Hate to be the one to say it, but this is your issue, not her issue. If she had involuntary tics due to Tourette's or something similar would you try to get her to change/adjust how she comes across non-verbally? I would presume not. She's doing what she's doing because it helps her, and if, as you admit, she was on course with the conversation, it clearly works. Leave her be.
Only1lunatica11 points2y ago
I have a friend that has to wear sunglasses when he plays music, not because he's impersonating Ray Charles or because of light but because when he focuses on what he's doing his eyes will roll back and too many people told him they didn't like it.
also has a friend with ADHD who will stare at a blank stop and not you when having a conversation because then he doesn't get distracted and pays attention to the conversation.
don't say anything, she knows and you'll only come across as a bit of a twat
kelpangler10 points2y ago
You said it’s not about you yet her mannerisms distracted you. If she wasn’t blind would you be conflicted in the same way? What if you were all physically in the same room? It doesn’t sound like you have bad intentions and you’re probably feeling sympathy for her due to her blindness, but I’m not sure it’s necessary for you to deem what’s “normal” behavior for her. If she is engaged in meetings then I don’t see a problem.
afraidofdust9 points2y ago
Honestly, I wouldn't. She is probably already aware and very self-conscious about how she's perceived. If you can tell she's with it when she speaks, then she's with it, and I wouldn't worry about it.
MzHydra-Nix8 points2y ago
I’m going to say this and not in a accusatory way but you might want to go back over your post and see where some folks in particular us blind and visually impaired folks could view this as being ableist .
DrillInstructorJan11 points2y ago
It's just a question. I'd much rather people asked, rather than get all weirded out by it (by us, by me, by you). What the conclusion is, that's another matter, but don't have a go at people just for asking.
oldfogey123457 points2y ago
Yeah let that one go. She has went her whole life without anyone trying to teach her to visually look 'normal.'
You just today met her on a zoom meeting. It takes a good bit of time and energy to learn that sort of thing when you don't see. You are not in a position to help with it.
So if you say something, best case scenario is she feels very uncomfortable and you look like an A hole to everyone that hears about it.
Worse case, you would feel very uncomfortable at a resulting HR meeting.
Just no upside to that course of action.
princesspooball5 points2y ago
She might have a type of strabismus (aka cross-eyed) but nstead of her eye(s) look up, it's called hypertropia
blackberrybunny4 points2y ago
Yes! I have this. I absolutely cannot look at someone. I mean, I may be seeing you, but you cannot tell. In fact, you just don't know where in the hell i AM looking, hahaah! Sort of covert, you know? I could be spying on you, and you'd never even know it.
Back to business: She may have exotropia, or hypertropia in one or both of her eyes. What you see as her 'rolling her eyes' might just be her simply moving her eyes around, not necessarily rolling them with an attitude. She may also have severe nystagmus, where her eyes 'wiggle' uncontrollably. Mine do this, and it's maddening. It can be very tiring, especially when I am trying to hold a conversation with someone and try to look at their face, which I really cannot do. I try, but can't, and the trying is tiring.
Leave this alone. You would only cause her a ton of self esteem issues, as it would be embarrassing to point these things out. Being self conscious about our eye problems is stressful enough. To have someone point it out and suggest we quit moving our eyes or head around is insulting, and hurtful. It would be very UNPROFESSIONAL of you.
Now I want to ask, just what IS your profession?
QuentinJamesP894 points2y ago
I definitely wouldn't say anything. I'm sure she's had people close to her who have already tried to help, but sometimes certain eye conditions can cause involuntary eye movements, and if she's been blind from birth then she may not know what does and doesn't look normal or how to replicate it (normal demeanor) if she's never seen it. This is very common among particularly those who have been blind from birth.
I am blind in one eye and legally blind in the other and I know my eyes look very strange. My blind eye turns in so I look cross eyed and it's more recently developed a cataract which I've been told glows in the dark. My glasses hide it a bit, but I know my eyes are distracting and odd and there's really nothing I can do about it. Back when I was still able to see faces I would meet people and I could tell they'd be confused trying to figure out which eye was looking at them and where to look. I generally try to explain that I'm blind in my right eye so people feel more comfortable. It's very hard to have strange looking eyes and to know you're making other people uncomfortable. It's best not to rub it in, but to be kind and accepting. It's hard enough living with a visual impairment as it is.
tasareinspace4 points2y ago
If you become close with her, maybe say something.
But you should look at yourself and why you think that. Plenty of people with vision impairments, autism, adhd, etc, don't always 'look like' they're paying attention, but they are. And she's clearly doing good at her job, so this could be a really good time to evaluation your own expectations.
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blackberrybunny1 points2y ago
I hope you will take a moment and read my post above. You may not realize what is going on with her eyes, strabismus, exo/hypertrophia.... things we have no control over.
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seperath3 points2y ago
If you know they have a disability related to their vision and or eyes, do you honestly think they don't realize they may not appear "normal"? If you want them to feel welcome and like they belong and fit in, treat them like they belong and like they fit in. Their physical characteristics and mannerisms are theirs and they have that to work with outside of the meetings woth you at work, but also in their private life too. Trust me, they know enough that you pointing it out will only shame them.
If they are asking you for pointers or feedback, this is a different conversation.
The fact is according to you is that they are on task with the conversation and content. Don't accidently discriminate because someone who is visually impaired has eyes that don't work like a "normal sighted" persons. Instead, be an ally and collaborate and speak to what they bring to the table and show that their opinions are valid.
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macadamia_owl1 points2y ago
I think there's way you can turn off visual preview of zoom webcams you could just do that than telling her to change behaviour that maybe she cannot change because it's could be due of her disability not rules only. Nystagmus for example can cause head shaking, head tilt, awkward posture, body shaking related to rapid eye movements and it's non treatable neurological and eye problem. You can't train yourself to hide it, control or take meds for it. Same for strabismus, refractory epilepsy (there are non convulsive types too), tunnel vision, visual field defects... you didn't thought about if it might have to do with her health issues you just pointed out with your question that she's not paying attention. You could have handled it differently outside of group online meeting is there private message system? Body language rules doesn't apply too much to us as much as to fully visually persons: sure some are like no hands in pockets, overall ok look as possible (hygienic and chores not damaged, dress code if necessary) but we're allowed to no hold for some rules if we're not able to or if it's to exhausting because of our disabilities. Some would explain why they're holding head certain way some not and that's all ok that's their right to do so.
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macadamia_owl1 points2y ago
Ah I see. I think it depends if you know this person well and long enough too. Some are mean good saying something or doing and wanting to help but they're communicating it nor in proper way and other person might understand it as personal attack especially when he/she doesn't see body language. In my Rehabilitation Vision course for blind and visually impaired it was told to us 90% of communication is body language too and alternative some of us can't see since birth we should learn basic rules, what some stances and postures means to others.
Absolutely not with the words: "you looked unprofessional and bored the way you sat at the meeting that might disturb other people" - that way many insensitive asked me without knowing me. Carefully the indirect general advice must be given maybe by person she knew better because there's extremly high risk that she was sitting like that because of her eyes or other problem. Such comment might kill confidence in sensitive person or at least ruin mood for whole week. Heh maybe organize schooling about body language for everyone and equally analyze everyone's mistakes so it would be fair?
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