An A to Z of vision impairment awareness and adjustments

The A-Z of Vision Impairment Awareness and Adjustments

Things you can do and things to be aware of that will make your church a place where people who are blind or vision impaired can be fully involved in worship and ministry. 

You can also find useful information and guidance in this video

A  – Assistance

Make sure your welcomers have training in how to welcome and assist blind and partially sighted people. Particularly in how to offer safe guidance and assistance around the building.  You can find a useful guide from RNIB Scotland here.

Its always important to greet blind and partially sighted people by telling us who you are. Don’t expect us to guess, even if you think we know you well.

B   – Buildings

Is it easy to find the entrance door from the outside? Is there clear, high-contrast, easy read signage?  Is it easy to follow the path from the road to the door?  Are any door handles in contrasting colours to make them easy to find?

Are there contrasting ‘nosings’ on the entrance steps?  Are the steps or access ramp well lit?

Think about the lighting in your building.  Is there a way of providing brighter lighting in some areas and softer lighting in others?  Some blind or partially sighted people will need brighter light to see enough to read, others will find bright light difficult and dazzling.  Talk to people in your congregation about what might be best for them.

C – Colour contrast

Think about colour contrast and ‘manifestations’ to aid vision and safe navigation.  Are doors and doorways in contrasting colours to their surroundings?  Do pillars contrast with surrounding walls and furniture?  Are their visual ‘manifestations’ on glass doors and screens to make them more visible? 

Is there colour contrast in your toilet facilities?  Do the walls and floor contrast with the fittings to make navigation by partially sighted people easier?  Are their hazards that people could walk into or hit their heads on?

D – Dogs

Make sure there is space between pews or chairs for an assistance dog to settle.  Provide a rug and a bowl of water.  Make it clear in your publicity that assistance dogs are welcome.

Designate an area of grass in the churchyard that assistance dogs can use and provide information about this to people who bring assistance dogs.

E – Eucharist

Distribute Communion from at least one point that is close to pews or seats and can be easily accessed without steps or trip hazards. 

Talk to blind and partially sighted people in your congregation about whether they would like assistance to receive Communion or would like to receive in their pew. (Don’t make the announcement ‘catch the stewards eye if you would like to receive in your place.’)

F- Family Services

If you have family services and other active services with drama, prayer stations, games, all-age illustrations, action songs etc, make sure that there is adequate description and commentary for those of us who cannot easily see what is happening.

G – Gradual sight loss

Be aware.  Often sight loss is a gradual process.  Particularly for older people, Cataracts, Macular Degeneration and other conditions can begin to affect vision without a person realising.  If you think someone’s sight is deteriorating, don’t be afraid to say something.  The sooner people seek help and treatment the better.

H – Homegroups

If you have homegroups or small groups, think about where these are held.  Are the venues accessible?  Is there good public transport? Do they have adequate lighting?  Are assistance dogs welcome and is there space for a dog?  Can you provide material in accessible formats? (large print, digital etc) 

I – Involvement

Offer opportunities for blind and partially sighted people to be fully involved in the life of the church.  Leading groups, reading, praying, preaching, being on the PCC, joining the welcome team, being part of the worship band and more. Don’t make assumptions that vision impairment is a barrier to full involvement.

J – Justice

Remember that this is all about kingdom justice. You are not offering a benevolent care to blind and partially sighted people.  Instead, you are bringing God’s kingdom down to earth by recognising blind and partially sighted people as equal to all in God’s kingdom of grace.

K – Get to ‘know’ us

It can be difficult for blind and partially sighted people to form friendships.  We don’t know who is in the room and we cannot make eye contact.  It is difficult for us to approach people and start a conversation.  But we need friends and friendship as much as everyone else.  So take some time to get to know us and help us get to know you.  We are not just blind and partially sighted people but people who have had and still have interesting lives.  So give us some of your time and we will give you some of ours, and maybe the result will be a friendship that we both appreciate and value.

L – Large Print

Provide all your printed materials and/or information that is displayed on a screen on cream or pastel colour paper in a minimum of 18 point font.  (Talk to those who use large print about what font size would be most useful for them)

If you use service and hymn books have large print copies of these available.  (However, large print hymn books can be difficult for some to hold or find their way around.  It might be easier for some if you provide printed copies of hymn/song words in large print instead)

Post a downloadable copy of your liturgy and song/hymn words on your website 24 or 48 hours before the service so it can be downloaded and converted to accessible formats (Braille, audio etc) or loaded onto a tablet or phone for viewing in large print and high contrast.

M – Memory

Some blind and partially sighted people will struggle to use large print or other alternative formats and will rely on their memory instead.  Familiar hymns and prayers can be rooted deep inside of us and easy to recall.  Others that are less well-known can be memorised if we have a chance to hear them beforehand.  Many people will find it helpful if you publish the service and hymn words online 48 hours before the service.  Particularly if you are a church that uses a screen and regularly changes the liturgy.  A chance to familiarise ourselves with the hymns and songs will mean we can remember more and participate more fully in worship.  So find a way of publishing the words of the service on a Friday and talk to blind and partially sighted people who may not have access to your website about what would be best for them.  Maybe a phone call from someone who can read the service and hymns.  

N –News sheets and leaflets

Post your news sheets and other leaflets online so screen reader users can access them.  Provide them in large print as well.  Talk to blind and partially sighted people in your congregation about the best format for easy access.  If someone is struggling with the alternative formats, make sure they have a chance to have the news read to them.

O – Older people

For older people, sight loss can often be part of a range of issues.  It can add significantly to the confusion of Dementia for example.  Be aware that sight loss may well be adding to the effects of other conditions and encourage people and/or family and carers to look at this.

P – Power Point

If you use PowerPoint during sermons, make sure all text is read out and illustrations described.  People who cannot see the text and illustrations should not miss anything.

Q – Sweet singing in the ‘Quire’

Many blind and partially sighted people enjoy singing and making music.  If you have a choir or music group some of us would love to join but will need your support to fully participate.  Robing, processing, negotiating the steps into the choir stalls, or finding a safe place amongst the wires and microphone stands and amplifiers.  And then learning the music and the words will take us more time, so you’ll need to plan well and let us know what will be sung and played in advance.  It’s all possible if you have the imagination to work with us so our gifts can be released in praise and worship.

R – Relax

Don’t panic when a blind or partially sighted person comes through the door.  Don’t fuss around us.  Offer assistance, but only help at our request.  If you come across as anxious and uncertain, that will only make us feel uncomfortable.  If we have come alone then feel free to check in now again.  If we need help, we will ask.   And please don’t tell us that we are ‘amazing’ or that you don’t know how you would cope if you were ‘like us.’  That is very demeaning and patronising.

S – Screens

If you use a central front screen, explore installing a few monitors around the Church that people can get closer to.

Explore whether tablets can be connected to your system via Bluetooth so the display can be viewed close up in the pew and buy some tablets for this if it is possible.  Alternatively, load the liturgy and song/hymn words onto a few tablets and have these available for those who might need them.

T – Tables and Chairs

When you gather for coffee after a service, provide some tables and seating so blind and partially sighted people are not left standing while trying to hold coffee, a biscuit, dog lead, white cane, bag and more. 

U – Understanding

Blind and partially sighted people can get confused at times.  Orientating ourselves in a space.  Finding our way around.  Knowing who is speaking to us. Hearing and understanding in noisy places.  Always say who you are when you speak to a blind or partially sighted person and don’t expect us to know or guess who you are.  If you can see, you can’t really know what it is like to be blind or partially sighted but close your eyes for a while and see how it feels.  That will help you understand a little more.

V – Video clips

If you show video clips, see if you can find versions with audio description.  If not, give a brief description of the clip and its action before showing it.  Make sure you choose clips with a good, clear sound quality.

W – Website 

Make sure your website is accessible to screen readers and allows people to change the font size and colour contrast.  Include alt text on all your pictures and graphics and make sure all the links are clearly labelled.  Include access information on your website describing how to find the church, how to get in, what welcome you offer, what your worship area is like, what your services are like and what happens after a service. Include pictures for those who find these helpful but make sure they are fully described as well.  Put a link to your access information on your homepage in a place where it can easily be found.

X – X formerly Twitter and other social media: 

Make sure that your church’s social media is as accessible to people with sight loss as possible. Always have an alternative text for photos for example.  If you use social media to share church news and events think about how those in the congregation who cannot access these platforms are going to get the same information and news as everyone else. 

Y/Z – Younger people/ Generation Z

Sight loss affects younger people as well.  Sight loss for children and teenagers significantly restricts their ability to participate in activities and be part of their peer groups.  Be aware of the potential for undiagnosed sight loss in younger people and plan your activities with this in mind.