Facilitating Communication: Strategies for Life, Living Well with Vision Loss

Mary Beth Caruso, Certified Vision Rehabilitation Therapist
January 1, 2011

Open and comprehensive communication can make a huge difference in one’s quality of life. For individuals who are experiencing vision loss, it is critical to be able to clearly and concisely describe what support is needed and/or desired to those who love them and those who may work with them. These needs and desires may change as vision, health and living situation change. Not everyone is comfortable in communicating such information, especially when expending energy learning to cope with life’s changes and challenges.

A simple handout or booklet which can be shared with family, friends and caretakers, may help facilitate communication. Reading this information may prompt modifications in behavior, elicit further questions for discussion and serve as a reference. Sharing resources such as those listed below, can take some of the pressure off of situations and relationships.  Responses such as “I thought my (fill in the blank) was making things up.  Now I know this is often how their eye condition can impact day to day life” are common. What a relief for everyone!

As one’s comfort level with daily routines, adaptive devices and alternative techniques increases, most likely the ability to comfortably communicate needs and desires will increase as well. Take a deep breath, be patient and know that people can adjust…including both the individual experiencing vision loss and those who care about them. Best wishes for happy & healthy New Year filled with open communication!

Resources

• The National Eye Institute-National Institutes of Health (www.nei.nih.gov  or 301-496-5248) published an easy to read booklet: What you should know about low vision…, which has pictures that simulate various eye conditions. 
• The American Foundation for the Blind website (www.afb.org) has handouts under the Friends and Family section on etiquette: “Tact and Courtesy,” “Communicating Comfortably,” “Being a Sighted Guide” and “Giving Directions.”
• Guide Dogs for the Blind (www.guidedogs.com) also have a nice handout of suggestions for “When you meet a person who is blind” that on one page gives a generic, very useful guide for everyone who interacts with an individual who has vision loss.

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