About Disabilities
Visual Disabilities
Visual disabilities include a broad spectrum of experiences, from low vision and total blindness to color blindness and visual processing disorders. Many students with visual disabilities are highly adaptable, developing strong auditory and spatial skills that serve them in academic environments. Visual disabilities are not always obvious — students may navigate independently or use a guide dog or white cane, and many use magnification or text-to-speech software to access printed or digital material.
A legally blind person is someone whose vision, while wearing corrective lenses, does not exceed 20/200 in the better eye, or whose visual field is less than 20 degrees. Ninety percent of legally blind people have some useful vision or light perception. Total darkness is rare.
Barriers to Access
In a college environment, you might find some of these things more challenging:
- Accessing printed materials or small font sizes
- Managing light sensitivity and contrast sensitivity in classroom environments
- Distinguishing colors when color is used to convey information
- Navigating unfamiliar environments independently
- Processing visual information quickly under time pressure
- Accessing course materials on inaccessible digital platforms