Sarah Maculans independently navigates life with her white cane and guide dog Syd, but when it comes to buying sanitary products, she's forced to rely on others for help. Advocates say there are simple steps that companies can take to make products more accessible for people who are blind and vision impaired.
Sarah Maculans , who is legally blind, says sanitary products are often difficult to access and use.A UK design engineer has created a prototype device using haptic and audio feedback as well as pH strips to help people detect and manage their period.
While pads and tampons are staple menstruation products for many people, for those with vision impairments they can be difficult to access and use. Sarah Maculans otherwise independently navigates life with her white cane and guide dog Syd, but finds it difficult to read product packaging on sanitary products.The university student lives with a condition called nystagmus, which allows her to see in "snippets"."I kind of explain it to people, like holding a phone screen, trying to take a photo with a shaky hand," she said. Ms Maculans said small fonts and poor contrast on some menstrual product packaging were challenging for blind or vision impaired people. "It used to cause me quite a bit of anxiety and stress just around getting it and finding the right products as well because they're not accessible most of the time," she said.She was born blind and lives with Septo-optic dysplasia, which affects early brain and eye development. While Ms Rebers can do most things independently, she struggles with managing menstruation, including knowing whether she had her period. "I find it very hard to know when I'm going to get it, however there are little signs I get such as tummy cramps," Ms Rebers said."I would like to be able to find the products and use them more independently," Ms Rebers said.UK-based design engineer Muna Daud has created a device to help blind and vision impaired people detect and manage their periods. Ms Daud said her patented prototype uses haptic and audio feedback, and pH strips to identify menstrual blood. "Users swab the testing area and insert the swab into the device, which analyses the sample," she said. "The device then provides feedback through vibrations — three buzzes indicate period blood, while one buzz indicates regular discharge." Ms Daud said the prototype, which has been in development for about a year, has an accompanying app to help users monitor their cycle.Most people have heard of premenstrual syndrome or PMS, but not many have heard of the much more severe premenstrual dysphoric disorder — which can make sufferers extremely unwell and struggle to function."Many women have to depend on the smell of blood or the duration of their cycle to determine their period, which is not always accurate or reliable," she said. "Flowsense provides a means to manage their menstrual health independently, which can significantly enhance their sense of autonomy and dignity." While Ms Daud is working on securing funding to develop the product and bring it to market, advocates believe there are simple ways to make current period products more accessible. Queensland University of Technology menstrual health researcher Ruth Knight said introducing Braille and audio cues on sanitary products were among the first steps."It's down to having empathy for the person with disability, in saying, 'How can we help you understand what products are best for you, how to get those products with dignity so you don't always have to ask somebody to go buy them for you?'," she said. "Young women, and women generally, are not getting the support to really understand how to take care of their menstrual health.Ms Maculans agreed, saying accessible period products would be "empowering". "Whether that be more contrast, simpler language potentially, or even a QR code that you can scan with your phone to read up about the product," she said.Emma had to 'fake' feeling normal because of a condition that many don't know exists With kids getting their periods as young as eight, do we need to talk about menstruation in schools sooner?When it comes to tampons, is organic cotton really safer than synthetic? Here's what the science saysIsrael's armed forces and Hamas are now on a UN global list of offenders that harm childrenAre nicotine pouches the next vape? Authorities warn Australia is being flooded with themThese women want to be sterilised — they have to fight the law, their country, family and history Social media age limits might be popular with politicians and parents, but experts warn they aren't simple'It's a controversial topic': Navigating the complexity of tongue-ties as a first-time mum'People are more exhausted than ever': New research aims to find out how Australians are recovering from work Four decades after Melbourne mother Maria James was found brutally murdered, police offer $1 million rewardThirty years ago, this surfer and his friend swam with a whale. It landed them in the middle of a landmark court case 'People are more exhausted than ever': New research aims to find out how Australians are recovering from workOvercrowding and 'heat caves' plague these communities. They're now bringing home back to CountryFrigid start to winter for south-east states as Melbourne shivers through coldest day in five yearsThirty years ago, this surfer and his friend swam with a whale. It landed them in the middle of a landmark court case
Products Care Tampons Pads Menstruation Sarah Maculans Jordyn Rebers Muna Daud Flowsense Accessibility Disability Inclusion Ruth Knight
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