The benefit of using AI as someone with a visual impairment
Recently, artificial intelligence (AI) has evolved and become a great new tool. Either in the form of wearables such as the Meta RayBan Glasses or Ally Solos or in the form of apps such as Gemini and Seeing AI. These tools do not act as a replacement for existing assistive tech, but as something that builds upon the fundamentals of what already exists.
For many people with a visual impairment, AI isn’t a futuristic hype. It’s a practicality that provides the support, independence, and inclusion that they need now.
Turning Visual Information into Accessible Information
One of AI’s biggest strengths is its ability to interpret visual information and turn it into something that is accessible.
AI-powered tools give people access to information that otherwise wouldn’t be accessible to them. They are able to perform multiple actions that can be used in different situations. These tools can describe images, photos and scenes, this can be especially helpful when trying to navigate through busy areas or find a specific location in a crowded station. AI’s ability to read text from signs, letters, packaging or menus can provide a major accessibility boost to those who need it. They can also help people to identify objects, colours, and even faces.
For someone with little or no vision, this can transform situations that once required assistance from others. Whether it’s checking the expiry date on food, understanding a diagram, or reading a printed letter, AI helps bridge the gap between the visual and non-visual world.
This doesn’t just provide convenience - it boosts confidence and autonomy.
Improved Access to Written Content
AI has significantly enhanced how people with visual impairments access written information. Combined with screen readers or voice assistants, AI can: Summarise long articles or documents, Simplify complex text, Answer questions about content instead of requiring line-by-line reading, Convert information into accessible formats
This is especially useful for students, professionals, and anyone dealing with information overload.by using AI to summarise text, reducing the need to navigate through inaccessible layouts or dense language, can allow users to focus on their understanding of the text, not just decoding the information that they have been provided with.
Support with Writing and Communication
Writing emails, reports, social media posts, or assignments can be more challenging with a visual impairment - particularly when formatting, spelling, or tone are hard to review visually.
Using AI tools can help people by; Generating text from voice input, Checking the grammar and clarity of text, Checking the tone and allowing for tone to be rewritten, providing structure to longer pieces of writing.
This levels the playing field in educational and professional settings, allowing people to express themselves clearly and confidently without unnecessary barriers.
Navigation and Everyday Decision-Making
With the prevalence of AI increasing. It is being doing in more and more navigation and mobility tools. Being able to use AI in coordination with GPS and camera input can enable people to move around more independently and with increased confidence. This ability can be particularly useful when; Trying to navigate unfamiliar areas, Identifying landmarks or entrances, and The need to receive real-time guidance about surroundings.
Even outside of mobility, AI can help with everyday decision-making - from comparing products (size, price or volume) online to planning journeys or managing schedules using voice commands.
To you these may only seem like small processes but to someone who experiences this daily, support like this can really add up, leading to reduced cognitive and emotional fatigue.
Reducing Reliance on Others
Many people with visual impairments value their independence but they still face situations where they must rely on others for help. AI offers an alternative in moments where privacy or autonomy really matter.
The integration of AI tools in daily life allows people with disabilities to; Read personal documents (such as test results or appointment letters) independently, Check appearance before leaving home, and Exploring information (train schedules, bus timetables, a menu in a restaurant) freely without asking for assistance
Most importantly, the use of AI companion tools does not remove human connection - it simply gives people choice over when and how they ask for help.
Customisation and Personalisation
AI tools are often highly customisable, which is essential because the impact of a visual impairment is not one-size-fits-all.
Settings in most AI Assistants allow you to customise the; Speech speed and verbosity, Preferred communication format (audio, text or summary) and preferred input method (voice, keyboard, touch).
This adaptability makes AI especially powerful, as it can evolve alongside a person’s needs, skills, and confidence.
Challenges and Considerations
While AI offers many benefits, it doesn’t come without limitations. Accuracy can vary, and not all tools are accessible by default. Cost, data privacy, and over-reliance on automation are also valid concerns.
That said, when developed and used responsibly, with accessibility at the centre, AI can complement existing assistive technologies rather than replace them. Although some readily available AI tools are great for supporting those with a visual impairment, they may only be functional when the user has a stable network connection, this means that they are not always accessible to those who need them when they need them.
A Tool for Inclusion, Not a Luxury
When AI is being used, it is not about doing things for people with visual impairments, but about enabling them to do things their own way. It supports independence, improves access to information, and opens doors that were previously closed or difficult to reach.
As AI continues to develop, involving disabled users in its design and evaluation will be crucial. When accessibility is built in from the start, AI becomes more than clever software - it becomes a meaningful tool for inclusion.
For people with visual impairments, AI isn’t just the future. For many, it’s already making everyday life a little more accessible, a little more manageable, and a lot more empowering.
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