Over the years, many people and organizations have promoted blindfold challenges or blindfold simulations that are meant to teach participants about blindness or living with visual impairment. Many of these activities involve participants wearing a blindfold and performing different tasks like navigating their environment, using a computer, getting dressed, or following along with a video or lecture; some social media versions of blindfold simulations like the Bird Box challenge incorporate activities of daily living or potentially dangerous activities like driving while blindfolded. This is meant to raise awareness of accessibility barriers faced by visually impaired people, but often perpetuates misconceptions about visual impairment and show that inclusion without support is abandonment.
As someone with low vision that meets the criteria for legal blindness, my main frustration with blindfold simulations for sighted participants is that they don’t take into account that visually impaired people learn compensatory skills, orientation and mobility (O&M) strategies, and how to use assistive technology to access information; skills that are often not acknowledged or practiced during these simulations. Visual impairment is also a spectrum, not a binary between being fully sighted or being blind with no light perception, and there is more to visual impairment than acuity alone.
I wrote the original version of this post in 2019 as the Bird Box challenge was going viral, and wanted to update it to include more nuanced ideas for learning more about visual impairment or offering alternatives to blindfold challenges that center the use of nonvisual skills or using assistive technology/accessibility settings. I also wanted to add more ideas that connected to the plot of Bird Box and activities shown in the movie. With that in mind, the most valuable way to learn about visual impairment is to learn directly from someone living with visual impairment, whether it is a blind consultant, a low vision presenter, or a CVI advocate.
Practice using a screen reader with an app or website
A screen reader enables users to access text, images, and user interfaces without looking at the screen. Screen reader software reads information out loud using synthesized speech so users know what is on the screen, so users can navigate their device using a keyboard or gestures instead of using a computer mouse. Blind users can’t use a mouse (but can use touchscreens), though someone who has low vision or some usable vision might use a mouse and a screen reader at the same time. Screen readers are typically “always on,” and it is reasonable to assume that someone wouldn’t be able to use their device if their screen reader was turned off or not working.
Examples of screen readers that are built into popular operating systems include:
- VoiceOver (iOS, iPadOS, MacOS)
- Narrator (Windows)
- TalkBack (Android)
- ChromeVox (ChromeOS)
To simulate the experience of navigating digital content with visual impairment, turn on a screen reader in accessibility settings for a device and explore a frequently used app, software program, website, or document; alternatively, use the Screen Reader Training website linked below. Observe how information is read out loud and note barriers like unlabeled buttons, inaccessible images, or other elements that make it challenging to access the content. Before starting the activity, practice using gestures or keyboard shortcuts/hotkeys (tab, enter, arrow keys are especially critical).
Instead of using a blindfold, users can also enable a screen curtain that turns off their device display for non-visual access. However, this is not available for ChromeVox or Chromebooks.
Related links
- SRT – The Screen Reader Training Website
- NVDA Screen Reader Series | Hadley
- The ABCs of IOS Manual | CNIB
- How To Use VoiceOver With Low Vision on iPad
Watch a movie or TV show with audio description
Audio description, sometimes referred to as descriptive audio or described video, is an additional narration track that highlights key visual details and information for audiences that might not be able to see it; this is different from captioning. Audio description may be performed live or in real-time at events, or may be pre-recorded so users can listen to the audio description track as they watch or interact with content. Many movies and TV shows available on streaming platforms have audio description available, which can typically be configured by selecting “Audio description” when selecting audio or language settings for a video.
Listening to an audio description track instead of or in addition to watching content visually can provide insight into how many visually impaired individuals enjoy movies and TV shows, but there are so many other ways to engage with audio description; look for audio description options at museums, plays, art exhibits, national parks, and even at sporting events!
When looking for something to watch, I highly recommend browsing the Audio Description Project website that provides a comprehensive listing of audio described content across multiple platforms. While the movie Bird Box has audio description, many of my friends have mentioned that the movie that made them fall in love with audio description is Dungeons and Dragons: Honor Among Thieves which is narrated by Sue Perkins.
Related links
- Audio Description Project | ACB
- How To Create Audio Description For YouTube With YouDescribe
- DCMP: Free Audio Described Videos For Classrooms
- Tips For Visiting Art Museums With Low Vision
- Audio Description posts | Veroniiiica
Learn to recognize landmarks and give practical directions
Instead of or in addition to using vision and visual cues, many people with visual impairments use landmarks to help with navigating indoor and outdoor environments. A landmark can be a familiar object, sound, scent, temperature, or tactile feature that has a known, stable, and precise location in the environment; something that is always there. Landmarks are the anchors of a mental map, and offer definitive points for confirming locations, making turns, and clarifying that a route is working as intended.
Instead of sending someone with a blindfold into the hallway without assistance or without training in orientation and mobility skills (which can include but is not limited to using a white cane, guide dog, and other strategies for independent navigation), reflect on what visual landmarks and non-visual landmarks are present in an environment. For example, is there a change from carpet to tile when walking into the kitchen? Are there fountains outside of the building entrance? Is there a mural or section of lockers near the classroom entrance? Is there tactile pavement outside?
Learning to provide practical directions is another helpful skill; using phrases like “over there” or “right here” can be confusing for someone who might not know where that is. Use specific directions (e.g., left and right) and names of locations such as room numbers, floor numbers, or similar information to decrease ambiguity. There are also several online resources for learning more about being a human guide and assisting people with visual impairments; I linked a downloadable resource from the Lighthouse Guild below that was shared by a former employer.
Related links
- Lighthouse Guild | Guide Techniques
- Building Identification: College O&M
- Learning To Navigate My Internship Building: PM Intern With Low Vision
- Finding College Classrooms: College O&M
- High School Hallways and Low Vision
- How To Be An Effective Human Guide For People With Vision Loss
Generate a tactile map or tactile graphic
Tactile maps and tactile graphics incorporate raised lines, textures, shapes, labels, and other elements for representing salient visual characteristics of a particular environment. Learning to interpret tactile graphics is a skill that requires careful and intentional practice, as well as context for the information that is being shown in the graphic. There are many ways to create tactile graphic and maps, including using embossers, crafting materials, or other digital programs.
One way to learn more about tactile maps or tactile graphics is to generate a free tactile map using a tool like Touch Mapper, which can show an example of a tactile map for a specific location. Take note of how information like buildings, roads, water, and other details are shown. Another option is to create a DIY tactile map of an indoor environment like a bathroom to show the layout of a room; what details would be important or relevant to include?
Tactile maps are one of many tools used by visually impaired people for navigation. GPS applications, digital maps, and other wayfinding tools can also be useful when navigating indoor and outdoor environments.
Related links
- Touch Mapper website
- Accessible Maps and Wayfinding Tools For Low Vision
- Smartphone Apps For Orientation and Mobility
- Using GPS Apps On College Campuses: College O&M
- How I Use My Smartphone For Traveling With Low Vision
- Resources for teaching tactile graphics | Teaching Visually Impaired website
Put together outfits with assistive technology
One of the ideas from my original Bird Box challenge alternatives post involved putting together outfits without looking, which included identifying items by touch. This is still an interesting idea, but I wanted to enhance it with more recommendations that actually reflect strategies for getting dressed and keeping items organized:
- When locating items, pay attention to how they are organized; is it easier to find and identify items that are hanging up, in bins, folded in drawers, placed on a shelf, or stored in another way?
- Download a visual assistance app with a color reader and examine items. Seeing AI from Microsoft is one example of a visual assistance app.
- What are some ways to make it easier to plan outfits or decide what to wear?
There are many blind fashion and beauty content creators that have their own strategies for shopping, keeping items organized, and putting together outfits, as well as blind makeup tips and strategies for putting on makeup with visual impairment. While some visually impaired people do prefer monochromatic outfits or dislike makeup, there are many options for embracing interests in fashion and putting together outfits non-visually. One of my favorite resources on blind makeup is written by Sassy Wyatt at Blind Girl Adventures and is linked below.
Related links
- Organizing A Walk-In Closet With Vision Loss
- How I Use The Stylebook App With Low Vision
- How I Use Microsoft Seeing AI With Low Vision
- Makeup for Visually Impaired | Blind Girl Adventures
Explore data with sonification
One strategy for making graphs, charts, and other data with visual impairment is to use sonification, which uses non-speech audio to convey information. When given context, listeners can use changes in pitch, tempo, or amplitude to recognize different characteristics of data, which can be especially useful in math and science contexts. There are a variety of options for exploring sonification for visual impairment, such as the sonification features built into the Desmos calculator, NASA data sonifications, and many others.
Related links
- Free Math Websites For Low Vision Students
- Free Science Websites For Low Vision Students
- NASA data sonifications
Write alt text or image descriptions
Alternative text (alt text) and image descriptions are text-based descriptions of visual details in an image written primarily for people who are visually impaired (inclusive of blind, low vision, and neurological visual impairment). If an image fails to load on a website, alt text will be displayed in its place, and alt text is also used for search engine optimization and image search tools. If an image does not include alt text, someone who is using assistive technology like a screen reader will not be able to access the image; it will be invisible to them.
Image descriptions are another strategy for providing text-based media descriptions, and often are longer and more detailed than alt text. They are exposed as part of a caption or image body text, meaning that they can be read by anyone, and identify key visual details that would be used to help someone understand what’s in an image, providing helpful context and clarification about what is there. Image descriptions can be formatted, structured as lists, read with large print or braille, or used with other reading tools like search features.
High-quality alt text answers the following questions:
- What is in the image?
- Why is this relevant?
- What would someone need to know about this image in order to understand it?
Adding alt text and image descriptions to images, gifs, and other visual content enables users with visual impairments to access information independently, as these descriptions can be displayed as print, read out loud by a screen reader, or shown on a braille display. Learning to write meaningful descriptions is an especially important skill when posting on social media, sharing content online, or putting together multimedia content.
Related links
- How To Write Alt Text and Image Descriptions for the Visually Impaired
- How To Write Alt Text For Educational Content
- Emoji Accessibility and Low Vision
Learn about accessible recreation and sports activities
One of my friends who watched Bird Box asked if there were any options for adaptive canoeing or adaptive kayaking for blind and low vision, and was thrilled to find out that there is a wide variety of accessible recreation and blind sports activities! While a sighted person showing up with a blindfold to an event for visually impaired people would be inappropriate, many adaptive recreation groups accept sighted volunteers, guide runners, and offer other ways to get involved with accessible sports. There are also some sports like goalball that require all participants to be blindfolded, so sighted people can participate as well.
I shared a link below to the Metro Washington Association of Blind Athletes as an example; more information can be found by searching for state or local blind and low vision recreation or sports, annual events like Camp Abilities, and other adaptive recreation programs for visually impaired.
Related links
- MWABA | Blind Athletes in DC, Maryland, and Virginia
- Physical Education | American Printing House For The Blind (APH)
- Watching MLB Baseball Games With Low Vision
More resources on alternatives to the Bird Box challenge and blindfold simulation alternatives
- Global Accessibility Awareness Day: Activity Ideas for Students
- Teach Kids About Low Vision and Assistive Technology: Free Resources
- Using PicsArt To Simulate Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- Building A College Technology Toolbox For Low Vision
Published January 5, 2019. Updated May 2026