Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Any tips or being friends/roommates with a blind individual? (self.Blind)
submitted by Chance_Cup_3701
Hey everyone, sorry if this comes off as insensitive. I've been roommates with a completely blind person for 5ish months and we've become good friends. I've learned a few things from our time together, like that its helpful for him to grab my elbow when navigating the city and I've been actively been trying to find ways to make our activities together more accessible. For instance, I recently discovered audiovault which makes movie nights much easier (before I had been trying to think of movies which were dialogue based and would translate well or opted for radio programs). I was just curious if anyone with more experience had any other ideas to be the best friend/roommate I can be.
LID919 34 points 1y ago
Number one thing you can do? Don't leave shit on the floor or move furniture around. I am blind on my left, and am liable to bump into or trip over things that are out of place.
As far as entertainment goes, r/AudioDrama can be great for suggestions for audio-based entertainment. And, it might sound goofy, but I might recommend Star Trek. I enjoy Star Trek because it is *very* heavily focused on sound design over visual design. Most of the time, I don't need to see what's happening on screen to know what's happening in the scene. It's focused on dialogue and sound effects. Deep Space Nine is my favorite series, personally.
As far as entertainment goes, r/AudioDrama can be great for suggestions for audio-based entertainment. And, it might sound goofy, but I might recommend Star Trek. I enjoy Star Trek because it is *very* heavily focused on sound design over visual design. Most of the time, I don't need to see what's happening on screen to know what's happening in the scene. It's focused on dialogue and sound effects. Deep Space Nine is my favorite series, personally.
Chance_Cup_3701 [OP] 13 points 1y ago
Thanks for the suggestion! Yeah I quickly learned the value of keeping things organized. Honestly it's made me a much cleaner, tidier person in general which is a win.
ShadeOfNothing 10 points 1y ago
This! And if you have to move something around, tell them so that they know and show them where you’ve moved it.
Chance_Cup_3701 [OP] 9 points 1y ago
I've found that if I move anything a good thing to do is immediately let our Alexa know if he's not around. We've gotten in the habit of checking for messages on arrival and that way if I leave he stays in the loop,.
BlindWizard 6 points 1y ago
This is the number one thing also be willing to with patients and understanding. Help them find anything even if it's right next to them in plain sight.
Chance_Cup_3701 [OP] 6 points 1y ago
Definitely, my friend has a problem sometimes asking for help because he doesn't want to bother me and its like dude, it takes me a minute and saves you 15. It's not a problem at all.
princesspapercut 2 points 1y ago
My husband is this way, too. I have chronic health issues, so that's a variable for him. But whenever I hear an audible groan from the kitchen, it's usually because he can't locate something or too much stuff is on the counter. Often reminding him that if he can't find it in 1minute, that he can always ask me.
Shadowwynd 1 points 1y ago
I had an older client who was blind. I was at his house helping him with his technology and his adult daughter (who was visiting) moved the footstool for the recliner so that the room looked neater or had more balanced feng shui. Her dad face planted tripping over a footstool that wasn’t there a few minutes ago. Keep the floors clear, keep things where they belong, and don’t change the layout of anything without telling your friend.
River-Song-1986 12 points 1y ago
If you have appliances in the house that you both use put bump dots on the appliances. For example, I have them on my washer to indicate a normal load of laundry and where the water settings are. If you put them on the stove put them on the most common number for preheating your oven and all of that. Also, if you do have to move their stuff make sure you tell them. I had a roommate who would move my stuff around and not tell me where they put it.
Chance_Cup_3701 [OP] 5 points 1y ago
That's messed up.
Emmenias 9 points 1y ago
My advice? Treat him equally — even in ways that are less than fun. For example, being blind does not prevent him from doing his fair share of the cleaning. And if he is not thorough enough, it is perfectly fair to tell him (within reason, of course, nobody actually needs things to be 100 % spotless, just nicely clean). Nor do you have to feel obliged to do all the cooking yourself or always order takeout, either; it is perfectly safe* for blind people to use a knife.
*At least until we decide to stab someone's eyes out. But don't worry about that too much; it's just our way of showing affection!
*At least until we decide to stab someone's eyes out. But don't worry about that too much; it's just our way of showing affection!
gnl221 9 points 1y ago
I have a 3D printer so I make Braille overlays for many of our appliances. Way better than just dots. You can find helpful tools online for this. There is also a plug-in for Fusion 360.
Netflix has audio description on many shows and movies. AppleTV+, Hulu, HBO max, prime and many others are good too.
Jackbox games have a bunch that work with screen readers. Quiplash, fibbage, lie swatter, bracketeering are all good. Trivia murder party and survive the internet are mostly good.
Netflix has audio description on many shows and movies. AppleTV+, Hulu, HBO max, prime and many others are good too.
Jackbox games have a bunch that work with screen readers. Quiplash, fibbage, lie swatter, bracketeering are all good. Trivia murder party and survive the internet are mostly good.
Chance_Cup_3701 [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Oh I didn't realize that screen readers worked with Jackbox thanks for the suggestion!
achromatic_03 8 points 1y ago
Im VI, but I too had made friends with people who could not read print, and I was trying to figure out what games we could play together, as they showed an interest in playing them. While some local orgs and stores that serve the blind may have a few, I found this site to be great for getting accessible games: $1. Sometimes it's not just about the practical stuff, but the fun stuff that helps you bond and have fun together!
astrolurus 5 points 1y ago
A lot of games are also pretty easy to adapt yourself- connect four, othello, bananagrams, checkers, etc. Use puff paint, bump dots, or felt to differentiate colors by texture, and add clear dymo tape to add braille letters. There are also accessible game sites like Quentin’s playroom and audiogames dot net
Chance_Cup_3701 [OP] 4 points 1y ago
Yeah for sure! I recently got him a set of Cards Against Humanity with braille for parties and stuff
Emmenias 2 points 1y ago
CAH is also accessible at Pretend You're Xyzzy, if you two ever want to play it using computers.
mrmaaagicSHUSHU 6 points 1y ago
Never leave the dishwasher door open even for a minute. Thanks
GerryAttric 6 points 1y ago
When talking with a blind person, it's perfectly fine to use the word "see"
rory-games 1 points 1y ago
THANK YOU
Chance_Cup_3701 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Yeah we joke about it sometime when I'm like "see you later"
mrmaaagicSHUSHU 3 points 1y ago
Play D&D together
SqornshellousZ 3 points 1y ago
Noise pollution is a real predictor of long term health. Ask if they also have sensory issues with specific sounds that might be easily removed from the soundscape. Light objects are more easily knocked over and clatter to the floor. Electronics thst chime or beep are easily muted with silly putty or by injecting glue. Marble counters pair better with wood bowls and a cork drying surface. Fancy rubber bottomed mixing boals seemed extravigant until I had some. Bump Thudd Womp Bop Thunk
PrincessDie123 2 points 1y ago
Lots of movies have audio descriptions now and it’s becoming more common on Netflix and Hulu as well just go to the menu that gives options for captions/subtitles and there is often an option for audio description. As others have said don’t leave stuff on the floor or move stuff like furniture without thinking, be mindful of where you leave knives please accidentally grazing one on the counter or sink or sharp side up in a dishwasher really sucks! Oh always close cabinet doors even if you’re coming right back running into them head first hurts. Aside from that idk.
BenandGracie 2 points 1y ago
Ask the person. Others have posted some good tips, but each person is different. Talk to him, and treat him like a regular person.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
I came to say this each of us has different personalities he may enjoy it I may not. I may enjoy it he may not.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Ask him and have a conversation. What his needs and preferences are different from anyone elses. So yeah. How to get along with him is probably different than with me, and anyone else. We’re still individuals.
princesspapercut 1 points 1y ago
My husband is legally blind. I learned last week from him that he had no idea that Twitter now has alt text description capability for anyone posting images. And it doesn't bother him that people don't use it consistently. The context of this was a sighted person getting man at Twitter folks for not adding alt text.
So I guess there's a few takeaways:
1. Try to add alt text (image description) when sharing images on social media
2. Ask your friend if that's helpful for them, and what words are helpful for such thing.
3. Everyone's needs are different, so it's okay to be curious and ask questions.
So I guess there's a few takeaways:
1. Try to add alt text (image description) when sharing images on social media
2. Ask your friend if that's helpful for them, and what words are helpful for such thing.
3. Everyone's needs are different, so it's okay to be curious and ask questions.
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