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Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2021 - 10 - 30 - ID#qjcghd
18
Arts and crafts for visually impaired (self.Blind)
submitted by Itchface
I have a girl in my family diagnosed with a rare genetic syndrome. As a result she has lost her vision. Her cognitive abilities are also declining but she really likes arts and crafts. Therefore I would like to ask you for your favourites. I’ve thought some about hand knitting (with the really thick yarn) and pottery but I would really like some input! Thanks in advance
BaylisAscaris 2 points 1y ago
I teach art to kids with a variety of cognitive abilities and occasionally lose my vision. These are the things I can still do with zero vision with minimal practice that most kids can figure out fairly quickly. I have found that literally everyone loves squishing clay around, even if they don't intend to make anything. Some people have sensory issues with some types of clay, so try different ones if she doesn't like the texture.

Knit and crochet (start with thick yarn and do a test knit or crochet sample so she can feel what it should feel like as she learns). In terms of ease to do without any sight I find hand knitting the easiest, then crochet, then knitting with needles. Bernat Blanket Yarn is great for hand knitting because it sticks to itself really well and it's easy to feel the individual strands. Starting a new project is the hardest part, so you might want to start it for her in the beginning until she is used to it to build confidence. Macrame is also fun.

A less common hobby I enjoy is r/handspinning. A drop spindle is fun and easy to use to turn wool into yarn. I recommend starting with ordinary wool roving and a top whorl drop spindle to start. Is she is excited about it she can try other aspects of the hobby and try different more challenging fibers. She can use the yarn she makes to knit, crochet, weave, or make jewelry. Things like ribbons, string, beads, and other fibers can be incorporated into the yarn to get fun textures as you get more practice. I don't recommend getting a powered machine unless she gets really into it because they are more difficult to learn.

Lots of different types of clay to play with. I like to fidget with gummy erasers. Polymer clay is nice because it doesn't dry up, and many types can be baked in the home oven to harden. Air dry clay is good too. If you get different colors you can put something textured on the container so she knows which is which if she is interested in that. Personally I prefer to use just one color.

I also enjoy metal sculpture, in particular wire and chainmail. You can combine wire sculpture with beads or stones and create jewelry, animals, or abstract shapes. If you are buying metal, the hardware store is the cheapest, but craft stores have softer wire. For rings I like $1. If she is into jewelry making she can also use polymer clay for that to make her own beads, and there are lots of different kinds of necklace strings and different bead shapes and textures. Friendship bracelets are fun too.

Modular toys like Legos and other building sets are fun too. They can be used in creative ways without worrying about instructions.

You can also wander through a craft store and see what looks like it would be fun to play with. Experiment and she might surprise you. Remember the purpose is to have fun, so get things that are different textures and fun to manipulate.

I'm happy to elaborate or any of these and suggest the best tools or good places to buy them.
ColoradoCorrie 2 points 1y ago
I knew someone who learned to weave on a loom after she lost her eyesight.
Das-Lebensfieber 2 points 1y ago
I knit and crochet, I found knitting to be easier. I use worsted weight yarn or thicker, 5.5mm needles or larger.
rkarl7777 2 points 1y ago
Is she VI or blind? I'm VI, but still enjoy drawing with high-contrast ink on white paper. She might like a nice set of colored markers and a sketchbook. Does she like Anime? A book about 'How to Draw Cute Anime People and Animals' with big, colorful pictures might also be appreciated.

If she really is blind, how about a musical solution instead of a visual one? A ukulele, or an electronic keyboard, or an Alexa with a music subscription?
Itchface [OP] 1 points 1y ago
She is able to somewhat perceive light and dark, otherwise completely blind. Maybe thick markers could work!
Shadowwynd 1 points 1y ago
I work with people who are blind/VI.

Several people I know quilling as a hobby - it is making an image from rolled strips of paper; it has a strong tactile component.

Several do pottery; one does it professionally.

A bunch of people liked doing tie-dye at our vision camp last year.

One does professional flower arrangement (smell and feel).

One does beadwork - necklaces, bracelets, earrings, etc. that she sells at craft fairs.

Several do collages - eg. flowers made from bottle caps and pipe cleaners, or mix texture (sand, beads) in with paint.

Several do sculpture.

One does weaving of found objects on a loom - sticks, feathers, etc - stuff that you find on a nature walk.

At least two of my clients have done woodworking. One made birdhouses, painted in football team colors, and sold them for pocket money, another guy did stuff with his table saw (not recommended for beginners, obviously).
thatawkwardcosplayer 1 points 1y ago
I play a lot of instruments!! I also can embroider / needle felt with the use of a magnifying glass holder.
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