What does the term 'functionally blind' refer to?

The term "functionally blind" typically refers to individuals who have a significant visual impairment that interferes with their ability to perform daily activities that require vision. This means that a person who is functionally blind may rely on non-visual methods, such as Braille, to read and write effectively. The concept emphasizes that despite this impairment, the individual may have some degree of residual vision, but it is insufficient for tasks that typically utilize sight.

This understanding aligns with the idea that individuals who are functionally blind have adapted to their vision loss by using alternative methods for navigating and engaging with their environment, including tactile systems like Braille. Therefore, the correct answer highlights a specific adaptive skill that functionally blind people may use to maintain literacy and communication.

By contrast, being able to read print or having peripheral vision does not fit the definition of functionally blind as it suggests that the person's visual capabilities are still intact in some capacity. Thus, the focus is on the adaptive techniques and methods employed by those with significant visual impairment, like the use of Braille, which is a hallmark of functionally blind individuals.