How do you use the automatic teller machine, identify weeds when gardening, prepare meals, or find the CD you are looking for when you are blind, deafblind or vision-impaired?

Adapting to life with little or no vision means learning the skills to manage everyday tasks safely and effectively.

Member and staff member Fatima Akehurst peeling her vegetables using special techniques taught by her Adaptive Daily Living Instructor

Adaptive Daily Living Instructors assist members to gain confidence and independence by teaching adaptive skills that help them to continue a wide range of day-to-day activities.

Skills include how to identifying and managing hazards in the home, gardening, banking, meal preparation, cleaning, applying makeup, shopping, and alternative ways to read and write.

Adaptive Daily Living Instructors work with members to select and learn how to use equipment that can enable the person to complete out a specific task. Examples of such low-tech aids are a special needle threader or templates to assist with writing cheques and filling in forms.

The RNZFB also offers classes to teach skills such as new techniques for cooking.

For more information, please contact your local ADL Instructor on 0800 24 33 33 or email:adl.