The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sets a number of standards to govern curb ramps and to determine wheelchair accessibility. Curbs create an increased likelihood of injury or accidents for people who use a wheelchair or walker. For a person with a disability, curbs without a ramp could become unusable and be considered discriminatory.

Just as societies innately understand the subtle rules of social interaction, there is also an etiquette for interacting with a blind person or someone with low vision. People with vision often struggle to interact with others who have vision impairment. People freeze, uncertain of what to do, or communicate in a demoralizing way. But that doesn’t have to be the case.

People with vision need to know how to best interact with someone who cannot see, and these social cues can be a helpful guide to making a city more accessible.

Visually impaired people are all around us. Unfortunately, there are very few who take the time to learn about blindness and low-vision, and this makes the world a much more difficult place to live for those who suffer from these conditions. After all, it’s very challenging to be helpful and take steps toward positive change when you have no idea who you’re helping or what needs to be met.

 

Around the world, cities and countries are working hard to make transportation accessible to the disabled. This is very apparent in South Korea, where a number of steps are being taken to ensure everyone can get where they need to go, no matter their abilities.

The ability to see the world around us is a thing many sighted people take for granted. However, ask any blind person and they’ll tell you that while they’re resilient and have found ways to adapt, eyesight is definitely something you want to hold onto if possible.

For those who have just found out they’ve lost their sight or will lose it at some point, the future can be a scary thing. The thought of going through life with low- or no vision will often lead people to lean fully on those they love and trust. This is understandable but not necessarily the best thing to do.

Everyone deserves to lead a full and wonderful life. Unfortunately, many individuals with visual impairments find that leading a high-quality life is much more challenging. After all, the simplest of tasks are made difficult when you’re living with low vision. This means that even something such as leaving the house is an ordeal.

Technology is an amazing thing and the advances it’s made in recent years are truly incredible. Many of these technological advances have included conveniences, while others are based purely on fun.

Most people would agree we all have the right to get out and about. For obvious reasons, this is a bit more difficult for individuals with low or no vision. That said, it is completely possible for a blind person to navigate their way around a city and thanks to ever-improving ADA requirements, this is becoming easier and easier for them to do.

When you’re visually impaired, finding a place to live can be a challenge. It’s not enough to be able to get around in a particular place: There needs to be jobs available, accessible buildings and sidewalks, a well-organized transit system, and, hopefully, recreational things to do.

Everyone deserves the opportunity to take part in the fun and excitement of sports. Sadly, there once was a time when getting exercise, socialization, and motivation through sports was quite difficult for visually impaired individuals. Luckily, that’s all changing. Now, athletes with low and no vision are able to participate in a wide variety of sports.