People+who+are+blind+or+have+low+vision

Visual impairment is defined on a continuum from low vision, where sight is still the primary method for perception, to blindness. There are a number of causes of visual impairment, including complications in birth or fetal development, genetic syndromes, refractive errors (such as myopia, hypermetropia, or astigmatism), cataracts, or progressive diseases. Physical trauma to the eye can also lead to a reduction in vision or loss of sight.
 * According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, by 2020 there will be 43 million Americans at risk for blindness or visual impairment. With an estimated American population of around 340 million, this means that more than ten percent of potential domestic visitors to American museums might need some form of visual accommodation.
 * 100,000 schoolchildren who are blind or visually impaired fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Department of Education each year; approximately 90% of children who are blind or visually impaired are educated in neighborhood schools rather than specialized schools. When designing school programming, remember that students who are blind or visually impaired are part of your audience, too.
 * According to Art Beyond Sight, only 9.5% of schoolchildren who are blind are users of Braille, compared to 57% in the 1960s.

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