Ever wonder “how does a blind person use the bathroom?” or “how does someone who is visually impaired take a shower?” I’ve had many people ask me these questions, including children, teachers, friends, and even people I shared a bathroom with in student housing. Like a lot of questions of this nature, the answer is “with assistive technology of some sort”, with most types of items being low-tech or no-tech solutions that don’t require electricity or a power source. Here is an overview of tools, tips, and strategies related to accessible bathroom design for low vision and blind individuals. The majority of people use multiple strategies and combinations of tools instead of relying on a single system, and I indicate some of the items I personally use with low vision as well.
Please note that an inclusion of an item or product/brand on this list is not an endorsement or guarantee that it will work or that it is currently available- these are either items I have used personally or that I observed a friend using. Links provided for shopping are for convenience purposes only and are not affiliate links; I have no way of knowing who clicks on a link or who purchases anything, and prices are subject to change.
Keeping the bathroom organized
The foundation of any accessible bathroom for blind or low vision individuals is built upon a well-organized space with a consistent layout and lighting so that tasks can be performed independently without compromising safety or contributing to eyestrain. The “best” option for how to organize a bathroom with visual impairment is the one that works best for the individual using it, as the level of someone’s usable vision or residual vision can play a role in how they navigate their environment. Some examples of this include:
Hanging items or placing them on shelves
Hanging items such as towels on a towel rack/rod or hook can be easier than folding them for people with visual impairments, because it requires less precision to hang items and they are also easier to locate compared to having them in a darker cabinet or drawer. Some people may prefer folded items, but keep them on shelves or in linen closets where they are easy to retrieve and identify, instead of placing them in a dark drawer or stacking several items on top of each other.
Some items like identical washcloths, towels, or duplicate products can be stored together in a central area, where people can grab the first item in a stack/row without having to visually scan an entire area to look for an item.
ENSURING THERE IS GOOD LIGHTING IN THE SPACE
Vision loss and blindness is not a binary or as simple as having a light be turned on or off with no in-between, rather it is a spectrum where every person living with visual impairment has different needs and preferences for lighting in their space, and how light affects their residual or usable vision. Even though I wear tinted glasses and am sensitive to bright lights, learning about how to choose lighting with low vision and learning how lighting affects my usable vision has helped me tremendously with adapting my living space and workspaces so I can make the most of my vision and minimize the effects of eyestrain.
For an example of how this applies to the bathroom, trying to grab items in the dark or in dim lighting can lead to things getting knocked over or broken. During college, I lived in a dorm that had a temporary lighting issue in the bathroom that made everything much dimmer, and I figured that I could deal with it because I figured it was better than having the lights be super bright. Well, it turns out that lighting played a larger role than I thought in the accessibility of this space, and I kept dropping items or picking up the wrong things. After coming very close to dropping my toothbrush in the toilet, I decided to grab some portable lighting from my room!
Making sure items on the floor are secure
My current bathroom has a skylight that provides beautiful natural light that illuminates the space, and can also create unwanted glare on reflective floor surfaces. This is where having nonslip rugs comes in handy, as they can absorb the unwanted glare from the skylight and overhead lights, as well as keep me from slipping on the floor. I chose rugs in bright, high-contrast colors that pop against the floor so that I can identify any lumps or bumps and smooth them out before I slip. I also make sure to avoid having towels or other items on the floor, since items that are left on the floor or placed in cabinets without proper organizational strategies are in the perfect position to be accidentally pushed to the back of the space, tripped over, or they just create visual clutter that can make it more difficult to locate what someone is actually looking for.
Having a place for everything
Having structured organizers and consistent locations for items really helps me with configuring bathrooms for low vision access, because I know where to look for items and don’t have to be concerned about them getting knocked over or going missing. This is a bit more challenging in a shared bathroom where other people can move things, but things like organizing bins and labels can help with keeping items in their designated places.
Also, it’s important to make sure that people with visual impairments have a say in the arrangement of items and that furniture or other items aren’t relocated without talking to the person first. As an example, I temporarily relocated a trashcan without telling my friend who has no usable vision, and they ended up knocking over the trashcan since they weren’t expecting it to be on the other side of the bathroom.
Related links
- Organizing Hanging Storage With Vision Loss
- Organizing Dresser Drawers With Vision Loss
- Lighting And Low Vision
Adding labels to products
There are several different strategies for adding labels to bathroom products and items to make them easier to identify either with nonvisual strategies or with residual or usable vision, including the following options:
Rubber bands around bottles
For shampoo, conditioner, and similar shower products that come in larger bottles, one strategy for identifying toiletries with visual impairment is to place a rubber band or elastic band around the bottle, stacking one band for shampoo, two bands for conditioner, three bands for body wash, etc. Bands can also be color-coded to provide an additional labeling option.
Large print/tactile labels on product
Large print tactile labels contain a mix of enlarged, high contrast print along with tactile elements that can be identified by touch. There are also labeling options that contain only print or only tactile identifiers if desired. Not all tactile labels are in braille; some labels may contain symbols or other patterns to aid in identification.
Large print or tactile labels may be purchased separately, though some brands like Herbal Essences have tactile labels embossed on their products to make them easier to identify. Others may prefer to use refillable bottles with tactile or large print labels and add new product when needed.
RFID labels on products
RFID labeling systems use electromagnetic fields to identify items such as clothes, products, appliances, or other items through the use of a scanner or smartphone app. While I don’t recommend labeling items that are used in the shower or other spaces close to water, users can label items by attaching them either with adhesive, pins, or a special sewing kit for labeling clothes or fabric tags. When the user scans or taps the label with a free app on their smartphone or a standalone device, custom information that the user inputs is then read out loud or displayed on their device such as names of labels, instructions on how to use them, or similar information. One example of a brand I have used is WayAround, as users can scan tags a virtually unlimited number of times and add an unlimited number of tags, information, and edits to items connected to their free WayAround account.
Labeling medications in the medicine cabinet
I have a separate post with strategies for using assistive technology and accessibility strategies to access prescription and over-the-counter medications, including tactile dots, requesting large print labels, and RFID labels that can be read with a smartphone or assistive device. These tools are really helpful for medication management and can help ensure medications are taken correctly.
Related links
- How To Organize and Identify Cords For Low Vision
- Assistive Technology For Medication Labels
- Assistive NFC Tagging System for Blind and Low Vision Users (wayaround.com)
- Microsoft Seeing AI And Low Vision
Choosing bright/high contrast colors for items
To make it easier to locate items on surfaces or provide visual landmarks, it helps to choose items in preferred colors or saturated/bright colors that provide contrast against surfaces like walls, counters, and shelves- things like darker colors against light backgrounds or vice versa. Some people may find patterns to be distracting or disorienting and prefer solid colors or large-scale patterns. This is another thing that will be determined by personal preference, though I personally like the statement shower curtain with colorful flowers and simple art in my bathroom space.
Related links
Product dispensers
Many people with visual impairments also experience difficulties with fine motor skills and/or grip strength, which is where having product dispensers and tools that can make it easier to measure items come in handy. This is also really helpful for controlling how much of an item is dispensed at a time, and can help to reduce spills from having too much product come out at once. I don’t generally recommend using automatic dispensers for blind/low vision individuals because they can be accidentally activated or challenging to manipulate.
Also, since it’s also a type of dispenser, I wanted to note that locating toilet paper dispensers isn’t something that most people with visual impairments find challenging, but some people may find it helpful to have a nightlight or motion-activated light to illuminate it further if it’s in a darker corner. I’ve seen talking toilet paper roll holders marketed for blind and visually impaired people, but have never met a single person who found them helpful; just like sighted people would, blind and visually impaired people also find talking toilet paper to be annoying!
Toothpaste dispensers
There are a couple of different types of toothpaste dispensers, ranging from a wall-mounted dispenser that can be controlled with one hand to silicone toothpaste caps that control how much toothpaste is dispensed at a time. Some wall mounts also have a toothbrush holder, or an attachment for placing the toothbrush on a wall or mirror so that it is kept off of the counter and in an easy-to-locate place.
Pumps for toiletries and mouthwash
My refillable body wash container has a pump dispenser that is much easier to manipulate than squeezing a bottle and having too much soap come out, and my shampoo and conditioner bottles also feature pumps so that I don’t have to pick up the bottles. One of my friends also has a pump dispenser for mouthwash that I plan to get for myself, as they find it easier to use than pouring mouthwash into the cap and trying to measure a precise amount.
Soap dispensers and paper towel holders
Having a high contrast and easy-to-locate soap pump is important for designing a bathroom for low vision, as is ensuring that paper towels or other towels for drying hands are in a convenient location near the sink. When I’m in an unfamiliar single-stall bathroom, it helps to figure out where the paper towels or hand towels are beforehand since this information isn’t always obvious, though I encounter this issue less often in public bathrooms.
Hand wipes near toilet
While I don’t bring my blindness cane into the bathroom at home, I do bring it with me when I go to public bathrooms. A small but very helpful detail that I’ve seen in handicap/accessible bathrooms is to have hand wipes in the stall so that I can quickly clean my hands before I touch my blindness cane and find the sink. This is also really helpful for people who use wheelchairs, walking canes, service animals, crutches, and similar tools.
Koozies on squeeze bottles
Also known as a koozie, coozie, or stubby holder, fabric and foam sleeves can be added to the bottom of shampoo and conditioner bottles or other squeeze bottles to provide additional contrast while making them easier to hold/press.
Electric tools that can be operated nonvisually
Some blind individuals prefer to use electric razors because they require less precision than a traditional razor and can be used either over a sink or in the shower, the latter option making cleaning easier. Other tools like electric nail clippers, toothbrushes, water flossers, and ultrasonic cleaners may also be used because they require less dexterity or visual perception than their manual counterparts, or provide a more consistent user experience. When choosing electric items for the bathroom, it is important to make sure that they have tactile buttons or labels that the user can feel or otherwise use the device without looking at it, since screens may not provide enough haptic or tactile feedback to know if the item is working or not.
Another helpful strategy is having an item that has an auditory or sound cue to let someone know if it is turned on or off. This is especially helpful for haircare items like hair dryers, curling/straightening irons, or similar tools that give off heat.
Related links
- Nail Trimming and Low Vision: Adapted Nail Clippers
- Tips For Doing Laundry In College With Low Vision
Shower adaptations
Therea are a few different options for adapting a bath or shower to be more accessible for vision loss, with some options intersecting with assistive technologies for other disabilities such as mobility or balance impairments.
Grab bars
People with visual impairments or low vision may experience balance issues or benefit from having grab bars or shower chairs in the bathroom which can aid with balance. This is especially helpful in hotels or other unfamiliar spaces where it can be more difficult to orient oneself to an unfamiliar place, or they can be used as visual landmarks to locate items such as the toiletries shelf and shower controls.
Shower/bath mats
In order to minimize the risk of falls in the shower or bathtub, adding a high-contrast shower or bath mat can make it easier to balance, as well as provide a visual backdrop for locating items that fall on the ground.
Marking water levels or knobs
Bathtubs or showers at home can be marked with lines to indicate the appropriate water level or temperature to use. Since shower and bathtub materials can vary, I recommend talking to a home improvement professional about this to determine the ideal marking solution.
Visual assistance applications
Speaking of hotels, I also find it helpful to use a visual assistance app or ask someone to help me figure out how to control the shower before I use it for the first time, since it can be hard to figure out how to manipulate the knob for hot/cold water or for turning on the shower heads. I don’t use visual assistance apps for the majority of bathroom tasks for privacy reasons and because it is illegal to use remote visual interpreting apps with one-way video in public restrooms.
Color changing shower head
Color changing shower heads use different colored LEDs to indicate different water temperatures, which can help people determine if the water is at their preferred temperature instead of reaching in to feel it constantly. This is also helpful for people who have temperature regulation issues and need to avoid super hot or super cold water.
Related links
- Disability and Classroom Accommodations For POTS
- Hotel Familiarization and Low Vision
- All About Visual Assistance Apps For Visually Impaired
- How To Hack An Accessible Dorm
- How I Decorate My Dorm Room With Low Vision
More resources on low vision assistive technology for the bathroom
- Instead of keeping frequently used items in drawers, I have a larger rotating tabletop organizer that has smaller drawers and easy-to-reach shelves for reaching commonly used products, which has been really helpful! Mine was purchased at Costco and marketed as a cosmetics storage tool
- Outlining things like door frames, adding colored frames around light switches, and adding frames around windows or doors can make it easier to locate these items and navigating spaces independently. I recommend using colored masking tape or paint for best results, and share more ideas in my post How I Decorate A Bedroom For CVI
- Want to learn more about dressing aids and getting dressed with low vision? Read Assistive Technology and Dressing Aids For Low Vision
- Looking for more organizational strategies and ideas? Check out Organization Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
Published November 14, 2016. Updated January 2025