Visual impairment may change the type of hobby one may pursue, but it doesn’t mean that you’re limited to a few. There are several activities that blind and people with visual impairments can do to have fun. These activities may be indoors or outdoors and may require varying levels of supervision to ensure that they are performed correctly and safely.
While choosing the best of these hobbies, we considered several things such as the ease of doing them, the level of danger involved, the potential fun that can be derived, among other things.
Some of the activities listed in this article can be done without the need for a partner or guide. However, for safety, it would be wise to have some level of assistance to eliminate the risks involved.
Blind and visually impaired people can enjoy a wide range of hobbies, from audiobooks and podcasts to tandem biking, board games, sculpting, and music. This list covers 20 activities, organized by how much guidance or equipment each one needs, plus a few tools and organizations that make them easier to get started with.
Activities for Blind and Visually Impaired People
The world is fast-changing, and several activities have been modified to be more friendly to blind and visually impaired people. The following are some of the best hobbies for blind and visually impaired people.
- Listening to AudiobooksIf you love reading books, then you should consider making audiobooks your hobby. Audiobooks are recordings of books and other works which can be played out loud for the blind person to hear. Audiobooks may not be available for all the books in the world, but any book can be read using an assistive device programmed on your phone or personal computer to read documents.
- Taking A WalkThis sounds simple, but it can be refreshing and reinvigorating when done right. There aren’t many things more satisfying than taking a walk to relax your mind and unwind after a stressful day. Consider less crowded areas such as a park to really enjoy the peace.
- Listening to PodcastsThere is an abundance of podcasts out there and something for everyone. Interesting programmes may include news analysis, politics, sports, entertainment, and comedy, etc. You can use this time to be educational or just pure entertainment.
- Riding a Tandem BikeUnlike some other hobbies, a tandem bike requires more than one person to work. If you love riding bicycles, you would have a lot of fun riding a tandem bike. The visually impaired cyclist rides as the stoker while the partner (the captain) guides the way. Tandem cycling has been adopted in competitions such as the Paralympics.
- GardeningMany people agree that gardening can be therapeutic. While trying out this hobby, it would be better to work with a small garden that won’t overwhelm you. You could also grow the plants in containers to keep them well-maintained. Over time, you may expand the garden and grow more plants. The feeling of nurturing a plant is indescribable. You definitely have to try it.
- Listening, Singing, and Grooving to MusicSinging is a hobby that can be done alone or with others, indoors or outdoors. You can invite friends over and have a singing competition. You can also listen to songs and dance along. You can attend concerts or clubs with a partner and dance until your feet hurt.
- Watching Movies with Audio DescriptionsMost popular movies come with audio descriptions. These descriptions narrate the things happening on-screen to the blind and visually impaired so that they do not miss out on the experience. Several movies already have them, including many Netflix movies. Therefore, you can still watch most of your favorite movies at home or the cinema.
- Modified SportsWhether just for leisure or professional competitions, blind or visually impaired people can still have fun with various sporting activities. It might be as simple as a game of catch, and it could also be games with defined rules, such as beep baseball and goalball. With the proper equipment, you can also enjoy other sports like tandem cycling, swimming, bowling, etc.
- Going on PicnicsWhat’s not to love about picnics? You get to spend time with friends and family, enjoy their food, company, and the serene environment. You can also plan or engage in fun games during these picnics.
- SculptingUse your sense of touch and memory to create beautiful sculptures. Immerse yourself in your work and allow your sense of touch to guide you through a fantastic sculpting experience. For this hobby, the experience is more important than the final result, and you should definitely try it sometime.
- Playing Audio GamesThey aren’t very different from video games because they are designed to be played on personal computers or game consoles. Audio games provide audio feedback and descriptions to the player, making them suitable for blind and visually impaired people. All the genres of games that you can find in video games are also available in audio games such as action, adventure, sports, etc.
- FishingYou may need a guide or partner to set up when fishing, but it is fun and relaxing as soon as you get started. Find a partner, grab your fishing gear and be ready to put your hands to work.
- Performing Exercise/YogaThese activities help improve the fitness of the mind, body, and soul. You can make this a hobby and have a unique daily routine to keep yourself fit.
- Playing Board GamesThere are several board games that you can play for fun but the popular options are Braille monopoly, checkers, jigsaw puzzles, and specialized chess. Most of these games require an opponent.
- SwimmingGet some fitness while also relaxing in the water. A nice relaxing session in the hot tub will also add a nice dynamic to your day.
- Creating Digital MusicThe world of music is changing and its become accessible to all. Digital music is gaining popularity and can be created by anyone. Get the software online and start making electronic music from home.
- Developing Peer Groups OnlineSites like Reddit get millions of views per month. Every kind of person is found on social sites. Whatever your interests are, you can start a group with like-minded people and solve the world’s problems together.
- Pottery and Clay WorkPottery works entirely by touch, from hand-building to shaping on a wheel. Many community art studios and rec centers welcome blind and low-vision students, and an instructor can talk you through the shape as it forms under your hands.
- Cooking and BakingAdaptive cooking uses tools like talking thermometers, liquid-level indicators, and tactile measuring cups to make the kitchen fully workable without sight. It is a genuinely useful hobby, since you end up with a meal at the end of it, and there are free courses built specifically for blind and low-vision cooks.
- Joining a Local NFB or ACB ChapterThe National Federation of the Blind and the American Council of the Blind both have local chapters in most U.S. states and cities, with regular meetings, social events, and skill-sharing sessions. It is one of the easiest ways to meet other blind and visually impaired people near you and find out what hobbies they have already figured out how to adapt.
Helpful Tools and Resources
A few tools make many of these hobbies easier to start. Screen readers like VoiceOver (built into iPhone and Mac), TalkBack (Android), and NVDA (free, for Windows) read your screen out loud and open up podcasts, audio games, and online communities. Be My Eyes is a free app that connects you to a sighted volunteer or AI assistant for quick visual questions. The National Library Service’s BARD program offers free audiobooks and braille books to eligible readers through the Library of Congress. If you want to try a new sport, the U.S. Association of Blind Athletes can point you to a local adaptive league.
Have You Found Your Hobby?
Whatever your interests are, there’s most likely a hobby associated with it. The twenty hobbies mentioned above are just a few of the many available hobbies. With safety and fun being a priority, don’t hesitate to give different hobbies a try, you just may surprise yourself. For more ideas, browse our master list of hobbies and activities.
FAQ: Hobbies for Blind and Visually Impaired People
What entertainment options work well for someone who is visually impaired?
Audio described movies and TV shows, audiobooks, podcasts, and radio dramas are all built around sound rather than visuals, which makes them fully accessible without any adaptation needed. Many streaming services now offer audio description as a built in setting.
What activities can blind people do for fun?
Music, cooking, board and card games with tactile or large print adaptations, knitting, and pottery are all popular choices. Braille playing cards and tactile dominoes let card and board games stay fully social and competitive.
What are good hobbies for a blind elderly person specifically?
Music, storytelling or oral history projects, cooking familiar recipes, and audio described movies tend to work especially well, since they draw on memory and touch rather than sight and can be enjoyed alone or with family.
Do blind people need special equipment to enjoy hobbies?
Not always. Many hobbies like music, cooking, and audiobooks require no special equipment. For others, simple adaptations like large print or Braille game pieces, audio description settings, or tactile craft tools make a big difference.
