Improving healthcare access for people with vision impairment
Official title: Removing Barriers to Healthcare for People with Vision Impairment (the RAMP Program)
Funded at Johns Hopkins University · NIH-10992843 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is working to make healthcare information and appointment systems easier to use for people who are blind or have low vision, by creating a tool to measure how accessible these services are and sharing the results so everyone can find the best options for their care.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $750,732 |
| NIH project number | 1R01EY036670-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10992843 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who are blind or have low vision and face challenges in accessing healthcare services.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with no vision impairment or those who do not encounter barriers in accessing healthcare information may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on enhancing the accessibility of healthcare information and appointment processes for individuals who are blind or have low vision. By developing the RAMP score, the project aims to evaluate and improve the digital interfaces of healthcare systems, ensuring they are compliant with accessibility guidelines. The research will involve refining the RAMP score based on the experiences of people with vision impairments and creating a publicly available dashboard to compare accessibility across different medical centers. This initiative seeks to eliminate barriers that prevent these individuals from receiving necessary specialty care.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly improve healthcare access and experiences for patients with vision impairments.
How similar studies have gone: Other research has shown success in improving accessibility in various sectors, indicating that similar approaches in healthcare could also yield positive outcomes.
Where this research is happening
-
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Iwashyna, Theodore J — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Iwashyna, Theodore J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.