Empish Thomas has written about a vital aspect of independence for people with vision loss—grocery shopping. Empish discusses some new ways that retailers are making it possible to shop more autonomously than ever before. Amazon Fresh

I have not tried Amazon Fresh and don’t live in the service area. So I reached out to a friend and called Amazon to learn how it works. Although I don’t live in the service area, I can order from their pantry which includes dry goods like cereal, canned items, and snacks. To use this grocery delivery service, you must be an Amazon Prime member, which you can pay either annually or monthly. I was told that both the website and app are very accessible and fairly simple to use. Searching for items seems to be easier on the website than the app, but first, you must type in the words "Amazon Fresh" in the search bar to get started. Instead of a favorites list, Amazon Fresh has a wish list and grocery list that you can use to order your items. Amazon selects its groceries from one of its neighboring fulfillment centers and Whole Foods. In the years that my friend has used Amazon Fresh, she has had few substitutions and has found odd items not typically found in a regular grocery store. For example, she was looking for vegan Worcestershire sauce and was pleasantly surprised that Amazon Fresh actually had it. Like other Amazon orders, there is no delivery fee if ordering over a particular amount, but a tip for the driver is encouraged. Delivery can be the same day or following days. Delivery options include doorstep or attendant. If you select doorstep, that means your groceries will literally be dropped off at your door. Sometimes, depending on driver availability, this option might be chosen for you regardless. The other option of attendant means that the driver will come to your home and personally deliver your groceries. When your groceries arrive, they are packed in dry ice for temperature control and to maintain freshness. Other items that are fragile are wrapped in bubble wrap to prevent breakage.