Measuring

WHAT NEEDS MEASURING

• Liquids
• Solids
• Soft
• Hard
• Weight
• Distance/Linear

Ways to Measure: – MEASURING BY WEIGHT

Becoming to weight can allow a person to recognize:

• A full cup (coffee)
• A double bed sheet from a single bed sheet
• A package in the freezer (Feels like it is heavy enough to be chicken parts for dinner for 2, etc.)

Increasing attention to weight will expand the mind’s attention to other non-visual details such as sound, texture, etc.

A tactual code can be devised for freezer meats to denote weight (2 marks = 2 servings or 2 pounds.)

WHAT ACTIVITIES INVOLVE MEASURING

• Cooking
• Medicine
• Laundry
• Cleaning
• Sewing
• Crafts
• Shop(building)
• Repairs

MEASURING IN COOKING – Low Vision Methods:

Contrasting Background

Choose clear glass measuring cups. Pour light colored liquids i.e. milk with cup held against a dark background. Pour dark liquids, i.e., coffee, against a light background

Contrasting Color of Container

Pour dark liquids into light containers, light colored liquids into dark containers in order to see the level. Pour milk or cream in first.

MEASURING IN COOKING – Non-visual methods –

Weight Method:

“an egg of butter” a “lump” of sugar. A familiar cup “feels” full when the familiar weight is recognized.

Storing vanilla, oil, etc. in baby food jars, mustard jars, allows a spoon with a bent handle, (he “ladle” method to dip a level measure.

Measuring by Time:

Timing the flow of liquid is another way to measure quantity. A person with keen analytic “listening” to the flow of water can count as the water flows (when listening to the faucet fill a coffee cup, a tea kettle) and know that they’ve “filled” the familiar measure.

Measuring by sound:

Listening to the sound of the liquid (coffee in a familiar cup, for instance) to hear the “music” change as the cup fills This is only possible in a quiet kitchen with adequate hearing and the ability to hear the “tune” pouring makes.

Common Sense Ideas:

Nested measuring cups allow choosing the closest possible measure in order to “level” it.

Measuring over another container (or small bowl) allows for collecting the overflow. Various sizes of funnels help in returning overflow to container.

Metal measuring cups with long handles can be bent into ladle-type measures which can be dropped into a food container and leveled before being lifted out.

A finger curled at the top edge of the cup of hot liquid can feel the steam/heat as the liquid approaches.

A finger dropped over the edge can feel the liquid as it nears the top.
Measuring the water from the tap (while still at room temperature) into a coffee cup or teakettle and heating only that measured amount allows the boiling water to be poured into the cup with confidence that it cannot overflow.

Heat or temperature changes are sometimes detectable with the hand wrapped around a cup or mug with thin walls.

Pasta can be measured by learning how many servings of dry pasta fits in the circle formed by your thumb and first finger.

MEASURING MEDICINES

Prior to discussing how to measure, recognize and acknowledge common problems for people with new vision loss in identifying their own medication, one from another; and if they do not live alone, identifying which medication is for which family member. These are not trivial problems. Labeling is an important component of comfortable daily living, and is a skill which is often overlooked, but is a subject which will be discussed later.

Also of considerable interest to an older person living alone, who can no longer read the medicine labels, are methods to remember the quantity to be taken and how often, In the case of shared medicines, (such as cough syrup), remembering what dose is for which family member can be a problem.

Finally, keeping in mind that some medicines change their chemical components over time, how can one make sure the medicine is not beyond the expiration date.

METHODS AND DEVICES

Pour liquids over a “catch basin” a spoon over a cup to catch overflow and return to the original container if uncontaminated.

Bend the handle of a metal measuring spoon. Have cough medicine (liquid medicine) in a jar with wide enough mouth to dip spoon in – lifting correct measure out (as if it was a ladle.)

Use a medicine dropper. They now come in different sizes for different doses.

Spoons with hollow handles of different sizes can give accurate measure but for many individuals, getting the liquid to go accurately down the handle is difficult and spill overs are common. Then one is left with the problem of getting the overflow back into the original container.

Shot glasses can be used. Some have “platforms” at the different level. (1/2, 1 ounce levels.) The finger can be put on the appropriate level to detect when the desired amount has been poured.

(Pill labeling, storage, dosage, RX # etc. mentioned elsewhere).

MEASURING IN THE SHOP

There are many useful homemade measures that different individuals have come up with over the years. Some ideas are:

• One can use a piece of cut metal, one for each measure (1/2 inch, 5/8 inch, etc.) each of which fit in its own “home” with a handle for lifting.

• Some folks alter a yard stick (or ruler) put placing dots or notches . Dots can be tiny escutcheon pins, brads, staples, glue. Notches must have a “business” end so that the open end of an even “V” is not too wide a target for precision. This same altered yard stick can be mounted on an edge or edges of a work bench or table.

• A body measure (for instance the end of thumb to thumb knuckle equals l inch) or some reliable finger-part which can be measured and memorized is a wonderfully portable “measure.” A hand span is commonly 8 inches. Memorize your own hand measurement.

• A set of hardwood could form the basis of a measuring system. i.e. long and square “rods”, although some prefer 1/2 inch by 3/4 inch or 2.3 foot sections = 6 feet etc.

• The Braille raised dot system is useful for marking numeric measures. The user need only learn 10 characters, which, in various combinations, form all numbers.

• Using a high contrast background behind the unit being measured will increase ease, efficiency and accuracy.

• Task lights or “bullets” can aim desired light on measuring task without shining in the user’s eyes. Several lights from various directions can eliminate shadows. Fluorescent lights give minimal shadowing with good ambient light.

COMMERCIAL DEVICES

• Carpenters’ tape measures over 18 feet and have large numbers to be seen at a distance.

• Carpenters’ steel tape measures have BOLD numbers and are handy because they lock at a chosen measurement.

• The Click Stop Rule has tactual marks and can be “set” at a given measure. Several 6 foot long sections can be joined.

• Calipers could, perhaps, carry a measurement from a visible or tactual rule to work in progress.

• Audible devices are proliferating. Check with Radio Shack, Science for the Blind, Brookstone catalog etc. for the newest technology.

TIPS FOR MEASURING FOR SEWING

• As mentioned above, a body measure (for instance the end of thumb to thumb knuckle equals l inch) or some reliable finger-part which can be measured and memorized is a wonderfully portable “measure.” Arm span to nose is close to one yard. A hand span is commonly 8 inches. Memorize your own hand measurement. Use your body – even if not terribly precise.

Staples on a tape measure mark increments. It is hard to staple perpendicular to the edge of measure.

Dress makers tapes have grommets through which to insert pins. These are tactile. (Precision is difficult since the target hole is round.) A hem guide (metal with tight slide or clicks) is inexpensive from sewing goods store.

Magnetic tape holds to a metal sewing machine and is a given width 3/4 or 1/2 etc.

“Hi-Marks” commercial fluorescent marking glue) makes visible markings on yardsticks, tape measures and other materials. Hi Marks dots on yardstick can be seen or felt.