Financial Resources for Individuals With Visual Impairments

Ellen Jamason:

There are many low-vision centers across the country that provide affordable (and sometimes free) service to the visually impaired (such as) Pacific Vision Eye Institute’s low vision rehabilitation center. Frank Stein & Paul S. May Center for Low Vision Rehabilitation provides a tailored experience with low vision specialists, Donald Fletcher, M.D. and Tiffany Chan, O.D. The Frank Stein Low Vision Rehabilitation offers free care to the un-and-underinsured.

Each unique visit presents patients with options to increase independence while living with reduced visual acuity.

Other low vision centers across the country include:

• Lions Vision Research and Rehabilitation Center, The Wilmer Eye Institute at Johns Hopkins
• The Low Vision Centers of Indiana
• Florida Eye Specialists - Low vision
• VISIONS/Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired - New York
• Lighthouse for the Blind - San Francisco
• Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired

Anthony Stephens:

There are several national networks of support organizations and associations with local affiliate footprints for both consumer advocacy, such as the case of ACB (American Council for the Blind), and for securing local support to overcome the barriers to independence a person who is blind or visually impaired may experience. These local agencies have Social Security benefit counselors, social workers, technology and mobility trainers, etc. The American Foundation for the Blind and ACB have resource pages to these organizations that can assist with many challenges, including learning how to manage your finances independently as a person who is newly blind or visually impaired.

Skylar Covich:

Independent reading is extremely important for people who are visually impaired. Most web sites are now accessible so that content can be read with screen readers, but books are also vital. There are electronic sources for books where those who are visually impaired can download them, which my favorite is Bookshare. For books that are not available electronically, the OrCam device is a revolutionary new piece of technology, allowing people who are visually impaired to easily read printed books. We wear glasses and take a picture of each page. Once the picture is taken, the OrCam will read it. The OrCam also reads money!

Tanja Milojevic:

Credit Karma is a great place to check your score for free and see if there are any issues with your credit reports from Transunion and Equifax. Credit card offers are also provided based on what you qualify for. It is also fairly straightforward when doing your taxes through Credit Karma. For the most part, my screen reading software can digest and read out loud to me all of the fields on the site. Because of this, for a standard tax filing, a person with a visual impairment can do their own taxes. The app is mostly accessible with VoiceOver on the iPhone. I use it personally and get notifications regularly about my credit score.

Ellen Jamason:

Visual aids are beginning to integrate machine learning and artificial intelligence to help learn a patient’s everyday activities. The repetition of daily routine allows the technology to help the patient live independently without the fear or anxiety of decreased vision. The majority of artificial intelligence aids are very useful when (you are) outside of the home or in unfamiliar areas. Virtual and augmented reality are also available for increased magnification or to help contrast sensitive patients to resume their regimen in their homes.

Anthony Stephens:

There has been a lot of work done in the genetic therapy space toward combating some of the major causes of blindness and vision loss. Groups like the Foundation Fighting Blindness and Prevent Blindness America are leading the way in this space to prevent or delay many age-related eye conditions. But, that is just part of the story.

Technology has afforded many individuals access to vital health record information and other resources necessary to track their health progress. The ability to sync daily health data with smartphone apps also helps individuals take charge of their own health care, such as being able to access information online through the use of text-to-speech software or magnification apps. This is critical for the millions of Americans with diabetes who suffer from diabetic retinopathy and need to manage their health closely to prevent additional complications. Diabetes has become the leading cause of blindness in the United States for individuals over the age of 40.

Skylar Covich:

Medical research for vision faces a number of difficulties, especially because of the varying causes of vision problems. There are medications, injections, genetic therapies and artificial vision tools being developed, with many clinical trials but relatively slow progress for most causes of the most serious visual impairment.

Ellen Jamason:

Managing finances is often a difficult task for people with vision loss. While people with low vision have difficulty reading, seeing numbers correctly is even more of a challenging task because there is no context to know if the numbers are read accurately. For example, misreading a word will often cause the sentence to be confusing or not make sense. In that case, the individual often pauses to re-read the section and correct the error. When looking at numbers, there is no contextual feedback. Technology has allowed financial information to become more accessible for people with chronic vision impairment in a variety of ways.

Electronic devices, such as video magnifiers, computers and tablets, allow the individual to enlarge print and numbers. Some devices can scan text and read aloud the information, which we describe as “text-to-speech” or “optical character recognition.” Some apps on the cell phone allow the person with low vision to be connected to a sighted volunteer or trained agent to assist the person visually. These programs use the camera in the cell phone to show the sighted volunteer or agent what the person with low vision might have difficulty seeing. For example, they could help sort through mail, so the person knows which are important to keep, such as bills or read the amount due and date the payment is due by.

Anthony Stephens:

Similar to access to health data, access to financial data has been a major turning point for people who are blind and visually impaired living a truly independent life. Smartphone apps for banking and investing have made it much easier to access one’s own information to track finances. And, during the COVID-19 pandemic when many who are blind are at risk to move freely in the community, apps like mobile bank deposits provide an accessible and safe alternative to going to the bank and having to ask for assistance to fill out withdrawal or deposit slips. One can also more freely research information or learn about their investments online, compared to receiving large print quarterly investment reports that were essentially inaccessible.

Skylar Covich:

In addition to the OrCam's capability of reading money, most online banking is accessible to those who are visually impaired. Unemployment is, unfortunately, still a serious problem for people who are blind. State departments of rehab and commissions for people who are blind help with funding technology and skills training for those who are unemployed. There is also Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Remote work does provide some new potential opportunities, though many of the best positions are competitive, and entry-level positions still often have accessibility challenges.

Tanja Milojevic:

Thanks to websites and accessible apps, it is much easier for people who are blind or visually impaired to find technologies that can help with basic banking and more advanced things. Bank of America's mobile app is a great example. It works very well with VoiceOver, and a person who is blind can set goals like saving for vacations or home improvements. It is easy to check your balance, transfer between your accounts, make mobile check deposits, especially important during COVID-19, transfer your cash rewards and pay off your credit card. The website, AppleVis, offers ideas on accessible money management apps. Simply filter results by mobile app for banking, and lots of results will pop up.

Ellen Jamason:

One of the first steps could be requesting large print checks from the bank. The actual check is a bit larger, and the lines are bolder and slightly raised.

Good lighting or an illuminated magnifier can be very beneficial, even to individuals with mild vision loss to confirm dollar amounts or read account numbers accurately. Paper money in the United States is now produced with larger print numbers on the back lower right corner of the $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 bills. Coins can be identified by size, shape and smooth versus rigid edges.

Visual aids are available, even to those with total vision loss. There are tools that can read the amount of bills aloud, including currency from other countries.

An evaluation by the low vision doctor or low vision occupational therapist could help the individual with any level of vision loss find the best tools to help him or her manage finances independently and accurately.

Anthony Stephens:

Unfortunately, not all websites and smartphone apps are created equal. Many may have accessibility bugs, making it a challenge for a person who is blind or visually impaired to navigate independently. However, while not all are perfect, there are many that work well with assistive technology like screen readers (text-to-speech software).

I would recommend a person find a company that has both accessible websites and apps, which will mean you have the opportunity to receive equal treatment alongside all other customers. Make sure you can do more than simply make a deposit or check your balance. You should also be able to access the financial company’s tools and resources that can help with growing wealth and investing smartly.

Consider looking into a 529(a) account, which is similar to a 529 college savings account. The money in a 529(a) account can be used for those experiencing blindness before the age of 25. The money from the account can be withdrawn to cover costs associated with blindness, such as purchasing technology, transportation, health-related costs, etc.

If you don’t qualify for a 529(a), then reach out to the IRS help desk to learn about special deductions you can make or other expenses that you can take relating to your blindness, such as the costs associated with owning a guide dog.

Finally, you should be aware of the details encompassing wealth if you need to consider receiving federal benefits such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI), which has caps on savings and wealth. (It is) very different from rules around savings that other Social Security benefit programs have. Also, know your rights. While the federal government has not mandated specific guidance on website accessibility, there have been several important court cases that require websites to be made accessible for people who are blind and visually impaired. If you run into problems, contact a local consumer advocacy group, or you can email advocacy@acb.org.

Skylar Covich:

People who are visually impaired should become acquainted with new technology, such as the OrCam device and screen reading software, and state resources, which may help them fund technology and get training. They should also have someone help them organize a great resume. Regarding the best ways to keep track of your money, talk to your bank and ask about their accessibility features.

Tanja Milojevic:

Here in Massachusetts, the Massachusetts Commission for the Blind has programs that can help with financial planning and goals. I would imagine every state has programs and resources, so I always recommend looking into any local organizations. There are also grants and loans worth looking into for starting your own business if you have a disability, etc.