Most home-use medical devices and outpatient equipment rely on digital displays that are inaccessible to people who are blind or have low vision. Devices like glucose monitors, insulin pumps, blood pressure readers, and at-home chemotherapy treatments often lack features such as speech output, tactile markings, or audible tones. As a result, blind and low-vision individuals cannot use them safely, making it harder to manage their health privately and independently.
The Medical Device Nonvisual Accessibility Act (H.R. 5605) addresses this problem by requiring the FDA, in consultation with the U.S. Access Board, to establish accessibility standards for Class II and III devices with digital interfaces. This bipartisan bill ensures that medical devices are designed with nonvisual access in mind, allowing blind and low-vision Americans to manage their health safely, independently, and with dignity.