Hi, I'm Bethany and I like swimming, cycling, reading and listening to music as well as playing instruments. In school I enjoy English.
Board games
I also like board games. It's often hard to get board games that are accessible. I find that it's not easy to see them as the writing is so small. Sometimes there is a lot of room around the small writing that isn't being used. Why can't they make the text bigger?
Using colour coding causes problems too as I can't tell one colour from another. What's more, there are not many Braille board games around. Sometimes people don't understand or forget that I can't see what they're showing me and I don't like reminding them that I can't see well.
Nevertheless, having had lots of wet days in a caravan in Ireland, I have collected a few suitable games to keep me busy between my hot chocolates!
Card games
A deck of cards is a must - they're cheap and versatile and you can get Braille and large print versions from RNIB. When we play at home, we find it helpful to say a card's name when it is discarded.
Phase 10, Skip-Bo and Uno are other card games that I love to play as they have large numbers. A black marker can be used to improve the contrast and Braille can be added if not available commercially.
Phase 10 is a rummy-type card game available from Amazon. In Skip-Bo each player is dealt a stockpile of cards. The aim of the game is to try to win by playing all these cards on building piles in the sequence from 1 to 12 - also available from Amazon.
"Bop It!" is fun and if you've got rhythm you'll love it. No vision is necessary and you can play it on your own or as a family. "Bop it, spin it, pull it, flick it! Do it the same but better!" It's great for family get togethers.
"Say What!" is a game of speed. You're given a jumbled, well known phrase to unscramble by moving five balls in the right order - another game for one or more.
Last week I played Othello - "a minute to learn… a lifetime to master." It has a tactile version but the ordinary version may be good enough for those with some vision.
Dice games
I also have dice of different sizes at home. Some of them are tactile and can be used with other games.
I hope that this will inspire you to be sociable and play something new.