I think this is important information, thanks. Regular Apple support really isn’t nearly as helpful for accessibility issues as dedicated accessibility support. No idea why anybody would’ve downloaded this advice.

Thanks. That seems to be the consensus. I guess I’ll have to stick with Ambutech or revolution

Thanks! That’s all very helpful. Thanks for following up.

I’m sorry to hear that. I hope someone here responds to my question with some remote suggestions so you don’t have to spend the money to travel. As for me, I am super old, so even ignoring my vision, it’s a pain (literally) for me to go as far as I’d need to. What I’m thinking right now, which might work for you if it isn’t stupid (someone else I’ll have to chime in about that): almost everything I learned with my current level of O&M training could’ve been explained to me orally, or I could’ve read it. The trainer was mainly useful for keeping me from injuring myself while I was practicing with her. That is, the main value of having her in person was to have somebody act as a spotter. So I’m thinking that if there’s some online way to learn the techniques, etc., then all I’d need is someone who I can trust enough, and as willing to do it, to spot me properly while I practice. Of course, it might not be easy to find someone like that.

Cane. Which, now that I think about it, most sighted people I know think is stupid. They all seem to think that there’s tiny portable magic radar, sonar, infrared, VR stuff that’s widely available and actually works.

iPad/iOS/voiceover. Switched from Windows 20 years ago, when I could still see you just fine, and have since developed and abiding hatred of Microsoft and Windows, so I can’t say what I use now has anything to do with a preference for Apple device accessibility features, per se.

For what it’s worth, you might want to check this out: https://join-lemmy.org/docs/users/01-getting-started.html

There are many similar devices already in existence. Try googling “blind cane attachment sonar radar infrared“ and check out the results. FWIW, it seems to me the three bigger issues with this are (1) cost, (2) weight, and (3) figuring out an interface that gives you useful and intelligible info