Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Question: What household tasks do you most struggle with? (self.Blind)
submitted by Howimetyourmumma
I am a final year design student currently undergoing a project to identify and redesign products that people with visual impairments struggle to use. Any and all suggestions will yield interesting insights! thanks.
FiloRen 5 points 6y ago
Rinsing dishes is hard for my boyfriend because of sharp items. Even if he is only grabbing stuff to put in the dishwasher, a knife faced in the wrong direction can seriously injure him.
When we buy matching sets of stuff, like a salt and pepper shaker, or a shampoo and conditioner bottle, he struggles figuring out which is which since the bottles will be the same. So lots of cleaning products feel exactly the same to him.
When we buy matching sets of stuff, like a salt and pepper shaker, or a shampoo and conditioner bottle, he struggles figuring out which is which since the bottles will be the same. So lots of cleaning products feel exactly the same to him.
KillerLag 4 points 6y ago
For a shampoo and condition bottle, put an elastic band around one bottle (your choice) and remember which one that is. A cheap solution and easy to replicate with other objects where looks don't matter.
For washing dishes, one technique is to store the knives behind the faucet until finishing the other dishes. Then do the knives, which you can be more careful about and handle individually.
For washing dishes, one technique is to store the knives behind the faucet until finishing the other dishes. Then do the knives, which you can be more careful about and handle individually.
Unuhi 2 points 6y ago
^ i use the rubber band trick with identical items in bathroom. Big one for balsam, normal for shampoo, none for soap.
Howimetyourmumma [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Do you think it would be easier if you gave the knife a floating handle? so the blade would face down into the water?
KillerLag 2 points 6y ago
I guess it would depend on how it is used. If there are lots of other things in the sink, then the blade wouldn't float vertically, and the location of the blade would be unpredictable.
Howimetyourmumma [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Yes of course that is a very good point, it would only work in an ideal situation.
[deleted] 1 points 6y ago
[deleted]
fastfinge 3 points 6y ago
Cleaning surfaces (counters, tables, windows, mirrors, floors). It doesn't matter how careful I am, or how good my technique is, I always seem to miss a spot.
Howimetyourmumma [OP] 1 points 6y ago
Of course, the task of cleaning must be difficult indeed, do you think having some other form of sensory feedback would help you? Like a sound of vibration that let you know what areas you had already cleaned.
[deleted] 2 points 6y ago
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Unuhi 2 points 6y ago
Keeping things in order and surfaces clutter free and empty is one of my struggles.
Laundry can have its difficulties, like when you don't know if there are some stains, or how to sort things. Each person having their own laundry basket helps. So when it's full, run his laundry, dry, sort, then do her laundry etc.
Cleaning floors etc. When I don't see the dirt I'm not that bothered by it, but would like to still keep it clean, and know if it actually looks clean after.
With vacuum i just try to do all areas with multiple strokes to eliminate areas that i'd miss. I guess for all house cleaning would be the best if it had a schedule to stick to. Like once a week do this, then do that twice a week etc.
Laundry can have its difficulties, like when you don't know if there are some stains, or how to sort things. Each person having their own laundry basket helps. So when it's full, run his laundry, dry, sort, then do her laundry etc.
Cleaning floors etc. When I don't see the dirt I'm not that bothered by it, but would like to still keep it clean, and know if it actually looks clean after.
With vacuum i just try to do all areas with multiple strokes to eliminate areas that i'd miss. I guess for all house cleaning would be the best if it had a schedule to stick to. Like once a week do this, then do that twice a week etc.
Howimetyourmumma [OP] 1 points 6y ago
It's interesting that you mentioned the vacuum cleaner, I've been wondering how someone with a visual impairment would use one. How do you get one using a vacuum in general? What other features of a vacuum cleaner do you find particularly hard to use?
Unuhi 3 points 6y ago
I need to know how the particular vacuum works, so where all the buttons for which function are, how to change attachments etc. I use a dyson, one of those with a rotating ball so it can be easy to direct and turn everywhere, plus also a handheld dyson for smaller locations.
I know the settings and functions of each. After cleaning i always empty the dust container, and sometimes even after one room if it feels like it might be full of dust already. Being systematic helps. There's not a giant amount of floor space to vacuum, but always keep an order of where you've already vacuumed and which way you're going. I overlap with where I've already vacuumed and usually also do it in the other direction just because we've got carpeted floors (not by our choice. Hard floors would be nicer). A roomba would be lovely one day.
I know the settings and functions of each. After cleaning i always empty the dust container, and sometimes even after one room if it feels like it might be full of dust already. Being systematic helps. There's not a giant amount of floor space to vacuum, but always keep an order of where you've already vacuumed and which way you're going. I overlap with where I've already vacuumed and usually also do it in the other direction just because we've got carpeted floors (not by our choice. Hard floors would be nicer). A roomba would be lovely one day.
Howimetyourmumma [OP] 1 points 6y ago
That's really interesting, yeah the Dysons are relatively inclusively designed, comfortable and lightweight. I'm sorry to bombard you with more questions, but do you tend to find that your systematic approach to vacuuming results in missed areas? Also do you find emptying the dust bin easy? or is that something that has taken a little time to get right? I really appreciate this by the way.
Unuhi 2 points 6y ago
I miss some areas but that's because there's often tii much stuff on the floor, like bigger items. Another thin I'm not good in estimating is when the floor would benefit from a proper carpet cleaning with a steamer. Emptying the dust collector is easy.
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