Not sure if anyone would be interested, but the Internet Archive has a huge collection of old time radio shows from the 1930s and 40s especially. These include dramas, mysteries, horror, comedy, etc. Unfortunately, the website isn’t super voiceover friendly, but it’s possible to use. Anyway, thought I’d toss this out there. https://archive.org/details/radioprograms

FYI: I’ve got RP, with some very narrow, but still decent, central vision. But I need a white cane to get around safely. I’ve got two questions about people trying to help me get around. I live in the US:

Question one: when someone offers to guide me, I know the normal procedure is to grab one of their elbows. But I really prefer to put my hand on their shoulder, so I usually ask if that’s OK. Is there any advantage to me to using the elbow instead?

Question two: I’ve had several experiences when people don’t offer to help, but just grab me and push or pull. Not sure how to react, since they’re really just trying to help, but I don’t understand why anyone would do that without asking if it’s ok with me first

“ In October, the Supreme Court will hear arguments on a core recourse for protecting disabled people’s civil rights: The ability to sue private businesses for inaccessibility under the Americans with Disabilities Act.” https://www.motherjones.com/crime-justice/2023/07/disability-testers-keep-businesses-accessible-will-scotus-ban-them/

I am wondering if there’s a rapid way to switch between two voiceover voices. The only method I know involves going to settings-voiceover-speech-voices-scroll down etc. etc. etc., which is really too much. I’m thinking there must be an easier way, either using a customize rotor, or just telling Siri.

Seems to have been released about a week ago. See https://apps.apple.com/us/app/voicevista/id6450388413

Wondering if anyone actually knows (that is, not just guessing) why RP causes decreased contrast in one's remaining central vision. I asked my retina doc and got an obviously BS answer that cones can't distinguish contrast as well as rods. I am not a fan of doctors who don't have the phrase "I don't know" in their vocabulary. I also googled and came up with a zip. FYI, I'm asking only because I'm curious. With me, the lack of contrast has existed since probably around the time I was diagnosed, it has progressively gotten worse as my vision has deteriorated. In the distant past I was a biologist, and I just can't figure out why retinal changes would cause this. Seems more like something that would be caused by problems with the lens or cornea

I’ve got RP, but a decent amount of central vision. I can still see cars if I’m looking right at them, people walking right at me, usually find cross I’ve got RP, but a decent amount of central vision. I can still see cars if I’m looking right at them, people walking right at me, find crosswalks, that sort of thing. But I use a white cane because smaller objects, curbs, potholes, glass doors, etc. are a giant problem without it. I had basic O and M training to use the cane with that level of vision. But as my vision continues to deteriorate, I’m sure I’ll need additional training for stuff like crossing uncontrolled intersections, getting from place to place without so many visual cues as I have now, walking in a reasonably straight line without visual cues, getting from place to place without getting disoriented, and so forth. My question is this: I’m thinking seriously about moving to a town that has way better walkability than where I am now (that and affordability would be the two main reasons for moving). But there appear to be no available OM specialists anywhere near it. So is it a really stupid idea to move there, or given that I’ve got the basic training and some residual v ision, can I pick up these other skills some other way? And if so, what other ways would you suggest?

Recently got to examine a Chris Park graphite folding cane. Liked how light it was, but it seemed super-flimsy. Does anyone have any experience with their durability?