According to the National Information Center for Children and Youth with Disabilities, low vision and legal blindness can be defined in the following ways:

• Low Vision generally refers to a severe visual impairment, not necessarily limited to distance vision. Low vision applies to all individuals with sight who are unable to read the newspaper at a normal viewing distance, even with the aid of eyeglasses or contact lenses.
• A person who is Legally Blind has less than 20/200 vision in the better eye (with corrective lenses) or a very limited field of vision (20 degrees at its widest point).
• Visual Impairment is the condition of having some usable vision. People with severe visual impairments cannot read newsprint with glasses. Visual impairments also include conditions such as tunnel vision and color blindness. People who have congenital blindness have been without sight since early childhood or birth. People who have adventitious blindness lost their sight later in life. It is important to differentiate between these two conditions because of the diversity among people with these two types of blindness.

Suggestions to Improve Access and Positive Interactions

1. To guide a person who is blind, let him or her take your arm. If you encounter steps, curbs, or other obstacles, identify them and pause briefly before proceeding.
2. Speak directly to the person in a normal tone and speed.
3. Do not pet or play with a working guide or service dog.
4. When entering or leaving a room, say so.
5. When a person who has a visual impairment is meeting many people, introduce them individually.