Author: Blake Roberts

audio version (opens in a new tab)   It is important to communicate for yourself, when possible. Self-advocacy can enable individuals to be more directly involved in decision-making. To borrow a saying: "Nothing about us without us". As this Wikipedia article about the above saying points out, it has been used by the disability community… Continue reading Self-Advocacy 101

audio version (opens in a new tab)   Access to web sites is crucial, particularly during the current worldwide health situation. With the Web, you can connect with others and shop for essential items, among many other web services. It is truly remarkable how much shopping, knowledge and entertainment is available today through the Internet.… Continue reading Web Accessibility 101

I have always been an animal person, dogs in particular. When I was in high school, a teacher was inspired to raise a service dog after getting to know me. Although Gulliver did not make it into guide dog training school after his puppy-raising period ended, the teacher was allowed to keep him. Gulliver became,… Continue reading Service Animals

audio version (opens in a new tab)   I have been using an Android smartphone for almost 5 years. I value the device because it is more accessible and useful compared to older mobile phones I used in the past. For example, I can send and hear text messages on Android, which was not possible… Continue reading Android 101

audio version (opens in a new tab)   In these challengingtimes, it is understandable that conflicts can occur more frequently than under normal circumstances. I was involved in a conflict recently. I contacted someone seeking help regarding a matter. The person had no idea what I was talking about and stated he might acquire additional… Continue reading Conflict Resolution

audio version (opens in a new tab)   TED Talks is a resource for podcasts on a variety of subjects. According to this page on the TED Talks web site, the podcasts are available from a variety of sources. These include an Android app on the Google play store, Spotify and Amazon's Alexa. For me,… Continue reading TED Talks

audio version (opens in a new tab) In this digital age, access to information is vital because it connects people to the world. While information from web sites is expansive and practically infinite, I consider books to be equally important. Books can entertain, of course, through genres such as science-fiction and fantasy. However, books can… Continue reading Methods For Accessing Books

audio version (opens in a new tab)   During these challenging times, connecting with people is crucial. One of the best ways to do that, from my perspective, is through video-conferencing service Zoom. I recommend Zoom for a specific reason. There are a variety of ways to conference remotely. As an individual who is blind,… Continue reading Zoom: An Introduction

audio version (opens in a new tab)   Since coronavirus remains of worldwide concern at present, my blog post today will focus on safety advice and remaining occupied at home. As a resident of the U.S. state of Delaware, a useful resource I value is Delaware's coronavirus web site. It is important to consider how… Continue reading Coronavirus Tips

audio version (opens in a new tab) As a person who is blind, I find screen readers invaluable because they provide access to information. I use several screen readers regularly. In this article, I will provide information about a variety of screen reader software. As another blogger points out in an article from 2005 entitled… Continue reading Screen Readers 101