Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Son of newly blind Dad, happy join this community and learn. (self.Blind)
submitted by SwaftBelic
My dad, currently 60, injured one of his eyes about 10 years ago and lost vision in the eye permanently. He had normal vision in the other eye up until around January of this year when it rapidly deteriorated over just a few months. His eye doctor says it was sympathetic ophthalmia caused by the injury to the other eye (and a rare instance in which the onset occurs years later). I was, and still am, pretty bummed about my dad going fully blind so suddenly but he is taking it in stride and staying positive. I remind myself that focusing on the downside isn't going to change anything or help things in any way.
My goal is to help make his environment as accessible as possible and maximize his independence while also implementing some tools that enable me or anyone else to assist him remotely if needed. I'm excited about this part. The possibilities seem vast.
I'm excited to learn some of the more creative tips and tricks and gain a new perspective from this community. I'd happily welcome any suggestions or recommendations for resources and info tailored to people who are new to blindness. Thanks!
My goal is to help make his environment as accessible as possible and maximize his independence while also implementing some tools that enable me or anyone else to assist him remotely if needed. I'm excited about this part. The possibilities seem vast.
I'm excited to learn some of the more creative tips and tricks and gain a new perspective from this community. I'd happily welcome any suggestions or recommendations for resources and info tailored to people who are new to blindness. Thanks!
DuglandJones 4 points 2y ago
Not new to blindness as my parents have been blind for 20+ years, but i know some things they do to keep their independence.
My dad has an iPhone, he says the accessibility on it is alot easier.
And it can be useful to have video calls to help look or identify something.
My mum isn't into tech but loves to cook. She has a lot of acetate labels on elastic she puts on her tinned goods so she can identify them.
Maintaining independence is important, if he has any hobbies think about how to approach doing them without sight (my mums even driven a car, on a test track, which i never thought she'd be able to do).
I find a lot of people don't know how to address my mum, waiter/waitresses are an example. So they'll ask me what she wants to eat. I'd be prepared for this in a lot of cases. Sometimes I've called my mum by her name when I've asked so the wait staff have an easy way to ask her specifically.
Its a learning curve, and its good to be proactive. You can't predict everything but if there's any specific issues that come up google it, post on here, or ask a local blind charity (I'm UK so i can only speak for the ones here, but they have definitely been useful)
My dad has an iPhone, he says the accessibility on it is alot easier.
And it can be useful to have video calls to help look or identify something.
My mum isn't into tech but loves to cook. She has a lot of acetate labels on elastic she puts on her tinned goods so she can identify them.
Maintaining independence is important, if he has any hobbies think about how to approach doing them without sight (my mums even driven a car, on a test track, which i never thought she'd be able to do).
I find a lot of people don't know how to address my mum, waiter/waitresses are an example. So they'll ask me what she wants to eat. I'd be prepared for this in a lot of cases. Sometimes I've called my mum by her name when I've asked so the wait staff have an easy way to ask her specifically.
Its a learning curve, and its good to be proactive. You can't predict everything but if there's any specific issues that come up google it, post on here, or ask a local blind charity (I'm UK so i can only speak for the ones here, but they have definitely been useful)
SwaftBelic [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Awesome, thanks for the insight. We did get him an iPhone for the ample accessibility features. He’s learned a lot of the voice command features and will be taking some lessons with a tutor to learn more.
You’re right about getting used to public situations but for the most part, my dad is pretty loud and boisterous at heart so he’s generally talking to you before you even realize he’s blind lol. I get more anxiety about it than he does by far.
He’s going to be getting a white cane (not sure if they have a name) soon through insurance but for now he’s just using a regular cane. He occasionally walks into a door frame or dresser, so I think the next big thing I’m going to do is get some padding strips to put around his place to prevent that kind of thing, that way he can move with more confidence in his own home at least.
You’re right about getting used to public situations but for the most part, my dad is pretty loud and boisterous at heart so he’s generally talking to you before you even realize he’s blind lol. I get more anxiety about it than he does by far.
He’s going to be getting a white cane (not sure if they have a name) soon through insurance but for now he’s just using a regular cane. He occasionally walks into a door frame or dresser, so I think the next big thing I’m going to do is get some padding strips to put around his place to prevent that kind of thing, that way he can move with more confidence in his own home at least.
DuglandJones 2 points 2y ago
My dads much the same so he doesn't get it as much. Mums a bit reserved so it's a bit tougher but if your dads quite outgoing it may not be as much of an issue.
Being a bit tech savvy is good aswell, opens up a lot more options and independence.
I think they are just called white canes lol. There's a short one (i think for indoors) and a longer one with a roller on the end for street walking.
I think it's also fine to ask if they want to take your arm and guide them (just remember to say if there's a step or curb and walk slightly in front, I've forgotten before and it did not go well lol).
A good note on public toilets, explain where everything is (flush handle on the left had side at the top, etc) to save having to feel around the walls.
Corner paddings a good idea, never really thought about it but my parents have been blind all my life so i never saw them adjust to it.
Theres a number of board games adapted for blind people as well (and at least one video game), so if you want to spend an evening hanging out there's some good entertainment options.
Being a bit tech savvy is good aswell, opens up a lot more options and independence.
I think they are just called white canes lol. There's a short one (i think for indoors) and a longer one with a roller on the end for street walking.
I think it's also fine to ask if they want to take your arm and guide them (just remember to say if there's a step or curb and walk slightly in front, I've forgotten before and it did not go well lol).
A good note on public toilets, explain where everything is (flush handle on the left had side at the top, etc) to save having to feel around the walls.
Corner paddings a good idea, never really thought about it but my parents have been blind all my life so i never saw them adjust to it.
Theres a number of board games adapted for blind people as well (and at least one video game), so if you want to spend an evening hanging out there's some good entertainment options.
SwaftBelic [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yeah my dad just grabs my shoulder when we’re walking outside or somewhere he’s not familiar with, and I’m a bit over cautious about calling out hazards lol. Sometimes I think I overload him with info so I try to optimize what I warn him about.
SwaftBelic [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Oh and I forgot to ask, what’s acetate?
DuglandJones 1 points 2y ago
Acetate sheets. Clear plastic, they used to use them on overhead projectors in school. You can emboss them with heat and they're pretty cheap and sturdy.
Cut them into strips for labels, put some eyelets in for the elastic band and emboss the identification mark on (my mum uses braille but a clearly defined shape would work if there's not too many different ones)
Tbh nowadays you could probably just 3d print some tags to use but my mum doesn't do technology 😅
Cut them into strips for labels, put some eyelets in for the elastic band and emboss the identification mark on (my mum uses braille but a clearly defined shape would work if there's not too many different ones)
Tbh nowadays you could probably just 3d print some tags to use but my mum doesn't do technology 😅
SwaftBelic [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Oh that’s awesome! I will look in to that. My dad wants to take some Braille courses eventually but yeah I didn’t think about just using simple shapes for labeling and identifying things. That’s a good one!
Nighthawk321 2 points 2y ago
Welcome to the community!
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[deleted]
SwaftBelic [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yes I’m in Sac. I did see that there were several institutions here for the blind but I haven’t really looked in to them too much. I believe my aunt may have, she kinda did everything to get him set up on his disability and in to his assisted living residence. But I do plan on seeing what these places can offer him when he gets a little more settled and accustomed to his new life. He’s only been (fully) blind for a few months now and most of that time he was at UCSF medical center while my aunt looked for a housing solution. (That parts a whole other long story) Thanks for the tip!
vwlsmssng 1 points 2y ago
If you have phones of the same type (i.e. both iPhones or both Android) then if you learn how to use the accessibility features of the the phone (e.g. VoiceOver on the iPhone) then you can first help your Dad learn, then support him with the inevitable frustration when neither of you can get the phone to do exactly what you want.
Again for the iPhone find the Seeing AI and Soundscape apps from Microsoft. Learn about them yourself, then explain to Dad.
Keep learning more stuff about accessibility aids such as bumpons, liquid level indicators and canes.
Again for the iPhone find the Seeing AI and Soundscape apps from Microsoft. Learn about them yourself, then explain to Dad.
Keep learning more stuff about accessibility aids such as bumpons, liquid level indicators and canes.
SwaftBelic [OP] 1 points 2y ago
And I will look up those last few things you mentioned. Thanks!
SwaftBelic [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Yes I’ve always had iPhones and he always had android so I told him about the accessibility features of iPhone and he actually took my recommendation and got one. so I’ve been able to use my phone to learn things and then teach him how to do it. I’m glad that he can FaceTime me anytime if he needs to see where he is or ask what something is, that’s such a big help.
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