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A to Z of assistive technology for low vision

Here are 26 of the most common types of assistive technology for low vision that are used for work, home school and also for fun!

I started learning about assistive technology for low vision when I was in high school, and I remember the feelings of being overwhelmed with the amount of different technologies that were available for people with vision loss, and excitement over getting to learn how everything is implemented and how I could use it in my daily life.

Since then, I have studied assistive technology in college and created my website Veronica With Four Eyes to introduce readers to the amazing world of low vision assistive technology. Here is an A-to-Z list of different types of assistive technology for low vision, and how they are used. I believe that if someone is proficient with all 26 items on this list, they will be an accessibility superstar!

Audio description

Audio description, sometimes referred to as descriptive audio, is an additional narration track that describes visual information for people who otherwise might not be able to see it. Audio description can be played openly where everyone can hear it or on an assisted listening device (ALD) where only the person wearing headphones can hear it.

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Blindness cane

Blindness canes are used by people with low or no vision to navigate unfamiliar environments. People typically learn how to use blindness canes from orientation and mobility (O&M) specialists that are trained to help people navigate their environment in a nonvisual way. Blindness canes come in many different styles, with options for customizing colors, tips, handles, length, and more.

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Computer

Computers are an example of mainstream technology that have several built-in features that can be used as assistive technology for people with low vision. While each operating system has different names for various accessibility features, computers generally feature settings including text-to-speech, screen readers, screen magnification, large print, and options for displaying information in various formats.

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Device camera

The device camera that is built into a cell phone or tablet can be used as assistive technology in a pinch, and is frequently used by people with low vision to quickly magnify things, especially items such as restaurant menus, signs, and short documents. There are also many different assistive technology apps that utilize the device camera, so users should be familiar with how to stabilize an image and take a clear photo.

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Electronic books

Many people with low vision also have a print disability, which is defined as the inability to read standard print. It can be difficult to find physical copies of large print books, and traditional printed books don’t allow users to customize the font size or background color, so electronic books are a great resource for people with vision loss. Electronic books can be displayed in large print or read out loud.

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File formats

Accessible file formats can be configured and customized for users with low vision, including options for enlarging the font size, background color, font style, text-to-speech, and others. Some file formats can be displayed in another application like a notetaking app or simplified reading display that does not edit the original file or change the formatting.

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Guide

Many people with vision loss use a guide in addition to or instead of a blindness cane for navigating unfamiliar environments. A common term used for people who act as a guide is a human guide- the term sighted guide is not generally used because a person with limited usable vision can still act as a guide for someone. Guide dogs are another type of guide, and requires training for both the dog and the owner to learn how to navigate various environments.

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High-resolution images

High-resolution images are helpful for users with low vision as they can be enlarged, scaled, and magnified without losing image quality. High resolution images can be found online with search filters or created in another program. They may also be referred to as high quality/HQ images, 4K resolution, or other terms indicating a high image quality.

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Image descriptions/alt text

Alt text and image descriptions are text-based descriptions of visual details in an image written primarily for people who are visually impaired (inclusive of blind/low vision). If an image fails to load on a website, alt text will be displayed in its place, and alt text is also used for search engine optimization.

Image descriptions are similar to alt text descriptions that are used by screen readers, but are displayed so that they can be seen by anyone, usually in the caption of an image.

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Jingle/auditory feedback

Jingles and auditory feedback can provide helpful information for people with low vision that may not notice visual changes in an object or on a screen. These can be used in addition to other assistive technology like screen readers, or enabled by themselves. Another option is haptic feedback, which vibrates or provides another tactile alert- a phone ringing on vibrate is an example of haptic feedback

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Keyboard

There are several types of keyboards that are designed for people with low vision, including options for large print and dual media (print/braille) displays, high contrast color schemes, modified layouts, and many more. There are also several options for customizing onscreen keyboards for low vision, such as increasing the font size and adding pop-up letters.

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Large print

Large print is an invaluable resource for people with low vision who have trouble reading standard sized font. Large print does not refer to a specific font size, rather it is any font size that is 14 pt or larger. Almost every person with low vision has their own definition of large print, and common accessibility font sizes include 18 pt, 24 pt, 36 pt, 48 pt, and 72 pt font.

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Magnifier

Magnifying glasses are perhaps the most iconic assistive technology for low vision and vision loss, as they help to make everything bigger and make objects and text easier to see. There are several types of magnifying glasses for low vision that are designed for specific tasks, as there is no single magnification aid that can fit all of a user’s vision needs.

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Notetaker

Notetakers are standalone devices that allow users to take notes or document text and read it back from the device, or upload it to a computer or other external service. Braille notetakers are a popular choice for reading and writing braille, and some notetakers have options for displaying content in print and braille simultaneously.

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Overhead lighting

Overhead lighting can play a role in how well a person is able to see their surroundings. Some people with low vision prefer bright white lights that make objects pop, while people who experience photophobia are more sensitive to bright lights and prefer darker environments or using task lighting.

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Paper size

When displaying information with larger font, having a larger paper size can help with making text easier to read, as text is less likely to be cut off. Other characteristics of paper that should be considered for people with low vision can include the paper color, weight, and how information is copied onto the page.

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Quality pens

Gray pencil lead on white paper is difficult or impossible to read with decreased contrast vision. Quality pens that have bold, thick tips and saturated colors are a better option for writing with low vision and providing feedback for students.

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Raised dots and tactile materials

Raised dots and tactile materials provide information about objects through different textures, shapes, colors, and sizes. This is different from braille, which displays information about letters and numbers, though raised dots and tactile materials can be used alone or in addition to braille.

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Simplified reading display

One of my all-time favorite tools for reading digital content with low vision is a simplified reading display, which applies a consistent font size, font style, and background color to digital text. This makes it easier to read content without having to zoom in on a page, edit content, or enabling other accessibility settings. Other names for simplified reading displays include reading view, distraction-free reading, reading mode, and similar.

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Text-to-speech and screen readers

Text-to-speech is used by people with vision loss or print disabilities that impact the ability to read standard text. They can be activated on an as-needed basis by selecting a shortcut, pressing a button, or using a keyboard/gesture shortcut. Once text-to-speech finishes reading all the information on a page, it shuts off until the user activates it again. Text-to-speech does not use any specific gestures or require the user to change how they interact with their device.

A screen reader is another tool used by people with vision loss that reads information out loud on a webpage or in an application. Screen readers allow users to navigate their device using a keyboard or a series of gestures, and are typically “always on”- if someone has a screen reader enabled, it is reasonable to assume that the user would be unable to use their device if the screen reader were turned off.

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Underline/line tracker

A line tracker makes it easier to display a small section of text at a time and follow along with a page or document without getting overwhelmed by a large amount of text. Another example of assistive technology for low vision that serves a similar purpose is a typoscope, which can display 1-5 lines of text at a time.

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Virtual assistants and smart speakers

Virtual assistants, voice assistants, and smart speakers can help people with vision loss interact with mainstream technology without having to look at their screen. Virtual assistants can look up webpages, perform calculations, taking photos/video, check the weather and time, open applications, and perform several other types of tasks.

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Wayfinding

Wayfinding applications are used by people with vision loss to orient themselves to different spaces and travel independently. Wayfinding tools are part of developing orientation and mobility skills (also known as O&M), and can be used alongside a blindness cane or guide dog.

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External display

External displays can be connected to another device to enlarge items or mirror the display. With an external display, information can be enlarged or presented at a closer distance for improved readability. There are options for wireless connectivity with tools such as Bluetooth or wireless sharing, as well as the option to use a cable to connect a device to a screen.

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Yellow on black/high contrast display

Black text on a white background can be difficult to read due to glare. Another option for displaying text and information is to use yellow text on a black background or another type of high contrast display, which can make it easier to read information and avoid eyestrain. Another name for a high contrast display is inverted display/invert colors.

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Zoom

Zoom functions can magnify text on a screen either by using built-in gestures or a screen magnification program. Most zoom options support up to 500% magnification and offer multiple view options, including lens, docked, and full screen.

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By Veronica Lewis/Veronica With Four Eyes, www.veroniiiica.com

Updated May 2024; original post published February 2020.

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