Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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As a sighted fellow, what should I know about being blind? (self.Blind)
submitted by TKDbeast
claudettemonet 9 points 6y ago
Eh.... it's not that bad or scary? Don't obstruct sidewalks with your car when you pull into a driveway? Blindness is a spectrum? Idk really. I'm just going blind, but that's what my research has turned up so far. Anyone else want to add?
Nighthawk321 8 points 6y ago
This is just my opinion. I feel like the biggest part about being blind is the social aspect. Blind people ultimately have a much more difficult time making friends. On the flip side, sighted people have a much more difficult time interacting with us because they don't know how to react, worried they'll offend us, etc. /r/blind is proof of this. Noticed about people either act very ignorant, which they are, to no fault of their own, usually, or other times, they begin or end a sentence with, "I hope this doesn't offend you." So I guess what I'm trying to say, don't be afraid to interact with a blind person, I'm sure they would appreciate it, most of the time.
fastfinge 8 points 6y ago
Blind people can live happy, active, involved lifestyles; most of us work full time or would like to, and have many interests outside of our blindness. Too many sighted folks assume that blind people can't do anything, and just sit at home by ourselves all day. While blindness is a part of my identity, it isn't the only thing that defines me.
RachGurns 2 points 6y ago
I know you are born blind, but as a sighted person, would you say it is like always having your eyes shut?
fastfinge 3 points 6y ago
Having never had sight, and thus never experienced what it's like for a sighted person to have her eyes shut, I am incapable of answering that question. Sorry!
RachGurns 2 points 6y ago
It's alright, I'm a bit naïve about this sort of thing, because I'm sighted. Don't feel bad!
EDIT - I met a girl at my primary/elementary school who was blind. I guess this is why i'm drawn to this sub.
EDIT - I met a girl at my primary/elementary school who was blind. I guess this is why i'm drawn to this sub.
KillerLag 4 points 6y ago
If you want to help someone with vision loss, don't make assumptions and ask what help they need.
claudettemonet 2 points 6y ago
Well, but I am pretty sure I will appreciate offers of help. I am not born blind. I will suck at everything. I don't think we should jump down people's throats for offering to help. Others might not need any help from a kindly summaritain, but I certainly will. Don't go scaring off my summaritains.
Case and point that we are all so different: This is a clip of Ryan Knighton at a technology conference (Ryan is blind from RP, like me) and he is talking about how he navigates the world with an anecdote.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u-7w3m7fhl4
Case and point that we are all so different: This is a clip of Ryan Knighton at a technology conference (Ryan is blind from RP, like me) and he is talking about how he navigates the world with an anecdote.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=u-7w3m7fhl4
-shacklebolt- 1 points 6y ago
> Well, but I am pretty sure I will appreciate offers of help. I am not born blind. I will suck at everything.
Have you thought about preparing now so you don't "suck at everything" in the future?
Have you thought about preparing now so you don't "suck at everything" in the future?
claudettemonet 3 points 6y ago
Well of course. Why else would I be here? It's very different being born blind, going blind in your childhood and going blind when you are 30+. Ryan Knighton is very open to accepting help, and, honestly, his approach to everything made me feel much better, like it would be OKAY to accept help. I don't have to be u/fastfinge at everything, and that can be okay. Do you know how terrifying it is to know you have to relearn EVERYTHING? Me being okay with the fact that I will suck at everything, for years, is progress. It relieves me of the burden of having to be the perfect little modern blind girl, who hacks the Internet with my awesome touch typing skills and echo-locates my way around town. I will be NEWLY blind. I won't be totally helpless, but I will be clumsy and nervous.
So yeah, I will love good summaritains, who I won't see, but who will clearly see me struggling, and come to lend an elbow.
Edit.... I just read your comment history...you totally know what it is like to go blind and how terrifying it is. Sorry.
Though, tbh, the "have you ever thought" comment really does not communicate well in text. I don't know in what spirit you typed it, but how I read it was very condescending and belittling. So, YES, I have both thought about preparing and taken steps to prepare.
When I went to vocational rehab to get prepared, the general consensus was that I was not blind enough yet and they didn't know what they could do for me at this point.
So, on my own, I have put NVDA on my computer, so I can mess around with it, and I have become very adroit at adjusting the high contrast settings. I try not to turn on lights at night to practice navigating my house and sometimes I chop veggies with my eyes closed. I prepare. But I am okay with sucking too. It's better for my head space not to put the burden of perfection on myself. I am just looking to survive, not be modern blind girl of the century. I will leave that to the congenitally blind. They rock it.
So yeah, I will love good summaritains, who I won't see, but who will clearly see me struggling, and come to lend an elbow.
Edit.... I just read your comment history...you totally know what it is like to go blind and how terrifying it is. Sorry.
Though, tbh, the "have you ever thought" comment really does not communicate well in text. I don't know in what spirit you typed it, but how I read it was very condescending and belittling. So, YES, I have both thought about preparing and taken steps to prepare.
When I went to vocational rehab to get prepared, the general consensus was that I was not blind enough yet and they didn't know what they could do for me at this point.
So, on my own, I have put NVDA on my computer, so I can mess around with it, and I have become very adroit at adjusting the high contrast settings. I try not to turn on lights at night to practice navigating my house and sometimes I chop veggies with my eyes closed. I prepare. But I am okay with sucking too. It's better for my head space not to put the burden of perfection on myself. I am just looking to survive, not be modern blind girl of the century. I will leave that to the congenitally blind. They rock it.
fastfinge 2 points 6y ago
> I don't have to be u/fastfinge at everything, and that can be okay.
Hah. I'm really, really good at interneting. Maybe that makes me seem better at a lot of other things than I am. "clumsy and nervous" describes me in a lot of situations. The trick is just to keep doing things anyway, and not let the nerves stop you. And you seem like you've got that handled!
Hah. I'm really, really good at interneting. Maybe that makes me seem better at a lot of other things than I am. "clumsy and nervous" describes me in a lot of situations. The trick is just to keep doing things anyway, and not let the nerves stop you. And you seem like you've got that handled!
-shacklebolt- 1 points 6y ago
Sorry, that was totally not my intent with my question. I didn't know where you (or your doctors and other pros) were at in terms of the practical things you will need. Sorry that came out poorly.
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