Investigating the Work Practices of Assembly Line Workers with Visual Impairments

Project Overview

This study explores the everyday experiences, strategies, and accessibility practices of assembly line garment workers with visual impairments at Blind Industries and Services of Maryland (BISM).
Through on-site observations and interviews, the project highlights how individuals with limited or no vision successfully perform intricate sewing and garment-construction tasks in a fast-paced, mixed-ability environment. The research draws attention to low-tech accessibility solutions, blind-perspective training, and the collaborative methods that make inclusive manufacturing possible.

Methods

• Observations: Three sessions were held across different times of day to capture workflow dynamics, teamwork, and communication patterns among 10–30 workers.
• Interviews: Four participants—including blind associates, a trainer, and a manager—were interviewed to explore training methods, accessibility modifications, and coordination practices.
  Data were analyzed deductively, guided by themes identified from observations (e.g., training methods, accessibility solutions, collaboration). The focus was on how garment assembly tasks (e.g., sewing military uniforms) are adapted through tactile cues, custom machine guides, and non-visual training techniques.

Findings

Work Environment and Collaboration

The assembly line included both sighted and blind associates working in parallel sections of garment construction.
Workers relied on tactile positioning systems, consistent hand-offs, and well-coordinated communication to maintain workflow.
Participants described a strong sense of teamwork and mutual respect, with one noting, *“We are all here for the same reason; we help each other out—it’s like a family here.”

Training and Education

New associates received hands-on, non-visual training, often conducted by blind trainers using hand-over-hand or hand-under-hand methods.
All trainees, regardless of vision, practiced sewing while blindfolded to develop tactile awareness and control.
This “blind-perspective training” emphasized learning through touch, building confidence, and ensuring that new associates could complete tasks safely and independently.

Low-Tech Accessibility Innovations

Workers and trainers collaboratively created low-tech accessibility modifications to support workflow, such as:

• Tactile sewing guides made from Dymo tape, magnets, or 3D-printed strips
• Notched fabric edges to align material without relying on sight
  These DIY solutions were affordable, customizable, and easy to iterate, embodying inclusive, participatory design principles within an industrial setting.

Impact and Discussion

This research challenges traditional assumptions about vision-dependent labor and demonstrates how inclusive design and collaborative adaptation can reshape the future of manufacturing.

Key contributions include:

• Recognizing low-tech innovation as a scalable accessibility solution in production environments.
• Documenting blind-perspective training as an effective framework for skill-building and empowerment.
• Highlighting how organizations can foster mixed-ability collaboration and redefine workplace accessibility as a collective responsibility.

The findings have implications beyond manufacturing, offering insights for inclusive training design, accessible technology development, and policy guidance under frameworks like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

📄 Citation:
Vader, M. L., Pineda, M., & Kuber, R. (2025). Investigating the Work Practices of Assembly Line Workers with Visual Impairments.
In Proceedings of the 22nd International Web for All Conference (W4A ’25), 9–17.
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