Vision Impairment
Very few vision impaired people are totally blind. The image of the person living in total blackness with a guide dog or white cane fits only a very small proportion of those who are blind or vision impaired. A minority of blind people can distinguish light but nothing else. Many lack central or peripheral vision.
Some vision impaired people see things as a vague blur while some may be able to negotiate supermarket aisles, but are unable to read labels. Others can read labels but cannot negotiate the aisles. Some vision impairments vary in their effects from day to day as different parts of the field of vision are faulty.
Some vision impairments are not readily apparent to other people.
Severe vision impairment can be present at birth; however, injury, infection, diseases and conditions associated with ageing are more common causes of vision impairment than birth or genetic defects.
Consequences of having vision impairment
The inability to read is probably the most notable of the everyday functions that are significantly affected by severe vision loss. Inability to read can substantially affect competence in absorbing complex or detailed information and reduce or complicate the process of acquisition of some skills since a high percentage of learning involves the use of sight.
Environmental issues to consider are:
- Physical layout of buildings
- Objects blocking walkways, e.g. boxes, bags.
- Lighting and glare
- Signage
- Safety
There are many services and aids available for people with vision impairments, such as:
- Software to modify regular print size on screens
- CCTV - Closed Circuit Television (to enable people to convert hardcopies into readable size print)
- Talking calculators, clocks and watches
- Talking, large print and Braille books, calculators, clocks and watches
- Scanners which convert print into speech or electronic formats
- Guide dogs
- Magnifying devices
What you can do
Do
- Consider making your website accessible (option of larger print size) so people with vision impairments can access information.
- Be aware that the person who is vision impaired will be disadvantaged without knowing what is going on in the surrounding environment. Verbal descriptions of surroundings may help.
- Use ordinary language when directing or describing and be specific. Direct people who are vision impaired to their left or right, not yours
- Identify yourself and ask 'May I help you?' Do not assume help is needed
- Wherever possible address people who are vision impaired by their name so they know you are speaking to them
- When asked to act as a guide, offer your elbow and let the person follow you. Do not grab arms or push people. Allow them to hold on and follow you.
- Offer orientation tours of the organisation. Describe the surroundings and obstacles in a person's pathway
- Keep pathways clear of objects
- Put chairs back where they belong
- Remember that when helping to seat a person who is has a vision impairment, they may put their hands on the back of the chair to seat themselves
- Offer to read written information for a person with a visual impairment, when appropriate
Don't
- Leave doors ajar – leave them fully open or fully closed
- Pet, play with or feed guide dogs. Always ask permission of the owner before interacting with an animal.
- Walk away from a person who is vision impaired without indicating that you are doing so
- Be offended by a lack of response – common visual cues such as eye contact or nods don't work with people who have vision impairments.