Ever wonder “how does a blind person get dressed?” or “how does someone who is visually impaired identify clothing?” Like a lot of questions of this nature, the answer is “with assistive technology of some sort”, which can range from no-tech or low-tech items like safety pins to more high-tech items like talking labels, smart closet apps, and color readers. Here is an overview of tools, tips, and strategies for getting dressed with assistive technology and dressing aids for low vision and blind individuals. The majority of people use multiple methods and combinations of low-tech, mid-tech, and high-tech 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.
Keeping clothing organized with visual impairment
The foundation of any good assistive technology for getting dressed is built upon a well-organized clothing storage or closet system that makes it possible for people to locate clothes independently. The “best” system for organizing clothes while visually impaired 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 vs folding items
Hanging items in a closet or on a clothing rod can be easier than folding them for people with visual impairments, because it requires less precision to hang items and hangers can also accommodate additional attachments that can be used for clothing identification. For example, someone could label hangers to indicate items that are a certain color, or hang an entire outfit on a hanger, using a soda can pull tab as a way of “extending” hangers so that multiple items can be stacked together or purchasing suit combo hangers.
For some types of clothing like pajamas, undergarments, athletic clothes, or casual items, folding may be preferable as similar items can all be grouped in one space. Items may be stored in a dresser or placed on a shelf or another form of vertical storage, which may provide better lighting to aid with identification.
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 clothing, I had stored a bunch of shoes in an under-bed storage bin in my dorm, and unknowingly went to an event wearing one navy shoe and black shoe, and didn’t realize that my shoes were two different colors until I was in a well-lit room, or at least a room with better lighting than my dorm. Whoops!
Keeping items off the floor/out of dark corners
Items that get left on the floor are in the perfect position to be accidentally pushed to the back of the closet or a drawer, tripped over, or create visual clutter that can make it more difficult to locate what someone is actually looking for. Depending on the surface of the floor or drawer, glare from overhead lights or dark spaces can also make it more difficult to identify items correctly or keep them separated from each other. Tools like shoe racks, shelves, stackable bins, and hooks can all keep items off the floor and within the line of sight.
Having a place for laundry and hangers
Having a dedicated place for laundry can be tremendously helpful with avoiding what I refer to as “Mount Laundry”, or having a giant pile of clothes all in one place that is difficult to pick up. I have separate laundry bins for clothes and sheets in my closet that have high-contrast, colored outlines to aid with placing them inside, while towels are placed in a different bin in the bathroom.
When hangers are empty, individuals can choose to either leave them in their dedicated space on the rack, or corral them in a bin or designated section of the closet so that they don’t get in the way of other items. People who do not rely on hangers for identifying specific clothing items may benefit from the corralling option, as this makes it easier to locate hangers when putting clothes away.
Related links
- Lighting And Low Vision
- Organizing Dresser Drawers With Vision Loss
- Organizing Hanging Storage With Vision Loss
Adding labels to clothing: No-tech/Low-tech
The terms no-tech and low-tech assistive technology are used interchangeably, but both refer to assistive technology tools and devices that do not require electricity or a power source. There are a few different strategies for adding labels to clothing to make it easier to identify that individuals can identify with their residual or usable vision, including the following options.
Some people choose not to label the most common colors or similar looking items in their wardrobe to save time. For example, someone who has a lot of blue shirts that can be worn interchangeably might refrain from labeling them, but will instead label shirts in other colors.
Writing on labels with laundry markers
The Sharpie Rub-a-Dub Laundry Marker is a popular item in my house, and my mom would write on tags to indicate whether an item was meant to be washed in warm (W) or cold (C) water. If someone was colorblind or otherwise had color deficiencies that made it difficult to identify items, another option would be to write the first letter of a color on the tag to aid with identification.
Sewing different-shaped buttons to labels
Many people learn to identify clothing by texture, looking at details such as the fit/cut, length, feel of the fabric, buttons/accessories, and similar details. Another tool that can help is sewing buttons in different shapes to represent different colors, which can be attached to the tag of clothes or in another area that isn’t noticeable. A round button with smooth sides could be used for black clothes for example, while a button shaped like a flower with distinct segments could be used for navy clothes to keep them from getting switched around.
Safety pins in a discreet area
Rust-proof safety pins can also be attached to clothing and can withstand trips through the washing machine and dryer. Some people will choose safety pins with different colors/shapes like the Color Mates kit, while others may stack multiple rust-proof pins to represent different colors or color families (i.e jewel tones) to aid with matching outfits.
Place stickers inside shoes
For people that struggle to put shoes on the correct feet, flat labels or stickers cut in half can be placed in the sole of the shoe to identify which shoe is which; when placed together, the half stickers can form a “whole” image or mirror each other. Alternatively, a colored label can be used for all left shoes, while a different color can be used for all right shoes. The edge of the sticker can also be felt to determine whether it is a left shoe or right shoe if additional confirmation is needed.
Related links
- Sharpie Rub-A-Dub Laundry Marker, Fine Point | Sharpie
- Color Mates (maxiaids.com)
- Organizing Shoes With Vision Loss
Identifying clothing with tools: Mid-tech
Mid-tech assistive technology refers to tools and devices that require some form of electricity or a power source to use, but typically don’t have a screen and are easier to use than high-tech devices, or may be connected to a high-tech device. Mid-tech tools can be used to identify clothing and other items either with preset labels, or may recognize things like colors that can make it easier to identify clothing.
Talking labeling systems
The PenFriend or Reizen Voice Labeling Wands are two examples of a talking labeling system that can be used with clothing items (along with laundry-safe tags). Users place a label from the manufacturer with a unique code on an item tag, and can scan it to record or listen to a pre-recorded voice message that shares information about the clothing appearance, washing instructions, items it coordinates with, or whatever the person wants to record. The devices retail for anywhere between $85-$150, and additional labels can be purchased separately. There are also options for labeling other types of products such as food, cleaning supplies, or other objects in the home.
Color reader
A color reader, color detector, or talking color identifier is a handheld device that can recognize over 150 different colors, and can be used in the home environment for identifying the colors of clothes or when shopping for new items. The devices themselves are usually about 4 inches long and 2 inches wide and battery powered, with many models having an option for headphones for more discreet use. To use a color reader, the user will point the device at an item, and the device will read out the color name and shade, such as “light red” or “lime green.” Moving it across a garment with multiple colors will identify each color one at a time. In addition, may color readers can also identify the brightness or intensity of light within a given space.
One example of a well-known color reader for the blind is the Colorino, which retails for around $230. However, people with visual impairments who are registered with their state agency/state unit for visual impairment or vocational rehabilitation may qualify to receive a color reader for free or at a reduced cost if this tool can help them with achieving goals related to independent living.
Related links
- PENfriend 3 | www.penfriendlabeller.com
- ReizenUSA.com – Reizen Talking Label Wand- Voice Labeling System
- Color Identifier-Light Detector (maxiaids.com)
- Services Provided By State Department/State Unit for Visual Impairment
- Vocational Rehabilitation for College Students
Smartphone apps for getting dressed with low vision: High-tech
Smartphones and tablets can serve as a great high-tech tool for identifying clothes with low vision, organizing outfits, and helping to create a more accessible closet. Outside of using the built-in device flashlight as a portable lighting solution or using the camera to zoom in on labels or other clothing details, here are some examples of how smartphone apps can help low vision and blind people get dressed.
AI visual assistance
AI visual assistance applications use machine learning and artificial intelligence to recognize text and images, allowing users to get descriptions or transcriptions of text in a matter of seconds. These do not use a live person, and instead provide users with quick access to different features that can be used to aid with identification, such as color readers, object identification/description, barcode scanners, or short text readers that can read labels out loud or display them in large print.
Visual assistance/visual interpreting applications
Visual assistance applications that use human visual interpreters (sometimes known as visual interpreting apps) allow users to stream one-way video and two-way audio to read text or get descriptions of objects from a visual interpreter or sighted person. Some applications require users to verbally communicate with visual interpreters, while others allow for typing questions or recording voice messages. These can be helpful for identifying clothing and asking questions about what it looks like, putting outfits together, or operating an unfamiliar or inaccessible washing machine/dryer.
Digital closet apps
I started using the Stylebook digital closet app my first year of college to help with organizing clothing, jewelry, and planning outfits, because I found it easier to look at the images to examine the visual details instead of examining pieces individually. I organize the pieces in Stylebook in the same order that they are organized in real life to make it easier to locate items, as well as plan outfits without taking everything out of a drawer or out of my closet. Other benefits of digital closet apps include options for adding tags or instructions for clothing, color labels, descriptions of the style, and options for planning packing lists.
RFID labeling systems
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. One example of a system is WayAround, which offers a variety of tags and materials for labeling items that can also withstand hot and cold temperatures (such as laundry) with specialty labels. The app/scanner is free to use with a smartphone, though the starter kit will need to be purchased separately- the laundry starter kit is currently $49 for 25 button labels, though there are several options available.
After purchasing RFID labels or a starter kit, users can label items by attaching them either with adhesive, pins, or a special sewing kit for button labels. When the user taps the tag with the free WayAround app on their smartphone, custom information is then displayed to indicate relevant details for each item, which can include laundering instructions, visual descriptions of items, information about items it coordinates with, and other text categories that are relevant to the item. 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.
Related links
- All About Visual Assistance Apps For Visually Impaired
- How I Use The Stylebook App With Low Vision
- Organizing Jewelry With Vision Loss
- Assistive NFC Tagging System for Blind and Low Vision Users (wayaround.com)
More resources on assistive technology and dressing aids for low vision
- Curious to learn more about shopping for clothes with visual impairment, or choosing clothes with tactile defensiveness/sensory processing issues that can be common for visually impaired kids? Check out Making Clothing Stores Accessible For Low Vision and Clothing Shopping Tips For Sensory Processing Issues
- Want to learn how to create accessible “outfit of the day” or OOTD posts? Read How To Write Alt Text For Casual Outfits or How To Create Image Descriptions For Red Carpet Looks
- For those interested in using a smartphone, read How To Make iPad Accessible for Low Vision (which also has tips for iPhone) and Low Vision Accessibility Settings For Android Phones
- To learn more about organizing clothes with low vision, check out Closet Archives | Veronica With Four Eyes (veroniiiica.com)
Published November 14, 2016. Updated November 2025