Assistive Technology for Blind People

The American Foundation for the Blind reports that more than 25 million American adults have significant vision loss. Additionally, more than 57,000 American children are legally blind. The blind face many challenges in daily life, but assistive technology provides solutions to many problems.

Workplace Technology

• Braille printers allow blind employees to print documents they can read. Some cell phones operate on voice commands and will also “speak” as users scroll through various menus.

Educational Technology

• Blind students can benefit from a wide array of assistive devices, including talking calculators, textbooks on tape, Braille textbooks, talking dictionaries and tape recorders for taking notes. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires public schools to provide assistive technology to students as needed.

Computer Technology

• Screen magnifiers allow users with some vision to read text and view images on the monitor. Optical character recognition systems allow readers to scan text documents. A voice synthesizer then reads the text aloud.

Home Technology

• Some appliances have knobs that lock in place so users can tell by feel what setting they are turned to. Some companies also make appliances with Braille labels.

Funding

• People may have difficulty paying for assistive technology. Schools provide assistive technology for blind students. State vocational rehabilitation agencies sometimes provide assistive technology for adults that need it in order to work. The Association of Blind Citizens Assistive Technology Fund helps pay for other necessary devices.