Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
5
↓
Can i interview any of you about what it's like living as a blind person? I need it for my story, thanks! (self.Blind)
submitted by felisyadina
The only reason i joined reddit was because i needed someone who is actually blind to interview. I'm sorry if this sounds rude in a way, but i really don't want to falsely represent people who are actually blind because of my poor knowledge of this topic. One of my characters in my story is blind, this does not contribute to the plot whatsoever. I just felt like for some reason when there's a disabled person in a movie or a story, the whole plot has to revolve around it. This character in my story is just blind, that's it. But like i said, I don't want to misrepresent those who are actually blind. So, i really really reeeeeally need someone that i can ask about this.
Here's a trial question:
When you move into a new house, how long does it take for you to finally get around easily without any assistance? Do you need your cane or you don't when it comes to a place you're living in even though you're not quite familiar with the place yet?
I completely understand if you're weirded out by this. I've just been having some serious writer's block because of this one topic only (sad face)
Here's a trial question:
When you move into a new house, how long does it take for you to finally get around easily without any assistance? Do you need your cane or you don't when it comes to a place you're living in even though you're not quite familiar with the place yet?
I completely understand if you're weirded out by this. I've just been having some serious writer's block because of this one topic only (sad face)
tasareinspace 5 points 3y ago
Not a blind person but I hope you find someone to interview!
​
I love reading about blind characters (my daughter's blind and I work at a nonprofit for the blind), but SO often people do a ...really bad job with writing them. I hope it isn't presumptuous to give you some advice!
I feel like the two most important things to remember are a) most people who are legally blind aren't completely blind (you can have "no light perception", which is 'seeing nothing' but that's pretty rare. Most people have SOME vision, though is may not be useful) and the other thing I'd recommend is to remember that blindness is a symptom, not a condition itself. Look up eye conditions that can cause blindness and pick one, make sure you do your research. Figure out HOW blind your character is, look up what the vision of someone with that condition looks like, figure out what other symptoms their condition has. Someone who has retinitis pigmentosa and slowly lost their vision in their 20s, someone who has optic nerve hypoplasia and was blind from birth, and an elderly person with age related macular degeneration are all going to have wildly different experiences and needs.
​
If you want to watch some youtube videos about blindness, Molly Burke and Tommy Edison are both really good blind youtubers.
​
I love reading about blind characters (my daughter's blind and I work at a nonprofit for the blind), but SO often people do a ...really bad job with writing them. I hope it isn't presumptuous to give you some advice!
I feel like the two most important things to remember are a) most people who are legally blind aren't completely blind (you can have "no light perception", which is 'seeing nothing' but that's pretty rare. Most people have SOME vision, though is may not be useful) and the other thing I'd recommend is to remember that blindness is a symptom, not a condition itself. Look up eye conditions that can cause blindness and pick one, make sure you do your research. Figure out HOW blind your character is, look up what the vision of someone with that condition looks like, figure out what other symptoms their condition has. Someone who has retinitis pigmentosa and slowly lost their vision in their 20s, someone who has optic nerve hypoplasia and was blind from birth, and an elderly person with age related macular degeneration are all going to have wildly different experiences and needs.
​
If you want to watch some youtube videos about blindness, Molly Burke and Tommy Edison are both really good blind youtubers.
felisyadina [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Yes! I'm tired of seeing overdramatic disabled characters in movie and i do believe that no normal person talks like that while a disabled person is just... a normal person. Like everybody else. It's just that people with disability have different ways of doing things.
bradley22 3 points 3y ago
I’m from London so there will probably be a time differents if you want to talk but if you just want to message that’s fine too.
Pm me if you like, I’ll help in the best way I can
Having said that, remember that every person, blind or otherwise is different.
Pm me if you like, I’ll help in the best way I can
Having said that, remember that every person, blind or otherwise is different.
Mokohi 2 points 3y ago
I am visuallly impaired, but not totally blind. I can do questions, but if you need totally blind onky, that's fine too!
felisyadina [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Thanks a lot! I'll be sure to pm you once new questions come up in my mind!
samarositz 2 points 3y ago
Well, I can answer your question. Canes are rarely used in the home, even an unfamiliar one that you just moved in to.
felisyadina [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Sorry for the late reply! So how do you familiarize yourself with a new house? And the first time you get into a new house, do you immediately not use your cane?
samarositz 1 points 3y ago
Do you mean a friends house, or my own? I would say, one thing you have to remember, as that blind people are generally much better at remembering the layout of rooms, where furniture is, where furniture is, where stairs are, and so forth. So, generally, if I have another blind person over to my house, it is just polite to show them where the key features are, bathroom, kitchen, sofa, so forth.
felisyadina [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Oh, thanks! So glad you answered
djflex90 1 points 3y ago
Sure. I sure don’t mind
felisyadina [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Thank you! Do you want to do it here, or should i pm you?
djflex90 1 points 3y ago
Pm is fine
[deleted] 1 points 3y ago
[deleted]
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.