Low Vision Tips

From the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

• Ways to label medications:

  • Use a pill organizer
  • Label with different colors of tape
  • Use rubber bands around certain prescription bottles
  • Mark bottle with large print

• Putting toothpaste on your toothbrush:

  • Put toothpaste on your finger and then place it on the toothbrush
  • Use toothpaste in a pump
  • Squirt toothpaste directly into your mouth
  • Squeeze toothpaste into a widemouth jar and dip toothbrush into it as needed

• Keeping track of phone numbers you use frequently:

  • Try to memorize numbers
  • Put each number on and index card in bold print

• Telling the difference between shampoo and conditioner:

  • Put rubber bands around one bottle
  • Paint one bottle cap
  • Label in large print

• How to organize your money:

  • Coins: there are ridges around quarters and dimes, but the edges of nickels and pennies are smooth
  • Bills: keep the bills folded in various ways - i.e. $1's kept straight, $5's folded once, and $10's folded twice

• Writing checks:

  • Use large print checks available at all banks
  • Use a check-writing guide made especially to fit over your checks
  • Use a closed circuit television

• Putting a plug in an outlet:

  • Put bright tape around the outlet
  • Replace wall socket and light switch covers with colored covers in contrast to the wall color.

• How to see the food better on your plate or beverage in your glass:

  • Pour liquids into contrasting colored containers. i.e. coffee in a white mug or milk in a dark mug.
  • Serve food on a contrasting colored disk
  • Put salt and pepper in clear dispensers so you can see the color difference.
  • Avoid busy patterns in tablecloths
  • Use a liquid leveler, which makes a buzzing sound when the liquid is level
  • When reaching for an item, keep fingers and hand close to tablecloth to avoid over-turning glass

• Setting dials on your appliances:

  • Use tactile markings at different settings on the washer or stove
  • Put brightly colored tape on dials
  • Have a good lighting system around the appliance - keep a flashlight handy.
  • Hand-held magnifiers sometimes helpful

• Safety ideas for the kitchen:

  • Use scissors more often than knives (cutting pizza, chopping etc)
  • Use muffin tins for baking potatoes, as it is easier to locate and remove the tin from the oven
  • Organize ingredients and utensils on a try when cooking 

• Cleaning tips:

  • Store all cleaning supplies in a bucket and carry it with you when cleaning
  • Wear an apron with large pockets when cleaning to keep supplies in
  • Use an old pair of cotton gloves or socks over your hand to dust

• Sewing tip :

  • A magnet can be used to pick up dropped needles or pins
  • Have several needles threaded with different colored thread to keep on hand
  • When sewing on a button that is the same color as the garment, put tissue paper between the fabric to show contrast
  • To sew a straight seam on a sewing machine, use a magnetic seam guide or put masking tape on the machine as a guide
  • When threading self-threading needles or using wire loop needle-threader, anchor the needle in a cork or a bar of soap