EEOC Updates Visual Impairment Guidance Considering Technological Advances

By Employers Council Staff posted 08-10-2023 09:15 AM

Recommend

On July 26, 2023, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) updated its Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidance regarding visual impairments. The update was done in part to catalog new technology to help employers more easily accommodate visual impairments using software that is not cost-prohibitive under the ADA. The framework of the guidance has not changed.

The following is a partial list from the EEOC website of common software and technologies that can assist with accommodations:

Screen readers (or text-to-speech software) that convert written text on a computer screen into spoken words or a braille display.
Optical character recognition (OCR) technology that includes optical scanners (desktop, handheld, or wearable) and OCR software.
Systems with audible, tactile, or vibrating feedback, such as proximity detectors, that alert individuals if they are too close to an object or another person.
Digital apps or recorders, including those with transcription capability.
Smartphone and tablet apps with built-in accessibility features, such as those for screen reading/text-to-speech, magnification, OCR, braille display, color identification, wayfinding, and sighted assistance.

A desktop, handheld, or wearable video magnifier or a closed-circuit television system (CCTV) for reading printed materials.
Computer screen magnification tools, such as an external computer screen magnifier, a larger monitor with a high contrast theme and adjustable settings, or screen magnification software.
Wayfinding tools or tracking devices.
Anti-glare shields, light filters, or wearable absorptive filters.
Talking products, such as talking calculators.

Color identification technology.
Accessible maps for navigation and evacuation.

Employers seeking assistance with accommodation devices may find the nonprofit Job Accommodation Network helpful. Employers Council’s resources include a whitepaper providing an overview of the ADA and a number of classes on the topic. If you have any questions, please email our Member Experience Team.