Teaching Housekeeping to Students who are Blind or Visually Impaired

Teaching Students with Visual Impairments

Housekeeping Instruction

Independent living skills are the activities people perform, according to their abilities, which enable them to manage their homes and personal lives. The development of independent living skills is important to all students and particularly with students who are blind and visually impaired.

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By: Carmen Willings
teachingvisuallyimpaired.com
Updated June 9, 2019

Learning skills in the area of housekeeping will help the students to become the most contributing members of their homes. It is also a great way to learn responsibility! Sorting, matching, reading labels, measuring, and many other skills can be naturally embedded in these experiences.

Many housekeeping skills can be taught in school and reinforced at home while others are best taught at home as not all schools are equipped with the resources to perform all housekeeping tasks.

The following skills can be practiced at school:

empty wastebasket into larger trash container;
clean the floor independently;
replace used items to proper places at school when prompted;
wipe up spills independently;
recognize household cleaning supplies and personal items by labels/markings;
label, organize and maintain an organization for utensils, tools, and supplies;
drop trash in a wastebasket; scrape plates and put trash in trash cans;
wipe a tabletop, counter, or another small area;
create a chart to track particular days of the week in which certain chores need to be completed;
clean a large table and floor area using a "grid" pattern or a double-cross method;
clean a large table and floor area using a bar pattern, i.e. sweep one path, deposit dirt at the end of the path, then return to the starting point, take a large step backward, and move toward the same wall again, repeating the process;
generate the chores that need to be done at home and school; and encourage the student to demonstrate safe use of household tools and supplies (e.g. shovel, rake, hammer, screwdriver).

The following will be difficult to practice at school without a laundry area, or access to a sink or vacuum and may be better practiced at home. Also, there may be more restrictions on cleaners permitted at school. As part of each chore, help the student learn to identify and use the appropriate cleansers for each chore. Basic household chores that are typically performed on a daily or weekly basis include:

vacuuming
dusting
mopping
washing laundry
stacking dishes
washing, rinsing and draining dishes, flatware, pans, and utensils by hand
making the bed

Cleaning Floor Tips

Clean floors in a systematic pattern, using walls, windows, and the edge of flooring as reference points.
Tactile markers can be used to mark the different settings on a vacuum cleaner.

Dusting Tips

Wearing an old sock on your hand is the easiest way to dust. Be sure to select one that is smooth or you may scratch the surface. If using cleaning spray or polish, hold it in one hand while you dust with the other.
To locate items, keep hands low and fingers curved so you don't accidentally knock things over.
Use a systematic pattern side to side and from top to bottom.
Remember to dust all surfaces including vertical such as table and chair legs and rungs.

Laundry Tips

If using a laundromat, create a template specific to the washing machine and dryer models with tactile markings that can fit over the dials and be carried back and forth to the laundromat.
If using a home washer and dryer, place raised markers to mark common settings.
Mark laundry detergent and any other supplies for easy identification.
Pin matching socks together or use sock locks before putting them in the laundry basket.
Keep a separate basket for dark colors and whites/lights and label each accordingly.
When emptying the washer or dryer, sweep hand around the inside of the machine to catch any stray clothes.

Cleaning Table & Counter Tips

Clean systematically side to side and from top to bottom or back to front.
Systematically move items to the side on the counter to clean under them.
Consider using natural cleaners such as vinegar and baking soda or other cleaners that are safe if accidentally ingested in the event residue remains on counters.

Washing Dishes Tips

Hand-washing Dishes

Keep sharp knives separate when washing dishes and separate from the rest of silverware.
Wash breakable items like glasses before dishes.
Touch items carefully with clean hands to determine if there are any sticky or greasy areas remaining. Also, feel to ensure no soapy areas remain.

Dishwasher Tips

Consistently place plates, glasses, and silverware in the dishwasher.
Load from back to front so it is easier to determine when the dishwasher is full.
Always load knives and forks with point side DOWN in the basket to prevent cuts or pokes.
Unload the dishwasher from front to back.
Always close the dishwasher fully to prevent trips or bruised shins!

Making Bed Tips

Making the Bed

Pull up sheets and blankets on one side and smooth out and then repeat on the other side.
Fluff and smooth pillows and prop them on the top of the bed.

After Washing Sheets

To orient clean fitted sheets, place the corner with the tag on the bottom left corner of the mattress, tag-side down.
To orient the top sheet, find the wide finished edge that marks the top. Feel length on either side to make sure it is even on both sides. Tuck in sheet at the foot of the bed. Repeat with blankets.

Insert Pillow into Case

Hold the short end of the pillow under the chin and pull the pillowcase over the bottom of the pillow.
Stuff the bottom of the pillow into the pillowcase.
Hold the edges of the top of the pillowcase and shake the pillow until it is fully inside the pillowcase

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