Living with blindness or low vision doesn’t have to be a barrier to people living independently at home.
While there can be some challenges, there are a number of strategies and techniques that can help make the home accessible and safe.
Check out the below tips on how to make your bathroom accommodating to someone who is blind or has low vision, whether that’s you or a friend or family member.
Find out more about the range of Vision Australia services that can help people who are blind or have low vision stay safe and independent at home or check out our guides for other rooms:
Home office tips
Smart speakers
Smart speakers can help with keeping track of appointments, to set reminders, and for finding information.
There’s a variety of smart speakers on the market, including the Amazon Echo, the Google Assistant, and the Apple HomePod.
Caption: Could a smart speaker, like an Amazon Alexa, be a handy addition to your home office?
Lighting and magnification devices
For those with low vision, these devices can minimise eye strain while working or studying. They can also be useful elsewhere in the home, including the kitchen (for food preparation), or for recreational purposes.
The Vision Store stocks a wide range of lighting and magnification products.
Screen readers
Screen readers offer those with low vision or blindness access to computers, phones or tablets.
There are a variety of different screen readers available, including JAWS, NVDA, Voice Over (for iOS), and Windows Narrator.
Vision Australia has a range of supports, including occupational therapists and assistive technology specialists, to help people living with blindness or low vision to live independently. To learn more about our services, contact us on 1300 847 466 or email us at [email protected]