Be My Eyes app (this has more volunteers than users!)
Usually organisations cry out for volunteers. But this app is so popular worldwide, that it has more volunteers than recipients! It’s a great idea that everyone wants to help out with.
Be My Eyes basically lets you sign up, then any blind person worldwide can send a message, asking you to ‘be their eyes’. You can read recipes, decipher colours or read instructions.
The app was launched by Danish furniture craftsman Hans Jørgen Wiberg (who does not have full vision). Within 24 hours, it had over 10,000 users. Today there are over 10 million volunteers!
How does Be My Eyes app work?
A person who is blind or has low vision can use it to request assistance from a sighted volunteer, who uses the camera to see what the user needs help with. For example:
- Reading a letter or food label
- Identifying an item
- Checking an appliance setting
- Finding a particular product
- Understanding what’s in front of them
- Navigating an unfamiliar situation
The benefits of Be My Eyes ap
The obvious benefit is independence – not having to wait for someone else to be available in order to carry out the requested task.
It’s also a really nice way to be connected with others, sometimes half way across the world! In this world of utter madness, hate and war – there’s something lovely about say a Japanese volunteer helping a blind person in England or the USA. It’s also free to use.
More free help for blind people
Most blind people are fine with the term ‘blind’ or ‘low vision’. But they don’t like ‘vision-impaired’. People with 10% or less vision are classed as legally blind, in most countries.
- Blind person’s allowance is added to your yearly allowance. Also register for benefits, if you care for someone who is blind or partially sighted.
- Relay is a free app to help people who have difficulty using the phone. Also register with BT Protected Services Scheme, so they can contact you if you forget to pay, to avoid cutting off your line.
- BT Home Essentials offers cheaper calls and broadband (ask about BT Priority Repair and free BT directory enquiries).
- Royal Mail offers free postage (national and international) of books, printed materials, audio/electronic media and mobility aids.
- You may also qualify to receive a free radio (for adults or children).
Why the BBC TV licence law is bonkers
If you have low vision, the BBC won’t give you a free license. But if you are registered blind, you only get a 50% discount on your TV licence. So it costs around £90. But get this – they offer a discount to bring it down to £30 if the TV is black-and-white!
If someone is blind, they don’t know if the TV is colour or black-and-white. So why on earth are blind people being charged £60 more if they have a colour TV? No wonder people are campaigning to replace this archaic scheme with a subscription service.
