What Do Blind People Do for Fun? Exploring Hobbies and Sensory Activities for Blind Adults
- Sakshi Srivastava
- Jun 17
- 4 min read
Table of Contents:
When people ask, “What do blind people do for fun?”, the answer is simple: nearly anything, with the right adaptations. Blind and low-vision individuals enjoy a wide range of hobbies—many of which tap into sound, touch, movement, and creativity. Some activities are everyday joys, while others reach the heights of public performance, competition, or influence.
Key Takeaways:
Blind and low-vision individuals can enjoy a wide variety of fun, meaningful activities.
Music is a powerful outlet for blind individuals, offering comfort, creativity, and professional opportunities.
Blind-friendly games like Braille UNO, tactile chess, and audio-based mobile games offer fun and accessible play.
Blindness may change how people experience the world, but it doesn’t limit joy or creativity.
Let’s explore some of the most popular and meaningful activities—and highlight the creators and champions who help bring them to life.
Engaging Activities for Blind Adults:
1. Music:
Music is one of the most popular hobbies and professions among blind individuals. Iconic artists like Stevie Wonder, Ray Charles, and Andrea Bocelli show that blindness has no bearing on musical excellence. Many blind adults find both comfort and creativity in music—playing instruments, singing, composing, or just deeply listening.
From community choirs to audio production and even electronic music, accessible tools and audio workstations have made it easier than ever to participate.
2. Tactile Art and Craft:
Blind artists like Esref Armagan, a blind painter from Turkey, have shown how powerful tactile and spatial imagination can be. Many blind adults engage in pottery, sculpture, weaving, and textile arts. 3D art is especially popular, using form and texture to express what vision usually would.
3. Reading with Audio or Braille:
Books are more accessible than ever. Platforms like Audible, Bookshare, and National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled (NLS) offer thousands of titles. Some creators, such as blind YouTuber Molly Burke, regularly review accessible books and apps for blind users.
Many blind readers also enjoy tactile graphic novels, Braille poetry, and long-form articles through screen readers like VoiceOver (Apple) or JAWS (Windows).
4. Games and Puzzles:
Blind-friendly games include UNO with Braille, tactile chess boards, and audio-based mobile games. Popular blind content creators like Tommy Edison have showcased how blind people enjoy gaming, trivia, and puzzles.
There’s also an entire genre of audio games (e.g., A Blind Legend, The Vale) designed specifically for immersive gameplay through sound.
5. Cooking and Baking:
Blind chefs like Christine Ha, winner of MasterChef US, have helped redefine what’s possible in the kitchen. With adaptive tools—like talking scales, tactile timers, and well-organized layouts—cooking becomes a joyful, independent experience for many blind adults.
6. Movement and Sports:
Blind and visually impaired athletes participate in both adaptive and mainstream sports, often at elite levels:
Goalball, created specifically for blind players, is featured in the Paralympic Games.
Cricket with audible balls is played in several countries, including by the India blind cricket team, a multiple-time world champion.
Swimming is not only therapeutic but a competitive field in events like the Paralympics, with athletes such as Jessica Long making headlines.
Running, often with sighted guides, is popular—Marla Runyan, a legally blind runner, competed in both Paralympic and Olympic games.
Other activities include yoga, martial arts, tandem biking, and rock climbing with verbal or tactile guidance.
7. Watching and Experiencing Sports:
Attending live sports is now more accessible thanks to audio descriptions and tactile stadium models. Blind fans use these tools to follow matches in real time. FIFA and UEFA have piloted audio-descriptive commentary at major matches, and teams like Arsenal FC have dedicated services for blind fans at stadiums.
8. Audio-Described Movies and Videos:
Streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+ offer hundreds of titles with audio description—narrating visual scenes and gestures. Creators like Blind Film Critic Tommy Edison have brought attention to accessibility in entertainment and how blind people engage with movies in rich, nuanced ways.
9. Exploring Nature:
Accessible nature trails and sensory gardens are increasingly common. Organizations like Perkins School for the Blind and Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) have championed outdoor experiences that engage smell, touch, and hearing. Bird watching by sound, guided nature walks, and interactive exhibits make the outdoors welcoming and educational.
10. Social Clubs and Community Groups:
Blind adults participate in book clubs, board game nights, and tech meetups—both in-person and online. Communities like Be My Eyes and Clubhouse (audio app) also offer ways to connect, share, and explore ideas with others around the world.
11. Technology-Based Hobbies:
Blind creators, like Cory Ballard (the Blind Surfer) and James Rath (blind filmmaker and accessibility advocate), show what’s possible with accessible technology. Many blind people enjoy podcasting, audio editing, coding, accessible video creation, and social media engagement through tools like VoiceOver and TalkBack.
12. Volunteering and Mentoring:
Many blind adults are deeply involved in disability advocacy, peer mentoring, and public speaking. Figures like Haben Girma, the first Deafblind graduate of Harvard Law School, and numerous local advocates, demonstrate the power of giving back while shaping more inclusive systems.
Sensory Activities for Blind Adults: A Fuller Picture
So, what do blind people do for fun? They write, build, cook, compete, dance, hike, listen, and create—often in ways that turn barriers into breakthroughs. The best sensory activities for blind adults aren’t just substitutes for sighted experiences—they are authentic, fulfilling pastimes that bring joy, community, and expression.
When access meets creativity, anything is possible. Blindness may change how someone experiences the world—but it doesn’t limit how much of it they can enjoy.
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