Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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The Concept Of Sight, It’s Amazing. (self.Blind)
submitted by chimmichim
Hello, I have no idea what it means but everyone’s calling me OP, so I’ll stick with that as a name.
I was born fully blind, but it never bothered me that much. I never experienced sight, so I wasn’t really that sad about not having it. But the things some people do, it just makes me want to scrape their eyes out. You’ll see just why you can’t pet my dog after that.
The concept of sight, it’s really amazing. And pretty unbelievable for me. The fact that people can do something like that, and that there are more than 2 colors. Everything about it really. I can kind of understand what things are like by feeling them, of course but it doesn’t feel enough.
I don’t like vehicles, I find them scary. They are these shaky things, that are supposed to move much faster than us. Maybe it’s different when you’re a sighty, but I feel like I’m entering a new dimension. Kinda scary eh?
School has always been hard for me, but I had understanding friends at least. But when you’re in college, you either find yourself a group of friends that are willing to get you to your building/class, or you listen to a law class while you should’ve been in a psychology class. My dog knows the important stuff, like bathrooms, stairs, doors etc. he’s trying his best to understand my schedule, but I can understand how hard it can be when it’s this hard for me. Even if I only have to memorize the class name and the door number. My college is pretty big, it has about 13 buildings for different purposes.
The terror, of crossing the street. I’ve been alive for 19 years, bur never in my life have I ever not panicked while doing so. My hearing isn’t bad, but it’s not magnificent either. So when I have to listen to the cars, I always panic. I sometimes tell my dog to find me a person, and ask them to tell me when the light turns green. There are things that make sounds on some streets, boy do I love them. No need to panic, just listen and do as they say.
Wow this was so oot, but what are your thoughts on sight? Do you remember your experience, or what do you think it feels like?
I was born fully blind, but it never bothered me that much. I never experienced sight, so I wasn’t really that sad about not having it. But the things some people do, it just makes me want to scrape their eyes out. You’ll see just why you can’t pet my dog after that.
The concept of sight, it’s really amazing. And pretty unbelievable for me. The fact that people can do something like that, and that there are more than 2 colors. Everything about it really. I can kind of understand what things are like by feeling them, of course but it doesn’t feel enough.
I don’t like vehicles, I find them scary. They are these shaky things, that are supposed to move much faster than us. Maybe it’s different when you’re a sighty, but I feel like I’m entering a new dimension. Kinda scary eh?
School has always been hard for me, but I had understanding friends at least. But when you’re in college, you either find yourself a group of friends that are willing to get you to your building/class, or you listen to a law class while you should’ve been in a psychology class. My dog knows the important stuff, like bathrooms, stairs, doors etc. he’s trying his best to understand my schedule, but I can understand how hard it can be when it’s this hard for me. Even if I only have to memorize the class name and the door number. My college is pretty big, it has about 13 buildings for different purposes.
The terror, of crossing the street. I’ve been alive for 19 years, bur never in my life have I ever not panicked while doing so. My hearing isn’t bad, but it’s not magnificent either. So when I have to listen to the cars, I always panic. I sometimes tell my dog to find me a person, and ask them to tell me when the light turns green. There are things that make sounds on some streets, boy do I love them. No need to panic, just listen and do as they say.
Wow this was so oot, but what are your thoughts on sight? Do you remember your experience, or what do you think it feels like?
codeplaysleep 4 points 3y ago
It sounds like you have some anxiety that may be holding you back more than your blindness. Riding in a vehicle shouldn't cause fear. You shouldn't be afraid or have to find other people to safely cross the street, especially if you have a guide dog.
It's not your dog's job to know your route. The dog's job is to keep you safe while you walk it. You do route planning and practice it, you listen to the flow of traffic, and use environmental cues to help orient yourself. If you take a wrong turn, you stop and orient yourself to your surroundings and make corrections. A college campus with 13 buildings is *tiny*. I went to a "small" school and it was 75 buildings on 1,600 acres.
It sounds like you could benefit from some more O&M training, and possibly some therapy to help manage your anxiety.
It's not your dog's job to know your route. The dog's job is to keep you safe while you walk it. You do route planning and practice it, you listen to the flow of traffic, and use environmental cues to help orient yourself. If you take a wrong turn, you stop and orient yourself to your surroundings and make corrections. A college campus with 13 buildings is *tiny*. I went to a "small" school and it was 75 buildings on 1,600 acres.
It sounds like you could benefit from some more O&M training, and possibly some therapy to help manage your anxiety.
BenandGracie 3 points 3y ago
You need to find some way to deal with your anxiety. If you are scared, your dod can sense that. If you are calm and confident, your dog will be safer and do a better job.
ravenshadow2013 3 points 3y ago
I am a job coach for Vi/blind clients, I myself have limited sight meaning I cannot drive but what I do for my clients if i train them in patterns of either direction or habits that allow them to confidently travel their daily schedules without fear or threat to themselves, I might recommend that you seek out someone such as myself to help you learn the campus as well as an O&M instructor to help you more confidently travel independently
chimmichim [OP] 5 points 3y ago
My doctor has told me several times to try this out, but I don’t feel like I need it at least now. I’m also financially struggling, so getting a coach at this time will be hard. But I’m definitely considering to do so in the future.
ravenshadow2013 5 points 3y ago
the nice thing is at least if you are in the USA there are agencies that will assist you with all of these things at no cost to you, like here in Florida we have the Division of Blind Services they are the people I contract with. In other states the Vocational Rehabilitation Services that up this role. I would be more than happy to assist you in any way that I can.
chimmichim [OP] 3 points 3y ago
No, I’m not in the USA. But I never looked into the agencies in my area. I’ll try to find some, thank you.
ravenshadow2013 3 points 3y ago
I wish you the best on your journey, if you ever need advise I will be more than happy to lend an ear
CloudyBeep 1 points 3y ago
What country do you live in? I may be able to assist you in finding free services that will help you.
CloudyBeep 2 points 3y ago
OP stands for "original poster"—the person who created a post/thread/comment chain that others are replying to.
I would say that you have a very negative view of your blindness, and that you are in serious need of training to increase your confidence in your capabilities as a blind person. Your fear of vehicles is irrational. There are blind people who travel confidently and are not afraid of crossing roads; and I know of blind students who get to the right class every time without needing to rely on sighted friends.
I would say that you have a very negative view of your blindness, and that you are in serious need of training to increase your confidence in your capabilities as a blind person. Your fear of vehicles is irrational. There are blind people who travel confidently and are not afraid of crossing roads; and I know of blind students who get to the right class every time without needing to rely on sighted friends.
chimmichim [OP] 2 points 3y ago
I totally understand both of these statements. But it isn’t a must for everyone to be same. I panic all the time, anxiety is a friend of mine. But do I trust myself enough to do it? Yes I do. I won’t just change the way only because there’s a crossroad. And about the school thing, some schools have lower capacities, and some of them have braille signs. I can’t navigate myself around 19 buildings in the middle of nowhere. But I do know simple things such as, after my third class, I’ll have to walk to the left, take two right turns, and the building will be there. I only have problems when I’m trying to get from one side to another, sometimes I just mess everything up.
CloudyBeep 1 points 3y ago
There are blind people who attend very large universities. Do they complain? No. They get the training so that they can navigate confidently and independently.
There is a difference between travelling safely and travelling fearfully. When I cross a road, I listen for when it is safe to cross, and then I do so. If I stepped onto the road without listening, I would be doing something very unsafe. When I cross the road, I do so confidently and without fear because I know that I have evaluated the situation and made a good judgement based on the circumstances. My confidence means that I do not need to rely on a sighted person as there is little they can offer me that I need in this circumstance.
There is a difference between travelling safely and travelling fearfully. When I cross a road, I listen for when it is safe to cross, and then I do so. If I stepped onto the road without listening, I would be doing something very unsafe. When I cross the road, I do so confidently and without fear because I know that I have evaluated the situation and made a good judgement based on the circumstances. My confidence means that I do not need to rely on a sighted person as there is little they can offer me that I need in this circumstance.
chimmichim [OP] 2 points 3y ago
All I can see from this is that you didn’t read what I wrote at all. My hearing is not the best as well. I’ve made mistakes lots of times, now that I’m with my dog, I experience things like these less. I also have confidence in myself, if I didn’t, I wouldn’t be able to live alone right now. I travel without a sighty. I just need their help sometimes. And that’s okay, because I’m not looking down on myself when I do so. I just want to be safe, and this is my way of feeling safe.
I said this on my other comment, I’m financially struggling right now. I can’t get training, I don’t have any support. But I will look into the agencies around my region now.
I said this on my other comment, I’m financially struggling right now. I can’t get training, I don’t have any support. But I will look into the agencies around my region now.
CloudyBeep 1 points 3y ago
Most blindness agencies do not charge for training. Some do, but these are normally residential programs.
bradley22 0 points 3y ago
Good for you.
Keep doing what you’re doing and being safe.
Keep doing what you’re doing and being safe.
hopesthoughts 1 points 3y ago
I can't cross streets either, not because I don't want to, but because every time, I make perfect diagonal crossings. I tried for like 13 years or so, nothing ever worked.
oncenightvaler 1 points 3y ago
I, for one, have never had that problem of choosing to sit through a whole wrong class at college, usually only off by one room or I planned out the route to my class the week before classes started.
As for crossing streets, I can usually handle that well, it just takes more patience and attention than our sighted peers.
As to vehicles I don't usually get anxious travelling I usually travel on the bus independently at least once a week, but I hate how heavy and dangerous vehicles seem and always hearing on the news about car accidents or the chance of people getting run over.
The act of sight though is amazing, the amount of colours you mentioned, but I will never see a sunset, never know the full beauty of lakes or waterfalls, mountains, or even great architecture, paintings, and only get half of every movie experience even with described video.
As for crossing streets, I can usually handle that well, it just takes more patience and attention than our sighted peers.
As to vehicles I don't usually get anxious travelling I usually travel on the bus independently at least once a week, but I hate how heavy and dangerous vehicles seem and always hearing on the news about car accidents or the chance of people getting run over.
The act of sight though is amazing, the amount of colours you mentioned, but I will never see a sunset, never know the full beauty of lakes or waterfalls, mountains, or even great architecture, paintings, and only get half of every movie experience even with described video.
BlueRock956 1 points 3y ago
Cars are dangerous. Step in front of one, and you'll be a gonner. I trust my training, but I don't trust drivers. I recently lost a couple of friends, one was ran over by a car and the other crashed with a drunk driver.
RIP Mike and Tommy.
RIP Mike and Tommy.
BlindWarriorGurl 1 points 3y ago
Finally somebody else who thinks this! It's kinda like everyone has a super power except you.
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