Simple Ways to Help & Empower Blind People
Usually organisations cry out for volunteers. But this app is so popular worldwide, that it has more volunteers than recipients! It’s a great idea that everyone wants to help out with.
Be My Eyes basically lets you sign up, then any blind person worldwide can send a message, asking you to ‘be their eyes’. You can read recipes, decipher colours or read instructions.
The idea was started by Danish furniture craftsman Hans Jørgen Wiberg (who does not have full vision). Within 24 hours of launch, the app had over 10,000 users.
More free help for blind people
Most blind people are fine with the term ‘blind’ or ‘low vision’. But they don’t like ‘vision-impaired’. People with 10% or less vision are classed as legally blind, in most countries.
- Blind person’s allowance is added to your yearly allowance. Also register for benefits, if you care for someone who is blind or partially sighted.
- Relay is a free app to help people who have difficulty using the phone. Also register with BT Protected Services Scheme, so they can contact you if you forget to pay, to avoid cutting off your line.
- BT Home Essentials offers cheaper calls and broadband (ask about BT Priority Repair and free BT directory enquiries).
- Royal Mail offers free postage (national and international) of books, printed materials, audio/electronic media and mobility aids.
- You may also qualify to receive a free radio (for adults or children).
Why the BBC TV licence law is bonkers
If you have low vision, the BBC won’t give you a free license. But if you are registered blind, you only get a 50% discount on your TV licence. So it costs around £90. But get this – they offer a discount to bring it down to £30 if the TV is black-and-white!
If someone is blind, they don’t know if the TV is colour or black-and-white. So why on earth are blind people being charged £60 more if they have a colour TV? No wonder people are campaigning to replace this archaic scheme with a subscription service.
British Wireless for the Blind Fund (free radios)
This organisation offers free digital radio loans. So no-one has to miss out on life’s big moments. The result may not be what England hoped for, but at least blind people get to listen to the match, if they could not afford a radio.
To qualify, you must be a UK resident registered with sight loss, and receive benefits to prove low income.
- For adults, there are a number of quality radios available including a Talking Easy Music player.
- For children, it offers screen-free audio book players and starter packs, smart smeakers with child-friendly designs and screen-free sleep aids that let youngsters listen to soothing stories at night.
Keep batteries away from young children and pets.
Free Books for Blind Adults and Children
Listening Books is a charity that lends out books to anyone with sight problems. For around £25 a year (with discounts for low incomes), the books include Wild City, about our urban wildlife (listen to a sample online). There are also school memberships.
Calibre is £3 a month (free for under 18s) and gives access to over 23,000 books in 70 categories, with new titles added each week. Books are also recorded by volunteer narrators, if not available elsewhere on audio.
Living Paintings (touch-to-see books)
Living Paintings offers touch-to-see books for children & adults. Everything is dispatched for free through RNIB’s Articles for the Blind program.
Together Health Eye Defence is a powerful blend of carotenoids (including beta-carotene) alongside bioactive plant-sourced ingredients, to help protect against blue light. So ideal if you work on a computer for several hours a day.
In the modern age, over 80% of people suffer from digital eye strain. Of course it’s good to come off the laptop as much as possible. But if you can’t due to work commitments, this is a good supplement to help reduce the strain from artificial light.
Always check with GP if pregnant/nursing or taking any medication, before using supplements.
If working in an office, turn off lights when not in use (use blinds and desk lamps) and avoid facing plants and foliage to outdoor gardens, to help stop birds flying into windows.
The capsules are made from plant cellulose from the Pinus Elliottii tree, and can be separated and the contents mixed with food or drink if preferred.
The supplements are sold in easy to recycle pouches that are plastic-free and contain a protective film made from wood pulp. All layers are home compostible.
Subscribe online for big savings, and get double rewards cash on orders, you can pause or cancel anytime.
How does this supplement help?
Our eyes need macular carotenoids, which help to protect them from artificial light. This supplement contains three of the moist powerful, along with beta carotene that converts to vitamin A, to help maintain normal vision.
The natural nutrients also help to reduce eye strain and fatigue, and glare sensitivity.
Dr.Vegan Screen Eyes (a supplement for healthy vision)
Dr.Vegan Screen Eyes is a quality supplement, the first order is sold in a refillable metal tin, then you just order refills in eco-pouches thereafter. You can buy once, or get a free pill tin, then subscribe for bigger savings.
Designed to support healthy vision, this contains lutein, bilberry, vitamin B2 and many other essential nutrients for good eyesight.
Recommended by opticians.
Always check with your GP before taking supplements if on medication (also for women if pregnant or nursing). Keep them away from children and pets, and recycle unused supplements and medicines at pharmacies (never flush them down the loo).
One 90-year old reviewer took this daily for 14 months after being monitored for possible glaucoma. A recent eye check-up found that one eye could read 3 rows lower than a year before.
What does this supplement help?
- Vitamin B2 and zinc are good for eye health.
- Other ingredients help form macular pigment in the back of eyes, for good long-term vision.
- Bilberry is an antioxidant, to protect against free radicals. It also helps tired eyes and supports retinal function.
