'Representing the Deafblind Community in Victoria'

Posts tagged ‘braille’

Deafblind tips 5 – Raised dots and labels for appliances

For many years I have used a microwave oven to cook or heat up food. I stick raised dots on to the screen of the microwave on top of the stop and start button. This helps me to feel which dots to press for restart or to stop cooking. Also when travelling anywhere and staying at any accommodation such as motel, hotel or at friends, where there are no raised dots, I find ways to be independent. I bring my own blue tack and make small dots to stick on temporarily. It works well. Your choice whether you prefer to have raised dot or braille labels for your microwave oven. You can buy raised dots or braille labels from the Vision Australia shop through your NDIS funds.

Heather Lawson – dbvheather@gmail.com

Image descriptions:

1: Microwave with digital in flat pad and there are 4 blue tack dots to attach on the pad so you know where to press on correct place of button. The digital “90.00” as shown on the right top corner with pad number under the digital clock


2: Microwave with digital in flat touchpad and there are 2 adhesive dots attached on the pad so you know where to press on correct place of button.

3: Microwave with flat touchpad and there are 2 adhesive braille labels attached on the start and reset buttons, as well as two more braille labels on the 1 minute and 10 minute buttons


Deafblind tips 4 – Braille labels

Hello! Many years ago I was taught how to use the tool called a braille writing slate with stylus. I write by stamping any words in braille onto dymo tape then stick the label on any items. See video link to show you how to use the dymo tape tool that you can put labels on any things Whatever you want to. Also you could buy this tool from your NDIS funds.

See photos of labels, for example of herb spice, DVD, container.

Time for a joke. Golfie is my white cane. He is proud to show his braille label ‘Golfie’ because he is often taken mistakenly by other deafblind people. See photo or video. 

Heather Lawson – dbvheather@gmail.com

Video showing how to use a braille slate with dymo tape
Heather signs in Auslan about her white cane “Golfie” and why she labels him with braille dymo tape!

Deafblind Tips 2 – Jean buttons

Braille labels on jeans buttons

I have three jeans in the same design. The jeans feel the same, but I have a way of labelling them so I know which colour I am choosing.

I create a label by stamping the colour code in braille onto Dymo tape then stick the tape onto the button of the jeans. I read the braille dots using my clever finger, not by me! The braille dots show “bk” for black, “lb” for light blue, “db” for dark blue.

It truly helps. See photo.

By Heather Lawson.

New resource for blind and deafblind women: ‘Our Right to Safety and Respect’

In 2018, Women With Disabilities Victoria (WDV) developed a guide about violence, abuse, safety and respect. The guide was made by and for women with disabilities. Versions were made in plain English, Easy English and Auslan.

WDV saw that the resources may not be accessible to women who are blind or deafblind. These women already face barriers accessing support services and information when experiencing intimate partner violence or other forms of violence.

WDV recently adapted the resources and produced new versions in braille (grades 1 & 2), audio and audio-described video. Deafblind Victoria consulted with WDV on braille versions of the guide. The new resources were released on 2 July 2020. Deafblind Victoria is proud to support this project and its contribution to the safety of women in the Deafblind community.

Tech Talk – Zoom meetings for Deafblind braille users

Health advice during the Covid-19 pandemic includes keeping physical distance from others. This can be challenging for Deafblind people who rely on touch for communication. Some DBV members have been exploring if the popular Zoom videoconferencing service can offer anything to Deafblind people.

Although Zoom is mainly for live video and audio, it also supports live text chat, which can be accessed on a braille display. A live captioning service can be paired with Zoom, so words spoken in a meeting can also appear as text. Note that live captions require fast braille reading – the average speed of spoken English is about 150 words per minute. However, if a meeting is moderated well, we found it to be a good option for some.

DBV’s Michelle Stevens has drafted a document for braille users who want to try Zoom – click here to download it. Please get in touch with DBV to give feedback, or to discuss details about how we used Zoom, live captions and braille.