Ever wonder how someone with low or no eyesight turns their washing machine to the perfect setting? Yes, there’s an app for that, but as it turns out, the answer is way simpler: this week we’d like to tell you about the small but mighty sticker called the Bump Dot.
Bump dots are a low-profile, low-cost way to strategically make your home or office space more accessible and increase your effectiveness and independence. What is a bump dot, you ask? These small, raised dots come in all shapes, sizes and textures and can be put on everything from home appliances to school work. It may seem simple, but it’ll save you from selecting the wrong wash cycle or always playing the squint-and-guess game, so you can spend more time and energy on the important stuff.
To help you get started with Bump Dots, we put together seven highly effective use cases, and hope you’ll come by the Adaptations Store during business hours to pick up a handful of these handy little stickers soon.
-
Accessorize your home appliances
You can stick bump dots on microwaves, washing machines, dishwashers, ovens and more to mark buttons or setting you use most often. They can help make sense of a touch stovetop so you can stop avoiding the kitchen and get back to cooking your grandma’s recipes or the latest recipe from the LightHouse kitchen.
-
Enhance your classroom experience
Bump dots can also create a representation of a figure on board or can be employed to plot points on a graph.
3. Stick ‘em on a computer keyboard
When first learning the layout of a keyboard without sight, sticking a bump dot on a specific key so it is easy to find it.
-
Identify different colors
Now and then, it may be important for a blind person to be able to identify different colored objects, perhaps for class or work. This daunting task can be accomplished through the combination of different types or numbers of bump dots.
-
Increase the accessibility of your electronics
Maybe your home phone has no tactile way of identifying the numbers or other buttons, or your cell phone has an inaccessible touch screen. Adding a bump dot will solve that problem in no time.
-
Label bottles or other containers
The strategic placement of some bump dots on bottles in the medicine cabinet or shower can save you from a load of trouble — so you can stop accidentally using the conditioner as body wash or make sure you’re taking the right daily supplement or prescription medicine without any guess work.
-
Use different sizes and colors to suit your changing vision
For totally blind individuals, clear dots may work great if you are marking a device that may be used by someone with sight, whereas people with low vision can used brightly colored dots to provide a contrast.
Bump Dot packages range in price from $2 to $10 at the LightHouse’s Adaptations store. Pick some up next time you’re here!
Adaptations Store Hours
Monday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m. – 7 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Thursdays: 10 am – 5 p.m.
Fridays: 10 am – 5 p.m.
The flatter ones work well on cell phone buttons and credit cards too.