Assistive Technology: Enhancing Connections

What is Assistive Technology?

Assistive Technology (AT) comprises a broad range of tools, devices, and systems that help millions of people living with blindness, low vision, and other disabilities perform daily activities to live confident, active, and independent lives.

Assistive Technology is a rapidly evolving and indispensable component of vision rehabilitation training that encompasses a broad range of tools ranging from low to high-tech options that require varying training for practical use.

Highly skilled vision rehabilitation specialists provide instruction and support for people of all ages living with vision loss. These professionals develop a personalized plan incorporating the optimum mix of Assistive Technology to address each individual’s needs, goals, specific vision loss, and daily challenges.

Examples of Low-Tech Assistive Technology

Low-tech Assistive Technology often refers to non-electronic devices that provide vital support. Examples include:

Eyeglasses and contacts—Can correct refractive errors and improve visual acuity. Depending on the level of vision loss and residual vision, glasses, and contacts can be crucial for safe and independent living.
Handheld magnifiers—Available in various strengths, this Assistive Technology remains an effective tool for people living with low vision.
Tactile labels—Facilitate identification-by-touch of utensils, appliances, settings, cleaning supplies, kitchen items, medication, and more.
Enhanced lighting & contrast—Helps reduce eye strain for people with low vision with enhanced contrast to maximize the perception of doors, light switches, furniture, and other objects.
Large print and braille books—Help people with vision loss access information, read, and write.
White canes—Available in various lengths and styles, these canes can be essential for safe travel at home, work, and throughout the community. Although white canes have historically been considered low-tech accessibility tools, higher-tech versions are increasingly available with built-in GPS navigation, visual recognition, voice recognition, and AI technology.

Mid-Tech and High-Tech Assistive Technology

Assistive Technology continues to evolve with an increasing number of high-tech options.

Screen readers—Software (such as JAWS, NVDA, VoiceOver, and TalkBack) translates onscreen information into electronic text, which is read aloud or sent to a refreshable braille display for tactile reading.
Screen magnifiers—Enlarge onscreen text and images. Alternate Text, a written description of images, provides additional auditory assistance.
Video magnifiers—Camera and monitor display magnified images of objects or documents
Braille notetakers—Help people with vision loss access information, read, write, and store digital text.
Braille printers—Convert text from computers to printed braille materials.
Braille keyboards—For those using braille, these keyboards make typing more accessible on computers and smart devices.
Braille displays—Translates digital text into braille characters to read by touch. Higher tech options include devices with refreshable displays and other enhanced features.
Tactile markers and braille labelers—Electronically generate labels that identify objects by touch, including household appliances, kitchen items, pantry items, cleaning supplies, medications, etc. Audible information can also be obtained from QR codes and product labels. CVS Pharmacy’s Spoken RX audibly conveys prescription and dosage information.
Audible/Talking devices—Specially designed items such as calculators, clocks, timers, and scales communicate audibly, visually (by increasing the size and contrast of visual information), or with braille (such as a braille watch)
Smart Glasses—Ray Ban smart glasses feature a camera, open-ear audio, and integration with Meta AI, allowing users to capture and share photos and videos, identify objects and individuals, obtain audible information and descriptions, follow voice commands, and act as a personalized AI assistant. Users can also connect with the Be My Eyes network to access sighted volunteers. Other companies, including Envision, also make AI-powered smart glasses.
Optical Character Recognition (OCR)—Scans and changes printed text into digital text, which can be converted into audio, braille, or stored on a device.
Audio description services—Provide descriptive narration for movies, TV, or live performances.
Voice-activated assistants—Guide people with blindness or low vision through tasks essential to daily life (managing a calendar, finding a recipe, creating a shopping list, accessing movies, TV, podcasts, etc.). This technology also controls an increasing range of smart home devices and appliances.
Electronic mobility aids—Ultrasound or laser technology detects obstacles and provides auditory or vibration feedback.
GPS and navigation apps—Mobile device apps designed for navigation provide auditory directions and location information.
Smartphone accessibility features—Enhance the use of smart devices for people with blindness and low vision—some, such as VoiceOver on iPhones and TalkBack on Android, offer built-in screen reading and magnification capabilities. Screen displays can be customized for larger text size, color, and contrast. Screen magnification enlarges the area and items in front of the camera, including images and text. Apps can also access the smart device camera to describe objects or text audibly.

According to the Big Data Project from VisionServe Alliance and The Ohio State University College of Optometry, approximately 8.7 million, or 4.7% of adults aged 18 to 64, and 7.3% of adults 65+ report blindness or low vision. The CDC also indicates that 6.8% of children under 18 have a diagnosed eye and vision condition, with approximately 3% of children (18 or under) living with blindness or vision impairment.

In an increasingly high-tech world, for the millions of people living with blindness and low vision, a broad range of Assistive Technology provides practical solutions to improve daily living, helping them stay connected, employed, engaged, and living their best lives. Vision Rehabilitation professionals can advise on the optimum use of Assistive Technology and the vital training required to use it most effectively and efficiently.