Tech Ability

17/05/2026

One thing you can do to make a piece of work more accessible is use clear formatting.

Something as simple as:
• Headings
• Bullet points
• Good spacing
• Simple fonts
• Good colour contrast

…can make a huge difference for people using screen readers, magnification, or who simply process information differently.

Quick how to:
• Use built in heading styles instead of just making text bigger
• Keep fonts simple and easy to read
• Left align text where possible
• Avoid huge paragraphs of text
• Add alt text to images or image descriptions
• Make sure colour contrast is clear
• Use bullet points to break information up

Accessible documents don’t just help blind and visually impaired people either. They help everyone read information more easily and quickly.

Accessibility should never be an afterthought. It should be built in from the start.

Sometimes the smallest changes make the biggest difference.

Image description: A blind mum style cartoon illustration showing a woman with a brown bob haircut and glasses sitting at a desk using a laptop. She is wearing a purple hoodie that says “Blind Mum”. Next to her is a simple accessibility checklist with tips including headings, bullet points, spacing, simple fonts, and good contrast. The image uses soft pastel colours and minimal text.

14/05/2026

14/05/2026

One of the most common questions I hear is:

“How do blind or visually impaired people cross streets independently?”

The answer surprises a lot of people: most blind travelers are not relying on vision to cross safely. Instead, they use a combination of training, listening skills, orientation skills, and environmental cues.

Here are some of the techniques blind and visually impaired travelers may use when crossing streets independently:

1. Listening to Traffic Patterns: The sound of parallel traffic moving in the same direction is often one of the biggest cues that it is safe to begin crossing.

2. Alignment Techniques: Travelers learn how to line themselves up correctly at intersections using sidewalks, curb ramps, tactile cues, and traffic flow.

3. White Cane Skills: The white cane helps detect curbs, changes in pavement, obstacles, and provides important feedback about the environment.

4. Accessible Pedestrian Signals (APS): Some intersections have audible or vibrating crossing signals that provide additional information when it is safe to cross.

5. Environmental Awareness: Blind travelers are constantly gathering information from sounds, textures, echoes, landmarks, and traffic movement to stay oriented.

6. Problem Solving and Judgment: Every intersection is different. Independent travel involves constantly analyzing traffic patterns, timing, and safety conditions.

7. Orientation & Mobility (O&M) Training: One of the most important parts of safe independent travel is proper Orientation & Mobility training. Certified O&M Specialists teach blind and visually impaired individuals how to safely analyze intersections, cross streets, maintain orientation, use mobility tools effectively, and make informed travel decisions. These skills can dramatically improve independence, confidence, and safety when navigating the community.

Not every blind or visually impaired person travels the same way; people may use different techniques depending on their level of vision, hearing, experience, and comfort.

Independent travel is a skill, and like any skill, it can be learned, practiced, and improved over time.

12/05/2026

Sometimes the smallest moments carry the biggest weight. And technology, when it's truly accessible, makes them possible!

This is why we do what we do. 💙

09/05/2026

07/05/2026

Krupali Parshotam argues that mandatory software carries the same accessibility obligations as any other part of the curriculum – and SPSS fails that test

07/05/2026

For blind and visually impaired people, independent travel often depends on more than just a white cane or guide dog; it’s about building a reliable mental map using landmarks and cues.

Landmarks and cues aren’t always grand buildings or statues. They can be:

1. The texture changes from pavement to grass.
2. The smell of a bakery on the corner.
3. The sound of a fountain or busy intersection.
4. A tactile marker like a pole or railing.

Orientation & mobility training teaches how to link these cues together to form routes. For example, someone might know: “After the bus stop, walk until you feel the uphill slope, then turn left when the sidewalk changes to bricks.”

This method allows travelers to move with confidence, adapt when things change, and remain independent.

06/09/2025

🤣 Imagine this…

Other internet companies:
❌ “You must pay monthly.”
❌ “Call our overseas help desk and wait on hold for 45 minutes.”
❌ “Take it or leave it.”

Tech Ability:

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✅ “Speeds up to 4000 Mbps, powered by Voyager infrastructure across NZ.”

We’re one of the only ISPs in New Zealand giving you the power to choose how you pay. 💸

So whether payday is every week, every fortnight, or every month… we’ve got you sorted.

No stress, no gimmicks, just lightning-fast internet with support that actually cares.

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Check out http://techability.co.nz ⚡