My Tools for Living

10/09/2026

He kept saying he was fine. His wife kept watching.

For months, George waved off any mention of his vision. He was managing. He had systems. But his wife noticed - the way he held menus at arm's length, the way he stopped reading the mail himself.

She didn't push. She just put a handheld magnifier on the table one evening. "I picked it up without saying anything," he admitted later. "And I didn't put it down."

Sometimes the people who love us see what we're not ready to say yet.

Share this with someone who might need to see it.

To shop for magnifiers, visit My Tools for Living in person, shop online at mytoolsforliving.com, email us at [email protected], or call 1-800-919-3375.

Eschenbach Economy Biconvex Hand-held Magnifiers -2x include lightweight PXM lenses that feature edge-to-edge sharpness and have an anti-static coating.

10/07/2026

He hadn't read a recipe from start to finish in two years.

Don used to cook from scratch every Sunday. After his vision changed, he started relying on meals he had memorized - safe, predictable, nothing new.

His friend finally suggested propping a tablet on a stand with the font size turned all the way up. Last Sunday, Don made a dish he'd never tried before. "I forgot how much I liked learning something new in the kitchen," he said.

The tools that give us back small things often give us back big ones too.

Save this if it sounds like someone you know.

To shop for kitchen tools and assistive technology, visit My Tools for Living in person, shop online at mytoolsforliving.com, email us at [email protected], or call 1-800-919-3375.

10/05/2026

ICYMI Our partners at Hadley shared a refreshed HadleyHelps.org and a new app! If you’ve recently been diagnosed with vision loss, we encourage you to explore Hadley’s resources for emotional support and shop for practical tools in our My Tools for Living store.

Visit My Tools for Living in person, shop online at mytoolsforliving.com, email us at [email protected], or call 1-800-919-3375.

A vision loss diagnosis, like glaucoma or macular degeneration, can change everyday life. Hadley helps you figure out what comes next, from daily tasks to adjusting to changes in your vision along the way.

10/02/2026

One accessibility setting could change your iPhone experience.

Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Display and Text Size. Turn on Increase Contrast and Bold Text. Then go to Larger Text and bump it up two steps. Takes about 90 seconds and can make your phone feel like a completely different device - sharper, easier to scan, less work on your eyes. No new apps. No cost. Already built in. If you try it, let us know what you think in the comments.

Share this with someone who'd find it useful.

Visit My Tools for Living in person, shop online at mytoolsforliving.com, email us at [email protected], or call 1-800-919-3375.

09/30/2026

The reading tool that lives on your desk and earns its place every single day.

The ClearView C Full HD 24" CCTV turns any document into large, sharp, high-contrast text on a full-size screen. Mail, books, crosswords, medication labels, handwritten notes - sit down, place it underneath, and read. No squinting, no awkward angles, no asking someone else. Our customers tell us it's often the first thing they use in the morning and the last thing they use at night. Some tools become part of the routine. This is one of them.

Explore the ClearView C Full HD 24" CCTV.

Visit My Tools for Living in person, shop online at mytoolsforliving.com, email us at [email protected], or call 1-800-919-3375.

ClearView C 24" Full HD CCTV, a unique desktop electronic magnifier for people with low vision. It is designed for people who need magnification to read.

09/28/2026

Thinking about buying smart glasses?

Smart glasses are appealing because they offer something very different from a traditional low vision device. Instead of looking through a magnified screen, you can ask questions about what is in front of you and hear the response.

Our blog explains what to know before you buy: https://linktr.ee/mytoolsforliving.

Visit My Tools for Living in person, shop online at mytoolsforliving.com, email us at [email protected], or call 1-800-919-3375.

Smart glasses can be a powerful tool for people who are blind or have low vision, but only if you understand how they work. Here's what to know first.

09/25/2026

ICYMI Our partners at Hadley shared resources for adjusting to vision loss on Aftersight's Navigating Life with Vision Loss podcast!

Our partnership with Hadley creates opportunities to collaboratively address the growing need for practical and emotional support among older adults facing vision loss.

At My Tools for Living, we offer expert-vetted assistive technology and other practical tools to empower independence for those with low vision and blindness.

Visit My Tools for Living in person, shop online at mytoolsforliving.com, email us at [email protected], or call 1-800-919-3375.

In the Aftersight podcast, Penn Street talks about life after vision loss. Penn began her journey into vision loss at the age of 9, and each week she welcomes a guest to discuss how vision loss has impacted their lives.

09/23/2026

Your phone may already have a low vision setting you’re not using. If your phone screen has started to feel harder to read, try the accessibility settings already built in.

Look for:

• Larger text
• Bold text
• Increased contrast
• Reduced transparency

On iPhone: **Settings > Accessibility > Display & Text Size**
On Android: **Settings > Accessibility**, then look for vision or display options.

It takes a few minutes, costs nothing, and may make your phone feel much easier to use.

Save this and try one setting today.

For more tips, read our blog: https://linktr.ee/mytoolsforliving.

Compare accessible cell phones, tactile phones, iPhone and Android accessibility features, and digital setup guides from My Tools for Living.

09/21/2026

What if reading the news felt like part of your morning again?

For many people with low vision, reading is not just about the words. It is about the routine: coffee, the newspaper, the mail, the book on the table, the feeling of starting the day your way.

The Optelec ClearView+ with OCR 24” CCTV offers a larger, steadier view for everyday reading tasks like newspapers, mail, books, and labels, with adjustable magnification and contrast to support what feels comfortable for you.

Less leaning in. Less losing your place. More time with the things you actually wanted to read.

Explore the Optelec ClearView+ CCTV and see if it fits your home reading routine.

Visit My Tools for Living in person, shop online at mytoolsforliving.com, email us at [email protected], or call 1-800-919-3375.

Comfortable Reading on a Large 24” Screen The ClearView+ Speech 24” is a desktop video magnifier with integrated text-to-speech, built for comfortable, everyday reading. Its large 24-inch HD display offers a wide viewing area, making it easier to read full pages, newspapers, and books with less ...

09/18/2026

When someone you love begins experiencing low vision or progressive sight loss, it is natural to want to help. You might start reading their mail, pouring their coffee, helping with banking paperwork, or stepping in when a familiar task becomes difficult.

But many of those everyday activities are also closely connected to independence. The goal of assistive technology is not simply to make caregiving easier. It is to give your loved one more opportunities to keep doing the things they have always done for themselves.

Our blog provides step-by-step guidance to help you choose assistive technology for someone with vision loss.

Read our blog: https://linktr.ee/mytoolsforliving.

To shop for assistive technology, visit My Tools for Living in person, shop online at mytoolsforliving.com, email us at [email protected], or call 1-800-919-3375.

Learn how caregivers can navigate assistive technology for vision loss that supports independence with reading, finances, hot drinks, and daily routines.