Accommodations in the work or academic environment for visually impaired people

Work or academic environment

Provide a suitable location that maximizes the student's or employee's visual capacity or to their surroundings and necessary resources. For example, a seat near the whiteboard.

All written material should be done in contrasting colors. For example, writing on a white board with black marker, since writing with markers of other, less contrasting colors is often extremely difficult to see. Chalk boards should be used with white chalk, preferably.

Increase or decrease the intensity of the light. Fluorescent bulbs can cause a lot of photophobia in some patients, so they could be exchanged for warmer bulbs. On the other hand, keeping well-lit spaces may help patients who have difficulty seeing in low or no light.

Enlarged or embossed signs

Allow the student or employee to arrange their work area according to their visual needs

Allow the use of assistive technology

Allowing the wearing of glasses, caps or visors during working or academic hours.

Implementation of reasonable accommodations discussed with students or employees and authorized personnel.

Technological assistance

Use of magnifiers. Smarphones can also be used as electronic magnifiers

Audio recorders (can be a feature on many smartphone)

Keyboards with enlarged characters or with "stickers"

Adapt the use of technology, such as computers or tablets, to accommodate the needs of people with low vision.

Reading and writing

Providing printed documents with enlarged fonts

Colored lenses and special papers for increased contrast

Special broad-tipped pens (writing pens)

Book holders

Book readers

Writing guides

Reading machines

Special calculators (large and talking)

Audiovisual presentations

Enlarge font size and/or increase contrast

Provide printed material with enlarged letters

Provide material that can be modified and printed by the student or employee. Example: send documents by email in word format, not PDF.

The person giving the presentation could narrate all of the written material in the presentation. This way, if people with low vision cannot see it, they can still hear it. Oral communication is the best way to communicate with people with low vision or blindness.

School-age patients

Special concession to go to the bathroom or drink water during class.

Special consideration for students who must take medication during the day. Parents should contact the nursing staff for the administration of medication to young children during school hours.

Adjust physical activities or sports according to the needs of the students. Contact activities, such as sports, should be limited.

Other

Additional time to complete assignments, projects, exams, etc.

Advise patients in advance if there has been an outbreak of a contagious infectious disease in the academic or work setting. This consideration is especially important for pediatric patients.

These are just some of the possible accommodations that could be implemented. Not all cases are the same so it is best to implement changes that fit the particular needs of each case. In addition, the accommodations needed may change as time goes on and the disease develops. The most important thing during this process is to listen to and respect people who need reasonable accommodations. The goal of these measures is to maximize the quality of life and performance of uveitis patients so that they feel empowered and happy in the work or academic environment. In this way, we can all make our own unique contribution to society, as we find meaningful and rewarding.