Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Blind woman questions Passport Canada policy barring staff from helping people with disabilities complete forms (metronews.ca)
submitted by fastfinge
angelcake 3 points 6y ago
My partner and I travel, he is low vision bordering on legally blind so unlike the subject of the article he can see to some degree but he can't fill out forms, he can't even see the print on the forms to fill out. As his partner I do it for him when necessary.
I agree that there should be an exemption for people with disabilities who cannot fill out a form on their own. It needs to be taken seriously and I hope they go ahead with it. I don't agree however with how the couple handled the situation at the passport office. If they had access to a computer they could have pre-filled the forms at home, I say they because they are a couple and part of being a couple is helping out your partner if you are able to do so. Me filling out a form for my partner is like him opening a jar for me. If I can't do something he helps me out and vice versa.
I agree that there should be an exemption for people with disabilities who cannot fill out a form on their own. It needs to be taken seriously and I hope they go ahead with it. I don't agree however with how the couple handled the situation at the passport office. If they had access to a computer they could have pre-filled the forms at home, I say they because they are a couple and part of being a couple is helping out your partner if you are able to do so. Me filling out a form for my partner is like him opening a jar for me. If I can't do something he helps me out and vice versa.
-shacklebolt- 3 points 6y ago
It sounds like they were not informed that they could do the application online.
I totally understand the thing with her husband. When you let your spouse do these things for you all the time, it reinforces the expectation to the general public that you should have a friend or family member help you rather than being given the tools to do it independently. It also can create an unhealthy dynamic within your own relationship.
I actually was chatting with a blind friend the other day about this. We were discussing public transit and uber and lyft, and how freeing rideshare services are for blind people. She talked about how it had been a strain on her marriage in the past to keep having to ask for rides when taking their kid certain places, as taking the bus (where paratransit was the only option) would add hours extra to the trip.
I also try not to ask my husband for rides (except when we're traveling together, of course) very often. With uber and lyft we treat it like paying for a second car for me. He is often willing and available which I appreciate, but I never want to make him feel like that's something he has to do for me all the time, you know?
I've seen a lot of this expectation on him from others. Why doesn't he help you with the groceries? Why is he sitting in the waiting room instead of filling out the forms at the doctor's office? Why are you paying for a ride when he could drive you? Why doesn't he just help you use the touchscreen? Why do you need an accessible menu when he's here with you? and so on. It's not like opening the pickle jar in that way.
Of course we both do things for one another all the time and sometimes one of us does a lot more than the other because we're not keeping score, but he is my partner and not my caregiver.
I totally understand the thing with her husband. When you let your spouse do these things for you all the time, it reinforces the expectation to the general public that you should have a friend or family member help you rather than being given the tools to do it independently. It also can create an unhealthy dynamic within your own relationship.
I actually was chatting with a blind friend the other day about this. We were discussing public transit and uber and lyft, and how freeing rideshare services are for blind people. She talked about how it had been a strain on her marriage in the past to keep having to ask for rides when taking their kid certain places, as taking the bus (where paratransit was the only option) would add hours extra to the trip.
I also try not to ask my husband for rides (except when we're traveling together, of course) very often. With uber and lyft we treat it like paying for a second car for me. He is often willing and available which I appreciate, but I never want to make him feel like that's something he has to do for me all the time, you know?
I've seen a lot of this expectation on him from others. Why doesn't he help you with the groceries? Why is he sitting in the waiting room instead of filling out the forms at the doctor's office? Why are you paying for a ride when he could drive you? Why doesn't he just help you use the touchscreen? Why do you need an accessible menu when he's here with you? and so on. It's not like opening the pickle jar in that way.
Of course we both do things for one another all the time and sometimes one of us does a lot more than the other because we're not keeping score, but he is my partner and not my caregiver.
Vaelian -4 points 6y ago
I've accepted that certain things are beyond my ability a long time ago. The latest accessibility hazard that I had to overcome was signing a document at the bank. They are going paperless so we are required to sign on a tablet with a stylus and can't even rest our hand on the screen for obvious reasons. Fortunately my account is shared with my mother since it was created in 1997 when I was a minor, so she signed the document for me.
I am not entitled to special treatment just because I'm disabled. People shouldn't have to go the extra mile to accommodate me, I feel bad for needing that and this is the reason why I want to die.
I am not entitled to special treatment just because I'm disabled. People shouldn't have to go the extra mile to accommodate me, I feel bad for needing that and this is the reason why I want to die.
KillerLag 2 points 6y ago
Most tablet screens nowadays have fairly reliable palm rejection systems, so resting your hand on the screen shouldn't have any effect. If they did, you can try to wear a light glove to get around the capacitive screen (depends on what sort of screen it is, though).
You feel that certain things are beyond your abilities... why not try to expand your abilities? Technology has given many people easier access to learn new skills. There are many people out there who can help you to learn as well. And if the tools you need to do something don't exist... you can learn how to build the tool youself.
You feel that certain things are beyond your abilities... why not try to expand your abilities? Technology has given many people easier access to learn new skills. There are many people out there who can help you to learn as well. And if the tools you need to do something don't exist... you can learn how to build the tool youself.
Vaelian 2 points 6y ago
Obviously I didn't know in advance that I would have to sign on a tablet,, and in that particular case palm rejection did not work because there was a button right where I would have to rest my hand and by touching it I was causing the form to be dismissed.
Sometimes it's impossible to create the tools I need to accomplish a certain task, like finding the entrance to an unfamiliar building, waiting for my turn at the counter after taking a ticket, filling out a paper form, navigating malls and hotels, etc.. In these cases I have to ask for help and rely on strangers, which I don't feel comfortable with, and feel bad for forcing them to accommodate me, even if it's their job.
Back when I had sight, and even though I was legally blind, I didn't need any special accommodations because my vision was enough for most tasks, and in the cases that it wasn't I always had my phone to take pictures and zoom in.
Sometimes it's impossible to create the tools I need to accomplish a certain task, like finding the entrance to an unfamiliar building, waiting for my turn at the counter after taking a ticket, filling out a paper form, navigating malls and hotels, etc.. In these cases I have to ask for help and rely on strangers, which I don't feel comfortable with, and feel bad for forcing them to accommodate me, even if it's their job.
Back when I had sight, and even though I was legally blind, I didn't need any special accommodations because my vision was enough for most tasks, and in the cases that it wasn't I always had my phone to take pictures and zoom in.
[deleted] 1 points 6y ago
[deleted]
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