Staying Active With Vision Loss in Grand Rapids, Michigan

For many Grand Rapids residents, gradual vision loss can make favorite hobbies and social activities feel overwhelming or out of reach. When recreational activities become harder to manage, people may withdraw from friends, family, and the community, leading to isolation and loneliness.

With the right tools, local support, and a few adaptations, people who are blind or have low vision in Grand Rapids can continue to enjoy a wide range of recreational activities year-round—indoors during snowy West Michigan winters and outdoors when the weather warms up.

Local Support for Vision Loss in Grand Rapids

Grand Rapids and the broader Kent County area offer resources to help people with vision loss stay active and engaged:

  • Spectrum Health and Trinity Health Grand Rapids: Provide ophthalmology and low-vision services, referrals to rehabilitation, and occupational therapy.
  • Metro Health and Mercy Health: Offer eye care, chronic disease management (like diabetes, a leading cause of vision loss), and rehabilitation services.
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health: Can connect residents with community programs, support groups, and accessibility resources.
  • Local and national vision loss organizations (such as the Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired and national blindness organizations) often:
    • Lend adaptive recreational equipment
    • Provide audio, large-print, and Braille materials
    • Offer training in daily living skills and adaptive technology

Many of these agencies have free borrowing systems for audio books, large-print books, and Braille materials, making it easier to stay informed and entertained without relying on standard print.

Reading, Books, and Magazines With Low Vision

Reading is still possible—and enjoyable—with the right format. In Grand Rapids, people with vision loss can access:

  • Audio books and magazines
  • Large-print books and periodicals
  • Braille books and magazines
  • Screen readers and screen-enlarging software for computers and tablets

These can be accessed through:

  • Public libraries in Grand Rapids and Kent County (many offer audio and large-print collections)
  • Vision loss organizations and national library services for the blind and print disabled
  • Online audio book services and streaming platforms

This is especially valuable during long Michigan winters, when people spend more time indoors and need accessible entertainment options.

Accessible Games and Social Activities

Many popular games can be adapted for people who are blind or have low vision, helping them stay socially active with family and friends in Grand Rapids.

Braille and Tactile Game Options

Games are available in Braille or with tactile markings, including:

  • Chess
  • Playing cards
  • Monopoly
  • Ludo
  • Bingo
  • Dominoes and dice with raised or textured numbers

These adaptations make it easy to distinguish pieces and numbers by touch.

Large-Print Games

For people with low vision, many games are available in large print, such as:

  • Playing cards
  • Bingo cards
  • Crosswords and word puzzles
  • Scrabble tiles and boards with larger, high-contrast print

These options are ideal for game nights at home, community centers, or senior centers around Grand Rapids.

Adapting the Kitchen for Safe, Enjoyable Cooking

A standard kitchen in a Grand Rapids home can be adapted to make cooking safer and more enjoyable for someone with vision loss.

Simple Kitchen Adaptations

Consider:

  • Brightly colored or tactile markers on:
    • Oven temperature controls
    • Stove knobs
    • Microwave buttons
    • Frequently used settings on small appliances
  • Marked measuring equipment:
    • Measuring cups and spoons with raised markings
    • High-contrast measuring lines
  • Talking kitchen devices, such as:
    • Talking scales
    • Talking timers
    • Talking thermometers
  • Tactile tags on utensils, like:
    • Markers on knife handles to indicate top/bottom or blade type

Using pre-prepared ingredients, such as jarred sauces or pre-chopped vegetables, can simplify cooking and reduce the risk of injury.

Accessible Recipe Formats

Recipes can be accessed in:

  • Audio format (via smart speakers, phones, or recorded files)
  • Large print
  • Braille
  • Digital formats compatible with screen readers

Occupational therapists at Spectrum Health, Trinity Health Grand Rapids, or other local providers can help tailor the kitchen environment to individual needs.

Craft Activities for People With Vision Loss

Crafts are often tactile and can be adapted easily for people who are blind or have low vision. These activities can be done at home or through community centers and senior programs in Grand Rapids.

Popular options include:

  • Basket weaving
  • Pottery and clay work
  • Knitting and crochet
  • Tactile painting and mixed media art

Adaptations may involve:

  • Using high-contrast colors
  • Choosing thicker yarns or materials that are easier to feel
  • Using tactile patterns or guides
  • Organizing tools in clearly labeled or tactilely distinct containers

Local art centers and senior programs in the Grand Rapids area may offer inclusive or adaptive art classes; ask about accommodations for low vision when registering.

Gardening With Low Vision in West Michigan

Gardening is a popular hobby in Michigan, especially during the warmer months. With planning and adaptations, people with vision loss in Grand Rapids can continue to enjoy gardening safely.

Garden Design Tips

Consider:

  • A basic layout with straight, uniform garden beds
  • Sticks or edging to mark the borders of each bed
  • Reference markers, such as:
    • Trees
    • Large rocks
    • Garden ornaments
  • Confined or miniature gardens, such as:
    • Flowers grown in pots or containers
    • Raised beds that are easier to reach

Making Plants Easier to Identify and Care For

To tell the difference between plants and maintain the garden:

  • Use plants with strong scents (herbs, fragrant flowers)
  • Choose flowers with brightly colored petals and high-contrast foliage
  • Place brightly colored strips or paint down the center of pathways
  • Use mulch to reduce weeds and make paths and beds easier to distinguish
  • Install permanent irrigation systems, such as underground tubing or drip systems, that can be operated by simply turning on a tap

Lightweight gardening tools and an apron or utility belt with pockets help keep tools organized and easy to find.

Exercise and Fitness at Home

Staying active is important for cardiovascular health, balance, and mood—especially in a city with long winters like Grand Rapids.

People with vision loss can safely exercise at home using:

  • Stationary bicycles
  • Rowing machines
  • Treadmills with tactile or talking controls
  • Chair exercises and resistance bands

A physical therapist or occupational therapist at a Grand Rapids hospital or clinic can recommend safe options and help set up a home exercise routine.

Music, Radio, TV, and Internet Entertainment

Music and audio-based entertainment are excellent recreational options for people who are blind or have low vision.

Listening Options

Residents in Grand Rapids can enjoy:

  • Radio (local FM/AM stations, including news, sports, and music)
  • Streaming music services
  • Podcasts and audiobooks
  • Television with audio description (many modern TVs and streaming platforms support this feature)
  • Internet radio stations from around the world

Learning to play an instrument is also possible:

  • Many people learn by ear
  • Sheet music is available in Braille music notation
  • Screen-enlarging software and high-contrast displays can help with digital music tools

Movies and Audio-Described Films

More films now feature audio description, which narrates visual elements of the movie.

People with vision loss in Grand Rapids can access:

  • Audio-described DVDs and Blu-rays
  • Streaming services that offer audio description tracks
  • Local theaters that occasionally offer audio-described showings (check with cinemas in the Grand Rapids area for accessibility accommodations)

These options make movie nights more inclusive and enjoyable for everyone.

Telephone and News Access

Staying informed is an important part of staying connected to the community.

Options may include:

  • Telephone-based news services, where daily news is read aloud
  • Screen reader–compatible news websites
  • Smartphone apps that read news stories out loud
  • Group activities, such as:
    • Small groups (up to five people) working together to solve the daily crossword
    • A volunteer or family member acting as the “reader” and writing in the answers

Some services use volunteers to read the news; others use synthetic voices. Ask local vision loss agencies or the Kent County Health Department about current options available in Michigan.

Accessing Specialized Equipment in Grand Rapids

Many organizations serving Grand Rapids and West Michigan can help people who are blind or have low vision access specialized equipment and training, such as:

  • Magnifiers and electronic video magnifiers
  • Screen readers and screen-enlarging software
  • Braille displays and Braille printers
  • Talking watches, clocks, and household devices
  • Adaptive sports and recreation equipment

Where to Get Help

If you or a loved one in Grand Rapids is experiencing vision loss, start with:

  • Your GP (primary care doctor) – for initial assessment and referrals
  • Your eye specialist (optometrist or ophthalmologist) – for diagnosis and treatment
  • Local hospitals and health systems:
    • Spectrum Health
    • Trinity Health Grand Rapids
    • Metro Health
    • Mercy Health
  • Vision loss organizations serving Michigan and West Michigan
  • Kent County Health Department and Grand Rapids Public Health – for community resources and support programs

Many people over the age of 70 will experience some degree of vision loss, but with the right support, adaptive tools, and community resources, they can continue to enjoy meaningful recreational activities and stay connected in Grand Rapids.