Posted in How I'm Adapting

Things I’ve learnt in the last 6 months at least…

Posted on by One Vision
Cartoon woman with hand on chin looks towards you

Things I’ve learnt in the 6 months at least…

⚫ Sunglasses are my second favourite thing… ever.

⚫ I’m more confident and safer going upstairs than coming down them.

⚫ Kerbs are a little bit frightening.

⚫ Scary walking in the dark. Can’t see the floor well.

⚫ I can read books again on my tablet with huge font.

⚫ I need my reading glasses on to DIY.

⚫ I cannot read a map without maybe a magnifying glass.

⚫ I need stronger glasses.

⚫ There really does need to be large font or Braille menus as standard. (I know… I’m mentioning this… AGAIN ☺)

⚫ I’m not conscious enough of my blind spots yet. So I trip over the dog when I’m walking her.

⚫ I nearly flagged down a lorry at the bus stop.

⚫ I won’t wave back until I can see you or by the shape of you that I find familiar. As I will probably find ‘your’ shape more familiar than your head and face at a distance.

⚫ A large shop queue behind me will makes me hand a note out to pay … Even though I have change.

⚫ A card machine screen and buttons need to be bigger.

⚫ I need to get a spare pair of glasses.

⚫ I’ve stopped saying ‘oh yeah’ whilst being shown a photo even though it could be anything. I will tell them to make it bigger for me or explain what it is. Even if I don’t know them.

⚫ I’m not hiding it as much. I can’t.

⚫ I will get someone to thread a needle for me. Ever since that time I tried to thread a pin 📍 with no bobble on the top.

⚫ I sew, if I have to, by touch, and looking very closely now. Only if I’m desperate.

⚫ Coins and notes are blurry.. I’m glad they are different shapes and colours. I feel the coins.

⚫ I’m feeling more things. (I’ve got a post coming about this)

⚫ I’m very grateful for being independent and having the vision I have at this very moment.

⚫ I pick stuff up off the ground if I think it’s something I’ve dropped… Sometimes a ‘coin’ is a dead insect, foil top, a leaf or something far worse.

⚫ The amount of times I’ve conditioned my hair rather than shampoo it is crazy. There should be a raised dot or something. What can’t they make the word Shampoo… Conditioner… Big?

⚫ You will be glad to know I’ve stopped putting berry coloured lip liner on my eyes thinking it’s eyeliner. I have no lip liner now, only lipsticks for very this reason. Made my eyes look like they were sore.

⚫ To look at things closely in shops, don’t presume a jar is tartare sauce because it looks the same. My fish finger sandwich was given the sudden surprise addition of horseradish sauce. Don’t think the dog appreciated it either. Same goes with natural yogurt and cottage cheese. Cranberry sauce and strawberry Jam…

⚫ Make up taking longer to put on. I have to put it on in natural light, as bright light is painful. A magnifying mirror is a must so I don’t look wonky or just permanently surprised.

⚫ Glare is like a screwdriver to the eyeballs. I’ve learnt to be more aware and I now turn away before it hits now.

⚫ Coming from inside to outside and vice versa, makes you momentarily blind.

⚫ When my Mum always told me off for picking things up in shops, maybe I was trying to see them instinctively, like my eyeballs knew there was something wrong but I didn’t know yet. I’ve always done this, even in adulthood. I picked up a cup thinking it was a sewing kit, was very surprised when it wasn’t. Thought tomatoes on a salad in pizza hut were strawberries and cream. Was going to order one for pudding until its was pointed out to me. Lots of moments like that when I look back.

⚫ I’m not ignoring you. I won’t have seen you.

⚫ I sometimes think someone is at the side of me due to black blob. I’m surprised when they aren’t (when I’m outside)… It’s abit unnerving inside (I now live on my own)

⚫ I’ve told the dog to get on her bed, when she’s already in it.

⚫ I don’t like photos of me because I’ve got a squint in them. Eyes trying to focus. I can’t see where I’m supposed to looking anyway.

⚫ I’ve always worn sunglasses on cloudy days but didn’t think anything of it.

⚫ Walking through a field isn’t relaxing. Uneven ground is worrying.

⚫ I use my hearing more to help crossing over a road as an extra measure as I don’t trust my eyes as much as I used to do.

⚫ Don’t always trust what I’m reading is correct and will read a few times. Or stare longer at an object to makes sure it is what I thinking think it is.

⚫ Text is often wavy, on a slant and I’m not sure things are straight.

⚫ Have to concentrate on washing up and dusting. Freaks me out.

⚫ Need a bigger phone.

⚫ Need a bigger television.

⚫ I’m very lucky to have late onset Macular Dystrophy. As in,… not lucky to have it… Don’t want it… But the late onset bit is lucky.

Posted in No category yet

Guide Doggos

Posted on by One Vision
The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association is a British charitable organisation founded on August 30th 1934. Guide Dogs help blind and partially sighted people across the UK through the provision of guide dogs, mobility and other rehabilitation services.

A Guide dog can help you become more independent and mobile. Highly trained to support you in navigating any mobility challenges you may face, guide dogs are a great way to get you out and about with confidence.

Training is given as well as numerous visits at home and then eventually if accepted for a dog, extensive training with the dog to makes sure you are both a good match for each other.
People with my condition, have got and can have a guide dog, if their vision is causing difficulties and putting them in danger. Not everyone you see will be totally blind with a guide dog.
The person must be legally blind, able to travel independently (good orientation and mobility skills), and well-suited to work with a dog.
On average the whole process of application and being matched can take up to 2 years. This is because Guide dogs only breed a select number of doggos a year and the training process is long.
There are several different breeds on the breeding programme so that they can produce a wide and diverse range of guide dogs to suit all the needs of different people.
Labradors, Golden Retrievers and German Shepherds have been and remain the most common pure breeds on the programme. Historically the Golden Retriever crossed with the Labrador has produced the most successful guide dog of all, combining many of the great traits of both breeds.

However, it has been recognised that other breeds and indeed other cross breeds may lend additional benefits to Guide Dog users and as such, they now have curly-coated Retrievers, and two standard Poodles on the breeding programme. It is when these breeds are crossed with their own established breeds that it\’s hoped they will produce, first and foremost, successful guides, but may also provide a secondary benefit e.g. shed less hair which may be advantageous to people with allergies to dog hair.

Not all dogs trained are successful. Some will be better at this than others. Around 70% of puppies make it to being fully trained out of 1400 that are bred each year for this purpose.

Even after this, sometimes the dogs have to be retired early, due to changes in behaviour or laziness.

Please don’t approach a guide dog while they are working to stroke it. They are concentrating and focusing on making sure that their blind or visually impaired owner gets around safely.

Once they are off duty that’s fine. At a cafe for example, go have a chat with the person and a fuss of the dog.

Posted in Useful Information

Symbol Canes

Posted on by One Vision
A vision representation of the text in this post

Canes are a form of mobility aid which help aid visually impaired pedestrians get about their daily business.

Symbol Canes

First up we have the Symbol Cane. These canes are smaller than other types of mobility cane, and are used to let the general public know that the person has a visual impairment and to be aware. Since the cane is small, it offers no protection from your environment around you and will usually be used if the person has some useful vision left.

Guide Canes

Next is the Guide Cane. Usually used by people with extremely lower vision, These are longer than a symbol cane and are used for basic protection, they will hit objects in your environment before you do! They do require training to be effectively used when out and about. Usually moved from left to right and held diagonally across the body to the front.

Long Canes

The Long Cane, as the name suggests, is the longest cane currently. It is used to test the environment around you if you have scarcely no vision, or zero vision at all. The way this one differs from the Guide Cane is that a long canes end had a tip of some kind.

There are two different types of tips; rolling tips and pointed tips. Rolling tips are best for smooth pavements and offer the largest amount of protection as they never leave the ground. This can lead to their downfall however; if they get trapped by uneven ground or other objects such as bikes then they can jar your arm and impact your stomach. These are either cricket ball shaped, or more cylindrical. Hard tips are best for rough pavements, as these are used when tapping the ground as opposed to rolling across it.

Red Striped Canes

If there is ever a cane which has red stripes on it, then this signifies that the person also has a hearing impairment as well as a visual impairment, this can be on any of the canes mentioned in this blog post.

Support Canes

Finally, we have White Support Canes. These are prescribed by an Occupational Therapist and are measured so that the right length is prescribed for the physical impairment. If you have sight impairment also then the cane will be white and if it has red stripes then the person will have a hearing impairment also

For example, a person may have sufficient vision to see during the day but may need to use the white cane at night when their vision is significantly diminished.

Mobility canes are often made from aluminium graphite reinforced plastic or fiber reinforced plastic and can come with a wide variety of tips depending upon user preference.
White canes can be either collapsible or straight, with both versions having pros and cons.

There are all these options available for adults and children. With children it is suggested that they have a cane as soon as possible, obviously taking their height and needs into consideration.

Specialist Referral

If you\’re blind or partially sighted, you may be referred to a specialist low-vision clinic, which is often located within a hospital. Staff at the clinic can help you understand your condition and come to terms with your diagnosis.

They can also advise you about practical things, such as lighting and vision aids, and let you know about further sources of help and support.

Ask your local hospital if they have an Eye Clinic Liaison Officer (ECLO), whose role involves providing support to people with vision loss in eye clinics.

This has been mentioned to me that this service is available when I get to a certain level. They will suggest this when they think it’s time if I don’t first. I think it’s comforting to know that there is this help there for me when I need it.

Some people already buy themselves a cane before this happens and the social services will help you with any cane training or information on aids to help you around the home and outside if you ring them and ask for an assessment.