Rutgers University Introduces an Amazing New App For Visually Impaired

Finding your way around the campus of Rutgers University in New Brunswick could be a difficult task for those who are blind, have low vision, or are struggling with directions. Now they're introducing Aira, which provides free visual interpreting services to anyone on campus.

Aira is available 24/7 wherever there is an internet connection. Initially, it was created to provide on-demand visual interpreting for people who are blind or with low vision, but the services can be used by anyone seeking access to visual information, said Carlie Andrews, senior director of the Office of Disability Services (ODS) at Rutgers New Brunswick.

The Aria app is available on smartphones, tablets, and computers. It offers around-the-clock, person-to-person visual interpreting services. Anything from reading textbooks or prescription labels to guiding students taking the bus. The services are free to anyone on the Rutgers New Brunswick campus, and can roll out to other campuses in the future.

Andrews said, “Rutgers is an Aira access partner, which means that anyone who sets foot within your physical space is able to use Aira services for free.”

The app’s primary customer base is individuals who are blind or have low vision, but Aira has a lot of uses that go well beyond that.  They work with several students who either have traumatic brain injury or something else that inhibits or prohibits their ability to use a screen for too long. There's software out there that helps with that, but it can sometimes take a very long time to learn how to use it.

With the Aira app, if you're not able to spend a lot of time on the computer but you've got to get your assignment done or you've got to get through these readings, you can call an Aira agent and they will read to you whatever you need to read.

The app may be potentially helpful for individuals on the autism spectrum as well.

“Aira representatives have access to our bus schedules, so if someone was on a bus and not sure where they were going or where they were going to end up, an Aira agent would be able to pull up a schedule and help them.”

What's also fascinating is that Aira really focuses on the ways the service could help somebody in their personal life, whether sorting laundry, reading a label on a bottle, or making sure that they can tell the difference between a $5 or $10 bill.

Andrews’ office works closely with many campus partners such as the Office of Career Exploration and Success in hosting events aimed at addressing some unique needs that students with disabilities may have or questions that they may have.

For example, SparkNight, a free monthly art party at the Zimmerli Art Museum, will celebrate Disability Awareness Month and feature an Aira representative to talk about the app and its free services. SparkNight is set from 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. this Thursday, Oct. 5, at the Zimmerli, 71 Hamilton St., New Brunswick.

The fall season is a glorious time in America. From coast to coast, many different areas off beautiful fall colors in radiant reds, oranges and yellows. So, what are the most beautiful spots in America for fall colors?

Peak fall foliage season is different based on where you are located. Some areas of the U.S. see fall colors as early as September, while others peak later on, such as in October or even November. Generally speaking, areas with longer winters will have earlies fall colors, and areas with longer summers will have later fall colors. Most of America hits peak fall foliage season in the month of October. Of course, areas bordering Canada will be the first to see those colors.

If you're wondering the science behind the fall colors, the color that the leaves become depends on a few factors. Those include the chlorophyll and weather conditions during the summer or fall. Chlorophyll is a pigment that aids in giving leaves their color. In general, big changes from the norm in precipitation, whether it's getting way too much rain or not enough, can really impact the fall foliage season.

Also, I remember last year, the radiant colors in my area fell off the trees early. The reason was that we had a wind storm come through, so the leaves fell prematurely. I was pretty upset about it, because not only do I like to see beautiful fall colors, I also like to paint fall colors. So, my muse was gone.

That said, if you are in the mood to view fall colors this year, here are some great places to do it. Read on for 10 Beautiful spots in America for fall colors. What are your favorite areas to see fall foliage? Reach out to me on social media here and let me know.

The Blue Ridge Parkway is stunning any time of the year, but especially in the fall. The trees on this 469-mile Appalachian attraction turn beautiful shades in the fall, so it's a splendor for the senses. The Blue Ridge Parkway runs 469 miles through Virginia and North Carolina and is divided into four districts: the Ridge region, the Plateau region, the Highlands region, and the Pisgah region.

If you're looking for a late spot to view vibrant fall colors, then we have just the area for you. Vogel State Park, located around the Chattahoochee National Forest in Blairsville, Georgia, is a great area to see fall foliage going into the first half of November. It's a great late-season trip.

https://gastateparks.org/Vogel

Cape May in New Jersey is a delightful area to see autumn colors later in the season. From mid-October and through November, the colors here are bright. Don't miss the views of the historic lighthouses in the area, too, plus all the area parks.

https://www.capemay.com/

The north parts of Michigan are glorious in the fall months. Traverse City is located on Lake Michigan, and in the fall, the trees turn bright orange and yellow. This area gets really cold in the winter, so the summer and fall months are the best time to travel there. Spring is nice, too.

https://www.michigan.org/city/traverse-city

Lamoille Canyon in Nevada offers some stunning looks in the autumn months. The area is located in the Ruby Mountains and offers a wide array of fall colors with plenty of different kinds of trees. You can drive on the 12-mile Lamoille Canyon Scenic Byway for a prime view.

https://travelnevada.com/outdoor-recreation/lamoille-canyon-ruby-mountains/

I know what you're thinking. Fall colors in Florida? The Sunshine State isn't known for their fall colors, but Torreya State Park offers some great, late-season views. The area has quite a few varieties of trees that show their colors in early November. It's worth the road trip, if you live south of there.

https://www.floridastateparks.org/parks-and-trails/torreya-state-park

Waterfalls and fall colors? That sounds great to me. The Tahquamenon Falls State Park has one of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi River. This state park is huge, too, offering 50,000 acres of forest. It's beautiful in the fall.

https://www.michigan.org/property/tahquamenon-falls-state-park

The Washington Crossing Historic Park is a special, historical area, because it's the spot where George Washington crossed the Delaware River from Pennsylvania to New Jersey in 1776. Aside from its history, this Pennsylvania landmark is beautiful in the fall. It offers plenty of bright trees, as well as a colonial reenactment event.

https://www.washingtoncrossingpark.org/

The Great Smoky Mountains in Tennessee has some of the greatest fall foliage in America. It also has one of the longest fall foliage seasons, so you get plenty of time to take it in. The colors can arrive as early as the middle of September and go all the way through the middle of November. Take it in.

https://www.nps.gov/grsm/

Pleasant Valley Wildlife Sanctuary offers a great spot for a hike in the middle part of October, because the colors are so vivid. Expect a delightful view of the vibrant colors. It's a nice area if you don't want to travel to New Hampshire or Burlington, Vermont, and it's a bit more off the radar.