How can we enable people with vision impairment to access public places more independently?

Vision loss exists on a vast spectrum, millions of people who are blind or visually impaired all possess varying degrees of sight and have vastly different needs and abilities related to their sight loss. The reasons behind each of their vision loss and their experiences dealing with it can also be incredibly unique; some people have been completely blind since birth while others may have dealt with slowly declining vision for decades.

Worldwide, 285 million people are visually impaired; 39 million are blind and rest suffer from low vision. While researching about vision impairment statistics, I came across this interactive map, Vision Problems in the US, showing statistics of vision impairment in the US. Many national and local resources such as VisionAware, American Foundation for the Blind, Lighthouse International and many more. Lighthouse International, also known as Lighthouse Guild is situated at Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York. They are dedicated in addressing and preventing vision loss with a mission to reduce the burden of living with vision loss.

People with vision impairment are still not made to feel inclusive in this society. They have limitations to walk around and are dependent on someone. These limitations tend to increase with as we go from minor vision impairment to complete blindness. To explore further, I visited Lighthouse Guild and had a conversation with a few people at the Lighthouse Guild. It was very interesting to look from their perspective. I have a few responses to share

---

I can only tell the difference between light and dark and nothing else. I have seen a transition from being an independent working man to now a dependent man. I am dependent on my caregiver for navigating me around a new space. I use a cane to move around, and many times my cane touches someone’s body, and it feels weird.

---

I am in the initial stage of vision loss. I love reading books, and it has become very hard to read now. Here (at Lighthouse Guild) I am learning to use assistive tools and technology to help me read, cook, and do my other daily tasks. I am learning to use screen readers and other adaptive technology for helping me through.

---

I have to carry my cane everywhere to check for obstacles and people around me, though I get a sense when someone is around, it is hard to sense other obstacles. Over time I have developed a powerful smell sensation, and it helps me to navigate in a known space. Walking down to a new place is still troublesome.

---

I have Peter’s Anomaly. I can see roughly a foot in front of me. Technology has helped me do a number of tasks in my daily life which would be difficult to do on my own. I use “Siri” to do my daily tasks such as keeping note of things, managing my emails, calling my family and friends, a voiceover to navigate my phone, setting alarms, even checking my twitter and a bunch of stuff. I love talking to Siri now. I come here almost every day to learn Braille.

---

It made me feel amazing to see how they see their world, how they’ve adapted themselves. I felt that many of them feel dependent on someone else. Also, navigation is an issue that needs to be researched and solved for people with vision impairments. Not every place in the city is capable of letting people with vision impairments navigate independently. Technology can play a more prominent role in allowing them to live a more independent life, and we, as a society, need to make them feel more inclusive.