living well with vision loss: top assistive devices you need
assistive products can help with daily living and independence, and have become an important part of living with vision loss.
7 minute read
assistive devices drastically improve the quality of life and independence of people living with vision loss.
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there are more than two million canadians living with a vision disability, so you’re not alone if you’re having trouble with your eyesight. with aging and other factors, that two million number is projected to double over the next 25 years, leading to national healthcare costs of over $30 billion per year, according to fighting blindness canada. vision is one of our key senses, so impairment can impact a number of day-to-day enjoyments, like reading, watching tv, cooking and more – and people also face challenges of isolation, employment barriers and strain on family and caregivers.
assistive products can help with daily living and independence, and have become an important part of living with vision loss.
summary
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high-tech vision aids
price: $119.99
rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (315 ratings)
a handheld digital magnifier lets you zoom in and zoom out at different magnifications for reading labels, recipes, articles and household bills. this one by eyoyo has features like an led light for reading in bed at night, a snapshot and freeze option so you can review and go over the text slowly, and a foldable bracket so it sits on a desk. it also has colour options to find one that suits you best, and it’s small enough to carry in your pocket. another plus, you can connect it to a tv by a tv cable to view with greater magnification. common conditions like macular degeneration, where the macula or centre of the retina that’s responsible for clear vision in the direct line of sight starts to deteriorate, gradually make life more difficult. devices like digital magnifiers are recommended by the macular society to help people make the best use of their vision by learning a new approach to reading.
price: $224.38
rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars (52 ratings)
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these bluetooth smart sunglasses are especially helpful for people with low vision. they offer a safe and improved listening experience, compared to headphones, with a noise-cancelling mic for phone calls. when you’re relying more fully on your other senses, helping you hear better and have phone conversations more easily is a benefit. social fitness is a predictor of good health and happiness, as the harvard gazette reports, so connecting with others is key for people with visual impairments who can be more prone to loneliness and its associated health concerns like depression, sleep disturbance and increased risk of cardiovascular disease, researchers in taiwan write in the international journal of environmental research and public health. these glasses also have call answering, play/pause, volume adjustment and voice activation, and connect to most phones and other smart devices.
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reading and writing aids
price: $529.30
computer keyboards with braille and large print make technology accessible for people with visual impairments. this can mean an equal playing field for employment and for digital interactions with friends and family. braille is an essential tool for literacy, as rick hansen foundation points out: “braille literacy allows those with vision loss to learn the basic rules of writing and reading, including spelling, grammar and punctuation, in such a way that auditory learning cannot convey. it helps people who are blind or visually impaired understand how text is formatted on a page and increases their ability to engage with the text.” this logickeyboard braille keyboard has ergonomic support and a comfortable tactile feedback mechanism. it’s billed as easy to set up and use and requires no installation software. it’s compatible with windows 7 to 11.
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price: $30.68
“my advice for the blind community is to be prepared for what life may throw at you and be open to learning new things. i’m not afraid if i go blind from glaucoma because i know how to use braille, along with other skills,” writes jasmyn polite, a young florida woman with progressive vision loss from glaucoma, eye disease that can cause vision loss and blindness by damaging the optic nerve in the back of your eye. “braille can be helpful in many ways: labeling items, reading, making notes, etc. if it becomes more difficult for me to read print materials, braille will already be in my life.” this braille writing slate is lightweight and portable, so you can take notes and practice writing braille while you’re on the move. the dot height of about 0.3mm adds a tactile dimension for people to feel the characters as they write, helping to reinforce muscle memory and build confidence.
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daily living aids
price: $49.98
rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (206 ratings)
how often do you want to know what time it is? a wristwatch with large numbers on a large plain faceplate comes in handy for those with low vision. a one-press button on this model activates a clear voice that tells you the date and time as well. as one reviewer noted, “the size of the numbers certainly help me see the time clearly, and the talking voice is very clear and easy to understand.”
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price: $78.99
rating: 4.2 out of 5 stars (51 ratings)
a large-screen clock to set on a table offers a voice alarm and easy-to-use voice activation with one press to tell you the time and a second press to tell you the day, date and year. this one has a clear digital display. another advantage, the clock display can be turned off at night to avoid sleep disturbance of artificial night in the room. but it is still fully functional if you need to press the button for a time check.
price: $69.99
rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (10,098 ratings)
smart devices are transforming how we live and connect with the comforts of our home. for people with vision loss, voice-activated devices make operations much more user-friendly. this smart hub by philips lets you control up to 50 philips smart lights in your home by voice command through alexa, apple homekit or google assistant. you can also control your lights when you’re away from home with the philips hue app. the hub can also be paired with your nest or smartthings systems. as the canadian national institute of the blind, or cnib, points out, technology is empowering for people with low vision. the organization is advocating for tech companies to include people with lived experience in the design process for product development, and recently launched cnib access labs as a consultancy service for companies across all industries.
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price: $33.57
rating: 4.3 out of 5 stars (83 ratings)
home organization is a top priority for people with low vision to improve quality of life, with strategies like de-cluttering, having a place for everything and arranging furniture for a natural traffic flow. “taking the guesswork out of where items are stored helps people with visual impairment immensely. everything from toiletries to cereals should be kept in the same place each time you stock up so that finding them becomes routine. when you add new items to your home, label them until your loved one becomes accustomed to locating them,” writes advocate paul denikin on abilities.com. these assorted sticky labels have eight styles of bump dots to help with organizing.
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mobility and navigation aids
price: $59.99
rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (4 ratings)
aids for mobility are critical for people with low vision to be able to travel and interact with people and access services. specialty walking canes in white let sighted people know you have low vision and help you get around more easily. this cane folds up for portability and has features like a reflective film for night safety and a rolling head for detecting depressions in the ground or obstacles to avoid trips and falls.
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price: $60.51
rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars (1,191 ratings)
service dogs are navigational lifelines for people with low vision, helping alert people to potential dangers or health issues, retrieving items, and navigating sidewalks and neighbourhoods. they also bring companionship to boost health and combat the social isolation that many people with disabilities experience. one essential piece of equipment for your guide dog is the service vest and harness, like this durable one from activedogs with a clip-on bridge handle for extended reach between dog and handler.
price: free download
rating: 3.6 out of 5 stars (63 ratings)
smartphone apps that offer voice functions are great tools for everybody, especially people with low vision. this one allows you to create, plan and record routes for daily activities or special outings. it also offers voice instructions as you go, and an out-of-route alert. there are a growing number of navigation apps available for people with low vision, promoting independence and accessibility.
assistive products like these can go a long way to improving quality of life for people with vision loss. and as awareness of inclusivity in products and services continues to grow, we’ll have more options and support for people who need it most. explore these tools to help your journey for greater independence.
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