Description
Made for those with varying levels of visual impairment. Features both visual and tactile aids making it perfect for those with little or no eyesight.
Our Story
Having seen my grandad who has been legally blind all of his life struggle for years to place his cup of tea down every day, I asked him what makes it so difficult. He responded that it is difficult to know if the cup is safely on the edge of the table or coaster and he is scared to let go without leaning forward and confirming that the cup is placed correctly. After hearing this, I worked with him to develop a prototype of a coaster with a lip that would allow him to feel when the coaster is securely inside the coaster and therefore safely on the table. This worked really well but he explained how there should be more contrast between the lip and the centre. The next prototype included the black square that you can see in our final version. Since then, features have been added that help both him with his limited vision and those with no vision. The full list of visual and tactile features is outlined below. My grandad has since been using the coaster every day and seeing the difference it has made is unbelievable.
Community Reviews
“These really stay put!”
-The Blind Woodsman
“I don’t have to worry about putting my drink on the edge”
-Natasha Caudill
“Thoughtfully designed for the blind and VI community”
-Angeles Apollo
Visual Features For Partially Sighted Users
- Luminous yellow base – Ensures those with little eyesight can see the coaster from a distance
- Black plate for high contrast – Provides the crucial high contrast between the outside of the coaster and where the cup should be placed
- Glow in the dark ring – Provides some visibility even when the lights are turned off.
- Tactile Features For Partially Sighted and Completely Blind Users
- Inward-facing tactile arrows – Allow those with no eyesight to easily feel where the centre of the coaster is to help them guide the cup gently in place
- Sloped lip – Guides the cup to the centre of the coaster and allows the user to feel around and ensure the cup is securely on the coaster. (See Video)
- Rubber non-slip feet – Ensures the coaster remains exactly where the user left it and ensures that if the coaster is placed securely on the table, when the cup is placed inside, it will be too.
Coaster Size
Will fit most standard and larger style mugs and cups. Please confirm with the sizes below. Maximum Cup Diameter: 9.4cm / 3.7″ Total Coaster Width: 12.6cm / 5″ Lip Depth: 0.8cm / 0.34″
Important Note
NOT DISHWASHER SAFE. However, can be easily cleaned with soap and water or a wet wipe. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to send us an email at support@opticoaster.com
22 reviews for OPTICOASTER – High Visibility Coaster – High Contrast – Tactile Lip – Blindness and Vision Loss Visually Impaired Visual Impairment