Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Hello! (self.Blind)
submitted by Iguessimkindalame
Hi! I’m new to this subreddit but I wanted to introduce myself and see if there’s anyone in a similar situation to me.
So I’m 19, I’ve had steady vision my entire life, with light perception in my right eye and 20/230 in my left.
I’ve always blended in with society very well. I went to public school K-12, I’m currently going to a university and living in my sorority house with no problems. Until I tell people of my disability, nobody can really tell other than I get a little closer to my phone.
I have always felt weird about identities. Like I know I can’t see the board like a fully sighted person but I also haven’t touched a cane since middle school.
I feel like I know I’m not a fully sighted person but because my vision isn’t that poor, blind doesn’t fit either.
When I was 16 my parents sent me to a sleepaway camp for blind teenagers, it was the first time I had ever been in a room and known I was one of the most sighted people. When we were walking back to our cabin in the dark, I was told to guide someone who couldn’t see, which had never happened. But still, I felt like I was more of a helper than a part of the camp.
It’s very frustrating to feel somewhere in the middle and most everyone I encounter with low vision tends to be upwards of 50 but has anyone experienced this feeling?
So I’m 19, I’ve had steady vision my entire life, with light perception in my right eye and 20/230 in my left.
I’ve always blended in with society very well. I went to public school K-12, I’m currently going to a university and living in my sorority house with no problems. Until I tell people of my disability, nobody can really tell other than I get a little closer to my phone.
I have always felt weird about identities. Like I know I can’t see the board like a fully sighted person but I also haven’t touched a cane since middle school.
I feel like I know I’m not a fully sighted person but because my vision isn’t that poor, blind doesn’t fit either.
When I was 16 my parents sent me to a sleepaway camp for blind teenagers, it was the first time I had ever been in a room and known I was one of the most sighted people. When we were walking back to our cabin in the dark, I was told to guide someone who couldn’t see, which had never happened. But still, I felt like I was more of a helper than a part of the camp.
It’s very frustrating to feel somewhere in the middle and most everyone I encounter with low vision tends to be upwards of 50 but has anyone experienced this feeling?
Hellsacomin94 4 points 4y ago
I think every VI person, and especially those with degenerative eye diseases struggle with this feeling. I think it’s useful to ask yourself if you consider yourself a sighted person who can’t see very well or a blind person who can see a little bit.
I really struggled with this idea of transitioning from one to the other for quite a while. I think others do to, especially considering the reluctance of many to stop driving or start using a cane in public.
I would advise you to think about the idea of transitioning to a blind person who can still see a little bit. Your at a time when your developing yourself for your personal and professional future. Try to gain confidence in yourself, no matter which you choose. Good luck!
I really struggled with this idea of transitioning from one to the other for quite a while. I think others do to, especially considering the reluctance of many to stop driving or start using a cane in public.
I would advise you to think about the idea of transitioning to a blind person who can still see a little bit. Your at a time when your developing yourself for your personal and professional future. Try to gain confidence in yourself, no matter which you choose. Good luck!
rose_moons 3 points 4y ago
I definitely feel you on the whole ‘top sighted to be blind but too blind to be sighted’ scenario. I feel a bit left out like i’ve never truly met someone similar to me. I have myopia and had a retinal detachment in one eye. There’s a possibility I may be going to a school for the blind in a years time and I’m so unsure about it because the extent that I can see. I even feel guilty using a cane because I can see everything around me but I go a day without using it and fall off the kerb or trip on some steps.
I know how it feels and I’m (kinda) glad i’m not the only one.
edit: i forgot to mention I’m 20/200 in one eye and I can only see the number of fingers someone is holding up in the other (the one where my retina/macular detached, I’m starting to liken it to the vision of somebody with macular degeneration but not so severe.)
I know how it feels and I’m (kinda) glad i’m not the only one.
edit: i forgot to mention I’m 20/200 in one eye and I can only see the number of fingers someone is holding up in the other (the one where my retina/macular detached, I’m starting to liken it to the vision of somebody with macular degeneration but not so severe.)
[deleted] 2 points 4y ago
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Iguessimkindalame [OP] 3 points 4y ago
That’s really interesting! Because I thought it was really odd that this person had vision quite a bit better than me but I get around completely fine without a cane. I never knew that.
[deleted] 1 points 4y ago
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[deleted] 1 points 4y ago
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