Exie, age 92, is facing rapidly deteriorating eyesight with a fast-moving type of macular degeneration. She enjoys life immensely, so has not let this condition wear her down. For the past five years, Exie has approached the problem as the scientist she is, researching the options, trying out various tools, attending seminars and talking to folks of every type to mine what they know.
Paul, age 13, has retinitis pigmentosa. The manifestation of this often genetically inherited set of conditions often occurs later in life, but sometimes children and youth experience its effects early on. He first experienced difficulties seeing at night; now he has tunnel vision blindness, able only to see as if through a small pinhole. His introduction to tools and options is at an early, but dramatic, stage.
How similar are these two individuals, despite the very ends of the age spectrum. When individuals are born blind or become blind as infants, they and their families are introduced to products to encourage independence that are designed specifically for people with no vision. When faced with a condition that causes progressive blindness or low vision, individuals often learn about tools as they need them.
Such is the case with talking products. They are a staple for those who are blind and often come into the lives of others as low vision progressively limits independence. The types of talking products span nearly every facet of daily activities.
For day to day activities, consider choices that help you:
• Tell time. Talking watches and clocks of every type and variety exist. You can find options with female or male voices. One of the most popular clock choices is an atomic clock that adjusts to time zones and time changes easily. Once set you can use the clock simply to tell you the date and time, or you can set alarms to help you manage other functions.
• Cook. Timers and cooking thermometers make your tasks in the kitchen easier. For those of you who love to cook candy on the stovetop, you will be delighted to know that there is even a thermometer to help you stay on top of the ever-changing temperature of bringing sweets to a boil.
• Manage your health. A talking scale can make the difference of managing your weight. Talking blood pressure monitors and glucose monitors are valuable tools in staying healthy or avoiding additional problems.
• Read. Talking books have been a staple for the blind. Those with low vision are discovering just how helpful these services are. Nowadays you can buy your own CD or DVD players equipped to handle talking media.
• Video readers. The CCTV has become more and more affordable for those with diminishing vision. The age of machines that read to you is still emerging, although the options are growing. Ovation, Sara and Extreme Reader are just a few of the major brand names that have come out in front in this field. You scan materials into the reader and it reads back to you. Of course, electronic voices do have their downside.
Choosing a machine that gives you choices will increase the odds that you will find a voice you can understand…and stand long enough to make your way through a book. Be sure to see some of the increasing popular handheld options so you can take something with you to a restaurant or shopping.
As technology continues to expand the frontier of talking tools, you will have reasonable options to consider. The more choice you have, the more possibilities exist for your independence.
Kathryn Arbour, President and Founder of Capabilities, a retailer offering products for independence, health and comfort. Visit the flagship location in Westminster, CO or online at www.capabilities.com for a selection of products for low vision and many other conditions.
