Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Misconceptions about blind people? (self.Blind)
submitted by MoonInTheSkye
Hello, I came here a couple of days ago to find out when blind people use their canes, as research for a novel I'm writing with a blind sidecharacter. Now, I've been wondering: what are some misconceptions about being blind or things the media stereotypes but are actually wrong. What are thing you hate about how blind people are generally portrayed. Any information about anything is greatly appreciated. I just want to represent being blind the correct way and I don't know any blind people in real life.
Thank you in advance for commenting and helping me!
Thank you in advance for commenting and helping me!
LadyAlleta 10 points 2y ago
* blindness is a spectrum and not just zero vision. Sometimes it's environmentally affected like lighting, sometimes it's that you don't have peripheral vision, or maybe your eyesight fluctuates bc of blood sugars or something. There's a million different ways blindness can be
* I don't want to feel your face, and I don't need to touch you to know you're there. Being legally blind I often have to guess what things are. But I don't need 1080p for your face or to touch your face. Height, weight, skin color, accent, voice, hair style, clothing styles, favorite colors, perfume, body odor, time and setting all give hints as to who someone or something is. Often if you see a black square on a wall it's a TV. Not all the time, but often enough. Guessing is part of the game for a lot of blind people.
* That being blind gives you superpowers or amazingly accurate skills in hearing/touch etc. We often rely on other senses more but we can't hear a pin drop in a crowded room with heavy metal in the background. And often times, because we pay more attention to sounds, things can be more confusing when we don't have sight to inform us where our focus should be. If in focusing on hearing my environment and when to cross a street I probably won't notice someone talking on their cellphone.
* Being blind makes you musically gifted. I cannot sing to save my life, but many think I'm good with music or listen to a lot of music because I'm blind. I often prefer silence over background music to be honest.
* The idea that being blind means you're sheltered or that you are timid. For a long time people got it in their heads that blind meant dumb or shy. Only until after Toph from Avatar the last Airbender did that change. This might just be my experience though.
* That blind people know other blind people. I lived for 22 years before I met another blind person. I wasn't given any blind aid growing up, and only after I went to college did I meet a fellow blind person.
* Not a misconception, but being told I should get Lasik. When people learn I'm blind but have residual vision they often tell me or ask me about Lasik. And tbh Lasik wouldn't work. This kinda links back to people not understanding that blindness is a spectrum.
* Getting asked if I'm lost. When I travel by myself and use a cane, I get stopped frequently by strangers asking if I'm lost.
* People assuming I have a caretaker. Many think I should automatically have a caretaker around me at all times. Or that I can't live alone.
* I don't want to feel your face, and I don't need to touch you to know you're there. Being legally blind I often have to guess what things are. But I don't need 1080p for your face or to touch your face. Height, weight, skin color, accent, voice, hair style, clothing styles, favorite colors, perfume, body odor, time and setting all give hints as to who someone or something is. Often if you see a black square on a wall it's a TV. Not all the time, but often enough. Guessing is part of the game for a lot of blind people.
* That being blind gives you superpowers or amazingly accurate skills in hearing/touch etc. We often rely on other senses more but we can't hear a pin drop in a crowded room with heavy metal in the background. And often times, because we pay more attention to sounds, things can be more confusing when we don't have sight to inform us where our focus should be. If in focusing on hearing my environment and when to cross a street I probably won't notice someone talking on their cellphone.
* Being blind makes you musically gifted. I cannot sing to save my life, but many think I'm good with music or listen to a lot of music because I'm blind. I often prefer silence over background music to be honest.
* The idea that being blind means you're sheltered or that you are timid. For a long time people got it in their heads that blind meant dumb or shy. Only until after Toph from Avatar the last Airbender did that change. This might just be my experience though.
* That blind people know other blind people. I lived for 22 years before I met another blind person. I wasn't given any blind aid growing up, and only after I went to college did I meet a fellow blind person.
* Not a misconception, but being told I should get Lasik. When people learn I'm blind but have residual vision they often tell me or ask me about Lasik. And tbh Lasik wouldn't work. This kinda links back to people not understanding that blindness is a spectrum.
* Getting asked if I'm lost. When I travel by myself and use a cane, I get stopped frequently by strangers asking if I'm lost.
* People assuming I have a caretaker. Many think I should automatically have a caretaker around me at all times. Or that I can't live alone.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thank you for sharing your experiences! I relate to what you say about guessing since my eyesight is awful too, though I’m not blind. This will definitely help me represent you all better. Thank you!
DreadPossum 6 points 2y ago
One thing that bothers me alot is people accusing me of pretending to be blind. I'm legally blind and have to use a cane to get around but I can still use a smart phone is it's close to my face with large text. It's a little frustrating.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 2 points 2y ago
That seems awful! I don’t think it’s going to be a problem for my novel since most people she interacts with are her friends, so they know exactly what’s up :-)
CloudyBeep 6 points 2y ago
There are loads of webpages that dispel misconceptions about blindness. Read through some of those pages and you'll probably learn lots.
As to blindness in media, this essay gives some of the main tropes in literature, and the tropes are still relevant 45 years on. https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/convent/banque74.htm
As to blindness in media, this essay gives some of the main tropes in literature, and the tropes are still relevant 45 years on. https://www.nfb.org/images/nfb/publications/convent/banque74.htm
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 0 points 2y ago
Thank you! I’ll look into it! Can you maybe give me some links/names of those pages?
CloudyBeep 4 points 2y ago
Just search "blindness misconceptions" using your favorite search engine.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 0 points 2y ago
I will, thank you!
KE5TR4L 4 points 2y ago
"Oh your blind? Do you have super hearing???"
No i dont and also please stop waving your hand in my face trying to "catch me lyin"
No i dont and also please stop waving your hand in my face trying to "catch me lyin"
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
That you for sharing! I can’t imagine how annoying that must be
oncenightvaler 3 points 2y ago
Well, it would be more helpful if you asked specific questions, but here's a misconception I've seen a lot, specifically I watched it in Ray a Ray Charles bio-pic, and in this Netflix program In the Dark:
blind people want to feel your face to know what you look like. I don't know what person came up with it, but I've never heard of it being done in real life.
Misconception B: I've had people speak louder to me than normal to which I have to explain that I am blind and not deaf.
Misconception C: I've had people say that I looked lost, sometimes even when I am in my own driveway and waiting on a friend.
Misconception D: I prefer my white cane, but a lot of people ask me "when you getting a guide dog?" I prefer my cane because I don't have to take care of it walk it feed it etc. Although I know a few blind people who say their guide dog makes them more independent, just not for everyone.
I would love to proofread scenes with this blind character, I consider myself an amateur editor.
blind people want to feel your face to know what you look like. I don't know what person came up with it, but I've never heard of it being done in real life.
Misconception B: I've had people speak louder to me than normal to which I have to explain that I am blind and not deaf.
Misconception C: I've had people say that I looked lost, sometimes even when I am in my own driveway and waiting on a friend.
Misconception D: I prefer my white cane, but a lot of people ask me "when you getting a guide dog?" I prefer my cane because I don't have to take care of it walk it feed it etc. Although I know a few blind people who say their guide dog makes them more independent, just not for everyone.
I would love to proofread scenes with this blind character, I consider myself an amateur editor.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you for these misconceptions! I know it would be easier to be more specific but the problem is I don’t know what to specifically ask right now. Also I would love for you to proofread these scenes, but the novel is in Dutch... so if you do speak Dutch let me know :-)
Bremzer 2 points 2y ago
That's making me nieuwsgierig! I'm Dutch and not blind, but my father is. If you have some questions, send my a message. Happy to share my experiences!
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you! I will!
oncenightvaler 2 points 2y ago
sorry, only English and French.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Too bad... but thank you for offering
Mel_AndCholy 3 points 2y ago
People have a tendency to think that blind/ deaf folks have mental handicaps as well, which isn't true.
Not every blind person uses glasses, canes, guide animals.
Not every blind person uses glasses, canes, guide animals.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Honestly I’ve heard this more often but I don’t understand where it comes from. Your vision/hearing isn’t tied to your intelligence so I don’t get why people think that. Thank you for your reply!
Mel_AndCholy 3 points 2y ago
ikr? My guess is first with old portrayals of deaf/blind being the comic relief. The second might be that in conversation with abled people, the deaf/blind might miss subtle cues. While my blind girlfriend is sensitive to someone's tone of voice, she might miss subtle gestures or facial expressions, which might feed into the offensive stereotype. Also, she can't look someone in the eye because she can't see where their eyes are. Obviously, this has nothing to do with someone's intelligence, but a lot of people fucking suck.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 2 points 2y ago
That sounds very likely indeed. A lot of people do suck
siriuslylupin6 2 points 2y ago
That we are all auditory readers/learners nope not all of us.
And yes we can be spacial learners as well.
And yes we can be spacial learners as well.
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
That’s one I honestly hadn’t considered before, thank you! Could you maybe elaborate on how you do learn then?
siriuslylupin6 2 points 2y ago
Not a problem. And most don’t but I hear this all the time in learn classes and this is something I have done extensive thinking over. And it’s like no, not all blind people are auditory I am also not auditory reader. Everyone is like audiobook get an audiobook get her an audiobook and it’s like absolutely not I am for instance not a audio learner or reader at all. I only do auditory if it’s simple stuff like forms or social media or surfing if it’s anything harder I do braille.
I figured out my multiple intelligences in order is probably spacial, kinesthetic, logical, and then interpersonal if we keep going probably intrapersonal, linguistic, musical, natural,
My learning style is probably tactile, you can say it’s almost like visual but visual with hands, kinesthetic, read write, and maybe social, but yeah, I think multiple intelligences is more accurate.
I wrote this on another post... and then I’ll add more.
000000000000000
I am a very tactile person I think the type of learner is important here I find multiple intelligence here matters. I am kinesthetics spacial. I found objects and toys very useful not real toys but like objects and models, I also found everything brailled out is good, ontime in class and with the teacher. Sometimes depending on the teacher it’s not possible of course. I found graph paper nice. I like one of those rubber pads and a cutter helpful. I also found I think they are the aph tools. Yes I told you I was kinesthetic. I also found dots and wikicstics helpful. I also found simply folding paper helpful. I used a brailler and strictly did it old fashioned. I am a stickler for doing it that way. I also found ripping it up like the shapes out of the paper and using that to play with it and the paper to be nice. Very hands on tinkery type of kid. I mean there’s advantages and disadvantages I was very present so was also a bit all over the place. Haha! But all the tactiles I loved. I think if my vi teacher knew I ripped out stuff they’d be very dismayed but doing that feeling stuff out feeling out the cut out and the whole and fitting it in and playing with it a bit helped. Like I said kinesthetic. It was fun for me. Haha! A bit weird but I am still very tactile. Very on the go these days.
Sadly I dont think some of them completely understood but okay.......
———————————————————————
I enjoyed folding ripping cutting, and making and gluing things out of paper. I use to cut paper in tiny pieces and say it was snowflakes or snow. It was white and fine I guess. Mess to clean up I can imagine. I liked putting plastic beads in to a glued up piece of paper like a pouch and called it my maracas or tambourine.
I enjoyed tinkering with my toys not majorly taking it apart but more like utilizing it and figuring out how to use it and what it can do and how to skillfully use it. That turned in to a tech kind of tinkering. Not made out to be a programer but more in skillfully using and putting stuff in to good use and such. Good at IT and such. Messing with things taking some things apart by hand. Etc......
In terms of concepts I need to ask questions, take it apart check that it is right, with the source, and understand it and such. Stuff like that.....
I figured out my multiple intelligences in order is probably spacial, kinesthetic, logical, and then interpersonal if we keep going probably intrapersonal, linguistic, musical, natural,
My learning style is probably tactile, you can say it’s almost like visual but visual with hands, kinesthetic, read write, and maybe social, but yeah, I think multiple intelligences is more accurate.
I wrote this on another post... and then I’ll add more.
000000000000000
I am a very tactile person I think the type of learner is important here I find multiple intelligence here matters. I am kinesthetics spacial. I found objects and toys very useful not real toys but like objects and models, I also found everything brailled out is good, ontime in class and with the teacher. Sometimes depending on the teacher it’s not possible of course. I found graph paper nice. I like one of those rubber pads and a cutter helpful. I also found I think they are the aph tools. Yes I told you I was kinesthetic. I also found dots and wikicstics helpful. I also found simply folding paper helpful. I used a brailler and strictly did it old fashioned. I am a stickler for doing it that way. I also found ripping it up like the shapes out of the paper and using that to play with it and the paper to be nice. Very hands on tinkery type of kid. I mean there’s advantages and disadvantages I was very present so was also a bit all over the place. Haha! But all the tactiles I loved. I think if my vi teacher knew I ripped out stuff they’d be very dismayed but doing that feeling stuff out feeling out the cut out and the whole and fitting it in and playing with it a bit helped. Like I said kinesthetic. It was fun for me. Haha! A bit weird but I am still very tactile. Very on the go these days.
Sadly I dont think some of them completely understood but okay.......
———————————————————————
I enjoyed folding ripping cutting, and making and gluing things out of paper. I use to cut paper in tiny pieces and say it was snowflakes or snow. It was white and fine I guess. Mess to clean up I can imagine. I liked putting plastic beads in to a glued up piece of paper like a pouch and called it my maracas or tambourine.
I enjoyed tinkering with my toys not majorly taking it apart but more like utilizing it and figuring out how to use it and what it can do and how to skillfully use it. That turned in to a tech kind of tinkering. Not made out to be a programer but more in skillfully using and putting stuff in to good use and such. Good at IT and such. Messing with things taking some things apart by hand. Etc......
In terms of concepts I need to ask questions, take it apart check that it is right, with the source, and understand it and such. Stuff like that.....
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Wauw I’ve never thought about it like that. Thank you so much for your very detailed explanation. I’ll look it up some more online but this opened my eyes
siriuslylupin6 2 points 2y ago
No problem. If you want ask questions. Happy to answer.
And thanks there’s so many ways to do things it’s not funny. And as a blind person you can be so capable too and being kinesthetic/tactile/spacial helps a lot!
And thanks there’s so many ways to do things it’s not funny. And as a blind person you can be so capable too and being kinesthetic/tactile/spacial helps a lot!
[deleted] 2 points 2y ago
[deleted]
MoonInTheSkye [OP] 1 points 2y ago
That must be annoying to always have to explain yourself. Thank you for responding!
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