[nabs-l] ideas on how to accomplish daily living skills

Arielle Silverman arielle71 at gmail.com
Sun Dec 29 02:16:00 UTC 2013


Hi Kelsey,

I have not applied my own nail polish, but I have a blind friend who
does and she said she puts the polish in the fridge so it feels cold
and she can tell where she is applying it. You could try this method
and then have a sighted person give you feedback on whether it is
even.
Most blind people I know do clip their own fingernails and a nail
clipper really cannot hurt you. If you try to cut too deep, you'll
feel discomfort and can pull your nail out so you aren't cutting as
deep before you actually cut. I really can't think of a way you could
harm yourself with a nail clipper, so it might be worth just
experimenting with one. You will be able to feel whether your nails
are even because if they are not, one side will feel longer than the
other. If your dad is unwilling to let you experiment with the
clippers he has, perhaps buy a small one at a general store or borrow
a friend's and try it yourself.
As for makeup, I have learned to do simple makeup by going to one of
the free makeover counters at a makeup store like Clinique and having
the lady there teach me. If I am trying a new makeup product or a new
technique, I will get sighted feedback the first few times on whether
it is visible or if there are spots I have missed. I am not the best
at it and don't wear makeup a lot but it is definitely something a
blind person can do and many do it.
In my experience I have found that, for whatever reason, parents
aren't the best for teaching many daily living skills. It is
unfortunate, but I think often our parents get so used to doing for us
and so fixated on possible ways we could mess up that they have
trouble teaching these skills in a way that maximizes experiential
learning. If you want to get a lesson in any of these skills I might
suggest somebody who is neutral, like a makeup counter representative,
or if not, then a friend or a rehab teacher. If you are a voc rehab
client you should be able to request a few visits with a daily living
skills instructor as part of your service plan. But even with formal
lessons, the best way to learn is by practicing on your own and trying
different techniques until you find the ones that work best.

Best,
Arielle

On 12/28/13, Kelsey Nicolay <piano.girl0299 at gmail.com> wrote:
> Hello,
> This may seem a little off topic for this list, but I would like
> to know your thoughts.  I like to wear nail polish, but I have
> been told by my chosen beauty salon that there is no way someone
> who is to otally blind can apply their own nail polish.  I get
> manicures a lot, so I asked the person who does my nails whether
> she thinks I could apply my own polish.  She pretty much said no.
> I kind of think she's wrong, there has to be some way to do it.
> What do you think? Can someone who is totally blind apply their
> own nail polish and if so, how would you go about doing it?
> Removing it can be done since you can feel the difference in
> texture from the polish to the actual nail.  What about applying
> makeup independently? I am in a choir that we have to get dressed
> up for the concert which means wearing makeup.  My mom still does
> it for me, but at some point, I'd like to be able to do my own
> makeup.  I have a friend who is blind and she has been doing her
> own makeup for years.  One of my friends from college was going
> to give me a makeup lesson, but we never got around to it.
> Finally, what about using nail cleappers? My dad cuts my nails
> for me but he feels a little insecuoe about letting me handle the
> clippers alone.  I know an nfb article covered this, but it
> didn't really help.  I would be interested to hear your opinions
> on how to accomplish these tasks.
> Thanks,
>
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