My mom started to go blind in her thirties and I was around 10 at the time. My mom couldn’t drive us anywhere but that was fine because she did everything else she could. She is a great mom was the more involved parent despite not being able to see as much. We don’t know if her Condition will pass on to any of us kids but I won’t resent her if it does. If anything I’m inspired to see as much as possible if it does happen one day.

I will say the one thing I didn’t like about my mom is that she hid her blindness from others and got to the point where she won’t go anywhere without her kids to walk next to her. I think this is a common occurrence with blind people, also referred to as not coming out of the closet. My advice is to get as much help as you can and be open about your limitations to your kids and to others. My mom missed a lot of experiences due to her perceived embarrassment over her blindness and it makes me sad for her.

Both my parents are blind. My dad had some sight when i was younger.

They couldn't drive me places, so we walked or took the bus.

They're good parents. They looked after me, read to me. My handwriting is admittedly bad, but my math skills are pretty damn good; i did very well in school.
Because my parents took the time to invest in me, help when they could and sought help in the times they couldn't, just like any parent should.

They also taught me, just by being themselves, not to let a disability hold you back. And that is an invaluable lesson.

Invest your time in being a part of your childrens lives; and, if they are born blind, they have someone with experience who can help guide them to become the best possible versions of themselves.

My dad has RP and his vision has been legally blind since before I was born and lost all of his sight in my preteen years.

I absolutely adore my dad and I am incredibly close with him. He’s very intelligent so I would always go to him with concepts I didn’t understand and he’d sit with me until I understood them.

Me and my little sister always designated ourselves as his guides, and I remember feeling lucky I got an excuse to hold my dads hand in public despite being probably a bit too old! As I got older, guiding my dad around on holidays and in public lead to a lot of long conversations just us two, which I still love today.

My mum drives and I think my dad is sad that he can’t drive us places, but to be honest as a kid I never even thought about it.

We played a lot growing up, I loved building things with him, he told lots of stories, showing him my music playing. It’s sad to see my dad struggling with his blindness, but our childhood was far from disadvantaged.

I’m not sure if I inherited the same disorder yet, but I would be far from blaming my dad. I’m so glad he is my dad and a lot of my best traits are from him and his parenting.

I had a many of the same fears but, I focus on what I can do. Sounds like a cliche (sp) but my daughter needs me to be available and help her how I can, she has put more of the burden on herself to read everything to me. It has helped her. Also, having Uber and Lyft has made getting her around possible, a little pricey but possible. She does not miss anything because I don’t drive. It’s a touch situation but love will get you through it.

My mom is the strongest person I know. I cannot imagine a better mom. She's also legally blind and has been since before I came around. Of course, I could never know this but I actually feel her blindness made her a better mom.

My mom taught me more about overcoming challenges than anyone else in my life, because she's an expert at it herself.

One observation that really stood out to my sister and I is in regards to driving. Obviously, she has never driven (except in her teens illegally cause her sister took her somewhere she couldn't hit anything and I'm super thankful for my aunt for giving her that experience no matter how bad of an idea it was!!) Anyways, my sister and I were raised looking at driving as independence. If we could drive, we could work, we could get ourselves out of bad situations, we could travel we could go anywhere. Now that I'm grown I see other women afraid to drive expressways or in the cities. Not me! And that emphasis my mom put on independence? Carried over way beyond just driving. My sister and I are college educated, successful in our careers and have both traveled internationally extensively. We are married, but not dependent on our spouses. I honestly don't know if I would have if it wasn't for my mom's voice in my head to see the world because she can't.

Being raised by a person with a disability is a blessing. It's taught me to judge a person by their character not their disability, it's taught me compassion, it's taught me to adapt and overcome.

Be confident that you will be a great mom. That it is not vision nor lack thereof that will determine the type of mom you will be. And know this, I am trying for a kid now and I wonder if I will be a good enough mom. Those nerves are common to all of us. You aren't alone.

Don't worry, you got this!

I am lossing my sight and my kids are teenagers. I’m already chronically ill and I do “too much” in their opinion. Not mine. I always believe I can do more. I give till it hurts literally lol. So I think kids adapt. I mean I try and stay funny and positive about life. I wasn’t always this way but I go to counseling and so do they. We, I should say I have been homeschooling one for 8 years now and I haven’t driven any of that time. We work around other people’s schedules and it can be a hassle but we do our part helping out other families and working with my husband’s schedule. You are a blessing to your kids if you have them, as I understand you haven’t had any yet, if you teach them that life is a blessing. I don’t if what’s happening to me can be pasted on but I hope my kids will always try and find hope and love in life not the fear and pain. I hope that’s what they see in me.

I can empathize with your concerns. I'm also legally blind but not totally blind, and my wife and I have been talking about trying to have kids.

I was diagnosed at a young age, and it was hard. Other kids can be cruel, and the school system in the US can be pretty terrible for getting kids what they need.

I'm thirty now, and and my vision has only gotten worse over time. I've dealt with members if my wife questioning her decision to be with me.


They'd ask "Who is going to take care of you?" Her answer: "We will."

and they'd ask "What if your kids are blind?" Her answer: "Then he is uniquely qualified to help raise them."

There's a LOT of stigma against parents with disabilities, as if they're somehow less qualified or less able to care for their children. It's an awful, terrible feeling to think others are judging you poorly for things you cannot control, But in the end, the fact that your first question was not about how others see you, and rather "will my children be at a disadvantage" speaks volumes for the empathy and care you're willing to give to your future children.

**Will you be a perfect parent?** Hell no, because nobody is.

**Will your kids be at a disadvantage because you can't drive?** Probably, but you can still lead by example and show them how to use whatever resources you can to get what you need. There's no shame in that.

**And will your kids hate you if you pass your disability on to them?** I seriously doubt it. I inherited my father's colon problems, my mother's liver problems, and both of their ADHD, all of which have serious impacts on my daily life. But they also passed on a lot of good things to me as well, like empathy, compassion, and an ability to withstand a lot of adversity, and while it took me reaching adulthood to see that, it was worth the wait for all of us.

I have been legally blind since birth, and had the opportunity to drive for about 20 years of my life using low vision aids. My children were used to the fact that I couldn’t drive everywhere when they wanted duty restrictions or my personal comfort level although sometimes I felt one of them in particular were a lot more resentful than the rest. However, they saw in their father a very strong, confident, hard-working person throughout their childhood and into their young adulthood. I think it was harder for me when the ability to be able to drive suddenly came crashing to a halt. Not literally, mind you, but the ability stopped suddenly. Although I didn’t really have much support from my children as I went through the psychological despair and pain associated with not having your independence anymore and my “resentful one“ likes to use the fact that my wife and I both are visually impaired against us, we do just fine. Ridesharing, being able to have things delivered, and as just being able to navigate our local bus system is our blessing. We don’t have to depend on anyone if we choose not to. Life may take us to another location in the future, and in doing so, the burden on others will disappear. Be strong! You can, you will, and your children will respect you!If not, just let me know, and as a martial arts instructor, I will teach them respect.

I think it‘s perfectly possible to be a good parent if you‘re blind.
Personally, my disease is genetic and I really wouldn‘t want to pass it on.

I am also legally blind... I personally think that my future children are lucky to have me... They will have a father who despite facing adversity is successful and a good parent/role model