Reader — Professional-grade OCR for documents, multi-column layouts. Paid. iOS/Android/Windows. knfbreader.com
Voice Dream Reader — Full-featured reading app supporting PDFs, Word docs, ePub, web articles, and more with high-quality text-to-speech voices. iOS.
Screen Magnifiers and Low Vision Tools
ZoomText — Screen magnifier and reader for Windows. Up to 60x magnification with integrated speech. freedomscientific.com
Fusion — Combines ZoomText magnification with JAWS screen reading in one package. freedomscientific.com
Windows Magnifier — Built-in. Full-screen, lens, and docked modes up to 1600%. Free.
macOS Zoom — Built-in magnification across all Mac apps. Keyboard shortcut activated.
Braille Displays and Literacy
HumanWare Brailliant BI X Series — 20 and 40 cell displays with Bluetooth 5, text-to-speech, standalone notetaking, Wi-Fi book downloads. humanware.com
Freedom Scientific Focus Series — 14, 40, and 80 cell displays designed for seamless JAWS integration. freedomscientific.com
Mantis Q40 — Full QWERTY keyboard + 40-cell braille display hybrid. humanware.com
Braille libraries: National Library Service (NLS) · Bookshare · National Braille Press · American Printing House for the Blind
Vocational Rehabilitation
Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) is a federally and state-funded program that helps people with disabilities prepare for, find, and keep jobs. For blind and visually impaired individuals, services are often provided through specialized state commissions or agencies focused on blindness. All services are free to eligible individuals.
What VR Can Provide
Career counseling and vocational evaluations, assistive technology assessment and training, blindness skills training (cane travel, daily living), support for college, trade school, or on-the-job training, job search assistance, resume help, interview prep, workplace accommodations, and supported employment.
How to Get Started
Contact your state’s VR agency or commission for the blind. You’ll be assigned a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor (VRC) who will work with you to develop an Individualized Plan for Employment (IPE) tailored to your goals.
Find your state agency: CSAVR (directory of all state VR agencies) · NCSAB (state agencies for the blind) · APH ConnectCenter (searchable by state)
Related Employment Programs
Social Security Ticket to Work — Free program helping disability beneficiaries return to work while maintaining benefits. ssa.gov/work
Job Accommodation Network (JAN) — Free guidance on workplace accommodations and disability employment rights. askjan.org
Randolph-Sheppard Program — Business opportunities for blind individuals to operate vending facilities on federal properties.
National Advocacy Organizations
National Federation of the Blind (NFB) — Oldest and largest organization of blind people in the US. 50,000+ members. Scholarships, NFB Newsline, policy advocacy. nfb.org
American Council of the Blind (ACB) — State affiliates and special interest groups covering all aspects of blindness. acb.org
American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) — Helen Keller’s organization. Research, policy advocacy, CareerConnect, FamilyConnect. afb.org
Hadley — Free courses on technology, independent living, and blindness skills. hadley.edu
Foundation Fighting Blindness — Largest private funder of retinal disease research. fightingblindness.org
Blinded Veterans Association — Peer support and advocacy for blinded veterans. bva.org
Vendors and Hardware
Vispero — Parent company of Freedom Scientific, HumanWare, and other AT brands. vispero.com
Freedom Scientific — JAWS, ZoomText, Fusion, Focus braille displays. freedomscientific.com
HumanWare — Brailliant, Mantis, Victor Reader. humanware.com
NV Access — Nonprofit developers of NVDA. nvaccess.org
WeWALK — Smart cane with ultrasonic obstacle detection, GPS, and smartphone connectivity. wewalk.io
Retailers: MaxiAids · LS&S · Low Vision Supply · Independent Living Aids
Guide Dog Schools
Guide Dogs for the Blind · Guiding Eyes for the Blind · The Seeing Eye · Southeastern Guide Dogs
Funding Assistive Technology
State VR agencies — Primary funding source for employment-related AT. Contact your state commission for the blind.
Medicare/Medicaid — May cover prescribed assistive devices. Medicaid coverage varies by state.
Veterans Administration — AT provided through the VA Blind Rehabilitation Service for eligible veterans.
IDEA (for students) — Schools must provide AT when needed for free appropriate public education.
Computers for the Blind — Free refurbished computers with AT. No income requirements. computersfortheblind.org
Lions Clubs International — Local Lions clubs provide grants for eye care and assistive technology.
Conferences and Events
CSUN Assistive Technology Conference — The largest AT conference in the world. Annual in California. csun.edu/cod/conference
NFB National Convention — Workshops, exhibits, networking, policy advocacy. nfb.org
ACB Conference and Convention — Annual gathering of the ACB membership. acb.org
Curated by Tony Gebhard | AT Instructor | tonygebhard.me | info@tonygebhard.me
Tony Gebhard 