Supporting Homesick Blind or Low Vision College Students

Starting college marks a major life transition for you and your child. This transition is one filled with promise, change, and often, loneliness. For students who are blind or have low vision, this transition can be especially complex. While homesickness is a common experience for many students, blind and low vision individuals often encounter unique challenges that can amplify these feelings of disconnection. For parents who want to support their blind or low-vision college student with empathy, structure, and understanding, read on to find tips to help foster both independence and connection during this transition.

Understanding the unique challenges of a homesick college student with a visual impairment enables families to offer more effective support and reassurance during this significant transition.

Causes of Homesickness

Homesickness stems from a sense of separation, which is both emotional and physical, from familiar people, places, and routines. For college students who are blind or low vision, this feeling may be intensified by:

The absence of familiar support networks

Navigating a new environment with unfamiliar orientation and mobility challenges

Social isolation due to limited accessibility in activities or communication barriers

Emotional exhaustion from advocating for accommodations or explaining their needs repeatedly

Even confident, high-achieving students can feel overwhelmed when these changes converge all at once.

Unique Challenges Faced

Young adults with blindness may encounter difficulties that sighted students rarely face, such as:

Navigating Campus Independently: Learning a new physical environment without visual cues takes time and mental energy. If orientation and mobility (O&M) support is insufficient or unavailable, this adds stress.

Social Inclusion: Many sighted peers may not know how to initiate inclusive conversations or activities. Without visual cues, students may miss spontaneous invitations or interactions that happen in visual spaces.

Limited Accessibility: If class materials, digital platforms, or transportation options aren’t fully accessible, students may feel discouraged, behind in class, or excluded from campus life.

Understanding these challenges allows parents to validate their child’s experience better and offer appropriate encouragement.

The Role of Parents and Communication

Establishing a consistent, student-led communication routine can provide emotional support and structure during the college transition. Respecting your child’s autonomy, utilizing accessible tools, and striking a balance between encouragement and independence helps build confidence without overstepping. Think of your role as a coach: present and supportive, but not in control.

Establishing a Consistent Contact Routine

Regular, meaningful communication provides emotional grounding. A consistent contact schedule could be a nightly phone call, a morning text, or a weekend video chat. This regular communication can offer your child a sense of rhythm and support. When setting up your routine, consider:

Respect their autonomy. Ask what schedule works for them.

Be predictable but flexible. Regular check-ins help, but avoid overstepping.

Use accessible tech tools. Ensure your student is comfortable with platforms like FaceTime, Zoom, or WhatsApp with screen reader compatibility.

Balancing Support and Independence

Parents often walk a tightrope between being helpful and being overbearing. The goal is to empower your student without undermining their growth.

Try this:

Offer affirmation (“I’m proud of how you handled that challenge.”).

Ask open-ended questions that promote problem-solving (“What do you think your options are for joining that club?”).

Avoid micromanaging or solving problems before they ask for help.

Your role is that of a coach, not a manager: offering guidance without taking the reins.

Engaging with Family and Friends

Maintaining strong ties with home while encouraging new ones is a powerful remedy for homesickness. Here’s how:

Send voice messages or care packages with your child’s favorite snacks or gift cards to their favorite restaurant.

Schedule family group calls or one-on-one calls with siblings. Each relationship provides different emotional benefits.

Encourage your student to share highlights or frustrations; practice active listening without immediately offering solutions.

Be mindful of language. Instead of “Do you want to come home?”, try “We miss you. What’s been the best part of your week?”

Maintaining contact with extended family, friends from high school, or mentors can broaden the emotional support circle.

Peer Support Systems

Peers, especially those with shared experiences, can validate your student’s feelings in ways family members may not. Peer connections often help students:

Learn adaptive strategies.

Share information about accessible events or clubs.

Build a sense of belonging and shared identity.

Disability-centered groups or affinity organizations provide both camaraderie and advocacy, reinforcing that your student is not alone in their journey.

Strategies for Building Connections

Encourage your student to explore:

Campus disability support or blindness organizations, like NFB student chapters or ACB affiliates

Social events hosted by Accessibility Services

Interest-based clubs (music, gaming, debate), especially those that meet regularly in accessible formats

Help them brainstorm ways to initiate connections:

Reaching out to a classmate by email or in a shared class forum

Attending a student organization’s interest meeting

Asking a professor or resident assistant for recommendations

If your student is hesitant, consider role-playing conversations or drafting introductory messages together to boost their confidence.

Creating a Stable College Life Routine

A structured routine helps reduce uncertainty, which is a known stressor for homesick students. For blind or low vision students, routines also aid in:

Navigating campus safely and confidently

Managing workload across accessible platforms

Ensuring timely use of accommodations (e.g., requesting alternative formats or note-takers)

Consistency offers emotional reassurance and reduces the cognitive burden of daily decision-making.

Tips for Consistency

Encourage your student to:

Use digital calendars with reminders (Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, Microsoft Outlook, all have screen reader support).

Establish set times for meals, study, and breaks.

Identify familiar walking routes with consistent landmarks.

Schedule downtime and sensory-friendly spaces to decompress.

You might suggest tools like Aira, Be My Eyes, or Seeing AI to help with navigation or reading inaccessible print materials.

Resources and Services on Campus

Campus disability services can help your student access accommodations, assistive technology, and support navigating faculty or housing needs. It is important that they register early and understand their rights. Emotional well-being is also important, and most colleges offer counseling or peer support options. Encourage your student to view therapy as a valuable tool for wellness and personal growth.

Accessibility Services

Every US college that receives federal funding has a disability services office (though quality and availability vary). These offices can:

Arrange accommodations (note-taking, testing, housing)

Provide assistive tech or referrals to local O&M specialists

Help mediate challenges with faculty or campus programs

Make sure your student:

Registers early and renews accommodations each term

Understands their rights under the ADA and Section 504

Knows where and how to advocate for adjustments when systems fall short

Counseling and Emotional Support

Mental health support is just as crucial as academic or physical access. Most colleges offer free or low-cost counseling services.

Students may benefit from:

Individual therapy (for homesickness, anxiety, or depression)

Group therapy or peer-led support spaces

Teletherapy options that are accessible from their dorm or home

Parents can encourage this by normalizing therapy as part of overall wellness, rather than weakness.

Conclusion: Love, Listen, and Let Go (a Little)

Supporting a homesick college student who is blind or has low vision involves empathy, strategy, and trust. Parents play a pivotal role in laying the emotional foundation while encouraging independence. With consistent communication, peer connection, structured routines, and the right campus resources, your student can thrive socially, emotionally, and academically.

Let them know it’s okay to miss home and that you’re always just a call, text, or voice message away.