People without disabilities go about their daily lives without much thought to the fact that they are able to walk, to see, hear, to freely use their arms and hands. Physically we are equipped to tackle what life throws our way.
Since the Lions Club is focusing on the visually impaired this year, let’s stop for a minute to think how we would cope with daily life if we lived in darkness or were faced by a severe visual impairment. How would you fill a cup with hot water, clean your house, read, dress appropriately or get to work? How would you work or study?
Have a look at the following aids that the Association for the Blind has available to make life easier for the visually impaired and be thankful for sight:
Coin Selector: This handy gadget is used to store one’s change in. It is also used by fully sighted people, the elderly and waiters. It has space for 5 coins of a kind and ten of the R5 coin. It makes it easy to get to the correct coin when you pay at a till point.
Talking cell phones: It's like a friend that will read all that is on the phone's screen or what buttons you have pressed or have been doing on the phone - a super feature for visually impaired people. These phones come with different software that read back for you, providing access to most handset features including home screen information, contact directories, called ID, ca-lendar, text messages and e-mail. ZoomReader is the app you need to read text on-the-go. In combination with your iPhone's built-in camera, ZoomReader lets you magnify and read text by first taking a picture of an object like a book or menu, then converting the image into text using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology. ZoomReader will then read the text back to you using a natural sounding voice. It can be used to read small print on a receipt, box, or pill bottle, etc.
Computer with screen reading: Screen-reading software allows a visually impaired person access to electronic information.
Computer with screen magnification software: Allows a person with moderate to severe low vision access to electronic information.
Talking calculator and talking software scientific calculator: Ergonomically designed unit that allows optional keys to be spoken. Can execute all scientific calculations. Also has an earphone jack for private use.
Digital Notetaker: A digital recording device that replaces conventional tape recorders. It can be available with voice guidance and is tactile with low vision decals. It has voice activation so it is ideal for lectures and meetings.
Liquid level indicator: An audio unit that attaches to the edge of a cup or glass, and emits a high sounding beep when liquid reaches a certain level.
Talking kitchen scale: Audibly announces the measurements of ingredients being weighed.
Boil control unit: The unit is placed in water and when the water reaches boiling level, it starts rattling against the side of the pot indicating that the liquid is boiling.
Easy threader: Easily threads needles by placing the cotton in the groove, the needle in the funnel and depressing the lever.
Glucose meter: Gives audible instructions and has tactile buttons for easy identification of functions. Speaks your blood glucose level in six seconds.
Colourino: It identifies colours by holding it against fabric. A voice identifies the colour.
Pen Friend: An electronic unit that allows identification of items (e.g. that are placed in the fridge for storage) by affixing a dot onto the item and speaking out loud the specifications of the item. This is for later identification by holding the Pen Friend against the dot - a recording of the user’s voice plays back, allowing the user to identify the item.
Other aids
Other aids include braille or talking watches, a braille or talking tape-measure, a money template (for identifying paper money), talking kitchen scale, and Easi slicer and Easi chopper (easily slices and chops vegetables). All these aids are available from the SA Council for the Blind.
Visit www.sancb.org.za for more information.
The Coin Selector
