Learning to live with vision loss can be very challenging. Each person experiences it differently, but the good news is there is help available. Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired has many resources for individuals with limited or no vision.

Living with blindness can be a challenge but there is hope and help available for people with visual impairments or blindness.

Just as every sighted person learns differently and does things differently, this is also true with people who are blind or visually impaired.

A journey through a typical day for a person who is visually impaired shows many different ways they can manage to overcome the challenges encountered.

• To wake up, a person may use a talking watch or talking alarm clock.
  
  
• To get dressed someone may have their own system of identifying clothes and colors. They might use safety pins to match the same color outfits together, or use Braille clothing tags.
  
  
• To eat breakfast, a person who does not read Braille m ay put nothing around one box of cereal, a rubber band around another box of cereal, and two around yet another flavor of cereal. If the person is a Braille reader, they can put Braille labels on boxes of cereal or other foods. Some people prefer hot breakfasts they prepare on the stove or in the microwave oven. Instruction is available for people who are visually impaired to learn independent meal preparation skills. Special dots or Braille can be put on conventional and microwave ovens to aid in instruction and use.
  
  
• Someone with low vision might use a dark tablecloth with light colored dishes and a light tablecloth for dark dishes. Contrasting colors help individuals who have some remaining vision better see where things are.
  
  
• Similarly, someone with low vision might use dark mugs or glasses to pour light colored liquid such as milk and light colored mugs or cups to pour coffee or other dark liquids such as tea or hot chocolate.
  
  
• To locate keys, wallet or purse, they might make an effort to put them in the same place all the time so they can be found more easily.
  
  
• To get to work, school or other activities, a person may be taught to use a sighted guide (a person with vision who can guide a person with a visual impairment), a long cane or a dog guide to help them get to their destination. They can learn to use the bus, subway or other transportation. Some people with low vision can use a small telescope to identify bus numbers or street signs.
  
  
• Organization at work is very important for a person who is blind or has low vision. One can use adaptive computer software to make their computer accessible to them in performing their job duties. To navigate their work area, they may use a long cane or dog guide or if the areas are familiar they can use their remaining senses.
  
  
• At home a person can use large print address books, adaptive Braille equipment or tapes to keep track of people’s telephone numbers and addresses.
  
  
• For leisure activities a person can watch audio described movies, listen to recorded books called Talking Books, play cards or other adapted games with friends.

Clovernook Center for the Blind and Visually Impaired provides instruction and training in all of the areas mentioned in the daily living activities listed above. If we can help you or someone you know, please call about your services.