How To Cope With Sight Loss

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1. Step 1: Meet Peter White:

   I'm Peter White and for the past 30 years or more I've been a radio and television presenter with the BBC. This for me is my absolute dream job, and I think it demonstrates that these days, with the right support there's very little blind people can't do. That's what this film sets out to do to the lives of a blind and a partially sighted person leading rich and full lives. It's been made by the Hampshire Advocacy Group. It's part of their mission to demonstrate that with the right help and the right understanding, blind people can do almost anything. Open your eyes. What do you see? This is Steve Geary. Since a virus attacked his optic nerve at the age of 23, he has been left with only peripheral vision. Julie Duffy has no sight, yet with help from her guide dog Marvel, she enjoys life as a truly independent working mother. There are many varying degrees of sight loss. This film will show how both the blind and partially sighted cope with tasks at home, in the workplace, and at leisure. Tasks which would normally be accomplished without conscience effort. We will discover some of the problems they face in everyday life, and how - even though electronic aids are available - they still rely heavily on simple solutions, and the use of their remaining symptoms.

2. Step 2: Toothpaste problem:

   Waking up is the easy part. Even putting toothpaste onto a brush presents difficulties for people with poor sight. Steve judges the right amount by holding both tube and brush close to his mouth. Identifying and color matching clothes can be made easier by having shaped buttons sewn inside. Those with some useful sight can then use illuminated, magnifying mirrors to check their appearance, while others refer to a partner or neighbor. Even making hot drinks is possible, where both hearing and touch combine to check that the liquid is at the right level. And talking or Braille watches are a necessity when you lead a busy lifestyle.

3. Step 3: Independence is important:

   Independence is as important to the visually impaired as anyone else. Getting about on your own requires an acute awareness of one's location and any present dangers. The challenge of crossing the road is one example. While Steve is lead by the tactile paving underfoot, Marvel guides Julie to the crossing. However it is not the guide dog, but the owner that must decide when it is safe to cross, so the audible beeps are essential as are the rotating buttons used by deaf blind people. Road works too are an ever present danger, where the importance of clearly marked barriers can't be overstated. With unpredictable footings and the possibility of being forced into oncoming traffic, people with poor sight have ten times the risk of an accident.

4. Step 4: Other risks:

   Heightened use of hearing and smell are a great help in establishing one's location. But yet more hazards lie in wait. It is common to use familiar routes when vision is impaired, but even then one can be put at risk by badly parked cars, or changes in the location of street furniture. Those with good vision wouldn't see this wheelie bin as a hazard, but with lack of contrast between it and the street this is how it might appear to someone with cataracts. To catch the right bus or arrive at the correct stop, one would usually have to ask for help. Getting on and off the bus can be a problem too, but drop level buses like this one greatly minimize the risk by lowering to the curb side.

5. Step 5: Shopping difficulties:

   When it comes to shopping, the small trader is often the preferred choice, as it is easy to ask for exactly what you want. But with prior arrangement, most supermarkets will now provide a personal shopping assistant to accompany visually impaired people around the store. The application of Braille labels provides a means of identifying the products purchased. Alternatively, shopping on the internet using accessibility software allows real choice and the convenience of home delivery.

6. Step 6: Hazards of rail travel:

   Travel by rail presents some of the most hazardous and demanding situations for people with poor sight. The potential for lethal falls is not helped by the lack of tactile warning underfoot, but many improvements are being made which other businesses are doing well to take note of. With advance notice, staff can be on hand to offer assistance in boarding the train, and modern mobility carriages have been thoughtfully designed to accommodate all sorts of disabilities. There is a high contrast decor, and large Braille buttons on all the doors. Cramped toilet compartments have also been replaced by large disabled facilities. At times it may be difficult to hear the announcements, in which case counting stations or asking others may be necessary. Knowing which side to exit always use to be a problem but now audible warnings come from the correct side of the carriage where a flashing Braille button will open the doors. Judging the gap to the platform has been made easier, but any assistant should still give clear and simple instructions to insure a safe footing.

7. Step 7: Video magnifying:

   Steve Geary uses his experience of sight loss in his work as a patient support officer at the South Hampton Eye Clinic. Unable to read this handwritten note, he scans it using a video magnifier. After talking with patients about their eye problems, Steve provides them with literature in an accessible format, in this case large print. The Department of Employment Access to Work Scheme provides Steve with zoom-text software. This allows areas of the computer screen to be magnified and read back to him in artificial speech.

8. Step 8: Sight impaired work aids:

   Julie is employed by a Portsmouth Library, also providing support services for the visually impaired. She uses a variety of equipment in her work, such as this Braille typewriter for taking messages over the phone. As part of her library duties, Julie translates useful documents into Braille. Handwritten notes have to be dictated to her as scanning software is not always reliable. In this case she's using a modern Braille note electronic notebook. Like much of her equipment, this is also being provided by the Access to Work Scheme. Typed newsletters may be scanned and read back to her using software such as Jaws or Curswell 1000. These can then be output directly to Braille using special printers such as this. Julie's mobile phone has software speech so she can use texting, menus and the address book. For note keeping, a simple micro cassette recorder is often preferred. They are cheap, robust, and the large buttons make them easy to use. Julie also uses a Braille diary. She adds new Braille appointments by punching them out on loose sheets with a stylus.

9. Step 9: Tactile pads at home:

   Back at home you won't find many specialist gadgets at home to help Julie in the kitchen. Though luxuries like talking microwaves are available, the simple addition of tactile pads helps Julie time her cooking to perfection. Organization is especially important in the kitchen. Familiar surroundings and a good memory are essential for safe cooking. The cooking stages can be judged by touch, texture, and smell. And touch comes into play again when setting the table. Always returning items to the same place allows easy location. With care there is little that can't be achieved. Of course, there's always the washing up. Here simply feeling the smoothness of the surfaces confirms when cleaning is complete. Films and popular television programs become accessible with the addition of audio scene descriptions. These are available through digital television, video, and some cinemas. Books can be enjoyed through the use of talking CD players. These read special CD's as well as providing bookmark navigation. They will also speak the track numbers on ordinary music CD's. Braille books are also popular with the blind. However, only 4 percent of all books are available in the accessible formats: large print, audio, or Braille. Marked playing cards, dominoes, and more recently, audio based computer games allow the blind and the visually impaired to participate fully with their sighted friends. And not just indoors. Steve regularly plays golf with the help of his playing partners calling directions and distances to the hole. And these young people show tremendous courage in taking every opportunity to build their confidence in a world without vision. And finally back to Steve Geary, who with direction from his sighted teammate, managed to score the maximum 180 in a league darts match. This story received world wide publicity and is testament to the often overlooked potential of the visually impaired. With just a little help, the blind and partially sighted can live active and independent lives and contribute fully in a busy working environment. We hope that this insight has opened your eyes to what you can do as an individual or as a business to further improve life for those coping with sight loss. Thank you for watching.

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