Types of Vision Diseases 
Most Individuals who are 
legally blind, have usable 
vision.

How do people who are 
legally blind travel? 
Many may be visual travelers 
Or use low vision tools such as 
a telescope

Or use a Long Cane

Or a Dog Guide

Or cane for ID

Orientation & Mobility

“Orientation" “Orientation" refers to the 
ability to know where you are 
and where you want to go, 
whetheryouremovingfromwhetheryouremovingfromoneroomtoanotherorwalkingoneroomtoanotherorwalkingdowntownforashoppingtrip.downtownforashoppingtrip.
“Orientation"referstothe“Orientation"referstotheabilitytoknowwhereyouareabilitytoknowwhereyouareandwhereyouwanttogo,andwhereyouwanttogo,
whetheryouremovingfromwhetheryouremovingfromoneroomtoanotherorwalkingoneroomtoanotherorwalkingdowntownforashoppingtrip.downtownforashoppingtrip.

"Mobility"referstotheabilityto"Mobility"referstotheabilitytomovesafely,efficiently,andmovesafely,efficiently,andeffectivelyfromoneplacetoeffectivelyfromoneplacetoanother,suchasbeingabletoanother,suchasbeingableto,g,gwalkwithouttrippingorfalling,walkwithouttrippingorfalling,
crossstreets,andusepubliccrossstreets,andusepublictransportation.transportation.
"Mobility"referstotheabilityto"Mobility"referstotheabilitytomovesafely,efficiently,andmovesafely,efficiently,andeffectivelyfromoneplacetoeffectivelyfromoneplacetoanother,suchasbeingabletoanother,suchasbeingableto,g,gwalkwithouttrippingorfalling,walkwithouttrippingorfalling,
crossstreets,andusepubliccrossstreets,andusepublictransportation.transportation.

Where do you want folks to 
go? 
To Site 
To Entrance/information desk 
Fire Exits 
Offices 
Bathrooms 
Around the building 
Bedroom

Non Visual Information 
Sound of traffic 
Curbs 
Building line/open space 
Environmental noises 
Voices

Define the starting point.

Sighted Guide 
Verbal Directions

Cognitive load: 
What does a person really need to know? 
Yard Sale and Road Detour signs

What is the Orientation of the Map in regards to 
where you are facing?

Where to Go? 

Use of Floor patterns 
defining space

Pretty but not a good low 
vision sign

Glare issues

Travel to the site or meeting place 
Travel around and inside site 
Emergency fire exits

Directions 
Giving directions is an Art 
Simple is best 
Landmarks 
Street crossings: Take a left on Main isn’t helpful if 
there are no street signs to tell you which street is 
Main. Assume there won’t be a street sign. 
Walking routes & driving routes are different.

How do you give information 
out? 
Print 
Website 
Audio

Routes that make sense: 
Home base 
Depending on site set up, always begin at the same 
place 
Be consistent with directions. 
Everything should have the same name.

Signs and Notices 
Need to be simple short & easily understood 
Location of signs should be part of the process of 
planning the building & environment 
Should be consistent using similar typeface, colors & 
other graphic devices 
(From RNIB Building Sight 1995)

Inaccessible formats for pedestrian information 
Ambiguous or unclear signs 
Decision points 
Limited ability to process or understand information 
received 
Decreased speed for processing information making 
desicision & implementing action.

Location 
Should be placed in logical position & be identifiable. 
Sign should be contrasted with background it is on. 
Lighting is important 
Place at locations & heights that don’t protrude into 
pathways or create obstructions

Inaccessible formats 
Ambiguous or unclear signs 
Decision points 
Limited ability to process or understand information 
received 
Decreased speed for processing information when 
making decisions & implementing action

Redundancy 
Consistency 

Understanding the layout and figuring out where to 
go is important 
An Individual who is visually impaired must piece 
together information.

Large Open Spaces 
Very difficult to naviagate 
Should be broken down into smaller spaces 
Floor patterns can be helpful 
Contrasting paint on door edges and /or doors can help 
define space.

Orientation 
Naming & Labeling of areas (hallways, landmarks, 
streets, etc.) 
Intersections & turns 
Directions: left right, straight ahead, behind, etc.

Ask Individual what she might need 
Room nearer to bathroom or meeting areas 
Lighting improvements 
Written material in alternative formats 
Announcements: need to be verbally announced or in 
larger print.

Color & Contrast

Stair Markings

911 disability indicator 
Outreach to Individuals who are blind 
Vision Professionals-know how to contact if need 
O&M Services for Individual. 

Meg Robertson COMS 
Director O&M Department 
Massachusetts Commission for the Blind 
Meg.Robertson@state.ma.us