I partially agree with you but I don't think the entire community sucks but more often sectors in certain states are horrible. Don't forget people are people and they push their own opinions on others especially the young. Which makes sense in your frustrations.

It sounds like you didn't experience the community, just institutions. This is probably why our community is very individualistic and, quite frankly, Ableist ourselves.

Sorry to hear you've had a bad experience with the blind community.

I was probably lucky to be integrated into a public school instead of the school for the blind in the country I live even though being bullied was painful at the time.

I visited the school for the blind a few times and to be honest it just felt like a kindergarten when I went there. Most students had other disabilities besides blindness so I never found too many friends to talk about my visual impairment. There was usually a specific way to do things as well, which was a bit frustrating.

Now that I'm older and have been part of an organization for the blind, which sees my potential I can finally appreciate the blind community for its good parts instead of resenting it for simply being different.

I don't think you should change how you do stuff if it works fine for you unless you do something in a way that makes the task at hand more dangerous for you. Take all the things people want to teach you as suggestions.

Feel free to pm me if you want to talk as well.

Personally. I think this is more of a Florida problem than anything. Are used to live in Florida, and the services they are suck. That’s just from experience. Right now, I live in Colorado where the services are great and my blind school is actually willing to challenge me and treats us as much as normal students as possible. Of course everyone has their own needs but they accommodate you and challenge you to the best of your abilities.

I mean you seem to be doing fairly well and appear to be independent. And heck if you got a job then that’s just icing on the cake. Sometimes marching to the beat of ones own drum can work out pretty good. I wish you’d had better teachers in terms of braille but as long as you are successful for you and loving independently then that’s all that matters. (Teacher of Vi here) there are plenty who get all that training and then don’t go as far as they could have too.

It sounds like the teachers at these facilities need to take classes that used to be reserved for Special Ed students. They now teach this to all prospective teachers.

What are these classes? How to teach one topic in multiple ways because all students learn differently. Even with “normal” students some learn by reading, some by watching, some by doing, some by explaining it to someone else.

Any teacher who focuses on following their exact steps instead of the student achieving a goal isn’t helping students learn. (With exceptions for safety issues such as science experiments)

Seems like it’s not really the blind community but the crappy people hired to work with the blind community. I think most of the people seem really nice about swapping ideas and coping skills and encouraging each other. I’ve learned to cope with my visual impairments 100% from blind folks and my own ingenuity because mine isn’t one that’s eligible for services. So I agree that the organizations kinda suck but the people are really cool.

I’m sorry you haven’t had good experiences. I’ve had good experiences with the blind community and the majority of my friends are blind or have low vision. I don’t think we should force people to do things a certain way though

I'm personally not blind/visually impaired, but my boyfriend and our roommate is. I have noticed that the lighthouse does tend to have sort of a... Stuck up vibe to it, if that makes sense.

My boyfriend and roommate both got scholarships for college from them, and my roommate wasn't able to attend the ceremony because she had prior commitments. Suddenly, her scholarship was knocked down by a thousand dollars. Never fully confirmed whether or not it was because she didn't attend, but it was a strange coincidence. They did threaten to not give it to her at all if she didn't show.

Note: My roommate still has some vision. She can mostly see facial expressions if she focuses. She mentioned to me that one of the women interviewing her once rolled her eyes when she mentioned she has a guide dog from guide dogs for the blind.

While they're pretty decent help, they tend to rub me in the wrong way sometimes, so I'm really not surprised you didn't have the best experience with them.

I would like to get you on my talk show, 3rd eye visions and allow you to express your opinion about this matter if you were interested

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i had a similar experience to you. i didn't have any support from services during my active sight loss either. i got my cane license and that was it.

during my cane training though, it was always explained that i was only being taught a baseline, and that i would have to find my own way to perfect how i use it.

when i began connecting with services later, it was the same. everything was always a suggestion to make something easier, or a solution to something i couldn't do safely. then i was encouraged to perfect the technique best for me.

i was offered a place in a blind college in my country, but i declined because the thought of being around hundreds of other blind people scared me at the time as i did things in a weird way. i had a group of blind friends, so i don't know why it put me off. i regret not going now though.

i find with all people, including those who have been in close relations with blind people, we have to be a little more assertive when telling people we are okay. people will always want to help.

i only buy blue shower gel, one person wanted me to use tactile rubber bands. but i didn't want people coming over to see them and question it, so i just said i see how that would be good but right now i don't need it. you don't have to take every suggestion and you shouldn't stay somewhere where people are forcing you to do anything.

you don't need to be in constant services, and TBH braille is becoming not necessary. if you don't feel like you need help with something, don't go to a class for it.

bad teachers have nothing to do with the blind community.

it sounds more like you don't like the services for blind people/ you don't like the attitude of sighted people towards blind people. in one or two institutions, in your area, in your state, in your country, on your continent. that does not sound like the whole community should be lumbered with this.

you are saying you don't like the blind community, but i am not even in your country, so what did i ever do to you?

I’m glad you shared this! I start gad school in 2 weeks to become a VRT. As a person with RP and someone who’s done the same as you I’ll be an outsider myself. As I’ve been getting computer training my VRT has repeatedly pointed out it is to my advantage to think outside the box, and bring the thoughts into the community, it’s how the community can learn and grow.

‘Sorry you’ve had shitty experiences though. It reminds me of when I first started receiving services. In 2011, I was given a computer and the ZoomText software (not even loaded on the PC) and told I’d be able to figure it out, I really didn’t though.

Hey so I found I could read your post but you would have better spelling, and grammar if you were able to read in Braille.

The other things you mentioned are great ways to adapt (personally I have buttons marked with stickers on my microwave and some Braille on my oven)

However I strongly recommend you get an education in Braille, I think it will make you feel more independent.

I am from Ontario Canada, and had several great teachers including an assistant who helped me from kindergarten to grade 12 who I still see often as a friend and mentour. I have a degree in English literature thanks in large part to my love of Braille.

I am currently looking for jobs, perhaps in a customer service field, or handling phones for the police/ambulance.

I hope you can find whatever assistance you need in order to function well and I applaud your family for all their help they gave.

Ok, see you later then.

Cool story bro.

How much culpability do you bear in this?