Designing Supportive Environments for the Visually Impaired and Aging: Updates to and Best Practices for Applying RP-28

As the world’s population ages, we need to design environments to be visually inclusive for a wider range of users. Using IES RP-28-25 we share the latest information being researched, developed, and applied to environments for older adults and the visually impaired. We will provide the tools for attendees to explore the effects of common visual issues and examine various design scenarios to understand how each can be improved to address low vision design challenges and best practices.

Join us as speakers Erin Schambureck (Senior Designer, Partner with CRW Architecture + Design) and Kassandra Gonzales (Senior Lighting Designer with RAB Lighting) revisit their fantastic presentation from the IES Conference in Denver.

Members of the Illuminating Engineering Society’s Lighting for Seniors and the Visually Impaired Committee present a multidisciplinary approach to engage lighting professionals with current research and evidence-based best practices for designing inclusive environments that support older adults and individuals with visual impairments.

This session begins with a review of eye structures and the impacts of aging and disease on visual perception and human health. Presenters will provide an in-depth examination of the updated ANSI/IES RP-28-25 Recommended Practice: Lighting and the Visual Environment for Seniors and the Visually Impaired, highlighting key revisions and their practical applications. Attendees will gain insight into the work of emerging subcommittees focused on Contrast, Daylight and Glare, Cognitive Performance, and updates to the Illuminance Tables.

The presentation will feature case studies demonstrating typical lighting applications in inclusive environments designed for older occupants, with practical design recommendations that incorporate lighting controls and user customization strategies. Attendees will leave equipped with curated resources for continued learning and design support in this critical area of practice.