Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Discussion/rant on how people treat blind and low vision kids (self.Blind)
submitted by Casual-Chaz
Hi everyone, I’m a 15 year boy starting my sophomore year of high school soon, nice to meet all of you. I have albinism and have some special accommodations in school like large print homework, sitting in the front of the class, online text books etc. but I don’t read braille or use a cane and I’m just as independent as my classmates. School is fine but i wanted to discuss (kinda rant about) blind and low vision specific events and maybe the general stigma of blind kids. I’ve been to a decent amount of conferences and such for organizations like NOAH and I always noticed how I and other blind kids were treated like babies. It seems like even people that have lots of experience with low vision kids think they need to be treated like toddlers or kids with learning disabilities. Even a recent one I went to with almost all high school students had activities set up that seemed like they were for 7 year olds.
I’ve also noticed this in general when meeting new people. Most people don’t notice immediately that i’m visually impaired and treat me like any other person, but if somebody knows that before they meet me (like a teacher that’s been given instructions for accommodations) a lot of the time they assume that I am simply stupid. I would imagine this happens way more often for people that are more obviously blind and I don’t think I would be able to stand that.
Anybody else experience or notice this? I just wanted to rant a bit and get some other people’s opinions on the subject and maybe help others understand my perspective better.
I’ve also noticed this in general when meeting new people. Most people don’t notice immediately that i’m visually impaired and treat me like any other person, but if somebody knows that before they meet me (like a teacher that’s been given instructions for accommodations) a lot of the time they assume that I am simply stupid. I would imagine this happens way more often for people that are more obviously blind and I don’t think I would be able to stand that.
Anybody else experience or notice this? I just wanted to rant a bit and get some other people’s opinions on the subject and maybe help others understand my perspective better.
razzretina 3 points 3y ago
This kind of stuff happened to me as a kid and it still happens as an adult. Some of it is because a lot of blind people do have other disabilities and some of it is just that we scare sighted people. they seem to think that there's something they should do around us but they don't know what it is. I just act like a normal person around them and they stop pretty fast. I think it kicks in how silly they look talking to someone who's having a normal conversation while they're baby talking. Like with most things sighted people do, I just let it wash over me; I'm not the one making a fool of myself in public. :D
samarositz 2 points 3y ago
It is sad to say, this will really never get better. I have gone to school, earned my doctorate and risen pretty high in my profession, still, I get treated as if I had a cognitive impairment regularly. Like someone else on here said though, your ability to deal with it will certainly improve.
adrienneE49 1 points 3y ago
I am in a mainstream high school. And they have been amazing for the most part. But obviously they don’t know how much I can see. And I find that because I don’t use sunglasses or a Cain, they seem to forget and ask me to do things I can’t e.g read, and I have to constantly remind them I can’t see.
Another thing that really helps is that all my books are on an iPad so it can be read to me by voiceover.
Another thing that really helps is that all my books are on an iPad so it can be read to me by voiceover.
codeplaysleep 1 points 3y ago
I didn't experience this *too* much in school, but I was out and done with the entirety of my education (including college) before you were born, so... the school culture/disability awareness/advocacy probably wasn't the same then as it is now.
Large print books were the worst. I hated carrying those things around (they were huge) and those did get me some weird looks/comments. After middle school, I kept the large print set at home for homework/studying and at school, I used regular textbooks with a magnifier.
I never really attended any blind camps or conferences or events for blind children, so I can't speak to those. I do have vague memories, though, of someone from the state department for the blind coming in every so often to evaluate me. I remember thinking how odd it was that the cognitive stuff in the eval that I had in 10th grade were the same questions I had answered in kindergarten.
I did have one teacher in high school who felt she needed to handle me with kid gloves and give me A's for basically no effort on my part. She was also always talking to me like I was maybe 7 or 8, and not 16. After a month, I insisted I be moved to a different class.
Large print books were the worst. I hated carrying those things around (they were huge) and those did get me some weird looks/comments. After middle school, I kept the large print set at home for homework/studying and at school, I used regular textbooks with a magnifier.
I never really attended any blind camps or conferences or events for blind children, so I can't speak to those. I do have vague memories, though, of someone from the state department for the blind coming in every so often to evaluate me. I remember thinking how odd it was that the cognitive stuff in the eval that I had in 10th grade were the same questions I had answered in kindergarten.
I did have one teacher in high school who felt she needed to handle me with kid gloves and give me A's for basically no effort on my part. She was also always talking to me like I was maybe 7 or 8, and not 16. After a month, I insisted I be moved to a different class.
HDMILex 1 points 3y ago
Yeah man. Blind/VI camps are the absolute worst.
theawesomeaquarist 1 points 3y ago
Why are the camps so bad and give examples
HDMILex 1 points 3y ago
Went on a trip with CNIB a couple years ago. Treated us like fucking babies and like we couldn't do anything. One of the worst investments of my life..plus what kind of organization asks customers to send credit card info via email?
theawesomeaquarist 1 points 3y ago
How did they treat you like babies give examples
the9thpawn_ 1 points 3y ago
Ooh I have albinism too. I don’t really get that as much anymore but it was super annoying.
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