Equipment for the visually impaired

What's on this page

Low Vision Aids
Magnifiers
Eezee Readers (Plug Into Television)
CCTV Video Magnification
Stand Alone Scanners
Computer Enabling Software
Clocks and Watches
Kitchen Aids
Other Home Aids
Games and Hobbies
Keeping In Touch
Other Equipment

Support 4 Sight has a wide range of equipment in its resource centre for demonstration purposes as well as for use by any visually impaired people that come into the centre. We also offer an equipment loan Scheme 2 our members for a two week period to allow the equipment to be tried in the comfort of their homes. This allows time and the opportunity to see if equipment will benefit service users, before deciding whether to purchase.

Support 4 Sight can purchase any equipment on behalf of its service user, or further information about products for the Visually Impaired, can be found by simply following the links to the appropriate websites, where you can obtain contact and order details.

Below is a list of equipment that can be demonstrated in the resource centre:

Low Vision Aids

If you struggle to read your personal correspondence, such as bank statements, utility bills, newspapers or books and magazines, then why not take a look at the list of equipment below:

Magnifiers

In the Centre, there is a comprehensive range of magnifiers which include handheld, stand and pocket illuminated magnifiers that could assist with reading text. Lighting is also very important when reading or working close up. We have a range of DayLight Floor Standing, portable and cordless lamps that provide an excellent illumination on the reading or working areas. These items can also be loaned for 2 weeks to our members to try in the comfort of their homes.

Suppliers

Electronic Magnifying Devices that plug Into Televisions

These useful little gadgets simply plug into the back of your television via a scart lead. They sit in a small cradle or on the table and are mains powered. There are cordless versions of some of these products, which means no wires to get tangled or fall over. If you want to look up a telephone number whilst you are in the middle of watching a television programme, simply lift the mouse like scanner from its cradle, or simply press a button, place it on top of the document you wish to read preferably on a solid flat surface i.e. coffee table the device will tune itself to its own channel on your TV and if you move the mouse across the page, it will show the text in large text on the screen. Once you have finished, simply replace the device back in its cradle or press the button to switch it off and your television is restored to the channel you were watching. For further information about the different types of equipment available, please follow the links below.

Suppliers

Eletronic Video Magnifiers

A wide range of Electronic Video Magnifiers (EVM)are available to assist with the reading of documents such as Bank statements, Utility Bills, Personal Correspondence, books, newspapers and magazines. EVMs are available with colour and/or black and white options. The EVM will, via its camera show on screen an image of the document/text that has been placed on its plinth below. This image or text can be enlarged to the size that is easiest for you to see. Different colour enhancements can be chosen to suit your eye condition therefore making reading much easier and more comfortable. There are also portable versions that will run off re-chargeable battery operated and handheld which allow you to read prices in shops or menus in your favourite restaurants.

Suppliers

Stand Alone Scanners

We currently have the Portset Reader on display in the Resource Centre for demonstration or use. There are however many different makes and types of scanners available on the market, which can be demonstrated in your own home by prior arrangement with suppliers or through Support 4 Sight. This type of scanner is usually a stand alone scanner which can be as complicated or as uncomplicated depending on how much you want to obtain from them. The scanners will allow you to scan word processed (printed) documents at the touch of a button. Scanners now have a clear spoken voice and can read back to you such as Bank statements, Utility Bills, books, newspapers and magazines. Scanners usually come with a set of headphones to allow you complete privacy and at the same time will give you back that independence and freedom to read your own correspondence at your leisure.

Suppliers

Computer Software for Visually Impaired People

For those who have a liking of computers, and want to expand their knowledge and skills or simply want to be able to surf the internet, send and receive emails, write to friends and loved ones or improve their skills to be able to return to the work place, we have a range of the latest Adaptive computer Software to demonstrate with dedicated volunteers who are able to teach Visually Impaired People.

JAWS screen reading software

JAWS will read what is on the screen in front of you as you type or read documents, emails and allow you to surf the internet giving you feedback at all times.

Suppliers

Zoomtext Screen Magnification

For those of you with a useful amount of vision, this software will enlarge the characters on screen to a size most comfortable for you to read. You can also change the colour options to suit your eye condition giving you the best possible results.

Suppliers

Supernova

This combined screen reading and magnification program gives you all the above options, but in one programme.

Supplier

Dolphin Computer Systems

Kurzweil1000 OCR Scanning Software

This software package allows you to scan and read word processed (printed) text with a computer system. It also allows you to save documents and edit them at a later date.

Supplier

Guide

Guide is a multi award-winning software for blind and partially sighted computer users. Guide can magnify text and images, it has a crystal clear voice and above all, Guide is so very easy to use. Whether you are writing a letter, reading your post, sending an email or surfing the Internet, Guide is there to help. With its easy to follow menus, magnification and speech, you will be able to use Guide with very little training

Supplier

Software Express

Clocks and Watches

We have on display a variety of easy to see and a large selection of talking clocks and watches. For those with a dual sensory loss, vibrating watches may be the answer. Some of the clocks and watches will tell you the date as well as time. Some of them will automatically set the time day and date. This is a great feature for when the clocks go back or forward. The voices used in the talking clocks and watches have improved significantly. They are a lot clearer and easier to understand.

Talking watches
Easy to see watches
Vibrating watches
A large assortment of talking and easy to see alarm and wall mounted clocks

Suppliers

Kitchen Aids

Do you enjoy cooking? But find it hard to carry out those day to day tasks in the kitchen? Do you find it difficult making a hot drink? Are you always scolding yourself? Why not have a look at some of the items to help visually impaired people with such tasks.

Talking Microwave; this allows you to cook or simply heat up meals following the clear spoken key presses on its keypad. The talking microwave comes with printed or audio instructions.

Talking Kitchen Scales; Have you always wanted to bake a cake since loosing your sight but just found it to difficult to measure out the ingredients. Now it is simple with the talking Kitchen Scales. They will give measurements in Metric or Imperial units.

Talking measuring Jug; this useful device will make it easier to add fluids to recipes. There is so much out there to help when it comes to cooking or carrying out those tasks in the kitchen. The liquid level indicator to help make the hot drink. This comes in audio and vibrating versions to assist those who are sight impaired as well as those who have dual sensory loss.

There is a huge selection of microwave cooking equipment as well as labeling devices for tins, bottles and fridge freezer items. The range of equipment is vast. Why not call into our Resource Centre or follow the links below to get an idea of what is available.

Suppliers

Other Home Aids

We also have a range of labelling devices to make identifying items such as tinned products, food items in the freezer etc. These devices also allow you to mark items of clothing etc.

Voxcom Label Reader; Allows you to record your own 10 second message on a label inserted into the recording/playback device. The Voxcom label reader comes with 50 or 100 labels which can be re-recorded several times and an assortment of fixing items.
Voila Label Reader: This device identifies items that have been recorded by the user to a bar code. The bar code labels can be attached to articles in several different ways using the accessory pack provided with the device.
Talking Tin Lids; The talking tin lids are attached to tinned products using a magnet. Once the product has been identified, the talking tin lid sits on top of a tin and by a single button press, the contents of the tin is spoken. If you want to use the talking tin lid for another product, simply press the 2 recording buttons and speak your new message.
Braille Dymo Gun; If you are able to read and write Braille, then this simple device is a suitable option for labelling items in the home and at work.
Bump-ons; A simple but most effective way of identifying cooker, washing machine programmes and main switches on items such as televisions, cassette recorders and CD players. Simply peel off the bump-on and stick it to the appliance. The bump-ons come in a wide range of colours, shapes and varying sizes
Dosett Boxes with Braille or tactile markings for organising your daily tablets
Talking Ear Thermometer
Wrap Around Polarising & Anti Glare sunglasses
Talking Bathroom Scales
Talking Indoor/Outdoor Thermometer
A selection of coin holders and Vibrating Note Detector
Talking Colour Detector
Big Button Telephone

Suppliers

Games and Hobbies

The Resource Centre has a wide range of games and even items that enable you to carry out those DIY hobbies in your home. The range of toys and puzzles suits all ages from young children to those who are a little older and want something to pass the time.

Large Jumbo playing cards (A5 size)
Easy to see playing cards with large numbers
Easy to see playing cards with Braille
Dominoes
Large Print Scrabble
Large Print Monopoly
Large print crosswords and word search books
Accessible Computer Games and much much more

For those DIY enthusiasts

Talking Tape measure
Audible spirit level
Tactile tape measures

Suppliers

Keeping In Touch

It is so easy to forget those important diary dates and telephone numbers, there is a wide range of stationary available in large print and Braille to keep those important dates, telephone numbers and addresses

Large Print or Braille Diaries and address Books
Talking Personal Organisers
Writing Frames
Extra thick and bolded lined paper
The Perkins brailler
Computers with Adaptive Software

Suppliers

Other Equipment

At the Resource Centre we have a comprehensive list of many other items available to assist Visually Impaired People but do not have the space to list them all here. If you have a problem that you think we may be able to assist you with, or you require more details, please feel free to contact us and we will try to assist and we are always prepared to research any problems that we do not have the answers readily available to hand.