Everything in life can be achieved if you have the right attitude and you smile.
Focus on what you can do instead of what you can't do. If you are determined not to sit down and wait until the sight you still have goes away, then you have came to the right place.
All low vision people experience difficulties with daily activities such as cooking, shopping, managing their finances, watching television, reading and taking care of their personal needs.
Low vision people also worries about finding and keeping a job, making new friends and dealing with their family, getting around, and finding that "special" someone.
Knowledge is one of the keys to live with low vision with grace and happiness. People with low vision need to learn about how to enrich their lives, using technology to make daily tasks less tough and complicated.
Then comes practice, yes, that's right. It is very important to practice with the new available gadgets, gizmos and devices, so you can improve your life with them and realize there are more things you can do thanks to these amazing tech-tools.
Motivation and Faith are extremely important factors when it comes to life with low vision as well.
They are so important, we at lowvisionfriends.com have decided to name a whole section, Motivation Zone where soon you will find stuff that will make you feel better if you are sad, optimistic and ready to take on the world.
Whether it is for you that suffer from any eye condition or for your partner who struggless when it comes to understand you, or a family member who feels sad for you.
The Motivation Zone it is an idea from the Founder of this site, Mr. Alvaro Gutierrez who believes firmly that we all need a place we can "recharge our batteries" and then go back to the tough world we live in.
We are sure you will love it when it's finished soon (will be a dynamic section where content will be added often).
We all know (and there are studies worldwide that prove it) that a really motivated and determined person, with a positive attitude and with faith in himself/herself can achieve anything he/she puts his/her mind on, no matter how tough the challenge is.
And we at Lowvisionfriends.com believe that, and encourage everyone to act this way and with dignity and willingness to sacrifice as much as needed in order to achieve our goals and to have a life as fullfilling as possible.
We know it is not easy but can be done, many people are living a rich life with low vision as we speak, why can't you?
We have to be creative when it comes to do our tasks, and to get around.
We will analyze here some important points of any person's life:
For instance, live at a home adapted to your needs, get around, travel ...
We discuss in great detail the things you need to do in order to improve your daily life, we help you understand how to communicate better to your loved ones, we will be adding useful information also regarding to how to raise a family and we don't forget about the ones who are in the dating scene. We will also talk about seniors and children.
This guide will be frequently updated.
Whether you have a vision loss or even if you are already blind, you still have four senses that can help you live a better life, you still can do many things, remember you are your own limit.
First you need to start by accepting your sight limitations but at the same time, embrace the sight you still have and use that to your advantage, by doing things you can still do.
Having low vision does not mean you are not able to do many BUT only certain things, so you must realize that besides being an airplane pilot or playing certain team sports that require excellent reflexes, almost anything else, with some kind of help, can be done, so go and do them!
We recommend you to set as a goal for yourself to learn by heart as much as possible about your own home. What we mean by that is , where is the lamp near the hall, where are the switches in the living room, where is the telephone, how to get out of the house if you need to do so, quickly for an emergency.
Also memorize where are certain important things for you, like your clothes, hygiene items, your money, etc...
To locate certain things, use "You Can Find It" which consists of eight, mod-color, keychain-style disks and a locator device. Each disk's color matches a locator button; pushing a button makes the corresponding disk beep and blink its number (1-8), confirming your button push.
So for example, if you have the keys of your home with a disk attached, and you keep the locator with you at all times or in a certain place you know, you just press a button and you will listen a beep that will help you find your lost keys.
You can see the product details by clicking on the link below that will take you to Our Low Vision Devices Guide
Regarding foods, it would be adviced that you put labels to the food you have at home, and have those labels in braille so with touch you can sense which product is which.
We also recommend to learn how to use your telephone without seeing the actual numbers and symbols. Better yet we recommend you to buy these telephones sets that comes with larger buttons, you can find them in Our Low Vision Devices Guide
It will help if you at work inform the guys at the entrance, the reception of the building, that you have a vision problem and that at night you might need their help so they need to "keep an eye on you" so they can help you if you need it.
One of the things we need to gain back is self- confidence, at home, at work, dating, on the road or doing any activity.
Fortunately everything on our website is designed to help and give you more SELF-CONFIDENCE and many tools to improve your life.
Independence is so important for us, it is like feeling that life is still vibrant and exciting.
Use the wide range of specialized adaptive devices for your home, for your own care and for Braille as well that are available in Our Low Vision Devices Guide
Here are some general tips to help you keep your home safe for your daily activities there.
* Replace old carpets, and rugs.
· * Move electrical cords away from walkways.
* Use nonskid products to clean and wash floors.
* Use easy to see colors to make doors and stairs more visible.
* Move furniture out of the main walking areas in your home, and keep desk chairs and table chairs pushed in.
* Keep cabinet, closet, and room doors fully open or fully closed-not half open.
* Make sure that lighting in hallways and stairwells is bright and even.
* Use railings when climbing stairs.
* Make it easy to locate electrical outlets and light switches, oven dials, hot pads, and doorknobs by using color contrasts.
* Try always to leave doors completely open or completely closed. This reduces the risk of accidentally walking into the door edge.
* Use a tablecloth that contrasts with the color of your dishes; for example, a dark cloth under white dishes provides enhanced contrast. Similarly, use dark-colored cups or mugs for light liquids and vice versa. This will minimize spilling.
* Use a brightly colored sticker or tape a colorful piece of paper to all clear glass doors to help you determine whether the door is open or closed and prevent collisions.
* Avoid buying or consider replacing glass-topped coffee or end tables; the edges are extremely difficult to see, making bumping injuries more likely.
* Mark the important settings on the dials of the stove, washer, dryer, and other appliances using brightly colored tape.
* Mark the outer edge of all indoor and outdoor stairs with a strip of paint or non-skid material in a color that contrasts with the rest of the step. The strip should extend about 2 inches from the edge-both horizontally and vertically-and should go across the full width of the step. This reduces the chances of tripping or falling on the stairs.
* When loading knives into the dishwasher or drainboard, be sure to place them sharp-side down.
* Examine unidentified objects with the hands before bringing them near the face for a closer view; this will prevent inadvertent poking of the eyes.
* Have someone help you arrange clothing if you have color-vision problems. Separate items according to color and then use labeled dividers to identify them.
When it comes to medication, we recommend to have a bag where we will put the drugs we need on a daily basis and we will distinguish the pills by touching, by the shape and size of each pill.
Ask for someone with good sight to help you put them in an intelligent way, like having the most important pill near the open button of the bag.
One of the tasks we find more difficult as we start losing vision is the whole process of finding the food and eating it.
A dining table is usually crowded with items-silverware, plates, drinking glasses, serving dishes, salt and pepper shakers and obviously all these items are placed neatly but not in any particularly logical way. That makes it hard to reach for what you want and easy to knock things over. Here are some suggestions for making the lunch and dinner time more enjojable and less stressful:
Eating and the table
* Be sure there is good light above and around the table to help you see in as much detail as possible.
* Set the table in the same organized way for every meal. Place settings are virtually automatic-knife and spoon to the right of the plate, fork and napkin to the left, glass or cup above the plate to the right or left, depending on whether you're left- or right-handed.
* Decide how you're going to set the rest of the table-main dish, side dishes, seasonings, condiments. Arranging them in a semicircle or straight line a little beyond your place setting might be the easiest to organize and remember. However you choose to arrange things, do it the same way each day and it will soon become automatic.
m
Eating
This simple, everyday activity requires more maneuvering of objects than you realize-until you can't see precisely where things are and what you're doing. You may need to develop a special technique for buttering bread, for example.
* If you can't see how much butter is on a butter dish, explore by sliding your knife lightly across the top of the butter to get an idea of where to cut into it. Put the piece of butter in the center of the bread and spread it out to the edges of the bread.
The same "center out to edges" technique works equally well for anything of spreadable consistency, making it easier to prepare a sandwich or even ice a cake.
* Cutting meat doesn't have to be a stab in the dark. Say you're eating a lamb steak. Locate one edge of the meat with your knife and keep your knife there. Put your fork into the steak about a half inch from the edge and, starting at the edge, cut a small semicircle around your fork. Keep your knife at the edge of the meat while you eat the cut piece, and then repeat the process. With very little practice it will become automatic.
* With slight adjustments, you'll find it easy to avoid over-seasoning your food. Instead of shaking salt or pepper directly onto the food, shake it into the palm of your hand, take a pinch and sprinkle it over the food, taste, and add more in small increments until you have just the right amount. You'll soon get a sense of how much is enough with only one or two tries. You can adapt this technique to seasonings like ketchup and mustard by putting them to one side of your plate rather than directly on the food. The same applies to liquid seasonings such as soy sauce or salad dressing-put them in a separate small dish and add to the food using a spoon.
SOURCE: The dining tips were transcripted from Afb.org
Now some basics housekeeping tips:
As you know, housekeeping tasks are ongoing. They have to be repeated regularly-some daily, some weekly, others less frequently, but they are never finished once and for all. By their very nature, they become so familiar that they can be done almost automatically.
For the most part, people who become visually impaired can accomplish those chores as well as sighted people. But special adjustments can make some common tasks simpler to perform. Here are some suggestions:
* Dusting. Keep all cleaning supplies in a bucket or plastic bin. Dust in an organized pattern. Concentrate on one area of the room at a time. Spray polish onto a cloth, not directly on the surface of the furniture. Use a feather duster to dust small objects.
* Sweeping. Sweep one small section of the floor at a time. After whisking the accumulated dust into a dustpan, wipe up any leftover dust with a damp paper towel.
* Laundry. Put a lamp near the washing machine. Mark key dial settings with fluorescent tape. Put socks in a mesh bag or use safety pins to keep pairs of socks together. There are many fabrics that shed wrinkles if they're removed from the dryer as soon as they're dry. If you smooth and fold things promptly you can avoid a lot of ironing.
* Ironing. Whether you stand or sit while ironing, raise the ironing board as high as you can, if the position is not too tiring for your arm. Choose a solid-color ironing board cover, rather than one with a pattern. Mark the fabric settings on the iron to avoid scorching fabrics that require a cool iron. Use a funnel to pour water into a steam iron. To find out if you've smoothed out the wrinkles, run your hand lightly over the ironed part of a garment.
· Mending. Use a metal-loop needle threader or self-threading needles. Or stick a needle in a bar of soap while threading it, so both your hands are free. Place the fabric you are sewing on a contrasting surface. Keep a magnet nearby to pick up dropped needles and pins.
SOURCE: The housekeeping tips were transcripted from Afb.org
These is nothing more frustrating for a person who drives for decades than to be told he/she can't drive anymore. Well, in some cases that has changed thanks to hi-tech products, like Bioptics Telescopes.
For years we searched for ways of being able to drive having low vision and we came across these sites that may be the solution for some individualsthat live in The United States and meet a certain criteria. Please review carefully the amazing websites below, that we recommend and learn if you are ELEGIBLE to drive with this new cutting edge technology.
People who have low vision and do not use canes or dog guides rely on their remaining sight resources and their ear capabilities and tactile clues in their surroundings for orientation and travel.
· Use specific orientation and mobility techniques, and tools for getting around safely-in your home, around your neighborhood, and on trips to distant places or short trips around the corner, for all of these things you need tips.
For starters we found these nice tips:
Try a clear plastic shower curtain. It will allow more light into the shower area rather than an opaque or solid one.
Invest in a small television which is to be used solely by the person in the home with low vision. That person could then sit as closely as needed and can choose the program. Some people prefer color, others black and white.
Ask your bank for large print checks and large print monthly account statement.
Organize address and phone numbers in a file box using 5" x 8" index cards and use felt tipped pens.
Make it easy to unlock outside doors at night by placing a small strip of reflective tape next to the key slot.
Squeeze an entire tube of toothpaste into a wide mouth jar or plastic container; then simply dip out toothpaste as needed.
We also recommend you to visit Our Low Vision Devices Guide for all kinds of gadgets that will give you voice and/or braille capabilities to your watch, your GPS (that allows you with a small device to find a map of any city in the USA and around the world, plus many more features) , and many more trip and mobility devices...
Take advantage of the many low-vision optical and adaptive devices that help you to see better when you travel.
Our guide will help you finding those too.
It is important in transportation to have a guide dog or someone to help you get in and out of the bus, subway and train and be joined by someone as well at an airport while you go through all the loggage procedure, we also enfathize you to make the necessary arrangements to have your bags sent to the destination airport of your trip so you avoid hassles on and out the plane.
Try to have someone from the airline to help you in anything you need and ask this same person, or a police officer, airport personnel or any person who travels with family to help you in the bags section pick up your bag, giving them as much detailed info about your bag as possible.
Mark always your suitcases with braille easy to touch labels, so if someone helps you pick it up, you by touching it will know if it is yours or not.
It is important always to ask for help, and in your city or town you are urged to have your cab driver who may be someone you trust and confide in, who will ensure you your safety, and will allow you to move around your place and go at night to dinner, etc...
Talk to him, make sure he can help you guide you through stairs or obstacles, if you ask him to, try to get to know him by asking family members to use his service, see how he behaves with them, how honest and willingness to help is.
It is possible to travel alone but you need experience and devices to help you, plus a cane or guide dog.
However there is a new "obstacle" in the USA to actually bring a guide dog into an airplane for security concerns, that must be asked to your airline before bringing the guide dog to the airport.
When traveling abroad and even in your own country we recommend going to small hotels where you know someone will be able to help you in many ways, or go to the most large hotels, try to go to two, three stars hotels, even if you will stay less time as it is more expensive, but at least you will have people who are paid to take care of all your needs, will make you feel safe and comfortable, believe this, it is true.
When going out to a bar or restaurant, huge advise, try always to ask for a close to the entrance door table, that way you are minimazing the steps you need to take to get to the door, is not good to ask for a table twenty tables away from the door, is a huge hassle and make you feel uncomfortable.
So try to reserve a table in advance or when you get there, ask a waiter to help you choose a table as nearest as possible from the door. Away from obstacles of course!
By switching from standard reading material to large print books and newspapers; using writing guides or magnification programs for the computer screen. Maintain everyday skills with specialized time-telling and telephone devices; a fool-proof method of identifying coins and bills when shopping; identifying and storing food, etc. Develop computer skills for staying in touch with family and friends via e-mail, handling banking and investment tasks, and much more; learning braille; making effective use of an ever-expanding range of technological devices.
See Low Vision Devices Guide
Stairs:
You have to be very careful when using the stairs to go up, but especially when going down the stairs, you need to go very slow, and always wear comfortable shoes, that will avoid a fall from the stairs that could be very dangerous, also it is important to be aware of the need of a good lightning near the stairs.
Walk slowly and always walk by the middle of the block. There must be no hurry when walking, there is not a bigger mistake than walking fast when you are a low vision person, because you can fall, hit something, etc...
If you are going for a long walk, remember to bring someone with you or have a cane to help you move around.
We recommend also always and we mean always carry with you a cellphone that will help you get in touch with anyone who can pick you up if you get lost and also provides you with security.
When it comes to pay for any service or good, we recommend:
Have a friend or relative hand you, one by one, a penny, nickel, dime, quarter, and half-dollar. Focus on the differences in size, thickness, and edge.
* Size. The dime is the smallest coin, and the half-dollar is the largest.
* Edge. The penny and the nickel have a smooth edge. The dime, quarter, and half-dollar have a milled, ridged edge.
* Thickness. The nickel is thicker than the other coins.
With a little practice you'll soon be able to recognize each of them instantly by feel. A nickel is fairly easy to identify because of its thickness, and the dime because of its size. The penny is the only coin of usual thickness with a smooth edge. A coin that is larger than a dime and has a milled edge has to be either a quarter or half-dollar-and it's almost always going to be a quarter because half-dollars don't seem to be in wide circulation.
Identifying Bills by Fold
By folding denominations of bills in different ways, you can easily locate them in your wallet. Here's how:
· Leave $1 bills unfolded.
* Fold $5 bills lengthwise.
* Fold $10 bills by width.
* Fold $20 bills lengthwise and then by width. Or you can fold them just lengthwise and put them in a separate section of your wallet.
To get some practice, ask a friend or relative to put a few coins and folded bills in an envelope, then have you tell her what's inside. Start with individual amounts of each type, then subtotals, and total. Then have your friend ask you to give her specific amounts of money-as you would do in a grocery store.
SOURCE: The above tips on money were collected from Afb.org
Use a wallet with three pockets (at least), in which the first one contains the small bills, etc... The second pocket should contain 5 dollar bills or similar, and the third the ten dollar bills or the equivalent in other currencies. There must be space somewhere for the coins, try using the most popular coins, so you always know when picking up one coin what the value of it is.
This will allow you to organize mentally which pocket to use when handling your finances.
-
We know sometimes, we can get depressed and think we can no longer play certain board games or enjoy the bingo or other games, or even do some hand-work as we used to. But the reality is we can, we advice you to go to your local low vision center and ask for a trainer who can help you best do the same things you used to, and play the same games you used to, just making some modifications.
You will need to learn tactile techniques but from Chess to Monopoly, all can be learned.
You can visit the official website of The United States Braille Association to learn how to play being blind or visually impaired.
If you've always enjoyed bicycling, you don't have to give it up, even if your sight is severely impaired. Using a tandem bike (the kind that once was called a bicycle built for two), you can continue riding bike paths and roads-with a partner. You sit and pedal in the backseat of a tandem bike while a sighted friend or relative rides in the front seat. The front rider steers the bike, tells you about turns and changes in speed, and warns of changes in the terrain (such as hills, bumpy roads, and puddles) while both of you pedal. It's an exhilarating exercise and a great way to stay in shape.
If you have low vision you may prefer to ride a regular bicycle, following behind your cycling partner. The person riding ahead of you should wear a brightly colored shirt or vest and call out cues when turning or stopping. Whether you ride in tandem or alone, both of you should wear helmets, which are required by law in many areas.
Swimming
Swimming is another recreational activity you can continue, in a swimming pool, a lake, or other natural body of water. For safety reasons, all swimmers, including those who are visually impaired, should never swim alone. In open water, where there are no boundaries to provide a swimmer who is visually impaired with a line of direction, it's especially important for you to be accompanied by a sighted swimming partner.
You also need to know that in an emergency, swimming in the direction of the waves will eventually take you to the shore. If you have very limited or no vision, other cues to guide you in the direction of the shore are natural sound sources on land (such as people talking, dogs barking, lawnmowers, music, and cars). If you have low vision and can see general shapes, look for natural visual cues (like buildings, trees, flags, and lights).
Running
Running for fitness and pleasure is a recreational activity that many people with visual impairments enjoy-including marathoners, who do it at a very high level of performance. If you love running but are not entirely comfortable running alone, that doesn't mean you have to give up the activity. You can find a sighted running partner to accompany you-either on an indoor track at a health club or outdoors in a park or country road.
There are several ways to run with a guide or partner. You might want to start with the basic sighted guide technique of grasping the guide's arm above the elbow. However, since that does inhibit the natural arm movement necessary for efficient running, you could adapt the technique by holding your partner's wrist to allow for greater freedom of movement.
You might prefer the tether method-which keeps you in contact with your guide via a short rope or cord about two feet long with one end held by you and the other end by the person you're running with. This method enables you to run more freely, move more naturally, and synchronize your movements. Another type of tether is a baton or stick; its rigidity may provide you with more information than a rope does.
Those are good ways to begin and build confidence in your ability to run despite limited vision. But you will probably want to move on to running independently, without being in direct contact with a guide.
The basic method of doing this is for your partner to run behind you, giving verbal directions and gentle physical prompts when you veer in the wrong direction, approach uneven ground, or need to make a turn.
A few health clubs have a track specially adapted for people with visual disabilities. The adaptation involves adding handrails or guide wires that enable you to trail at your own pace and without assistance. These handrails are excellent for endurance training.
These are just three of the many physical activities that, with some retraining and practice, you can continue to participate in despite blindness or limited vision. There are visually impaired women and men who spend their recreational time engaged in:
* Bowling
* Skiing
* Skating
* Dancing
* Rock climbing-and lots of other challenging activities.
With the encouragement and support of friends and family, you can enjoy some, if not all, of your favorite activities and even explore new possibilities.
Ticket Master has accommodations for the visually impaired.
When you call them up or go online, just ask them about visually impaired seating and they try to place you as close as possible that they can allow.
Now where the places are, that may be difficult to maneuver around since most of places like stadiums are difficult to get around unless you
Have a sighted person with you. Still it is worth noting because I did not know about this until someone else got tickets to see "The Color Purple" on Broadway in NYC.
I did this in D.C. for a play that I wanted to go
see and they were able to provide this type of seating.
Here are wonderful resources our lowvisionfriends.com team found, where you can learn scuba diving, and get a degree from a low vision school where everyone is learning scuba diving and visit sailing sites for low vision people, and many more very fun activities you thought being visually impaired you could not do anymore:
As a friend or relative of someone with impaired vision you play a key role in helping the person adjust to that condition. You are equally important as a partner in the process of vision rehabilitation.
Whether the problem occurs suddenly or gradually, it is bound to cause stress, anxiety, and vision-related physical limitations such as writing or driving. An understanding, supportive circle of friends and relatives can provide the foundation for building a "redesigned" life. The family's attitude can greatly influence the course of action.
If you consider the person's vision impairment in terms of a problem or series of problems (as opposed to a tragic event), the next logical step is to seek solutions. The thought itself is empowering; it assumes that there are answers to be found.
The next step is to approach it as a team effort, with planning and decision making in the hands of the visually impaired person, assisted by others in the group plus specialists in the vision rehabilitation field.
Keep in mind that the most valuable help you can give is:
SOURCE: This was obtained from AFB's web site includes a wide range of information about where to find professional help for a friend or relative and how to give emotional and practical support to that person.
We mention here the assistive technology tools Microsoft's website lists. However we thought would be more interesting to look up for examples of such tools, so you can download /buy some of them to make your computer experience more enjoyable:
· Screen enlargers (or screen magnifiers) work like a magnifying glass. They enlarge a portion of the screen as the user moves the focus-increasing legibility for some users. Some screen enlargers allow a user to zoom in and out on a particular area of the screen. The best and FREE magnifiers. Low vision Aids for computer use
· Screen readers are software programs that present graphics and text as speech. A screen reader is used to verbalize, or "speak," everything on the screen including names and descriptions of control buttons, menus, text, and punctuation. Jaws Window Eyes Read Please Screen Reader (UK site). Dolphin ATTO reading software
· Speech recognition systems, also called voice recognition programs, allow people to give commands and enter data using their voices rather than a mouse or keyboard. Speech recognition IBM software Dragon
Naturally Speaking
· Speech synthesizers (often referred to as text-to-speech (TTS) systems) receive information going to the screen in the form of letters, numbers, and punctuation marks, and then "speak" it out loud. Using speech synthesizers allows blind users to review their input as they type. AT&T Natural Voices Textaloud
· Refreshable Braille displays provide tactile output of information represented on the computer screen. The user reads the Braille letters with his or her fingers, and then, after a line is read, refreshes the display to read the next line. Refreshable Braille displays
· Braille embossers transfer computer generated text into embossed Braille output. Braille translation programs convert text scanned in or generated via standard word processing programs into Braille, which can be printed on the embosser. Enabling Technology
After months of searching and browsing around the Web, we came across finally, to the place for Computer programs tutorials, and is all at Microsoft website.
The following tutorials explain options helpful for individuals with visual impairments.
Step by Step Tutorials for People with Low-Vision
Click Here and see near the bottom of the page the links for such tutorials. You will find the tutorial for Windows 98, 2000, XP, Word, Internet Explorer 6 and many more useful programs and software that we all need in our computer
We have found the most powerful websites where you will find from job/employment opportunities for any blind or low vision individual to education tools and ideas to find "your place" to study in.
One of our low vision friends member has kindly sent us her review of what she considers to be a great University Online.
Information by: Claudia Perry
Well I am currently working on completing my Bachelor's Degree in Business and Information Systems.
Currently, I go to the University of Phoenix (online Campus) and I must say, they are great in helping out visually impaired personnel.
They have about 90% of their textbooks online, therefore, you do not have to use tapes or bother with someone else helping you read the material…Wow! I think that is the best part of this school.
Also, there have been sometimes that I may have had trouble with reading some material; their technical support staff is great too. You call them 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and they will send you the information in a Word document if need be.
If you want to go to school and earn a degree, I would definitely recommend University of Phoenix. Oh yeah, they also have a ADA department that is very helpful. They send the instructor's an email stating that you are qualified for ADA accommodations. The instructors are extremely professional and helpful when you may have a difficult time with a project.
The class scenario is great too. It uses Microsoft Outlook Express, so if you know how to email, it is very easy to maneuver around. I have taken five courses with this school and I did some shopping around and this was the best because they provide the textbooks to you. It breaks it down by the week you are in and the chapters you need to read for the week.
Again, the best school I have encountered thus far.
WEBSITE: University of Phoenix Online
GO TO THE TOP OF THIS PAGE