Reader services are one of many services that can be made available for low-vision or legally blind employees under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Here are three things to know about reader services, and how the service creates equal for people with diverse vision.

Reader services provide a person to serve as eyes for the low-vision or blind person.

At Applied Development, we champion the rights of people of all abilities to work and communicate effectively. For employees with low or limited vision, this means we strive to provide them with equal access to written documents. Our reader services provides a highly-qualified and professional Reader, matched to the needs of an employee. The Reader can provide full or part-time assistance in the workplace, reading online documents, email, and paper reports and forms. While many people can take for granted walking into a meeting and reading the agenda, a low-vision employee cannot. Our reader assists the team member in reading whatever materials necessary.

Reader services can be one of many services available to those who are blind/low vision

Within Applied Development’s Diversability portfolio, we offer reader services to workplaces accommodating low vision or legally blind employees or clients. However, new technologies can also offer people with low vision increased access to written documents, in paper and online. Computer and phone applications that offer font size enhancement and reader services

Many states also outline services for the blind, and veterans can gain a number of comprehensive services. The Office of Veterans Affairs (VA) can offer vision-enhancing devices and technology, trainings and orientations, and therapy to assist with vision loss.

Many people experience low vision.

The National Federation for the Blind (NFB) estimates that about 3% of the adult population has low vision, while the World Health Organization found that low vision increases with age. Someone might have a disease or eye condition that causes permanent low vision or blindness or the condition may be temporary or reversible.

While the NFB says there are no accepted definitions for “visually impaired,” “low vision,” or “vision loss,” legally blind means that an individual has 20/200 vision or less in the better eye. This means they would see at 20 feet what a person with 20/20 vision sees at 200 feet. An individual can also be considered legally blind if they have a restricted field of vision.

Learn more about our reader services or contact us for more information.

Tags: , ,