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Introduction
Persons who are Blind or have Visual Impairments can still work around the house and do chores such as cleaning, cooking and baking. These chores can be made easier by organizing your environment so that is safe and by labeling your appliances, food and utensils, either in Braille or with large print labels, so that they are easier to find. Household and Cooking Aids can also be used to help Persons who have Visual Impairments, to be able to do these household chores without assistance, thus giving that person more independents and improving their self esteem. There are a variety of these Assistive Devices available in South Africa, which range from simple adaptions such as Iron Guards to more advanced equipment such as Talking Ovens and are sold by companies such as Edit Microsystems.
Edit Microsystems: Edit Microsystems (Pty) Ltd is an award-winning company that is devoted to finding alternative and state-of-the-art technical solutions to improve curriculum delivery in educational institutions and effective communication in
business with a focus on high-speed functional connectivity and on-going support. They have a proud tradition of innovation and are on the cutting edge of technological advances in education. Many of their products are designed to enhance interactivity in a classroom or lecture theatre. Edit Microsystems are also a leader in finding and providing specially adapted hardware and software for Learners with Special Educational Needs throughout South Africa.
Edit Microsystems can be contacted on: 086 111 3973 and have their Head Office in Cape Town at: 13 Boy De Goede Circle, Table View, 7441. They also have an online shop and branches in KwaZulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Gauteng.
To contact these other branches or find out more about Edit Microsystems and the products they supply, visit their web site at: www.editmicro.co.za or email them at: info@editmicro.co.za.
Household Aids
Whether you live in a house or an apartment, you need to feel comfortable, capable, and in charge of your surroundings, you can do this by making your environment safe and well organized, which can be done by Increasing Lighting; Eliminating Hazards; Creating Color Contrasts; Organizing and Labeling Items and Reducing Glare. Click Here to find out more about these simple adaptions.
Household Aids can also be used to help Persons who are Blind or have Visual Impairments to perform daily functions and add independence to their lives. There are a variety of these types of products which may have features such as a large display, speech output or tactile markings, but can also include items such as Electric Iron Guards. To find out more about these Household Aids, read the article below or visit our Accessories Page to view those other small Assistive Devices such as Talking Tape Measures; Pen Friends; Talking Calculators; Signature Guides, Braille & Talking Watches & Clocks, etc. You can also contact the South African National Council for the Blind to find out some tips on living with Visual Impairments.
Electronic Iron Guard
An Electric Iron Guard is designed to help persons with a Visual Impairments to iron safely.
Iron Guards: (pictured right) which are supplied by companies such as Edit Microsystems & has 2 polyethylene rods that surround the edge of the iron and acts as a guide to help protect their hands from burns. The guard is easy to attach to most electric irons, contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or to receive a quote.
Cooking Aids
Cooking Aids are those products that help Persons who are Blind to be able to cook, bake and perform other chores in the kitchen. They not only assist you to make food preparation safer and easier, but can also help you to cook, measure, cut and weigh your foods. These Cooking Aids have features such as a large display, speech output or tactile markings and include items such as Talking Microwaves, Thermometers, Scales, Boil Control Units, etc. Recipes which are printed in Braille can also be used and there are also a few simple things that persons with Visual Impairments can do to keep their kitchen organized and to help them to make the kitchen chores easier and safer. The principles outlined above in the "Adapting Your Home" can apply to every part of your living space, but some rooms such as the kitchen requires special attention. Click Here to find out more about some of these simple adaptions, or read the article below to view a range of Cooking Aids designed for Persons who are Blind or partially sighted.
Boil Control Unit
Boil Control Units assist Persons With Visual Impairments to be able to boil water safely, the unit is placed in water and when the water reaches boiling level, it starts rattling against the side of the pot indicating that the liquid is boiling. The South African National Council for the Blind sells these Boil Control Units. You can contact them to find out more or to receive a quote.
Kettle Tippers & Pourers
Kettles are also used to boil water and Kettle Tippers or Kettle Pourers are devices used in the kitchen to help Persons With Visual Impairments or Mobility Impairments to be able to assist them in pouring hot water out of the kettle without getting burned. There are a variety of different types of these products which are sold in South Africa including the following 2 products which is sold by Edit Microsystems and Ability Assist.
A Kettle Tipper: (pictured right) is a sturdy metal tipper with an adjustable, secure strap that makes pouring hot liquids safe and simple. These Kettle Tippers are available in South Africa and can be used with a range of kettles and jugs. It includes a metal frame which pivots to tilt the kettle’s spout towards the cup. This tipper is ideal for use with the talking measuring jug. Please note: the kettle is not included. You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or to receive a quote.
Kettle Pourer: This Kettle Pourer is ideal for Persons With Visual Impairments or those persons with a weak grip. The kettle sits in a cradle and only requires a gentle tipping motion to pour water into a cup, thus helping to prevent spillage. The size of the kettle pourer is 262 x 210 x 190mm and it weighs 405 grams. You can contact Ability Assist to find out more or to receive a quote.
There are also various other types of these products which are available from companies such as Edit Microsystems, contact them to see what other types of these products they can supply.
Liquid Level Indicators
Liquid Level Indicators assist Persons With Visual Impairments to be able to assist them in pouring hot water into cups without over filling them and getting burned. There are a variety of different types of these products sold in South Africa including the
following 2 products which are sold by Edit Microsystems:
Cricket Liquid Level Indicator (blue): This liquid level indicator (pictured right) sits on the rim of the cup, mug or glass and gives an audible tone when the liquid reaches the bottom probe. The tone will then speed up when the second probe is reached. It is powered by a 1 x CR2032 lithium battery which is included in the price. You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or to receive a quote.
Vibrating liquid level indicator (orange): This model (pictured right) operates in the same way as the above model but in addition to the tone indication, this liquid level indicator has 2 levels of vibration and is powered by 4 x L1154 lithium batteries which are included. You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or to receive a quote.
There are also various other types of these products which are available from companies such as Edit Microsystems, contact them to see what other types of these products they can supply.
Talking Combination Oven
There are a variety of different types of equipment that can be used to cook with, which are sold in South Africa including the 
Talking Combination Oven which is sold by Edit Microsystems:
Talking Combination Oven: (pictured right) Is an easy to use combination oven that is a talking microwave, grill and oven. The oven has a variety of pre-programmed functions which assists with cooking specific foods such as jacket potatoes, fish, vegetables and pasta. The oven also has a variety of roasting options. The weight of the food to be cooked is entered on the keypad and the oven automatically uses a combination of functions to achieve the best cooking results. The oven speaks all the cooking and programme information and 3 cooking routines can be stored on the oven. The oven is made of stainless steel and the buttons provide a tactile feedback. The microwave is 900 watts, the grill is 1000 watts, the combination is 1300 watts and the convection is 2200 watts. The oven has a 29 litre capacity and the dimensions are: 512mm (W) x 302mm (H) x 500mm (D). You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or to receive a quote.
There are also various other types of these products which are available from companies such as Edit Microsystems, contact them to see what other types of these products they can supply.
Talking Measuring Jug
A Talking Measuring Jug is a device used in the kitchen to help Persons With Visual Impairments to be able to assist them in measuring water and other liquids. There are a variety of different types of these products sold in South Africa including the following Talking Measuring Jug which is sold by Edit Microsystems. This Talking Measuring Jug is ideal for use with the Kettle Tipper.
Talking Measuring Jug: The talking measuring jug (pictured right) uses a high quality male voice to announce measurements in metric litres and millilitres, imperial pints and fluid ounces. The talking measuring jug can also convert the reading of one measurement unit to another. The user can add either liquids or solids (i.e. sugar) to be measured and this measurement is spoken out loud. A Tare function allows the reading to be set to zero without emptying the container. This allows for a second liquid to be added. The talking measuring jug can hold up to 2 litres and the container is removable for easy cleaning. You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or to receive a quote.
There are also various other types of these products which are available from companies such as Edit Microsystems, contact them to see what other types of these products they can supply.
Talking Timer
A Talking Timers can be used in the kitchen to help Persons With Visual Impairments to be able to assist them when cooking or baking. These Talking Timing devices count down the time and can let you know when the food is ready. There are a variety of different types of these products sold in South Africa including the following which is sold by Edit Microsystems:
The Talking Timer: is a combined count up and count down clock as well as being a talking clock. The clock can count up or count down for up to 24 hours. When counting down, the remaining time is spoken every hour until the last hour; then every ten minutes until the last 10 minutes; then every minute until the last minute; then every 10 seconds until the last 10 seconds and finally every second. The counting can be paused and the timer has an auto-repeat function. You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or to receive a quote.
The Talking Timer Alarm Clock: has multiple functions including a comprehensive stopwatch and timer, different alarm options and a repeating pill timer. All of these functions are spoken at the touch of a button in a clear voice and the talking timer alarm clock is designed to be quick and easy to set. The dimensions are: 144m (W) x 81mm (L) x 34mm (D) and it is powered by 1 x PP#
alkaline battery or it can be powered by the mains adaptor. You can contact Edit Microsytems to find out more or to receive a quote.
There are also various other types of these products which are available from companies such as Edit Microsystems, contact them to see what other types of these products they can supply.
Talking Kitchen Scale
A Talking Kitchen Scale (pictured right) can be used in the kitchen to help Persons With Visual Impairments to be able to assist them when cooking or baking by assisting you to weigh ingredients. It audibly announces the measurements of ingredients being weighed. The South African National Council for the Blind sells these Talking Kitchen Scales and you can contact them to find out more or to receive a quote.
To view more information about these Assistive Devices and others, view the menu on the left or feel free to Contact Us if you have any questions about the products and Services listed on this page and we will point you in the right direction.
References
