Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Do any of you who are fully blind live alone? If not, how do you think you could manage? (self.Blind)
submitted by cajwalkman
KillerLag 6 points 6y ago
There are lots of blind people who live alone. You learn to adapt your living enviroment so you can operate in it. And there are lots of equipment that are also made specifically for the blind (talking microwave, talking scales, etc). And with computers and smartphones, information is easier to get than ever before.
O&M instructors can teach someone how to travel around in their new enviroment and using public transportation.
O&M instructors can teach someone how to travel around in their new enviroment and using public transportation.
mimi1218 1 points 6y ago
How much does a talking microwave cost? I see a gag gift for my family in the near future. (Note this is not an insult I just want to mess with my family.)
KillerLag 1 points 6y ago
Probably more than you'd want to spend for a gag. Roughly $370 USD or so. Shipping and exchange rate would factor in as well.
https://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-Talking-Microwave-Oven/dp/B015HCYW0O
https://www.maxiaids.com/talking-microwave-oven
https://www.independentliving.com/prodinfo.asp?number=756400DS
http://shop.rnib.org.uk/talking-microwave.html
https://www.amazon.com/Maxi-Aids-Talking-Microwave-Oven/dp/B015HCYW0O
https://www.maxiaids.com/talking-microwave-oven
https://www.independentliving.com/prodinfo.asp?number=756400DS
http://shop.rnib.org.uk/talking-microwave.html
mimi1218 1 points 6y ago
Looks like I need to find another gag. Thanks though!
KillerLag 1 points 6y ago
Whoopee cushion.
https://www.amazon.com/Dozen-Whoopee-Cushion-Party-Favors/dp/B0037NMWC6/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1476330175&sr=1-1&keywords=whoopie+cushion
Fun for all ages and abilities ;)
https://www.amazon.com/Dozen-Whoopee-Cushion-Party-Favors/dp/B0037NMWC6/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1476330175&sr=1-1&keywords=whoopie+cushion
Fun for all ages and abilities ;)
chameleonnaire 3 points 6y ago
I do. It isn't nearly as hard as you might think. Some friends of mine helped me move in, and now I just arrange my home to fit my needs. My friends say it's a bit "interesting looking" i.e. it's weird. I wouldn't know, and don't care. Not like I'm looking at it.
-shacklebolt- 3 points 6y ago
I live with my partner now, but previously lived alone.
I have some useful vision, but I don't doubt that I could live alone if I didn't. Why would I? The non-visual techniques I mostly use now are the same ones I would use if I were to have less sight or no sight.
I know plenty of completely blind (or nearly so) people who live independently.
Why do you ask?
I have some useful vision, but I don't doubt that I could live alone if I didn't. Why would I? The non-visual techniques I mostly use now are the same ones I would use if I were to have less sight or no sight.
I know plenty of completely blind (or nearly so) people who live independently.
Why do you ask?
mirhagk 1 points 6y ago
I am curious how you deal with boxed foods? As far as I've seen they don't seem to have any sort of braille (and with frozen boxes I don't imagine it'd work very well anyways). Is it a lot of memorization/organization, or is there some other tactic you use?
-shacklebolt- 5 points 6y ago
I personally just don't buy a lot of packaged food (not for blindness reasons) but for stuff that is in packages:
- I keep my pantry organized. Home canned foods have their own section (and get labeled all before going into the pantry when they've cooled down and popped.) Grains and jars of beans and legumes sit together. Canned goods are somewhat sorted by type (fruit, vegetables, and soups mostly.) Many things don't really need labels. If you reached into your pantry and tried to find a can of tomato paste, you'd be able to do it with your eyes shut right?
- Many containers of things are pretty distinct from others. Olive oil comes in the rectangular jars, sesame oil in hourglass shaped jars, coconut oil in cans with screw-on lids, etc. Many sauces I buy one brand I like and the containers are easily identifiable without even needing to open it or shake it to try to identify it. You don't need to label that stuff.
- Leftovers that go into the fridge don't get labeled. I only keep them there for a few days at most so it is easy enough to tell apart by different containers, and opening the container if needed. Leftovers that go into the freezer (or meat I am splitting up and freezing in bulk) get labeled with plastic non-adhesive sheets.
- Spices I label with braille labeling tape and a slate and stylus. I use a simple [slate and stylus]
(https://ecommerce.nfb.org/asp/product.asp?product=1067&cat=131&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=) with a labeling tape slot. The labeling [tape]
(https://ecommerce.nfb.org/asp/product.asp?product=1045&cat=128&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=) is a thick, transparent plastic that is adhesive on one side. You can buy the magnetic version of that tape for labeling cans as well. Some people just open their spices to smell them (which is what I do if I've brought several bulk refills home for my jars) but I find that too inconvenient while actually cooking. I refill my spice jars so the adhesive tape works well for this.
- For canned and packaged foods that need it, I use [reusable plastic labels]
(https://ecommerce.nfb.org/asp/product.asp?product=1048&cat=128&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=) or just tape or elastic band on a labeled index card depending on the item.
Really this is all much easier than it sounds once you have a system going. I know some blind people use no braille at all (granted, these tend to be the people who cook less,) or use a system of rubber bands or other non-braille tactile labels.
On the technology side of things, an app like google googles or a barcode scanner can be used to identify things, KNFB reader can be used to read instructions, and so on as well. All of that tech is getting much better as time goes on.
- I keep my pantry organized. Home canned foods have their own section (and get labeled all before going into the pantry when they've cooled down and popped.) Grains and jars of beans and legumes sit together. Canned goods are somewhat sorted by type (fruit, vegetables, and soups mostly.) Many things don't really need labels. If you reached into your pantry and tried to find a can of tomato paste, you'd be able to do it with your eyes shut right?
- Many containers of things are pretty distinct from others. Olive oil comes in the rectangular jars, sesame oil in hourglass shaped jars, coconut oil in cans with screw-on lids, etc. Many sauces I buy one brand I like and the containers are easily identifiable without even needing to open it or shake it to try to identify it. You don't need to label that stuff.
- Leftovers that go into the fridge don't get labeled. I only keep them there for a few days at most so it is easy enough to tell apart by different containers, and opening the container if needed. Leftovers that go into the freezer (or meat I am splitting up and freezing in bulk) get labeled with plastic non-adhesive sheets.
- Spices I label with braille labeling tape and a slate and stylus. I use a simple [slate and stylus]
(https://ecommerce.nfb.org/asp/product.asp?product=1067&cat=131&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=) with a labeling tape slot. The labeling [tape]
(https://ecommerce.nfb.org/asp/product.asp?product=1045&cat=128&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=) is a thick, transparent plastic that is adhesive on one side. You can buy the magnetic version of that tape for labeling cans as well. Some people just open their spices to smell them (which is what I do if I've brought several bulk refills home for my jars) but I find that too inconvenient while actually cooking. I refill my spice jars so the adhesive tape works well for this.
- For canned and packaged foods that need it, I use [reusable plastic labels]
(https://ecommerce.nfb.org/asp/product.asp?product=1048&cat=128&ph=&keywords=&recor=&SearchFor=&PT_ID=) or just tape or elastic band on a labeled index card depending on the item.
Really this is all much easier than it sounds once you have a system going. I know some blind people use no braille at all (granted, these tend to be the people who cook less,) or use a system of rubber bands or other non-braille tactile labels.
On the technology side of things, an app like google googles or a barcode scanner can be used to identify things, KNFB reader can be used to read instructions, and so on as well. All of that tech is getting much better as time goes on.
mirhagk 1 points 6y ago
I can't find tomato paste in my pantry even if I look lol, it's way too messy, but yeah that's understandable that with a bit better organization it'd be easy to feel for that.
The rubber bands sounds like a really neat idea, and it's awesome that there are so many tools out there for helping.
Thanks for the awesome answer.
The rubber bands sounds like a really neat idea, and it's awesome that there are so many tools out there for helping.
Thanks for the awesome answer.
Unuhi 2 points 6y ago
Taptapsee works wonders if you use an iPhone and have internet. Point it at whatever and it'll tell you what it is.
mirhagk 1 points 6y ago
That's awesome. As much as I dislike apple's products they seem to have a lot better support for accessibility stuff and I respect them for that.
Unuhi 1 points 6y ago
The accessibility features they have on the productsnare pretty decent, so no need for anything like Jaws.
Then again, Microsoft seems to be moving in the right direction too with Narrator and high contrast stuff.
Then again, Microsoft seems to be moving in the right direction too with Narrator and high contrast stuff.
kwizrr 2 points 6y ago
I've lived on my own for 3 years now, and I'm legally blind.
With today's technology it is very easy. I'm able to order my groceries online and have them delivered to my apartment. Pay all of my bills and do banking online. Use my iPod Touch with the help of several Text-to-Speech apps to read mail, instructions, etc. If the app wasn't able to decipher something properly, I use an iOS app called BeMyEyes to reach a human being who can then tell me what I needed to know.
You don't necessarily need an expensive iPhone or highend Android phone to use text-to-speech apps. Just get an iPod Touch or an inexpensive Android tablet with a half decent rear facing camera.
To use appliances and other devices around my apartment which require me to use a touch pad I had my friend place tactel dots to guide me. My stove, microwave, washing machine, and thermostat were the only items I needed these dots on.
I'm not much of a cook, so if I didn't feel like traveling out to get something decent to eat, I use GrubHub or Foodler.
The Internet has made all of this possible for me. Without the Internet, iPod Touch, JAWS screen reader... No way I could live on my own.
People must understand that loosing your vision doesn't mean you lost your mind. A lot of task i accomplished just by using common sense. Cleaning, cooking, doing your laundry is quite easy if you take your time and develop a plan to get things done.
With today's technology it is very easy. I'm able to order my groceries online and have them delivered to my apartment. Pay all of my bills and do banking online. Use my iPod Touch with the help of several Text-to-Speech apps to read mail, instructions, etc. If the app wasn't able to decipher something properly, I use an iOS app called BeMyEyes to reach a human being who can then tell me what I needed to know.
You don't necessarily need an expensive iPhone or highend Android phone to use text-to-speech apps. Just get an iPod Touch or an inexpensive Android tablet with a half decent rear facing camera.
To use appliances and other devices around my apartment which require me to use a touch pad I had my friend place tactel dots to guide me. My stove, microwave, washing machine, and thermostat were the only items I needed these dots on.
I'm not much of a cook, so if I didn't feel like traveling out to get something decent to eat, I use GrubHub or Foodler.
The Internet has made all of this possible for me. Without the Internet, iPod Touch, JAWS screen reader... No way I could live on my own.
People must understand that loosing your vision doesn't mean you lost your mind. A lot of task i accomplished just by using common sense. Cleaning, cooking, doing your laundry is quite easy if you take your time and develop a plan to get things done.
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