Welcome to the June Newsletter!
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Summer has made it to the Be My Eyes office, and we hope that the weather is treating you well too, wherever you are in the world. This month, we’re celebrating our global community in all sorts of ways, first by announcing that Google is going to now be reachable worldwide on Be My Eyes, so blind and low-vision users will now have access to visual customer support through our Specialized Help platform, no matter where they are. In keeping with our global theme, we have also tracked down cool accessibility initiatives from around the world, and we’re sharing some of our favorites. You can also get an update from the #INFOCUS conference at the UN offices in Geneva, and hear how Be My Eyes became Brittney’s go-to tool when she bought a new house. Enjoy the read!
News & Updates
NEW: Google is going global on Specialized Help!
Google has expanded their service on Specialized Help, and the Disability Support agents are now answering your video calls – worldwide.
NEW: Our Favorite Accessibility Initiatives from Around the World
From accessible theatre experiences to cooking classes and donations of used smartphones. There are so many awesome accessibility initiatives for people with visual impairments and other disabilities around the world – so we’ve decided to share a few to spark your imagination.
NEW: Be My Eyes at the #INFOCUS Conference in Geneva
At the beginning of June, Be My Eyes participated in the #INFOCUS International Conference on volunteerism and social transformation. The event took place at the United Nations Offices in Geneva, and our founder Hans Jørgen Wiberg was one of the main speakers. Many companies and organizations joined Be My Eyes at the conference to share their thoughts on topics such as social innovation, accessibility and inclusion.
Vote for Be My Eyes for Norrsken Impact Week 2019
Be My Eyes has made the Norrsken Impact 100 list which consists of the best Impact Startups in the Nordics. Three of these startups will receive a Norrsken Award and be announced as winners during Norrsken Impact Week 16th-19th of September in Stockholm. The Jury will select the three winners from 10 finalists that will be decided from a public vote. Voting is open now, and we’ll be very grateful for your vote, if you think the Be My Eyes Community deserves to win!
Featured Story of the Month
Brittney’s Story: New House, No Problem
When Brittney bought a new house with her husband there were a lot of new things to familiarize herself with. From learning all the settings on her brand new washer and dryer, to figuring out her coffee machine, Be My Eyes proved to be the perfect tool to smooth out the transition for the big move.
Read Brittney’s storyWhat People are Saying
“Be My Eyes is different from the other apps I use. It’s much better in the sense that I talk with somebody and I can ask them questions, and he or she actually is my eyes for this moment. The interaction with another person is very important.”
– Gil, blind user from Israel
“When a person is really grateful for something, it’s something that money can’t buy.”
– Fabio, volunteer from Brazil
“[The volunteers] are always very helpful in telling me whatever the information is, and they’re just always very friendly and more than willing to lend a hand, or a pair of eyes so to speak.”
– Konnie, blind user from United States
Be My Eyes Loves
Traveleyes - Share the Adventure
Still figuring out what to do for your Summer holiday? Maybe an adventure with Traveleyes could be for you! Traveleyes specializes in group holidays for both blind and sighted travelers. They make adventures for all 5 senses, and as a blind traveler you get to experience the place through the eyes of one of your sighted peers.
Based in the UK, Traveleyes was founded in 2004 by Amar Latif, who’s blind himself. After having his first travel experience, he was hungry for more, but found it difficult to find a travel agency that would accommodate a blind person traveling individually. So, he decided to make it himself! With Traveleyes, you can travel solo as a blind individual, joining a group of other adventurous souls and a guide. As a sighted traveler, you can enjoy up to a 50 % discount on your holiday, all you have to do is describe your visual experience to a blind peer.
If you’re feeling spontaneous, Traveleyes has a couple of trips departing over the summer, but also plenty for the fall and winter. Check it out on the Traveleyes website!
That’s all we had for you for the month of June. Make sure to tune in next month - we have a lot of exciting news to share!
Until then!
The Be My Eyes Team.
Small acts of kindness with global impact.
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