Sighted Assistant

A sighted person who provides support to blind or low vision participants during design workshops, research activities, or other collaborative tasks. In accessible design contexts, sighted assistants help with tasks like locating materials, reading printed information, documenting designs through sketches or notes, and explaining visual concepts. However, research highlights the critical importance of carefully defining the assistant's role: assistants must maintain neutrality, avoid expressing opinions or preferences (even through tone or body language), and focus strictly on factual, objective support. Even well-intentioned feedback from assistants can inadvertently bias blind participants' design decisions.