Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Help finding hobbies for my mum who has suffered visual impairment (self.Blind)
submitted by thinkingmansidiot
Hello,
I was wondering if this community could help me with suggestions for activities and hobbies that my mum could participate in. Last year she suffered a stroke which has left her with visual impairment. She has had to leave her job and is feeling quite low, I can visit with her most days but sometimes she is alone in the house, and apart from audiobooks she doesn't have many fun activities to enjoy anymore. She used to love sewing,reading walking and crafts.
Any suggestions for activities will be greatly appreciated, and also recommendations for apps or software to help her get used to this transition.
Thankyou very much for listening x
I was wondering if this community could help me with suggestions for activities and hobbies that my mum could participate in. Last year she suffered a stroke which has left her with visual impairment. She has had to leave her job and is feeling quite low, I can visit with her most days but sometimes she is alone in the house, and apart from audiobooks she doesn't have many fun activities to enjoy anymore. She used to love sewing,reading walking and crafts.
Any suggestions for activities will be greatly appreciated, and also recommendations for apps or software to help her get used to this transition.
Thankyou very much for listening x
-shacklebolt- 6 points 6y ago
Did she suffer any other problems from the stroke that are still ongoing, such as paralysis or physical weakness?
What sort of assistance adapting to life with a visual impairment has she received?
How severe is her vision loss? Do you know what types of vision loss she has (like, is she seeing double, is she only seeing half of her visual field, has she overall lost her sight?) Do you know her visual acuity? Have her doctors said she is legally blind?
Some more information will help us understand the scope of her current disability and what can be done to work around it.
What sort of assistance adapting to life with a visual impairment has she received?
How severe is her vision loss? Do you know what types of vision loss she has (like, is she seeing double, is she only seeing half of her visual field, has she overall lost her sight?) Do you know her visual acuity? Have her doctors said she is legally blind?
Some more information will help us understand the scope of her current disability and what can be done to work around it.
thinkingmansidiot [OP] 1 points 6y ago
She can see partially, most of her vision is gone in the right side of her visual field, and she has problems following visually confusing things like diagrams and reading. She also has some problems with her balance and fatigue ongoing from the stroke.
-shacklebolt- 3 points 6y ago
What sort of help has she been receiving to adapt to her sight loss? Can she safely care for herself in her home (barring the fatigue issues)? Is she able to walk around her neighborhood safely? Where do you live?
thinkingmansidiot [OP] 2 points 6y ago
Yes she can walk around fine but she is wary of going too far afield when she is alone, isnt confident being in crowded areas, crossing busy roads or taking busses on her own. She can take care of herself and still looks after her house and does the cooking, my dad is there to help her in the evenings. We live in the uk and she is receiving help to get bus passes and disability card sorted out.
She is a very busy person and productive person, i think she is feeling sad because she can't get as much done as she used to be able to, and she doesnt have her job to go to anymore.
She is a very busy person and productive person, i think she is feeling sad because she can't get as much done as she used to be able to, and she doesnt have her job to go to anymore.
-shacklebolt- 4 points 6y ago
The [RNIB]
(http://www.rnib.org.uk/) is a good resource. They have a helpline that can help you find all the local services and groups and the information you need. They offer services on training you to use technology, an extensive free library of books, a shop of useful items, and all sorts of other things like telephone book clubs. See also [action for blind people.]
(https://www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/support-and-information-page/information/where-to-get-help/)
Regarding travel, receiving travel training that can help her learn how to safely cross streets, navigate buses, and find her way. Using a cane (either a long [mobility]
(http://shop.rnib.org.uk/mobility/canes/long-canes-graphite.html) cane, a [guide cane]
(http://shop.rnib.org.uk/mobility/canes/guide-canes.html) used for light mobility only, or a small folding [symbol/identification]
(http://shop.rnib.org.uk/mobility/canes/symbol-canes.html) cane) might help her travel safely, keeps other pedestrians and cars more cautious of her, and makes it easier to ask for and get help when needed. Good training can help her travel longer distances and complex scenarios (like street crossings) with more confidence and safety. [This text]
(https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr15/issue1/f1501tc2.html) is also a helpful guide to start.
Regarding reading, a [video magnifier]
(http://shop.rnib.org.uk/magnification/video-magnifiers/desktop-video-magnifiers.html) may make text easier to read. The RNIB library offers giant print books as well as audio books (and easy beginners braille books, if she is interested in learning.) She can also use a computer, tablet, and so on to read with either large print, text to speech, or audiobooks. Reading is a very easy hobby to get back into after sight loss, and there's likely local book clubs she can attend for a chance to get out as well.
If she likes to watch TV, [audio description]
(http://www.rnib.org.uk/information-everyday-living-home-and-leisure-television-radio-and-film/audio-description) can help.
Technology wise, an iphone or ipad can be readily used by blind people. If she has trouble with fine control or wishes to see things zoomed up, the ipad or the larger iphone is definitely the way to go. http://www.applevis.com/new-to-ios If you have a device already, you can look up tutorials and get her started using it just by enabling voiceover.
Some apps that people find especially helpful are:
[Blindsquare]
(http://blindsquare.com/) which helps you know what you are nearby, look for places, get GPS directions to those places, and so on.
[Voice Dream Reader]
(https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voice-dream-reader-text-to/id496177674?ign-mpt=uo%3D8) Very accessible reader of ebooks. Can't be used with DRM books, but good for everything else.
[KNFB reader.]
(http://www.knfbreader.com/) This product is nearly a must have if you have trouble reading print. It can be used to read books, mail, signs, menus, so many things. It will read out loud all the text to you and present it in large print. It has features to help guide you to taking a full picture of the text, so you can use it independently.
On the computer, screenreaders such as [NVDA]
(http://www.nvaccess.org/) (for windows) or [Voiceover]
(http://www.apple.com/accessibility/osx/voiceover/) (for mac) can also be used for speech. [Zoomtext]
(http://www.zoomtext.com/products/) is in my opinion the best computer magnifier (windows and mac.) It is simple to get started with. It has very clear text compared to the built in free magnifiers, focus and color enhancements, as well as (in the Reader and Fusion versions) options to read out loud and view at the same time web pages, documents, everything.
It is possible for her to continue [sewing]
(http://www.ne.nfb.org/node/576) using some adaptive techniques. [Here is a resource on sewing, knitting, and quilting.]
(http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/recreation-and-leisure/arts-and-crafts/sewing-and-embroidery/1234)
Amazon and many other booksellers have a large selection of large print word find puzzles, sudoku, and other types of entertainment. Many [board games]
(http://shop.rnib.org.uk/home-and-leisure/leisure/board-games-and-dice.html) can be played with little or no sight, or can be [adapted]
(http://www.64ouncegames.com/) to be playable.
Is the reason she is not working purely her sight loss, or the other issues due to the stroke? If she does not have the stamina for full time work now, can she get part time employment? Why not help arrange for some volunteer opportunities for her? There are many things she could do to feel more fulfilled and productive outside the home. If she likes to cook she could help prepare meals for needy people, for example. If she is good with people, she could work at a front desk or answer telephone calls for a nonprofit.
If she is struggling with depression and with the emotions of having suffered a stroke, therapy and group support can be absolutely life changing. Reach out and help her get those services if she isn't already.
There are really so many hobbies, activities, and paid or voluntary work that she can still be fully engaged in. It is just a matter of getting the right adaptive skills or tools, addressing her limitations in terms of fatigue, and deciding what she wants to do with her time now.
That is a rough outline. If you have any specific questions or issues I would be happy to try to help.
(http://www.rnib.org.uk/) is a good resource. They have a helpline that can help you find all the local services and groups and the information you need. They offer services on training you to use technology, an extensive free library of books, a shop of useful items, and all sorts of other things like telephone book clubs. See also [action for blind people.]
(https://www.actionforblindpeople.org.uk/support-and-information-page/information/where-to-get-help/)
Regarding travel, receiving travel training that can help her learn how to safely cross streets, navigate buses, and find her way. Using a cane (either a long [mobility]
(http://shop.rnib.org.uk/mobility/canes/long-canes-graphite.html) cane, a [guide cane]
(http://shop.rnib.org.uk/mobility/canes/guide-canes.html) used for light mobility only, or a small folding [symbol/identification]
(http://shop.rnib.org.uk/mobility/canes/symbol-canes.html) cane) might help her travel safely, keeps other pedestrians and cars more cautious of her, and makes it easier to ask for and get help when needed. Good training can help her travel longer distances and complex scenarios (like street crossings) with more confidence and safety. [This text]
(https://nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/fr/fr15/issue1/f1501tc2.html) is also a helpful guide to start.
Regarding reading, a [video magnifier]
(http://shop.rnib.org.uk/magnification/video-magnifiers/desktop-video-magnifiers.html) may make text easier to read. The RNIB library offers giant print books as well as audio books (and easy beginners braille books, if she is interested in learning.) She can also use a computer, tablet, and so on to read with either large print, text to speech, or audiobooks. Reading is a very easy hobby to get back into after sight loss, and there's likely local book clubs she can attend for a chance to get out as well.
If she likes to watch TV, [audio description]
(http://www.rnib.org.uk/information-everyday-living-home-and-leisure-television-radio-and-film/audio-description) can help.
Technology wise, an iphone or ipad can be readily used by blind people. If she has trouble with fine control or wishes to see things zoomed up, the ipad or the larger iphone is definitely the way to go. http://www.applevis.com/new-to-ios If you have a device already, you can look up tutorials and get her started using it just by enabling voiceover.
Some apps that people find especially helpful are:
[Blindsquare]
(http://blindsquare.com/) which helps you know what you are nearby, look for places, get GPS directions to those places, and so on.
[Voice Dream Reader]
(https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/voice-dream-reader-text-to/id496177674?ign-mpt=uo%3D8) Very accessible reader of ebooks. Can't be used with DRM books, but good for everything else.
[KNFB reader.]
(http://www.knfbreader.com/) This product is nearly a must have if you have trouble reading print. It can be used to read books, mail, signs, menus, so many things. It will read out loud all the text to you and present it in large print. It has features to help guide you to taking a full picture of the text, so you can use it independently.
On the computer, screenreaders such as [NVDA]
(http://www.nvaccess.org/) (for windows) or [Voiceover]
(http://www.apple.com/accessibility/osx/voiceover/) (for mac) can also be used for speech. [Zoomtext]
(http://www.zoomtext.com/products/) is in my opinion the best computer magnifier (windows and mac.) It is simple to get started with. It has very clear text compared to the built in free magnifiers, focus and color enhancements, as well as (in the Reader and Fusion versions) options to read out loud and view at the same time web pages, documents, everything.
It is possible for her to continue [sewing]
(http://www.ne.nfb.org/node/576) using some adaptive techniques. [Here is a resource on sewing, knitting, and quilting.]
(http://www.visionaware.org/info/everyday-living/recreation-and-leisure/arts-and-crafts/sewing-and-embroidery/1234)
Amazon and many other booksellers have a large selection of large print word find puzzles, sudoku, and other types of entertainment. Many [board games]
(http://shop.rnib.org.uk/home-and-leisure/leisure/board-games-and-dice.html) can be played with little or no sight, or can be [adapted]
(http://www.64ouncegames.com/) to be playable.
Is the reason she is not working purely her sight loss, or the other issues due to the stroke? If she does not have the stamina for full time work now, can she get part time employment? Why not help arrange for some volunteer opportunities for her? There are many things she could do to feel more fulfilled and productive outside the home. If she likes to cook she could help prepare meals for needy people, for example. If she is good with people, she could work at a front desk or answer telephone calls for a nonprofit.
If she is struggling with depression and with the emotions of having suffered a stroke, therapy and group support can be absolutely life changing. Reach out and help her get those services if she isn't already.
There are really so many hobbies, activities, and paid or voluntary work that she can still be fully engaged in. It is just a matter of getting the right adaptive skills or tools, addressing her limitations in terms of fatigue, and deciding what she wants to do with her time now.
That is a rough outline. If you have any specific questions or issues I would be happy to try to help.
Dr_Gillian_McQueef 2 points 6y ago
If she can read a little, a kindle is fab, my mum is blind in one eye and crap in the other but can make the print big enough on her kindle to still read. I get her books off piratebay and she belongs kindle unlimited on Amazon.
brotherlyshove 1 points 6y ago
Contact some local theaters to see if they have audio described live theater. I used to work for a regional theater in my city and I used to do audio description of the shows like the King and I, Amadeus etc. Whatever was on stage. We'd have specific performances where I would do description and the blind audience members would come before the show to meet some of the cast and feel some key costumes and props. It was a lot of fun and I got to meet some very nice blind people that I still am in contact with today.
GuideDogAndHisQueer 1 points 6y ago
I am in Scotland. It depends on where you are in The UK. Different organisations cover different areas. In addition to voluntary organisations like RNIB etc. All social services departments have a low vision team. If you call your local one they will either assess your mum or put you in contact with a local agency and let you know what's in your area. The services in the UK differ so much depending on your area. Good luck and let us know if you need more information.
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