Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Help! (self.Blind)
submitted by aristapop
Hello! I am currently writing a story, the main character being blind (He has Anophthalmia). It is also an LGBTQ+ story. I don't want it to contain anything offensive, and for it to be accurate to the community. If anyone could offer help, I currently have three chapters. I don't want it to be your typical, or conventional love story.
I want it to be realistic as well. The setting is rather complicated as it is in a futuristic world. But long story short, a boy who was born without eyes, has never seen before is in a world where finding soulmates is dependent purely on vision. He grows up not accepting his inability to see, and has a lot of issues because of it. At the end, he will come to accept it, but I want the process of not only denial, but acceptance to be realistic.
Any advice would help, and if anyone would like to read what I have, let me know. I have it on a word doc, but if there's another format that is best suited for you let me know!
Thank you for taking the time to help!
Edit:
I try to keep the narrative with no visuals, anything that contains anything visual is either when the soulmate thing happens or he's kinda like "well it looks like this, at least that's what I'm told", but even then I am uncertain whether how accurate my writing has been in the character's perspective.
The soulmate thing has become very strange and scientific. In the future, humans have evolved to where they have a designated soulmate. Once you come within 25 meters of them in any point of your life, something called the Switch starts. Where vision, and only the vision switches temporarily for an indefinite amount of time, and it constantly happens randomly until they find each other, and when they've been separated for more then a week it starts again. It's because of this reason he is so angry that he cannot see, and will never see. Of course he gets a soulmate, but because this is the only way for him to see, he has a lot of resentment and anger towards himself.
Usually, in this world, people keeps a piece of paper in their pocket with their name, number, and address, but of course that doesn't work for him because he has never seen before, therefore he doesn't know how to read, let alone be able to understand what he sees when he does switch.
The media eventually gets involved to help him find his soulmate, and a bunch of other things happen that I won't spill the secrets to. Main character also has a Guide dog. Her name is Betty the Husky.
I want it to be realistic as well. The setting is rather complicated as it is in a futuristic world. But long story short, a boy who was born without eyes, has never seen before is in a world where finding soulmates is dependent purely on vision. He grows up not accepting his inability to see, and has a lot of issues because of it. At the end, he will come to accept it, but I want the process of not only denial, but acceptance to be realistic.
Any advice would help, and if anyone would like to read what I have, let me know. I have it on a word doc, but if there's another format that is best suited for you let me know!
Thank you for taking the time to help!
Edit:
I try to keep the narrative with no visuals, anything that contains anything visual is either when the soulmate thing happens or he's kinda like "well it looks like this, at least that's what I'm told", but even then I am uncertain whether how accurate my writing has been in the character's perspective.
The soulmate thing has become very strange and scientific. In the future, humans have evolved to where they have a designated soulmate. Once you come within 25 meters of them in any point of your life, something called the Switch starts. Where vision, and only the vision switches temporarily for an indefinite amount of time, and it constantly happens randomly until they find each other, and when they've been separated for more then a week it starts again. It's because of this reason he is so angry that he cannot see, and will never see. Of course he gets a soulmate, but because this is the only way for him to see, he has a lot of resentment and anger towards himself.
Usually, in this world, people keeps a piece of paper in their pocket with their name, number, and address, but of course that doesn't work for him because he has never seen before, therefore he doesn't know how to read, let alone be able to understand what he sees when he does switch.
The media eventually gets involved to help him find his soulmate, and a bunch of other things happen that I won't spill the secrets to. Main character also has a Guide dog. Her name is Betty the Husky.
ThePettyPademelon 2 points 3y ago
Just food for thought.. .not sure if your society is technologically advanced or if it’s more of a dystopian setting, but nowadays there are many apps that exist that can snap a photo and describe its contents, including color.
aristapop [OP] 2 points 3y ago
It is technologically advanced. I never thought of that! Thank you so much. The main character also has a phone that does everything via voice command as well. It is set several centuries in the future, and I'm not sure whether completely independently self-driving cars would be a thing?
If you have any other technology-related ideas that does or does not exist I am more then happy to hear!
If you have any other technology-related ideas that does or does not exist I am more then happy to hear!
KillerLag 1 points 3y ago
The thing about the future is, if there is enough drive for something, people can make it happen. The first powered flight was in 1903, and the first man on the moon was 1969, a span on only 66 years.
When the first iPhones came out with touch screens, no one though someone with vision loss could use it. But with VoiceOver, it's generally considered one of the best accessible devices.
When the first iPhones came out with touch screens, no one though someone with vision loss could use it. But with VoiceOver, it's generally considered one of the best accessible devices.
aristapop [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Also to add, In your personal opinion, do you think that in an undefined amount of centuries into the future, another form of navigating for the blind will appear? If so what? Any ideas will be helpful.
CloudyBeep 1 points 3y ago
I'm sure it will. I'm sure that GPS systems will have advanced to the point where they'll be able to help a blind person travel in any indoor or outdoor space and will be able to say "Turn right" at the precise moment when the person should turn, not like now when they might be off by a few steps.
aristapop [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Ohhh okay! Thank you so much! As it is an undefined amount of centuries into the future, I will put in independently self-driving cars! Now to come up with a cool name for them haha.
ginsenshi 1 points 3y ago
I would love to give it a read and look it over. I also like reading LGBT-based stories
KillerLag 1 points 3y ago
You mention this piece of paper that contains your contact information... if it is that important for people, wouldn't it be laminated or something to protect it from water and general wear and tear (or something like an ID card). I imagine rich people would have theirs made of gold or something as well.
I should mention, for that particular eye condition (Anophthalmia), it is often associated with genetic conditions that cause other issues (cognitive delays, some facial deformities). While they aren't guaranteed, they are strongly linked.
If you are looking for a condition where someone wouldn't have any eyes but no other major health complications, there is retinoblastoma. It's a fast growing cancer inside the eyes of children. And because it grows fast, one of the treatments is enucleation (not the preferred method, but better than letting it grow down the optic nerve to become brain cancer).
I should mention, for that particular eye condition (Anophthalmia), it is often associated with genetic conditions that cause other issues (cognitive delays, some facial deformities). While they aren't guaranteed, they are strongly linked.
If you are looking for a condition where someone wouldn't have any eyes but no other major health complications, there is retinoblastoma. It's a fast growing cancer inside the eyes of children. And because it grows fast, one of the treatments is enucleation (not the preferred method, but better than letting it grow down the optic nerve to become brain cancer).
aristapop [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Oh my god! I did not know that, thank you so much! Do a search I was introduced to Anophthalmia, and it is clear I did not do enough research. Thank you so much again!
In regards to the piece of paper that contains contact information, you are correct, and it is more likely that they would have such contact information on cards. Thank you for your input!
In regards to the piece of paper that contains contact information, you are correct, and it is more likely that they would have such contact information on cards. Thank you for your input!
KillerLag 1 points 3y ago
Currently, GPS is getting friendly, but still not 100% accurate (I tell my clients is can have as much as 10 meters of wiggle room). A newer system coming out right now with beacons are used indoors for wayfinding, although that still has some kinks that need to be worked out (lots of interference, and it can't always detect the correct location for the phone). Here is a link for some more information https://canasstech.com/blogs/news/let-it-beacon-creating-accessible-indoor-spaces
In a few decades, I would expect the technology that works for self driving cars to be miniaturized enough that it can fit onto a handheld device, that can be integrated into a cane (or some futuristic laser cane, like Auggie from that show Covert Affairs sometimes uses). How it would be able to transmit that information to the person is the real puzzle (currently, there is no efficient system to update the human mind with that much information).
In a few decades, I would expect the technology that works for self driving cars to be miniaturized enough that it can fit onto a handheld device, that can be integrated into a cane (or some futuristic laser cane, like Auggie from that show Covert Affairs sometimes uses). How it would be able to transmit that information to the person is the real puzzle (currently, there is no efficient system to update the human mind with that much information).
aristapop [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I did not know that! Are there any other forms of navigation? Even though I want this world in a futuristic setting, I still would like it to represent similar navigation issues to people today. Self driving cars is a definite though.
KillerLag 1 points 3y ago
A lot of people think putting an ultrasonic or laser distance finder on a cane would help. However, they've been working on that since the 60s, with minimal success. The issue nowadays isn't the sensor, but how to accurately convey that information in a usable manner. Also, the price. A white cane costs between $15 to $50. The Ultracane (a cane with an attached ultrasonic sensor system) costs £635.00 (https://www.ultracane.com/ultracanecat/ultracane) Which makes it a bit unaffordable.
We usually teach people to locate landmarks to help orient themselves to where they are, and to remember the next step (what to follow, what to turn).
More cities are starting to put in tactile paving (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactile_paving). They are used for helping with wayfinding, but they aren't all created equal. Following them usually isn't the easiest. The tactile warning systems (usually the domes) are designed to warn if there is something hazardous, but not really used for wayfinding.
We usually teach people to locate landmarks to help orient themselves to where they are, and to remember the next step (what to follow, what to turn).
More cities are starting to put in tactile paving (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tactile_paving). They are used for helping with wayfinding, but they aren't all created equal. Following them usually isn't the easiest. The tactile warning systems (usually the domes) are designed to warn if there is something hazardous, but not really used for wayfinding.
razzretina 1 points 3y ago
Ooo a story that acknowledges some pitfalls of a soul mate process! I like the idea already! I like that you've done some research too; most people who write blind characters don't usually look up the medical side of things.
I suppose in this setting, what about being blind would make him try to deny reality so hard? Is it just because he can't find his soul mate? Is he able to travel independently (many of us can do so more or less now with public transit, but if self driving cars are a thing that would help him get around)? Is he unable to use accessible technology to find his soul mate (I am assuming yes since it tends to be something that is only experienced by the individual)? Did he ever have sight at any time in his life before the story (that's usually a source of conflict)? If he's never had sight you'll want to use less or no visual descriptions if he's the viewpoint character since that won't be how he understands the world. There's a post from yesterday where we were describing Christmas memories and that might give you some ideas for writing with fewer vision terms. The main thing is to treat your character as a person first and foremost. What about being blind would upset him in the context of the world he lives in; not what you think would upset you about being blind today where you live. This sounds like a really interesting story already!
Also, he probably would use a white cane. Even with echolocation, we still need them. They haven't changed much over the centuries and I think they'll still be around in the future.
I suppose in this setting, what about being blind would make him try to deny reality so hard? Is it just because he can't find his soul mate? Is he able to travel independently (many of us can do so more or less now with public transit, but if self driving cars are a thing that would help him get around)? Is he unable to use accessible technology to find his soul mate (I am assuming yes since it tends to be something that is only experienced by the individual)? Did he ever have sight at any time in his life before the story (that's usually a source of conflict)? If he's never had sight you'll want to use less or no visual descriptions if he's the viewpoint character since that won't be how he understands the world. There's a post from yesterday where we were describing Christmas memories and that might give you some ideas for writing with fewer vision terms. The main thing is to treat your character as a person first and foremost. What about being blind would upset him in the context of the world he lives in; not what you think would upset you about being blind today where you live. This sounds like a really interesting story already!
Also, he probably would use a white cane. Even with echolocation, we still need them. They haven't changed much over the centuries and I think they'll still be around in the future.
aristapop [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Thank you for your interest! He has never seen before. The narrative of the story has little to no visual context, as he spends most of his time thinking. I try to keep the narrative with no visuals, anything that contains anything visual is either when the soulmate thing happens or he's kinda like 'well it's supposed to be like this, it's what I'm told it's like', but even then I am uncertain whether how accurate my writing has been in the character's perspective.
The soulmate thing has become very strange and scientific. In the future, humans have evolved to where they have a designated soulmate. Once you come within 25 meters of them in any point of your life, something called the Switch starts. Where vision, and only the vision switches temporarily for an indefinite amount of time, and it constantly happens randomly until they find each other, and when they've been separated for more then a week it starts again. It's because of this reason he is so angry that he cannot see, and will never see. Of course he gets a soulmate, but because this is the only way for him to see, he has a lot of resentment and anger towards himself.
Usually, in this world, people keeps a piece of paper in their pocket with their name, number, and address, but of course that doesn't work for him because he has never seen before, therefore he doesn't know how to read, let alone be able to understand what he sees when he does switch.
The media eventually gets involved to help him find his soulmate, and a bunch of other things happen that I won't spill the secrets to.
I'm having him have a guide dog, as to provide also some emotional support, as I know a little bit more about navigating with guide dogs then a cane. But if it's more likely for him to have a cane, then I will need to know a little bit more, so that I can write it correctly and effectively.
I would like for him to have echolocation, but even with personal research, I myself don't understand the experience, so it is difficult for me to write about it. If there's anything that would help me understand it better so that I can write it effectively, that would be amazing.
As this world is set several centuries in the future, although his phone is mainly through voice command, I am not sure whether transportation would be self-driving and independent (So I'm doing some tech research on that). Even though public transportation is available, my character is too emotionally unstable to realize that he can use public transportation. But at the same time, I am not sure whether that is realistic of a character like that. Please help
The soulmate thing has become very strange and scientific. In the future, humans have evolved to where they have a designated soulmate. Once you come within 25 meters of them in any point of your life, something called the Switch starts. Where vision, and only the vision switches temporarily for an indefinite amount of time, and it constantly happens randomly until they find each other, and when they've been separated for more then a week it starts again. It's because of this reason he is so angry that he cannot see, and will never see. Of course he gets a soulmate, but because this is the only way for him to see, he has a lot of resentment and anger towards himself.
Usually, in this world, people keeps a piece of paper in their pocket with their name, number, and address, but of course that doesn't work for him because he has never seen before, therefore he doesn't know how to read, let alone be able to understand what he sees when he does switch.
The media eventually gets involved to help him find his soulmate, and a bunch of other things happen that I won't spill the secrets to.
I'm having him have a guide dog, as to provide also some emotional support, as I know a little bit more about navigating with guide dogs then a cane. But if it's more likely for him to have a cane, then I will need to know a little bit more, so that I can write it correctly and effectively.
I would like for him to have echolocation, but even with personal research, I myself don't understand the experience, so it is difficult for me to write about it. If there's anything that would help me understand it better so that I can write it effectively, that would be amazing.
As this world is set several centuries in the future, although his phone is mainly through voice command, I am not sure whether transportation would be self-driving and independent (So I'm doing some tech research on that). Even though public transportation is available, my character is too emotionally unstable to realize that he can use public transportation. But at the same time, I am not sure whether that is realistic of a character like that. Please help
razzretina 1 points 3y ago
Whew, here's a huge wall of text! XD You don't need to answer any of these here, most of these questions are just things you might want to think about as you work on the story. I'm happy to go into more detail or explain other things if you want, just ask. :)
It sounds like in this society he really doesn't have much reason to be angry over being blind. Frustrated, sure, but self loathing and hating his sight loss over one thing, I'm not sure that's very realistic. Also, what prevents his soul mate from being able to find him easily? And why is this the first time in history where it's being noted that there's a problem with finding a soul mate when you're disabled? If this is an evovlved trait, wouldn't this have happened to hundreds of other people who are blind? What about people with perfectly functioning eyes but brain or optic nerve damage that effects how they see? As of now, there are about 500,000 blind people in the United States alone and several million of us worldwide, so I am very curious why your main character is the first one in history to have this issue. At the heart of the story, what is the purpose of the soul mate bond in this society? Is it worldwide/do all humans have this? Is the bond technology or biology or both? Why are certain people paired together (is it for breeding purposes? For social ones? Something else?)? What about asexual people, or polyamorous ones? Does the soul mate thing ever lead to someone being life bonded to an abusive partner?
As far as reading/writing goes, is there some reason he doesn't use braille or a screen reader or a print scanner on his phone? We have technology now that can read and translate human hand writing. It's not always the most accurate, but if this story is in the future, there's no reason it wouldn't be very accurate. I have the same questions about people carrying paper, too; why not have an ID chip or implant with that information so it doesn't get lost?
More blind people use canes than dogs, but if you want him to have a dog, write in that dog! :) Just be aware that using a guide dog IS as complicated as using a white cane and the relationship between dog and handler is a very deep one that is a lot more than just a dog and its master. I've had three guide dogs and I put my life in their care every time we go outside together; my dogs have saved me from being run over more times than I can count and I trust them to do things I would never trust another person to. I highly recommend reading Thunderdog, First Lady of the Seeing Eye, and Before Tuesday (not a guide dog but the relationship between Tuesday and her soldier is very similar) for good perspective on guide dogs and just because they're three really great, true stories. (Keep some tissues handy though. XD)
Personally, I would leave out echolocation for now. It's not very widely used among the blind and when it is the user is still using a white cane or guide dog with it. Right now it's kind of still in development and research and there's a lot of controversy surrounding it within the blind community. It might just make your story a bit too complicated and you don't necessarily want to distract from everything you have to explain with the soul mate stuff by having to explain this, too.
Blindness alone would not be enough to make your character so emotionally unstable that he can't travel. In fact, a big part of what all of us learn as blind people from a very young age is how to navigate and travel safely. We're humans first and foremost and we like to go out, to socialize, to watch movies by ourselves, etc. Depending on the state of the world in this future, I would imagine that transportation is something everyone has access to and it's definitely something your character would, realistically, have been trained to use (possibly better than most people; I know I get asked to be the "GPS" for my friends/family any time they visit my town because I know where I'm going here). If your character lives alone, he absolutely has to be able to get himself food and do all the things able bodied people do to function (pay bills, have friends, have hobbies, etc). What does this guy do for fun? What was his home life like before the story? Who are his friends? Is he still in touch with people he met at the guide dog school or where he went to school growing up? Etc.
Regarding phone technology, even today most of us use smart phones with text to speech screen readers that translate the words into a computer voice. Some people use Siri and voice commands, but just as many of us only use the screen reader. Here's a really quick and dirty video about using a screen reader I made just now. XD If anything doesn't make sense feel free to keep asking questions! :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn2_iyZa9eU
It sounds like in this society he really doesn't have much reason to be angry over being blind. Frustrated, sure, but self loathing and hating his sight loss over one thing, I'm not sure that's very realistic. Also, what prevents his soul mate from being able to find him easily? And why is this the first time in history where it's being noted that there's a problem with finding a soul mate when you're disabled? If this is an evovlved trait, wouldn't this have happened to hundreds of other people who are blind? What about people with perfectly functioning eyes but brain or optic nerve damage that effects how they see? As of now, there are about 500,000 blind people in the United States alone and several million of us worldwide, so I am very curious why your main character is the first one in history to have this issue. At the heart of the story, what is the purpose of the soul mate bond in this society? Is it worldwide/do all humans have this? Is the bond technology or biology or both? Why are certain people paired together (is it for breeding purposes? For social ones? Something else?)? What about asexual people, or polyamorous ones? Does the soul mate thing ever lead to someone being life bonded to an abusive partner?
As far as reading/writing goes, is there some reason he doesn't use braille or a screen reader or a print scanner on his phone? We have technology now that can read and translate human hand writing. It's not always the most accurate, but if this story is in the future, there's no reason it wouldn't be very accurate. I have the same questions about people carrying paper, too; why not have an ID chip or implant with that information so it doesn't get lost?
More blind people use canes than dogs, but if you want him to have a dog, write in that dog! :) Just be aware that using a guide dog IS as complicated as using a white cane and the relationship between dog and handler is a very deep one that is a lot more than just a dog and its master. I've had three guide dogs and I put my life in their care every time we go outside together; my dogs have saved me from being run over more times than I can count and I trust them to do things I would never trust another person to. I highly recommend reading Thunderdog, First Lady of the Seeing Eye, and Before Tuesday (not a guide dog but the relationship between Tuesday and her soldier is very similar) for good perspective on guide dogs and just because they're three really great, true stories. (Keep some tissues handy though. XD)
Personally, I would leave out echolocation for now. It's not very widely used among the blind and when it is the user is still using a white cane or guide dog with it. Right now it's kind of still in development and research and there's a lot of controversy surrounding it within the blind community. It might just make your story a bit too complicated and you don't necessarily want to distract from everything you have to explain with the soul mate stuff by having to explain this, too.
Blindness alone would not be enough to make your character so emotionally unstable that he can't travel. In fact, a big part of what all of us learn as blind people from a very young age is how to navigate and travel safely. We're humans first and foremost and we like to go out, to socialize, to watch movies by ourselves, etc. Depending on the state of the world in this future, I would imagine that transportation is something everyone has access to and it's definitely something your character would, realistically, have been trained to use (possibly better than most people; I know I get asked to be the "GPS" for my friends/family any time they visit my town because I know where I'm going here). If your character lives alone, he absolutely has to be able to get himself food and do all the things able bodied people do to function (pay bills, have friends, have hobbies, etc). What does this guy do for fun? What was his home life like before the story? Who are his friends? Is he still in touch with people he met at the guide dog school or where he went to school growing up? Etc.
Regarding phone technology, even today most of us use smart phones with text to speech screen readers that translate the words into a computer voice. Some people use Siri and voice commands, but just as many of us only use the screen reader. Here's a really quick and dirty video about using a screen reader I made just now. XD If anything doesn't make sense feel free to keep asking questions! :)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rn2_iyZa9eU
aristapop [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Thank you so much for your advice!! To answer a few of those questions :
1) even tho there are a lot of blind people, their stories are often not known bc media doesnt cover them. So even tho its not the first time its happenned, he is not aware of it. Its definitely not the first time, but I wanted to show in a world like this, that this is how blind people struggle almost.
2) auto pilot is very common in cars, but its kinda like tesla autopilot. Indepently self-driving cars are reaaallly expensive and his family cant afford it
3) hes been babied by his mother, (which kinda covers my own ass tbh). Bc of this hes kinda like, lost almost. His ability to do things hasnt been taught nor helped by his mom. And his mom is kinda like an ‘ill do everything for you bc i feel bad’ kind of person. Bc she does this, he kinda wallows in self-despair of how dependent he is due to his blindness. At first he is cynical about the seeing world, he doesnt really develop a lot of self-hate over his blindness specifically until he has experienced what sight is like through his soulmates eyes. His soulmate travels a lot, so he gets to see a lot of amazing scenery which at first hes like ‘thats really cool’ but after each switch, hes again, blind and hes all like ‘i dont like this, this sucks’ if that makes sense.
4) the soulmate thing is purely biological, and researchers havent really found a reason why. Buts its with ALL humans (barring a few, whom if you dont have a soulmate youre shunned from society)
5) his soulmate will experience blindness, which makes it really hard to find them. There hasnt been technology to read the visuals biologically, so even if his soulmate were to show their contact, he wont know what it is(as he cant read) and even if he were to take out his info, his soulmate wouldnt be able to read it bc they are experiencing his blindness
6) the soulmate bond has become very important, as they register ppl who are soulmates (kinda like how for taxes you list whether youre married or not) and the importance is similar to religion. Like how back during the christian crusades, if you werent christian you died (if that makes sense?). Im debating as to include soul-mate as a variable in credit score, as to make it more important. But I am unsure
7) for those who are asexual/poly, it isnt common to have multiple soulmates at once, but changing of soulmates have never happenned. Soulmates arent required to have sex, but to have sex w someone who isnt your soulmate (as well as married) is illegal
8) the average person starts the Switch at 14, in the story he is 17, and is frustrated that he doesnt have one as all of his classmates do. He also deals with a lot of bullying at school due to his lack of soulmate and vision
9) He has a phone where everything is done via voice command, and can read things to him. So txts and calls arent a concern. Regular day-day navigation isnt an issue for him (other then traveling via car)
Hopefully that clears things up!! I will be reading (and watching) the info youve sent me!! If it still isnt clear shoot me a DM if youre willing to help me a little more haha. Bc i personally feel that this is enough to justify his dilemma, if it isnt realistic however, I would gladly accept help for it.
1) even tho there are a lot of blind people, their stories are often not known bc media doesnt cover them. So even tho its not the first time its happenned, he is not aware of it. Its definitely not the first time, but I wanted to show in a world like this, that this is how blind people struggle almost.
2) auto pilot is very common in cars, but its kinda like tesla autopilot. Indepently self-driving cars are reaaallly expensive and his family cant afford it
3) hes been babied by his mother, (which kinda covers my own ass tbh). Bc of this hes kinda like, lost almost. His ability to do things hasnt been taught nor helped by his mom. And his mom is kinda like an ‘ill do everything for you bc i feel bad’ kind of person. Bc she does this, he kinda wallows in self-despair of how dependent he is due to his blindness. At first he is cynical about the seeing world, he doesnt really develop a lot of self-hate over his blindness specifically until he has experienced what sight is like through his soulmates eyes. His soulmate travels a lot, so he gets to see a lot of amazing scenery which at first hes like ‘thats really cool’ but after each switch, hes again, blind and hes all like ‘i dont like this, this sucks’ if that makes sense.
4) the soulmate thing is purely biological, and researchers havent really found a reason why. Buts its with ALL humans (barring a few, whom if you dont have a soulmate youre shunned from society)
5) his soulmate will experience blindness, which makes it really hard to find them. There hasnt been technology to read the visuals biologically, so even if his soulmate were to show their contact, he wont know what it is(as he cant read) and even if he were to take out his info, his soulmate wouldnt be able to read it bc they are experiencing his blindness
6) the soulmate bond has become very important, as they register ppl who are soulmates (kinda like how for taxes you list whether youre married or not) and the importance is similar to religion. Like how back during the christian crusades, if you werent christian you died (if that makes sense?). Im debating as to include soul-mate as a variable in credit score, as to make it more important. But I am unsure
7) for those who are asexual/poly, it isnt common to have multiple soulmates at once, but changing of soulmates have never happenned. Soulmates arent required to have sex, but to have sex w someone who isnt your soulmate (as well as married) is illegal
8) the average person starts the Switch at 14, in the story he is 17, and is frustrated that he doesnt have one as all of his classmates do. He also deals with a lot of bullying at school due to his lack of soulmate and vision
9) He has a phone where everything is done via voice command, and can read things to him. So txts and calls arent a concern. Regular day-day navigation isnt an issue for him (other then traveling via car)
Hopefully that clears things up!! I will be reading (and watching) the info youve sent me!! If it still isnt clear shoot me a DM if youre willing to help me a little more haha. Bc i personally feel that this is enough to justify his dilemma, if it isnt realistic however, I would gladly accept help for it.
KillerLag 1 points 3y ago
Generally speaking, if someone has the skills to get a guide dog, they should already have decent skills with a cane. You need better than average skills for a guide dog, since you need to keep your orientation, but you don't have a cane to check for surfaces and such. You'll often pay more attention to the sound to get oriented.
aristapop [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Thank you so much! In your personal opinion, do you think that in an undefined amount of centuries into the future, another form of navigating for the blind will appear? If so what? Any ideas will be helpful.
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