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This section of the EYE-DAS web site is devoted to the problems and questions faced in everyday life while coping with vision loss. There are many things that blind or visually impaired people and their sighted friends can do to make life safer and easier.

If you have a question, please email it to [email protected] We will do our best to assist you.

 

Tips for you

PROBLEM: What do you do when you cannot see which side of the knife has the teeth to slice your meat?

So many times I thought for a moment I had a tough piece of meat or I felt the knife I was given needed to be sharpen, only to find out I was using the wrong side of the knife, big sigh!

SOLUTION: One time, I was invited to a formal dinner and hesitated to give my RSVP because of the situation with the knife, I did not want to embarrass anyone. Long story short, I went to the dinner, by coincidence the table of eight I sat at had a guest that was totally blind. When our plates were served, there it was, a whole chicken breast, I had to slice it, sigh. I waited for a moment until everyone started to eat and noticed the guest that was totally blind rubbed the sides of the knife against the fork to listen for the sound of the teeth, WOW!

How simple the tip! Now, if only at a formal dinner, the powers that be, let a person use a spoon when peas and corn are rolling all over the plate. Smile!

 

PROBLEM: Due to your diminishing vision, you are in need of assistance traveling here and there. In an attempt to aid you, well-meaning friends and family members grasp you by the arms or back of the neck, and attempt to propel you around as they would a lawn mower in sensible shoes!
SOLUTION: You could turn, snarl, and tell them in no uncertain terms that you have no intention of cutting their grass, no matter how much they might plead (Just kidding.) It is suggested that you turn, smile, and extricate your limbs or neck from their grasp. Then, with the utmost politeness, explain to them that it would be far better for you to lightly hold their arm so that they would precede you just a bit. You could explain that they could pause at steps, pull their elbow in if they wanted you to walk closer to them for a moment, or extend their arm back if they wanted you to walk behind them in a cramped space. You might explain that they would precede you through doorways, telling you on which side to take the door from them. In that way, you could avoid dancing in doorways while you each grapple for power over the offending portal.
The old maxim is true, that knowledge is power. You can receive more in depth instruction in orientation and mobility, as it is called, by contacting EYE-DAS for referral to an agency to assist you in this if you are in the San Gabriel Valley, or contacting your State Department of Rehabilitation.

Call 411 for telephone numbers in your area.

If you have any tips, tricks or tidbits please give us a call at 626-335-3937

or send them to [email protected]

 

EYE-DAS Foundation welcomes your financial support.