From the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired
-
Ways to label medications:
-
Use a pill organizer
-
Label with different colors of tape
-
Use rubber bands around certain prescription bottles
-
Mark bottle with large print
-
-
Putting toothpaste on your toothbrush:
-
Put toothpaste on your finger and then place it on the toothbrush
-
Use toothpaste in a pump
-
Squirt toothpaste directly into your mouth
-
Squeeze toothpaste into a widemouth jar and dip toothbrush into it as needed
-
-
Keeping track of phone numbers you use frequently:
-
Try to memorize numbers
-
Put each number on and index card in bold print
-
-
Telling the difference between shampoo and conditioner:
-
Put rubber bands around one bottle
-
Paint one bottle cap
-
Label in large print
-
-
How to organize your money:
-
Coins: there are ridges around quarters and dimes, but the edges of nickels and pennies are smooth
-
Bills: keep the bills folded in various ways - i.e. $1's kept straight, $5's folded once, and $10's folded twice
-
-
Writing checks:
-
Use large print checks available at all banks
-
Use a check-writing guide made especially to fit over your checks
-
Use a closed circuit television
-
-
Putting a plug in an outlet:
-
Put bright tape around the outlet
-
Replace wall socket and light switch covers with colored covers in contrast to the wall color.
-
-
How to see the food better on your plate or beverage in your glass:
-
Pour liquids into contrasting colored containers. i.e. coffee in a white mug or milk in a dark mug.
-
Serve food on a contrasting colored disk
-
Put salt and pepper in clear dispensers so you can see the color difference.
-
Avoid busy patterns in tablecloths
-
Use a liquid leveler, which makes a buzzing sound when the liquid is level
-
When reaching for an item, keep fingers and hand close to tablecloth to avoid over-turning glass
-
-
Setting dials on your appliances:
-
Use tactile markings at different settings on the washer or stove
-
Put brightly colored tape on dials
-
Have a good lighting system around the appliance - keep a flashlight handy.
-
Hand-held magnifiers sometimes helpful
-
-
Safety ideas for the kitchen:
-
Use scissors more often than knives (cutting pizza, chopping etc)
-
Use muffin tins for baking potatoes, as it is easier to locate and remove the tin from the oven
-
Organize ingredients and utensils on a try when cooking
-
-
Cleaning tips:
-
Store all cleaning supplies in a bucket and carry it with you when cleaning
-
Wear an apron with large pockets when cleaning to keep supplies in
-
Use an old pair of cotton gloves or socks over your hand to dust
-
-
Sewing tip :
-
A magnet can be used to pick up dropped needles or pins
-
Have several needles threaded with different colored thread to keep on hand
-
When sewing on a button that is the same color as the garment, put tissue paper between the fabric to show contrast
-
To sew a straight seam on a sewing machine, use a magnetic seam guide or put masking tape on the machine as a guide
-
When threading self-threading needles or using wire loop needle-threader, anchor the needle in a cork or a bar of soap
-