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Adaptations Store

Adaptations Featured Products for the Month of June

Adaptations Featured Products for the Month of June

With every month brings exciting new products and discounts to Adaptations. This June we are all about giving our shoppers the best deals out there.

To honor LightHouse Day on June 10, Adaptations is offering 10% all LightHouse hoodies, t-shirts, and tote bags for the entire month of June! Rep your favorite blindness organization and save money doing it when you enter the promo code LH10 at checkout. LightHouse Day is just around the corner, show up for our virtual celebration in true LightHouse style.

10% isn’t our only discount we’re giving out this month. How’s 50% sound? 2021 has made it to the halfway mark and so has the price on our Braille calendars. Pencil in—or rather stylus in—all your important dates and appointments for the next six months on our 50% off calendars. It’s never too late in the year to get organized.

In case you just can’t get enough of our deals, check out the Adaptations Discount Corner. We regularly add new products to our collection of low-priced treasures essential for any blind or low vision shopper. Looking for a backup cane? Maybe a new magnifier? If you are looking for a deal on a talking watch or wireless headphone, the Adaptations Discount Corner has got you covered.

Visit Adaptations.org today and start filling up that virtual shopping cart with all our discounted goodies! If you need assistance navigating our online store, you can always download the Be My Eyes App and chat directly with our knowledgeable and friendly shopping assistants. Adaptations is all about making accessibility easy and affordable. For any additional help or inquiries, contact us by calling 1-888-400-8933 or email adaptations@lighthouse-sf.org. Happy shopping and even happier saving, everyone!

Now we carry tactile drawings of intersections that help teachers and students alike

Now we carry tactile drawings of intersections that help teachers and students alike

By Caitlin O’Malior

LightHouse and the Adaptations Store are proud to introduce the newest independent travel training tool in the Orientation & Mobility (O&M) field, the Tactile Intersection Diagrams Packet. This innovative tool was created through the collaboration of LightHouse O&M instructor Sarah McIntyre and the designers in LightHouse’s Media and Accessible Design Lab.

Sarah explains how these tactile diagrams will help people who are blind or have low vision better understand street intersections and crossings through tactile representation.

“O&M Instructors can use these diagrams to facilitate discussions about intersection design, the movement of vehicles, lane-by-lane scanning patterns, and other topics, such as street crossing recovery while working remotely or indoors. They can also be used as a supplement to onsite instruction and can be used as the platform for any number of innovative remote or indoor lessons for all students.”

When you purchase a packet, you’ll receive 13 different diagrams, including:

  • Intersection shapes
  • 4-way stop sign
  • Basic stoplight
  • Multilane basic stoplight
  • 2 pocket turn lanes
  • 4 pocket turn lanes
  • Dedicated turn lanes
  • 1 one-way street
  • 2 one-way streets
  • T-shaped intersection
  • 4 right-turn islands
  • Pedestrian scramble
  • Roundabout

All materials are printed on 8.5 x 11 Swell paper and have been produced by a PIAF (Pictures in a Flash) machine which raises the carbon in the ink print, creating smooth raised tactile lines and shapes. These new tactile intersection diagrams are an improvement upon previous designs.

“I’ve created other tactile intersection diagrams in the past, embossed in heavy duty foil, but they were very labor-intensive to make, were very bulky with sharp edges, and weren’t adaptable. Creating something that was easily portable, user-friendly, and adaptable was one of my ‘bucket list’ projects. I always had it in the back of my head to find out what it would cost to have MAD Lab design them…when the shelter in place order hit, I figured this was my chance to give it a try,” Sarah says.

The Tactile Intersections Diagrams Packet costs $55. If you are an O&M student, an O&M instructor, or someone who loves tactile literacy and learning more about intersections, this is the ideal product for you.

Order your Tactile Intersections Diagram Packet online today at Adaptations.org or call our store at 1-888-400-8933 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Pacific, Monday through Friday, with your questions.

P.S. What’s a pedestrian scramble you ask?

A pedestrian scramble is an intersection that stops all vehicles, allowing pedestrians to cross the intersection in all directions, including diagonally.

Who knew? Our O&M Team…obviously…

Adaptations Store to feature products at ACB, NFB conventions

Adaptations Store to feature products at ACB, NFB conventions

Don’t miss detailed offerings from Adaptations and the LightHouse at the annual conference of the American Council of the Blind taking place July 3 through July 10. This convention will be held virtually, streaming via the Internet on ACB Radio with the Adaptations team discussing Adaptations products and services throughout the convention radio broadcast.

Then July 14 through July 18, Adaptations will exhibit at the virtual conference of the National Federation of the BlindDetails on the NFB Convention can be found here. We can’t wait to see you there.

Ready to choose from more than 600 blindness products? Visit our Adaptations Store online. Have questions about any products? Call us at 1-888-400-8933  Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific or email adaptations@lighthouse-sf.org.

Need blindness products? Adaptations Reopens for Online Orders

Need blindness products? Adaptations Reopens for Online Orders

As we continue to shelter in place and do our best to help slow the potential spread of COVID-19, the staff at Adaptations knows how invaluable some of the items we carry can be in the day-to-day lives of people who use them. While we must all do what we can to keep one another safe, we also understand firsthand things like how essential it is for a blind person to have a cane when traveling, perhaps now more than ever. It is imperative that someone who has low vision be able to purchase a new magnifier to read things like cooking directions, or medication instructions. It is helpful for someone who is blind or low vision to be able to order their own, customized tactile map, should they wish to become familiar with an unknown neighborhood. During this time of quarantine, it is critical that we all, blind and sighted alike, have access to an accurate thermometer when we wish to know our body temperature. The good news is that all these things are available from our Adaptations store, and better news still: You will soon be able to resume placing your orders online.

Adaptations.org will begin taking orders again on Friday, May 1, 2020. Shipping times are delayed slightly due to circumstances surrounding COVID-19; however, you will be notified via email as soon as your order ships.

We will also be on hand to answer questions about products and accept orders by phone during our newly extended weekday hours of 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific, Monday through Friday. Customers wishing to place a phone order can reach the store by calling 888-400-8933 and leaving a voice mail message, then one of our staff will call you back to complete your order.

To show our appreciation for so many loyal customers, we are taking 10% off any item purchased at Adaptations during the entire month of May. Whether you place your order online or over the phone, don’t miss this opportunity to stock up and save.

We can’t wait to see you there!

Adaptations Online Store Now Open

Adaptations Online Store Now Open

Just in time for holiday shopping, LightHouse for the Blind’s Adaptations Store is launching its new online store. Now you can shop 24/7 at www.adaptations.org and have our products sent directly to your door.

We are opening with a SALE!

Visitors save 10% at checkout when they use code LH10. In addition, now you can take 20% off the cost of TMAP orders on the site when you use code TMAP20 at checkout.

Discount codes are valid through December 20, 2019.

You can always contact Adaptations directly to talk with an expert for ordering and product guidance at 1-888-400-8933 or adaptations@lighthouse-sf.org. Our brick and mortar store in San Francisco is open Monday through Friday from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and the second Saturday of each month from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Adaptations blindness technology store has been a brick and mortar operation since 1993. Nationwide demand for our popular items and unique line of LightHouse products has prompted us to go online.

LightHouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides education, training, advocacy and community for blind individuals in California and around the world. Founded in 1902, the LightHouse is one of the largest and most established comprehensive blindness organizations in North America, with a wide variety of programs, as well as a rich network of blindness advocates and professionals.

To support the LightHouse click here.

Braille Mail: Get Your Tactile V-Day Cards at the Adaptations Store

Braille Mail: Get Your Tactile V-Day Cards at the Adaptations Store

This Valentine’s Day, give your loved one real feels with our new line of fun, touchable greeting cards. Our Adaptations Store is offering three designs, each with ink-print, tactile and braille designs on a white background.

  • Individual cards are $6, or you can purchase four for $20.
  • All cards come with an envelope.
  • All front covers of the greeting cards feature a combination of ink print and tactile graphic design.
  • The Adaptations Store and the MAD Lab will continue working together to design fun and creative accessible greeting cards that appeal to a wide audience, for all occasions.
  • We will roll out cards all-year-round. Keep posted for birthday, thank you, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day!
  • If you have suggestions for types of cards to sell for upcoming holidays, please email adaptations@lighthouse-sf.org.
A white greeting card features a 4 X 3 grid of ink-print and braille patterned and multicolored hearts.
A white greeting card features a 4 X 3 grid of ink-print and braille patterned and multicolored hearts. The inside of the card reads “Happy Valentine’s Day!” in red large-print and braille.
The inside of the card reads "Happy Valentine's Day!" in red large-print and braille.
An ink-print and tactile graphic of a tic-tac-toe board with a heart in the center, on a white greeting card. The inside of the card reads “Happy Valentine’s Day!” in red large-print and braille.
Red ink-print and braille X's and O's form the shape of one large heart on a white greeting card. The inside of the card is blank.
Red ink-print and braille X’s and O’s form the shape of one large heart on a white greeting card. The inside of the card is blank.
The inside of the card reads "Happy Valentine's Day!" in red large-print and braille.
The inside of the card reads “Happy Valentine’s Day!” in red large-print and braille.

 

Adaptations is the only place in Northern California with a comprehensive offering of tools, technology, and other solutions for blind and visually impaired people. The store is located at our San Francisco headquarters at 1155 Market Street, on the 10th floor. Store hours are Monday through Friday, from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. We are also open on the second Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Although we do not take online orders at the current time, we encourage you to call our staff at 1-888-400-8933 to inquire about item pick up or mail orders or email our store staff at adaptations@lighthouse-sf.org.

Record notes on the go with a talking recorder from the Adaptations Store

Record notes on the go with a talking recorder from the Adaptations Store

The Adaptations Store at LightHouse serves blind and visually impaired people by offering tools, technology and other comprehensive solutions to make life accessible. Each month, we feature a product from our store to highlight the expansive offerings at Adaptations.

This month’s product is for blind people who want to record notes on the go, and want to avoid cumbersome tech gear with a single, streamlined digital recorder.

The Eltrinex V12Pro Talking Digital Recorder is designed with input from blind users. The recorder’s features are all spoken aloud using the built-in voice guidance option along with audible beeps so it can be operated by users independently.

With a one-touch recording option at startup, and 12GB of internal storage along with a micro SD slot, storage of the recorded WAV or MP3 files is limitless.

The high quality stereo mics can pick up soft sounds from an incredible distance, along with loud sounds which are handled by the recorder’s accessible limiter to prevent distortion and clipping.

The device is incredibly versatile, and is useful whether you’re attending a concert or recording a lecture in an auditorium or classroom. This talking recorder captures every note, and plays it back via headphones or the device’s internal speaker.

An FM radio and a talking clock round out the recorder’s options, offering scheduled recording and easy file editing, all done through the talking menus.

LightHouse sells this product for $225.00 plus tax at our headquarters in San Francisco (1155 Market St., 10th Floor). Although we do not take online orders at the current time, we encourage you to call our staff at 1-888-400-8933 to inquire about item pick up or mail orders or email our store staff at adaptations@lighthouse-sf.org.

New in our store: Make raised line drawings instantly with the Sensational BlackBoard

New in our store: Make raised line drawings instantly with the Sensational BlackBoard

It’s not every day that you have access to a swell printer when you want to create tactile images or reference materials. But with the lightweight and portable Sensational BlackBoard you can instantly create raised-line drawings whenever, and wherever. All you need is the BlackBoard, a sheet of printer paper, and a ballpoint pen. Place the paper against the rubberized side of the blackboard and push down when you draw to perforate the paper. You can feel your drawing as you go, so there’s no need to flip your paper over or draw in reverse.

It’s a great way to make tactile images quickly, and a great tool for teachers interested in tracing copies from text book or reference materials. The Sensational Blackboard is:

  • Lightweight, at just 7 oz.
  • Flexible enough not to break in your backpack but rigid enough to draw on your lap.
  • Uses inexpensive materials: all you need is standard copy paper and medium ballpoint pen.
  • Smooth surface holds the paper in place. No clamps makes it easy to tuck into a briefcase or binder 11.25” x 9”.

It’s an elegant design that is simply sensational. Want to try it out? Stop by the Adaptations Store in person and we’ll give you a demo. Available now for $65.00!

Maps, at Your Fingertips: The LightHouse Store Announces On-Demand Tactile Maps

Maps, at Your Fingertips: The LightHouse Store Announces On-Demand Tactile Maps

Have you ever wanted to get to know the lay of the land before heading to a new city, campus or neighborhood? Wish you could just generate a quick, raised-line aerial map the way others do with Google? Whether it’s the blocks around your kid’s new school or a conference in San Diego — it’s not always easy to get a quick overview of a neighborhood before visiting. And unfortunately, mobile web mapping systems like Google or Apple Maps tend to fall short for blind users when it comes to getting the “big picture.”

Thanks to a collaboration between the Smith-Kettlewell Eye Research Institute and our Media and Accessible Design Lab, we’re pleased to announce that you can now order on-demand tactile maps of the area of your choosing for just $19 (plus shipping and handling) from our Adaptations Store. The tactile street maps depict the area around a user-specified address or intersection, using raised lines along with a circle marking the point of interest in the center of the map. Braille and large print labels indicate street names and other critical area information like cardinal directions, scale, and main streets. For those who are new to tactile maps, this is a great way to get started with this invaluable, always dependable tool for blind and low vision travelers. And for O&M teachers, or those learning how to travel with a dog or cane, this new instant service will make a tremendous difference.

To order a map, just call our product specialists at the Adaptations Store at 1-888-400-8933 and specify the destination of the map you’re interested in. Within two business days we’ll place your order, ship it or make it available for pick up at the store.

What’s in the package?

  • 3 signature Tactile and ink-printed Maps, generated by the MAD Lab at LightHouse for the Blind, of the area surrounding your point of interest: printed at simple, moderate and dense map scale ratios
  • A tactile map key
  • An explainer page
  • All materials are printed on 11” X 11.5” sheets of embossed paper and include ink / large print labels in addition to braille

Never used a tactile map before? Stop by the Adaptations Store in person and take a look at our pre-printed maps of the area around LightHouse Headquarters at 1155 Market St. We’ll help you get a feel for using tactile maps and you can even take a pre-printed tactile map with you for $19.

O6: Get the ‘Eyes-Free’ Portable Smart Remote in our Adaptations Store

O6: Get the ‘Eyes-Free’ Portable Smart Remote in our Adaptations Store

New in our Adaptations Store, the O6 is here to keep you connected to your devices “eyes-free.” This small, circular remote can be by your side throughout your day so you can use your phone without looking at or touching the screen.

A close up of man's hand turning the dial on a blue O6 clipped to his backpack.The O6 features an all-metal, tactile, rotary bezel dial, with textured touchpad buttons and motion-sensors that allows you to remotely control your devices. The lightweight and rechargeable device is only an inch and a half wide and supports more than 30 international languages, and works with iPhones, iPads and iPod Touch. It balances design with intuitive function to allow complete non-visual and one-handed control. The mechanical architecture enables the rotary dial to double as a tactile button that supports single-click, double-click, triple-click and press & hold operation.

Learn more about accessibility features here, and buy it now in our Adaptations Store for $99. We’re also selling the custom belt clip or mount for $19.

With the O6, you can:

  • Scroll & listen to text messages, notifications, news articles, and more. Rich vibration and audio alerts streamed through earbuds or Bluetooth speakers

  • Remotely control Spotify, Pandora, Apple Music, or Podcasts.

  • Listen to texts, Facebook Messages, & notifications while listening to music or podcasts.

  • Use O6 with O6 Camera App to remotely zoom in/out, switch cameras, adjust exposure, take videos and more.

  • With O6, you can not only listen but also respond to messages, get directions, make calls on the go and more.

With new technology comes a learning curve and the LightHouse is here to help out. You can now schedule free weekday or weekend AT Training on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. or Saturdays between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

The beauty of these trainings it that they’re one-on-one, so if the tech talk intimidates you, you can start slow. We have staff that can meet you where you’re at. To sign up, contact Access Technology Coordinator Shen Kuan at skuan@lighthouse-sf.org or 415-694-7312.