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Home   >   Everyday Life

Strategies for Everyday Situations

Everyday Living
  • Skills You Need for Every Day Living by Vision Aware
  • Common Signs of Vision Loss by MCB/DDS Partnership
    • Common Signs PDF  /  Common Signs RTF
  • ​Creating a Safe Environment by MCB/DDS Partnership​
    • Creating a Safe Environment PDF  /  Creating a Safe Environment RTF
  • Sensitivity to Vision Loss: How to Best Assist a Person Who Has Visual Impairment by MCB/DDS Partnership 
    • Sensitivity PDF / Sensitivity RTF
  • Dining Strategies by MCB/DDS Partnership   ​
    • Dining PDF  /  Dining RTF
  • Making Adjustments: Tips That Will Keep You Doing the Things You Need and Love to Do by Ophthalmic Edge
  • HALOS - Home Appliance Label and Overlay System by Tangible Surface Research
  • Personal Self Care  by Vision Aware
  • ScriptAbility Prescription Accessibility System by En-Vision America
    • Find a Pharmacy
    • ScripTalk Demonstration from the Blind Life
  • Accessible Pharmacy-a comprehensive, home delivery pharmacy service specializing in the needs of people who are blind, DeafBlind and have low vision​​
  • Caring for the Visually Impaired A Handbook of Resources for the Informal Caregiver (PDF) by Prevent Blindness
  • It's the Person First Then the Disability by Pacer Center
  • People First Language by Disability Is Natural 

Communication
  • Total Communication from Perkins
  • How To: Constructing Object Communication Symbols from Tech Access of Rhode Island
  • About Deafblindness Communication from Deafblind Information Australia
  • Resources for creating communication and/or communication systems are available through American Printing House for the Blind:
    • Tactile Connections Kit: Symbols for Communication
    • STACS: Standardized Tactile Augmentive Communication Symbols Kit
    • Tactile Strategies for Children Who Have Visual Impairments and Multiple Disabilities: Promoting Communication and Learning Skills

Organization Strategies
  • Household Organization by Vision Aware  
  • Task Organization by MCB/DDS Partnership    ​
    • Task Organization PDF  /  Task Organization RTF

Cleaning and Care of Canes and Eyewear
  • Keeping Canes, Visual Aids, Cellphones and Devices Spotless and Sanitized by MCB/DDS Partnership
    • Keeping Canes Sanitized (PDF)
    • Keeping Canes Sanitized (RTF)​
  • How to Take Care of Your Eyeglasses by Consumer Reports
  • How to Clean Glasses from All About Vision 
  • How to Clean Glasses without Ruining Them by Zenni Optical
  • Cleaning Canes, Crutches and Walkers (PDF)
  • Stop Glasses from Fogging Up from Select Specs  ​​
Adjusting to Vision Loss
  • Workshop and Tips for Adjusting to Vision Loss from Hadley
  • Coping with Vision Loss by Vision Aware
Accessible Environments​
  • Universal Design by Institute for Human Centered Design
  • ​Creating a Safe Environment by MCB/DDS Partnership ​
    • Creating a Safe Environment PDF  /  Creating a Safe Environment RTF
Lighting and Glare
  • Lighting and Glare by Vision Aware 
  • Glare and Bright Lights from Enhanced Vision

Fall Prevention
  • Video: 6 Steps to Prevent a Fall by National Council on Aging
  • Older Adult Fall Prevention by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Bifocals Might Trip You Up by Health Day
  • Older Adult Falls by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
  • Preventing Falls by Vision Aware
  • Fall Proofing Your Home by Go4Life from National Institute on Aging at NIH

Dementia
  • Visual Perception and Dementia by MCB/DDS Partnership
    • Visual Perception PDF  
    • Visual Perception RTF
  • Dementia Friends
  • National Task Group on Intellectual Disabilities and Dementia Practices

Wheelchair Safety
  • Safe Transportation of People in Wheelchairs by UMass Medical School & Massachusetts DDS. 
  • Training: Safe Transportation of People who use Wheelchairs by Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services 
  • ​Passenger Assistive Techniques PDF
Fire Safety 
  • Fire safety outreach materials for people with disabilities by U.S. Fire Administration
  • Smart 911 ​
  • Guide to Teaching Fire Safety to Students with Disabilities by The Minger Foundation
Natural Disasters and Emergencies
  • Individuals with Disabilities: Preparedness from Ready.gov
  • Disaster Safety for People with Disabilities from American Red Cross

See Also:

Picture: cane tip
Orientation & Mobility 
Picture: park benches
Recreation
Picture: newspaper boxes on sidewalk
News & Information Access
Picture: wheelchair symbol
Products for Accessibility
Photo of computer keyboard
Technology for Low Vision & Blindness
Picture: man and woman using human guide technique
MCB/DDS Services & Resources
Picture: magnifying glass
Local & National Organizations
Picture
Vision Loss Support Groups
For more information please contact: 
Lisa DiBonaventura,  M.A.,  COMS
Statewide Director Vision & Vision Loss Services
Department of Developmental Services  (DDS)
Email: Lisa.DiBonaventura@mass.gov
About                   Contact                  FAQ
Site Accessibility & Download Policy
Please note: By posting these Web links, it is not our intention to endorse or recommend the sites. These sites are being offered only as informational resources.  
"Focus" on Vision and Vision Loss: Meeting the Needs of Individuals with Intellectual Disability
  • MCB/DDS
    • About >
      • Site Accessibility & Download Policy
      • Vision Loss Terminology
    • APH Federal Quota Account >
      • APH Activity Ideas
    • DDS Collaborative Eye Care Clinics
    • Orientation & Mobility/Low Vision Services >
      • Areas Served
      • COMS Log In
    • Let's Walk Together
    • Vision Loss Support Groups
    • EOHHS Resources
  • Eye Care
    • Find an Eye Care Provider >
      • By Town >
        • Athol
        • Ayer
        • Beverly
        • Boston
        • Burlington
        • Cambridge
        • Chelmsford
        • Chelsea
        • East Bridgewater
        • East Harwich
        • Fairhaven
        • Fall River
        • Falmouth
        • Fitchburg
        • Framingham
        • Franklin
        • Gardner
        • Greenfield
        • Groveland
        • Holyoke
        • Lexington
        • Lowell
        • Marlborough
        • Melrose
        • New Bedford
        • Newton
        • North Dartmouth
        • North Reading
        • Plymouth
        • Quincy
        • Revere
        • Sagamore
        • Salem
        • Sandwich
        • Shelburne Falls
        • South Dennis
        • Spencer
        • Springfield
        • Sturbridge
        • Sudbury
        • Taunton
        • Tewksbury
        • Waltham
        • Wareham
        • Watertown
        • Wellesley
        • West Springfield
        • Winthrop
        • Worcester
    • NECO SEMA >
      • NECO Student Access
    • MCPHS Eye and Vision Center
    • DDS Vision Care Guidelines
    • Eye Health & Safety
    • Eye Conditions & Simulations >
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    • In the News
  • Everyday Life
    • Strategies
    • COVID Resources
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    • Orientation & Mobility >
      • Movement, Safety and Fun
    • Recreation >
      • Leisure and Learning at Home
    • Local & National Organizations
  • Tech and Access
    • Apps for Vision Loss
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  • Students
    • Birth - 22 >
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    • Focus Blog
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    • Contact
  • Training
    • "Focus Talks"
    • Conferences & Workshops
    • Online Courses & Webinars
    • Downloadable Resources & Videos
    • Train the Trainer: Human Guide >
      • Trainer Log In (password needed)
    • Train the Leader: Support Groups >
      • Support Group Leader Log in (password required)