Tips
Sighted people not accustomed to the visually impaired often find themselves at a loss in dealing with those with limited or no sight. The following tips, techniques and suggestions may help in meeting a visually impaired person's needs:
Tips for Daily Living
- Guiding a visually impaired person.
- Assisting a visually impaired person with seating.
- Introductions.
- Usage of the word "blind".
- Compliments.
- How do you label your medications and other containers that are similar in shape and size?
- How do you write checks?
- How can you see the food better on your plate or in your glass?
- What are some safety ideas for the kitchen?
Tips regarding Adaptive Technology
Tips for Daily Living
Guiding a visually impaired person.
When guiding a visually impaired person, merely let them take your arm and follow along with you. Do not try to "lift" or push them before you. When in narrow passages, it is best to walk ahead and let the person follow with their hand touching your back or shoulder.
Assisting a visually impaired person with seating.
If you are assisting a visually impaired person to a chair, it is only necessary to put their
hand on the chair's back or arm. They will do the rest.
If they are entering a car or train, do not grip them as though to lift them in, merely placing their
hand on a guiding part of the vehicle.
If it is required to stoop to enter the vehicle (as in airplanes and most automobiles), place their hand
at the top of the opening so that they can determine how far to lower their head to avoid a bump.
Introductions.
You will put a visually impaired person at ease if you make yourself known when entering their presence - and when you are leaving.
Usage of the word "blind".
The word "blind" is not offensive to visually impaired people and it is not necessary to avoid its use or substituting other expressions. It is not necessary to distort conversation by using the word "hear" for "see".
Compliments.
Declaring every achievement "remarkable!" (or something to that effect) can embarrass a blind person. If a blind person recognizes your voice, remember that you can recognize their voice if they call you by telephone. There is nothing unusual in the fact that a blind person can shave, comb hair, tell time by watch, or perform many other routine acts.
How do you label your medications and other containers that are similar in shape and size?
Use a pill organizer.
Label the containers with different colors of tape.
Use rubber bands around certain prescription bottles.
Use labels with large print.
How do you write checks?
Use large print checks that are available at all banks.
Use a check writing guide made especially to fit over your checks.
Use your debit or check card when making purchases instead.
Make payments by phone.
How can you see the food better on your plate or in your glass?
Pour liquids into contrasting colored or textured containers, i.e. coffee into a white mug; milk
into a dark mug; juice into a textured glass or mug.
Serve food on a contrasting colored dish.
Avoid busy patterns in tablecloths.
Use a liquid leveler which makes a buzzing sound when the liquid is level and reaches a specific
point in the container.
When reaching for an item, keep fingers and hand close to the tablecloth to avoid over-turning an object.
What are some safety ideas for the kitchen?
Use scissors more often than knives.
Use muffin tins for more than just muffins (i.e. baked potatoes, oven-roasted vegetables). It is
easier to locate and remove the tin from the oven, reduce the chance of food slipping when removing from
the oven, and helps you identify different foods that need attention (i.e. basting, turning).
Organize ingredients and utensils on a tray when cooking.
Tips regarding Adaptive Technology
Preventive Maintenance.
Keep devices covered or in their case when not in use. Dust can accumulate in devices and interfere with the effective operation of your equipment. Pet hair and food particles that collect inside devices can lead to problems with the equipment. Many devices work much more efficiently when they are cleaned on a regular basis and tested by technicians. Save the original packaging of your device so that you can send it to a vendor for cleaning or repair.
Not enough desk space?
Investing in a flat-panel monitor can free up a lot of desk space. These monitors also weigh significantly less than the traditional models. These monitors may cost a little more, but they are great "space-savers" in tight work areas.
