We welcome all with visual impairment
Serving Tucson and Pima County
Welcome to the Tucson Society of the Blind, TSB, website. TSB provides social and educational programs for those individuals with low or no vision. TSB provides valuable resources on coping with blindness and vision impairment. It is wonderful to meet other visually impaired seniors who can act as mentors and provide emotional support.
Join Us at our Weekly Meetings
Tuesday mornings from 9:30am- 1:00pm.
Christ Presbyterian Church
6565 E. Broadway Blvd., Tucson, AZ
Includes topic as noted on our calendar, followed by games.
3rd: Shawn Mangan, Assistant Manager of Sun Van, “Ways to improve the Sun Van service”
10th: “Ex NY Governor dealing with Vision Loss,” Annie and Barbara will give tips on how to organize your stuff
11th: Field Trip to Lovin’ Life after 50 Senior Expo. Free. Reid Doubletree Hotel, 445 S. Alvernon Way, 9:00 - 11:00 AM - Health Fair,
Raffle drawing $100 each hour, Lunch afterwards at the Olive Garden, 5410 E. Broadway; Let Barbara know by January 6th if you are coming.
13th: TSB Board Meeting 7026 E. Broadway, 10:15 AM
17th: Karla from AZ Technology Access Program, Pizza Party, Stay until 12:30 PM. Karla will demonstrate the latest visual impaired equipment. See details below
17th: Manny’s class on the iPhone on Zoom 6:30 - 8:30 PM
24th: Barbara and Annie will lead a discussion of two books “Guiding Emily,” the story of love, loss and courage, and “The Unexpected Paths” by Barbara Hinske. Both books are available from the AZ Talking Book Library and BARD. Please read the two books before the meeting.
31st: Dr. Charles Gerba, microbiologist from University of Arizona, “How to avoid germs and properly clean surfaces.”
FEBRUARY
7th: Jeff Babson AZ Biologist, “All about AZ Desert Animals and Desert Plants”
10th: Board Meeting, 10:15 Am, Biscuit Country Café, 7026 E. Broadway
14th: Heather from AZ Poison Control,”Learning about Medicine Safety, Toxic Household Substances, and How to Treat Bites and Stings," Potluck Stay until 12:30.
14th: Steve Patton, “My Life Story and Orientation and Mobility Instructor,”
21st: Manny iPhone class on Zoom, 6:30-8:30 PM, on phone 1-605-468-8020 access code 969009 pound
28th: Janiela from Tucson city government, “Tips on Fire Safety and Avoiding Falls”
We will be on the phone until March 30
Tips for the Visually Impaired: Marking and labeling and locating objects - Eye Talk by Annie Schlesinger
Similar-shaped items may be labeled with a product called “Hi-Marks”, which is a three-dimensional liquid, or with “Puff Paint”, sold at fabric and craft shops. Marks may be applied in Braille or using any coding system of dots or lines. Tactile stickers can be used or you can wrap items with rubber bands.
Record information with the voice-labeling system called “PenFriend.” Self-adhesive labels are applied and can be recorded and re-recorded. You can then scan and instantly play back the recording.
Currency can be folded in different ways to indicate the values, or you can keep different bills in different compartments of your billfold or purse. Try to practice identifying coins by feel. They are each unique.
One of my favorites is using raised dots or bumps to mark microwaves buttons, thermostats, keys, and much more. I put a dot on the top of a polarized electric cord and then easily know which way to plug it in.
Phone numbers are easy to memorize and find by touch. The number 5 usually has a raised bump on it for getting your bearings on the keypad.
Purchase a luggage locator to put in the outside pocket of your airport luggage and put the remote on your keychain. When the bags come out, hit the remote and you will hear your bag beeping. Similar items are available to attach to keys, etc. Use a brass safety pin coding system to identify color of clothing or use iron-on patches in various sizes and shapes. You can place a brass safety pin on one corner of a fitted sheet to identify and match the corner of the bed where that sheet corner goes.
Many banks and credit card companies offer a toll-free number where you can use your phone’s dial pad to access information on your account.
Being Organized, part 3 - Eye Talk by Annie Schlesinger
We’re not organized yet; this article will give more of my thoughts about it. Less is easier to manage and a well thought out routine allows time for relaxation, fun things and less anxiety.
In the kitchen clear counters are better. Take items out and put them away; you will be able to find the item later. Bins and trays keep supplies in their place.
Measuring dry or liquid ingredients on a tray makes clean up easier. A liquid indicator such as “Say When” is good when pouring liquids. A round plastic fishing float can be used for cold liquids. Find these floats in sports department.
Pay attention to knife storage. I used to have a wooden counter top block for storage but don’t have counter space for it now. I keep my sharp long knife in a drawer, sharp side down, wedged in a space next to the silverware tray. Paring knives go tip down in a heavy cup-like container in a corner of counter.
If you take long term medications see if your pharmacy has automatic renewal. I receive some medications by mail. The label can be read by a machine that was given to me.
When I leave the apartment I lock the door with the key - I always have my key with me.
I have two identical purses-one summer, one winter so items are always in the same pocket or compartment. I use cross body bag and rarely set it down when I am out; I might forget the bag or not see it.
For taxes I plan to sort items in envelopes; I may need some help with taxes.
Spots on my clothing may not be seen by me so I try to avoid them. I often wear a chest protector (bib, crumb-catcher). I did some beading on a cord, attached an alligator clip and use it with a napkin-a fashion statement! I gave one to my brother and he uses it, takes it on trips even (he likes the pearls).
My microwave has bump dots marking the controls. My mail box in mail room has bump dot on it. Answering machine, TV remote and telephone have dots besides the standard one on number 5. I have marked my thermostat and space heater controls with dots. 3D and puff paint works well on some items.
I have many things around the house marked with bump dots or 3D paint. I put dots on top of electric cords that need to be lined up a certain way.
3D paint dots in braille letters are used to mark my clothing and hats for color. Pen Friend laundry stickers and safety pin in a code are among some of the ways to mark clothing. There are commercial products or apps identifying colors; try before buying.
In my community laundry I place a cutout from a magnet sheet on the washers and dryers I am using. I have customized these with my name using 3D paint. As there are ten washers and ten dryers this is a help for me. One sighted person has adopted this idea.
New apps are coming out all the time and I try to check out all the ones I hear about that might be useful. Networking and belonging to groups help keep me up-to-date. Several apps help me read print and identify objects. There are also stand-alone machines that read print.
Finally, the end. Being organized helps us live more worry free. My memory is not as good as it used to be and I can get distracted. Return the item to its designated spot and you will be able to find it again. Control equals satisfaction!
Being Organized, part 2 - Eye Talk by Annie Schlesinger
“A place for everything and everything in its place.” This is organization! But it must be done a all times even compulsively. I will give you some of my ideas which I hope will inspire you to adopt or develop your own systems.
My mail gets sorted immediately and I immediately discard anything possible. I used to save interesting items and articles but life changes and I can’t manage piles of paper. I have autopay for most of my bills. Receipts, such as store receipts I might need later, go into a basket to save for a time. The basket is periodically cleared out but it keeps the receipts available for a time and mostly I don’t have to sort through them.
My bank has an app where I can check my account online. I also can call a phone number and hear my recent transactions. Phone calls also work for transactions on my credit card.
As well as having medical names and numbers in my phone contact list I have a printed copy. I keep a list of current medications on the refrigerator and one ready to go with me for appointments. In the hospital we kept a chart for each patient. When my husband and I were traveling in our RV, I started a narrative (chart) or history of medications and medical problems with dates. I still do “my chart”; I feel it is important to know my history and dates when things occurred.
I have a daily routine. I try to live as stress free as possible. I don’t find routine boring; I believe routine gives me time for interesting activities. You may have a different or better way of doing things. Let me know; I’m eager to learn.
Being Organized, part 1 - Eye Talk by Annie Schlesinger
When I had the idea to write about being organized, I checked the topic at the Talking Book Library - there were 18 results - on BARD there were 19. Since I am organized and believe it is very important, I am going to share some of what I do. I also read about the subject; there are common themes in the literature.
I have a routine for many things, and if I don’t follow my routine, I have trouble. When I walk into my apartment, keys, sunglasses, purse, white cane and now mask, go in their place. I keep items in the same place all the time. If I have to look for keys, etc., it creates anxiety and wastes time.
A routine for medications can be a lifesaver. I use a container with days of week sections for my vitamins. Several prescription med containers are set out in a tray on the table every morning; then the med container is returned to storage when the med is taken. According to where the container is, I can tell if I have taken the medication. My morning and evening eye drops have their places and move when used - I call it my geographic memory. When I do something every day, like medications, I sometimes can’t remember later if I took them. Now I can check container location and have some certainty.
My clothing is labeled and hung in its designated section of the closet. I label with braille using puff paint to make the dots. I learned braille letters and numbers and can use it for writing addresses and phone numbers. There are several methods of labeling: safety pins can be used. For some things I use the Pen Friend which allows me to record information on a sticker.
As I lose more of my vision I am clearing out unnecessary items. It’s difficult; lots of good stuff that I wanted at one time. But now it’s clutter and too much to manage.
I am still working on how to manage my appointments and mail. I am using the iPhone and hope will be the answer. Then there is the kitchen, ordering medications, taxes and probably more.
I believe in working out the best system for me and sticking to it. It may take some experimenting but it makes life easier.