3 minute read
Taking focus: OT, assistive technology and vision impairment
David Vosnacos Program Manager Assistive Technology and Low Vision Services, VisAbility
Introduction
In Australia, almost half a million people have a vision impairment. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples are three times more likely to be blind or vision-impaired than other Australians (Vision 2020 Australia, 2022). As we live longer, the prevalence of vision impairment also increases.
Occupational therapists specialise in supporting people who are blind or vision-impaired through a range of interventions, including education on strategies and techniques to adapt to changes in vision; adaptations to the home, school or workplace to promote independence and use of remaining vision; and providing advice and training in a range of specialist assistive technology (AT).
Assistive technology and vision impairment
AT related to vision impairment can encompass the following:
• Portable or desktop electronic video magnifiers • Smartphone and computer builtin accessibility features • Specialised screen magnification, screen reading or text-to-speech software • Stand-alone devices with
Braille input/output • Wearable smart devices
The focus of these technologies depends on individual needs and functional vision. Often one item may have more than one purpose. For example, a desktop video magnifier that magnifies hard copy text could also come with text-to-speech functionality. Occupational therapists determine which combination will best meet individual needs within their available budget.
Impact of universal design
Over the past 20 years, specialist AT in the area of vision impairment has changed dramatically, as has the role of occupational therapists. This has been in part through the integration of universal design principles in many mainstream devices such as mobile phones.
The introduction of the Apple iPhone 3GS in 2009 provided the first smartphone with builtin accessibility features such as voice control, VoiceOver (screen reading) and Zoom (screen magnification) (Everything Apple, 2022). Before that, getting the same functionality required a high-end mobile phone, the purchase of specialist software such as Nuance Talks and Zooms (Nattiq Technologies, 2022) and technical assistance for the installation.
While this has broadened the range of solutions available, it has also presented other challenges. For example, funding would previously cover a specific mobile phone and specialised software, whereas now the same functionality is available in a mainstream device, making funding harder to source.
The rise of artificial intelligence
The rapid development of artificial intelligence (AI) has had a profound effect on the AT now available for occupational therapists to consider. For example, the Seeing AI (Microsoft, 2022) and Envision (Envision, 2022) apps allow people to read hard copy text, describe a scene, detect colours, scan a barcode for product information, and find people and objects via their smartphone. Wearable devices now offer the same functionality without the complexity of a smartphone. Devices like the OrCam Read (OrCam, 2022) can be integrated into a broader solution when paired with mainstream devices. VisAbility occupational therapist Kate Thompson recently assisted Sinead – a young mother with a vision impairment who has two children under three years of age – with independently reading to her children without the use of a screen device that would be a distraction to her children. The OrCam Read, paired with a pair of bone conduction headphones, meant Sinead could independently access printed material to read to her children while still being able to hear her surroundings.
Future trends
We are faced with an ageing population, and with that an increased prevalence of vision impairment. How we interact with fast-evolving technology continues to present different challenges. Occupational therapists in this field need to be abreast of mainstream and specialist technologies as they evolve and consider how they can meet the needs of individuals with a vision impairment.
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