Tag: visually impaired (Page 1 of 2)

Who are the Bravest Among us?

April 11, 2022 / Edward Cohen

I’m not talking about first responders or those who willingly perform death-defying feats. Their bravery can clearly be seen. I’m talking about people who, on a daily basis, do what most people say they could never do. I’m talking about the blind, the deaf, people in wheelchairs or those with cognitive, or other challenging conditions, or even with a combination of them. They are all around you with visible and invisible differences.

Every day they get up and do what needs to be done. For some, this means dealing with life where they live. For others, it means venturing forth into the world where their “otherness” is on display. There, they must deal with a stream of small and large challenges that go unnoticed by most everyone around them.

Reading what is written on a sign, moving aside a closed door or traveling independently may not present a problem for you to overcome. But for millions of people, it is. They sometimes refer to those unchallenged by such obstacles as the “Temporarily Able Bodied” or TABs.

A TAB will often express amazement upon seeing a person with some challenge traveling independently or doing other normal things. They might say, “I couldn’t or wouldn’t be brave enough to do that”.

Not everyone with certain challenges can or will tackle the world far beyond their door. Some do so only after devoting time and effort to build skills and confidence often taught by experts. To reach their goals, some make use of technology or special equipment. For others, a service dog allows them to carry on a normal life.

Regardless if their day is spent at home, or in the wider world, dealing with and living their life in spite of what others would find a crushing weight, is why I call all these people some of the bravest among us.

And to all of you TABS, you might want to think about making the world a little easier for those dealing with some sort of challenge. Many of them were once fully able-bodied like you. Life and aging have a funny way of catching up with you and changing your perspective.

A Winter Walk to the Y

December 12, 2021 / Edward Cohen

Living where such things happen, yesterday, we received 10 inches of snow. Now today, it is sunny with a clear blue sky.

If you live with low vision as I do, you have a love/hate relationship with bright sunny days. Maybe you are even more ambivalent if you have to deal with what we up here in Minnesota call, “shovelable” levels of snow. But that is a rant for another day.

Anyway, my typical routine is to visit my local YMCA for a Sunday workout. Usually I travel the approximately 1 mile, winding bike path through the park on the 3-wheeled bike I got several years ago. While the city does a good job clearing these paths, so soon after the snow stopped falling, I chose to walk this time.

One reason to walk and not ride is because the wide 3-wheeler would take up much of the cleared path. If I were to confront a walker, in order for us to pass each other, they would have to step off the path and into deep snow. Not a Minnesota Nice thing to make someone do.

The city’s cute little snow plow left the trail slightly snow covered but pushed up almost knee-high walls of snow on both sides of the trail. It was like walking in a shallow ditch. The shadow cast by the snow wall would clearly reveal one side or the other as the trail curved along its route. In this instance, the sunshine was helpful.

Yet for us with low vision, sunny days and the resulting shadows have a dark side. Sorry, no pun intended; well maybe just a little intended. Sunny days, especially when snow abounds, require sun glasses. The normally sighted just pop them on and think nothing of it. But those with low vision need sun glasses as well. For some, a bright sunny day causes eye pain.

While we should protect our retinas from bright sun, wearing them comes at a price. We see little to nothing when something is in a shadow. Adding sun glasses guarantees we won’t see what is in that shadow. It doesn’t matter what creates that shadow. Even if it is just a large tree, we still might wonder, is that merely a shadow or a physical obstacle in our path? That is why using a white cane is so important.

On this walk while my white cane kept track of the “snow bumpers” and by seeing their cast shadow, the walk went fine. Fine, as long as you ignore that in the open parkland the windblown, sub-freezing air kept me from stopping to admire the scene.

Arriving at the Y by foot rather than by bike presented the first real challenge. Normally arriving by bike, I’d curve up the sidewalk ramp at the far end of the building and loop back to lock up close to the entrance. From there, I knew the short distance to the front doors. While there are two separate sets of stairs leading up to the front of the building, neither of them leads directly to the front doors. For some reason, the black door mat wasn’t there. Oh, did I mention, the sun was on the other side of the building putting the door side in full shade?

Once I mounted the first set of 13 steps, I was not sure exactly where the door was other than between where I stood and the other set of stairs. In such situations I have a work around. I pause while I fuss with something. In this case, it was to slowly pull off sunglasses and start to loosen my coat. While doing this, I watch closely for someone to enter or leave. The family that conveniently exited right on cue, got me smoothly to and past the outer doors. Darn those metal-finish doors with metal-finished door handles with their lack of contrast.

The next step was navigating through the inner set of doors. Again, there is little contrast, often various signs and now, snow shovels and sand buckets sitting in the space. Again, just as I stood finishing stashing mittens and hat, two laughing guys pushed open the inner doors and I slid on in.

Mark and I exchanged greetings as he logged me in. From there, I stayed on the black mat, through another door and turned to mount the stairs to the upper floor. That floor is my next, but less challenging task. Having traveled this floor for some years, I still pay attention to make the correct set of hall turns at the correct spot to get to the men’s locker room. And no, I have never messed up and accidently gone into the women’s locker room. Thank you very much!

While I am a trusting person, I do put a lock on the locker I use. I used to use one of those push-button combination locks. No key and nothing to carry around. Somehow it disappeared and I now use a lock with a key that I clip to the inside loop of my gym shorts. Since I wear that shirt and shorts under my outer clothes, they were nice and warm.

Changing foot gear is a different story. It involved pulling cold cotton socks and gym shoes from my icy gym bag. I sit on those socks as I get ready to warm them up before swapping them for my nice warm wool socks.

Once all that is done, I made my way to the rear stairs and down to the floor with the work-out room. That large space is filled with quite an array of equipment. At this hour on Sunday, there might be six or fewer present, which I like. The space is roughly divided into thirds with aerobic machines, Cybex weight machines and a free weight area or what some call as barbells. I’m a Cybex guy, so that’s where I head.

While I have a good mental map of the machines I use, I make use of another trick to get from the room’s low-contrast entrance to my area. Over the years, I’ve learned to notice the position of ceiling lights. Noticing them when entering a room can be useful as a guide. Fluorescent ceiling fixtures are usually in parallel rows. By using them and my long white cane, I can move directly to my first machine without incident.

The machines are painted white and the floor is dark, so that helps. Being familiar with how to use each of them took several visits, but by now I actually look like I know what I’m doing. There have even been times when I encountered a less-experienced Cybex user having difficulty with an adjustment whom I was able to help. I’ll bet they will have a story to tell about how this blind guy helped them.

After an hour or so, I’m ready to give the 15 machines I just used a well-earned rest. Using the ceiling light guides, I head straight to and through the room entrance. From there it is back up the stairs, down the hall and into the locker room.

Back before the Great Disruption as I now call it, I would shower there. Now I don’t. I toss my workout duds into my gym bag, pull on a different t-shirt and all my winter gear. Then I head out and back home. By now, random glimpses of the dark pavement below begin peaking out. They provide additional helpful color contrast for my walk back home.

I know that this is not a particularly exciting story, but during the walk home I thought some might like to hear some of the tips and tricks I use in various situations. Maybe I could have left out the part about warming my socks.

Why I Finally Started Using a Long White Cane

September 20, 2020 / Edward Cohen

Long before I decided to begin using a long white cane, I recognized that my eyesight was declining and impacting many aspects of my life.

Among other things, my condition, RP, steals the light-gathering cells in your retina. Meaning, where others could easily see to navigate, either inside or out, I struggled. As it worsened, I hesitated going out alone at night. I hesitated going out with people who didn’t know my sight challenges. Even on a sunny day, if a shadow wasn’t being cast by steps, I could go flying down them. I really needed to start using a white cane. But, like so many in that situation, I held off.

The big wake-up call happened at age 45 when I failed the vision test for my driver’s license. A follow-up visit to my eye doctor sealed the news. He pronounced that I now met the terms for being legally blind. As I sat dejected in the exam chair, he recommended I contact service providers who, among other things, could get me the white cane training I’d need.

For months, I vacillated between thinking of following the doctor’s advice and holding off. I couldn’t verbalize what kept me from taking his sensible advice. I knew no blind person to whom I could talk about this.

In my case and maybe for others, my reluctance was really based on fear. No, I wasn’t afraid of the cane itself, it was fear of what people I knew would now think about me when I appeared with a white cane. Fear that I’d no longer be seen as the competent guy that I knew I was. Fear that coworkers or supervisors might start treating me differently and maybe start questioning my work. Fear that friends would feel sorry for me and want to be overly helpful. Maybe I was just uncomfortable at the thought of beginning to present as a blind person.

Then there is the thing that guys might not talk about. If you’re at the age when you’re hoping to go out on dates or find a partner for life, a guy is likely to think his chances are slim if he advertises his disability.

On that point, significant vision-loss wasn’t a factor until after I married. But before we were engaged, I told her of my retina condition. I explained that already, I was uncomfortable with night-driving and it would probably get worse. Her response was simply, “Well okay, then let me start doing all the night driving”. And that was all there was to it. I’m a lucky guy.

During a period when I was open to the idea of using a cane, I learned there was a local chapter of a national blind organization in my city and they had an upcoming meeting. Meeting and talking to both vision-impaired and totally blind members over a period of months, gradually got me over the hump. I obtained my first folding cane and started learning proper travel techniques.

As I practiced with the cane on walking trails, it was obvious how helpful the cane was. No more tripping on uneven pavement or stepping into water-filled holes. Those coming towards me assumed I didn’t see them and gave me wide berth. Past concerns I’d bump into people, happily vanished.

I worked in a large government complex downtown and had a responsible job. Even as my vision declined, I was able to successfully travel inside and around the buildings. I never ended up pulling my folding cane out of my shoulder bag at work. I did use that cane to get to the bus from home, from the bus to the building and then reverse it all at the end of the day.

I did use a cane when I became involved with new volunteer organizations. I did use it whenever we traveled by plane or train. Beside the benefits I’ve already mentioned, a bonus was if I stepped into a confusingly designed or poorly lit public restroom, some helpful guy might be in there and offer some useful directions. If I accidently bumped into someone, my apology and the sight of my cane always prevented any misunderstanding.

This isn’t a blog on where to go to get assistance. Dear reader, you could be living anywhere. But, you might reach out to those in your community who work with seniors or contact your local or state library. If you have access to the internet, search for the word “blind organization” and the name of your state. If you have such a thing, consult your phone book.

My relationship with my white caned totally changed when we moved to a new city. I decided I’d use my cane from then on. Now everyone who knows me here, knows me as a cane user. Perhaps it is being older, but I now am proud to walk throughout my community showing that blind people can safely travel independently and are otherwise, no different than anyone else.

I admit that I am not the person who can preach to anyone about boldly stepping forward to start being a cane user as soon as it would help. I can only say that once I got and learned how to use my white cane, many things I feared did not happen. And at the same time, challenges I previously faced greatly diminished or ended.

If low vision is making you uncomfortable going around independently, I’d urge you to reach out to any of the many organizations that exist and are anxious to help you.

When Where You Are Is Not Where You Want To Be

February 1, 2018 / Edward Cohen

This Blog Post is quite different than my other ones. This one came to me over time and seemed worth sharing. I’m trying to put into words a philosophy for dealing with my vision-loss. It’s an attitude I’m trying to live by. Perhaps it will strike a chord with you. Here’s how this thought came to me.

I have more trouble seeing now than I did about a year ago. I have a couple of routes that I can walk to get to the store, the coffeeshop and downtown. One is more shaded by trees than the other, so when it’s hot I take the more shaded route. While the coolness is nice, it is also darker. A year ago, I could make out the curves in the sidewalk and paths where the shade was deepest.

However, this year I realized that I no longer could see the path in those shaded spots. It was disheartening to face the reality that my eyesight had declined so much so fast. I stood there soaking in what this meant. After a bit, with no visual clues, my handy long white cane found and kept me on the path. I slowly get past this and other sections and back on my way.

Over time, I started to try and see beyond the deeply shaded sections. If I could make out where the path picked up beyond these sections, I’d aim for them. Combining confidence that comes from using my long white cane, some eyesight and this method, I’d get through these spots more quickly. Later, I realized that if I could see someone on the path ahead of me, I’d try to use them as a moving target.

It was on one of those walks that it dawned on me that such a practice could be an allegory for the way one lives their life. There will be times in our lives when we may feel lost, getting nowhere or unhappy with our current situation.

But if you have a big goal or a series of smaller goals, you have that spot in the path ahead to aim for. If you don’t have such goals or if they are vague, work on them. Having goals and working towards them can be very helpful.

I also noticed that If someone was a bit ahead of me on the trail, I could use them to point the way forward. I translate this to mean, find or learn about someone who has walked a path similar to yours. Especially if they are now in a “place” more like where you’d like to be. Guides, role models and mentors can make all the difference as you travel along your path.
Edward Cohen is the creator of the EZ2See® weekly planner/calendar.

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Saving Face: Spatial Awareness Suggestions

January 25, 2018 / Edward Cohen

By saving face I don’t mean avoiding embarrassment, but it could mean that too. I’m really talking about actually avoiding running your head or face into things while moving about your place. Why in the world would this happen?

If you are someone who moves with ramrod straight posture, you can skip this blog post. For the rest of us whose posture tends to assume a slight bow, read on.

Moving in this way puts your head slightly forward of your torso. In this position, with good eyesight in dark spaces, it’s potentially more likely for your head or face to contact the corners of walls or partially open doors.

To reduce injury, consider these ideas.

Try to always keep doors fully open or fully closed. Close cabinet doors before walking away.
Little lights can be helpful. Put nightlights in selected outlets to offer some “navigation” aids.
Create your own “early warning system.” This means that your hands will contact the object before the rest of you. Use this defensive move when you aren’t positive of the situation, when going around corners or passing through doorways. Here’s how I do it.
1. With your thumb pointing up, pivot one arm up so your hand is about centered on your body at a comfortable height. Keep your fingers slightly curved towards you and won’t get jammed if they contact an object before the rest of you does.
2. For extra protection, position both hands in front of you and lightly press your fingers together or rest one against the other’s palm or forearm. Whatever seems comfortable to you, just be sure those fingers are several inches in front of any part of your face that you have become fond of.

But accidents can happen even when you’re standing still. When you bend over, you can run your face into something below and in front of you. The goal is to always remember to check before bending over. Some things to remember to do before bending down:

Sweep your foot or hand in front of you to see if something is there,
Bend over slowly rather than immediately reaching for a dropped object,
Take a step backwards before bending over, or
If you can, lower yourself instead of bending at the waist.

Changing lifelong habits takes awhile. The key is to begin to transition to habits that help you. Let me know if you found something here helpful.

This is my husband’s second year for your calendar and pen order. LOVE THEM ALL!!
Your product is great and has given my husband his “freedom” back – he knows when his appointment are without needing to ask anyone He loves being in control of his schedule and life. Independence – a very good thing to keep as long as physically possible!!
Thank you again, from both myself and my husband.

Alexis S. Port Angeles, WA

Edward Cohen is the creator of the EZ2See® weekly planner/calendar.

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Finding Stuff, Part 2: Knowing Your Clothes

January 18, 2018 / Edward Cohen

Finding stuff and then knowing what it is

Here are some tips to consider when poor eyesight impacts identifying your clothing items. What ever you do, it has to work for you. Too many rules and it might not work over the long term. You know yourself. Find the right balance of simplicity and complexity that will help you.

The fewer variety of colors, patterns and styles you have, the less confusing it will be.
I love safety pins. I use them to keep pairs of socks together before tossing them in the hamper.
By putting the pin at the top, heel or tow of the sock pair, it tells me the sock colors or material.
Do you have a pullover top that you have trouble identifying the front from the back? Put a safety pin inside the rear collar.

Make your Closet a Helpful System

Organize related items by hanging them on the left or right side. If there are other natural dividers on the closet rod, use them.
Use different types of hangers for similar things.
Point the open end of the hanger hook facing towards or away for similar items.
Hang tops and bottoms that go together on the same hanger.
Let which side the buttons on a button up top face mean something.

If you swap out seasonal Items, maintain any order you’ve created by storing similar items together.

As I’ve said before, there are professionals trained in methods that will make your life easier. Track down where you can find them. Your state will have a program for either seniors or the blind. Start by reaching out to them.

Lastly, if you have systems that work for you, please share them with me.

Edward Cohen is the legally-blind creater of the EZ2See® weekly planner/calendar.

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Finding stuff, Part 1: In the Kitchen

January 11, 2018 / Edward Cohen

Finding stuff and then knowing what it is

If your eyesight no longer gives you the information you need about the world around you, it’s time to pay more attention to other senses. The sense of touch is the sense most used by low-vision and blind people to learn about the world around them. Below are things that I’ve come up with that work for me. Please share some that work for you. You may need sighted assistance to set up some of these.

I’ve divided these tips into two parts. This one focuses on dining issues and finding and identifying things in the kitchen. The next one deals with clothing issues.

Making eating a bit easier

Yes, you can touch your food to help get it onto a fork, but probably not when dining with strangers.
If you have some sight, consider selecting a plate or bowl with a color that contrasts with the contents to makes food easier to spot.
Some meals are easier eaten in a bowl instead of on a plate. This might help when dining out.

What’s in this container?

Rubber bands are my friend. Here are a few ways I use them.

There are several similar salad dressing bottles in the fridge door, but my Italian dressing is the only one adorned with a rubber band.
We store many dry items in identical glass jars. The one with my corn chips have a rubber band around the cap. My cracker jar has a rubber band around the bottle cap.
Olives always go into the same glass jar on which I’ve put a tactile bump on the cap.
Consider learning the braille alphabet. Then you can use adhesive labels with a word or letter.

Where is that button?

Our microwave and other appliances have a flat screen display, useless for the blind and low-vision.

I put a tactile bump on the microwave 30 second and off button and I’m good to go. These tactile bumps are small adhesive-backed raised dots. An example you are familiar with is the one your cabinet doors close against, to protect the wood. Find them online or at a hardware, big box or dollar store.

There are so many handy tips and devices to make kitchen tasks easier. Consider finding and working with a trained rehabilitation teacher. They can be very helpful.

My next post deals with identifying and managing clothing.

Edward Cohen is the creator of the EZ2See® weekly planner/calendar.

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Now where did I put that? Breaking unconscious habits

January 4, 2018 / Edward Cohen

In my last Blog Post, I said I would begin to discuss those unconscious habits that may no longer serve you and what to do about them. This post discusses the all too common situation of briefly setting down an item and then not being able to quickly find it.

Before I start, let’s agree that it will help if you assign a place for an item and then always put it back there. This is, of course, much easier to do if small children aren’t around.

The key to breaking habits is to pause at the critical moment to consider your options and only then continue. At first you won’t regularly pause. But keep trying, eventually you will.

Here are some options to consider when you pause:

Option 1: Get a grip

Consider not setting the item down at all. Obvious, right? If you don’t set it down, you won’t be looking for it all over. Evaluate what you’re holding. For example if it is something small and light like a bread bag twisty, you might grasp it lightly between your teeth. You’re unlikely to misplace it there.

Option 2: Got pockets?

If clenching it in your teeth isn’t appropriate, what about putting it in your pocket, assuming you have one? Of course, you’ll have to remember you put it there. Think of the old joke of the person looking for their glasses only to find them resting on their forehead.

Option 3: Corner the problem

Consider that a 3 foot by 5 foot table has over two thousand square inches. Plus, if the table has stuff on it or your vision is poor, finding what you set down can be even harder.

Now consider that most tables or counter tops likely have no more than four corners. If you get in the habit of setting things down on corner, you’ll only need to look in one or two places which could greatly reduce your frustration finding things.

Even kitchen counters may have inside or outside corners. If not, consider the corners of those fixed objects that sit on the counter top.

My next post will deal with reducing and dealing with dropping things.

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Sharing Tips I’ve Learned

December 27, 2017 / Edward Cohen

Occasionally I’m invited to share lessons I’ve learned as I deal with vision loss and show some of the devices I find helpful. At more than one, I’m encouraged to put this information on to the internet. So here goes.

The first thing you need to know is that every state has a program specifically devoted to assisting people of all ages who are dealing with vision loss and blindness. They are a tremendous resource, so seek out your state’s program. Look for State Services for the Blind or something like it. They have professionals who can come out to you and they may also be able to provide useful training, products and/or devices at no charge.

Over my 60+ years, I slowly at first and later more rapidly, lost eyesight. In a way, I’m lucky. I’ve had the time to learn a lot of coping skills. I’m convinced that a big part of dealing with vision loss is mental. By mental, I mean the many unconscious habits we have. Perhaps these actions were positive and helpful in the past. But it’s likely that some of them are not anymore. Some may now even be harmful or dangerous.

Your challenge is to recognize those habits that are no longer helpful. Let’s call them, “Habits to Stop” or H2S. One clue that you’ve found an H2S is when you find yourself frustrated over something you just did such as walking in, setting your keys down and later can’t find them. When you notice an H2S, you might even want to stop and say out loud, “Oh, an H2S”. Finding and replacing it is the solution and your mission.

Once you’ve spotted an H2S, you’re on the path to success. The next step is to find a replacement habit. Lastly repeat it until it becomes subconscious and automatic.

In my next several blog posts, I will get very specific on the helpful habits I’m using. I hope you’ll let me know if you find any of them helpful. Perhaps you’ll share some of your own.

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When I get an order through the mail

December 20, 2017 / Edward Cohen

One of the major things that motivated me to turn this calendar idea from something just for me into what it is now, was the feeling I got hearing the comments from those first enthusiastic buyers. I’d think to myself, “Wow, I’m really helping someone”. Could this be what a teacher, medical professional or the like experiences as they go about their work? How few of us ever get to experience such a feeling.

As each handwritten first time or repeat mail order form arrives, it reminds me of that original feeling. Sometimes people give me feedback via the website or in a note stuck in the envelope. How rewarding it is to hear that this simple product is making a difference in people’s daily life.

While orders to resellers and over the Internet to individuals are a vote of confidence, these mail-order customers are somehow special to me. I hope I never lose this feeling.

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