Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Where to learn about this community? (self.Blind)
submitted by CJIrving
Hey guys,
I'm a screenwriter form the UK and I'm currently in the research phase for a screenplay that has a character that loses their vision through the film.
I've already learned a lot just going through YouTube (A lot of Molly Burke), there's a Twitch streamer called BlindlyPlaysGames that I've been watching/ asking questions to for months, I've also been in contact with the RSBC (Royal Society for Blind Children) who've given me a lot of research material, but I'm always looking to learn more. I'd like to have reality inform the script, I know roughly how I want the characters diagnoses/ journey to go, but would rather change the story to reflect reality than vice versa.
Are there any podcasts, books, YouTube channels or other things that you'd recommend? In the story it's an 18 year old, just finished their exams and they're waiting for their results when they find out rather suddenly that they're losing their sight(subject to change to be medically accurate). Really interested in hearing experiences/ the day to day of teenagers/ younger people who've gone through this experience and how they dealt with it. Likewise interested in hearing experiences from friends/ family of people in those situations to better inform the other characters in the rest of the story.
Hope you don't mind me coming here and asking, I'm sure you guys get the same questions over and over and didn't want to add to that. Hope you're all keeping safe during quarantine and have a great day :)
I'm a screenwriter form the UK and I'm currently in the research phase for a screenplay that has a character that loses their vision through the film.
I've already learned a lot just going through YouTube (A lot of Molly Burke), there's a Twitch streamer called BlindlyPlaysGames that I've been watching/ asking questions to for months, I've also been in contact with the RSBC (Royal Society for Blind Children) who've given me a lot of research material, but I'm always looking to learn more. I'd like to have reality inform the script, I know roughly how I want the characters diagnoses/ journey to go, but would rather change the story to reflect reality than vice versa.
Are there any podcasts, books, YouTube channels or other things that you'd recommend? In the story it's an 18 year old, just finished their exams and they're waiting for their results when they find out rather suddenly that they're losing their sight(subject to change to be medically accurate). Really interested in hearing experiences/ the day to day of teenagers/ younger people who've gone through this experience and how they dealt with it. Likewise interested in hearing experiences from friends/ family of people in those situations to better inform the other characters in the rest of the story.
Hope you don't mind me coming here and asking, I'm sure you guys get the same questions over and over and didn't want to add to that. Hope you're all keeping safe during quarantine and have a great day :)
DrillInstructorJan 3 points 3y ago
The first thing is to realise that you will never please everyone. Even if you wrote basically a documentary about a real person's experiences, you'd still have a thousand people saying that wasn't representative of them and they'd be right, because everyone's different. People react to sight loss in totally different ways. Some people get scared and quiet, some people get angry and loud, and almost everyone touches on those extremes at some point. In the long term people tend to even out somewhere sensible but even then everyone's different.
The thing is, it's totally possible to be blind and stupid, and there are a lot of stupid people who will tell you that you are evil because you did not precisely represent them and their life. Don't be afraid to tell these people pretty firmly that you did your homework and your story is at least a representation of some plausible person's life.
All of that aside... I lost my sight when I was 19 very suddenly in a car accident. I wouldn't necessarily suggest you use my example because it comes off as melodramatic so the suggestions you've had are probably the best idea. If it helps I have also mentored three people around that age who have gone through similar things and I would be totally happy to get involved and talk through stuff. Drop me a private message if you like.
The thing is, it's totally possible to be blind and stupid, and there are a lot of stupid people who will tell you that you are evil because you did not precisely represent them and their life. Don't be afraid to tell these people pretty firmly that you did your homework and your story is at least a representation of some plausible person's life.
All of that aside... I lost my sight when I was 19 very suddenly in a car accident. I wouldn't necessarily suggest you use my example because it comes off as melodramatic so the suggestions you've had are probably the best idea. If it helps I have also mentored three people around that age who have gone through similar things and I would be totally happy to get involved and talk through stuff. Drop me a private message if you like.
CJIrving [OP] 1 points 3y ago
Thank you, have sent a PM :)
Pickleweede 3 points 3y ago
I would suggest contacting Saime Higson. She's a blind British actress and playwright, and would have lots of great info for you about the blind community, plus her background may be of an advantage as you said you're a screenwriter.
JackEsq 3 points 3y ago
>In the story it's an 18 year old, just finished their exams and they're waiting for their results when they find out rather suddenly that they're losing their sight(subject to change to be medically accurate).
You might want to look into Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropothy (LHON) which causes sudden loss of central vision in one eye, followed by the other relatively quickly (within months). Also the onset is in the age range you are looking for.
$1
You might want to look into Leber's Hereditary Optic Neuropothy (LHON) which causes sudden loss of central vision in one eye, followed by the other relatively quickly (within months). Also the onset is in the age range you are looking for.
$1
CJIrving [OP] 1 points 3y ago
That's a great suggestion, thank you! I know there's a whole range of causes that lead to vary degrees of vision impairment, but this seems very close to what I wanted at least in terms of narrative timeline.
JackEsq 2 points 3y ago
My understanding is most causes of blindness are either present at birth or more gradual loss over time with later onset, whereas this one is comparatively sudden happening over weeks and months rather than years.
noaimpara 2 points 3y ago
There’s this youtube channel called Life After Sight Loss and it’s honestly great to learn about that kind of stuff.
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