A Place for Everything and Everything in it's place

Very Important Points For Visually Impaired People

Kitchen

Layout of cutlery draw

Accessory drawer e.g. plan utensils, tea towels, place mats etc.

Crockery cupboards

Food and beverage storage - products can be labelled with Braille stick-on or tie on plastic labels

A liquid measure for drinks is a good asset.

Cooking and Food Preparation

Microwave oven/steamer least risky to operate

A boiling monitor is ideal for liquids on the stove

Consider use of slicing equipment available from RNIB

Arrange family teams to prepare, cook and clear

Invest in basket to assist in transfer of crockery etc from room to room

Bedroom

Plan drawers and wardrobes for ease of finding clothes

Plastic rings for socks - keeps them together throughout the wash cycle

Sew on labels to bed linen for ease of identification

Hot beanbag to replace traditional hot water bottle .

Bathroom

Medicine cabinet - products can be labelled. Perhaps small plastic boxes for groups of product or family group members

Towel cupboard - section types of towel, sew-on labels may be applied to identify type of colour

Personal items e.g. toothbrushes, face cloths to have a designated place for each family member

Outdoors

Design garden footpaths appropriately

Do not litter with toys, tools etc.

Cut back overhanging bushes and trees, particularly those at face level. Encourage your neighbours to do the same on any that overhang the pavement

Plant fragrant species of flowers

Hobbies

What can I do?

Enrol in class to explore new skills

Family games e.g. Monopoly, dominoes and cards are available with Braille from RNIB

Contact British Blind Sports Association re other activities e.g. cycling, bowling, and many others

Join Talking Books and Newspapers and local library

Join local groups involved with VIPs

Learn Braille and computer skills

General

The family group must be closely involved and to some extent new rules and guidelines are required for all. Here are a few we have instigated:

Do not reposition furniture

Do not leave things lying on the floor

Return the remote controls to their relevant slots

Do not leave unexpected items on kitchen worktops, especially pints of milk

Tidy away your own dirties

Always close doors of cupboards, dishwashers, fridges, etc.

Put tapes and CDs back in boxes

Call out vocally e.g. Here I come; Hoover in the hall!

Call out when you leave a room. VIPs do not like talking to themselves.

End of text