Staying Connected: Taking Notes

Adding just a few extra steps to your approach can help you manage everyday things, no matter your level of vision. Now, here are some tips for writing yourself notes that can come in handy.

The first thing you can do is make sure you have good lighting. With good lighting, you won't have to deal with shadows and glare from different sources, like a window, a light, or even white sheets of paper.

And speaking of paper, try yellow sheets to help prevent glare, and closing any drapes or blinds will help prevent glare from the window. An adjustable task light will allow you to bring the light close, creating the perfect workspace. Keep the lamp below eye level, with the light shining at an angle, to prevent excess light shining in your eyes. At this point, you can position the light where you need it. Also, placing the lamp on the side away from your writing hand will keep shadows from being cast while you're writing. For instance, if you're right handed, the light goes on your left side.

Your choice of writing paper can be a tremendous help. For instance, a legal pad with a high contrasting color, or writing paper with bold lines, can be easier to see. A slant board, or reading stand, can help you get closer to the paper, and a writing guide, a device that helps you keep your place on the line, and write in a straight line, is another good option to consider. Take a look at our resource list for more information about writing guides.

What you choose to write with is just as important. Using a pen that has a bold tip and dark colored ink creates bold lines that make writing easier to read and see.

Let's practice writing dates and times for appointments. Be sure to write bigger, and print instead of writing in cursive. Also, capital letters are easier to read than lowercase ones, and spacing out each word makes them easier to read. You can also try using your non-writing hand as a placeholder and/or guide, by placing your finger at the beginning of the line. Then, start writing a name and phone number. Move your finger back to the start of the line you just wrote, then move that finger down to the next line as a placeholder for the next name and number. Another way to keep track of where you are on the page is with a paper clip. As you move from one line down to the next, continue sliding the paper clip down.

As always, contact a learning expert if you have questions, or your own tips to share. Of course, as with anything new, give yourself time, patience, and practice. You'll get there.