Supporting blind individuals in our community is not just a noble endeavour; it’s a step towards a more inclusive society. By offering practical help, we can enhance their quality of life in meaningful ways. Let’s explore how we can make a real difference.
Understanding the Challenges Faced by Blind Individuals
Blind individuals experience a unique set of challenges that can affect various aspects of life, from mobility to social inclusion. Recognising these hurdles is the first step in offering meaningful support.
Mobility and Navigation
Getting around without sight isn’t easy. Imagine trying to navigate a bustling city without visual cues. Solutions like white canes, and tactile paving help, but we can do even more. Consider how technology has evolved – GPS apps tailored for blind users can provide detailed navigation instructions, making outings more manageable.
BlindSquare is the world’s most accessible GPS app for people who are blind, deafblind and partially sighted. Paired with navigation apps, this self-voicing app helps people get around safely, and also details points of interest. After gathering information about your surroundings, it then points out useful places like cafes, post offices and libraries. Just shake the device to hear details of where you are, while the app also filters out unnecessary places, to avoid confusion and overwhelm. It can save favourite places, talk in several languages, and still work hands-free, if you wish to tuck the device away.
Access to Information
Blindness can create barriers to accessing information in a world brimming with text and digital screens. Printed materials often aren’t accessible, but the digital age offers fresh avenues. Screen readers translate text into speech, and braille displays provide tactile feedback. Customisable digital content is becoming more prevalent, ensuring fewer barriers to information.
Social Inclusion
Social interactions can be tough when visual cues are missing. From reading body language to accessing visual social media content, inclusion can feel elusive. Community programmes and advocacy can break down these barriers. Encouraging descriptive language use in conversations and creating accessible online platforms can make social spaces more welcoming.
Practical Support Ideas
Here’s where we roll up our sleeves and explore concrete ways to lend a helping hand.
Assistance with Daily Activities
Everyday tasks can be daunting without eyesight. Whether it’s shopping, cooking, or personal care, offering practical help makes a real difference. Volunteering to accompany someone on a shopping trip, guiding them through a crowded store, or setting up a cooking station with tactile labels are straightforward ways to assist.
Technology Solutions
Be My Eyes is one of the world’s most popular charity apps, where there are (unusually) more people wishing to give than receive. This is great fun for us – you sign up and then basically any blind person worldwide can contact you, to ask them to ‘be their eyes’, from reading a recipe, to deciphering a colour or reading instructions. Such a simple idea, but it’s transforming people’s lives worldwide.
Around 340 million people worldwide have sight issues, and this app aims to help all of them. The organisation has just launched Be My Eyes for Windows to help people who use a computer, from using photos and graphs to making video calls.
Since launch in 2015, the Be My Eyes App has used over 6 million volunteers to help assist blind and partially-sighted recipients, with everything being free and anonymous. Users can request assistance in over 180 languages. The idea was started by Danish furniture craftsman Hans Jørgen Wiberg, who is himself visually impaired. He realised that modern technology could simply help others, using the power of community and apps. Within 24 hours of launch, the app had over 10,000 users.
Speechify and Peech are two websites where you can get text read to you in speech of your choice, from an English male voice to Gwyneth Paltrow!
Educational Resources
Education should never be out of reach. Braille materials and audio books ensure blind students have equal opportunities. Schools and libraries should stock up on these resources. Online platforms provide a wealth of accessible learning tools, enriching the educational experience.
Financial Support and Benefits
Financial assistance plays a critical role in supporting the blind community. Understanding the benefits on offer can relieve financial pressures.
Government Benefits
In the UK, government schemes provide essential financial support. Blind person’s allowance is added to your yearly allowance, and can be up to a few thousands pounds. Also register for benefits, if you care for someone who is blind or partially sighted.
You can claim discounts on on your TV license if you are registered blind. One of the most bonkers rules in England is that you also get a discount as a blind person if your TV is black-and-white? Why on earth is this not free?
Telephone and Postal Benefits
- Relay is a free app to help people who have difficulty using the telephone. You can register with BT Protected Services Scheme, so they have another contact to avoid cutting off your bill, in case you forget to pay. BT Home Essentials offers cheaper calls and broadband (and ask about BT Priority Repair and free BT directory enquiries).
If you’re registered blind, Royal Mail offers free postage (national and international) of books, printed materials, audio/electronic media and mobility aids. Also benefit from free loan of digital radios and touch-to-see book.
Raising Awareness and Advocacy
Advocacy isn’t just for organisations; individuals can drive change too. By speaking up, we can enhance services and support.
Community Involvement
Getting involved in local initiatives and support groups can create ripples of change. Volunteering at local blind societies, attending awareness events, or simply striking up conversations about accessibility raises collective consciousness.
Promoting Inclusive Practices
Organisations can adopt better practices to foster inclusivity. Designing websites with accessibility in mind, offering braille menus in restaurants, or training staff to better assist blind patrons makes spaces more inclusive. When businesses realise the benefit of inclusivity, everyone wins.
A Supplement to Help Prevent Macular Degeneration
Screen Eyes is a supplement formulated to prevent age-related macular degeneration, sold in a tin with sustainable refills. Packed with nutrition for eye health and vision, one 90-year old reviewer took this daily for 14 months after being monitored for the condition and possible glaucoma. A recent eye check-up found that one eye could read 3 rows lower than a year before.
Before taking supplements, check with GP if pregnant/nursing or you have medical conditions or are taking medication. Keep supplements away from young children & pets.
Around 80% of adults suffer from age-related macular degeneration (or digital eye strain). Also eat caretenoids (like carrots that help your eyes), spend time offline and wear sustainable sunglasses (and get a regular eye test).
Conclusion
Supporting blind individuals goes beyond basic assistance; it’s about building a community where everyone is valued and included. From aiding with daily tasks, leveraging technology, to advocating for better services, everyone has a part to play. Let’s take these practical steps forward and make our communities welcoming for all. In doing so, we not only enrich the lives of others but also our own.