Home safety is usually a concern for most people, but it can be more worrisome for those with hearing loss – especially for those who just recently lost it. So how do people with hearing loss protect themselves and their belongings? They can get an alarm system and have a few modifications added.
 
So, here’s my list of home alarm systems for people with hearing loss and how they can feel safe at home.

There are a variety of home monitoring services with different types of packages to choose from. Some are self-installed while others are installed by a professional. They’re available for homes, rentals, and businesses.
 
Some of these services offer notifications by cell phone, which is great as you can have your cell phone by your bed with notifications set to flash (or vibrate) to alert you when the alarm goes off

​Getting a visual alert system for all your home needs is an excellent idea. A visual alert system is a system that alerts you by setting up listening receivers that flash a lamp or strobe light plugged into them. They also come with a bedshaker to place under a pillow or between the mattress to shake you awake for a noise alert.
 
There are alerts for the alarm clock, doorbell, smoke detector, baby crying, and any other noise you want to be notified for. A noise receiver can be set up next to your alarm system to “listen” to the alarm going off.

​If you don’t have a visual alert system or hear “fine” during the day with your hearing aid or cochlear implant, you do need to consider night time when you take your devices off. You can find alarm systems, smoke detectors, phones, and doorbells with extra loud ringers.
 
Be sure to find one that works in your hearing frequency. If you have a high pitch hearing loss you’ll need to find an alarm with a lower bass frequency to be able to hear it.

​Installing motion detector lights in your front and back yard is a great deterrent from break-ins. They’re also great for added safety for walking to and from the car at night time.
 
Some alarm systems come with motion detectors as well and can alert you to movement in the house. Even though these are not attached to lights per say, you’ll know if someone’s in your place.
 
I personally have a motion detector light in my front hall entryway. It’s pretty dark in there during the daytime as well. It’s a motion detector for the light socket. It comes on whenever someone comes in or needs to go out. An added bonus is that since I don’t hear the door open and close, I can spot the light come on and go check who’s here.

These days many people are so busy that they don’t even know who their neighbors are. Go and make friends with a few of them, offer to help them out if they need anything (mowing, errands, and such).

In return, they can help keep an eye on your place by letting you know of strange visitors or noises. They can also be a contact person for the alarm service to contact too.

​A cheap (and cuddly) alternative is to get a dog or a cat. Allow the pet to share your bed. In the event of strange noises, a break-in, or anything, you’ll feel your pet barking, moving around, or even bolting off the bed. Then you’ll know something is wrong and go investigate.

Many disabled people can safely and effectively look after themselves, while living independent lives, however, achieving the most effective home security can pose some extra difficulties to those with an impairment.  

​Burglars and home invaders are not the types of people that are likely to have qualms about victimizing a disabled person. However, with some diligence and planning, anyone, no matter what their disability, can achieve home security to an extremely high level. While everyone’s needs and abilities are different, some general tips have been outlined to stop intruders.

​While most disabled people are mobile and self-sufficient, some may still find it difficult to reach key items. If locks and deadbolts are too high, then they need to be moved within easier reach. The same goes for an alarm system control panel. You should also keep a mobile phone within easy reach at all times.

You may pride yourself on your independence, but that doesn't mean you can't ask others for help. A family member or friendly neighbor is always a great option to make the most of, especially if they have some basic DIY skills. They will be able to assist with installing a security camera, fixing windows or doors, or any other jobs.

Another benefit of having a good relationship with a neighbor is that you can call on them if there is anything suspicious happening on your property. If they are home they can be around in seconds to help. Most people are happy to do this, especially if it's only a few steps away.

If you truly feel like your home is about to be broken into, or somebody is already inside, then don't hesitate, call the police straight away. People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing, or those with speech difficulties can text rather than call, however, they generally have to be registered for this service in advance.

Your doors and windows are the key access points to your home. This means they should be sturdy and shut and lock securely. Now if you can't find someone to help with maintenance for your doors, windows, and locks, as well as other tasks, then just contact a professional. Make sure they understand any limitations you may have so that they can create the best solution for your situation.​

There are many security systems that are optimized for the disabled. For those with a sight impairment, there are voice activated systems. For those with hearing loss, it is possible to get a strobe light alarm. Regardless of what your disability may be, there is likely to be a system that you can use without issue.

Remember, you want to optimize the visibility of your property. It can be difficult for those with limited mobility to investigate suspicious occurrences. Setting up multiple security cameras can give a panoramic view of your property. The feed from these can be sent straight to a phone or computer. A video doorbell is also available which may help. This means you will know everything going on around your property, and when the doorbell rings you can see who is there no matter where you are in the house. 

Dogs can have special benefits for disabled people, such as guide dogs for the blind, and service dogs for those with limited mobility. Not only can these dogs transform the life of a disabled person, but they can also provide invaluable home security. The sight or sound of a dog is generally enough to ward off most burglars, not to mention giving advance warning to their owner. If you already own a dog, then that's fantastic, if not, consider the ways they could potentially assist you, as well as improve your home security.

You want your home to be your castle, where you feel safe at all time. Just as you don't let your disability hold you back in other areas of your life, don't let it hold you back from achieving excellent security. Taking these tips into consideration is the first step on your path to optimizing your home for security, safety, and peace of mind.

About the Author:
Joanna Sommer
Joanna Sommer is the Senior Editor for InformedMag and is passionate about security and tech. She has been working in the home safety and security field for 5 years. Joanna loves to travel and enjoys going to hot yoga and Barre classes. She is dedicated to creating articles that both educate and help people make an informed purchasing decision.

I wrote this for Stir4All back in April 2016 and I thought I'd share my original writing (with some changes)

I was born profoundly deaf and legally blind (my eye doctor suspects Retinopathy of Prematurity). I eventually got glasses that corrected my vision to 20/200, and a pair of hearing aids. Other than this, growing up I had no other adaptations, I held books and toys closer to my face and sat closer to the television.

During the summers as a child I was assigned an Intervenor from the Canadian National Institute of the Blind (CNIB) to facilitate involvement in the community. She and I would go to community events, libraries, science museums and the like. She worked with me one-on-one to relay what instructors, guides, and other people were saying, and showing me up-close what to do (build a paper airplane, and such). For one or two weeks during this time we went to CNIB’s summer camp where I got to hang out with other deafblind children.

I was mainstreamed in a public school with specialized classes for speech, hearing and English with other deaf and hard of hearing kids, but spent the majority of the day in the regular classroom with a powerful hearing aid and a microphone for the teacher. After a good deal of bullying from the other students I asked my parents to start High School at the Deaf Institute.

After graduation I tried hunting for work, I thought the only drawback I had was not being able to drive, but I could do anything else. I quickly learned the reality of discrimination after numerous rejections because of my dual-disabilities. After two years I decided to attend University to improve my chances of employment. After four years and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, I still struggled to get past judgmental headhunters to find employment. I had a few sporadic jobs throughout my adult life.

I realized I had a naïve view of the world as I only could understand things within my 5 foot “bubble” of what I could see or hear, or what was relayed to me. This is the reality of a deafblind person. 

With the advent of technology like the internet, and later, social media, my world exploded open. With online chat rooms I could keep up with conversations and was not prejudged for my disabilities. I met my future husband in one of these chat rooms, after revealing I was deafblind in a private chat, he taught himself sign language to ease communications. We’ve now been together for twenty-one years and have two children who are teenagers now.

Eventually my vision worsened to where I reluctantly had to accept using a white cane, my hearing also worsened too where I then opted for a Cochlear Implant.

Being an adult and a parent I go out in public frequently, to shopping malls, play areas, doctor’s offices, school, and so on. Occasionally I come across people expressing an ignorant view of my deafblindness, “Where’s your caretaker?”, “Who helps with the kids?”, “It must be so hard being you”, “I could never be deaf or blind”.

I’m DeafBlind and that’s okay. It may take me longer to do things, or do them in a different way, but I’m still a person, a wife, a mother, a daughter, a friend, an ASL tutor,  a blogger, and a freelance writer. I take care of the house, kids, cooking, bills and anything else a wife and mother does.

I don’t need special treatment aside from the standard accommodations of an occasional ASL interpreter or SSP (Support Service Provider – an American version of an Intervenor). I don’t need people’s patronizing attitudes, stares, doubts, discrimination, or misguided help.
​
I’m just a Deafblind woman going about living my life to the fullest and enjoying the ride.

I was sent this post by a reader and have gained permission to share it.

It was posted on ZooMax.co

I hope you enjoyed this article and have a great week!
​

I've been busy making profiles on a variety of freelancing sites and online tutoring sites that I forgot to make a Post last week.

So, between working online and doing house chores tere's been some goofing off where I get pulled into reading my social media accounts and scrolling through Pinterest.

There's also that hour and so first thing in the morning where I'm like a Walker from "The Walking Dead", just stumbling around with a coffee mug.

​So I want to research how to manage my time better and share it with you.

1. Use a Schedule

Using a schedule allows you to see where your priorities are. What work is scheduled or due dates; children's activities; appointments; and so on. Make a home cleaning schedule and break down the chores into smaller increments to do between work assignments. 

Use a wall calendar instead of an App. That way it's more clearer and you can use different highlighters for different  items. You can use your calendar App to send you notifications of upcoming times.

Here's a great Planner to use:

2. Make a Daily To-Do List

Write a list the night before of everything that you need/want to get done the next day. All the work assignments, the cleaning chores, the kid's after school plans, and the dinner plan.

Do the important and harder work and chores first and get them out of the way. That way your day goes smoother and you'll feel better the rest of the day (instead of feeling tension by not looking forward to doing it).

3. Give yourself Extra Time

Estimate the time it'll take for each assignment on your to-do list and cushion it with extra minutes. This way if it does run over time, you won't feel stressed rushing to the next assignment.

Also do give yourself a small block of time throughout the day to take breaks, get away from the desk, zone out and relax.

4. Learn to Say No

Learn to prioritize and give yourself a healthy balance between work, family and play. My family comes first in any situation so that's a no-brainer for me. If a kid's activity is scheduled, such as a music concert, I'm there. 

Don't forget to schedule time for yourself. To exercise, to read, to relax or to nap. (The last one's my favorite). Also schedule time with your spouse or partner, just to chat and catch up on the day. 

5. Schedule "No Contact" Times

Minimize distractions by scheduling several "no contact" times through the day. This is where you are absolutely unavailable. This time is used to buckle down and concentrate  on the task at hand.

If you're easily distracted by social media and such. There's an App called Freedom that can lock out all Apps for a time period.

Also do the same for your clients, schedule "no contact" times for them as well. Tell them that those times you will not take calls, answer e-mails, or do any assignments for them.

6. Delegate

I know as a mom, this is a hard one to do. Learn to delegate chores, give some to your children. My kids are teenagers so they help empty the dishwasher, take out the trash and they're responsible for their own laundry.

Another thing about delegating, you'll have to let go of your standards and not nit-pick over their work. Keep doing that and you'll be back doing it yourself in no time (and with upset kids and hubby).

So I hope these tips helps you as well as myself. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to send them my way!​

 Today is #NationalPeanutButterLoversDay!

Our family loves Peanut Butter, we also love granola bars and go through them a lot. Even when we buy the no-name brand, the spending adds up.

So I found this great and easy recipe on Pinterest that only uses 3 ingredients! Thanks to Listotic

The first reason why I love these are because it only uses 3 ingredients that you pretty much already have in your pantry!

It's a pet peeve of mine when cooking shows or recipes declare an easy recipe for a mother to make and it uses some exotic or expensive ingredient or a specialty pan! Who the hell keeps Champagne vinegar on hand or a chestnut roasting pan on hand??

"Now grab your chestnut roasting pan"
"Oh sure, let me check my pantry...NO!"
(credit goes to John Pinette -  I miss his comedy)

The second reason is that it's so easy the kids can make it themselves!

So here's the recipe:
​

Copied from Listotic with my adjustments in brackets
​

1 Cup Peanut Butter
1/2 Cup Honey
3 Cups Oatmeal (I used 2 1/2 Cups)

- Line a 9x9 cake pan with non stick foil, or regular foil with non-stick spray. (I used a 9x13 cake pan and lined it with wax paper - again I don't horde a large number of pans or specialty products.)
- Melt the Peanut Butter and honey together, either on a stovetop or microwave (1 1/2 - 2 mins), until blended and smooth enough to mix.
- Mix in the Oatmeal, start with 2 Cups and add the rest slowly because you may not need it all. (I only used 2 1/2 Cups)
- Spread out in the pan and store in the fridge for a few hours until its set enough to cut into squares.
- Store in the fridge to keep them firm, or leave out to be soft and gooey.

And that's it! Nice and simple! Everyone here loved them and the teenagers can make it themselves easily for a snack or breakfast bars to go.

So Happy Peanut Butter Lover's Day!!