Yes, I Can Tell the Time

One of the questions I most frequently asked is this: How can a blind person tell the time?

This is a very good question, and I am here to answer it as best as I can.

Blind persons can tell the time by using clocks and watches that can either speak or display the time in Braille or large print. These time pieces can also be part of calculators, note takers, or PDAs. The voice output is of course robotic but, nevertheless, they are easy to understand once you get the hang of it. Time pieces that produce Braille displays are also quite good and the advantage of these is that if a blind person needs to know the time, they can do so without having to let the rest of the world know that they are checking their time piece. Large print displays on time pieces are also quite good.

Large print time pieces can not only benefit those who have enough vision to see them; they can also benefit those who prefer to see the time in large print. Persons such as seniors who find it difficult to read smaller displays or any other mainstream person with the same preference.

There used to be a time when time pieces for blind persons were mainly available in Braille only, but not anymore. Now there is a choice and for those without enough vision to see: Braille display and voice output. There is a little trick that I often use and it can apply only to those non-digital clocks. If you remove the face of the clock or watch it is possible to touch the hands and dots that represent the hour. I still have an old faithful clock that I can use in this way. I can remove the cover that acts as the face of the clock and gently touch the hands and dots.

Digital time pieces are much of a problem for me because there is no way for me to be able to feel the hands and dots that represent the hours. To counteract this problem, I have a clock that chimes the hour at every quarter. It's the best that I can do for now, not being able to read the clock on the VCR, the stove, or the microwave.

If you are thinking of purchasing a time piece for a friend or family member who is blind then please visit http://www.maxiaids.com

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your accessibility and special-needs business consultant wishing you a terrific day and asking you to go out there and tell the rest of the world that blind and visually impaired persons have ways to tell the time.