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Blind and Visually Impaired Community

Full History - 2020 - 11 - 28 - ID#k2z8jl
6
Meeting a Blind Person (self.Blind)
submitted by htothesecondpower
I am meeting a blind person via Zoom on Monday for a professional meeting. Should I offer to describe myself and my surroundings or only do so if they ask?
[deleted] 7 points 2y ago
[deleted]
htothesecondpower [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you!
Revenant624 5 points 2y ago
Since it is a professional meeting and not a date there is no need to describe yourself or surroundings.
htothesecondpower [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you!
80percentaccurate 5 points 2y ago
If there is more than one person in the call just know it’s polite to say who is speaking. That should go for all group Zoom calls though, not just ones with people who are blind.
htothesecondpower [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you!
LadyAlleta 4 points 2y ago
That's a sweet thought! But probably no need. If you are giving a visual presentation tho, then you might want to send them the presentation beforehand. And if it's PowerPoint, then when you change slides just try to announce it. "moving on to the next slide..." sorta thing.

But that's sweet to ask about.
htothesecondpower [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thank you!
Envrin 4 points 2y ago
​

I'd go with no. I do Zoom meetings all the time for work, and if someone began explaining to me what they look like, I'd probably start uncontrollably laughing at them. I'm there for work, not a romantic relationship.

​

Just being honest...
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Hahahahaha! Yes this. I’d probably start laughing or it’d just become awkward I’ve talked to so many people on skype and voice and if any of them did that I’d be like. Erm.... okay...... what?????? Or start laughing. Or something else I had to laugh at your answer because it is so true. Haha!
htothesecondpower [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you!
cyclops32 2 points 2y ago
I do meetings over zoom a lot these days, and I've never had that offer. I'd be a little weirded out if someone did that. I'm their to talk about work topics, not for a relationship, or anything like that.
It's a nice thought, so if you want to, I guess you could, but keep it super short, and only if it's only the two of you on the call. That way the other parties don't get put on the spot and feel they have to do the same, which is bad for them and the blind person who's going to have to sit through all of that.
Outline visuals in videos, read out text and pictures on a power point, send the power point. They'll get much more value out of that. I know I would.
Be yourself, act normal. They'll love that.
htothesecondpower [OP] 1 points 2y ago
Thank you!
CloudyBeep 2 points 2y ago
This is very thoughtful of you.

If there are other people in the call, definitely don't do anything because the other people might feel slightly uncomfortable or unprepared to also describe themselves.

If it's just you and them, you could ask something like "As we're meeting for the first time, I could quickly describe myself and my surroundings if you like?" If they accept (which I think will be unlikely, but be prepared all the same), VocalEyes has some examples of describing one's appearance at the beginning of their Describing Diversity report. I suggest limiting your description to a couple of sentences at the maximum—shorter than the examples of the authors in that report.
htothesecondpower [OP] 2 points 2y ago
Thank you!
siriuslylupin6 1 points 2y ago
Just do what you normally do if you have visuals describe them but yeah. That’s generally what you do. I know it’s a long time ago and this happened but for future reference I’ve done several with people and it’s usually done like any other thing. There was one recently a professional type thing or rather formal and me and this guy thought there would need to be more involved he promised me to guide me with camera work if necessary but we figured it out I just used my imac camera and it’s like this is good right. Okay great, right, let’s do this.
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