Heritage for the Blind

Welcome to The Heritage for The Blind, a "Self-Help for Vision Loss" web site that provides free, practical, hands-on information to enhance quality of life and independence for adults with vision loss, their families and friends, caregivers, and vision professionals.

At The Heritage for The Blind, we understand that losing your vision can be a difficult, emotional, and life-changing experience that affects you and everyone around you - spouses, family members, children, friends, neighbors, and co-workers.

Whether you're totally blind, have low vision, or simply have trouble seeing from time to time, it's important to realize you're not alone. At least 6.5 million American adults experience vision problems and many don't know where to turn for help or information.

On The Heritage for The Blind web site, you'll find free, practical, self-help solutions that can help adults with vision loss to learn about eye disorders that cause vision problems.

You can also find vision rehabilitation services, stay on top of the latest medical research, keep working after vision loss, adapt everyday tasks ontinue with hobbies, sports and recreation.

Where to Turn for Help and Information If You are Blind or Have Low Vision

Adults with Vision Problems: Learn about vision problems and eye disorders, locate vision rehabilitation services, retain employment, continue hobbies, maintain personal independence, and keep up-to-date on vision news and research.

Adults with Vision Problems

If you are blind or have low vision and your vision loss is affecting your daily activities, self-esteem, and independence, you may be asking, "Is there anything I can do?"

At The Heritage for The Blind,our team of qualified and experienced vision professionals provides free, practical, self-help information to help you learn more about vision loss and eye disorders.

The team also help you to find vision rehabilitation services, retain employment, continue your hobbies, maintain your personal independence, and learn more about the latest medical research.

Programs that Help

Did you know there are many govenment and non-profit agencies that provide an array of free or low cost benefits and assistance to the blind and visually impaired?

Call The Heritage for The Blind and a counselor will assist you in getting these free or low cost benefits that can help you today.

The programs line is available Monday through Friday from 9:00am EST until 5:00pm EST reachable by calling: 1-888-225-5542

Heritage for the Blind Education Program

Heritage for the Blind now offers free online education courses for the blind and visually impaired community. Our program is designed to assist in learning popular computer programs such as Microsoft applications and basic computer training. Enrollment for this program is free.

Ways to Give

Your generous support gives us the ability to provide resources and programs for the blind and visually impaired. Your gifts of financial support are an investment in providing others with the help they need.

With four donation options to choose from including:

• vehicle donations
• furiture donations
• monetary donations
• stock/bond dontaions

How do I continue to make use of bank services?

An overall recommendation is to introduce yourself to the bank manager so he and his staff, along with all their other customers, gets to know you personally. Also consider going to the bank at less busy times—avoid lunch times or weekends.

Use the Bank's Customer Service Desk

Go directly to the person at the service desk. This person can do the withdrawal, and you can sit and organize your transactions without holding up the line of people waiting for a teller.

Take a trusted friend with you

Ask a friend on family member to accompany you to the bank and assist you with separating your money and placing the different denominations into separate pockets, separate identifiable envelopes, or an adaptive wallet.

For example, the photo shows an organizer wallet with 4 separate pockets for different denominations of bills, 3 change purses, and multiple credit card slots. You can find this wallet at LS&S online. [link opens in new window]

 

How do I know what money the bank teller has given me?

Tell the Bank Teller what you want. One solution is to ask the Teller to hand your money to you in separate denominations (such as first the $10.00 bills, next the $5.00 bills, and so on). Take the time to place the bills in a secure place.

 

Can I still use a credit card if I can't see?

The biggest obstacle for a person who is blind or low vision when using a credit card is knowing where to sign the credit card slip. This problem is easily solved by having a person with vision place your signature guide, or even the credit card, itself on the line where you need to sign.

A signature guide or credit card edge will provide you with a tactile line needed to keep your orientation and place your signature in the correct space.

 

I'm having difficulty identifying my paper money.

Ask a Trusted Friend

Ask a friend, family member, or person you trust to identify your paper money (bills). You can then use the “folding system” and place the money into different pockets or in an adaptive Money Identification Wallet with separate compartments for each denomination.

Adaptive wallets may be obtained from a variety of sources.

Fold Your Money

The folding system is a tactile way for you to tell what your paper money is by the way it is folded. For example:

• The $1.00 bill remains flat and unfolded;
• Fold the $5.00 bill in half
• Fold the $10.00 bill in half lengthwise;
• Fold the $20.00 bill like a $10.00 bill, lengthwise, and then in half like the $5.00 bill.

Magnify the Money with a CCTV

If you have a Closed Circuit Television (CCTV) you can read your paper money (bills) with the machine and then use the folding system to fold your bills. Place them in an adaptive wallet that separates the bills by denominations. You can find the CCTVs at several sources.

Look for the Large Print Numbers

Paper money in the U.S. is now produced with larger print numbers on the back lower right hand corner of the $5, $10, $20, and $50 bills. With good lighting and, if necessary, a hand held magnifier, you may be able to read the denomination of your paper money.

There is also an electronic talking money identifier called Note Teller available from EnableMart.

 

How can I manage my finances and household records?

Use Cassette Tapes

It’s possible to keep various household finances and records on cassette tapes. Generally, one tape is used for each type of record. For example, you can have one tape for phone numbers, another for checking account use, and another for pharmacy records.

The downside of using tapes for records is that if you want to review a specific notation, you may have to playback a big portion of the tape to get to the information you need.

One suggestion is to actually repeat the entry twice at the time of initial recording, so you have a bigger target when trying to find it again in rewinding the tape.

Use A Commercial Ledger

Commercial check ledgers are available at most stationary stores and come in various sizes of large print. However, these ledgers range from ½ inch to 1 inch writing spaces and this may not be enough space for your needs.

 

 

Design Your Own Ledger

You can make your own check ledger by using a 3-ring notebook and plain paper. Use each page to write as large as you need to track the check number, to whom, amount and balance brought forward.

Buy A Large Print Register

 

You may be interested in the American Printing House for the Blind Daily Living Catalog that includes EZ Track large print check registers, address books, medical record keepers, and other useful products.

 

What is the safest way to carry money?

Alternatives to a Purse

If you feel vulnerable to purse snatchers, here are two alternatives:

• Fanny or Waist Pack. A small Fanny Pack or Waist (frontal) Pack that clips around your middle will work nicely. These small packs can be hidden or covered by a shirt or coat and usually have 1 or 2 zipper compartments to carry belongings.
  They're useful to wear when you're in an unfamiliar place or you don't want to be bothered with carrying a purse around.

• Zippered Pockets. You might consider purchasing lightweight jackets or coats with pockets that have zippers. You can place your money, house keys and other items inside these zipped pockets and they will be safe from theft or from falling out and getting lost.

 

What are some safety hints and techniques I can use in my kitchen?

What are some safety hints and techniques I can use in my kitchen?

Although you've probably had years of cooking experience, we recommend you follow a safety kitchen list that includes the following:

1. Always wash your hands before handling food;
2. Remove loose-fitting or bulky jewelry;
3. Make sure your hands are dry before handing electrical appliances or plugs;
4. Store knives in a knife holder or with protective covers over the blades;
5. Close cabinet doors and drawers immediately after use;
6. Position the handles of pots and pans so that they do not extend over the front or side edges of the stove or over another burner;
7. Don't lean on the stove or over the burners while you're cooking;
8. Always use flame retardant elbow-length oven mitts when removing hot pans from the stovetop or oven;
9. Have trivets and hot pads nearby when you cook;
10. Stand off to the side when you open the oven door, not directly in front of it;
11. Unplug electrical appliances when you're not using them;
12. Clean up spills and breakage immediately.

Also be aware of these fire prevention tips for the kitchen:

• Tie long hair back and make sure that your clothing is not flammable or loose-fitting;
• Always check the stovetop surface or oven interior before cooking;
• Remove flammable and combustible items from stovetops, countertops, and storage areas above the stove;
• Clean the stovetop thoroughly to remove grease;
• Select a fire extinguisher that you can use independently. Store it between the cooking area and the exit;
• Keep a container filled with baking soda near the cooking area for small grease or electrical fires;
• Place a pot or pan on the burner before turning on the heat;
• Never leave the stove unattended while cooking.

When I'm shopping alone, how can I be sure I receive the correct change?

Some people are afraid of being taking advantage of when they go shopping alone. Here is what you can do.

Use a Money Identification Wallet

If you use an adaptive wallet (with separate compartments for each denomination) or you use the folding system when making purchases, you might feel more secure about shopping independently again. See tips for identifying paper money

Carry Only One Denomination

Carry only one denomination such as $10.00 bills, and tell the cashier what you are handing them, for example: “I am giving you two $10.00 bills,” is a safe and secure way for you to begin shopping independently again.

Telling the cashier what you are specifically giving them shows that you know what money you have, and you are less likely to be taken advantage of — plus you are in control of the situation. You can also ask the cashier to tell you what each bill/coin denomination is in the change.

Ask for Assistance

If you are afraid of becoming a “target,” ask the person behind you in line what each returned bill is.

Any suggestions on cutting food and locating food on my plate?

Clock Reference System

It’s obviously important to know what is on your plate, and where it’s located. One helpful technique is to think of your plate as a clock face with 12:00 being at the top and 6:00 being at the bottom closest to you.

This “clock reference system” will help you form a visual image of where things are located on your plate. You can gently use the tip of your knife to explore each foods location, and/or you can ask for confirmation from whoever is with you.

In this way you’ll feel you have more control over what you eat, and where you can locate it. You could also turn your plate so your meat is at 6:00 which might make it easier to cut as you’re not reaching over other foods.

The tip of your knife can also give you an indication of the size of the meat or any other food that needs to be cut.

Plate of Food showing clock reference system. Click on image to enlarge in new window.

Ask for Assistance in Cutting Meat

You might want to ask someone at your table to cut the meat for you before you begin eating. This will depend on your own comfort level in asking for assistance. If you are at a restaurant, when you place your order you might ask to have your meat cut before it is brought to the table.

Personal Care & Cleaning

Personal Care

Perhaps vision loss is a very new thing for you and you are still trying to figure out how to cope. There are also people who don't have access to proper training or more experienced blind people to talk with.

Things some people take for granted like brushing your teeth, doing your hair, shaving, etc, other blind people may have difficulty doing. Many of these are things you are taught in a training center's independent living program.

We will outline a few of them for you here, to get you started and give you some ideas.

Organizing All Those Bottles

As for shampoos and conditioners or body washes that come in bottles that feel the same. I have done several things over the years to sort this out.

One thing I have found is that with some brands of shampoo and conditioner, although the bottles are the same shape, the shampoo container is smoother, and the conditioner bottle has a slightly rougher feel to it. For those bottles that aren't as helpful in how they feel you can put a rubber band.

Rubber bands are rather handy aren't they? Around one. I've even seen someone take scotch tape and Braille right on the tape with a slate and stylus what each thing is. And, these stand up fairly good, a lot better than I'd of thought.

When I go someplace out of town I don't like to lug along large bottles of stuff so I went out and bought some empty plastic bottles of different sizes and shapes and then transfer whatever I need into them. You could also mark these with a stick on Braille label and it would do quite nicely for you.

Brushing Your Teeth

I have been asked by more sighted people than blind about the great dilemma of how to get the toothpaste on the brush. I'm not sure that this is a real big problem for most folks, but if you were wondering, here goes!

There are several ways. I turn my toothbrush sideways and squeeze some paste directly into the bristles. I know of other people who just squeeze a bit of toothpaste directly into their mouth.

If you use your own tube of tooth paste, these two methods work just fine. I know one gentleman who puts a dab of toothpaste onto his finger and then transfers it onto his toothbrush. It doesn't make too much difference how you do it.

Once you have the way you're going to handle the paste mastered, you are ready to go. Even if you choose to put the paste in your mouth, it will spread through your mouth fine once the brush begins moving.

Remember it's not about how the paste looks on your brush - no one's filming a toothpaste commercial in your bathroom!

Hair Spray

After I get my hair in the style I want, I will typically spray it with hair spray to keep it in place. First I make sure there is no hair sticking out by touching it gently with my fingers. I have found that by lightly patting or touching from the roots and sliding my fingers back works best.

When you go against the growing direction of the hair it will tend to cause it to stick up in unintended directions. I check with my thumb to find the place on the hair spray where it will spray from. I close my eyes and aim toward where I want the spray.

I tend to use short bursts rather than one long continuous spray. This gives me an opportunity to adjust where exactly the hair spray is landing. How much I use depends on the particular hair style and how windy it is that day.

Then I get my hands a little wet and check my hair again. I have found that getting my hands damp keeps them from sticking to the hair and messing it up. I make adjustments with the comb and hair spray as needed.

Nail Care

I use the very basic hinged nail clippers and an inexpensive nail file. I begin with the clippers. I take off a small amount and gradually work up to the amount I want to remove.

I have found that if I take off a larger amount all at once my nails tend to split, crack or break in places I hadn't planned. I first clip in the center of the nail, taking off just a bit at a time. Then I move the clippers a little diagonally and clip a bit off of the corners.

I then use a file to round out the shape, smoothing out any rough spots. I rub another finger over the tip of the nail I am filing to check for smoothness. Sometimes I will also run the tip of a nail over my bottom lip because that skin is more sensitive and I can feel more easily if the nail is smooth.

I found when trimming my son's nails when he was really, really little that it is much easier to do when he was asleep. I had to be diligent with keeping his nails trimmed because he would inadvertently scratch his face. I almost always used just a file to trim his baby nails.

I found that the nails were very thin and soft. It only took just a few swipes of the file on each nail to get the desired length. Using the file also made me not worry about cutting them too short.

Shaving

We all know when it's that time to shave. When your hair starts getting long under your arms or on your legs again. It feels prickly and perhaps itchy when it rubs against clothing.

How often you shave is somewhat a personal preference and somewhat a social necessity. Some women shave every day, others maybe once or twice per week. Some women don't shave at all during the winter because they wear slacks.

I use an inexpensive razor with replaceable blade cartridges. The procedure for using a disposable razor or one with replaceable blades is exactly the same.

There are also a wide variety of hair removal lotions, creams, waxes and hair removal electronic systems. Which method you choose is a personal preference. By far most people use razors. That's what I'll explain here.

First, take the soap, shaving cream, shaving gel or other preferred lubricant and make sure your underarms or legs are wet enough and lathered enough to begin shaving. You want the entire area you are going to shave to be covered with lather.

Longer hair will need more soap or shaving cream to cut than shorter hair. I usually use just soap. Sometimes, though, if my skin is dry or irritated I will use a small amount of my hair conditioner. I learned this trick at summer camp! It really does work.

Take the lid carefully and slowly off the raiser, so you do not cut yourself. When shaving the armpit area, start from the top and do long strokes down, getting all the hair in the process. The razor blade should rest gently against your skin.

As you become accustomed to shaving you will be better able to adjust the amount of pressure that you need to apply in order to cut your particular hair type.

Once you start from the top and work your way down, pick up the raiser, and carefully move to the next area. If the hair is particularly long or course, you may have to go over it several times. Avoid sliding the razor from side to side.

Shaving your legs is only a tiny bit different than shaving the armpit area. You will start near your ankle and pull the razor up toward your knee. Use small light strokes around the ankle and knee. The bones and curves in these areas require a little more care when shaving.

After you have gotten a good majority of hair cut, wash the soap off your under arms and legs. This will allow you to better feel whether you have gotten all the hair or if you need to do it again.

Run your fingertips lightly over the shaved area. If there are spots you missed, repeat the procedure on those areas. If your razor is getting dull, you may feel a small amount of hair over the entire area that you have just shaved.

Once you have completed shaving, make sure you wash again with water. If you are doing you're under arms, make sure none of the hair has fallen elsewhere on your body.

Shaving for men is essentially the same. If you have part of your facial hair grown out into a mustache or beard, you can use one hand to cover the edge of that area as you shave.

Caring for Wounds

Blind people are no more prone to having accidents than sighted people. With that said, accidents can and will happen, either to yourself or to a family member. I think it's a good idea to think through how you might handle the situation before one actually occurs.

The first thing you will need to do is assess the situation. I am no medical expert. Use your own judgment, knowledge and common sense. Does the situation require professional medical attention? If so, get it immediately.

If it is a minor cut, burn, sprain or other minor ailment that would typically be taken care of at home blindness need not be a reason to stop you from handling the situation. When my son gets hurt, I first ask what happened.

This will give me a lot of information, where the injury occurred, what caused the injury, if there might be dirt or other debris in the wound, and a general idea of the severity of the situation. Then if he will let me touch the area, I will wash my hands so I can very, very gently touch the area.

This lets me know how large the wound is and the severity of the bleeding. I can also tell if there is any swelling by feeling the other knee or elbow to use for comparison.

If he won't let me touch the area, I ask more questions. Is there dirt in it? Is it bleeding, if so does the blood drip? Kids often overreact. What is a minor scrape becomes a concern of mortal peril.

Dripping blood lets me know the severity of the situation. So far we have only had minor scrapes to deal with.

With the situation assessed I then can decide how to proceed. Cuts and scrapes need to be cleaned. Bumps and bruises just need a little ice. And sometimes just a little attention and TLC from Mom is all that is needed.

For cuts and scrapes start with first cleaning it with peroxide or another antibacterial solution you may have handy. If it is still bleeding, apply pressure to get it to stop.

With kids who are squirmy or won't tolerate the discomfort of hydrogen peroxide or soap, I will flush the area with water and then spray it with an aerosol antibacterial treatment.

Once you are done cleaning it, find the right size bandage for the cut. I put antibacterial ointment on the adhesive bandage, instead of on the cut. I do this for two reasons.

First the kiddo doesn't like me to touch his ouchies more than I absolutely have to. Second I will know that I got the ointment on the right spot. I then pull one side of the backing off, so the sticky part is exposed.

I then have the child place the bandage on the right spot. I then gently press the bandage so it sticks. I then pull the other backing off and gently press the remaining adhesive down on the other side of the scrape.

A couple of kisses from Mom to make it all better and you are set! Warning kisses only work until age three or four.

Organizing Medications

Some medications are different shapes, so if you take two different ones and one is a round tablet and one is a long skinny capsule this is fairly straight forward.

But if you have some medications that are the same shape, you can mark one bottle with a rubber band, and leave one unbanded, or if it is a medication you take twice a day put two rubber bands on that and one on the one that is the same shape but that you only take once a day.

You can also make a Braille label that you can transfer from bottle to bottle as you need and hold this on with a rubber band. When it comes time to refill the medication, just take your label with you and have the pharmacy folks help you out.

Measuring Medication

Over the past nine years I have administered a wide variety of medications, liquid, drops and skin creams to my son mostly, but other family members as well. Here is what I found works to get the amount correct.

For liquid medications I use an oral syringe. At most pharmacies they will give you one of these for free when you are picking up a liquid medication. They look much like a regular syringe but without the needle.

Here's how it works: with the syringe empty have a sighted person, the pharmacist or whomever, slide the plunger of the syringe out so that the syringe is lined up with the correct measurement.

With it in this position use a knife or scissors to score the plastic plunger at the point where it is level with the opening of the barrel portion of the syringe.

Now when you fill the syringe you will be able to feel the notch in the plastic with your finger as you pull the plunger out, reaching the correct measurement.

To fill the syringe with the liquid, start with the plunger totally inside the barrel portion of the syringe. Dip the end of the syringe into the medication. Slowly pull the plunger back until you feel the mark you made.

If you get air instead of liquid, you will usually be able to tell by the sound and how easy the plunger pulls back.

Some bottles have a large enough opening that you can dip the syringe directly into the bottle. Other bottles have a very narrow opening. I will usually pour the contents of the narrow mouthed bottles into a separate container first.

My preference is to pour the entire bottle into another container because I don't want to waste any medication by pouring it back and forth into different containers. I keep the original bottle just in case.

Then to give the liquid medication you just press the plunger forward and squirt the liquid directly into the child's mouth. If you have a child who doesn't like the taste, you may also be able to put the medication into a flavored drink to disguise the taste.

Check with the pharmacist to make sure this is okay. Rinse the syringe thoroughly with soap and water after each use!

When I am using drop medication, like ear drops or eye drops myself, I can feel how many I have gotten out of the bottle. If it is possible for you to keep these medications in a cool place it is much easier to feel how many you are squeezing out.

For ear drops try lying on your side. You can use a cotton ball to keep the medication from running out and making a mess. For eye drops tilt your head back or lie on your back. I find it helpful if I slightly pull the bottom lid down.

For either ear or eye drops I hold the bottle or dropper in my thumb and forefingers similar to a pencil. I then rest my pinky finger against my skin to keep my hand steady. This also gives me a reference point so that I can get the drops in the right place.

When I am giving drop medication to my son, I first determine how fast the drops come out. Sometimes I was able to have a sighted person initially help me. When I had it figured out I could do it myself as needed.

If no one was available I would squeeze the bottle or dropper onto my hand so I could feel how many drops came out. Be careful if you use this method.

You don't want to use up very much of the medication figuring out how fast it comes out. If the dropper is separate you may also be able to practice with water.

I get a feel for the particular dropper or bottle I am using, learning how fast the drops come out. I will then know how hard to squeeze to get the appropriate amount out. I have found that it takes practice. After a couple of times I am pretty accurate at getting the correct amount.

There are many other personal care issues that come up in a person's life. Here I have included the ones that I am asked about most frequently.

If you have more questions or concerns you may find help in a training program, through home services with a rehabilitation counselor or by asking other blind people who have learned how to handle the situation through experience.

Any suggestions on cutting food and locating food on my plate?

Here are some hints to help keep your house clean.

Follow a Cleaning Schedule

Use a schedule to determine when things are likely to need cleaning. By following a regular cleaning schedule, it’s easier to maintain a minimal standard.

• Clean the stovetop immediately after cooking.

• Sweep or vacuum regularly. If you miss dirt or dust during one cleaning, you can pick it up the next time.

• Wipe down the shower immediately after bathing when the soap film has not yet adhered to tub and wall surfaces.

• Clean the bathroom mirror regularly as it tends to gather spots from activity at the sink (shaving, tooth brushing, hand washing, etc.)

• Dust settles on horizontal surfaces and electrically charged ones, such as televisions and radios. Check picture frames, windowsills, and door panels when you clean.

Surface and Window Cleaning

• When cleaning a tabletop or window, apply the cleaning agent directly to the cloth. If you use a spray cleaner, locate the nozzle and spray into the cloth instead of on the tabletop or window surface.

  Use your free hand to measure the work area and use it as a border marker each time you move to a new section. This helps to divide larger areas and surfaces into smaller, more manageable sections.

• When cleaning windows, clean in vertical and horizontal patterns, using overlapping strokes to avoid streaks. Always work in a consistent pattern to ensure you’ve cleaned the entire surface.

• For tabletops, use a tray or cookie sheet at the front edge of the table surface to collect crumbs.

Use preventive cleanup techniques:

Certain locations in the home are more likely to accumulate dirt and grime, such as the sink and stove in the kitchen or any other place where you tend to stand and work frequently.

• Work over the sink or on a tray whenever possible.

• Routinely wipe all countertop surfaces after food preparation, clean the microwave after each use, and wash/mop the kitchen floor on a weekly basis.

• Use the principles of “over cleaning.” Clean well beyond the working space or area in order to ensure that you reach all soiled areas:
  

• The areas around handles on cupboards and appliances, switch plates, and doorknobs are likely to have finger marks.

  There are usually splashes and drips on the counter and walls near the coffee maker.

  Check the wall behind the trashcan for dirt and splatters.

• If you spill something on the counter, it usually runs down the outside front of the cupboard as well as inside it.

• When making spaghetti sauce, it is likely that there are splatters on the stovetop, as well as on the counter or walls.

• When sweeping or mopping, divide the floor into smaller sections by using furniture or appliances as “landmarks.”

• Remember to end up near the dustpan or dust buster when you sweep and not “lose track” of the pile of dirt.

Any suggestions on cutting food and locating food on my plate?

First, try to develop efficient storage and organization systems by following these principles of work simplification and energy conservation:

• Store frequently used items, such as pots, pans and utensils, close to the work area or surface

• If possible, place supplies and equipment between eye level and hip height to avoid unnecessary bending, reaching and lifting

• Store heavier items on counter tops or within easy reach

• Eliminate clutter by removing infrequently used items from the work area

• Return all equipment and supplies to the appropriate storage area when you finish cooking;

• Whenever possible, avoid lifting or carrying heavy objects:

• Use equipment with wheels, such as shopping, laundry, or microwave carts

• Push or slide heavy objects along counters or floors

• Allow sufficient time to perform cooking tasks in order to reduce stress and fatigue. Try to balance work with rest.

There are many different ways to identify items in your kitchen:

• By weight: A container of breadcrumbs and a container of powdered drink mix have the same size and shape, but are easily differentiated by weight

• By location or placement: Try any of the following methods: grouping similar items together, such as fruits, soups, or vegetables; placing frequently used items towards the front of shelves and cabinets; storing foods or supplies in alphabetical order

• By sound: Use auditory cues to differentiate items that have the same size, shape, and weight. For example, a can of fruit cocktail sounds very different from a can of tomato paste when shaken.

You can also label items, using any of the following methods:

• Place a rubber band around a can of corn to distinguish it from a can of green beans.

• Use a black wide-tip marker, a laundry marker, or a felt-tip pen to write in large, bold letters on plain white 3 x 5-inch index cards.

  Use these labels to differentiate household supplies that are stored in similar spray containers, such as window cleaners, bathroom cleaners, and all-purpose cleaners. Attach each card to the appropriate container with a rubber band. 

 

• Use brightly colored plastic or electrical tape; pipe cleaners; Velcro; fabric or craft paint; and velour pads or furniture protectors to place markers on canned goods.

There are also commercial marking products available from catalogs specializing in products for people with visual impairments or other disabilities:

• Raised marking materials, such as Hi-Marks 3-D Marker or Spot 'n Line Pen, create marks that you can feel. These materials can be used to label canned goods, frozen foods, and the settings on your appliances.

• Loebels are durable plastic food labels in the shapes of popular fruits and vegetables. You can attach these labels to canned goods and frozen foods with either magnets or rubber bands.

• An audio talk label is a blank card about the size of an index or credit card that contains a magnetic recording strip or bar code. The card feeds into a small recording device while you speak a short description of the item you want to identify.

  The card can be attached to canned goods or other food items with a rubber band. To identify the item, the card is run back through the machine to hear the spoken description.

  See, for example, the Can-Do Recorder [link opens in new window]available at the Lighthouse for the Blind in New Orleans.

• A label reader by VOILA sold at Maxi-Aids [link opens in new window] can transform all the reading labels to voiced ones in either English or Spanish.  Affix labels to medicine, canned food, CDs, music cassettes, clothing, and many other uses. Then scan the label to hear it read back to you.