What is more painful than transitioning from visual to nonvisual practices for a person in the intermediate to late stage of vision loss? Switching to nonvisual practices is quite cumbersome and many people with visual impairment find it extremely difficult.
This post highlights five essential skills for visually impaired people that can help them manage daily activities for independent living. We can identify various categories of important daily activities for a normal person. This guide highlights some of these activities and gives the nonvisual alternatives to assist visually impaired people to live a wholesome lifestyle.
Five Essential Non-visual Skills to Manage Daily Activities
Health and Hygiene
Alternate senses- Touch, hearing, smell, and taste.
You can either apply different tactile stickers or wrap them in different patterns using rubber bands to distinguish similar-shaped items. A 3D plastic liquid in pen form is known as “Hi-Marks”. It can be used to apply marks in Braille or other coding system consists of dots or lines.
People with visual impairment can use a compact foundation through their fingers instead of an applicator. It is better to visit a hairdresser for taking advice about an easy-to-manage cut. Toothpaste and shaving cream or other creams can be identified through smell. Toothpaste can be applied using a finger instead of a brush. Water level can be felt through touch while filing the tub or sink. Similarly, soap, lotions, and scents can be identified by touch rather than smelling them. Finally, such people can take help from volunteers and healthcare professionals to manage health and hygiene.
Alternate Senses- Touch, smell, and taste.
Salt and pepper shakers can be distinguished using tactile stickers or raised marks. It is better to shake seasonings into the palm before applying them in pinches. Visually impaired people can use placemats and set utensils like plates and glasses as if on a grid. The everyday meal can be taken in disposable plates, cups, and utensils.
Alternate Senses- Touch, smell
In absence of a cane, while approaching an entryway, visually-impaired people can use the back of their hands to guide themselves and prevent their fingers from hurting. For ease of closing types of window coverings should be simple and consistent. All door locks should be identical so that only one key is enough to get in and out. An Orientation and Mobility (O&M) specialist can help visually impaired people in acquiring skills like street crossings, negotiating stairs, and utilizing public transportation.
Alternate Senses- Touch, hearing, smell, and taste
First things first. Fire extinguishers, shut-off valves, etc. should be separated properly using Braille stickers. At times, listening to gas leaking or smell can be also useful to manage the situation. Visually impaired people should keep emergency numbers on their phones and keep them within the reach. A cane can be also useful, and folding canes are more beneficial. Ready-made first aid kits with easy reach are also helpful.
Alternate Senses- Touch, hearing, and smell
A Braille label maker or significant codes can help such people distinguish identical bottles or stripes of medicines. They can also identify the pills in a container by either shaking or sniffing. Replacement lids for pill bottles can act like timers to remind when the pill should be taken.
eNetra Foundation is committed to improving the lifestyle of blind and visually-impaired people. We assist visually-impaired students, artisans, and people with degenerative eye diseases to live a wholesome lifestyle. We combine technology and human effort to achieve this objective.
A well-balanced, nourishing diet is essential to keep our