Home Modifications for Blind and Vision-Impaired Participants

There are countless everyday tasks that rely on sight. People with reduced vision may face barriers reading, identifying objects, or performing everyday activities like cooking.

In addition to tasks, reduced vision and visual impairment can also impact mobility and safety. Hazards can become harder to spot, while new locations present considerable challenges. Even familiar places like the home can become more challenging for those with low or impaired vision.

That’s where our NDIS registered builders in Melbourne come into the picture.

When thinking about NDIS supports for visual impairment, guide dogs and screen readers are usually the first things that come to mind. In many cases however, the NDIS may also fund home modifications for blind and visually impaired participants.

NDIS home modifications for blind and low vision participants

First thing’s first, are visual impairment and low vision covered by the NDIS?

When it comes to NDIS and vision impairment eligibility, certain visual impairments are classified as List A conditions – conditions that by their very nature cause severe and permanent impairment. When it comes to visual impairment, that includes total blindness, as well as any conditions that reduce visual acuity less than 6/60 on the Snellen Scale, or constrict vision to 10-degrees or less.

These are similar to the definitions for legal blindness in Australia. That having been said, visual impairment is a broad spectrum. Low vision and vision loss also includes visual impairments that aren’t blindness, but which nonetheless pose significant challenges in daily life. This can include:

Reduced peripheral vision
Issues with depth-perception
Extreme light-sensitivity

That’s why the NDIS provides support for a range of conditions that may impair vision without meeting the definition of total blindness.

Vision impairment and NDIS eligibility

In addition to support for conditions that affect the eyes themselves, it will also often provide funding in cases where loss of vision is a side-effect of another condition. This can include traumatic head injuries, stroke, Multiple Sclerosis, neurological conditions, and more.

To do so, participants must establish that their visual impairment:

Is a permanent condition
Negatively affects their ability to engage in the activities of daily life
Can’t be corrected through other means such as glasses or surgery

As mentioned above, there are varying levels of vision which may qualify for NDIS funding. It isn’t just guide dogs and screen readers. As such, there are a wide variety of different supports available depending on the level of vision, including NDIS home modifications for blind and low-vision participants.

How NDIS home modifications for blind and low-vision participants can…

… eliminate specific hazards and risks

Even in familiar locations like the home, people living with reduced vision still increase the risk of accidents such as trips and falls. In some cases, the NDIS may also provide funding for home modifications that target specific accident and injury risks. Some examples include:

Providing small threshold ramps to help navigate steps and reduce tripping hazards
Adding grab rails to provide guidance and support in high-risk areas such as staircases
Installing safety rails in areas with high fall risk such as decking areas

It isn’t just trips and falls, either. According to a 2021 Swedish study, people with low vision reported cooking as the second-most likely activity to result in injury. NDIS kitchen modifications such as induction cooktop installation bring this risk down by eliminating open flames in the kitchen, providing participants a safer alternative for participants with low vision.

… make daily tasks easier

There are many daily tasks around the house that become more difficult with reduced vision. One of the goals of the NDIS is improved daily living, which for people with low vision can often take the form of home modifications in addition to assistive technology and aids.

For example, tasks like using an air conditioning remote can be challenging with low vision. NDIS smart home technology can help automate this, as well as everyday tasks such as controlling lights and other compatible appliances. Not only does this make life more convenient, but it also reduces the need to physically perform many of these actions.

… address sensory issues

While loss of vision is the most common isn’t the only vision-related impairments NDIS participants may live with. Some participants may live with sensory issues such as hypersensitivity to light which can:

Impairs their daily functioning
Trigger migraines
Potentially pose a seizure risk

For many participants, all these effects can be the result of specific types of lightbulb. For example, fluorescent bulbs flicker at a rate of over 100 times per second. While this is imperceptible for most people, individuals with hypersensitivity may be sensitive to it and experience pain and headaches as a result.

In cases such as this, the NDIS may provide funding to replace existing lights with more suitable alternatives.

… improve navigation

Navigating the home can become more challenging for people living with low vision. Thankfully, there are a range of different home modifications which can make moving around home safer, reducing this risk:

Sensor-activated lighting near steps and other high-risk areas improves visibility and safety
Tactile floor indicators outside rooms and along corridors can help participants independently navigate the home without relying on sight
Removing tiles or carpets with complex patterns can remove visual clutter, making it easier to spot hazards and simplifying navigation

Not only does improved navigation make life easier – it also makes it safer. Navigation is one of the primary causes of accidents and injuries around the home among people living with low vision or visual impairment after all.

Restore Home Modifications can make homes more accessible for participants with vision impairments

Home modifications play a vital role in the NDIS plans of many participants living with low or impaired vision. As one of the places where people spend the most time, it’s imperative that homes are able to support participants and their vision levels.

At Restore Home Modifications, we have experience providing home modifications for blind and vision-impaired participants, as well as those living with a range of other conditions. We work closely with occupational therapists, leveraging our own allied health backgrounds to get the best possible result.

Whether you’re an NDIS participant who’s recently been approved for home modifications or an Occupational Therapist looking for a building that speaks your language, get in touch with our team today. Call 1300 333 746 today, or complete our online form to see how we can be a part of your NDIS plan.