FOI 24/25-0367 DOCUMENT 3
Blindness and vision impairment Disability Snapshot SGP KP Publishing
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Page 25 of 308SGP KP Publishing – Blindness and vision impairment Disability Snapshot
Table of Contents
1 Peak body consulted …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 4 2 What is blindness and vision impairment? ……………………………………………………….. 5 3 How is blindness and vision impairment diagnosed? …………………………………………. 6 4 Language and terminology ……………………………………………………………………………………. 7 5 Communicating with people who are blind or vision impaired …………………………… 8 6 Enabling social and economic participation ……………………………………………………….. 9 7 How can I tailor a meeting to suit a participant with blindness and vision impairment? ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. 10 8 Helpful links ………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 12
Table of Contents – 2
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This Disability Snapshot provides general information about blindness and vision impairment. It will assist you in communicating effectively and supporting the participant in developing their goals in a planning meeting. Each person is an individual and will have their own needs, preferences and experiences that will impact on the planning process. This information has been prepared for NDIA staff and partners and is not intended for external distribution.
Peak body consulted – 3
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1 Peak body consulted
In developing this resource we consulted with Blind Citizens Australia.
Peak body consulted – 4
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2 What is blindness and vision impairment?
Blindness and vision impairment is a sensory disability that affects a person’s access to social, economic and physical participation. It reduces access to information, in particular written information. This affects the person’s ability to independently work, socialise and safely go about their lives in the community.
While more than 453,000 Australians are blind or vision impaired, the number of people eligible for the NDIS based on the primary disability of blindness or vision impairment is much smaller. This is because blindness and vision impairment is primarily associated with the ageing process.
What is blindness and vision impairment? – 5
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3 How is blindness and vision impairment diagnosed?
Some people are born blind or with a vision impairment. Others may acquire it later in life, through a genetic eye condition or accident. Some conditions are degenerative and get worse over time.
Eye specialists such as optometrists and ophthalmologists diagnose vision impairments.
Orientation and mobility specialists train people who are blind or vision impaired to use mobility aids and assistive technologies. Occupational therapists provide training and advice with independent living skills.
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4 Language and terminology
Language shapes the way we view the world. The words we use can have a powerful effect. How we write and refer to people with disability can affect the way they are viewed by the community. Some words can degrade and diminish people with a disability.
Person-first language places the person first and the impairment second. Person-first language is used to acknowledge that a disability is not as important as the person’s individuality or humanity.
Persons with disability or people with disability are the most commonly used terms in Australia. If you are not sure of the correct words to use, don’t be afraid to ask. Focus on the person, rather than their disability. Offer an apology if you feel you’ve said the wrong thing and always be willing to communicate.
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5 Communicating with people who are blind or vision
impaired
| How to communicate | How not to communicate |
|---|---|
| Use person-first language such as ‘person who is blind.’ | Don’t use collective nouns to describe a group — don’t use “the blind”, or “the disabled”. Use “people who are blind” instead. |
| Speak directly to the person in a normal tone of voice. | Don’t shout! Vision impairment and deafness are not related. |
| When speaking with the person, identify yourself and the others with you. | Don’t presume a person cannot see anything. If appropriate, ask what they can see. |
| Check what format, the person requires their information to be provided in. When preparing printed information use large print formats. Use a minimum of 16 point Helvetica font, bold for emphasis. Don’t use italics or underline. | Avoid using coloured paper when printing because the lack of colour contrast between paper and print can be a barrier. Ask the person what works best for them. When you are writing by hand, write in large print and use a heavy-duty pencil or pen. |
| Make sure there is adequate lighting in the meeting room. | Avoid dim or very bright lighting as this makes it more difficult to see for people with vision impairment. |
| Be specific when giving verbal directions and give approximate distances where appropriate ‘the chair is 1 metre to your left’. | Never give directions such as ‘over there’. |
| If guiding a person, walk alongside and slightly ahead of them. | Don’t hold onto the person’s arm. Allow the person to take your arm if they need to. Ask how they would like to be guided. |
| When assisting the person to sit down, put the person’s hand on the back of the chair. | Never leave a person with vision impairment in an open area or without saying you are leaving. When you leave, lead a person to a landmark so he or she can get a sense of direction. |
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SGP KP Publishing – Blindness and vision impairment Disability Snapshot
6 Enabling social and economic participation
Busy, cluttered and visually oriented environments can be a major barrier to participation in normal life, like; going to the shops, going for a walk in the park, going to work, looking for work or simply socialising.
Work enables an individual to establish greater financial security, develop a sense of productivity, purpose and make new connections with people in their community.
People who are blind or vision impaired can come up against attitudinal barriers which compromise their dignity and independence. For example, some employers’ negative attitudes or lack of knowledge contribute to the high rate of unemployment amongst people who are blind or vision impaired–a rate which is four times the national average. This has a dramatic impact on the inclusion and participation of people who are blind or vision impaired.
Assistive technology may also be required to support participation in work. To enable and maintain work, ongoing supports or adjustments at work may be needed. This might require NDIS funding for specialist disability or employment related assessment services. Alternatively the person can access external employment retention and support initiatives such as Work Assist provided by the Disability Employment Services (DES) program.
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7 How can I tailor a meeting to suit a participant with
blindness and vision impairment?
When meeting someone who is blind or vision impaired for the first time, they may not see your extended hand to shake hands in greeting. Telling someone that you would like to shake their hand is appropriate. Otherwise a friendly verbal greeting is okay.
Glossy brochures will not attract or be useful to people who are blind or have minimal usable vision. Think about other ways to share information such as information on a website (which meets web accessibility standards, W3C), large print information with good contrast, audio format, braille or information over the phone.
Prior to a meeting, it is important to ask the person their preferred format for accessing information. That way the planner can organise material in their preferred format.
During telephone conversations, especially when organising planning meetings or other information, encourage the person who is blind or vision impaired to make note of any times, dates and contact information. Ask if they would like the details for the meeting and contact information sent to them or a reminder call the day before. It is important this information is provided in the person’s preferred communication format.
When you are planning the meeting, discuss if it will be held at their home or another location. If another location, ask if they will be bringing a support person along with them. Ask what they need from you to create an accessible environment, for example, meeting them at the entrance. Keep in mind each person’s requirements may differ.
Verbal communication
- No matter how well you know a person who is blind or vision impaired, it is good practice to introduce yourself when you approach the person, particularly if you are both away from your usual environment. A simple ‘Hi Sarah, it’s John’ can help a person who is blind or vision impaired know who has approached.
- It’s okay to use the word ‘see’ ‘see you later’ and ‘look’ ‘do you mind taking a look at this?’ People who are blind or vision impaired use these words too.
- Talk to the person, not their guide dog.
Written communication
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Not all people who are blind read braille. Some use braille for reading, labelling, identifying items or to read signs. Some don’t use braille at all.
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How people read information can come down to personal choice, convenience and ease. Some people with usable functional vision might use standard print or large print (san serif font like ‘Arial’ in size 16 or greater), audio format, electronic formats (such as word documents, html, or rtf), braille or a number of these formats depending on the task they are working on.
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Pictures, symbols, tables and a host of other marketing tools can be inaccessible, depending on the technology the person is using. Therefore it’s important to check with the person what works best.
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Word documents, html and rtf formats are a lot easier to read for people who use screen-reading software.
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When offering information in accessible formats, offer large print, braille, audio, or electronic versions. Refer to Round Table Guidelines for producing information in accessible formats.
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SGP KP Publishing – Blindness and vision impairment Disability Snapshot
8 Helpful links
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Blind Citizens Australia (BCA)
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Video featuring Graeme Innes AM from the NSW Government’s 2015 Don’t Dis my Ability campaign.
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Blog post: A day in the life with Stargardts disease, Matt De Gruchy.
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Blog site, Where’s Your Dog? Article: My Roommate is Blind – Help!
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Dialogue in the Dark – an experiential awareness raising tour, led by people who are blind or vision impaired.
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