State partners with app to help blind, visually impaired self-administer COVID-19 tests

More than 280,000 Ohioans are blind or have low vision.

Ohio has announced a new partnership with a popular mobile app to help those Ohioans self-administer COVID-19 tests.

At-home rapid COVID-19 tests have become a standard, but those with vision impairment may face challenges when using them.

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The Ohio Department of Health and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities partnered with the mobile app “Be My Eyes” in the hopes of solving this issue, according to a release.

Ohioans can call a state-sponsored support line through the Be My Eyes app to get assistance when taking any COVID-19 test authorized by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

People will have to down the Be My Eyes app, select “State of Ohio COVID Testing” and will be connected to a customer service representative from Accessible Pharmacy Services.

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The representative can help people:

  • Read print information or instructions included in an at-home COVID-19 test.
  • Provide step-by-step guidance while taking the test.
  • Read the results of a completed test.

The service is available Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.

More information about the service about the partnership can be found here and information about the app can be found here.