Mental Health Resource Center

Resources for Therapists

Whether you're supporting someone with vision loss or looking to deepen your own understanding, these resources — developed in collaboration with the blind and low vision community — are designed to help therapists provide thoughtful, informed care. Whether shared by patients or used directly in practice, the materials offer insight into the emotional impact of vision loss and practical guidance for meaningful support.

Resource Download

Download What Mental Health Providers Need To Know When Working With Clients Who Identify as Having a Visual Impairment

Download What Mental Health Providers Need To Know When Working With Clients Who Identify as Having a Visual Impairment (PDF, 728 KB)

Vision Loss Simulator

This interactive tool is designed to help therapists explore how various blinding diseases may affect vision at different stages of progression. By selecting a specific diagnosis and severity level, therapists can gain a better sense of what some individuals with that condition might experience.

Please note: This simulator is not a precise representation of any one individual’s vision. Vision loss varies widely—even within the same diagnosis—and the images shown are intended only as illustrative guides. For many people, especially those with profound or complex vision loss, these simulations may not accurately reflect their lived experience.

We encourage therapists to use this tool as a starting point for understanding and empathy—not as a definitive depiction of what any one client sees.

Select a retinal disease

Original Image Original Image Original Photo
Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with achromatopsia. First of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with achromatopsia. Second of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with achromatopsia. Third of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with achromatopsia. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with achromatopsia. Fifth of five stage. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with achromatopsia. First of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with achromatopsia. Second of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with achromatopsia. Third of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with achromatopsia. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with achromatopsia. Fifth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with age-related macular degeneration. First of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with age-related macular degeneration. Second of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with age-related macular degeneration. Third of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with age-related macular degeneration. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with age-related macular degeneration. Fifth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with age-related macular degeneration. First of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with age-related macular degeneration. Second of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with age-related macular degeneration. Third of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with age-related macular degeneration. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with age-related macular degeneration. Fifth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. First of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Second of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Third of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Fifth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. First of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Second of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Bardet-Biedl syndrome. Third of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with choroideremia. First of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with choroideremia. Second of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with choroideremia. Third of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with choroideremia. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with choroideremia. Fifth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with choroideremia. First of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with choroideremia. Second of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with choroideremia. Third of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with choroideremia. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with choroideremia. Fifth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with retinitis pigmentosa. First of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with retinitis pigmentosa. Second of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with retinitis pigmentosa. Third of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with retinitis pigmentosa. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with retinitis pigmentosa. Fifth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with retinitis pigmentosa. First of five stages Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with retinitis pigmentosa. Second of five stages Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with retinitis pigmentosa. Third of five stages Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with retinitis pigmentosa. Fourth of five stages Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with retinitis pigmentosa. Fifth of five stages Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Stargardt disease. First of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Stargardt disease. Second of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Stargardt disease. Third of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Stargardt disease. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Stargardt disease. Fifth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Stargardt disease. First of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Stargardt disease. Second of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Stargardt disease. Third of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Stargardt disease. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Stargardt disease. Fifth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Usher syndrome. First of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Usher syndrome. Second of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Usher syndrome. Third of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Usher syndrome. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house in daylight from the perspective of someone with Usher syndrome. Fifth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Usher syndrome. First of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Usher syndrome. Second of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Usher syndrome. Third of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Usher syndrome. Fourth of five stages. Front of a house at night from the perspective of someone with Usher syndrome. Fifth of five stages.

Select your Degree of Vision Loss