Perspectives From Canadian People With Visual Impairments in Everyday Environments Outside the Home: Qualitative Insights for Assistive Technology Development.
Prajjol Raj Puri, Andréanne Coutaller, Frédérique Gwade and 3 others
PMID 40729678WHAT IT FOUND
People with visual impairments ranked human assistance as their most critical facilitator for everyday tasks, followed by preparedness and accessible physical space.
Inaccessible signage and difficulty walking around were the top barriers. Smartphone apps were viewed as helpful but incomplete.
Key findings
01Human assistance was consistently ranked as a major facilitator across all five everyday scenarios, including shopping and travel.
02Inaccessible signage and difficulty walking around were reported as major barriers in almost all scenarios.
03Participants found current smartphone apps useful but incomplete, requiring them to switch between multiple apps to perform different tasks.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The sample was small (20 people) and mostly from Quebec, so findings may not apply to other regions or populations. Participants had to have internet access and be able to use Zoom, which excludes those with more severe disabilities or lower tech literacy. The study was exploratory and qualitative, so it identifies perceptions and priorities rather than measuring outcomes or proving that specific interventions work.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest. The study was funded by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada and the Fonds de recherche du Québec.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the ranking of human assistance as a failure of technology or a reason to withhold AT recommendations. The study shows that technology is currently incomplete for many users, not that it is useless. Human assistance remains a critical component of independence that apps do not yet fully replace.