Both BVA VetTech sessions next week, the Weekly Wednesday Webinar that would normally fall on November 22 and the subsequent Thursday VetTech Talk, will be suspended for the Thanksgiving holiday. Instead, look forward for a little longer to the virtual meeting on Wednesday, November 29, at 2:00pm Eastern Time to welcome the team from WeWalk, a revolutionary Smart cane that detects above-ground obstacles with ultrasound while still retaining standard white cane ground feedback.
WeWalk recently rolled out an amazing update that transforms the product from an advanced mobility device to a tool that leverages onboard sensors to enhance the training and instruction provided by certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists. The update makes WeWalk the most revolutionary of all aids for the blind and low vision community since the advent of the white cane and the two-touch technique developed in the 1930s.
In a more informal setting and discussion format than the weekly webinar, VetTech Talk is held every Thursday at 2:00pm Eastern Time. The sessions most often consist of a recap, review, and additional discussion of the previous day’s webinar. The Thursday, November 30 session will adhere to the customary format with a summary of the WeWalk presentation. It will also entertain additional discussion in a question-and-answer format on the use of VoiceOver in MacOS Sonoma.
Not a BVA member? No problem! All VetTech webinars and talk sessions are currently open to everyone—blind and low vision veterans and nonveterans, family members, caregivers, blind rehabilitation specialists, and all other parties interested in assistive, adaptive, and accessible technology that results in greater independence. Membership in BVA or attendance at previous sessions are not prerequisites to join the VetTech webinars or VetTech Talk sessions.
Did you miss any of the recent virtual sessions for some reason? No problem! VetTech is now available as a podcast on major platforms. Interested parties can listen on demand to missed Weekly Wednesday Webinars as well as original content published solely on the podcast by asking their Smart speaker, Siri, or Alexa, to “play the latest episode of the Blinded Veterans Association VetTech Podcast.” They can also follow the channel via Apple Podcast, Google Play, and Amazon Music.
This past week, the VetTech Weekly Wednesday Webinar featured Liz Bottner, Assistive Technology Specialist with the National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS). Liz discussed the NLS BARD (Braille and Audio Reading Download) program, a free service that provides access to a vast collection of audiobooks, magazines, and music in digital formats to eligible veterans and other individuals with print impairments. She shared with attendees how to sign up for BARD to enjoy its rich library of media. The Thursday session summarized Liz’s presentation and offered additional discussion on how the blind and low vision can acquire books and other media in a variety of formats.
To enter either or both VetTech sessions on November 29 and 30 using the customary Zoom meeting credentials and link, click here. For additional information about the VetTech initiative, its specific mission, and its purpose, click here.
