Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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What is something special/fun to do with my blind grandmother? I really love catching up and talking with her but Is there anything extra I could do with her? Any games that don’t involve sight? Something I could make her? Or gift her? Any way I could help her get phone calls in her nursing home? (self.Blind)
submitted by rellim88
amusingbush 10 points 1y ago
What about one of those greeting cards, teddy bears, etc where you can audio record a special message for her? My mom is blind and has been all my life. I’m just trying to think of something simple and sentimental that maybe she would like.
As for calls...my mom started using an iPhone about 3 years ago and she’s come a LONG way. She had no idea how to do any of it and now she’s got her phone, her Alexa, she orders her own groceries and texts me all day long...she loves it. It has voiceover so things on the screen are read out loud.
I guess it depends on what your grandmother likes and if you think she would be interested in learning to use an iPhone. 🙂
As for calls...my mom started using an iPhone about 3 years ago and she’s come a LONG way. She had no idea how to do any of it and now she’s got her phone, her Alexa, she orders her own groceries and texts me all day long...she loves it. It has voiceover so things on the screen are read out loud.
I guess it depends on what your grandmother likes and if you think she would be interested in learning to use an iPhone. 🙂
rellim88 [OP] 7 points 1y ago
Really appreciate the ideas! She is quite old, and not tech savvy. I’ve tried really hard to get the Alexa to work for her so we could drop in on her, because it’s really hard for her to answer the phone. I think the bad internet connection is to blame in the nursing home… any suggestions to how to get that feature to work? We currently have to call the front desk and get them to pick up the phone in her room and hand it to her in order to get it to work.
Maybe I just try harder to get the Alexa set up next time I’m there…
Maybe I just try harder to get the Alexa set up next time I’m there…
amusingbush 5 points 1y ago
Would they let her have an IPhone of her own? If she had that you wouldn’t have to rely so much on the internet of the nursing home as she would use the data on the cell phone plan. When I text or call my mom on her phone it will make the noise and she asks Siri to read the texts aloud or will tell Siri to answer the phone. She can also tell Siri to send a text message or place a phone call.
Just a thought, she wouldn’t need a really advanced model iPhone since she would be mostly doing voice texts and phone calls.
Just a thought, she wouldn’t need a really advanced model iPhone since she would be mostly doing voice texts and phone calls.
amusingbush 3 points 1y ago
I know you mentioned she’s not tech savvy so you would have to definitely help her learn how to voice text and ask Siri to answer the phone and stuff. It may not be for her at all, it’s just the only thing I can think of as far as Phone communications and stuff.
rellim88 [OP] 3 points 1y ago
This is a great idea! I didn’t realize you could do that with Siri! I’ll see if I can get an old iPhone and set that up for her!
How good is Siri at picking up via voice?
How good is Siri at picking up via voice?
amusingbush 3 points 1y ago
You can setup the “hey Siri” option on the phone so it only recognizes your grandmothers voice...as long as the phone is nearby in the room I don’t think there would be any issues with Siri hearing her. Your grandmother really wouldn’t need to even have the phone in her hands, just next to her and she would be able to ask Siri to read her text messages, or call someone, answer a call, etc.
blackjellybeansrule 2 points 1y ago
If you get her an Alexa Echo Show you can drop in on her and actually see her. I got one for my mom during Covid so I could lay eyes on her and make sure she looked healthy. My mom & blind aunt have an iPad - easier for them than an iPhone - and we FaceTime on the iPad instead of calling. That only works for other people on iOS tho. Older model iPads can be found fairly cheaply.
Since pretty much everyone knows how to use an iPhone, the staff can help her get it situated.
Since pretty much everyone knows how to use an iPhone, the staff can help her get it situated.
retrolental_morose 1 points 1y ago
An alexa on a 3/4g data connection rather than using the home's wifi? Don't know about your country but I've got a 12GB data plan for under £10.00 GBP per month.
rellim88 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I didn’t know Alexa’s came with a cellular option! Do you have a link?
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Can’t you buy her a small hot spot. You’d pay for the data minutes every month or the hot spot data minutes or renew it every month. Like her own wifi.
MysticOnionRing 3 points 1y ago
You can put various things like rice, stones, lentils etc in that yellow things from kinder surprise and make matching pairs and then you can try to find the pairs by sound. It's also doable with small objects on cardboard pieces - u can glue pasta, earplugs, bottle caps or anything that comes to mind on the cardboard pieces. :)
rellim88 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Interesting diy game! Thanks for the help!
MysticOnionRing 1 points 1y ago
You're welcome. Hope you'll have lots of fun with your grandma! :)
Vicorin 3 points 1y ago
If she knows braille you could get her a set of braille cards. Old folks always love cards. If she doesn’t know braille, you might be able to find some tactile dominos or checkers or something.
rellim88 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Braille cards is a genius idea!! She doesn’t know braille but used to smoke me in Jin rummy as a kid! I’d love to be able to play with her again! I bet she’d learn braille. How easy is it to read braille cards?
Vicorin 3 points 1y ago
Not very hard, you just need to know the basic alphabet and number symbol. It’ll have something like 9S for 9 of spades or QC for queen of clubs, so each one only has 2 or 3 symbols on it, and they’re the basic ones you’d learn first.
LilacRose32 1 points 1y ago
Has she ever been interested in any crafts?
rellim88 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Hmmm not sure, any ideas for arts and crafts good for the visually impaired?
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Clay, tie-dy, crochet knitting, ceramics, sculpting, drawing with puff paint, drawing with a tracing wheel or like a sowing wheel, origami.
Even beading will work if you can sort out her beads in to different colors and distinguish those boxes. And such. And then make patterns.
Lego sets may also be fun.
Even beading will work if you can sort out her beads in to different colors and distinguish those boxes. And such. And then make patterns.
Lego sets may also be fun.
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