improving the lives of partially sighted children

Tips to improve daily living skills
Empathy, common sense and creative thinking can vastly improve the lives of people who are blind or vision impaired. Many people experience feelings of
isolation, anxiety and frustration with vision loss.

Allow time to listen and to acknowledge.
Never presume how a person will respond to vision loss.
Lighting and glare

Lighting needs differ and can be significant. Some people see better with stronger light, while others do not. The most common concern is glare.
For overhead lighting, use florescent lights for even coverage.
The light source should come from behind or beside the person.
Use venetian blinds or curtains, or tint the windows to control glare.
Use general and direct lighting from a lamp. A lamp with a shade and extendable arm is best. Check the electrical cord position for safety.
Encourage the person to experiment with lighting.
Avoid major changes in lighting (e.g. a bright room leading to a dim corridor and vice versa).
Maintain even lighting throughout buildings.
Reading and writing

Most people with vision loss have difficulty reading and writing. However, the following may help:
Magnifiers can be useful
Use a black text marker on white paper. Check print size and thickness.
A sighted person can assist in reading materials.
Use upper and lowercase letters for better visibility as this gives more shape to words. Do not use capital letters only.
Do not underline words.
For typed print use the strongest contrast possible (e.g. black type on white paper). Univers or Arial font style above 12pt is recommended.
Colour contrast

High contrast colours, such as black on white, make objects easier to see. Tips:

Use dark liquid in light cups and vice versa.
Crockery and cutlery should contrast with tablecloths or tabletops.
Use plain colours rather than patterns.
Use contrast to assist with home and office environments (e.g. contrasting black stair railing on a white wall).

Meal times

Dining and eating can be stressful, embarrassing and frustrating if people cannot see the food. Tips:

When setting the table use contrasting colours (e.g. contrasting napkins and tablecloths) and appropriate lighting.
Inform the person about what is on the table and where it is located (e.g. Your drink is on your right and the salt is straight in front." )
Explain the location of the food on the dinner plate (e.g. "The meat is nearest to you at six o'clock, the potatoes are on the right at three o'clock, and
the carrots are on the left at nine o'clock"). Meat should be placed near the person to assist with cutting.
When filling glasses or cups, leave approximately one centimetre to help prevent spills.
Recreation tips
Make information accessible by putting newsletters or brochures into accessible formats (e.g. Braille, large print, audio cassette or electronic).
Use the 'bigger, bolder, brighter' and 'using other senses' principles when designing activities.
Mark containers, appliance settings and equipment with coloured elastic bands, liquid paper, tape, coloured stickers or Velcro to help identify them.
Facilitate non-sight activities such as music, reminiscence, quizzes or discussions. Massage and aromatherapy are activities which can stimulate touch and
smell. Handicrafts such as pottery, wool craft and gardening are also recommended.
Modifying activities involves, trial and error, time and encouragement.
Keep conflicting or background noise to a minimum during activities, as it can interfere with the use of hearing as a substitute for vision.
Have a place for activity equipment and always return it there. This will help the person know where to locate it. If you move things, tell them.
Keep a few chairs near windows for reading or doing handcraft in natural light.
Readers can access Braille, large print or talking books from the Vision Australia Library. Audio described videos, newspapers and magazines, and information
in other languages is also available. Materials are posted free to borrowers.
Tactile and large print board games are available from Vision Australia.
Mark on/off buttons on appliances using contrasting colours markers, stickers or textures (e.g. Velcro or Polymark paint) for easy identification. This
is useful for cassette players and remote controls.
Braille, large print or talking watches and clocks can assist with daily routines.
Using the telephone can be made easier by using tactile markers, large print number stickers or large button phones.
When watching TV, the closer the person is to the TV, the better the picture.
Through radio station RPH for the Print Handicapped, information can be obtained from newspapers and magazines. Call Vision Australia RPH radio for more
information.
Helpful products
Magnifiers
Torch magnifiers
Hand-held magnifiers
Stand magnifiers
Telescopic aids
Closed Circuit Television*
Large print
Diary and teledex
Pill dispensers
Clocks and Watches
Talking
Clocks and watches
Bathroom and kitchen scales
Computers