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Why I Use High Contrast Mode on Windows

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An overview showing the standard High Contrast settings menu High Contrast Mode on Windows 10/11 wasn’t a feature I discovered for fun, but out of necessity. I first used it years ago to make the platform I sat my A-level exams on accessible, as there was no way to invert the brightness. At the time, it was a temporary solution — something I enabled when I needed it. More recently, though, I had to make a permanent switch. A screenshot of the Deafblind Techie Blog viewed using Windows High Contrast Mode The Day My Setup Broke One morning, I logged onto my PC and almost immediately had to pause. The text wasn’t white — it was grey. Flatter. Darker. Harder to identify, and simply exhausting to look at for more than 30 minutes at a time. Up until that point, I’d had no issues using dark mode with large text. But on that day, I knew. My sight had declined overnight. Why a Screen Reader Wasn’t the Answer I needed an alternative. Something that would allow me to continue working at a comput...
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Accessible Hobbies: Playing Minecraft as a Deafblind Gamer

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I don’t play that many games — but the ones I do, I play a lot of. That isn’t because I don’t enjoy gaming. It’s because accessibility requires consideration, and that consideration is often missing. The games that work for me are predictable, visually flexible, and calm, while still offering enough variation that they don’t become boring. If a game relies heavily on constant audio cues , fast reactions, or overwhelming visuals, it quickly becomes exhausting and turns into a hard no. Minecraft is one of the rare exceptions. It hits a sweet spot — not because it’s perfect out of the box, but because I’ve been able to shape it around my personal accessibility needs. This isn’t a universal guide. It’s simply how I play Minecraft as a deafblind gamer with some remaining vision, and the key things that make it accessible enough for me to remain a genuinely loved hobby. How I Play Most of the time, I play Java Edition on my PC, though I do occasionally play Bedrock as well. Sometimes I’m...
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Five Apps Which Earn Their Space on my Phone

I don’t tend to have lots of apps on my phone. It’s not because I don’t like trying new things, but because accessibility requires intention — not unnecessary clutter. Not apps that slowly eat through gigabytes of storage, but ones that offer consistency, reliability, and ease of use. If an app doesn’t meaningfully improve my life (daily or weekly), sorry — but it’s a hard no from me. Of course, I still have the standard apps that 99% of people do: WhatsApp, YouTube, a music app, and so on. But there are also plenty of apps that claim to be accessible. These five are my tried-and-true favourites — the ones that have genuinely earned their place on my phone. What Makes an App Worth It? Before diving into the list, it’s worth explaining the criteria I use. An app earns its storage space if it: Works reliably with the accessibility settings enabled on my phone Has a predictable visual layout with minimal pop-ups Doesn’t rely on sound or visual cues alone, but instead combines them — stron...
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A Turning Point in Independence

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A blue Arriva bus similar to the ones I trained on  The day I was officially signed off to independently use buses marked a turning point for me. No longer do I need to plan events in advance around when someone is available to drop me off or pick me up. Now I have the freedom to say “I’m going to see my friends” or “I’m going shopping.” It’s opened up a world bigger than my immediate local area. But Getting Here Took Time But what about the journey to get to this point? Well… it took time. Why Bus Travel Isn’t Simple Bus travel can be unpredictable. It might be busy or quiet onboard. Announcements aren’t always audible, and skipped stops mean counting stops to yours isn’t a reliable method. Learning how to navigate all of this was just as important as learning the route itself. What Bus Training Gave Me Bus training provided me with: Consistency — repeating the route until I could indep...
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Safe Sleep With Vibrating Alarms

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Most people take alarms for granted. A beep, a buzz, a quick vibration from a smartphone. Job done, right? Well… It’s not so simple if you’re hard of hearing, Deaf, or deafblind. For us, alarms look a little different — and thankfully, technology has come a long way so we don’t have to rely on hearing people to wake us up. So how does it work? A Vibrating Alarm Clock! There are alternatives like sunrise alarm clocks, but the one that has always been the most reliable for me is a clock that physically vibrates to wake you up in the morning (or afternoon!). Vibrating Alarm Clock: A Morning Hero Think of a vibrating alarm as a mini earthquake. Not silent — as hearing people often imagine — but a powerful, physical shake that cuts straight through deep sleep. Unlike traditional alarms that rely on sound, these use a bed shaker puck that sits under your pillow or even under the mattress. Why They’re a Game Changer Reliable even during deep sleep, when sunrise clocks or loud alarms might fa...
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A beginners guide to ZoomText

Have you ever wished your computer screen was easier to read and navigate? Do you find yourself leaning in or squinting at small text or images? Whether you have low vision or just want to reduce eye strain during long computer sessions, ZoomText might be just what you need! This powerful accessibility tool makes your Windows PC easier to use, comfortably and efficiently. What is ZoomText? Developed by Freedom Scientific, ZoomText is an accessibility programme that combines screen magnification and a built-in narrator into one easy-to-use package. It’s designed for users with low vision who still have some usable sight—not total blindness. ZoomText gives these users the option to enlarge text, adjust contrast, and hear on-screen information audibly, making everyday computer tasks much more manageable. Key Features 1. Magnification ZoomText allows you to magnify your screen from 1.25x up to 60x , depending on your needs. You can easily adjust the level of magnification for different ...
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EmpowerUSH Retreat – Cardiff 2025

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Earlier this month I travelled to Cardiff for the first ever EmpowerUSH Retreat , hosted by Usher Kids UK — and what a weekend it was! This year has been a pilot for the Empower USH programme, supporting young people aged 17 to 25 with Usher Syndrome as we work towards our goals for adulthood. The retreat was our chance to finally meet in person again and celebrate all the progress we’ve made after so many months of online calls and work.  🚆 Friday – The Adventure Begins The journey to Cardiff began straight after college with a train into London — my first big trip using Passenger Assistance without my parents. The staff guided me to the platforms and helped me find my seat, which made the journey smoother… if only there hadn’t been so many delays! Luckily, I met up with the southern crew along the way, and that made everything better. We passed the time chatting, joking, and laughing through the hold-ups. At one point, I even managed to give someone a fright — they thought I...
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