Blind and Visually Impaired Community
↑
45
↓
Does anyone struggle with people not understanding that you can be visually impaired but not blind? (self.Blind)
submitted by DefinitelyNotA-Robot
I'm not blind. I don't use any kind of tools for navigation like a cane or a guide dog, and although my field of view is somewhat limited, my corrected vision is probably around 20/60 or so. However, I can't see lots of things written on bright computer screens (my eyes let in too much light) and even on paper, I can't see well enough to see pictures on exams super reliably, even if they're blown up. When professors write things on the projector, I CAN'T SEE IT. I can kind of see the colors, but I certainly can't make out what they're writing.
Even though I have disability accommodations and I talk to my professors at the beginning of each semester, they still seem to kind of not believe or not understand that I can't see some stuff. It was almost better during COVID even though it was bad for me because I couldn't see anything on the computer, I just told all my professors I was blind (which wasn't technically true) and used a screen reader (which was entirely true as I can't navigate a computer without it) and they were very good about adding alt text or describing visual elements in their lectures out loud so I could understand what was going on.
But now that we're back in person, it seems like because professors see me coming in on my own without a cane or anything, and making eye contact with them and reading my large print textbook, that they can't understand why I would need accommodations that are for blind people. It's very frustrating and I don't really know what to do about it besides just ask annoyingly "where is the alt text" every single dang time or ask "what does the picture you just drew look like" and have them huff at me.
Even though I have disability accommodations and I talk to my professors at the beginning of each semester, they still seem to kind of not believe or not understand that I can't see some stuff. It was almost better during COVID even though it was bad for me because I couldn't see anything on the computer, I just told all my professors I was blind (which wasn't technically true) and used a screen reader (which was entirely true as I can't navigate a computer without it) and they were very good about adding alt text or describing visual elements in their lectures out loud so I could understand what was going on.
But now that we're back in person, it seems like because professors see me coming in on my own without a cane or anything, and making eye contact with them and reading my large print textbook, that they can't understand why I would need accommodations that are for blind people. It's very frustrating and I don't really know what to do about it besides just ask annoyingly "where is the alt text" every single dang time or ask "what does the picture you just drew look like" and have them huff at me.
team_nanatsujiya 25 points 1y ago
"did you forget your glasses today?" (while I'm wearing contacts that improve my vision more than glasses do)
"can't you just, like, get a better prescription?"
"I've always wondered why you don't just get lasik??"
Many people genuinely are not aware that it's possible to be between fully blind and sighted enough to be fully correctable.
Even people I know well will, for example, warn me of a step so I don't trip which I apperciate, but then get frustrated when I can't find them in a crowded restaurant. Amazingly, I remain blind in every situation, not just when there are steps in the vicinity.
"can't you just, like, get a better prescription?"
"I've always wondered why you don't just get lasik??"
Many people genuinely are not aware that it's possible to be between fully blind and sighted enough to be fully correctable.
Even people I know well will, for example, warn me of a step so I don't trip which I apperciate, but then get frustrated when I can't find them in a crowded restaurant. Amazingly, I remain blind in every situation, not just when there are steps in the vicinity.
Littlebiggran 8 points 1y ago
I sometimes wish that I could create a computer generated grid of what my eyes see, create glasses with this, and make people wear them.
[deleted] 3 points 1y ago
I have optic nerve hypoplasia and it is not correctable :( My left eye wears a contact but it still doesn’t give me full vision. Right eye is legally blind.
Drop9Reddit 16 points 1y ago
All the time. Low vision is a bit hard as to fully explain your sight could take a bit.
blindchickruns 4 points 1y ago
And the people that ask are absolutely sure you are faking blindness. Yeah, I totally fooled two doctors and two different field of vision machines. That can happen.
MaplePaws 6 points 1y ago
My optometrist to measure my visual acuity must dilate my eyes because I am unable to control what they are focusing on, turn off all the lights except for the one that they use to project the chart onto the screen and give me the spoon looking tool with holes in it to put over the eye we are testing, even then the chart comes in and out of focus so much that it can take like 10 minutes for me guess at the top line and I never get through the second line. They just write 20/20 on my file and send me on my way with more eye drops for my dry eye syndrome, still ignoring the thing on my optic nerve that the original optometrist wanted to test for before he left the practice.
A couple weeks ago I did not see a garbage truck parked over the side walk and caused a massive goose egg walking into it. Or any of the other struggles I have because I can't open my eyes the vast majority of the time and they are using my "20/20" vision as a means to deny me access to things like orientation and mobility training because I don't "need" it. Though if you looked at how I function I think anyone would agree that I very much do.
A couple weeks ago I did not see a garbage truck parked over the side walk and caused a massive goose egg walking into it. Or any of the other struggles I have because I can't open my eyes the vast majority of the time and they are using my "20/20" vision as a means to deny me access to things like orientation and mobility training because I don't "need" it. Though if you looked at how I function I think anyone would agree that I very much do.
SugarPie89 1 points 1y ago
I would really suggest you get a new eye doctor. This just sounds super lazy. Because you can't get through the whole eye exam in a timely fashion they say you have 20/20? That doesn't make sense. Please advocate for yourself. If you cannot get a new eye doctor tell them you want them to check out what's going on with your optic nerve.
MaplePaws 1 points 1y ago
I am waiting on a referral to an ophthalmologist, but I was told that can take over a year. I have also straight up demanded that they look at the optic nerve but they refused claiming there was nothing there even after commenting that there was concern for a glaucoma only mentioned that my eye pressure is normal, ignoring that there is something called normal pressure glaucoma which from what I have gathered would explain my symptoms. Plus the good thing is that it is the most likely to be treatable.
I am not sure if it is laziness or that I am a female in my mid-20's so I must just be hysterical just like my other disabilities. It is a terrible world where I sometimes wish I could remove my eyes, hoping that would get rid of the pain and actually get the help I need. But with every doctor it is a fight, and I am tired of it.
I am not sure if it is laziness or that I am a female in my mid-20's so I must just be hysterical just like my other disabilities. It is a terrible world where I sometimes wish I could remove my eyes, hoping that would get rid of the pain and actually get the help I need. But with every doctor it is a fight, and I am tired of it.
BoredCheese 1 points 1y ago
Yeah, it took my best friend years to get her stargardt disease diagnosed because most doctors didn’t know what they were looking for. Please make sure your doctors are fully aware of what you are experiencing
SugarPie89 1 points 1y ago
Wow that is terrible. Is it possible to talk to health management or someone like that about how they're ignoring your request?
Iamheno 4 points 1y ago
Just my 2¢, but take into account 2 things First, professors are highly educated people who will either understand technical terminology, or if they don’t they’ll look it up. Second, they’re used to a lot of students trying to skate by at the bare minimum. That being said most professors want students to succeed.
So, when advocating for yourself use the proper medical diagnosis, and terminology. Not “bright lights and colors hurt my eyes”, but “I am photophobia due to my diagnosis of. . . “ “The accommodations I need are. . . “ “This is how I access my textbooks. . . “
It’s best to put it in an email at the beginning of the semester, and reiterate in person on the first day, so you can answer any questions they may have. This way you can refer back to the initial email they have in writing if there are issues during the semester. Hold them to the letter of your accommodations though throughout the semester. If they make an honest mistake once ask them to correct it, but don’t let it slide. Otherwise you will allow an established pattern.
As a person with RP who doesn’t always need/use my cane these are the things I’ve found most useful.
So, when advocating for yourself use the proper medical diagnosis, and terminology. Not “bright lights and colors hurt my eyes”, but “I am photophobia due to my diagnosis of. . . “ “The accommodations I need are. . . “ “This is how I access my textbooks. . . “
It’s best to put it in an email at the beginning of the semester, and reiterate in person on the first day, so you can answer any questions they may have. This way you can refer back to the initial email they have in writing if there are issues during the semester. Hold them to the letter of your accommodations though throughout the semester. If they make an honest mistake once ask them to correct it, but don’t let it slide. Otherwise you will allow an established pattern.
As a person with RP who doesn’t always need/use my cane these are the things I’ve found most useful.
DefinitelyNotA-Robot [OP] 5 points 1y ago
Yeah, I'm in medical school so I've shared my diagnosis with my professors and they definitely know what it means, they just... Somehow still don't get it? It baffles me.
chrmaury 3 points 1y ago
I’m in a similar boat with no visual l cues that I have issues seeing, and experience similar responses sometimes. I don’t have any good tips or suggestions, just chiming in to say you aren’t alone.
Don’t ever feel guilty for asking; you’re entitled to support.
Do your best not to get frustrated. Even though it’s not on you, being polite and deferential still helps to elicit a positive response.
On a separate note, my wife went through med school, and I remember her teachers’ notes were often years out of date and didn’t match the textbooks, which didn’t match Wikipedia, with the wiki most frequently being correct. It’s sad that this is true, but there should be a number of better, and hopefully more accessible, resources available than your lectures.
Don’t ever feel guilty for asking; you’re entitled to support.
Do your best not to get frustrated. Even though it’s not on you, being polite and deferential still helps to elicit a positive response.
On a separate note, my wife went through med school, and I remember her teachers’ notes were often years out of date and didn’t match the textbooks, which didn’t match Wikipedia, with the wiki most frequently being correct. It’s sad that this is true, but there should be a number of better, and hopefully more accessible, resources available than your lectures.
Oneshotkill_2000 2 points 1y ago
This post cleared up to me the condition of a graduate student i used to see. From the description, you seem to be possibly the same condition as him. I always wondered how he could walk on his own but sometimes require someone to guide him. In the same time he never used a cane, and he wore prescription glasses. All those things together confused me a lot. But now with this post i kind of understand it better.
DefinitelyNotA-Robot [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Cool!
NeuroticNomad 2 points 1y ago
I used to use a semi-joking phrase to gently break it to people.
"Sorry, I can't make that out. **I'm Hard of Seeing**".
"You're *what*?"
"You know how some people who are aren't **deaf** but can't hear as well as most people are said to be *Hard of Hearing*? I'm not **blind** but I can't see as well as most people, so I'm *Hard of Seeing*."
Believe it or not, that got SO many people to understand.
"Sorry, I can't make that out. **I'm Hard of Seeing**".
"You're *what*?"
"You know how some people who are aren't **deaf** but can't hear as well as most people are said to be *Hard of Hearing*? I'm not **blind** but I can't see as well as most people, so I'm *Hard of Seeing*."
Believe it or not, that got SO many people to understand.
TechnicalPragmatist 1 points 1y ago
Hahahaha!
DefinitelyNotA-Robot [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Lol, I might have to try this!
SugarPie89 2 points 1y ago
What condition do you have? Do you just have extreme light sensitivity? Maybe it would help if they knew the condition you had so they could look it up themselves and get a better idea of how you see. I've tried explaining how I see to my boyfriend and my sister and honestly it's so complicated. I hope this helps.
DefinitelyNotA-Robot [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I have muscular dystrophy, which affects everyone differently, but as far as anyone can tell one of the problems it's causing for me is that the muscles that control the contraction of my iris are weakened, and so my pupils are kind of constantly dilated. If you have usable vision and you've ever had your eyes dilated at the doctor's office, it's like that but all the time, so it makes things blurry and anything with lights is just even blurrier.
SugarPie89 2 points 1y ago
I see, that makes a lot of sense. I've had my eyes dilated countless times and I would hate to have to look at screens like that all day. Does it help at all if you invert the colors on your screen and lower the brightness as much as possible? And have you tried explaining your condition to them in this way?
WorldlyLingonberry40 2 points 1y ago
Hi, consider approaching them at the beginning of the semester and informing them that you are legally blind. Your visual impairiment could be described to them by you, but most importantly make sure that you are getting support from the office for students with disabilities. In most universities these offices request students with disabilities to complete a form of accommodations that needs to be signed by professors. If they forget about your needs, handing them a copy of the form during office hours could help quite a bit. If you do it in person, you can berify that they read it before they sign it.
DefinitelyNotA-Robot [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Hi, I'm not legally blind though! As I said, I do have disability accommodations, they just seem confused/annoyed when I remind them that I need the accommodations that were sent to them at the beginning of the semester once they see me come in without a cane or anything and making eye contact with them.
WorldlyLingonberry40 2 points 1y ago
Yeah, it's confuzing for people that don't experience the disability. Take the time to visit them during office hours and explain what you cannot see.
MostlyBlindGamer 2 points 1y ago
I had the same experience in college and I can't really tell you how to make it any better. People just don't get it.
Regarding photophobia, you can try using dark mode and inverting colors.
You'll look more obvious if you only uses computer instead of using textbooks - that just confuses people, unfortunately.
Regarding photophobia, you can try using dark mode and inverting colors.
You'll look more obvious if you only uses computer instead of using textbooks - that just confuses people, unfortunately.
This nonprofit website is run by volunteers.
Please contribute if you can. Thank you!
Our mission is to provide everyone with access to large-
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
scale community websites for the good of humanity.
Without ads, without tracking, without greed.
©2023 HumbleCat Inc • HumbleCat is a 501(c)3 nonprofit based in Michigan, USA.