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# JAN’S ACCOMMODATION FACT SHEET SERIES

**Job Accommodations for People with Vision Impairments**

# According to the American Foundation for the Blind, there are an estimated 10 million people in the United States who are blind or visually impaired.  The term vision impairment includes conditions ranging from the presence of good usable vision, low vision, or to the absence of any sight at all – total blindness.  

The following is a quick overview of some of the job accommodations that might be useful for people with vision impairments. For a more in depth discussion, access JAN's publications at http://askjan.org/media/atoz.htm.  To discuss an accommodation situation with a consultant, contact JAN directly.

**Reading Information from Printed Materials:**

*For those who benefit from magnification and other modifications*

· Provide a hand/stand magnifier

· Enlarge information on photo copier

· Provide information in large print

· Reduce glare on paper copy 

· Use color acetate sheets

· Improve lighting or use task lighting

· Provide a closed circuit television system (CCTV)

· Provide alternative optical wear, i.e., clip-on monocular or loupes; prism spectacles; binocular systems, or a hand held monocular

· Allow frequent breaks to rest eyes when fatigue is a factor

*For those who do not benefit from magnification*

· Provide an optical character recognition system (OCR)

· Use tactile graphics

· Provide a qualified reader 

**Reading Information from a Computer Screen:**

*For those who benefit from magnification and other modifications*

· Increase font size or change Accessibility Options in Windows Accessories control panel

· Add locator dots and/or large print labels to computer keyboard 

· Provide an external computer screen magnifier

· Provide screen magnification software 

· Use an anti-glare or anti-radiation computer screen guard

· Provide special computer glasses to reduce glare

· Allow frequent breaks to rest eyes when fatigue is a factor

*For those who do not benefit from magnification*

· Provide screen reading software 

· Provide a computer Braille display

· Provide a qualified reader 

**Taking Notes, Completing Forms, Writing, Reporting, or Documenting:**

*For those who benefit from magnification and those who do not*

· Use a cassette recorder or digital recorder

· Use a Braille stylus/Braille slate

· Use a Braille Printer or Embosser

· Purchase special pens, e.g. a bold felt tip or lighted pen

· Purchase special paper, e.g. with tactile lines, bold print, or less glare

· Use a form guide

· Use electronic Braille or talking note takers and organizers

· Add voice output to the computer 

· Provide closed circuit television system

· Provide a scribe 

**Reading Telephone or Pager Display:**

*For those who benefit from magnification and for those who do not*

· Provide a light sensor or light probe

· Add large print labels or locator dots on telephone keypad

· Use a hand/stand/optical magnifier 

· Modify existing phone system with voice output

· Change the way telephone calls are received and distributed to others

· Use a talking digital display reader (for LED displays)

**Using Telephone and Speech Output on Computer at the Same Time:**

· Use dual channel headset

· Provide an earplug for the computer and a monaural headset for the telephone

**Improving Mobility:**

##### For those who benefit from magnification and for those who do not

· Allow the use of a service animal for assistance with mobility

· Provide mobility and orientation training

· Use a mobility aid (cane, electronic aid, other)

· Install detectable warning service

· Install colored edges on stairs for improved color contrast

· Improve lighting in area

· Provide a traveling/emergency evacuation partner

· Provide a verbal landmark system

**Working with Money:**

##### For those who benefit from magnification and for those who do not

· Use a talking money identifier

· Provide training on how to fold money for identification purposes

· Provide a talking cash register, talking credit card transaction machine, talking coin sorter/counter, and a talking calculator

· Use a hand/stand/optical magnifier to enlarge print

· Improve lighting in the area where money is to be identified

**Sensitivity to Light:**

· Lower wattage of overhead lights

· Provide task or alternative lighting

· Use full spectrum lighting and/or filters

· Install flicker free lighting

· Provide optical wear (Protective eye glasses)

· Move work station to another area 

· Place blinds on windows 

**Distinguishing Between Colors:**

· Label items

· Use X-Chrome lens

· Provide prescription glasses for color discrimination 

· Provide a color analyzer 

· Use colored acetate sheets

· Provide an assistant to identify colors – a volunteer or co-worker

**Driving:**

· Provide a driver

· Use public transportation

· Ride with a co-worker

· Allow modified or flexible work schedule

· Change shift to daylight hours

· Reassign to another position 

**Accessing the Internet:**

*For those who benefit from magnification and for those who do not*

##### · The hardware/software options previously mentioned

##### · Use text based Web browser 

· Redesign employee related Web sites or Intranet (i.e., employee handbook online or online policies and procedures)

· Provide reader to describe pictures and materials 

· Print out Web page information and enlarge text on a photo copier, closed circuit television, or use optical character recognition systems

**Resources Specifically for People with Vision Impairments**

###### American Council of the Blind (ACB)

1155 15th Street NW, Suite 1004

Washington, DC 20005

Toll Free: (800)424-8666

Direct: (202)467-5081 

http://www.acb.org

ACB’s Job Connection

http://www.acb.org/Jobs/index.html

###### American Foundation for the Blind (AFB)

11 Penn Plaza, Suite 300

New York, NY 10001

###### Toll Free: (800)AFB-LINE (232-5463) 

Direct: (212)502-7600 

AFB’s Career Connect

Toll Free: (888)824-2184

afbinfo@afb.net

http://www.afb.org

###### National Federation of the Blind (NFB)

200 East Wells Street

Baltimore, MD 21230

Direct: (410)659-9314 

http://www.nfb.org

NFB’s Job Opportunities for the Blind

Toll Free: (800)638-7518 

http://www.nfb.org/nfb/Default.asp

###### National Braille Press

88 St. Stephen Street

Boston, MA 02115

Toll Free: (888)965-8965

Direct: (617)266-6160

http://www.nbp.org

###### Recordings for the Blind & Dyslexic

20 Roszel Road

Princeton, NJ 08540

Toll Free: (866)732-3585

Direct: (609)520-8096

http://www.rfbd.org

###### Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Blindness and Low Vision

PO Drawer 6189 – Mississippi State University

Mississippi State, MS 39762

Direct: (662)325-2001

TDD: (662)325-8693

http://www.blind.msstate.edu/blind.html

Updated 3/23/10. 

This document was developed by the Job Accommodation Network, funded by a contract agreement from the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Disability Employment Policy (DOL079RP20426). The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect the position or policy of the U.S. Department of Labor. Nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Fact Sheet Series

Job Accommodations for People with Vision Impairments