The World Wide Web is often considered the "great equalizer" for a large number of people. A lot of groups have gained more visibility due to the Internet. Unfortunately, however, those who are blind or have poor vision often have difficulty using the Web, for obvious and some not-so obvious reasons. Fortunately, there are a lot of software solutions for people with vision impairment, but teachers, educators, and parents need to be aware of the difficulty of using and getting used to this software.
What does "legally blind" mean?
The first step in helping someone with a vision impairment is to find out the level and degree of the disability. "Low vision" refers to a condition with a measurable visual acuity of 20/70 or less and is usually uncorrectable. Someone who is legally blind has an acuity of 20/200 at best, accompanied by a phenomenon known as tunnel vision, which is a visual field of 20 degrees or less. Total blindness, which is fairly rare (about 15% of all blind people), is very severe, and there is little to no light perception. Those who are totally blind have fewer software options than those who have low vision, so knowing the level of blindness is very important.
How can one who is blind use a computer?
Depending on the degree, type, and severity of the vision impairment, different choices are available for surfing the Web and using a computer. Usually, people do not use a mouse, just a keyboard or Braille keyboard, and site content is read aloud by a software program. Those who have some light sensitivity and who can read large text often use Internet plugins that create extra-large buttons and zoom in a great deal. Also, some people with vision impairment use a highlight contrast feature to change the color of text so it can be more easily read. If the person in question is not familiar with using a keyboard or Braille keyboard, speech-to-text programs are occasionally used.
What does "legally blind" mean?
The first step in helping someone with a vision impairment is to find out the level and degree of the disability. "Low vision" refers to a condition with a measurable visual acuity of 20/70 or less and is usually uncorrectable. Someone who is legally blind has an acuity of 20/200 at best, accompanied by a phenomenon known as tunnel vision, which is a visual field of 20 degrees or less. Total blindness, which is fairly rare (about 15% of all blind people), is very severe, and there is little to no light perception. Those who are totally blind have fewer software options than those who have low vision, so knowing the level of blindness is very important.
How can one who is blind use a computer?
Depending on the degree, type, and severity of the vision impairment, different choices are available for surfing the Web and using a computer. Usually, people do not use a mouse, just a keyboard or Braille keyboard, and site content is read aloud by a software program. Those who have some light sensitivity and who can read large text often use Internet plugins that create extra-large buttons and zoom in a great deal. Also, some people with vision impairment use a highlight contrast feature to change the color of text so it can be more easily read. If the person in question is not familiar with using a keyboard or Braille keyboard, speech-to-text programs are occasionally used.
- Low Vision Terms and Descriptions: In order to help a student or young person, a teacher or parent needs to know about the nature of the disability.
- Definitions of Blindness and Low Vision: Different organizations define legal blindness differently. In America, legal blindness relates to a visual acuity of 20/200 or less.
- Vision Loss Fact Sheet (PDF): The Centers for Disease Control outlines some of the signs of vision loss in children in this fact sheet.
- An Educator's Guide to Visual Disabilities: This is a great online resource, summing up the issues, technology, and conclusions for teaching a low-vision student.
- IDEA: What Parents Need to Know: The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is dense, with a lot of information. This is an apt summary.
- Adapting Environments for Individuals with Vision Loss (video): Sometimes, a student with vision difficulties needs more than just technology to help solve issues. Darick Wright talks about a holistic approach to helping students in schools.
- Classroom Accommodations for People with Visual Impairment (PDF): Those with visual impairments have additional needs in the classroom that many people may not think about, such as lighting, large-print books, or clean chalkboards.
- Teaching Students for Visual Impairments (PDF): This article has more teaching tips, such as to always face the class while speaking or to have touchable objects available.
- Blind Handicapped Vs. Technology: How do Blind People Use Computers? (PDF): Blind people can and do use the Internet, though the degree of blindness tends to correlate with the degree of difficulty they have. Some people avoid using a mouse or use a screen reader to navigate.
- Providing Access to Technology: Those who are blind and those who have low vision use the Iinternet slightly differently. For instance, those with low vision can change the color of the screen, zoom in a great deal, and have anti-glare screens.
- OS X Accessibility: If your student is using a Mac computer, there are many different features that can help navigation, such as VoiceOver.
- Guide for Individuals with Vision Impairments: On a PC, you can do different things to make the computer easier to use as well. Use High Contrast for those with low vision.
- Technology Resources for People with Vision Loss: The American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) has many different apps and recommendations for assistive technology.
- Assistive Technology Software (PDF): This is a list of some decent screen readers, speech-to-text software, and screen magnifiers and their prices.
- Resources for Students: In addition to technology, blind and low-vision students can tap into other resources for their education.
- Living With Low Vision - Erin's Story (video): A young student's mother describes her family's experience with dealing with low vision.
- Motorized Window Blinds Controlling window treatments with a remote or smart device
- The Accessibility of the World Wide Web for Visually Impaired People: This article outlines the technical and conceptual problems of using the Web.
- Use Your Computer to Read Web Pages Out Loud: The Social Security Administration talks about the BrowseAloud software here.
- Livin' Large with Low Vision: Big Buttons (video): This is an example of how a large icon add-on works in real time and is brought to you by the Computer Center for Visually Impaired People at Baruch College.
- How Blind People Use the Web (video): Screen readers, Braille keyboards, and common issues are discussed both in article form and in a video demonstration on this site.
- iPad Use with Blind and Partially Sighted Children: A lot of teachers have been incorporating iPads into working with visually impaired children.
- A Tablet for the Blind? Braille Writer for a Touch Screen: A new app that creates a touch-screen Braille keyboard is reviewed in this article.
- Teacher Resources for Teaching Blind and Visually Impaired Students (PDF): There are a ton of software solutions to help a student overcome technology issues.
- Making the Learning Environment Accessible to Students with Visual Disabilities: Teachers can take this module when learning about accessibility.
- Teaching Computer Skills to Children with Visual Impairments: A Concept-Based Approach: This is a great guide for teaching children who are visually impaired to not be afraid of technology. Teach your students how to work with technology!
- Smart Home Window Treatments Excellent way to control window treatments in your home using modern technologies like computers, mobile phones, tablets and more. Very important for those dealing with disabilities
Article written by Lexi Westingate
