COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. -- Jeanne Long found out seven years ago that she has macular degeneration, a disease that affects central vision.

Long said she lost her central vision within three days of the diagnosis and thought she would no longer be able to do what she loves most: travel.

She soon learned to overcome her fear. Long said she has since come up with helpful ways to use her peripheral vision to get around.

One of the most helpful tricks is to use color contrast. Long said she uses colored soap so that she can more easily pick it up in the shower.

This idea of color contrast has been adopted in a revolutionary apartment design project at the Inn At Garden Plaza, a retirement community.

Directors have meticulously put together a model apartment to help those who suffer from macular degeneration like Jeanne Long.

One of the directors, Jan Jones, has spearheaded the project.

She said the apartment incorporates color contrast by using dark and light colors to signify where there’s a window or entrance to another room.

Jones also credited talking appliances as tools for those who have lost their vision. She said it becomes especially important to use other senses such as hearing and touch.

The model apartment that Jones has helped design has a talking microwave, alarm clock and thermostat.

Long marveled at the new apartment and looks forward to living in one similar to it soon.

She said independence is important and noted that any small idea can make a world of difference.