Living with Vision Loss: How Assistive Technology Changed Everything
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Living with Vision Loss: How Assistive Technology Changed Everything
I was born with a progressive eye disease, so my assistive technology needs have evolved significantly over the years. In the early stages of my vision loss, I relied on what are often called "no-tech" and "low-tech" solutions. For example, when I was attending music school and could no longer clearly see the notes on sheet music, I went through each page of my books and boldly marked the notes with a black Sharpie. During live performances, I would sometimes tape a light onto my drum set to help me see the drums in dimly lit venues. These days, I rely entirely on muscle memory to navigate my setup, as light is no longer effective for me.
One simple yet powerful example of assistive technology widely used in the blind and visually impaired community is bump dots. These small adhesive rubber or felt dots may seem basic, but they make a world of difference. I use them on household appliances and my computer keyboard to mark specific keys and functions that are otherwise difficult to locate without vision.
What I’ve learned over time is that everyone has their preferred tools — hardware or software — depending on their unique circumstances. Fortunately, the growing presence of accessibility features in mainstream technology has been nothing short of life-changing.
Take the iPhone, for instance. Its built-in screen reader, VoiceOver, has given me an incredible level of independence. With it, I can manage my banking, take notes, read books, and engage on social media — all from my phone.
Apps like Seeing AI and Be My Eyes have become staples in my daily routine. I use them to read food labels, check my mail, and identify currency. When I'm on the go, Voice Vista is my preferred navigation app. It even allows me to set audible "beacons" — personalized markers that help me locate things like my front door or mailbox.
One of my favorite tools is WayAround, a system of NFC tags that I attach to my clothing to identify the color and style. With the corresponding app, I can match outfits independently — a small act that has made a huge impact on my confidence.
Recently, I’ve grown more comfortable preparing meat in the kitchen — something I’ve wanted to master for a long time. I’m excited about purchasing a talking meat thermometer soon. After all, there’s nothing worse than undercooked chicken or overcooked pork chops! Other helpful kitchen tools include talking scales, liquid level detectors, and the WayAround tags I mentioned earlier, which are perfect for labeling food and spices.
In the areas of education and employment, tools like JAWS and ZoomText are indispensable. These screen reader and magnification programs enable users to write and format documents, create spreadsheets, and design presentations with both proficiency and efficiency.
Of course, this only scratches the surface of what assistive technology can do. From smart glasses and video magnifiers to GPS-enabled canes, the landscape of accessible tech continues to expand. Every day, someone is benefitting from AT — whether at home, at school, or in the workplace.
It’s truly inspiring to witness how far assistive technology has come, and I’m excited to see what innovations lie ahead. I’m deeply grateful for the brilliant minds working tirelessly to enhance the lives of those of us who are blind or low vision.
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Written by Sean Scheeler