Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Hobbies for Blind and POOR (self.Blind)
submitted by Xena66
My partner became blind this past year in his 30s. His main hobby before was basketball. He hasn’t been approved for disability yet, but it’s only going to be SSI which is a Max of $794/month. We can’t afford a computer and he’s never been super into computers anyway. We are looking into some of the cheaper gym memberships. He’s still very uncomfortable walking alone, he was already a little unbalanced from a knee injury years ago and the loss of vision has not helped him in that area, but he does have a mobility trainer from Lighthouse working with him. I’ve seen a lot of people suggest board games but we definitely can’t afford to buy a bunch of new games, especially when we’re likely to be homeless soon so I’m trying to get rid of stuff not add more stuff.. Lately we mostly just sit around and watch TV on my kindle or listen to audio books and he frequently complains of boredom so I’m trying to think of new things for him to do.
DrillInstructorJan 9 points 2y ago
Drill instructor mode, engage!
If he's not okay walking alone even on routes he knows, and he's bored, then that's a pretty good indication he should be working on how to get around. I mean it's fine at less than a year, but... has he got a cane? Has he had any instruction with it? Does he use it, or does he just hold on to you all the time?
It can be a tough process not because it's hard, it's just a learned skill like anything else, but because nobody wants to think they have to do it. I get that. But nobody should be bored in the modern world. Being bored because you can't do anything is a really common thing for people who lose sight and the only real solution is to become more capable of doing things.
Sometimes when I say this sort of thing I am accused of pointing out uncomfortable realities but I think it is worth doing. Can you get him to come on here himself so we can get into it?
If he's not okay walking alone even on routes he knows, and he's bored, then that's a pretty good indication he should be working on how to get around. I mean it's fine at less than a year, but... has he got a cane? Has he had any instruction with it? Does he use it, or does he just hold on to you all the time?
It can be a tough process not because it's hard, it's just a learned skill like anything else, but because nobody wants to think they have to do it. I get that. But nobody should be bored in the modern world. Being bored because you can't do anything is a really common thing for people who lose sight and the only real solution is to become more capable of doing things.
Sometimes when I say this sort of thing I am accused of pointing out uncomfortable realities but I think it is worth doing. Can you get him to come on here himself so we can get into it?
Xena66 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
He can barely use a phone so I don’t think he’s going to be on here anytime soon. We are also New to this area and have been mostly homeless so he doesn’t no most of the routes yet. It took quite a long time to get into Lighthouse because being homeless kind of slows things down a bit, but we have a place temporarily and he did just get a cane and a mobility instructor. Up until now he has been holding on to me, but we only just got the cane. Mobility instructor is coming over for the 2nd time tomorrow though so hopefully will learn. I appreciate your comment, but do have to correct you. It absolutely is a tough process because it’s hard. There is literally no easy process when you live in poverty and especially not when you’re homeless
DrillInstructorJan 3 points 2y ago
I won't try to tell you anything about homelessness and poverty, other than to say I'm as sympathetic as I can be from across the internet. I hope you can get something fixed up as soon as possible.
What I will say is that if he has a modern phone it has accessibility features built in for free, so get those activated and get him using it. I view my phone as an absolutely critical safety factor to almost everything I do. No matter how badly something gets screwed up you can usually solve it with some phone calls. This is really important.
As for the cane travel thing, nobody wants to do it and I'm not going to tell you it's an easy hurdle to get over, especially if you have other life stuff going on at the same time. Even so it's still true that it's not actually that hard to do, it's a skill you can learn. If you need it, you have to do it. You're nowhere without it and if you can get hold of a cane (and it has to be the right size) it costs nothing to do.
I'm sure everyone on here will be as supportive as we can be so let us know how you get on.
What I will say is that if he has a modern phone it has accessibility features built in for free, so get those activated and get him using it. I view my phone as an absolutely critical safety factor to almost everything I do. No matter how badly something gets screwed up you can usually solve it with some phone calls. This is really important.
As for the cane travel thing, nobody wants to do it and I'm not going to tell you it's an easy hurdle to get over, especially if you have other life stuff going on at the same time. Even so it's still true that it's not actually that hard to do, it's a skill you can learn. If you need it, you have to do it. You're nowhere without it and if you can get hold of a cane (and it has to be the right size) it costs nothing to do.
I'm sure everyone on here will be as supportive as we can be so let us know how you get on.
AutisticPearl 5 points 2y ago
Beep ball,bowling and try looking for blind groups in your area. I used to be a member of one till I got my job. Also if he's able to work, try getting him a job at someplace like https://visionaware.org/directory/profile/arkansas-lighthouse-for-the-blind/ I work somewhere similar and its amazing.
Xena66 [OP] 3 points 2y ago
Thanks! I think he’ll eventually be able to work, right now he can barely use his phone, but he only just started getting Lighthouse services so hopefully he’ll adjust and be able to do more with time
24_SC 3 points 2y ago
It could be a challenge to find the right opportunity, but volunteering can be a great way to meet new people and helps me to feel that I have something worth contributing. Possibly an animal shelter that needs someone to provide socialization to animals?
Xena66 [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thats a really good idea! He loves animals i feel like that would be good for him.
74bpa 3 points 2y ago
Audiobooks, gardening can be very cheap if your housing situation stabilizes, cooking/baking, learning an instrument... Depends where you are but libraries can be an amazing resource for no cost, mine lends out instruments, video games, museum passes...
Also many places have free entry for blind people and for their guides, and lots of museums and places like that are becoming more accessible with lots of things for you to touch.
Also many places have free entry for blind people and for their guides, and lots of museums and places like that are becoming more accessible with lots of things for you to touch.
Iamheno 3 points 2y ago
Check out $1 no need to pay for a gym membership if there’s a location near you. The men will gladly pick him up and take him to the workouts, my guys do!
Xena66 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you!
Iamheno 2 points 2y ago
If he goes tell them Bloomer from F3 Lake Effect sent him.
[deleted] 2 points 2y ago
How I spend most my time now as a blind teen is my father got my a record player and every moth he buys my vinyls and I spend a lot of my time listening to music. Other stuff I do is my dad likes to play pick your own adventure stories like The Walking Dead video game where he reads me the decisions and I chose them I hope this helps
CloudsOfMagellan 2 points 2y ago
Could try find local dnd groups, you can get Braille dice 3D printed for it.
Also chess clubs would be good, you can get an accessible chess set for $50 ish, maybe less cause I'm Australian
Also chess clubs would be good, you can get an accessible chess set for $50 ish, maybe less cause I'm Australian
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[deleted]
Xena66 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Lighthouse is training with the state. Though I’m not gonna lie I haven’t found the digital classes super helpful. They’re sending us some stuff which is really cool, like they’re sending a small grill that will be easier for him to use then the stove which is great. I’m not trying to knock Lighthouse at all they’ve been amazing to us so far. And I totally understand why the classes are digital with covid, but I do think it makes learning things a little harder. He’s currently on a waitlist with them for a digital class that will help him use a phone better. He’s essentially only using calls, texts, and YouTube. He finds using any other app really difficult with Google voice and this class is supposed to help him out with that so hopefully he gets in soon. Lighthouse also did a vocational assessment with him though his criminal record isn’t going to help in that area. He’s also not going to have money for hobbies lol. Even if he gets work it will be used for bills his SSI checks won’t be for more than $794/month. Poor people don’t have money for hobbies 😂
[deleted] 1 points 2y ago
[deleted]
Xena66 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Lighthouse is the department of blind services (DBS) here. They don’t seem to do computers but they may lend him one for a computer class when he gets in. He does have a mobility trainer who came to show him how to use the cane. He also had a life skills course and the teacher was wonderful but I do think you lose a lot by making it digital (this is not meant to criticize the DBS I understand things are remote because of covid, i think it’s been harder to learn that way but understand why it is that way) and he’s still not comfortable cooking at all, but they are gonna send a bunch of cooking stuff which should help. He’s not working I’m not sure how he could he’s still learning to walk and use a phone but hopefully we’ll get there. He has an android because that’s what the government gives you, but I’m hoping to one day get him an iPhone. I would love to introduce him to this subreddit but he can’t do anything other than send and receive texts and calls (just texts/calls he’s struggling with other apps, such as Facebook messenger) and YouTube. Google voice doesn’t seem to help on the other apps and he has a lot of trouble using the feature that reads everything on the screen. Do you use android? He has a lot of trouble with it
I also didn’t know that DBS will help you with classes Im def going to tell him to ask about That
I also didn’t know that DBS will help you with classes Im def going to tell him to ask about That
Amonwilde 1 points 2y ago
Man we need a charity to get blind people computers. Being blind is expensive.
Maybe you could get him some kind of gym equipment? I also really recommend he learn braille, which is totally free and they send you stuff in the mail. If you're in the US, you can sign up for Hadley School by filling out the form at the below link and they will send you a box of braille. It can be really empowering for the newly blind.
https://hadley.edu/tactile-readiness
Click on the enroll now button and fill out the form. You can do it for him. He will also seriously need to learn how to use his phone, but I think Hadley has courses on that too, he can do those later, maybe.
Maybe you could get him some kind of gym equipment? I also really recommend he learn braille, which is totally free and they send you stuff in the mail. If you're in the US, you can sign up for Hadley School by filling out the form at the below link and they will send you a box of braille. It can be really empowering for the newly blind.
https://hadley.edu/tactile-readiness
Click on the enroll now button and fill out the form. You can do it for him. He will also seriously need to learn how to use his phone, but I think Hadley has courses on that too, he can do those later, maybe.
Motya105 1 points 2y ago
I haven’t had experience with them myself, but Computers For The Blind is a charity that provides computers with screen-readers/magnification software to blind people in the US for free. If you google, “Computers for the blind charity free,” you will find them.
CloudyBeep 1 points 2y ago
I thought they sold low-cost computers.
Motya105 2 points 2y ago
I saw something on their site about being able to provide computers for free, but take that with a grain of salt, since I haven’t been on that site in a few years.
Xena66 [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you! He’s currently on a waitlist for a technology course at Lighthouse, but we def want to look at Braille clases too. I would love to get gym equipment but at this point I’m preparing to be homeless again so I can’t add anything new, trying to get rid of stuff, but at some point I’d like to have that!
Amonwilde 2 points 2y ago
Hey, really sorry about your losing your home. It sounds like you're trying to hold things together. I hope you can stay strong and hold out for better times.
vip-sizzles 1 points 2y ago
I often listen to podcasts. It's a great source for learning.
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