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My friend is in the hospital and has gone blind. I need advice.. (self.Blind)
submitted by YogawithKassandra
My friend (31F) has been in intensive care for 3 weeks now with kidney failure and she has lost her sight. The doctors don't know yet if it will come back or why she has even lost her sight in the first place. We don't know if she will get better. Everything is unknown..
She is alone in the hospital with no visitors because of covid. She is terrified and in pain, but also extremely bored. She has a phone line in her room now to take calls but she can't use her cellphone and is having a really hard time with her laptop.
What can I send her that will help her pass the time? This is overwhelming and scary, I just want to give her as much comfort from a distance as I can. Friends are calling every day, but are there any devices or tools that could entertain or help her?
This is all so new to us.. Thank you for reading..
She is alone in the hospital with no visitors because of covid. She is terrified and in pain, but also extremely bored. She has a phone line in her room now to take calls but she can't use her cellphone and is having a really hard time with her laptop.
What can I send her that will help her pass the time? This is overwhelming and scary, I just want to give her as much comfort from a distance as I can. Friends are calling every day, but are there any devices or tools that could entertain or help her?
This is all so new to us.. Thank you for reading..
Bookjeans 23 points 2y ago
I would highly recommend Audiobooks they can be such a comfort in times of stress especially with vision changes.
YogawithKassandra [OP] 9 points 2y ago
Yes that's what I was thinking, but she's having the hardest time using her phone. Is there an audiobook device made specifically for people who are blind? Her phone is so old so the voice commands are horrible. I was thinking maybe an ipod shuffle or something pre-loaded with songs and books.
astrolurus 11 points 2y ago
If you’re in the US you can contact your branch of the National Library Service for the Blind and borrow a talking audiobook player and some cartridges for the time being. Other companies do make other compatible devices but they’re very expensive.
A more tech savvy option might be to try installing rockbox on a compatible MP3 player, which lets it speak menus. That way you could put music and books on it.
If she’s allowed to connect an echo or other smart speaker those play books pretty nicely too.
I can’t think of much else to do besides Netflix with audio description, maybe the tactile rubix cube or a similar brainteaser for something fun.
A more tech savvy option might be to try installing rockbox on a compatible MP3 player, which lets it speak menus. That way you could put music and books on it.
If she’s allowed to connect an echo or other smart speaker those play books pretty nicely too.
I can’t think of much else to do besides Netflix with audio description, maybe the tactile rubix cube or a similar brainteaser for something fun.
YogawithKassandra [OP] 5 points 2y ago
I'm in Canada but I'll look into that! Thank you
CloudyBeep 10 points 2y ago
The library for the blind there is called CELA.
Doporkel 7 points 2y ago
Try to connect with her hospital social worker to see if they can help access resources or other social services like this as well.
[deleted] 8 points 2y ago
[deleted]
vwlsmssng 3 points 2y ago
Great minds think alike :-)
YogawithKassandra [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you so much! Great idea, she can definitely use those.
MostlyBlindGamer 5 points 2y ago
Agreed. I always get a new audiobook when I'm going to be in the hospital.
They're great, in general, but particularly helpful to pass the time. You end up drifting in and out of sleep if you don't have anything to do.
They're great, in general, but particularly helpful to pass the time. You end up drifting in and out of sleep if you don't have anything to do.
MostlyBlindGamer 12 points 2y ago
If she has an Android or iOS device, she can use it without sight.
Look up TalkBack and VoiceOver.
I'm sure it'll be very hard to learn on her own in the hospital, but it's worth looking into.
Also, I hope she gets better soon!
Look up TalkBack and VoiceOver.
I'm sure it'll be very hard to learn on her own in the hospital, but it's worth looking into.
Also, I hope she gets better soon!
TeamRedwine 7 points 2y ago
This. Also, use voice commands on the phone. Enable "ok Google" or "hey Siri", then she can talk to her phone to use it.
MostlyBlindGamer 4 points 2y ago
Ah, great idea! I can't believe I forgot about that.
Those are particularly useful nowadays, when you're trying to touch as few surfaces as possible.
Those are particularly useful nowadays, when you're trying to touch as few surfaces as possible.
vwlsmssng 10 points 2y ago
Can you get to her an old fashioned Walkman style tape player with buttons you can feel and a few tapes? A portable radio could help too if there is a signal for any stations. Don't forget batteries.
If you do find a tape player or radio you should take a photo of the knobs and buttons then on the phone you can say which button does what.
If you do find a tape player or radio you should take a photo of the knobs and buttons then on the phone you can say which button does what.
niamhweking 6 points 2y ago
Some libraries loan out usb sticks/mp3 type players with audio books on them
YoYo31415 5 points 2y ago
If you end up doing something with cassettes or voice recorders, maybe make her recordings of you and other friends/family talking, telling stories, goofing around, etc. My spouse did this for me years ago and it was really cool.
YogawithKassandra [OP] 5 points 2y ago
Thank you!
just--questions 6 points 2y ago
Not blind so hopefully someone else could confirm whether this would work, but what about getting a cheap CD player, like the old fashioned portable ones that just had a power switch, a play, pause, rewind and fast forward button, and some audiobook cds. I’m sure digital audiobooks are a lot more convenient than cds, but for the sake of getting her something she can use ASAP and without learning new technology... would that work?
pokersnek 5 points 2y ago
Find out what kind of phone she has. Then, find instructions for how to use the accessibility features built into that device. Talk back = Android. Voiceover = iPhone. Call her on her land line and help her figure out how to use it.
2socks2many 5 points 2y ago
Depending on where you are in Canada, many libraries have audio books with a loan device to play the audio books. I would suggest you call a local library and see what kind of borrowing programs they have available for partially sighted/blind patrons.
Edited to add that some libraries or CNIB may have a delivery system for books and devices.
Edited to add that some libraries or CNIB may have a delivery system for books and devices.
angelcake 3 points 2y ago
There are agencies that help out blind folks, perhaps you could get in touch with one of them, after speaking with your friend on the phone of course, and ask them to give her a call, they may be able to help her.
Hellsacomin94 2 points 2y ago
Are you both aware of VoiceOver on IOS or talkback on android? They allow you to control your phone through gestures and audio feedback. Should only talk a few hours to learn.
guitarandbooks 2 points 2y ago
If she has a Mac or Windows laptop, there is a built in screen reader on both of them. Also, if she has an iPhone or an iPad, she can turn on Voiceover and start exploring with that. It would be a challenge but it would give her something to do.
I like the idea of an old school cd player and audio books! Also, ask Siri would be good for her or even a device with Alexa. The free version of the tune in radio app lets you listen to a ton of stuff!
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I think the best thing you and others could do though is to be there for her and talk with her. I'm blind but even if I weren't, I bet she feels so alone right now.
​
I wish her luck and hope that her sight returns!
I like the idea of an old school cd player and audio books! Also, ask Siri would be good for her or even a device with Alexa. The free version of the tune in radio app lets you listen to a ton of stuff!
​
I think the best thing you and others could do though is to be there for her and talk with her. I'm blind but even if I weren't, I bet she feels so alone right now.
​
I wish her luck and hope that her sight returns!
Coloratura1987 2 points 2y ago
If she has either an iOS or Android smartphone, she can enable the accessibility features—Voiceover for iOS or TalkBack for Android—to access email, apps, and anything else.
To acces anything on her laptop, she can start out with NVDA, which is a free, open-source screen reader. As with the smartphone screen readers, she can access the internet, emails, spreadsheets, and more.
To give her a sense of autonomy and mobility, you'll definitely want to get her a long white cane from the National Federation of the Blind through their free cane program. If you'd like some basic instruction on how to use a cane so you can then show her, feel free to PM me.
To acces anything on her laptop, she can start out with NVDA, which is a free, open-source screen reader. As with the smartphone screen readers, she can access the internet, emails, spreadsheets, and more.
To give her a sense of autonomy and mobility, you'll definitely want to get her a long white cane from the National Federation of the Blind through their free cane program. If you'd like some basic instruction on how to use a cane so you can then show her, feel free to PM me.
BlindOG83 2 points 2y ago
I'm really sorry to hear this and I really hope your friends sight comes back. I'll start out with ideas for her cell phone. Depending on the type of cell she has there is talkback for androids and voiceover for iPhones. She may need help with the setup for the android, but for the iPhone she can simply ask Siri to turn on voicover. Your friend will have to play around with her phone to learn how to navigate and which apps are useable in this mode, but making calls and texting will be possible. It usually takes most people a bit of time to get use to their vision loss and can be quite taxing. I'm sure you have gotten tons of other bits of advice and I hope that within that information you find the answers your looking for.
SeaBreezyDay369 2 points 2y ago
Dress up as a nurse and infiltrate the hospital to visit lol
YogawithKassandra [OP] 2 points 2y ago
she's in another province :(
RunsOnBoltCoffee 2 points 2y ago
What kind of phone does she have?
YogawithKassandra [OP] 2 points 2y ago
an old samsung
Spiritual-Quarter417 1 points 1y ago
Hello! I saw this post and I'm just checking in. How is she doing now?
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Screen reading voice over on iphone and talk back on android most phones are accessible these days I imagine she has a lot of time maybe she can poke around and experiment maybe get agencies to call and give her some training.
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[removed]
bradley22 1 points 2y ago
First off, can you visit her?
Others have mentioned voiceover/talkback and while those options are great for us as blind people, something simple like aleixa or google home might be better for now.
It would be a bit costly, although an alexa dot cots around 30 canadian dollars; https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/amazon-echo-dot-3rd-gen-smart-speaker-with-alexa-charcoal/13023977
BTW, the best by, or however you spell that site; I'm from the UK so don't use it, accessibility is crap for screen reader users when it comes to raiting their products.
I was born completely blind and while i'm fine living like this; i hope your friend gets her sight back, keep us updated if you like.
Others have mentioned voiceover/talkback and while those options are great for us as blind people, something simple like aleixa or google home might be better for now.
It would be a bit costly, although an alexa dot cots around 30 canadian dollars; https://www.bestbuy.ca/en-ca/product/amazon-echo-dot-3rd-gen-smart-speaker-with-alexa-charcoal/13023977
BTW, the best by, or however you spell that site; I'm from the UK so don't use it, accessibility is crap for screen reader users when it comes to raiting their products.
I was born completely blind and while i'm fine living like this; i hope your friend gets her sight back, keep us updated if you like.
YogawithKassandra [OP] 1 points 2y ago
No one can visit because of covid lockdown. She's all alone and so far has not received any aid to cope with blindness. One of the nurses has been trying to help her by adding velcro to the tv buttons for example, but no one is available to set things up properly for her which is incredibly frustrating. I'll look into those, thank you!
bradley22 1 points 2y ago
That is horrible.
Do you know when she’s getting out of hospital?
Do you know when she’s getting out of hospital?
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