Finishing college. Getting a job. Living independently.
For Jeri Maiaroto, assistive technology has not only made living with vision loss for the past 20 years more manageable, it’s allowed her to accomplish her goals.
New Vision for Independence hosted its Assistive Technology Expo on Aug. 4 at the Leesburg Public Library to provide information about the various devices available to people living with low vision or blindness.
Maiaroto, a job readiness instructor and data entry coordinator for New Vision, said as the expo’s organizer, she connects with assistive technology distributors across the state and invites one company per expo to showcase its devices. The nonprofit hosts multiple expos in a year.
“This is a demonstration of assistive technology that helps people with low vision of blindness with everyday life,” said Maiaroto, of Lady Lake. “This event brings one distributor and gives people the opportunity to see the devices they have. The large conventions can be hard to navigate for people with low vision.”
During the Aug. 4 expo, Florida Vision Technology displayed more than 10 different devices, from handheld to wearable.
“I wouldn’t have been able to attend college in 2003, or get a job without assistive technology,” Maiaroto said. “I’m a big pusher for using these devices to make our lives easier in being independent.”
Annika Kretschmer, assistive technology specialist at Florida Vision Technology, presented new and updated devices from the wearable eSight Go to the smart device, WeWALK Smart Cane.
“Showing seniors what new technology can do for them and their independence has been magical. Watching their faces light up when they see their grandchild’s picture clearly for the first time, it’s amazing,” Kretschmer said.
Kretschmer began her presentation showcasing several handheld magnifiers, including the Explorer 5, Explorer 8 and the Luna 6, passing them around the room for audience members to try. Moving through devices by categories, Kretschmer showed several speech devices like the OrCam Read, which takes a picture of text and turns it into audio, and the LyriQ Assistive Text to Speech Reader, which also translates text into audio.
Peter Pinigus, of Eustis, attended the expo with his wife Mary and his service dog Sergeant. He was particularly interested in learning more about devices that use artificial intelligence.
“My focus is on the Meta Glasses,” he said. “It’s emerging technology that’s not exclusively developed for impaired people, but I’m interested in how we can get that AI technology developed further to help visually impaired people.”
At the end of the presentation, Maiaroto talked about programs New Vision for Independence offers, including its Vocational Rehabilitation Program that trains people how to use assistive technology.
“This is an opportunity to learn how to stay independent,” she said. “Through our program, people are able to learn how to cook, clean and even brush their teeth despite having low vision or blindness. We have a lot of resources that teach people how to stay active and break down all the barriers.”
For more information about New Vision for Independence and its programs, visit newvisionfl.org.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
