Translating the Sights of the Holidays for Those with Vision Impairments
Note: This story originally appeared on a website that is no more, alas! But I am reprinting it here because we received such wonderful feedback on it, including a request from a local corporation to translate it into Braille for its employees.
When my son was diagnosed with red-green colorblindness as a teenager in 2019, fall colors were at their height. I suddenly understood why he had always been meh about the changing leaves—unless they happened to be vibrant yellow.
As a parent, I felt relieved to move past that suddenly uncomfortable season and into a new holiday … until I realized how much Christmas décor revolves around reds and greens.
In the past three years, I’ve learned a great deal about my son’s visual experiences, and I’m better (but nowhere near perfect) at skipping past colors and identifying the many other sensory delights this time of year.
Because I still have so much to learn, I recently reached out to a friend and fellow mom whose vision is impaired for her take on the winter holidays. She had many wonderful thoughts to share that I’ve incorporated into this piece. She also suggested I get in touch with MindsEye, a Belleville-based nonprofit that translates vision into audio at local performance spaces and sports events.
Arts and Culture Director Magan Harms told me about upcoming arts and sporting events where MindsEye is providing audio descriptions. Harms also went above and beyond with many more suggestions for reimagining holiday experiences and giving meaningful gifts.
“The important thing is to remember to still include your friends and family in your holiday plans, whether they are sighted or not,” Harms said via email. “People often don’t get invited to events like holiday light displays because it is assumed that because they are blind or partially sighted, they don’t want to go. That’s usually not the case.”
Instead, she said, “Remember that many of those events include things like holiday music, treats, bonfires, hot chocolate and more, all of which can be enjoyed without sight. And remember that many people may be able to see the contrast between the bright lights and darkness. Don't assume, and assure your friends and family they're welcome.”
Here's a roundup of what I learned from Harms, from my friend and from my son, who also enthusiastically endorsed this story.
Make musical performances a centerpiece. From symphonies to choirs, there are endless options for concerts this time of year. In addition, St. Louisans’ love of free music shows by local bands extends into the winter months too—especially at pop-up markets, restaurants and bars.
Look at light displays differently. Instead of marveling at the colors, focus on the movement, the patterns and the overall effect. Appreciate all the time and work that goes into the setup. Seek out displays that incorporate music, such as those along Candy Cane Lane, Angel Avenue and Snowflake Street in South City.
Rediscover the classics. Watching black and white holiday movies (not the colorized versions) removes colorblindness from the equation entirely.
Focus on textures rather than colors. From trees to cookies, this season is awash in beautiful textures and patterns. My son’s vision is very acute, so he’s great at spotting sparkles and intricacies in ornaments. He’s even better at me at the German tradition of finding the green pickle ornament hidden within the branches of the green tree.
Ask about audio descriptions. Simply asking organizations for either recorded or live, real-time descriptions of costumes, props and action raises awareness. You can also make a request through MindsEye, which lines up trained volunteers to provide audio descriptions at partner organizations such as The Rep, the St. Louis Black Repertory Company, the St. Louis Blues pro hockey team and the Saint Louis Zoo. And their online “Know Before You Go” guides to local theaters, concert halls and sports stadiums are invaluable.
Test out assistive apps and devices. Some are reasonably good at distinguishing color for the user and translating it to audio.
Be thoughtful about gifts. “I like rosemary plants shaped like little Christmas trees,” Harms said. “They are much nicer to run your hand over to feel the shape than a pine tree, they have a great scent and they’re affordable.” Some of her other favorites include:
Skincare products from Clean Logic, all of which have Braille packaging
Braille-labeled clothing, jewelry and adorable stuffed guide dogs from Two Blind Brothers.
Games, cards, kitchen gadgets and other useful items from the Sight Solutions Shop at St. Louis Society for the Blind.
Quarterly subscription-style Braille Boxes (available free for Missouri and Illinois students ages 5 through 21 who are legally blind) that include books and seasonal activities from Lighthouse for the Blind.