Low Vision Tips

Living with low vision can be frustrating but there are a number of simple practical steps you can take to make life easier. Remember that additional lighting can make a big difference to how well you can see and depending on your eye condition, some types of light work better than others.

Low Vision Clinics

Guide Dogs Queensland holds Low Vision Clinics that can help you with lighting options as well as provide advice and support for a wide range of new technology and practical aids that assist at home, at work or in the community. The clinics are a perfect opportunity to trial new technology in a comfortable environment, with no obligation to buy – and to take your time to find the best tool. Low Vision Clinics are held across the state and are assisted by a multi-disciplinary team which can include our Orientation and Mobility Instructors, Optometrists, Occupational Therapists, Social Workers and Opthalmologists.

Low Vision Support Groups

Guide Dogs Queensland helps establish and promote support groups for people who are blind or vision impaired. The Support Groups provide up-to-date information, services and advice and are held throughout the state. They provide people who are blind or have low vision with an opportunity to meet and share thoughts and experiences with others in the same situation.

Here are some tips:  

Improve lighting

• Set up a light for specific tasks and direct lighting from behind. 
• Make sure stairs, bathrooms, kitchens and other areas of activity are well lit.

Increase contrast

•  Use cutlery and kitchenware in contrasting colours. 
•  Pour coffee into white cups. 
•  Put white plates onto dark placemats. 
• Use a dark-coloured chopping board for light-coloured foods such as onions and a lightcoloured chopping board for dark-coloured foods. 
• Use a felt tip pen instead of a ball tip pen.
  

Control glare 

• Wear sunglass fit overs or clipons and a visor when outside – often amber or dark yellow fitovers are the best for outdoors. 
• Yellow clip-ons are good for inside or driving at night (reducing glare from headlights). 
• Cover shiny surfaces with a cloth.

Enlarge 

• Install enlargement software on your computer. 
• Ask for large size cheques from your bank. 
• Large dial phones, TV remotes, crossword books, playing cards and a wide variety of technology and entertainment are also available. 
• Photocopy and enlarge receipts, addresses, sheet music or menus.

Label 

• Use bright, contrasting labels, dark felt pens and raised tactile paint to find key positions on stove, dishwasher and microwave dials. 
• Label spices and medicines with a dark marker pen. 
• Put a safety pin in the labels of black clothes to differentiate from navy. 
• Pin socks together for washing.

Organise

• Have a place for everything, including on kitchen shelves, in the fridge and in cupboards. Ask others to maintain this organisational system to help you.

Think ahead

Being organised can make a big difference.

• If you know a restaurant will be dimly lit, get a menu faxed or emailed to you beforehand so you can be prepared. 
• If you need to hand in or fill out forms, get them sent to you first so you can complete in the comfort of your home.
  

How you can help

When meeting a person who is blind or vision impaired:

• Introduce yourself. Don’t expect a person who is blind or vision impaired to guess your name. 
• Upon entering a room, say something to signal your presence. (Eg “Hello, it’s Jim”)
• On leaving the room inform the person quietly, so they are saved the embarrassment of talking to themselves. 
• Don’t leave a person standing alone in the middle of a room, if you must leave, make sure they have contact with a table or lounge and knowledge of their position. 
• Speak directly to the person and look at them as this directs your voice towards them. 
• Don’t be afraid to use words like ‘see’, ‘sight’ or ‘look’ as these words are part of the English vocabulary and have a meaning for everyone. 
• Don’t shout – being blind or having low vision does not indicate hearing loss or any other disability. 
• Ask the person if they need assistance, don’t assume. Don’t be offended if your offer of help is declined. 
• Always let a person take your arm. You can indicate by touching the back of your hand against the back of theirs. Don’t push or pull.
• Make sure their travel path is clear of objects and the person knows where they are going. 
• Replace objects where the blind or vision impaired person has put them. 
• Don’t leave doors ajar.
  

For information on Low Vision Clinics, Low Vision Support Groups or GDQ services contact the Rehabilitation Services Department on 07 3261 7555 or
email: rehab@guidedogsqld.com.au