Tools and Adjustments for Self-employment
People with severe visual impairments, such as a vision of less than 20/200 with correction, can still enjoy an independent and quality life thanks to various tools and organisational adjustments.
Support Organisations
Various organisations offer training and support to help visually impaired people operate independently:
- Netherlands: Royal Visio (www.visio.org) and Bartiméus (www.bartimeus.nl)
- Belgium: Blind Care Light and Love (www.blindenzorglichtlichtlove.be) and de Brailleliga (www.brailleliga.be)
These organisations offer customised training and guidance, which is essential for achieving independence.
Use of Low Vision Tool
The type of device required depends on the type of visual impairment:
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Central Loss: Problems with reading and recognizing faces in the room. Special reading glasses, magnifying glasses and electronic reading aids can help.
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No Light Perception or Full Blindness: For people without light perception, speech-controlled devices and Braille displays are invaluable.
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Loss of Peripheral Visibility: Tools such as telescopic spectacles for distance vision and magnifying objects.
Optimizing Lighting
It is crucial to improve home lighting for visually impaired people. High contrast LED lamps are safer than glowing and halogen lamps due to their lower heat production. Flexible, swan-necked lamps direct light to reading material or work areas, which increases comfort.
Home and Organisation
A well-organized home reduces stress and promotes independence:
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Labeling: Use of Braille or speak labels to identify items. Always keeping stuff in the same place helps navigate at home.
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Security: Remove loose threads, use slip mats in the bathroom and make sure that well marked devices prevent accidents.
Clothing and Kitchen
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Clothing: Group and mark clothing by color or texture to make selection easier.
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Cooking: Custom cookbooks, marked controls and high contrast kitchen tools make cooking and eating safer and more accessible.
Medicine management
Using pill boxes with Braille or marked labels helps in safely managing medication.
Mobility and Social Participation
Learning to handle a white stick and other mobility tools increases independence and enables participation in social activities.
These adaptations and tools allow visually impaired persons to live an active and independent life, fully participating in daily activities and social interactions.
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