Home Tech Tips for the Visually Impaired

By Jackie Waters

Living with a disability doesn’t necessarily mean a life without independence. Millions of people who are disabled live and work independently just like people who are not disabled, thanks to the special home accommodations. Various types of assisted technology continue to make everyday life easier for those who are visually impaired whether it’s through smart homes or through modifications to existing homes.

When preparing a home for someone with a visual impairment, the first order of business should be making sure that the home is decluttered and well organized for easy navigation and that the lighting is appropriately controlled. The second most important modification will be through assisted technology (AT). Here are a few great examples of AT in the home that go the extra mile.

Voice Activated Devices

One of the most popular voice-controlled devices available today is Amazon’s Echo Dot. This hands-free device can play music, provide directions and information, control smart home devices (fans, lights, thermostats), and function as an alarm. The beauty of this device is that the more you use it, the smarter it becomes. The Echo is one example of many types of voice-controlled devices available for those with a visual impairment.

Another popular option is a personal digital assistant. These can come with speech activation and/or a braille display. These PDAs offer word processing, internet access, email, note-taking, and calendar organization capabilities.

Media Access

When it comes to enjoying a variety of media, one great option for the visually impaired is a multi-media digital talking book player. These players offer access to a variety of media formats, in addition to offering voice recording and easy portability. Braille displays are another option, designed primarily for extensive reading. Braille displays can easily connect to a computer or mobile device.

Mobile Apps

Those without visual impairments understand the benefits of apps. The same holds true for the visually impaired. There are an abundance of smartphone apps for the visually impaired, and they are available across a variety of platforms. These apps can do things like detect color, count money, offer assisted GPS, detect light, and more.

Appliances

Many appliances these days come with touchpads rather than knobs or controllers, which can pose a problem for the visually impaired. Although some manufacturers will offer Braille or tactile overlays for appliance displays, this is not the norm. Evaluation all appliances should be included in product standard to make sure they are accessible to the visually impaired user.

Alerting Indicators

While not necessarily high-tech, different types of alerting indicators including alarm clocks, motion detectors, and liquid level indicators offer assistance with some of the smaller details of daily life.

These are but a handful of options that can enhance independence at home for someone with a visual impairment. But they just goes to show that everyday living can become easier and more attainable for the disabled when new and better technology is incorporated.