Glossary

Here are some frequently-used terms in the visually-impaired community.

Low Vision
This means someone has significant vision loss that can’t be fully corrected with glasses or contacts.

Legally Blind
A legal term (not the same as total blindness). In the U.S., a person is legally blind if their vision is 20/200 or worse in their better eye with glasses, or if their visual field (how wide they can see) is 20 degrees or less.

Orientation and Mobility (O&M)
This refers to the skills and training blind and low-vision people use to move around safely and confidently. It can include learning to use a white cane, navigating streets and public spaces, and building mental maps of environments.

Cane (White Cane)
A long, lightweight cane used by many blind and low-vision people to detect curbs, obstacles, and changes in terrain. It also signals to others that the person may need extra space or assistance.

Screen Reader
Software that reads text and describes what’s happening on a screen out loud. Blind users often use screen readers to navigate phones, computers, and websites. Popular screen readers include VoiceOver (iPhone), TalkBack (Android), and JAWS (Windows).

Audio Description
A narrated track that describes important visual elements during a movie, TV show, or play — such as facial expressions, scene changes, or action. It’s like a voice-over that helps blind viewers know what’s happening on screen when there’s no dialogue.