Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Does anyone here sometimes forget that they’re visually impaired ? (self.Blind)
submitted by Type_ya_name_here
This may sound a bit silly but every now and then i find myself forgetting that i’m visually impaired. TBH i’m legally blind and have several resources to help me with mobility and independence.
However I sometimes notice people doing things that are so outside of what i’m comfortable doing. For example i’ll notice someone slipping between moving cars on the road, using a computer without magnificatiorin or riding a bike alone super fast. It then hits me that not everyone perceives the world like me. I’ve had low vision for the last 30 years - so it’s not new lol
However I sometimes notice people doing things that are so outside of what i’m comfortable doing. For example i’ll notice someone slipping between moving cars on the road, using a computer without magnificatiorin or riding a bike alone super fast. It then hits me that not everyone perceives the world like me. I’ve had low vision for the last 30 years - so it’s not new lol
Pacificem 12 points 3y ago
I am only blind in one eye but I forget all the time. And then I run into someone with my cart at Costco and get reminded really quickly!😊
ElfjeTinkerBell 5 points 3y ago
Blind in one eye as well. At least you get the reminder. I'm just confused why it happened, every single time.
crayonearrings 3 points 3y ago
Yep. The whole running into someone with a cart thing quickly reminds me that I’m legally blind.
blackberrybunny 7 points 3y ago
Sorry, but no. I NEVER forget I'm legally blind. I'm 51. I was born legally blind. I only remember how LUCKY I am to see what I can see. I never forget. It's the people around me, friends, family, etc. that tend to forget. And if I see someone jaywalking, I often laugh and remind the person I'm with that I CAN jaywalk legally, while for others, it is illegal. ;-D
macmutant 2 points 3y ago
Dang! I didn't forget about being legally blind, but did forget that we can legally jaywalk! My commute will be a little different on Monday. Thanks for the reminder.
DrillInstructorJan 5 points 3y ago
I think people expect it to sit at the front of your brain in a way that it really doesn't for me. Sometimes I'll be talking with someone and they'll suddenly get all serious and go "you will be OK, won't you?" and my reaction will be wait, what? Sure I'll be OK, what do you mean? Then you realise what they're on about. You can just laugh and go "oh sure it's all good" and try to forget about it, or you can try to explain the mental process you just went through. Best to laugh, I think. Then the other person probably realises exactly what just happened in your head, and nobody feels like the bad guy.
In the end it's like breathing, I breathe all the time but I'm only aware of it when I think about it. I'm also blind all the time, same deal.
In the end it's like breathing, I breathe all the time but I'm only aware of it when I think about it. I'm also blind all the time, same deal.
Duriello 2 points 3y ago
I used to forget before going totally blind since it wasn't an issue to anyone around me, and this is despite my visual acuity being just 10%. I didn't have to use magnification though, and the only noticeable difference between me and normal people was that I couldn't drive and had to be much closer to things in order to see the same level of detail.
I guess I just learned to live with the disability and that became part of my lifestyle. Learning to live totally blind, however, is a huge challenge that I seem unable to overcome or adapt to.
I guess I just learned to live with the disability and that became part of my lifestyle. Learning to live totally blind, however, is a huge challenge that I seem unable to overcome or adapt to.
gwynaweird 2 points 3y ago
My mom always forgets she is blind and tries to throw things to me. I really think she is just playing a long con with her Doctors though, because she unerringly hits me in the head every single time.
MilkFarmProdigy 3 points 3y ago
Maybe it’s just sheer luck? Lol As a legally blind person my aim is awful, but every now and then I hit something just right.
On a side note: what is it like to have a blind mom? Do you think it was more difficult while growing up? I’m only asking, because I currently have a 16 month old with another baby due soon. I worry that because of my handicaps that’s life will be more difficult for them.
On a side note: what is it like to have a blind mom? Do you think it was more difficult while growing up? I’m only asking, because I currently have a 16 month old with another baby due soon. I worry that because of my handicaps that’s life will be more difficult for them.
gwynaweird 3 points 3y ago
Her accuracy is like 95%. So. She has great luck.
My mom has been going blind my whole life. It wasn't so much difficult as different. It's all I've known. As an adult now, I look back and notice some things. Like my ability to read fast is because of reading off road signs before she surrendered her license. I am more aware of where I put things, making sure I remember incase she asks. I count buttons on technology...
It really gives you perspective, and some little habits that seem weird to sighted people. I touch people's backs as I walk behind, just a gentle poke or tap if I know them. If I don't, I verbalize. Movies are fun. Picking out the nuances in the background that could be plot devices that she can't see.
I can't imagine a life without my mom and her diminishing sight. I felt proud to get sighted guide training when I was 12, and now it is second nature. I'm going to learn braille soon so that when she finally becomes less stubborn I can help her.
Kids are adaptable, and changes or difficulties just become new normals.
My mom has been going blind my whole life. It wasn't so much difficult as different. It's all I've known. As an adult now, I look back and notice some things. Like my ability to read fast is because of reading off road signs before she surrendered her license. I am more aware of where I put things, making sure I remember incase she asks. I count buttons on technology...
It really gives you perspective, and some little habits that seem weird to sighted people. I touch people's backs as I walk behind, just a gentle poke or tap if I know them. If I don't, I verbalize. Movies are fun. Picking out the nuances in the background that could be plot devices that she can't see.
I can't imagine a life without my mom and her diminishing sight. I felt proud to get sighted guide training when I was 12, and now it is second nature. I'm going to learn braille soon so that when she finally becomes less stubborn I can help her.
Kids are adaptable, and changes or difficulties just become new normals.
Type_ya_name_here [OP] 2 points 3y ago
I’m going to try this with my kids. “hey dude, catch this football...”
razzretina 2 points 3y ago
Every day man, ha ha! I remember when people start talking about my dog or do something sighted that I can't do, but this is my every day and you don't pay attention to things like it when you live this way. It's like tasting your teeth; you do it constantly but you don't think about it until someone brings it up.
dgleks 2 points 3y ago
No
RJHand 2 points 3y ago
I don't personally, but I've had friends go to show me a picture or something then go oh wait... your blind.
And just to be clear I'm completely blind
And just to be clear I'm completely blind
codeplaysleep 2 points 3y ago
Forget? Not really, but there are days where the things I'm doing are either things I'm super used to doing or things where my vision doesn't matter, and on those days life's easy/fine and just doesn't affect me in any way.
bthayes1425 1 points 3y ago
I do tend to forget and I'm rather stubborn about things. But I was born with vision in my right eye only. And was told when I was young. That I would loose the sight in the right eye eventually. Something to do with the optic nerve. I was blessed and kept it up until I hit my forties. And lost most of it pretty much all at once. I have a small dot of vision right in the middle of the eye left. I had an amazing eye doctor. Who sent me to the eye institute in Indianapolis. And when he knew hey you're going to eventually loose it all. He told me he refused to prescribe a cane for me. He felt that I could figure it out without it. Because of being blind in one eye since birth. And he was right unless I'm somewhere I've never been to. Or in a large crowd. You would never guess that I'm blind. I have helped two very good friends build their homes. And I still live a active life or as my twin says I'm the coolest blind guy your ever going to meet lol. But yes I do forget
ICantThinkOfaUserr 1 points 3y ago
Yep absolutely, im visually impaired, and I'll notice people doing "normal" everyday tasks that I would never be able to do on my own because of my vision
Envrin 1 points 3y ago
There's been many times I've found myself outside in a parking lot or driveway only to remember, "oh yeah, I'm blind, I should probably go grab my cane". :-)
Laser_Lens_4 1 points 3y ago
I lost my site several years ago. There isn't a single day that I forget. I'm constantly surrounded by tech and I'm studying for computer science and that makes sure that I don't forget it even for a few moments.
macmutant 1 points 3y ago
I don't forget anymore, but often didn't think about it at all for long periods of time when I was young. No one treated me differently, so there was no reason to give it a thought. It didn't limit me. Now, speaking as a professional in my late 40s who uses various assistive devices and other resources to perform my work and generally get along in the world, I do notice all the time that I do things differently. Like you, I see others doing things outside my scope of visual capability. The big one for me these days is noticing how quickly sighted people respond to something new happening. I work in a technology environment where people are very productive with any device they can get their hands on, be it a laptop, tablet, phone, watch, or whatever. Assistive technology is slow compared to mainstream technology, even when it functions perfectly and the content is fully accessible.
OutWestTexas 1 points 3y ago
I do. I guess it has to do with the way a person thinks of themselves. I think of myself as a 55 yr old woman who happens to be legally blind. I know other people whose identity is wrapped up in their vision impairment.
Type_ya_name_here [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I don’t often think of myself as a 55 year old woman. I mean - I can try to but probably not for long.
I work in government disability support. I know several people who have their identity closely tied to who they are. It seems like a dangerous and silly way to live.
I work in government disability support. I know several people who have their identity closely tied to who they are. It seems like a dangerous and silly way to live.
ABlindManPlays 1 points 3y ago
I'll plow my shoulders into doorways all the time, forgetting that I need to slow down to accommodate the change in input. Sometimes, when I'm in a rush, I forget to deploy my cane until I'm a few steps from my door and remember that I need it to step into the parking lot and past the concrete barriers. I still look at people talking to me, forgetting that I need to angle my ears toward the person instead.
Type_ya_name_here [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Sounds like i’m in good company.
I’ll be doing my thing at the gym and then will trip over a black thing that’s laying on the black floor and will be jolted into reality. I also try to cut corners with doorways and sometimes forget to open up my cane when walking away from something or someone.
TBH though - i feel fortunate to be here now. Everyone’s got a huge mountain to climb.
I’ll be doing my thing at the gym and then will trip over a black thing that’s laying on the black floor and will be jolted into reality. I also try to cut corners with doorways and sometimes forget to open up my cane when walking away from something or someone.
TBH though - i feel fortunate to be here now. Everyone’s got a huge mountain to climb.
aaronespinozaca 1 points 3y ago
Why do you need to angle your ears toward the person instead of looking them in the eyes?
ABlindManPlays 1 points 3y ago
Helps me sort out their voice from the constant background I hear.
aaronespinozaca 0 points 3y ago
Do you have hearing loss? I know sometimes people with hearing loss do that. I have hearing loss myself and use to do it. That's bad etiquette. You need to look people in the eye's when talking to them. It's not hard to do. Just find where the sound of their voice is generally coming from.
MizzerC 1 points 3y ago
Enjoying the day in my apartment, and then I decide to open the door and step outside. Oh wait that’s where the sun exists.
Guess I’ll shut the door and wait five minutes for my eyes to adjust back to seeing again.
Guess I’ll shut the door and wait five minutes for my eyes to adjust back to seeing again.
Type_ya_name_here [OP] 2 points 3y ago
a a aim super light sensitive too. My iris’s are wrecked.
I’ll leave the house witboht my hat and glasses and BOOM - back i go.
I’ll leave the house witboht my hat and glasses and BOOM - back i go.
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