The traditional way of thinking instilled in blind people dependency and low confidence. Living skills and activities for the blind today, teach problem solving skills, personal responsibility and being proactive in your life. Being blind means you are nothing less then a capable involved individual.
Living with Vision Loss
When you are losing your sight, your daily activities are more of a challenge. Learning adaptive techniques will help you to stay independent. Home safety is a concern. When you lose your vision your orientation and mobility becomes affected. You can no longer make a mental map of how to get where you need to be and the mobility of getting there. Having furniture rearranged for clear paths and then practicing navigating those pathways helps. Finding ways to keep up your prior activities helps to ensure you will not be socially isolated. One of the obstacles might be transportation. Learning bus routes or taking taxis enhances your self-reliance.
Using computers with adaptive software and technology help you to surf the net, or increase vocational skills and financial security. You can choose the type of job you are interested in doing. Vocational skills are taught in mainstream settings like colleges and technical schools. You decide which activities that you can or cannot participate. According to Dr. Jacobus who founded National Federation of the Blind, (NFB), “Blindness is not a lack of eyesight. The real problem is the misunderstanding and lack of information that exists. If a blind person has proper training and opportunity, blindness is only a physical nuisance. “
Cooking and Personal Care
Learning how to cook without your eyesight requires adaptive devices while using your touch and hearing to determine open flames or something that is hot. Using marked measuring cups will help you to cook. According to deaf and blind chef, Danny Delcambre, there is not a cooking task a blind person cannot learn to do.
Getting yourself ready for your day, includes putting on make up, shaving and combing your hair. Learning how to do these daily activities if you have low vision or are blind is possible. The ability to adapt to your new challenge is all about being resourceful. For instance being able to identify and sort clothes by sewing on different shaped buttons. If you have diabetes, you can get a talking glucometer to help your test your glucose levels.
Starting Young
Instilling positive teaching for young blind children early, while teaching adaptive living classes and Braille ensures life long skills of capability. It is vital to learn self-reliance and self-confidence as this allows visually impaired people to contribute positively in society.