How I went from relying on others to being fully independent with the help of new technology.
September 8, 2025
When I was little, I'd always ask my parents to read aloud any print pages I got from school. I hated having to do that; I wanted to be "Miss Independent." One day, someone at a program I was in told me about the Be My Eyes app. This app lets you connect with a live volunteer from anywhere in the world who can see through your camera and read or describe anything for you. The agent can even let you know if the lighting is poor or if you need to adjust your angle. It was helpful, but I still didn't feel completely independent. I was just asking a different person for help. Plus, what if I needed something private read to me? I still didn't feel fully secure.
Eventually, my goal wasn't just about being independent, but about being resourceful. During my first year of college, I lost my debit card, so I requested a new one. Since the card number isn't in braille, I had two choices: either I could wait to go home so my parents could read me the card number, or I could risk sharing sensitive information with a stranger at the dorm. Neither option sounded good, so I did my own research and came across the Envision app.
Here's how it works on the Ally app (Android, iOS):
I was so excited! I discovered that I could simply take a picture of my new debit card, and the app would read all the scanned information to me. I could even use headphones to protect my privacy. As I played around with the app, I found out it could read more than just my bank information. I could take pictures of the newspapers my grandparents read—the very ones I had always wished I could read. It was a game-changer, almost like making the impossible possible!
While the Envision app was great, it was still a bit clunky to have to constantly take out my phone and headphones. I did more research and found out about Envision glasses. These glasses can scan text and read it aloud, but the best part is that only the user can hear what's being read. Plus, the help they provide is great! I don't have to worry about untangling headphones anymore or spending money on wireless ones. I can just put on my "reading glasses for the blind" and voila! I am reading print as a blind person, and not just banking information and newspapers! I use these glasses to read everything—from handwritten birthday cards from friends to ingredient lists and even signs at my college.
Because we live in a digital world, I also have tools to access on-screen information. On my Windows laptop and desktop, I use JAWS, a screen reader that verbalizes information on the monitor. On my Android tablet, I use Google's text-to-speech. On my iPhone, iPod Touch, and iPad, I use VoiceOver. I can even use headphones with these devices to protect my privacy.
However, these screen readers don't describe digital images or graphics, and they don't work when my devices freeze. I couldn't always rely on a live agent, and not every one is a tech expert. So I did some more digging and discovered Ally. Like the Envision app, Ally can take pictures of visual information, but it also has a unique feature: I can speak to it. If my laptop screen freezes, I can point the camera of a working device at the frozen screen and ask Ally for suggestions on how to "unfreeze" my device. Ally is the backup that never fails—it can not only read to me but also be my tech expert.
I no longer have to envy my grandparents for being able to read the newspaper. I no longer need to ask friends, family, or a live agent to read something to me if it's not accessible. The Envision glasses provide great help. I can count on the Envision app to protect my personal information so that only I have access to it. Ally is just one click away and can be my reader and tech expert - plus, it so much more conversational. Now I can finally be Miss Independent and ensure my information is safe. I'm completely covered
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