ORLANDO, Fla. – A new partnership at the Orlando Museum of Art is allowing visitors with vision loss to use assistive technology on select days.
Right now, the devices will only be available during the Access for All days on July 17 and Aug. 21, which are days at the museum where people can go for free.
Recommended Videos
eSight by Gentex Corporation has wearable assistive technology designed to help people with visual impairment. The device can help people with more than 20 different eye conditions and it allows people with central vision loss to experience enhanced vision.
eSight devices use high-definition cameras, custom-built algorithms and a powerful processing system to capture and enhance live video, displaying it on two high-resolution screens in front of the user’s eyes to create improved binocular vision.
How exactly did this partnership get started? It was inspired by Florida-based artist Kelly Joy Ladd.
She was one of 10 featured artists in this year’s Florida Prize.
In March 2020, Ladd suffered a traumatic brain injury that disrupted a vital connection between her eyes and brain. It made everyday experiences like reading, working on a computer and watching TV impossible.
In the early days of her recovery, she went to Orlando Museum of Art’s Florida Prize exhibition.
Because of her inability to focus and distorted depth perceptions, she was unable to see the work on display.
“Within about five minutes of me being here, I left crying because I had a hard time seeing the art and focusing on the art,” Ladd said.
This year, in a full-circle moment, Ladd is back at that very show — not as a visitor, but as one of the 10 featured artists.
Leaders with the museum said that inspired them to partner with eSight.
“I get chills just talking about it and thinking about it right now. It’s so special because I know what it’s like not to experience it, and it was only a couple years where it was the worst where I couldn’t have really enjoyed art and some of these people, it’s been their whole lives. For them to have this opportunity, it means everything to me,” Ladd explained.
Because everyone’s eyes and conditions are different, the devices require eSight’s licensed coaches to help the user program everything, so they can see.
eSight is designed to enhance vision for people with central vision loss. It may not enhance vision for people with dementia, glaucoma, or other neurodegenerative diseases.