- Self threading needles, liquid level indicators, talking watches, large number telephones or microwaves, 'bump ons' or 'hi marks' and coloured stickers
- READING - making object bigger (large print books/bills/clocks/watches etc), talking watches or books or newspapers, reading stands, typoscopes, good lighting
- WRITING - felt tips, yellow paper, lined paper, writing frames
Moon is another tactile language that was developed in 1847. It was designed for people who previously had sight, featuring curves and lines that are more approximate to actual letters.
Electronic Aids for reading and writing
- CCTV, video magnifiers, head mounted devices
- Computers - scanners, speech synthesis, braille keyboards/printers, PDAs, USB cameras
- Built into OS - Windows has accessibility, Mac OSX has 'universal access' which enlarges icons, arrow, alters contrast and has voice output.
- Screen magnification software eg Zoomtext is also available.
- Canes and Sticks
- Electronic Aids (ultrasound, sonar)
- Dogs (see later)
- People (guides)
- Talking Signs
- Built Environment
- Symbol Cane - lightweight, folds up, indicated px is VI
- White walking stick - as above but aids support
- Long Cane - most common. Developed by war vets in US following world war 2. Needs extensive training (+150hrs). Made of lightweight aluminium, held at chest height at 30 degree angle and swung in L to R arc as foot goes forward. Touches ground at end of travel and may have roller on tip
- Guide Cane - Shorter/stronger than long cane, used as back up for those with residual vision
Technique to help locate door, walk in straight line, detect posn of objects in front of the px on the same side of his body as the extended arm. This can provide useful info about everyday objects, obstacles and potential hazards. In familiar environment the px moves close to the wall with knuckles against it using the other hand in front to detect obstacles
Electronic Mobility Aids
- Ultrasonic - ultracane, hand held (miniguide, palmsonar), head mounted (sonic pathfinder), Bat K sonar-cane
- Laser - laser cane which has three beams (ground, waist, up) and alerts with tones and vibration
- GPS - MOBIC (mobility of blind and elderly people interacting with computers), braille note GPS, Trekker
Guide dogs for the blind started in 1931. Running cost is 45m pa and they get no Govt funding. The dogs guide the owner and avoid obstacles, stop at kerbs/steps, find doors, road crossings and frequently visited places and lead across roads. The owner is basically responsible for encouraging the dog while directing and informing it.
Guide dog owners have to be over 16, have VI which makes safe independent travel difficult - marked decrease in VA, CS or VF. 43% of guide dog users are totally blind, mainly due to congenital or early onset degenerative disease. RP makes up 18% and optic atrophy 10%. The average age is 53.
Guide Dog Assessment
General Info Visit
- Info on services and training provided
- Medical Status, cause and degree of VI, options (long cane or other, guide dog assess, non guide dog mobility aids)
- Contrainds - sufficient sight, age, dislike of dogs
- Instructor assesses appropriate aid/suitability
- Work with dog to determine whether px can walk with it, follow movements, keep control, react etc
- Assessment of home environment
1200 guide dogs are bred each year, mostly labs/lab-golden retr. cross. There has been a programme going since the 60s to reduce health probs and regulate supply. The dogs have x-ray health checks and eye exams
Makin the dog guide
- Puppy walking at 6 weeks old w/volunteer walkers who teach dog to ignore distractions or other dogs, walk on LHS and in straight line, centre of pavement, and stand and wait at kerb. 75% of puppies can do this, the other 25% are killed. No not really they are used as dogs for therapy, for the disabled, RAF, Customs & Excise, Prisons etc
- At 10-12 weeks the clever dogs go to a training centre where a proper dog trainer becomes involved, dog is fitted with harness and does tasks in busier environment etc
- At 3 months advanced training starts and dog is tailored to individ. needs
Priority system. At 5 months dog attached to owner then 3-4 weeks intensive training, px taught to take care of dog. The owner pays a nominal 50p for the dog and the dog actually costs 35000 over its lifetime
Working
Continuing support is provided, with regular health checks, food/vet bills, third party insurance. Most dogs work 7-8 yrs. Guide dogs are allowed anywhere thanks to disability discrimination act 1995
Retiring
This is caused by health problems, increased mistakes, loss of concentration, slower walking speed, loss of confidence. The dog can stay with the owner as a pet or be rehoused.
Environmental Design
Simple things
- TV away from windows
- Sit close to TV/blackboard
- Location of reading lights
- At one side of teacher/TV if hemianopic px
- Colour schemes - Light paint on walls, dark round doors, lighter door with contrasting handle, dark flooring, hard flooring - for the sound, contrasting skirting boards for stairs
- Features to aid VIPs eg lighting contrast
- Wide/sliding doors
- Auditory indicators eg in lifts
- Handrails
- Enclosed Staircases
- Tactile elements like on floors
- Avoid stuff like glass doors
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