Question:    What do you SEE when you are blind?

Answer:  I can only address what I see as a “totally blind” person. What I see is exactly what you see when a video or movie has finished on the TV screen: the screen is very black with a million/zillion/trillion little white dots all over the space. If you were to slip an even darker black slate behind those dots... that is what I see whether my eyes are open or closed. 

Question:    Do you see colours?

Answer: No. As a totally blind individual, I see nothing but black and grey fuzzy dots all the time. I did see colours originally and do vividly remember what they look like, so I’m able to visualize scenes with the appropriate shape, colour, shading, light and life.

Question:    How do you dress? Does someone help you?

Answer: Blind people dress like everyone else does – we pick out clothes, pull them on, tuck them in or leave them out, do up zippers, tie up ties or scarves, pull on socks or nylons and slip on our shoes! I think what you really mean when asking this question is, how does a blind person know what they are putting on? I personally set up a “system” for my clothes and all accessories. For example, I put a safety pin in the neck or waist of all clothes/items that are blue of any shade.  I buy clothes very strategically, such as taking with me the blouse I wish to match a jacket with, or the sweater I wish to match my earrings/necklace with, or the pants I wish to match socks up with,  etc.

Tip: I recommend putting all summer clothes in one spot and winter/fall clothes in a different spot. Do not mix the clothes together. Feel for neckline styles, button placement, ribbons/bows, size of buttons and much, much more.

Question:    How do you cook?

Answer:  I personally use a microwave, oven, slow cooker, electric frying pan, pots/pans  and a wok with lids that correctly fit. I place highmark dots on the microwave to identify different settings, and I also place these at specific temperatures on the oven for baking. 

Question:    How do you know when something is cooked?

Answer:  I use a minute minder, just like you do!  I turn the dial to a certain “o’clock” on a normal clock, so for me turning the pointed part of the dial to the 3 o’clock position would be straight right. 

Question:    How do you match your shoes?

Answer:  I purchase shoes with different designs on them, different heights of heels, different materials in order to differentiate them. I put a pair together in a shoe tree and put one season’s shoes in one closet and the other season’s shoes in a different closet just to make life easier.

Question:    How do you write cheques?

Answer:  My bank provides me with Braille cheques, which are regular-looking cheques with  a row of small dotted lines beneath the hand/computer drawn lines. Cheques are available from your bank in either large print or in Braille.

Question:    How do you know what it is like outside?

Answer:  I open a window, or go outside and feel the air, rain, sun, wind! I can feel the rain drops on my body or outstretched hand, or the sun’s heat on my face. I enjoy feeling the wind blowing against my skin and the scent of  the rain and wind. I use all other senses to feel the weather at any given moment. I also listen to the news for forecasts just like everyone else!

Question:    How do you know what colour some thing is?

Answer:  I had the wonderful opportunity to see colours prior to losing my vision so I have a sense of what colours look like, what goes together and what I like. I employ personal methods of identifying colours, such as putting pins on all the blue items. I feel the features on each item when I buy it and place it with the outfit I wish to wear it with. I may even put it all on one hanger so that when I pull that hanger off the rack I have a complete outfit! I may place dark clothes on one side of a drawer and lighter ones on the other side, or put different colours in different drawers. Sometimes I put  items in a grocery bag to keep them together, such as basic nylons versus dark nylons. I put specific coloured nylons inside the pocket of a suit jacket or pockets on a pair of pants if it matters.

Question:    How do you know what you are wearing?

Answer:  I pick my own clothes out each day. I pay a lot of attention to the feel of the material and once I’ve been told what colour an item is, I remember. Plain colours usually match no matter what; however some shades of blue or green or pink or red do matter and in this case I ask the advice of a sighted friend to match things up, let me feel the clothes and put some kind of marker on them if I wish to. Often I simply remember, or I fold items together so when I pull a set of shorts out of my dresser, they include an entire wardrobe for that day.  Pairing clothes up beforehand truly helps.

Question:    How do you know your jewelry?

Answer:  I put jewelry that goes together in separate small bags OR in pill boxes OR large plastic containers pills OR put a specific set of jewelry (necklace, bracelet, earrings) in the pocket of an outfit.

Question:    How do you know when your toast is done?

Answer:  Feel it, smell it, touch it, taste it, listen for the sound when toast pops up or feel for the button and see what position it’s in.

Question:    How do you match your socks?

Answer:  I use safety pins – this way they stay together in the washer and dryer and when putting the laundry away!

Question:    How do you know the colour of towels and sheets?

Answer:  By the way they feel (smooth, textures, rough edges, ribbon edges, long, short, square). I fold all sets of towels that match within each other. I fold all sheets; I place both top and bottom sheets (elastics usually on bottom sheets) with the matching pillow cases, fold them all together, and put them in the cupboard that way so that I  can  pull out a complete set.

Question:    How do you match placemats?

Answer:  The same as with socks – I pin the set together and place on a shelf in a cupboard.

Question:    How do you identify your medications?

Answer:  Medication for me comes in all different bottles, boxes and containers to begin with from the pharmacy or store. To further identify them, I use assistive devices such as elastic bands, masking tape,  and I use different-sized bottles. I also place medication in various places in the room: i.e. bathroom cupboards or counters in significantly different textured/zippered or snapped-closure bags. Visually-impaired or blind people have to define the best method for themselves because it needs to work for them, and sighted individuals who are helping should only make suggestions, as they’re not the one living with the condition on a daily basis. 

Question:    How do you know what type of soup or canned vegetables you have in the cupboard?

Answer:  As in other identification cases, I use elastics on the can for tomatoes, take off a part of the label for a different soup, put masking tape around the can for one kind or maybe turn it upside down in the cupboard with no identification. Placing cans in different cupboards is a great way to keep them separate from each other yet not too far away for quick access. Shaking a can to hear the contents and identify by the sound is another way to know which product is which. Braille labels and large print labels can be purchased... ask TannerTalks for product service!

Question:    How do you know the taps on your sink?

Answer:  Do not assume hot water taps are always on the left side because they are not always. I turn the tap on and put my hand near, but NOT under, the flowing water so that I can feel whether it’s steaming or not. I caution individuals to use this method carefully and to NEVER put their hands under the water right away! I recommend having different shaped taps installed so one feels significantly different to the touch than the other one. You could also put sticky tape on one versus the other, or place sticky Braille dots on one and not the other. TannerTalks sells product identification items for this purpose.

Question:    How do you know what key is for which lock?

Answer:  Just ask the key cutter for differently-shaped keys. Another technique is to buy textured covers for over your keys to differentiate them for yourself. You can also use different key rings, or buy differently coloured keys for those who have a visual impairment but are not totally blind. Ask TannerTalks for more great ideas!

Question: How do you read your mail?

Answer:  I have several different techniques established to read my mail. I use an audible talking assistive device connected to my computer, and I also employ the service of a sighted person to meet with me once a week to review mail, documents, bills and more. Sometimes I request the help of neighbours, friends and family to quickly read an item when they’re visiting. I determine the privacy I wish to maintain then select who I’ll ask to help. As documents are often private information, you must use discretion and wisdom when selected who will read which printed material, so you may have several different methods to accomplish this task.

Question:  Do you wear make-up and if yes, how do you apply it?

Answer:  Yes, and carefully! I take time to apply make-up and I do it one item at a time.  Make-up is usually marked with labels in one way or another and I simply feel each container before opening it and using. I prefer to wear make-up sparingly and to apply it so as to not have to re-apply very often in the day.

Question:  How do you tell when food has gone “bad”?

Answer:  Probably the same way you do! I touch it, smell it, taste it, cut it, peel it. I don’t buy fresh food too far ahead and I keep track of how long it’s been in the refrigerator. Early expiry dated items get eaten/used first. Common sense plays a large role in this.

Question:  Do you travel for pleasure?

Answer:  Yes, and I wish to do more in my future. Travel planning usually takes longer if organizing a long trip with visits to several places; however, day trips can be done quickly. Making lists of desired versus needed items is helpful, and the items can be checked off when packed. Take this same list with you for the return trip or use it for similar trips in the future. Travel counselors now care for special needs in most travel cases.