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In-Home Opportunities
Many people experiencing vision loss think they will no longer be able to live independently in their home and remain active with their families. In-home training opportunities provided by the Department help people discover there are many strategies and simple solutions to solve everyday problems.
Rehabilitation teachers travel throughout the state and meet with individuals in their homes to provide assistance with and/or information on:
- Preparing meals
- Using home appliances
- Obtaining assistive devices
- Learning to use a white cane
- Implementing alternatives to print materials
- Learning Braille
- Managing finances
- Promoting leisure activities
- Dialing the telephone
- Labeling household items
- Identifying clothing
- Sewing
- Managing the laundry
- Interacting with others experiencing vision loss
- Managing a secondary disability
- Making referrals to available community resources and, as necessary, assistance with necessary applications
Preparing meals
A rehabilitation teacher will provide tips on converting recipes into an accessible format (e.g. large print, audio or in Braille), strategies for measuring ingredients, timing recipes, identifying when items are done and more.
Using home appliances
Simple adaptations to home appliances (e.g. oven dial, microwave, washer, dryer, etc.) to allow them to be set by touch.
Obtaining assistive devices
A rehabilitation teacher can assist with identifying an item appropriate for a specific task and assist with obtaining the item. Examples include kitchen timers, measuring spoons, talking watches, needle threaders, adapted games and more.
Learning to use a white cane
Instruction on how to effectively use the long white cane for independent mobility.
Implementing alternatives to print materials
Access to audible books and magazines; converting recipes, addresses and phone numbers to a format easy to use (e.g. larger print, on cassette or in Braille); or access to newspaper reading programs.
Learning Braille
A rehabilitation teacher will provide one-on-one lessons and the materials necessary to learn Braille. Upon learning Braille, it can be used in all areas of daily life from labeling items around the home to taking phone messages to reading novels.
Managing finances
Identifying currency, using a talking calculator to balance a checkbook, using a check guide to write a check, and more.
Promoting leisure activities
Depending on an individual’s interests, this may include locating drivers to get to the local senior center, doing crafts, using large print playing cards and more.
Dialing the telephone
There are several ways to dial a telephone without seeing the numbers. A rehabilitation teacher can assist with signing up for free directory assistance or obtaining amplified phones for those with hearing loss.
Labeling household items
A rehabilitation teacher can assist with creating adapted labels for canned goods, medications and other items throughout the home.
Identifying clothing
If a person can’t identify black slacks from navy blue, a rehabilitation teacher can help implement solutions that don’t require seeing the color.
Sewing
Threading needles, sewing on buttons, hemming a pair of pants or quilting.
Managing the laundry and ironing safely
Marking a washer or dryer for low-vision use and tips for ironing safely.
Promoting interaction with others
One of the most successful ways to help someone adjust to vision loss in a positive way is to provide them with opportunities to interact with others who also have vision loss. This provides an avenue for advice, support, understanding and encouragement from someone who understands. These connections may involve two individuals talking on the phone or attending a local support group.
Managing a secondary disability
A rehabilitation teacher may provide information on alternative techniques of medical care, instructions in the use of adaptive equipment (e.g. insulin gauges, talking glucometers or talking blood pressure cuffs), arranging audiological or other medical evaluations, and providing general information on available resources.
Providing information and referral
Exploring community resources (e.g. transportation assistance) and making referrals as the client chooses.
In addition to providing services to individuals in the home, rehabilitation teachers are available to provide in-service training to groups throughout the state.
