Shopping & Consumerism

Carmen Willings | teachingvisuallyimpaired.com | February 22, 2026

Shopping and consumer skills help students who are blind or visually impaired make informed purchases, access goods and services, and function independently in community environments. Because shopping often relies on visual information such as signs, labels, pricing, and product displays, students benefit from direct instruction in orientation strategies, assistive technology, product identification, and decision-making skills. Instruction focuses on locating items, comparing products, understanding pricing, completing purchases, and accessing community resources. Developing strong consumer skills promotes independence, confidence, and successful participation in everyday community life.

Grocery Shopping

Resources and activities that teach students how to navigate grocery stores, locate items, compare products, and complete purchases independently.

Grocery Shopping

Supermarkets

Resources and activities that help students develop the skills needed to shop efficiently in large supermarket environments.

Supermarkets

Convenience Stores

Resources and activities that teach students how to locate products, make purchases, and navigate convenience store settings independently.

Convenience Stores

Retail Stores

Resources and activities that help students access retail environments, locate merchandise, and complete transactions with confidence.

Retail Stores

Drug Stores

Resources and activities that teach students how to navigate pharmacies and drug stores, locate common items, and access available services.

Drug Stores

Compare Price/Quality

Resources and activities that help students evaluate products, compare prices, assess quality, and make informed purchasing decisions.

Compare Price/Quality

Expiration Dates

Resources and activities that teach students how to locate, interpret, and use expiration dates when selecting food and household products.

Expiration Dates

Shopping

Resources and activities that develop general consumer skills, including planning purchases, comparing options, and making responsible buying decisions.

Shopping

Post Office

Resources and activities that help students access postal services, understand mailing procedures, and complete common post office tasks independently.

Post Office

Envelope Use

Resources and activities that teach students how to address, prepare, and use envelopes for personal and business correspondence.

Envelope Use

Personal Shoppers

Resources and activities that introduce students to personal shopping services and teach strategies for working effectively with shopping assistants and delivery services.

Personal Shoppers

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The mission of Teaching Students with Visual Impairments is to provide educators, families, and professionals with the resources needed to support students who are blind or visually impaired. The goal is to equip those in the visual impairment field with practical tools and instructional guidance that help students develop independence and become successful members of their communities.