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Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2020 - 01 - 04 - ID#ek81xp
7
Do you feel isolated and left out because of your vision (self.Blind)
submitted by [deleted]
[deleted]
DrillInstructorJan 2 points 3y ago
First of all it isn't as bad as people sometimes make out. I had sight until I was 19 and it's not as if everyone who can see has all the friends they can handle. You still have to be nice when meeting new people. Yes it is harder if you have some obvious issue that people will notice, but it's not that bad. I've done it both ways, and I can tell you it doesn't make a massive difference if you make an effort to be friendly. This is one of those things that people blow up all out of proportion.

I will sometimes wear sunglasses when I can just so I can sit at a bar and have a normal conversation with strangers. I am told when I do that I don't look different to anyone else, so I have pretty normal body language. Unfortunately I live in the UK where the weather this time of year is not very ray ban friendly but that's okay.

One trick is to get to know people by phone or online or whatever, via voice chat so you can set up some sort of acquaintance before you meet. Sometimes I worry this feels like I'm springing it on them and leaving things out of an earlier conversation, but it's way easier on them in the long run. It's much easier to say hi, I'm this person you know, and oh by the way let me drop the bomb on you that I can't see, rather than open with it. Then they know you're a person first. I learned this when I used to work for a big company and sort of did it without thinking. Sometimes I'd meet people in person I'd known for ages on the phone and they'd be surprised, and I was left thinking - hey, this is the right way to handle this.
ybs90012 1 points 3y ago
Thank you for your help I appreciate your advice. By the way I also love in the UK too.
KillerLag 2 points 3y ago
That is quite common, unfortunately. Most people have had minimal interaction with people with vision loss, so they don't always know what to say. Another common issue is people assume you don't have similiar interests to them, because you can't see. It doesn't occur to most people that there have been adaptions to most things.
ukifrit 1 points 3y ago
I feel very left out by girls, they never seem to find me interesting.
ybs90012 2 points 3y ago
Really, I always thought that it was slightly easier for girls
ukifrit 1 points 3y ago
I'm a boy. And, to be honest, it's a bit easier to interact with girls for some reason, but they often don't see me as someone to engage in a romantic relationship.
RJHand 1 points 3y ago
Nope. Not often anyway. In high school I did a lot more than I do now in college, but I think thats because of who I chose to hang out with. I think that goes for anyone, if you find the write people you won't be left out because they'll be smart enough or mature enough to accept you as just another person..
autistictechgirl1990 1 points 3y ago
I used to but it’s down to me being autistic as well that I struggle socially more than the visual impairment 
ybs90012 1 points 3y ago
I think I might be on the spectrum to
autistictechgirl1990 1 points 3y ago
U could b by ur post. There seems to b a connection depending on the cause of sight loss mine is Lebers Amaurosis and because it’s genetic I have other affects such as kidney disease and there has been a link discovered with the condition and autism
ybs90012 2 points 3y ago
I'll get it checked out
theawesomeaquarist 1 points 3y ago
I feel very left out
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