Sensory Solutions

03/06/2026

Join the Low Vision Centre of Learning for a free Zoom webinar on 10 June at 17:30.

The topic will be "Colour Vision Deficiencies: Causes and Assessment".

You can find out more or register here:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g22LKiwdThSW46bGcbZ6gA #/registration

You are invited to register for a Zoom webinar!

When: Jun 10, 2026 17:30 Johannesburg
Topic: Colour Vision Deficiencies: causes and assessment

Register in advance for this webinar:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g22LKiwdThSW46bGcbZ6gA


After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.

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Webinar Speakers

Andrew Stockman (Prof )
Professor Andrew Stockman is the Steers Chair of Investigative Eye Research at the Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, and part-time Quishi Chair Professor at Zhejiang University. Andrew is an international authority on normal and abnormal visual function with expertise in physiological optics, colour vision, rod vision, visual adaptation, temporal sensitivity, retinal processing, clinical vision and display and film colour. He is especially well known for his work on cone spectral sensitivities and luminous efficiency functions, which have been adopted by the Commission Internationale de l'Éclairage (CIE) as international standards. Other important work includes measurements and models of cone and rod temporal sensitivity and delay and the identification of slow and fast rod and cone signals, including an inverted S-cone signal that contributes to luminance; measurements of visible distortion that allow the performance of the visual system to be dissected into early and late stages, measurements and models of light adaptation; and a substantial body of clinical work on understanding and modelling the effects of molecular loss in eye disease. Andrew is also the principal author of the Colour & Vision Research Laboratories website at www.cvrl.org, a well-known and widely-used resource for both science and industry and is Chairperson of the new Commission Internationale de l'Écla

02/06/2026

Braille eMotion 40 – One Device, Every Environment.

The Braille eMotion 40 is a refreshable braille display designed to support you wherever you go — whether at home, at work, or in the classroom. With 40 refreshable braille cells in a compact, lightweight design, it offers portable braille access without compromising performance.

🏠 At Home:
• Simplify daily tasks with standalone apps like the Calculator, Alarm and Countdown Timer
• Read books and documents using the built-in DAISY reader
• Create and store voice notes, reminders and recordings for home organisation

💼 At Work:
• Navigate emails, reports and applications with compatible screen readers
• Maintain efficiency in meetings with real-time braille access and note-taking
• Seamlessly switch between multiple connected devices without re-pairing

🎓 In the Classroom:
• Take notes and revise using the built-in Notepad application
• Use the advanced calculator for maths, science and technical subjects
• Listen to recorded lectures and training materials in a range of audio and video formats

From relaxed reading at home to high-performance productivity at work or school, Braille eMotion fits seamlessly into every environment.

For more information on the Braille eMotion 40, visit our website at https://sensorysolutions.co.za/online-catalogue/braille-emotion-40/ or email us at [email protected].

Image description: A photo of the Braille eMotion 40 along with its uses in different environments.

28/05/2026

🌟 Term of the Week: Tactile Graphics 🌟

Tactile graphics are raised or textured images that allow visually impaired people to access visual information through touch.

Unlike standard printed images, tactile graphics are specially designed with raised lines, textures and shapes to represent information such as diagrams, maps, graphs and illustrations in a tactile format. They are widely used in education, orientation and mobility, and everyday navigation.

Tactile graphics play an important role in making visual information more accessible, helping users better understand concepts, navigate environments and engage more independently with the world around them.

Image description: The term of the week with its definition, alongside a picture of a tactile graphic.

27/05/2026

Freedom Scientific is presenting a free webinar with the topic “Use AI Features in JAWS, ZoomText and Fusion to Better Understand and Navigate Digital Content”.

Discover how the built-in AI features in JAWS, ZoomText, and Fusion can help you work more efficiently and independently. This webinar will highlight practical tools that provide insight into your digital environment, enhance navigation, and make it easier to understand and interact with content across applications and on web pages.

You will learn how to:
• Use Vispero Companion to get help with JAWS, ZoomText, Fusion, and other applications
• Describe images, charts, and graphics using Picture Smart AI in applications, documents, and on web pages
• Identify unlabeled buttons and controls using AI Labeler
• Explore and understand complex web pages using Page Explorer

The webinar will be presented by Elizabeth Whitaker and Rachel Buchanan.

Date: 4 Jun 2026
Time: 6pm (SA Time)
Registration link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IQmbJUKXSoGd8pNwUdUHIQ #/registration

Image description: Woman sitting behind a laptop, along with the topic and date of the webinar

25/05/2026

Join the Low Vision Centre of Learning for a free Zoom webinar on 3 June at 17:30.

The topic will be "How Low Vision Patients Can Develop Almost Limitless Visualization Ability".

You can find out more or register here:
https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g0c1oCfuRieouD0JgiiMnw

You are invited to register for a Zoom webinar!



When: Jun 3, 2026 17:30 Johannesburg

Topic: How Low Vision Patients Can Develop Almost Limitless Visualization Ability



Register in advance for this webinar:

https://zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_g0c1oCfuRieouD0JgiiMnw





After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.



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Webinar Speakers



Deborah Zelinsky (Dr )

Deborah Zelinsky, O.D. is an optometrist noted worldwide for her work using retinal processing to change sound perception. She founded The Mind-Eye Institute, located in a northem Chicago suburb, serving as its executive director of research. Mind-Eye team members are

prescribing Mind-eye Brainwear TM (using her patented Z-Bell Test TM ) to balance eye-ear disconnects.

Dr. Zelinsky's involvement with low vision patients began in 1985, having a rotation through the Minneapols Society for the Blind, being the director of the Schwartzman-Steinberg Low Vision Clinic in

Fort Lauderdale, and partnering with the Society for Blind Services in Chicago while leading a class called The macular connection. An ever-growing number of scientific studies show that the retina reflects the condition of the brain and body, and that neuroplasticity allows for brain growth. Continuing advancements in understanding the role of retinal signaling as a significant component to overall brain function may one day make optometrists the go-to professionals for a variety of disorders

22/05/2026

FAMOUS FIGURE FRIDAY: Haben Girma

Haben Girma is a lawyer, educator and disability rights advocate who became the first deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School. From an early age, she embraced her disability as a strength and learned the power of self-advocacy, paving the way for her work advancing accessibility and equal access for people with disabilities.

Haben’s work focuses on improving access to education, technology and digital information. She makes use of innovative solutions such as real-time transcription paired with a braille display, allowing her to communicate more effectively during conversations, meetings and presentations.

Through her achievements and advocacy, Haben Girma inspires people worldwide to challenge barriers and build more inclusive communities.

To read more about Haben Girma’s story, visit https://www.americanbar.org/groups/diversity/disabilityrights/initiatives_awards/spotlight/girma_h.

Image description: A photo of Haben Girma alongside a snippet of the above text.

21/05/2026

Today is Global Accessibility Awareness Day (GAAD) 🌍♿

Accessibility benefits more people than many realise. Features originally designed to support people with disabilities are often used every day by a much wider audience — often without them even realizing it.

Here are some examples:
• Adjustable brightness and dark mode help limit visual fatigue and make screens easier to see in bright sunlight.
• Zoom and magnification tools are frequently used to enlarge small text for more comfortable reading.
• Text-to-speech supports multitasking, reduces reading fatigue and makes it easier to consume content.
• Large print can reduce eye strain and improves readability for many people.

An accessible world benefits everyone. When design choices are made with accessibility in mind, everyday experiences become easier, more comfortable and more inclusive for all.

This GAAD, let’s prioritise inclusion in everyday design.

Which accessibility feature do you use most? Let us know in the comments!

Image description: Graphic with extracts of the above text alongside an illustration of disabled individuals using technology in front of a globe

Global Accessibility Awareness Day

14/05/2026

🌟 Term of the Week: Accessible PDF 🌟

An accessible PDF is a PDF document that has been properly structured so it can be read accurately by screen readers and other Assistive Technology.

Unlike standard PDF documents, an accessible PDF includes features such as tagged headings, defined reading order, alternative text for images and properly labelled tables and links. These elements allow screen reader users to navigate a document efficiently, understand its layout and access all of its content.

Making PDF documents accessible is an essential step in ensuring that digital content is usable by everyone, allowing all users, including those with visual impairments, to access information independently and effectively.

Image description: The term of the week with its definition, alongside a picture of a laptop displaying an accessible PDF.

13/05/2026

Freedom Scientific, Inc. is presenting a free webinar with the topic “Six JAWS Features for Mastering Complex Documents and Web Pages”.

In this webinar, you will discover powerful JAWS features that make it easier to navigate and interact with documents and web pages with challenging layouts and structure. Whether you’re working in Word, PDFs, PowerPoint, or browsing the web, these tools help you move more efficiently and understand content more clearly.

You’ll learn how to:
• Navigate tables in Word, PDFs and web pages using the JAWS Table Layer.
• Interpret images, charts and PowerPoint slide visuals with Picture Smart AI.
• Simplify busy or cluttered web pages with Page Explorer.
• Label web page and PDF elements using the JAWS AI Labeler.
• Complete and review complex forms on a web page using JAWS-specific keyboard commands.
• Navigate tables and controls on the web more efficiently using JAWS Smart Navigation.

The webinar will be presented by Elizabeth Whitaker and Rachel Buchanan.

Date: 21 May 2026
Time: 6pm (SA Time)
Registration link:
https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_LkAZzu8AQyyMkubC8Yoy3w #/registration

Image description: Woman sitting behind a laptop, along with the topic and date of the webinar

13/05/2026

The "Say Bottom Line of Window" command in JAWS is used to read the bottom line of the active window. In most cases, this bottom line is the status bar. The status bar often contains important information, such as the current page number in a document, the position of the cursor, or other status messages that are not always spoken automatically.

For example, in Microsoft Word, the status bar at the bottom of the window can tell you the page number, word count, and other useful details. Using this command helps you quickly access that information without having to navigate away from your current task.

To use this command, press: INSERT+PAGE DOWN on a desktop keyboard or CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+N on a laptop.

The "Say Bottom Line of Window" command in JAWS is used to read the bottom line of the active window. In most cases, this bottom line is the status bar. The status bar often contains important information, such as the current page number in a document, the position of the cursor, or other status messages that are not always spoken automatically.

For example, in Microsoft Word, the status bar at the bottom of the window can tell you the page number, word count, and other useful details. Using this command helps you quickly access that information without having to navigate away from your current task.

To use this command, press: INSERT+PAGE DOWN on a desktop keyboard or CAPS LOCK+SHIFT+N on a laptop.