Screen magnifiers allow easier access for those with some sight, who find it difficult to fill in forms. In this example, Allan Bates writes his name and address on to a small form, and watches his placement via a Visual Tek magnifier.1 black and white photograph of man filling in a formassistive devices, allan bates

As Australia had not yet commenced production of adaptive items for the low vision and blindness community, many were purchased directly from the Royal National Institute for the Blind in London. This price list shows the variety of products on offer and the costs involved for each. Bankers cheques or money orders were required to send payment to the UK, and there was a range of games, tools and living aids as well as Braille equipment on offer.12 page booklet of items and prices assistive devices, royal national institute for the blind

A wooden ruler with raised metal dots marking the spacings on the ruler. Made prior to 1971, when metric measurements were introduced, this 18-inch ruler is a demonstration of how easily a simple visual measuring tool could be adapted for varying degrees of sight by the use of tactile markings. 1 wooden ruler with metal pins as measurement pointsassistive devices, royal national institute for the blind

This wooden frame is designed to sit over paper pages. The elastic strands provide a guide to the writer to maintain a straight line of writing, with the beads allowing indication of space between words or sentences. This frame allows those who have deteriorating sight to continue writing handwritten notes.1 wooden frame with elastic and beads and metal cornersassociation for the blind, assistive devices

This speaking calculator was designed to perform several functions as well as memory, in synthetic voice. With two modes - visual or visual plus voice - it was powered by a nickel cadmium rechargeable battery or by a special adaptor from mains supply voltage. Dark brown rectangular box with numerical and mathematical keyboardTSIassistive devices, audio equipment, office equipment and supplies

Created prior to the Mowat-Wormald development, this prototype emits a beam of ultrasonic sound that detects reflection from objects and obstacles as well as vibrate when the object is within range. The rate of vibration increases the distance reduces and was designed to be used in conjunction with other mobility aids such as a cane or a dog. With a simple toggle switch, it could be operated easily or stored safely away due to it's compact size.A small black rectangular metal container with mesh on one aend and a switch and tuning dial on the other end.Model MS01assistive devices, orientation and mobility

Silver wristwatch with inscribed cover and Braille watch face.Silver wristwatch with Braille numbers"CYMA" on watch face "The Fred Sutcliffe Watch 24-2-60" on watch coverassistive devices, braille, fred sutcliffe

Newspaper articles about blindness, visually impaired or blind people and activities.Scanned copies of newspaper articles collected by Lady Nelllady nell seeing eye dog school, royal victorian institute for the blind, association for the blind, royal institute for the blind (sa), villa maria society, queensland industrial institute for the blind, guide dogs for the blind association of victoria, australian national council of and for the blind, phyllis gration, max medlyn, christopher finnen, dawn goebel, arthur mackey, walter jacobs, kevin o'mahoney, jean smith, pam marks, white cane, assistive devices, garry stinchcombe, matey fisher, robert gordon, ruth keoden, winsome mclean, arthur wilkins, len childs, bob elliott, graham miller, jack birkett, norman pressey, don westaway, norman salmon, mark houran, yvonne simpson, irmo guglielamana, jenny ziviani, shaun oliver, peter goss, albert poelstra, ewan gouldon, uncle ben's of australia, dr henry nowik, mary martin, kathleen wenzer, donna hayes, ken campbell, barry murphy, michael riley, jack dowdle, harold gration, leah francis (nee wilson), john dingle, alex mcnish, peter richards, irene mye, jim finn, cec mcillwraith, terry carlson, keith smith, gordon stent, frank taylor, don verlander, olive moody, roslyn sackley, ross johnson, jako mikulic, jewel blanche, william mckennariey, vicki barclay, grantley dee, ray hannah

This brown painted metal case was used to carry and store a Braille Writer. It has metal caps on the corners and is lined with green felt. The handle on the front is leather. Two steel catches on the front hold it closed. Brown painted metal case with green felt lining and leather handle Marked on hinges 'U.K Patent No. 427897 and others'.braille equipment, assistive devices

Designed by Nimoka (Nippon Moujin Youga Kaihatsu), it was produced between 1979-2005. A heavy Braille writer for its size, the Apollo provides a standard typewriter style albeit with the oblong keys sitting to the left hand side of the brailler. The design easily fits within a small musical instrument style case, and consists of a rectangular shaped structure made out of metal base with black coloured keys and a grey coloured soft plastic cover. Underneath a battery compartment (which powers a bell) is kept closed with a capped screw.Black and green metal object with covering boxApollo Brailler Mark-II (Serial number) 834400braille equipment, assistive devices

The Sound Scriber Dictaphone allowed recordings to be imprinted into a soft disk that could then be replayed later. This was useful for blind stenographers who could transcribe the audio recording. The lid contains a speaker into which sounds are made, the front knob is allows for 'Talk' or 'Listen' and three other dials on the device allow for the tubes to be turned on/off, starting/stopping the turntable and the recording volume to be 'Dictation' or 'Conf". There are two measuring tapes placed near the recording head and the Listen head, which show the minutes in the recording. The large disk that is placed on this machine has been stopped at the 12 minute mark. At the rear of the device are two plugs, one of which is for electrical supply. This model of dicta phone remained popular until magnetic tapes.1 hinged leather case over a metal and wood machineSound Scriberaudio equipment, assistive devices

Wooden walking cane believed to have been owned and used by Tom Marks, one of the founding members for the Association for the Advancement of the Blind. He became President in 1900 and served again in the post from 1935 to 1937. Mr Marks's ability to network provided the Association with funds and advice for many years, and he was also fulfilled the position of Secretary for 23 years (1904-1927). This polished wooden walking stick is an example of how canes were not always painted white and could be utilised as both a navigational and support device.Wooden walking stick with black rubber tiptom marks, assistive devices, white cane

Prior to the idea of canes being painted white in the 1930's, vision impaired people used canes of various colours and styles to assist them. This walking stick is engraved with the initials 'GC' and would have been an expensive item given the ornate metal topper. The wood is in good condition and looks little used, particularly given the lack of a protective tip at the base.Wooden walking stick with ornate metal topperThe letters 'GC' are engraved into a metal plate on the head of the stick.assistive devices, orientation and mobility, white cane

Given its sturdy construction, this cane was primarily used as a support device and demonstrates how initially canes which were painted white, retained their existing colour on the crook. Not everyone could afford to have a smooth cane and on this example you can see and feel where branches were stripped off from the main section. These would have also provided a tactile way to identify one cane from another.Short wooden support cane with rubber tipassistive devices, white cane

Ideal because of it's light weight, metal canes were developed, some with a rubber grip that could slide down the cane and allow the user's hands to hold the cane comfortably. This cane has a noticably small crook which, given it's long length, was presumably not used by the owner to hold it. The tip of the crook and end of the cane are enveloped in plastic protectors.White metal cane with rubber on handle and tipassistive devices, orientation and mobility

This lightweight collapsible cane is in four sections joined to each other by elasticized cord. The top section has the top of the cord attached to a metal rivet.White aluminium cane with elastic insert to allow foldingassistive devices, orientation and mobility

At 130 cm, this cane is meant to be held at chest height by the user. In the 1940's the long cane 'two point touch' technqiue was pioneered by Richard Hoover, which combines swinging the cane from side to side and tapping either side of one's shoulders to identify obstacles and changes in walking surfaces.Wooden white cane with crooked handle with metal join and metal tipassistive devices, orientation and mobility

Another example of a painted white cane, made from a tree branch stripped of lateral buds, but with a metal tip indicating its primary use as a navigation device rather than a support stick.Wooden white cane with crooked handle with metal tipassistive devices, white caned

The Fitover sunglasses are designed to be worn directly over your prescription glasses. This wrap-around style blocks light from above and both sides which can benefit, alleviate and prevent many symptoms of common eye diseases by providing 100% UVA/UBA protection from harmful UV rays. 1 pair of black fitover glassesassistive devices, equipment

This tape measure is designed to indicate measurements by feel. The 150cm tape is marked by small eyelets at every cm, medium eyelets at 5 cm and two eyelets at every 10cm. 1 white measuring tape with black markings and numbers including tactile raised eyeletsassistive devices, recreation

This ARSA low vision jumbo quartz unisex watch is black mat aluminium with black face of 34 mm and 12 white figures and black leather strap. Auguste Reymond has now been the leading Swiss manufacturer for forty years in the field of Braille and low vision watches, distributing ARSA timepieces all over the world, in cooperation with all major associations dedicated to the support of the visually impaired. All timepieces are genuine Swiss made watches, assembly by hand in their premises.1 jumbo black and white watchassistive devices, arsa

This mat making needle was used by visually impaired workers in the mat making workshop at the Royal Victorian for the Blind Institute during the binding of mats in conjunction with a leather sewing palm to protect their palms. 1 long, curved, thick metal needle'Made in England'assistive devices, employment

The C2 Talking Compass is a miniature hand-held battery-operated eight-point compass with digitized voice output. At the top of the compass there is the speaker and the activation button. A three-position slide switch on the side is used to switch the compass off (central position) and select one of the two in-built languages or voices. The compass pronounces the eight compass points in clear digitised speech. It represents an excellent mobility tool for an active blind or vision-impaired person. Unobtrusive, light-weight and reliable, it augments it's user's orientation sense, and contributes to his or her safety and self-confidence. The compass relies on 2 x 12V batteries. Weight: 61 grams.1 semi-transparent light-blue oval shape compass with blue nylon, plaited wrist strapassistive devices, orientation and mobility

Black plastic rectangular watch with digital display and grey button on front, with the word "Talking" on front. On the back are three small buttons labelled "Mode", "Hr." "Min". The watch is attached to a metal key-ring on chain. 1 black rectangle with grey button and LCD display"Talking" on front of watchassistive devices, audio equipment

The Fitover sunglasses are designed to be worn directly over your prescription glasses. This wrap-around style blocks light from above and both sides which can benefit, alleviate and prevent many symptoms of common eye diseases by providing 100% UVA/UBA protection from harmful UV rays. This pair and case is labeled with the RSB logo and 'Royal Society for the Blind'.1 pair of black fitover glasses with soft caseOn both glasses and case: RSB The Royal Society for the Blind (with logo)assistive devices, royal society for the blind

A 30 cm, flexible ruler with marked numbers and Braille. Sticker on the back of the ruler (since lost): "30cm flexible ruler, Cat No 1-03030, American Printing House for the Blind. Louisville. KY 40206-0085. For ages 3 & up. 1 white ruler with black large print numbers, black measurement indicators and brailleassistive devices, aph

30 cm tactile yellow ruler with black marking every 5 centimeters with raised markings, has two different edges - straight and notched. The straight edge can be used for measuring and drawing, and the notched edge designed to help place pins when creating charts and graphs or using a compass. There are non-slip pads on the back of the ruler. 1 yellow ruler with black large print numbers and black measurement indicatorsRNIB LT21 (on back)assistive devices, royal national institute for the blind

A seven day reminder pill box, a clear rectangular plastic box with the letters in blue "SMTWTFS". Braille is included to indicate the letter of each day. Plastic box with seven compartmentsA single letter on top of each compartment in large font: S M T W T F Sassistive devices, quanterron

Hand held cream coloured plastic optical magnifier with small globe inset under lenses. The black button on handle turns globe, which is powered by batteries, on and off. The magnifier can be detached to replace the globe or exchanged for a different strength. Cream and black handle with a black button to turn on light and a detachable magnifying glass attached at top.6/100 on magnifierassistive devices, ecshenbach

Plastic magnfier, flat on one side concave on the other side. Left hand side has binding and hole to allow magnifier to be placed in folder.Large plastic sheet with brown topassistive devices, ecshenbach