How Do Blind People Read? A Personal Journey Through Tools, Tactics, and Trial-and-Error
- Sakshi Srivastava
- Jun 17
- 2 min read
Table of Contents:
When people ask, “How do blind people read?” or “What do blind people use to read?”, I always pause—not because there isn’t an answer, but because there are many, and the answer keeps evolving.
Key Takeaways:
Blind and low-vision readers adapt through tools, technology, and community support to keep their love for reading alive.
Screen readers, audiobooks, and apps like Be My Eyes empower blind readers to access text independently. Technology keeps expanding what’s possible.
Learning Braille is tough but useful. Blind readers miss out on casually absorbing everyday text and must actively seek information.
How do Blind People Read?
I’ve always been a heavy reader. Before I began losing my vision at 19, I was that kid who read under the blanket with a torch long after lights-out. Books were more than a hobby—they were oxygen. So when my sight began fading, one thing was clear: I wasn’t going to give up reading. I just had to find new ways to do it.
In the early stages, I leaned on large fonts and magnifying glasses, holding books inches from my face and adjusting contrast on every screen I touched. Then came the camera apps—taking photos of printed text and zooming in. For a long time, this patchwork of tools kept me going.
Of course, people have always been part of the equation. Friends read to me during college. I’d ask someone nearby to help decipher labels or menus. Even today, I occasionally reach out for help, especially when I hit a wall with analog text.
How VoiceOver, Audiobooks Shape My Digital Reading?
Now, most of my reading happens online. VoiceOver—Apple’s screen reader—is a constant companion on both my iPhone and MacBook. I also use the Zoom feature heavily when navigating platforms that aren't fully screen-reader compatible.
I read a lot of audiobooks—they’re my go-to for immersive reading. While I haven’t explored ebooks deeply yet, I know they’re increasingly accessible thanks to text-to-speech tools and custom reading apps. It's an option I plan to try eventually.
Sometimes, I use Be My Eyes, especially when dealing with longer pieces of text. Lately, I’ve been experimenting with their AI feature, which is getting surprisingly good at reading things back with both speed and accuracy.
Learning Braille as an Adult Has Its Challenges
On the Braille front, I’ve recently started learning. It's been—pun intended—a bumpy road. Learning Braille as an adult isn’t easy. My fingers aren’t used to that kind of precision, and the pace is slow. But I see the value, even in using Braille for basic labeling or simple reading tasks.
There’s something else I want to share—something less discussed. I don’t passively read anymore. You know how sighted people unconsciously absorb signs, labels, and posters just by glancing around? That doesn’t happen for me. I can’t casually pick up text unless I’m actively trying to. I do miss that. There’s a quiet power in ambient information—knowing what aisle you're in, what’s written on a cereal box, or catching a street sign without asking. I’ve had to work around that loss too.
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