Activities For Visual Impairment

October is World Blindness Awareness Month so we’re taking the opportunity to discuss something we’re passionate about here on Activity Alchemy- adapting your activities to encourage inclusivity and independence! For further reading on why this is so important to us check our post about it here.

What Does It Mean to Be Legally Blind?

The term "legally blind" refers to individuals who have a visual acuity of 20/200 or worse in their best-seeing eye, or a visual field of less than 20 degrees. In simpler terms, this means that a legally blind person sees at 20 feet what someone with normal vision sees at 200 feet, or they have a significantly narrowed field of vision. Despite this definition, many people who are legally blind retain some level of sight and may rely on visual cues to navigate the world.

Before we can talk about adapting activities, we need to be sure that our loved one knows about and can access the activity.

Awareness of Activities

Most people who work, or have a loved one in long term care have at least seen an Activity Calendar. These are fantastic tools for everyone to be aware of dates, times and locations of activities. Our friend Shelly at Life in Color has posted her extremely fun September calendar on her site if you want a reference.

However, an unfortunate side effect of monthly calendars like this is that they often have extremely small fonts that are difficult, if not impossible, for someone who has a visual impairment to read. Large print daily itineraries can be more helpful. There is less information for them to process in one go and the larger font size will help them read it more clearly.

Remember to consider the colors of your flyers, itineraries and calendars. Some colors are easier to read than others. If you are unsure use this link to check. We actually used it ourselves to determine the colors for this website.

Additional Ways to Communicate Activities:

Dedicated TV Channels: Many facilities can set up a closed-circuit TV channel to post announcements about upcoming activities. Visual impairments aside, many residents enjoy watching this because it’s more dynamic and can be replayed.

Announcements: Use a speaker, intercom, or radio system to make verbal announcements about activities. This can be a daily or weekly practice and helps everyone stay informed without needing to rely on printed materials.

Personal Notifications: Make sure staff or family members take the time to personally remind visually impaired individuals about activities. This personalized approach ensures they know the details in real-time.

Alarm or Phone Reminders: Set up reminders on their phones or use specialized talking watches. Goeff was an assisted living resident who would always be on time to activities he cared about, namely happy hour, because his watch had a button that he would press that would announce time and alarms verbally. Getting one of these for your loved one would help them keep track of the time, giving them autonomy and independence about their daily schedule.

Example Activities and Adaptations

Physical Domain

Chair Exercises: Chair exercises with light weights or resistance bands are an excellent way to promote physical wellness for individuals who are visually impaired, particularly those in wheelchairs or with limited mobility. These exercises offer a safe, low-impact method to improve strength and flexibility while maintaining accessibility. By using tactile resistance bands with distinct textures or small, easy-to-grip weights, participants can better engage in the exercises through touch. Clear, verbal cues can guide them through each motion, such as lifting weights or stretching bands, ensuring they understand how to complete the movements without relying on sight.

To further enhance the experience, instructors can set a steady rhythm by counting through each movement, helping participants keep pace and follow along. With proper guidance and simple, repetitive motions, these exercises provide a supportive environment that encourages independence and confidence. Chair exercises with weights or bands not only benefit physical strength and flexibility but also foster a sense of inclusion and engagement for those with visual impairments.

Emotional Domain

Tactile Guessing Game: Participants feel objects inside a bag and try to identify them by touch. This sensory-focused game can be fun and interactive while encouraging emotional engagement through curiosity and laughter. It can also help with overcoming hesitancy or fear of the unknown.

Vocational Domain

Craft Projects: Craft projects like clay sculpting or gardening with plants of various textures and smells are excellent vocational activities. These allow visually impaired individuals to engage tactilely while doing something productive and meaningful. If you’d like an in depth guide to sensory gardens and fragrant gardens we recommend checking out this post on Gardening Know How.

Social Domain

Scattergories: Scattergories can be a highly social activity that’s easily adaptable. Instead of relying on visual prompts, the game can be played verbally. A facilitator can read categories and lead a group discussion where everyone shares their answers, promoting social interaction and cooperation.

Guess the Smell: This engaging sensory activity involves participants smelling various items (like spices, fruits, or herbs) and guessing what they are. It encourages group interaction and stimulates conversation as participants discuss their thoughts and memories associated with the scents. This game is not only fun but also helps develop sensory awareness and can spark lively discussions.

Guess the Sound: In this interactive game, participants listen to various sounds (like animal noises or everyday sounds) and try to identify them. It can be played in teams or as individuals, fostering teamwork and laughter. This activity encourages active listening and provides a fun way for everyone to connect, sharing stories and experiences related to the sounds.

Name That Tune: In this musical game, participants listen to snippets of songs and try to identify the title or artist. It can easily be adapted by using a playlist of familiar tunes and playing them at a low volume. This activity not only stimulates memory and cognitive function but also encourages participants to share their musical preferences and reminisce about personal experiences related to the songs.

Intellectual Domain

Hangman: Hangman is a great intellectual game, and with some adaptations, it can be enjoyed by all. For example, use braille letters or verbally announce the guesses, which can keep everyone involved and challenged. Lucy loves playing this game with the group. Even though her vision is limited, we accommodate her by seating her closest to the whiteboard, using large-capitalized letters, and announcing the letters aloud as they are guessed, and then again when it is her turn. It keeps her mind sharp and helps her feel included.

Spiritual Domain

Reading: Reading can be a deeply spiritual practice for many people. Even if someone can no longer read standard print, audiobooks or text-to-speech devices can enable them to enjoy spiritual texts, poetry, or uplifting stories. Debra was a memory care resident who never wanted to participate in activities, until one day she overheard Sonia reading a short story to a group. After that, she never missed a reading session, even if she had just told someone she didn’t feel well and didn’t want to get out of bed. By giving her a way to enjoy books again, she was uplifted. Her quality of life improved. She started participating in other activities, and even began going on scenic drives and enjoying everything that the outdoors has to offer.

By making thoughtful adaptations to activities, we can ensure that individuals who are legally blind or visually impaired remain active and engaged in all aspects of wellness. These changes may be small, but they make a world of difference in promoting inclusivity, independence, and joy in daily life. For more suggestions on adaptations, please read our blog about Adapting Bingo for Your Group.

Note: the names of the residents in this post have been changed to protect their privacy.

Thank you to Shelly at Life in Color, for her trivia games suggestions.