Massage Therapy Journal Fall 2024

56 • Massage Therapy Journal

AMTA Continuing Education

Massage Practice Setting for Clients With Visual Impairment Consider using the following suggestions when interacting with individuals who have vision loss. • Keep equipment and supplies in the same place. Explain any changes to the environment to the client during subsequent sessions. People with low vision may face challenges getting around in an unfamiliar setting. • Allow the client extra time to fill out paper or digital forms. • The best reading fonts for people with low vison are sans-serif fonts, such as Verdana, Arial or Tahoma. Sans-serif refers to letters that do not have a decorative tapered line (commonly referred to as tails or feet). Serifs can make the letter appear more complex and difficult to read, especially on small screens. 55 • Some people with vision loss can read black text on a white or yellow background easier because it provides good color contrast. Others, especially those whose vision causes a glare, read more easily with white or yellow text on a black background. 56 • If a digital device such as a tablet is used, set the zoom feature to 200 percent for a full view without horizontal scrolling. Most devices have a setting for low vision that should be used if available. This setting has features such as a magnifier, high-contrast themes, enlarged cursors and a screen reader. • For paper documents, use a 16- to 18-point bold type font. A large print version will be approximately three pages for every page containing 11-12-point font. Set line spacing to 1.5 and do not center the text. 57 • Use non-glossy off-white paper. • When enlarging printed materials using a copy machine, select 160 to 175 percent from the enlargement menu. 57 • Regardless of which reading format you choose (digital or print), provide adequate lighting for the client. When interacting with someone with a vision disability, follow these best practices: 58 • Announce your presence when you enter the room where your client awaits.

• Begin by addressing the client by name, then state your name and title or role. • If you are leaving the area, announce you are leaving. Otherwise, they may begin talking, only to discover you are not there. • Use body gestures that support spoken words. For example, say “yes” while nodding your head up and down, “I do not know” while shrugging your shoulders or nodding your head from side to side, and “bye” while waving goodbye. • Do not be concerned about using phrases such as, “See you tomorrow,” “Watch out,” and “Look at this.” People who have low vision or who are blind use these phrases too. • When handing objects to clients, such as a tablet, clipboard or drinking water, touch it to their hand so they do not have to grope for it. • If the client has a cane or other personal aid, do not touch it as it is considered part of their personal space. • If the client has an assistant, acknowledge the assistant but direct all conversation to the client. • As discussed previously, if the client has a service animal, do not pet, grab the harness, talk to, feed or distract the animal in any way. Many handlers do not give out their animal’s name to avoid the possibility of the animal becoming distracted. It is best to pretend the service animal is not there. • If someone needs assistance finding a chair, show it to them by putting their hand on the back of the chair. They will be able to seat themselves easily. • When transferring the client from one area to another, stand in front of them or toward the client’s left side. Offer your arm to an individual so they can follow you. Do not grab their arm or hand. State any direction changes ahead of time, such as when you turn to enter a different room. • Use descriptive and meaningful words when giving directions such as straight, forward, left and right. Avoid vague words, such as over there, here, this and that. Describe things from the individual’s perspective, not yours. Also,

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