The term vision impairment simply means some degree of loss of sight.
Some types of vision impairment are able to be corrected through the use of glasses or contact lenses or surgical and medical interventions. However other vision conditions cannot be corrected.
Partial vision loss can be a result of different diseases, conditions or accidents. Some eye conditions are congenital (present at or near birth), others are caused by a disease or infection and others can be caused by accidents or through exposure to damaging UV rays, sunlight, or chemicals.
Symptoms and characteristics:
Most people with vision impairment will have some degree of sight, that is, they only have a partial vision loss. They may use a white cane or guide dog to help them with mobility.
Workplace adjustments and solutions:
In the workplace there are various factors that would assist people with partial vision loss to better manage their condition. These include changes to work tasks and the environment, and will vary depending upon the level of vision loss. Some suggestions for workplace modifications include:
- mobility training to assist with getting to and from work, moving around the workplace and work related travel
- evaluation of workplace lighting to ensure it meets Australian standards with the addition of specific task lighting if required for increased brightness or contrast
- the use of magnification software to assist with computer screen magnification or text to speech software
- use of a larger screen to assist with viewing text, along with modification of contrast, screen vs text colours and brightness levels
- the use of magnification aids and devices either portable or desk based to magnify hard copy documents or panels such as that on a photocopier
- the use of specialised scanning software which allows rapid scanning of hard copy documents which are then saved to computer for viewing or listening via text to speech functions
- the use of other adaptive technology to overcome workplace barriers such as barcode scanners for labeling items for easy locating or braille equipment
- large button phones or mobiles with text to speech software to allow for use of text messaging
- GPS equipment with speech output to assist with navigation around the community or when traveling for work (Vision Australia 2009; MDA Internet 2005 – 2008).
There are solutions and adjustments for the following job requirements:
References:
MDA Internet 2005-2008, Blindness, Reed Group Ltd, Colorado, viewed 19 February 2009, <http://www.mdainternet.com (secure site)>.
Vision Australia 2009, What is Vision Loss?, Vision Australia, Sydney, viewed 19 February 2009, <http://www.visionaustralia.org.au/info.aspx?page=1136#vi>.