In the United States, there are over 7 million people who are blind or have low vision. According to the American Foundation for the Blind, blindness is defined as "a central visual acuity of 20/200 or less in the better eye with the use of a correcting lens, or a limited field of vision in which the widest diameter of the remaining field of vision subtends an angular distance no greater than 20 degrees." Low vision is defined as "a visual acuity greater than 20/200, but with a visual field of no greater than 20 degrees in the better eye." There are many services available to people who are blind or have low vision. These services can help people with everyday tasks, such as getting around, reading, writing, and using the telephone. Some services are provided by the government, while others are provided by private organizations. The government provides services through the Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs, the Department of Health and Human Services’ Rehabilitation Services Administration, and the Department of Veterans Affairs. Private organizations that provide services include the American Foundation for the Blind, the National Federation of the Blind, and the Blinded Veterans Association. There are also many products available to help people who are blind or have low vision. These products can make it easier to read, write, and use the telephone. Some products are low-tech, such as magnifiers and talking watches. Other products are high-tech, such as closed captioning decoders and screen readers.
There are a variety of services available to blind people, also known as visually impaired people. These services can help with things like learning to read and write Braille, using a cane or guide dog, and getting around in public places.
There is a lot of work that goes into providing services for the blind. From Braille instruction to employment assistance, there are many ways that the blind can be helped. However, there is still much work to be done in order to make sure that the blind have equal access to services.