tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35371746623748296562024-03-12T20:17:18.845-04:00Living with Legal BlindnessMy husband has been legally blind for over twenty-five years. Over the years, we have learned a great deal about low vision aids and ways to make our home more convenient for him. Join us as we explore and explain our adjustment to his low vision.Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-84288836320208480892011-08-05T14:35:00.000-04:002011-08-05T09:08:40.486-04:00Tips for Adjusting to Legal Blindness<script type="text/javascript"><!--
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This was dictated to me by my dear husband -- his attitude and love of life are a good life lesson for all of us. Enjoy!<br />
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I have been legally blind for 20 years. As a former golf professional and professional baseball player, this was an extremely difficult adjustment. However, as the years have passed, I have learned ways to cope and make small adjustments. I can no longer read the paper or drive a car. But, I still play golf 4 or 5 times a week, walk my dog in the early mornings, dance with my wife when we have an opportunity for dancing. I enjoy oldies music, mostly rock and roll from the sixties.<br />
First thing in the morning, I push the button on the coffee pot. My wife presets my coffee mug with a spoon, and the cream and sugar nearby. She prepares the coffee the night before. Then my dog and I go for our walk, usually before daylight. I wear a flashing light on my waist so that folks who are up and about early in the mornings can see me.<br />
I settle at my desk to begin the days' work. I easily operate a push button telephone by touch even though I have never received any formal training. I make telephone calls for a local insurance company. I have done this also in the past for the Better Business Bureau, the Chamber of Commerce, a business forms company, and a telephone company. The most calls I have ever made in a day was 100! That was a busy day!<br />
I watch (listen) to sports on television in the evenings. I find I can easily keep up with news and sports via the television, even though I am unable to see it clearly.<br />
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<!-- SiteSearch Google -->Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-37416075841088834682011-08-05T09:17:00.000-04:002011-08-05T09:17:53.017-04:00Golf Strategies for the Legally BlindWe have discovered a few things that help me continue to enjoy golf. My golf balls are marked with a huge black dot, so that I can easily identify them. <br />
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We use white tape on my golf clubs, and mark the club number with a big black magic marker. These have to be redone from time to time, but for now, this is the best solution we can devise. <br />
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and as I said earlier, I am blessed with the best friends a guy could have!Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-7464000777466283222010-01-19T08:16:00.001-05:002010-01-19T08:20:36.885-05:00Kitchen Aids for SeniorsI found the greatest selection of <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/blind-kitchen-tools">kitchen tools for the disabled</a>. Explore my list and let me know if you know of one I have not included. I do love kitchen tools and gadgets that make my senior years easier, don't you?<iframe src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=thegosacctojo-20&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00004OCNJ&fc1=000000&IS2=1<1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align:left;padding-top:5px;width:131px;height:245px;padding-right:10px;" align="left" scrolling="no" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" frameborder="0"></iframe>Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-29627687433080620192009-11-14T15:49:00.004-05:002009-11-20T06:07:34.154-05:00Talking Microwave OvenI am thrilled to discover a <a href="http://hubpages.com/hub/Talking-Microwave-Oven">talking microwave oven</a>! what a super help this will be.<br /><br />My husband has been unable to use the microwave since we remodeled the kitchen, and the old one with the dial was just worn out! Hamilton Beach presented their new talking microwave and I am so glad they did! <br /><br />This will make a super Christmas present for him!Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-88843577005985135972009-10-29T11:03:00.002-04:002009-10-29T11:06:32.776-04:00Talking Wrist Watch<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AS45CVpJJYLt71lMpkrJqHMb08WXUFqchZWfCqyXneTA38qmPMgZR9di6P1ve70Q8rijlQzVNJQSFB_595VUqYWWc0nGu-K4ppyx3Zh_xI3p9Y3Cp2m-PdufO_RKyh-zrN7eLqJLvOqX/s1600-h/Whitey+at+Erskine+Open.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 391px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_AS45CVpJJYLt71lMpkrJqHMb08WXUFqchZWfCqyXneTA38qmPMgZR9di6P1ve70Q8rijlQzVNJQSFB_595VUqYWWc0nGu-K4ppyx3Zh_xI3p9Y3Cp2m-PdufO_RKyh-zrN7eLqJLvOqX/s400/Whitey+at+Erskine+Open.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5398038496163236642" /></a><br />Whitey's talking watch is a necessity! He uses it constantly. The talking watch is the one item he absolutely must have.<br /><br />I created a site featuring an assortment of talking watches. If you need a good talking watch, you certainly can find one in this selection which includes talking watches for ladies, men, and children!<br /><br /><a href="http://www.squidoo.com/talking-wrist-watch">Talking Wrist Watch</a>Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-76238505079155261192009-08-15T09:42:00.002-04:002009-08-15T09:46:49.248-04:00Talking Alarm ClockEverything in our house "talks", I think! But the most important piece of equipment in this house is by far hubby's talking watch!<br /><br />I cannot imagine our lives without it. In fact, we always keep a spare just in case!<br /><br />Those of us with normal vision easily take for granted our ability to tell time. Imagine waking up in the middle of the night and not knowing if it is time to wake up yet. <br /><br />Oh, and I keep forgetting to tell you this little tip, too! We went shopping for new shoes last week. We always buy velcro closing shoes for Whitey. Such a help! Tying shoes can be a real hassle when you cannot see well. The velcro closures are wonderful!Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-73235698871387171032009-08-10T08:17:00.005-04:002009-08-10T08:23:00.947-04:00Blind Joke of the DaySometimes we just need a good laugh - the "blind" joke in my mailbox this morning -- just for you!<br /><br /><br />Returning home from work, a blonde was shocked to find her house ransacked and burglarized. She telephoned the police at once and reported the crime. The police dispatcher broadcast the call on the radio,and a K-9 unit, patrolling nearby, was the first to respond.<br /><br />As the K-9 officer approached the house with his dog on a leash, the blonde ran out on the porch, shuddered at the sight of the cop and his dog, then sat down on the steps. Putting her face in her hands, she moaned, 'I come home to find all my possessions stolen. I call the police for help, and what do they do? They send me a BLIND policeman!'Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-36437799875868270272009-08-08T06:54:00.007-04:002009-08-08T07:15:27.653-04:00The Necessity of Low Vision Aids<span style="font-weight:bold;">Low Vision Aids</span> - sometimes a necessity, often a convenience. Either way, I recommend that you try some of the wide range of products available.<br /><br />I simply cannot imagine our lives without talking watches! A talking watch in this house is a necessity, for sure. <br /><br />If you click on this <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/low-vision-aids">highlighted link</a>, you can quickly see 5 or 6 of the most popular <span style="font-weight:bold;">aids for the blind</span>. <br /><br />I write often on a site called Squidoo -- it's easy for me to share products and information for the blind on Squidoo - I write lenses about my husband and his adjustment to this frightening diagnosis.<br /><br />When you visit any of my <span style="font-style:italic;">lenses</span> - Squidoo's word for small web pages, you will find what I hope is helpful information. I write from personal experience, and I hope you will visit often. I have a series of "lenses" on this subject.<br /><br />We purchase <span style="font-weight:bold;">low vision products</span> from <a href="http://edge.affiliateshop.com/public/AIDLink?AID=098537&Redirect=/prodinfo.asp?number=756474">Independent Living Aids</a>. We have found them to be helpful and their product range is complete. They even have products for the hearing impaired. Their customer service is excellent, too!Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-41758678037551072512009-07-14T09:05:00.002-04:002009-07-14T09:18:43.077-04:00Talking Alarm ClockAround our house it seems everything talks -- especially <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/talking-alarm-clock">clocks</a> and watches! But, I am thankful! All that super equipment helps my legally blind husband adjust and stay on track with the rest of the world.<br /><br />I recently made a Squidoo lens about the talking alarm clocks and I would like for you to see it! Just click on the title to this article or on the highlighted word "clocks" in the paragraph above.<br /><br />As always, if you are seeking items to help your legally blind friend or relative, I hope you will tell me. I constantly research vision aids, and if you will leave your question in the comment section, here or on the Squidoo lens, I will be happy to do some searching for you.Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-32752032980149688552009-03-06T20:24:00.002-05:002009-03-06T20:27:30.533-05:00"Watching" TelevisionWell, the new television cable boxes came in. A delightful young lady helped us set them up. But alas, the boxes have tiny little buttons that are extremely difficult for my legally blind husband to manage.<br /><br />I have heard that a big button remote can be purchased. I am investigating that possibility and will let you know right here as soon as I find one that he can use. So stay tuned!Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-57148810067993227042009-02-17T18:43:00.002-05:002009-02-17T18:47:00.453-05:00Legally Blind- What Does It Mean?The most widely accepted definition of legally blind in the United States is vision of 20/200 or less in the best eye using glasses or other type of correction. Glasses have not been helpful to my husband, however, and his vision has continued to deteriorate over the past twenty years.<br /><br />Thank goodness he has a great attitude! He cannot drive a car or read a book or the newspaper anymore, but we do continue to enjoy life! He uses 4x6 index cards to keep track of customers and friends and writes with 20-20 pens . His desk is filled with stacks of cards - golf buddies, Optimist Club Golf Tournament players, business contacts. I have seen him make as many as 100 telephone calls in a day. He uses a regular desk style touch-tone telephone.<br /><br />Our children learned very important coping lessons from their dad. They were young when he was first diagnosed and they watched as gradually his vision decreased. He has not actually seen our daughter since she was 12 years old, but two years ago, he proudly walked her down the aisle when she married -- and they danced the Father-Daughter dance at the reception with skill and joy.<br /><br />You are welcome to discover more about Whitey's sense of humor at <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/legally-blind-blunders">Legally Blind Blunders</a>, a Squidoo lens about his funniest experiences. You can also read about his golf experiences at <a href="http://www.squidoo.com/legally-blind-and-plays-golf">Legally Blind Golfer</a>.Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3537174662374829656.post-84778047855482095602007-11-01T15:19:00.000-04:002007-11-01T15:22:51.117-04:00GolfI enjoy golf. I live near the golf course, so I walk up the street and hit balls on the range 2-3 times a day. I play golf as often as I can, usually 3 or 4 times a week. <br />I use 4x6 cards and a wide marker (called 20/20 available from Maxiaids.com) to keep track of potential customers. <br />And the other thing I simply cannot do without is my talking watch! But I do have to remember to turn it off for weddings and funerals. lol It announces every hour, and then there is a button to push for the exact time whenever I need that. Again, from Maxi-aids. about $10, so we keep 2 or 3 of those on hand all the time.Joan Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02879046159510774557noreply@blogger.com0