Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Confused About Our Abilities (self.Blind)
submitted by rayact
It's quite obvious that most sighted people don't understand our abilities. But I would go as far to say that, sometimes, neither do we.
I was born with displaced lenses, astigmatism, nystagmus, ocular albinism, cone-rod dystrophy, and glaucoma. I've been told that my right eye is 20/300 and my left is 20/400. I am unable to drive (legally). I can't see my phone unless it's an inch away from my face. Reading for any extended period of time can be very strenuous. Recognizing people is nearly impossible without hearing their voices. Even something as simple as opening doors can prove to be pretty awkward.
I can see well enough to navigate around big obstacles and people. I am able to hide the fact that I am legally blind as long as I don't mind not seeing some things (up close) and I leave my cane at home. (I have even pretended to look at tv screens in restaurants and such even though I couldn't see anything on them.) I have been able to skateboard since I was little and now own an electric skateboard that tops out at 24 mph. I love playing basketball and am pretty good at it. Though I can't see the details of the goal (rim, net, etc), I can see the big blurry rectangle. I am also a photographer and a graphic designer.
The list of what I can and can't do could go on but I think I've made my point. If the things I said about my vision and what I'm unable to do are true then how is electric skateboarding and playing basketball even possible? How can I be blind and a photographer? Some of this is due to me being legally blind instead of fully blind. But most of my abilities are possible because I wasn't afraid to try and fail over and over until I figured it out. Of course being blind can be scary and uncomfortable even if we've been blind our whole lives. Perhaps that's why we're able to surprise others with our abilities. We're very familiar with the discomfort of navigating through a society made for sighted people every day. This means that some discomforts aren't as uncomfortable for us (if that makes any sense). We struggle and adapt.
The confusion lies in finding the end of our disability and the beginning of our abilities. I would have never known I could be a professional photographer if I let my disability define my abilities.
To this day there are many things that I have categorized as "impossible" that are within my reach. And I don't think I'm the only one. It wasn't until I saw others doing things that should be "impossible" for them to do that I began to expand my own abilities.
Your abilities are not as finite as you think. You could very well change people's lives without even knowing it. If you made it this far, lets get out there and share our perspectives!
I was born with displaced lenses, astigmatism, nystagmus, ocular albinism, cone-rod dystrophy, and glaucoma. I've been told that my right eye is 20/300 and my left is 20/400. I am unable to drive (legally). I can't see my phone unless it's an inch away from my face. Reading for any extended period of time can be very strenuous. Recognizing people is nearly impossible without hearing their voices. Even something as simple as opening doors can prove to be pretty awkward.
I can see well enough to navigate around big obstacles and people. I am able to hide the fact that I am legally blind as long as I don't mind not seeing some things (up close) and I leave my cane at home. (I have even pretended to look at tv screens in restaurants and such even though I couldn't see anything on them.) I have been able to skateboard since I was little and now own an electric skateboard that tops out at 24 mph. I love playing basketball and am pretty good at it. Though I can't see the details of the goal (rim, net, etc), I can see the big blurry rectangle. I am also a photographer and a graphic designer.
The list of what I can and can't do could go on but I think I've made my point. If the things I said about my vision and what I'm unable to do are true then how is electric skateboarding and playing basketball even possible? How can I be blind and a photographer? Some of this is due to me being legally blind instead of fully blind. But most of my abilities are possible because I wasn't afraid to try and fail over and over until I figured it out. Of course being blind can be scary and uncomfortable even if we've been blind our whole lives. Perhaps that's why we're able to surprise others with our abilities. We're very familiar with the discomfort of navigating through a society made for sighted people every day. This means that some discomforts aren't as uncomfortable for us (if that makes any sense). We struggle and adapt.
The confusion lies in finding the end of our disability and the beginning of our abilities. I would have never known I could be a professional photographer if I let my disability define my abilities.
To this day there are many things that I have categorized as "impossible" that are within my reach. And I don't think I'm the only one. It wasn't until I saw others doing things that should be "impossible" for them to do that I began to expand my own abilities.
Your abilities are not as finite as you think. You could very well change people's lives without even knowing it. If you made it this far, lets get out there and share our perspectives!
ravenshadow2013 4 points 3y ago
I am a contractor for the Florida department of education, I have ONH and work with blind and VI clients assisting them in obtaining and keeping employment. One of the biggest problems I face with my clients is getting them to understand that they CAN do the job duties and tasks set before them, I wish that more people would stretch their boundaries like you (and myself) it would make their lives far more full filling and show the rest of the world that we aren't meant to be tucked away in some piece work shop or worse in a home somewhere. keep on heepin on and do what you love
rayact [OP] 2 points 3y ago
Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. Wow, that is sad to hear but I'm glad you're there to help them. I've had people ask me why I even try to work so I totally get that whole "tucked away" mentality.
HezorisZid 2 points 3y ago
I’m almost in the same boat as you. I love photography and reading, my favorite pastime by far. I know what I have the ability to do and not do but I don’t always let it get to me. People don’t always get it but at this point in my life I try to see if I can get them to understand but if they don’t they don’t.
dontwriteonme 2 points 3y ago
Wow. Wow. Speechless. Needed this. I was at the peak of my art and design career when I started losing my eyesight. Had to quit everything. Currently working on getting back into things. Wow dude. I'm just so inspired. I just...wow. THANK YOU.
Do you have a place where I can take a peek at your work?
Do you have a place where I can take a peek at your work?
rayact [OP] 1 points 3y ago
I'm so happy that this has inspired you! These kind of amazing interactions are what make everything difficult about being blind worth it. I'll send you a few things I've been working on.
Envrin 2 points 3y ago
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I've been totally blind 3.5 years now, and I find this aspect is really starting to get under my nerves. I remember what is was like being able to see, and how people treated me when I was sighted.
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I have to admit, it's quite the contrast from how people treat me today, and it's getting really annoying. I just go out and about doing my thing, and go to the mall to do some shopping for example, and it's quite obvious people just assume I'm some mutant or "special case", or even worse that I'm homeless and / or dangerous. All the while in reality I'm running a small software firm, have clients that I'm responsible for who have probably a combined total of a few hundred thousand dollars flowing through their operations daily, I have various contractors who work for me, I'm working hard on launching an open source software platform which I'm sure will do great, I've lived and travelled all over the world, and so on.
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Yet, I head out to the mall to grab some things, and it's pretty obvious how many people view some blind dude making his way in life. I wouldn't say it angers me yet, because that's a strong work, but it's starting to get under my skin.
I've been totally blind 3.5 years now, and I find this aspect is really starting to get under my nerves. I remember what is was like being able to see, and how people treated me when I was sighted.
​
I have to admit, it's quite the contrast from how people treat me today, and it's getting really annoying. I just go out and about doing my thing, and go to the mall to do some shopping for example, and it's quite obvious people just assume I'm some mutant or "special case", or even worse that I'm homeless and / or dangerous. All the while in reality I'm running a small software firm, have clients that I'm responsible for who have probably a combined total of a few hundred thousand dollars flowing through their operations daily, I have various contractors who work for me, I'm working hard on launching an open source software platform which I'm sure will do great, I've lived and travelled all over the world, and so on.
​
Yet, I head out to the mall to grab some things, and it's pretty obvious how many people view some blind dude making his way in life. I wouldn't say it angers me yet, because that's a strong work, but it's starting to get under my skin.
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