When I first started drafting a list of tips for improving confidence about using assistive technology for Global Accessibility Awareness Day in 2020, I thought about how many people avoid using assistive technology or accessibility settings because they are worried about “standing out,” appearing “different,” or having a visible reminder of their disability. This can lead to device abandonment where assistive technology devices go unused, increased eye strain from trying to compensate for visual tasks, or even just frustration from not being able to do something as expected.
I can relate to many of these experiences as a student with a progressive low vision condition, and I wanted to update this post with additional strategies that I have used not only with my own students and clients, but also to help myself become more confident with using assistive technology openly over the years. Here is an updated list of tips for improving confidence about using assistive technology, an important part of thriving with low vision.
Use assistive technology for work and play
A lot of assistive technology lessons for individuals with low vision focus on accessing schoolwork or employment-related tasks, which can make practicing with devices seem like “extra work” or something especially tedious. While these skills are important, a great way to improve confidence when using assistive technology is to use tools not just for work, but also for “fun” tasks such as hobbies, engaging with special interests, or other everyday activities. Here are some examples of how I have used this strategy in my own practice:
- When learning to use a video magnifier for school, a student practiced using the magnifier in other contexts such as reading signs at a museum, reading a book with a younger sibling, enlarging snack labels in the kitchen, and magnifying earrings at the store when shopping for an event.
- A college student practicing with a desktop video magnifier found a way to use magnification to work on their art projects and working on making bracelets with a friend, which helped them feel more comfortable adjusting the magnifier for exams. The student had always wanted to try making these bracelets, and associated the magnifier with making things “possible”
- For a student learning to use a screen reader, I used materials that incorporated their interest in a specific band and had them practice different skills using images, articles, and other multimedia content that incorporated their music. The student realized that they could then use these skills to help with their other classes.
- I wanted to learn how to bake different types of cookies and cupcakes, and my family encouraged me to use my eReader and large print settings on my iPad to find recipes to try. This helped me practice skills related to making text content accessible that I would use at school.
Instead of thinking of assistive technology as something that is only used for school or work, I find it helpful to find ways to incorporate it into different tasks so that users can practice technology skills in multiple contexts.
Related links
- A to Z of Assistive Technology For Low Vision
- A to Z of Assistive Technology for Reading Digital Text
- Baking Banana Bread With Assistive Technology
- Making Friendship Bracelets With Low Vision
- Unique Summer Reading Prizes For Print Disabilities
Identify options to customize or personalize tools
Many of the students I have worked with would express that their assistive technology devices felt like they made them “stand out” or that they felt like their device didn’t reflect their interests or personal access needs. For example, when I first started using text-to-speech, I found that the voice speed wasn’t working for me and that I often felt irritated by the default synthesized voice. Once I learned that I could customize these options, I felt more comfortable using text-to-speech and was using it more often.
Some examples of options for customizing assistive technology include:
- Customizing device wallpapers with images or user-created art.
- Experimenting with different fonts, even if they aren’t the “best” option for reading— just having the freedom to try new things can be exciting!
- Changing colors or themes, e.g. mouse pointers, accent colors, highlighters.
- Adding custom audio feedback or experimenting with audio settings
- Designing custom icons or options for accessing content
- Exploring accessibility settings and options for customizing the device experience— make the technology work for the user!
Another helpful strategy is to “personalize” assistive technology to reflect individual interests— this is something else that was useful for me and for other students I have worked with. Some examples of options for personalizing assistive technology include:
- Adding stickers or choosing cases for assistive devices that reflect interests or favorite colors. Charms and keychains can also be added.
- Naming assistive technology devices, which can add a personal touch. For example, one of my friends named all of my blindness canes (white canes) that made me smile and helped hold me accountable for using my cane consistently.
- Allow the user to get involved with selecting devices or finding options to customize devices, such as choosing the color of a device or sharing their input on different types of tools.
I view assistive technology as an extension of myself, so it feels natural to find a way to incorporate my own interests and personal touches into the technology I use. For example, I like to use a lot of vivid, saturated colors and use color as a labeling tool, so I gravitate towards ways to add color and make items easier to see.
Related links
- Choosing Device Wallpapers and Backgrounds With Low Vision
- How To Make Mouse Pointers Easier To See in Windows
- Low Vision Accessibility Settings For Mac Computers
- Low Vision Accessibility Settings For Android Phones
- How To Make iPad Accessible for Low Vision
- How To Order Custom Colors for Blindness Canes
- How To Customize Icons For Windows
Check out how other people are using assistive technology
I didn’t meet another person with low vision (or a visual impairment in general) until I was in college, and realized how I felt more confident about using assistive technology when I saw others using it as well, or sharing their experiences about how they use assistive technology in different contexts. Many of my friends have shared how meeting an older student or adult that had a similar disability helped them to feel more excited about using assistive technology in the classroom, and I have been honored to be that older student/adult for many other students with low vision.
Community groups and consumer organizations can be an option for connecting with others with visual impairment, as well as disability services offices at colleges and universities. Other options for learning from others who use assistive technology can include:
- Reading blogs, articles, and social media posts from others with disabilities.
- Watching YouTube videos or listening to podcasts from disabled creators.
- Reaching out to others on social media.
- Browsing articles and interviews from publications and organizations for visual impairment.
- Attending in-person or virtual events offered through state services for visual impairment or other organizations.
I’m always happy to answer questions for readers or students with low vision about how I use assistive technology— just reach out via the Contact page!
Related links
- How I Write Research Papers On Accessibility Topics
- Seeing The Future: College Transition for Visual Impairment
- Questions To Ask Other Students With Low Vision
Think of assistive technology as a way to make things possible
Instead of viewing disability as a negative characteristic or viewing assistive technology as a tool that provides an “unfair advantage” for others, I find it helpful to frame assistive technology as a tool for making things possible and to shift the blame for accessibility barriers towards the broader environment, instead of the individual with a disability. Here is some examples of how my thinking has changed when it comes to understanding accessibility and how I access information with low vision:
- I can’t believe that my vision is so awful that I can’t read small print anymore/I must be doing something wrong if I can’t read this
- This text seems large enough to be on a billboard, and yet I still can’t read all of the letters.
- Do the kids in the class think it is weird that I get different-looking assignments than them?
- I can’t find anything to read
- Why can’t I read my music? What note even is that?
- What if I tried to go back to smaller print?
- I can’t believe I failed that test— I must have done something wrong!
Here are how my thoughts have changed over time as I became more confident about using assistive technology:
- I can easily increase the font size on my favorite technology so I can read it. I don’t have to hurt my eyes to read something and can focus on the text.
- If I can’t see something, I have the tools to be able to read the information in large print or with a screen reader/text-to-speech. I’ll find a way to access this!
- No one in here notices that I get large print, they are focusing on their own assignments. If they have a question, I can answer it.
- There’s an online library where I can find any book I want in a format that works well for me, and my eReader supports large print too.
- I can enlarge music on my iPad or on paper, and adapt my other favorite activities to include large print.
- The fact that I can’t read smaller print doesn’t mean that I am less worthy of being educated or reading for fun— I can adapt things as needed or ask for help
- I didn’t fail the test, the test failed me by not being in a format I can read.
Related links
- Disability Accommodations For Fluctuating Eyesight
- Ways To Use Teleprompter Apps As Assistive Technology
- How I Use My eReader For School and Online Classes
- Ten Cool Things You Didn’t Know About Bookshare
- My Large Print Music Binder
- Math Test Accommodations For Low Vision
- Common Classroom Accommodations For Low Vision
Incorporating humor when adapting to new situations or access needs
I love being able to make myself and others laugh, and have used humor many times with being able to better accept different changes with my disability and technology needs. While I don’t always feel comfortable with other people making these jokes about me unless they are my friends or also have disabilities, I do love seeing people laugh with me as I learn to use a new tool or adapt to my changing disability, and find that using humor in a positive way helps me feel more at ease talking about technology.
Some examples of jokes/humor I have used include:
- Referring to a video magnifier I used in high school as “the dinosaur” because it looked like a vintage computer and couldn’t fit in the classroom. I would tell people I was leaving the classroom to visit a dinosaur when I had to go use the magnifier, and would use this to explain how the magnifier helps me.
- When I had trouble seeing people who came to my internship office, I made a sign that said “I am a reverse ninja— you can see me, but I can’t see you. Please identify yourself when saying hi! For example: hi Veronica, this is (name)”
- The first year I started using a blindness cane, I incorporated it into my Halloween costume. I went as a bat/blind as a bat, and won a contest for best pun! This helped me feel more at ease about people noticing that I use a cane, which I had felt self-conscious about.
- Jokingly referring to standard-sized print as “text for ants” since it seems so small to me, and reinforcing that large print is essential for me.
- Telling my friends that a large test booklet I received for a standardized test means that I’ll score “ten thousand times better” on the test compared to if I had tried to hold my face super close to the computer version of the test (which didn’t support large print).
- Finding humorous ways to incorporate using a human guide for certain activities. In college, I mentioned to one of my friends that people might find it weird we had to work together, so they suggested we wear matching outfits so people would know we come as a “package deal”— we didn’t go through with it, but their suggestion made me laugh!
While it’s difficult to teach someone how to joke about their own disability or technology, it is helpful to see others have a positive attitude about their own disability or technology, which is why I try to model this behavior as often as possible.
Related links
- My Talk At A Future Date: What I Wish I Learned About AT Before Starting College
- Learning To Navigate My Internship Building: PM Intern With Low Vision
- Incorporating Blindness Canes into Halloween Costumes
- April Fool’s Day Prank Lessons For Low Vision Assistive Technology
- How To Make Easter Egg Hunts Accessible For Low Vision
More tips for improving confidence about using assistive technology
- I wear prescription non-polarized tinted glasses, and it took me a while to adjust to the fact I needed tinted glasses. Read more about my glasses at How Tinted Glasses Help My Light Sensitivity and Veronica’s Four Eyes: All About My Glasses For Low Vision
- Another thing that has helped with improving confidence about using assistive technology is addressing anxiety related to receiving disability accommodations. Learn more at Dealing With Anxiety About Disability Accommodations and I Don’t Need An IEP!: Overcoming Internalized Ableism
- I often get questions from others about how I use assistive technology while I am using it in real life, and I share some examples of how I answer questions in Dealing With Imposter Syndrome: College O&M, Dealing With Paparazzi/Unwanted Attention: College O&M, and How I Respond To Children’s Questions/Comments About Low Vision
Published May 21, 2020. Updated February 2024