As we slowly get back into the swing of life due to COVID-19 restrictions easing up, visually impaired people will need aids to assist them with everyday life. Some of those aids in particular are pocket magnifiers, which are perfect for on-the-go use.

When out in public again, we don’t have the comforts of home like we’re used to. Visually impaired people need magnifiers to read menus, see clothing labels when shopping & more, and pocket magnifiers can provide that in any setting.

Pocket magnifiers are available in a variety of strengths, including 2x, 5x, 10x, 15x, and 20x. They are valuable to the visually impaired community in many ways, but mainly because they’re affordable and provide magnification in a pinch when small print is difficult to read without a magnifier.

Take the following Pocket Magnifiers with you wherever you go this summer, as we slowly get back to going out to restaurants, shopping, and enjoying the pleasures of life again.

Bausch and Lomb Folding Pocket Magnifier

Coil 5x Sliding Pocket Magnifier

Credit Card Size Dual Power LED Magnifier- 3x + 6x

Hi-Power Aspheric Illuminated Pocket Magnifier-11x

LED Lighted Wallet Magnifier 2x-6x Bifocal

Reizen Folding Pocket Magnifier - 4x Plus 4x Plus 4 -36mm

Reizen Illuminated Pocket Magnifier - 2.5x -5x insert 2 inch Dia

Reizen Illuminated Sliding Magnifier with Pop Up Lens - 2x or 5x

UltraOptix Compact Lighted Pop-Up 2x Magnifier

Zeiss Aplanatic-Achromatic Double Loupe-36D -9x

Don’t forget your pocket magnifier when you leave your house, you never know when you’re going to need it! For those with low vision, browse MaxiAids for all the best magnification products.

Low vision affects millions of Americans every day, making it hard to read, cook, shop, drive, write and enjoy hobbies.  This condition cannot be cured with eyeglasses, contact lenses, medications, or surgery.

MaxiAids can help those who have vision challenges live a fulfilling, happy, and independent life and enjoy everyday activities to the fullest. MaxiAids specializes in low vision products and has become a main shopping source for millions of people with low vision and visual impairment, offering thousands of items specifically designed to be affordable and easily available.

All ages young and old are effected by low vison. Some of the leading causes of vision loss in older adults are age-related macular degeneration, strokes, diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and glaucoma. Vision loss in younger people can be caused by inherited eye conditions, infectious and autoimmune eye diseases, or trauma.

According to the National Eye Institute, "People with low vision aren’t blind, but because of their vision loss, they may not be able to do everyday tasks like driving or reading. People with low vision — and their families — need to know how they can prevent further vision loss, make the most of their remaining vision, and maintain their independence."

Manage low vision with helpful products from MaxiAids that enhance, clarify, brighten, and magnify.  

Reizen XLSee Large Print Keyboard - Black on Yellow 802302

This Large Print Keyboard eases eyestrain and improves typing accuracy, featuring oversized print-- four times larger than the print on a standard keyboard. Hi contrast coloring with bold black print on bright yellow keys enhances the visibility.  It's great for everyone and especially helpful for those with low vision.

Jumbo Print Calendar by MaxiAids- 2020 9032003-20 Spiral bound giant print 2020 calendar opens to show the whole month of days, dates and holidays. This low vision calendar also includes pages for users to write notes and track appointments at top of each page.

Reizen BoldWriter Low Vision 3pk Starter Kit 455243 Bold points produce highly legible line width - ideal for those who are visually impaired or have low vision. BoldWriter Kit is the optimum selection for the low-vision community. Easy to see and read!

REIZEN Big Button Speaker Phone - Black and White 3055506 & White with Black Numbers 9254552 Large bright red flashing LED light signals incoming calls and has a  high volume receiver. Large numbers for low vision users make dialing out easier. Big buttons measure 1.25 inches and the numbers measure .75 inches.

Coil AT Max Auto Touch 7x LED Illuminated Round Magnifier R8277 This magnifier offers a large, low-distortion field of view and uniform LED light across the lens for an easier reading experience for those with low vision.

Reizen Illuminated Watch - White Face - Black Numbers  E73410R This low vision watch features an extra-wide face that's 1.75 inches in diameter for easy viewing.

Lifestyle HD Video Magnifier 24-in LCD 357404 This is the most helpful magnification device for extended reading and writing comfort, viewing photos and pictures, and performing hobbies and crafts. If a low vision condition is limiting daily living activities, a LifeStyle desktop video magnifier can help to retain or regain independence and quality of life.

Reizen Low Vision Quartz Watch - White Face - Expansion Band - Unisex 701116 Big numbers to make it easy to tell time at a glance -- the ideal wrist watch for anyone with low vision.

Reizen Jumbo Super Loud Alarm Clock with 2-Inch Red LED 701810

A super loud alarm clock that's sure to be seen and heard. Ideal for those with low vision, this clock shows the hour and minutes on an extra-large 2 inch high bold red LED.

MaxiAids provides thousands of products for those with physical challenges.  Look to MaxiAids for low vision aids, blind accessories, low vision products, products for the blind and visually impaired, and those living with hearing loss and mobility challenges.

• night trips to the bathroom and kitchen
• dimly lit garages, basements and closets
• driveways and yards
• dark parking lots and shopping centers
• parks and night sports games
• hotel hallways
• dark theaters
• night walks outside

Motion sensor lights which can be mounted where light is needed the most will provide that extra safe security lighting in the home. 

Let MaxiAids help light up your world! Discover more lighting products, low vision aids, low vision products and products for the blind and visually impaired 

Tony Giles travels the world solo-- and without sight!

Tony has already visited over ten countries or more so far this year in 2018...

Tony's travel biographies are on his observations and crazy adventures as he travels the globe.  After numerous television and radio appearances, Tony enjoys every moment and claims that his sense of smell, taste and touch have let him experience all the wonders and beauties of the world.

“I can travel blind because of four things – confidence, wanting to travel, good mobility skills and good planning.  That’s all anyone needs." 

MaxiAids offers products specifically designed to assist those with special needs while promoting a healthy, active and independent lifestyle.  We specialize in product solutions for the Blind, Visually Impaired, those with Low Vision, the Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Disabled, Seniors (Elderly), Children, and the Special Needs of those with Medical Conditions. Our goal is to bring you the best products available, including the latest innovations to help you live every day to the fullest!

MaxiAids has portable travel accessories for the sight challenged adventurer.  See our... 

- Portable vibrating alarm clocks
- Braille, talking, and vibrating travel alarm clocks and bed shakers
- Portable pill and vitamin organizers
- Money organizer wallets
- C-pen reader pen scanner
- Adjustable folding canes
- Inflatable travel pillow
- Identifiers and labelers
- Alerting indicators
- Braille watches

and more!

Read about Tony here...

Born in England in 1978, Tony was nine months old when it was discovered he had a rare genetic visual impairment.   Born with cone dystrophy and photophobia-- there were no color nerves in the back of his eyes.  This exposed the optic nerve to light, forcing him to spend much of his earlier life in darkness. Tony was given dark glasses to wear inside and outside until about the age of 15.  Around the age of 10, the light vision began to decrease.  On top of it all, at the age of 6, he was partially deaf in both ears.  At that time Tony was given analogue hearing aids.  Now he wears digital aids giving him back some hearing capacity in a quiet room with one-to-one conversation.  

At age 10, Tony attended boarding school for the blind and visually impaired which completely changed his life and helped him gain independence and mobility training.  He learned to use a long cane and navigate his way around, finding objects, crossing streets, going into shops, getting safely on buses and trains-- using public transportation to find locations.  His first travel adventure began on a school trip, visiting Boston, Massachusetts in 1995.  In 1998 he visited New York and Washington D.C., which lead to other trips to California, New Orleans and Hawaii with a fellow student from Australia. These trips completely sparked his desire for travel, besides the travel adventure stories told to him as a young boy by his father (who was in the merchant navy before Tony was born).  These stories excited him, planting the seed for future adventures.  Also spending time away from his family increased Tony's need to make frequent home visits, traveling back and forth independently.

Attending a mainstream college in 1998-2001 with students who were not blind and disabled, Tony was given a grant from his Local Education Authority to purchase computer equipment with speech software.  "I was a confident typist, having been taught touch typing at school, but speech screen-reading software was still at a reasonably early stage and I hadn’t been exposed too much at that point. I can touch type without speech, but having software that reads every letter I type and, the entire screen if I command it, makes studying, researching and writing much easier. I employed fellow students to help me research books, find quotations and correct my spelling and grammar. I have a scanner with speech software which allows me to read any typed text including my post (mail). This vital piece of equipment enabled me to function at the university at the same level as sighted students. I had to scan the books myself and then listen to the entire text. This took twice as long as a student reading with sight, but it made me more determined to learn."

Loving new adventures and exploring the unknown...

Between 2001-2002, Tony backpacked by himself without any aid to Australia, New Zealand, South Vietnam, and Thailand.  With complications of high blood pressure and kidney failure, he underwent a kidney transplant which took him three months to recover from.  Now in 2018, he has since traveled to over 130 countries around the world independently, not allowing his disabilities or health issues slow down his travels.  He travels nine months out of the year.

Providing mobility has been MaxiAids' priority in enhancing the independence of the blind and sight impaired.  Explore our range of mobility products, products for the blind, low vision products, low vision aids, blind accessories, and hearing amplification devices to help you to succeed in an active lifestyle.  --Audrey Leonard

With lots of new technology and products that are offered today, people who are blind or have low vision now have choices and opportunities to improve their independence and shopping experience.

Blind Shoppers will now be able to navigate throughout the store, select items and complete purchases with ease.  With the aid of a smartphone app designed for the blind and visually impaired, Wegmans supermarket chain is offering this service free of charge, giving assistance to their blind and low vision shoppers for a stress free and positive shopping journey. They're the first supermarket to offer help for the blind and low vision customers to do their own grocery shopping based on the use of a smartphone camera. Live agents help track the client's shopping excursion throughout the store.  Trained professional agents help the shopper find specific items during their shopping trip, safely navigate their way around the aisles, and help to make purchases.  It turns front cameras on so the agent can see what the shopper is in view of.  Each agent is trained in orientation and mobility to help blind shoppers navigate in a safe and busy environment.  This gives real time visual descriptions to the blind shopper with the smartphone camera or a pair of smart glasses, receiving on-demand assistance.

How MaxiAids proudly serves the needs of the blind shopper

MaxiAids has been serving the blind and low vision community for over three decades, making available products for the blind, low vision aids, blind accessories and assistive technology.  We continuously look for products for those who are challenged with sight loss, and are pleased to offer many of these products to help conquer those day to day challenges.  Our shopping aid products and kitchen and cooking tools will surely help the complications and confusion that vision impaired people face on a daily basis.

The iBill Talking Money Identifier gives a quick, easy, reliable way to identify the bills used to pay for items, as well as the change received  in stores, restaurants, or anywhere a person goes. When paper currency is inserted into the slot and the button is pressed, the iBill Talking Money Identifier announces the dollar amount in U.S. dollars.

MaxiAids offers Color Identifiers that check the color of clothes and the ripeness of fruit while shopping. When the identifier is held in front of almost any surface - paper, cloth, wood, plastic, etc., the color will be spoken. 

Identifiers are an important tool for those with low vision to be able to hear what the identifier sees, and the product comes in four different languages to choose from. 

Product labelers are ideal products for the blind and visually impaired to help identify products at home by creating labels that can speak back to them. Audio labelers allow you to label anything and everything with discreet audio labels all in your own voice. They're used to label food/freezer items, film/music collections or household objects. Organize letters and other paperwork. Record shopping lists or leave audio messages, or use it as a portable note-taker.

Other labeling systems help label clothing items, kitchen spices, food items, vitamin and medicine bottles, household cleaners, files, or other items that may be difficult for the blind and visually impaired to distinguish from one another due to their similar (or identical) shapes.

MaxiAids offers assistive kitchen and cooking aids that will bring functionality and joy back into the kitchen. With talking measuring cups, talking scales, Braille microwave ovens, and many other blind accessories for cooking and food preparation, our assortment of low vision products and low vision aids for the home are sure to make life a little easier when cooking up a great meal! --Audrey Leonard

MaxiAids offers many products that promote accessibility and independence to the blind and low vision community.  Look through our many products for the blind and visually impaired to make life more productive inside and out of the home.

Touch Watches Allow Low Vision Users to Hear Time Announced

As part of MaxiAids’ commitment to aid the visually impaired, blind and low vision in everyday life, we have everything you need to help you live a more active, healthy and independent lifestyle. With that said, we offer a large inventory of Touch Watches for both men and women. Talking Watches give users peace of mind knowing they can hear the time announced with the press of a button.

Simply checking the time is a luxury most of us take for granted. Telling time has become easier than ever with smartphones, tablets, computers and other forms of modern technology; we can glance over at our preferred method anytime we want to. However, telling time isn’t as easily accessible to the low vision community, which is why Touch Watches are rising in popularity.

MaxiAids offers Touch Watches in stylish designs and colors, that are user friendly and announce the time or date in a clear voice with just a touch of the watch face. In addition, our Touch Watches from Tel-Time offer an analog display and a large or extra large face for easy viewing. They look the same as your everyday watch, only offer features that give a sense of independence for those who are visually impaired.

Tel-Time women’s Touch Watches come in an assortment of colored bands that users can choose depending on their outfit or mood, such as aqua, blue, yellow, pink or white. The men’s Touch Watches come with a choice of expansion band, black rubber band or classic leather band.

We offer the lowest prices on the largest selection of low vision products for the blind and visually impaired. Our low vision devices include Braille products, canes, calendars, talking watches, computer products, magnifiers, music players/recorders, specialty sunglasses, and much more. MaxiAids has tools for the blind and those with low vision. Contact us today!

It's time to think about back to school supplies and products that will help you succeed for a productive and stress-free school year.  For students with low vision, hearing impairment, and other special needs and challenges, we offer a wide selection of helpful product aids to insure confidence, independence and success inside and out of the classroom.

At MaxiAids, we'd like to suggest our top ten back to school product categories that will allow you to choose items for a much easier transition in establishing timely schedules, doing school work, and communicating effectively.  Read about our low vision back to school products, products for the blind and visually impaired, vision aids, hearing impaired devices, alerting devices and more.

1.  TALKING WATCHES AND VIBRATING WATCHES

Never be late for a class.  Developing strong time management skills will help lead to college success!  We offer a large variety of watch styles and features for blind and low vision students, as well as hearing impaired students.  Our popular talking watches for the blind and visually impaired come in many assortments to choose from.  Talking watches have clear time announcements, alarm settings, time, date and day of the week announcements, multi-language watches and Braille watches for the blind. There are vibrating watches with alarms, digital alarm watches, digital analog watches, silent alarm watches, and watches with big numbers.  Click on a link and explore! 

Shop All Watches

Shop All Talking Watches

Shop All Vibrating Watches

2.  TALKING ALARMS, HEARING IMPAIRED ALARM CLOCKS, SILENT ALARM CLOCKS, VIBRATING ALARM CLOCKS WITH BED SHAKERS

You won't oversleep with these vibrating alarm clocks, talking alarm clocks and bed shakers.  If you share a dorm room, the bed shaker alarm clock won't wake anyone else up but you.  Talking clocks will tell you the time at a push of a button, or by alarm.  There are so many to choose from for your specific, individual needs...  loud alarm clocks, vibrating alarm clocks, vibrating wristband alarm clocks, talking clocks, talking alarms, silent alarm clocks, sonic bomb alarm clocks, voice alarm clocks, and analog alarm clocks... ideal clocks for the visually impaired, blind and hearing impaired students. Choose a clock that will wake you up on time and keep you on schedule!

Shop All Clocks

Shop Vibrating Alarm Clocks

Shop Talking Alarm Clocks

3.  TALKING CALCULATORS

For the blind and visually impaired, we have low vision and talking calculators that read out loud accurate calculating results.  Choose from low vision talking scientific calculators, low vision scientific calculator with speech output, graphing calculators, talking calculators with alarm, English/Spanish calculators, business calculators, statistical talking calculators, calculators with ear buds, and calculators with repeat key.  There is a calculator for your specific subject matter.

Shop Talking Calculators

Shop Low Vision Calculators

4.  MAGNIFIERS AND READERS (ELECTRONIC MAGNIFIERS, HANDHELD VIDEO MAGNIFIERS, SCREEN READERS AND SCANNERS)

View text and photos more clearly.  Scan and hear documents.  Hear a natural sounding voice read back to you as you type. These electronic magnifiers, handheld video magnifiers, screen readers and scanners make it easier to see or hear. Magnify important information you do not want to miss. MaxiAids has low vision magnifiers which include screen magnifiers, page magnifiers, magnifiers for reading, electronic video magnifiers, computer screen magnifier glass, text-to-speech (reads text aloud), text-and-image screen magnification, intelligent screen reader with speech and Braille access for the blind or visually impaired.  Hear text read aloud with our scanners and book readers.  For the visually impaired or those with low vision, we have text-to-speech players, scanners that scan documents and will read back to you in different speeds and languages.  These low vision products are important, essential items to keep you on a successful school journey.  Choose the one that is best to help you with your academic success!  

Shop Video Magnifiers

Shop Reading Machines

5.  AMPLIFIERS FOR HEARING

Improve speech understanding and amplify incoming sound.  Choose from a variety of amplifiers that are light and portable for hearing impaired students.  These amplifiers will help you to succeed academically and socially by being part of the conversation.   Search our website for products to enhance your school experience. 

Shop Personal Amplifiers

6.  VOICE RECORDERS

Dictate, transcribe, record-- your notes can be heard loud and clear and played back as needed.  They're perfect for recording class lectures and speeches.  Portable voice recorders can go with you anywhere.  Look at the variety of voice recorders to customize your individual recording needs in school.

Shop Voice Recorders  

7.  TABLE LAMPS/LED LAMPS/MAGNIFYING LAMPS
Reduce glare, eyestrain, improve contrast, illuminate papers and work, magnify projects.  Choose from an assortment of lamps and lamp magnifiers to help achieve the right lighting and results needed for accomplishing your academic goals. 

Shop Table and Desk Lamps

Shop Magnifying Lamps

8.  KEYBOARDS
Every student has their own unique, individual needs.  Here at MaxiAids we love to provide products to make your school and college experience as smooth as possible.  We have chosen a variety of keyboards that are specially designed to meet those special needs.  Choose from our large assortment of keyboards and accessories.  There are wireless, Bluetooth technology keyboards, keyboards with large print lettering and high contrast keys, yellow keyboard, Braille keyboard, Braille keyboard overlays, big key keyboards, backlit keyboards, keyboard PC without monitor, keyboards for single handed users, left handed mouse user keyboard, Maltron keyboards for dual handed or left handed, and virtual keyboard.  These keyboards are designed for your specific typing needs for more efficiency, speed and accuracy.

Shop All Keyboards

9.  WRITING RELATED PRODUCTS (BOLD WRITERS, C-PEN READER PEN SCANNER, C-PEN EXAM READER PEN, LOW VISION PAPER, WRITING GUIDES)

Easy to see bold writer pens are perfect for those with low vision and the visually impaired.  C-Pen reader pen scanner and C-Pen exam reader pen are pens that read printed text to speech.  The text to speech exam reader allows you to take an exam in the classroom with head phones plugged into the pen.  They're portable and allow for easy reading and listening.  Low vision paper contains bold black lines and helps for easier viewing and writing.  Writing guides help with writing accuracy and guidance.  Look to MaxiAids for all your reading and writing challenges!

Shop All Writing Pens

Shop the C-Pen Reader Pen Scanner

Shop the C-Pen Exam Reader Pen

Shop All Paper

Shop All Writing Guides

10.  LAP DESKS AND BOOK HOLDERS

Our lap desks and book holders provide comfort and better positioning for reading, writing and studying.  Promote better posture, less neck pain, and a more relaxed feeling when concentration is required.  Lap desks and book holders are perfect for when you want to be in a more relaxed position while laying down, lounging around or in a sit up position.

Shop All Lap Desks

Shop All Book Holders

Look to MaxiAids for a confident, independent and successful school year!

https://www.affordablecollegesonline.org/college-resource-center/resources-for-students-with-disabilities/ 

Easing the transition to college can be stressful, especially when faced with added challenges.  But also it can be exciting and rewarding when you are prepared and plan ahead.

For success and self-sufficiency within your college experience, it's important to find out about what accommodations and resources are available to you.  Residential advisors know how to serve all students, including those with disabilities.  It's important to know your rights and what responsibilities the college has to all disabled and physically challenged students.

To ease your way into dorm life, it's imperative to develop new skills before entering college.  It's a good idea to practice doing laundry, preparing food, managing money, etc.  Know how to do these basic skills beforehand will alleviate frustration.

Create a class schedule that allows you plenty of time to get from class to class.  Trace your path for familiarity and a less stressful experience.  Explore your strengths and difficulties and make a list.  Share your disability with your professors and investigate what assistive technology the college can provide to you before you attend your chosen school.  http://www.going-to-college.org/campuslife/technology.html

There are many products to assist you in the success of your college experience, helping you become learning independent, self-sufficient and confident.  After knowing what technology your college provides depending on your special needs, you can look to MaxiAids to further help you along in finding the right products and tools to help you achieve the learning success you dream of.  --Audrey Leonard

Blind & Low Vision Products  

Products for the Hearing Impaired & Deaf

Computer Products      

Mobility Products

Look for our 2019 back to school sale! 

The Survival Guide For Specially-Abled Kids  https://sortedforyou.com/guide-for-differently-abled-kids?msID=60b2a04a-3157-41e8-9dcc-b6554abba861

Automatic Pill Dispenser Guarantees Medication Compliance

Life can get busy, which can interfere with taking medications on time. Medication can sometimes be the last thing on our minds when we have other daily responsibilities to worry about. Enter: Reizen’s Auto Pull Automatic Pill Dispenser.

Rely on this automatic pill dispenser to take your medication properly and on time by scheduling your daily doses with its built-in programmable timer. Created specifically to cater to the elderly, Alzheimer's patients, the low vision community and patients with complicated daily medical regimes, Reizen’s Auto Pill Automatic Pill Dispenser will dispense the right pills at the right time for your convenience.

Store up to six daily doses, holding each dose for up to two weeks. When it’s time to take your medication, the automatic pill dispenser will set off an alarm. Depending on the amount of medication you need to take, the auto pill dispenser has up to six alarms to alert you to take each and every medication. It’s important that your medication is stored and scheduled correctly, because the Reizen Auto Pill Automatic Pill Dispenser will only dispense the designated pill and dose it’s scheduled for.

At dose time, a flashing red LED signal and a loud beeping signal – available in three tones and six customizable alarms to choose from – will go off to notify you that it’s time to take your medication. If the medication is skipped, the auto pill dispenser will keep it safe in a secured locking system to prevent over-medication.

The Reizen Auto Pill Automatic Pill Dispenser allows for more independence and reduces the need for personnel to distribute medication. This product is perfect for both in-home care and for large caregiver facilities.

Chock full of products designed to help you with your medication, this section of our website will eliminate the worry of accidental over or under-medicating. Whether you take your medicine via pill, liquid or shot, we have the perfect item that can help you remember when to take it or help you administer it. Please take some time and review these categories to see how we can help you make medication an easier process.

Warning to those who are under 30 and listen to loud music through their headphones regularly: you’re running the risk of going deaf.

Audiologist Robin Syed from London’s Central Middlesex hospital told the UK’s The Sun (https://nypost.com/2018/06/04/people-under-30-risk-going-deaf-from-their-headphones/) that extended exposure to sound at decibels that high is risky over time and precautions should be taken to lessen the risk of problems later in life.

It’s commonplace for under 30-year-olds to crank up the sound on their headphones, especially the cheap variety that forces the volume to go up even further, often peaking at 120-decibels. This sound level is equivalent to a jet taking off, and can cause hearing loss, tinnitus or other hearing-related issues over time.

“It’s not hard to imagine what prolonged exposure to that noise is going to do. The sort of hearing loss we are treating today would have largely seen in the over 50s, 10 or 20 years ago,” Syed explained. “By the time people come to us the damage has been done. We can only advise on how to prevent further hearing loss.”

It’s advised that listening to loud music over 100-decibels should only be listened to for 15 minutes at a time, but with the popularity of concerts and nightclubs, young people are far exceeding that time period and therefore, putting themselves at risk.

With an entire generation at risk, it’s important for young people to be educated on how to prevent hearing loss over time. Syed suggested placing warning labels on headphone packages to increase the education of hearing loss risks. “There has to be some sort of regulation brought in to make sure all headphones are up to an acceptable standard,” she said.

Check out these products that are also improving the lives of people who are hearing impaired.