How to Use E.A.R.S. Lesson Tapes
• List of the subjects the lessons cover
• Recommended ways to work with the lessons
• How to use and mark a cassette tape player
• Common attitudes about the onset of blindness
• Overcoming depression because of sight loss
The Kitchen Environment
• Lighting: brightness, glare and shadowing
• Using contrasting colors to increase visibility
• The use of a magnifying glass
• Plugging in electrical appliances
• General kitchen safety tips with low vision
Marking the Stove and Microwave
• Safely checking the burners for heat
• Accurately setting the burners and oven temperature
• Marking the controls with tactile dots
• Using the tactile indicators
• Marking the microwave controls
Basic Kitchen Skills
• Modifying kitchen organization for low vision
• Techniques to identify foods and spices
• Pouring liquids without spilling
• Methods for accurately measuring liquid and dry ingredients
• Safely using a sharp knife
• Preparing for and cleaning-up a major spill
Eating Without Embarrassment
• Locating and identifying items at a place setting
• Picking up and setting down a glass without spilling
• Using a fork to identify food items on a plate
• Cutting bite sized pieces of meat
• Identifying and using the salt and pepper shakers
• Eating soup and salad with less of a mess
• Restaurant Tips on dining out
Indoor Mobility
• The “trailing technique” for safe in-home travel
• Forearm protective positions
• Orienting by “squaring off” from a stable location
• Identifying and using landmarks
• Minimizing potentially hazardous situations
Using a Sighted Guide
• What is a sighted guide
• Holding on to a sighted guide
• Switching to the other side of the guide
• Changing directions
• You and the guide in narrow places
• Going through a doorway
• Going up and down stairs
• Teaching a new person to be your sighted guide
Managing Medications
• Using over the counter remedies while taking prescription drugs
• Using a seven day pill box organizer
• Identifying your various prescription bottles
• A marking system to identify various drugs and their dosage
• Making and using a big-print prescription information notebook
• Administering eye drops
• Measuring oral liquid medications
Personal Grooming
• Bathroom organization
• Tactile marking systems for identifying personal care products
• Using contrasting colors to aid with grooming
• Bathroom lighting
• Using a magnifier
• Grooming tips: shaving, hair, make-up
Doing the Laundry
• Sorting the clothes for consistent organization
• Pinning pairs of socks together
• Safely going up and down the basement stairs
• Accurately measuring detergent and bleach
• Marking the dials of the washer and dryer
Using the Telephone
• Dialing the telephone without looking
• Making and using a big-print phone directory
• Services available for legally blind phone consumers
• Large print attachments for the phone
