Second Sense

06/03/2026

Michel purchased a new smart TV with some good accessibility options. He wanted to be able to listen to the TV guide and turn on audio description. He had difficulty finding out where to turn on these options and thought the accessibility wasn’t as accessible as advertised. On a home visit, Ta**us walked Michel through how to turn on the voice activation and the audio program guide. Ta**us explained that to use the voice activation to choose a program, Michel needed to know what he wanted to watch, but that the audio guide, when enabled, would read aloud the available programs. Michel wants to use technology to enhance his independence and this was just one technology problem Ta**us helped him solve.

Craft inclusive Amazon Fire OS apps with accessibility features. Boost navigability and code quality for all users.

06/02/2026

Driving blind? If you have never driven a car, or haven’t in some time, a ride in a Waymo might be an uneasy experience. But then again, could it give you a new sense of freedom? Check out this article in NYTimes when Two visually impaired Waymo passengers share their experience in a driverless car. How comfortable would you feel taking a trip in Waymo?

Waymo has been an object of frustration to some in California. For visually impaired people, it can also bring a rare feeling of independence.

06/01/2026

Are you planning your summer vacation? Why not a trip to one of America’s national parks? Accessibility is improving at many national and state parks and offer paved paths for easy navigation, audio description, sensory trails, and more. In addition, as a person with a disability, you are eligible for free lifetime access to participating national parks and federal recreation lands with the America the Beautiful pass. Check out these five U.S. national parks that have terrific accessibility and provide an enjoyable experience for people with disabilities.

Here's why these five national parks are the most accessible, with expanded programs, adaptive trails, and resources designed to reduce barriers for visitors.

05/29/2026

It’s all about teamwork! J.B. called Second Sense in a bit of a panic. He’s starting his new job at the VA but realized using an Uber from the south suburbs to the downtown office was not a good financial decision. J.B. has excellent cane skills but needed advice on his public transit options and some help finding all his connection points. Ta**us first called him with advice on his public transit options. His route included a car ride to the Metra, train ride to downtown, a walk to the bus stop, and finally the bus ride to a block from his new office. Then, Mandi met J.B. at the downtown Metra stop and walked him along the rest of the route. She showed him where the bus stop was, which intersections were the safest to cross, and which had audio pedestrian signals. Now, J.B. has significantly cut his transportation costs and is comfortable getting to his new office. We’re wishing J.B. great success in his new job and safe travels!

05/28/2026

Birding isn’t just for the sighted! Last year we welcomed Jerry Berrier, a blind birder, to Second Sense to share his knowledge and experiences of birding by ear. Recently, NPR’s All Things Considered caught up with Jerry and a fellow birder on a recent outing. Jerry’s passion and infectious joy for the hobby is a wonderful reminder that birding can be experienced in different ways by different people. If you’d like to learn to bird by ear, give us a call at Second Sense for some terrific resources from Jerry and others.

The phrase "bird watching" does not take in the full range of people who love searching for wild birds. We meet a few of the many visually impaired birders who use their ears.

05/27/2026

Are you a chess player? The U.S. Blind Open national chess championship is June 20-21 in Chicago! Legally blind competitors of all ages and chess abilities are welcome to compete for a piece of the $5,000 guaranteed prize fund! All the details and player registration information can be found at Caveman Chess.

Welcome to the first ever fully-featured state of the art Online Registration System for Chess Championships in USA.

05/26/2026

Traveling the world as a journalist, Andy Isaacson realized he had been missing important parts of every destination he visited until he became a sighted guide for Travel Eyes. In Sunday’s NY Times podcast, The Daily, he shares how traveling alongside a visually impaired companion changed the way he experiences the world. He realized engaging all of his senses, not just sight, made the destinations a richer experience. His story is a reminder that there’s so much more to discover when we slow down and truly take in the world around us.

How an extraordinary trip to India changed one photographer’s perspective on travel

05/22/2026

This week we teamed up with the Delta Gamma sorority at DePaul University to raise awareness about guide dogs and vision loss. The Delta Gamma’s Foundation , Service for Sight, supports access and advocacy for people living with blindness or low vision. Cyndy, Second Sense volunteer, Pam Berman from Guide Dogs for the Blind, and Kathy Austin, staff member, with their guide dogs, met with students and passersby on the steps of St. Vincent DePaul Church. Our team talked about guide dog etiquette and how best to interact with a guide dog team. When the harnesses came off, everyone got to pet these impressive guides. There were plenty of tail wags from Aaliyah, Brian, and Riley, too. Thanks to the ladies of Delta Gamma for inviting us to be a part of your Delta Dogs Day!

05/21/2026

Yesterday at our gardening workshop we worked with a variety of herbs to learn techniques for identifying different plants. The group explored the plant’s stems to see if they were woody or herbaceous, the shape of leaves, and their fragrance. Sabiha was quick to use her Live Read app on her iPhone to read plant tags. We also talked about matching the plant’s sunlight and water needs to the conditions at home, whether it was a container on a balcony, a window box on a deck, or an in-ground, outdoor garden. Everyone got a container of herbs to grow at home.

05/20/2026

Chicago is making progress on the installation of Audio Pedestrian Signals at traffic intersections. Second Sense is working with the APS Community Advisory Committee hosted by the Chicago Department of Transportation and the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities to make this happen. Check out this short clip to learn more and how to request an APS.