Adaptive or assistive technologies are hardware and software packages that give “voice” or Braille output to computers, smart phones, classroom note takers, document scanners, bar code and prescription readers, Braillers and more.Īpproximately 3% of our population has uncorrectable sight loss! The current estimate of Blind unemployment in the United States is approximately a whopping 70 percent! Receiving unique equipment from Eye-Link immediately helps recipients restore independence and develop self-sufficiency. We are an all-volunteer organization whose mission is to provide a wide array of vital, highly specialized adaptive technologies and training to family members, friends and neighbors who are struggling with severe visual impairments.
Help individuals who are dealing with severe visual impairment get the tools they need to regain access to all forms of information with your on line donation!Įye-Link Foundation is helping residents of Minnesota, North Dakota and Wisconsin by delivering badly needed adaptive technologies to residents challenged by irreparable sight loss. We urge you to help bolster this community outreach effort by contributing. Our funding comes solely from the generosity of our supporters and a few corporate foundation grants. Eye-Link accepts no federal or state money. Our goal is to quickly get the right adaptive technologies to those facing the hurdles of diminishing sight as soon as practical.Įach year the three-state Eye-Link Foundation receives between 45 to 55 adaptive equipment grant applications. Grant applicants will no longer have to wait for quarterly Board meetings to learn of their outcome. We have immediately started to conduct on line grant reviews and voting on each application as received. Eye-Link board members normally meet quarterly to review all pending grant applications. We are responding to the corona virus threat conditions by speeding up the entire application process. If you need help with the equipment application, contact information including a telephone number is shown on the application. Copies of the equipment grant application can easily be printed, or the grant application can be filled out on line. Direct “links” to each state site are shown below. Here is how the Eye-Link assistive equipment grant application process works: Any person who has uncorrectable vision loss and needs adaptive equipment can and should first apply for help from any low vision related state agency.Įye-Link assistive equipment grant applications are available on the North Dakota, Wisconsin and Minnesota websites. She said, ”At the store, I take photos of bar codes or ingredients and the Ruby brings it up to my face, so I can read the type.” Her Ruby lets her zoom in and out on whatever she’s reading: labels, books, the newspaper and more. She uses it for reading and home activities, and as an independence aid when she leaves her home. One of last year’s equipment grant recipients, Kathleen from Minnesota, received a RubyHD magnifier from Eye-Link, Minnesota. This equipment literally scans or takes a picture of a document, person, photograph or an object, and “reads” everything aloud to the user! This software also gives a “voice” to computers and smartphones. Adaptive technologies for folks with little remaining sight or who are blind require sophisticated optical character recognition technology. Hand held versions of this technology can be taken shopping to read can and food labels, and menus in restaurants. People struggling with Macular Degeneration are able to read newspapers, prescriptions, books and routine household mail. Cameras tethered to large screen monitors can assist by powering up font, character and type size, making them readable. There is a wide variety of products for those who are losing, yet have some remaining sight. The newest adaptive technologies perform amazing tasks. Eye-Link directs an average of 90 cents of every contributed dollar to the purchase of this vital equipment! Our strength comes from our supporters, as well as our volunteer Board members who actively deliver specialized equipment to the hands of low and/or no vision grant applicants.
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We purchase and provide a wide range of unique assistive/adaptive equipment given free of any charges, to residents of Minnesota, Wisconsin and North Dakota who are challenged by uncorrectable sight loss! Eye-Link is an all-volunteer 501c3 nonprofit charity. The Eye-Link Foundation has a clear and singular mission.