Living with Vision Loss

Living with Vision Loss Podcast Episode 12: How Can I Explain My Vision Loss? Near Acuity Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT | Episode Type: Educational Episode Summary Dawn shares three ways to explain your near vision loss to family, friends, and healthcare providers. Vision loss is personal and hard to explain, but educating others helps you feel less alone. What Is Near Acuity? Near acuity i...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast Episode 11: What Is a Low Vision OT? Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT | Episode Type: Educational Episode Summary Dawn explains what a low vision OT does after 25+ years in the field. She covers evaluations, activities of daily living addressed, and how treatment is personalized to your goals—from eccentric viewing for macular degeneration to glare evaluations a...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast Episode 10: How Does Seeing AI Recognize Food, Money, and Text for People with Vision Loss? Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT Episode Type: Educational / App Guide Episode Summary Dawn introduces Seeing AI, a free text-to-speech app that helps people who are legally blind read again. If magnification devices don't work due to severely reduced vision, central scot...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast Episode 9: What Magnification Apps Can Help Me Read Again? Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT Episode Type: Educational / App Guide Episode Summary Dawn shares her three favorite magnification apps that help people with low vision read small print. She explains why these apps work best for spot reading tasks like medicine bottles, prices at the store, and restaura...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast Episode 8: How Can Video Magnification Help You Read at Work, School & Home? Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT Episode Type: Educational / Product Guide Episode Summary Dawn explains why video magnification is one of the most popular solutions for people with vision loss who want to read again at work, school, or home. Unlike optical magnifiers, video magnifi...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast Episode 7: Will a Magnifier Help Me Read? Optical Magnification Devices Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT Episode Type: Educational Episode Summary Dawn explores four optical magnification devices: full field microscopes, prism half eyes, handheld magnifiers, and stand magnifiers. She explains why the correct diopter power matters, why store-bought magnifiers oft...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast Episode 6: How Can I Magnify Print for Reading? Size Magnification on iPhones & iPads Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT Episode Type: Educational / How-To Duration: ~5:43 minutes Episode Summary In this episode, Dawn begins answering the most common question she hears: How can I read again? She explains that the answer depends on multiple factors including ac...

Organizations Helping People with Vision Loss American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) for advocacy, support, and resources AFB mission : Expand pathways to leadership, education, technology, and career opportunities to create a world of endless possibilities for people who are blind, deafblind, or have low vision. Website : https://afb.org/ Phone : 212-502-7600 Email : connectcenter@aph.org Nation...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast How Do I Find Low Vision Optometrists & Rehabilitation Professionals in My Area? Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT Episode Type: Educational / Resource Guide Duration: ~6 minutes Episode Summary In this episode, Dawn provides a step-by-step guide to finding low vision optometrists and rehabilitation professionals in your area. She shares specific websites and...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast What Professionals Can Help You With Vision Loss? Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT Episode Type: Educational Duration: ~8 minutes Episode Summary In this episode, Dawn introduces the team of professionals who can help you navigate life with vision loss. From ophthalmologists who manage eye disease to low vision optometrists who conduct specialized exams, and fro...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast Episode 2 What Is Low Vision? Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT Episode Type: Educational Duration: ~6 minutes Episode Summary In this episode, Dawn answers one of the most common questions she receives: What is low vision? She explains that low vision occurs when your acuity cannot be corrected to 20/20 with glasses, contacts, surgery, or medication—usually due...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast Episode 1: Can't Read, Watch TV, or Use Your Phone? Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT Episode Type: Educational Duration: ~5 minutes Episode Summary In this episode of the Living with Vision Loss Podcast, certified low vision therapist Dawn Ciccarone answers the most common questions she hears every day in the clinic: How can I read again? How can I watch TV? How...

Living with Vision Loss Podcast Welcome & Introduction Host: Dawn Ciccarone, MS OTR/L, CLVT Episode Type: Welcome/Introduction Duration: ~3 minutes Episode Summary In this debut episode of the Living with Vision Loss Podcast, certified low vision therapist and occupational therapist Dawn Ciccarone introduces her mission to help people with vision loss reclaim their independence. With over 20 y...