Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Are you ever just not in the mood to educate? (self.Blind)
submitted by QuasarchShooby
I was raised in the NFB. I can parrot basically every standard talking point about blindness and independence, destroy preconceived notions and still manage to keep these sighted people smiling at the end of it. Here’s the thing though…
Lately, I’m not in the mood. By lately I mean in the past year I’ve gotten sick of the roll little miss educator. I know it’s just ignorance. I know I can’t fault people for what they don’t know, but why do I have to be the thing they’re ignorant about? I just want to go about my day without a stranger approaching me and asking something I’ve answered multiple times. What has been getting me the most though, is the looks. Like I’m walking down a freaking sidewalk. Am I really notable enough for you to stop talking Mid sentence and turn your head towards me? I don’t care I can’t see. It doesn’t bother me at all. What bothers me is that blindness bothers other people. I know the kind of anxiety my presence conjures in people. Some have even told me as much. But does this mean I have to be ok with it? I hope we can get a constructive conversation out of this. I’ve always been taught not to let ignorance bother me and to confront it with education. But it does bother me, and I hate to admit that because I feel like it goes against everything I’ve been taught to feel about myself. At what point is it ok to ignore a question? It’s not that I don’t like questions, it’s just like I want some people to have contextual intelligence. But then, when I say that I feel like I’m asking for too much. Am I asking for too much? I don’t know man… I just want to be just another invisible stranger.
Lately, I’m not in the mood. By lately I mean in the past year I’ve gotten sick of the roll little miss educator. I know it’s just ignorance. I know I can’t fault people for what they don’t know, but why do I have to be the thing they’re ignorant about? I just want to go about my day without a stranger approaching me and asking something I’ve answered multiple times. What has been getting me the most though, is the looks. Like I’m walking down a freaking sidewalk. Am I really notable enough for you to stop talking Mid sentence and turn your head towards me? I don’t care I can’t see. It doesn’t bother me at all. What bothers me is that blindness bothers other people. I know the kind of anxiety my presence conjures in people. Some have even told me as much. But does this mean I have to be ok with it? I hope we can get a constructive conversation out of this. I’ve always been taught not to let ignorance bother me and to confront it with education. But it does bother me, and I hate to admit that because I feel like it goes against everything I’ve been taught to feel about myself. At what point is it ok to ignore a question? It’s not that I don’t like questions, it’s just like I want some people to have contextual intelligence. But then, when I say that I feel like I’m asking for too much. Am I asking for too much? I don’t know man… I just want to be just another invisible stranger.
athennna 21 points 1y ago
You don’t owe anyone an explanation. “No” is a complete sentence.
I am sighted, but occasionally I will be working with a BVI individual when a stranger will ask them an obtrusive question. It is baffling and mortifying. I don’t know why some people feel entitled to answers to personal medical questions from complete strangers. They must be missing some essential component in their brains, I swear.
I am sighted, but occasionally I will be working with a BVI individual when a stranger will ask them an obtrusive question. It is baffling and mortifying. I don’t know why some people feel entitled to answers to personal medical questions from complete strangers. They must be missing some essential component in their brains, I swear.
WEugeneSmith 7 points 1y ago
As an amputee who is also visually impaired, I am often baffled at the questions posed to me by strangers. My questioners are usually more interested in my amputation and will often ask "what happened". I do answer their questions, but I would never do that myself. There is a T-shirt that I've seen on other amputees that reads: "Leg story: $10".
What irratates me is when they ask a direct medical question - especially when they clock my blindness along with my amputation: "Do you have diabetes?" Really? Would I ask a stranger "Do you have cancer?".
It's when they start with the medical questions that I feel they have crossed a line.
What irratates me is when they ask a direct medical question - especially when they clock my blindness along with my amputation: "Do you have diabetes?" Really? Would I ask a stranger "Do you have cancer?".
It's when they start with the medical questions that I feel they have crossed a line.
synthpopolis 4 points 1y ago
Yeah. It always floors me how some people seem to have no normal social boundaries
QuasarchShooby [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Decorum tends to go out the window when “oddities” - e.g. people with disabilities - are encountered.
QuasarchShooby [OP] 2 points 1y ago
First of all, wtf!!! Wow… and I thought the questions I got were obnoxious.
Secondly, I love that tea-shirt idea! 😂
Honestly you have me considering if I should make a shirt that says “eyeballs story. Ten bucks.” I kind of want to as an experiment.
Secondly, I love that tea-shirt idea! 😂
Honestly you have me considering if I should make a shirt that says “eyeballs story. Ten bucks.” I kind of want to as an experiment.
WEugeneSmith 2 points 1y ago
Oh yes, you must make that shirt!
MusicLover035 15 points 1y ago
Yes. Similar to you, I was also raised in the NFB, breaking expectations set by my school, by some of NFB's events. And it's exhausting, because we don't have to educate ourselves on sighted people and yet they have to educate ourselves on them.
I have more empathy towards people who attempt to learn and improve and adapt. I have a part-time job while in school (more like an internship) and I've talked to many sighted people who have made that effort, who attempt to learn.
But sometimes I just don't want to educate people who don't try and learn and ask questions like, “what is that?” when referring to my cane. I think it's ridiculous when one time I was at Disney World and I felt surprised because a parent told their kid not to run in the pathway of my cane, because no one actually knows what the white stick in my hand does.
Meanwhile, people know what sign language is, what being deaf means. They know what autism means, only the general parts, but still.
Anyways, that's my rant haha. It's so exhausting and I have to learn to live with the fact that people stare at me when I walk around my shopping center or into an Apple Store even if it gives me anxiety because I know people are going to stare. Even when I was little, I told my mom that people were going to stare at me even with that saying that no one's really looking at you. But I know they are.
It shouldn't be on us to educate entirely. I think they've got to make some of the effort too.
Thanks for reading my long paragraphs (if you did hahaha) :)
I have more empathy towards people who attempt to learn and improve and adapt. I have a part-time job while in school (more like an internship) and I've talked to many sighted people who have made that effort, who attempt to learn.
But sometimes I just don't want to educate people who don't try and learn and ask questions like, “what is that?” when referring to my cane. I think it's ridiculous when one time I was at Disney World and I felt surprised because a parent told their kid not to run in the pathway of my cane, because no one actually knows what the white stick in my hand does.
Meanwhile, people know what sign language is, what being deaf means. They know what autism means, only the general parts, but still.
Anyways, that's my rant haha. It's so exhausting and I have to learn to live with the fact that people stare at me when I walk around my shopping center or into an Apple Store even if it gives me anxiety because I know people are going to stare. Even when I was little, I told my mom that people were going to stare at me even with that saying that no one's really looking at you. But I know they are.
It shouldn't be on us to educate entirely. I think they've got to make some of the effort too.
Thanks for reading my long paragraphs (if you did hahaha) :)
synthpopolis 7 points 1y ago
> Meanwhile, people know what sign language is, what being deaf means. They know what autism means, only the general parts, but still.
I totally relate with what you said. However, I’m sure folks in these other categories experience much the same as we do. Myself not being hearing impaired, autistic or those other things you mentioned, I probably have some degree of my own ignorance or unconscious bias. Something for all of us to be aware of, I think
I totally relate with what you said. However, I’m sure folks in these other categories experience much the same as we do. Myself not being hearing impaired, autistic or those other things you mentioned, I probably have some degree of my own ignorance or unconscious bias. Something for all of us to be aware of, I think
TechnicalPragmatist 2 points 1y ago
Agreed about other disabilities.
MusicLover035 2 points 1y ago
Oh yeah I definitely agree lol. I was just using something more common-placed, but I'm positive they experience the same issues we have about people not knowing certain things, or asking ignorant questions.
QuasarchShooby [OP] 2 points 1y ago
Excellent point. While the examples I gave specifically pertain to blindness, I’m certain that virtually anyone else with a disability could copy and paste this with some adjustments to the experiences discussed. Disability is hugely diverse, which is why advocacy is so difficult for the greater disabled community. Not to mention that we all probably have ablest notions about each other.
QuasarchShooby [OP] 7 points 1y ago
Thank you for your response!
“But sometimes I just don't want to educate people who don't try and learn and ask questions like, “what is that?” when referring to my cane. I think it's ridiculous when one time I was at Disney World and I felt surprised because a parent told their kid not to run in the pathway of my cane, because no one actually knows what the white stick in my hand does.”
This!! I have encountered a scary amount of people that don’t realize the cane is a mobility tool. Person in wheelchair? Mobility tool. Person with walker? Mobility tool. Cane? O no no hun, that’s just a “hey everyone my eyeballs don’t work everybody look at me” sign… smh.
You make a great point about the people that put a noble effort in learning. I find these people don’t make assumptions and acknowledge me as a full fledged person with interests. It’s the questions with underlying assumptions pertaining to my supposed incompetence that compel me to walk away with them unanswered. I almost always find myself answering more than I am ignoring because I feel like I have the community on my shoulders in some respect? Idk. I think I need to work on establishing boundaries. I should be OK with saying “hey I don’t really wanna talk about my medical history with a stranger.”
“But sometimes I just don't want to educate people who don't try and learn and ask questions like, “what is that?” when referring to my cane. I think it's ridiculous when one time I was at Disney World and I felt surprised because a parent told their kid not to run in the pathway of my cane, because no one actually knows what the white stick in my hand does.”
This!! I have encountered a scary amount of people that don’t realize the cane is a mobility tool. Person in wheelchair? Mobility tool. Person with walker? Mobility tool. Cane? O no no hun, that’s just a “hey everyone my eyeballs don’t work everybody look at me” sign… smh.
You make a great point about the people that put a noble effort in learning. I find these people don’t make assumptions and acknowledge me as a full fledged person with interests. It’s the questions with underlying assumptions pertaining to my supposed incompetence that compel me to walk away with them unanswered. I almost always find myself answering more than I am ignoring because I feel like I have the community on my shoulders in some respect? Idk. I think I need to work on establishing boundaries. I should be OK with saying “hey I don’t really wanna talk about my medical history with a stranger.”
Rhymershouse 3 points 1y ago
“What’s the stick in my hand? It’s my bullcrap stick. I use it to hit rude, ignorant people.”
QuasarchShooby [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Bro I love this. 😂
oldfogey12345 13 points 1y ago
Some people are naturally inclined to teach, some are not.
That doesn't make them saints and us sinners or them any better than you or I. It's just a personality difference.
You don't owe the NFB or the blindness community anything. Teaching is a labor and you do not get paid for that. It's not going to do much of anything to help your experience out in public anyway, since the people saying things or stopping conversations are not the type who are into learning anyway.
Tell them no with whatever level of politeness is suitable to you. Educate whoever you get close to, but leave the great who are into the education thing.
That doesn't make them saints and us sinners or them any better than you or I. It's just a personality difference.
You don't owe the NFB or the blindness community anything. Teaching is a labor and you do not get paid for that. It's not going to do much of anything to help your experience out in public anyway, since the people saying things or stopping conversations are not the type who are into learning anyway.
Tell them no with whatever level of politeness is suitable to you. Educate whoever you get close to, but leave the great who are into the education thing.
ke7zum 5 points 1y ago
I agree. If you don't want to learn, that's not on me, that's on you. I'm a teacher, and if you won't learn what I teach you, I can't force you to.
oldfogey12345 6 points 1y ago
Yup, and for those people among us who are not teachers, even if you want to learn, it's not on me.
Sometimes I think the single hardest thing about our condition is fatigue management.
I'll never understand how you do it, and you may never understand why I want nothing to do with it but it makes me happy that you teach.
Someone should. It's just not the go to skill of OP or myself.
Sometimes I think the single hardest thing about our condition is fatigue management.
I'll never understand how you do it, and you may never understand why I want nothing to do with it but it makes me happy that you teach.
Someone should. It's just not the go to skill of OP or myself.
ke7zum 4 points 1y ago
Hey, some days I'm tired, and it's ESL I teach, so trust me I have my bad days, but I totally understand about those who are tired of educating the sighted person who does not want to take the time to learn. I have been there myself, and trust me, I don't understand either.
TechnicalPragmatist 2 points 1y ago
I think I get what you mean. I do teaching of this sourt. Not a teacher by day but advocate, helper, reformer in a sense, idealist. I educate in this way all the time and thoroughly enjoy it and am a super star at it and some others think I am too. I think I make some people incredbly jealous sometimes but okay…… but anyway. Point is I do it all the time and effortlessly and you’d probably get much better results with me teaching then people who don’t have the skills and who don’t know what and how to do it anyway. I’ve been educating the public one by one or many at a time sometimes for many years now and get asked to do this. I told the last little nott who found me , that they found the right person and was in luck! Hahahah! :D usually they love my explanation and understand.
So yes, but what I think I think we need to be careful of here is not wanting to do it v.s. Being rude about it. I think those people are harmless and just curious and have good intentions so yelling them out is probably a bad idea. Maybe more like I understand you are curious but not sure if I am the right person to explain it to you, or I don’t know if I am in the right headspace to do it right now to explain it to you.
So yes, but what I think I think we need to be careful of here is not wanting to do it v.s. Being rude about it. I think those people are harmless and just curious and have good intentions so yelling them out is probably a bad idea. Maybe more like I understand you are curious but not sure if I am the right person to explain it to you, or I don’t know if I am in the right headspace to do it right now to explain it to you.
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
[deleted]
QuasarchShooby [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Thank you for your words.
Mamamagpie 9 points 1y ago
Before I got my white cane, I didn’t look visually impaired. Now that I have a cane I can see how people treat the blind differently. Form staring at me to saying hello. Or asking if I need help when I stop to do something thing on my phone.
cebeezly82 8 points 1y ago
I live in a college town and you'd be amazed how stupid and ignorant very smart people can be. Going to store literally these people point and give me directions even after I point to my eyes and say I'm blind and wouldn't be able to find my way over there. There's literally not one bar in this town I can have more than one or two beers without being told I am cut off because I guess blind people aren't able to handle more than one beer. Trust me I'm over educating. Was also just discriminated on when going to a job interview for my dream job that I'm definitely qualified for. Got the call back from the agencies hiring company stating using a screen reader and magnifier breach's client confidentiality in the office so they recommended that I go ahead and apply for a job that I work from home and answer phone calls. I'm tired of every job being a tech demo during interviews and I'm definitely tired of educating. Kind of burned out as well.
[deleted] 8 points 1y ago
I have come to the conclusion that I need to set some boundaries ASAP for the sake of my mental health. If someone asks me about private details ("since when have you been blind?" "Was it an accident?" "Is there nothing that could help?") I will tell them a sentence I practiced beforehand (because it is so hard for me). It goes like this: "I am uncomfortable sharing these intimate details with a stranger. Please respect that." I also try not to say sorry.
QuasarchShooby [OP] 2 points 1y ago
I think I’m slowly coming to this conclusion too. I just have a lot to unlearn. This is in no way pinning blame on any organizations in particular, but I’m starting to realize how much I was conditioned to to just be ok with things that aren’t ok. Something that comes to mind is high school and my case manager verbatim saying that I need an aid to follow me around because “blindness is new to a lot of people.” Later, when I was arguing with my aid about how unnecessary it was for her to follow me to the bathroom, she said the same thing and cited a classmate as an example. “You grabbed the seat next to him and I could see how nervous he was.” SMH. If I could go back I would have popped off on her. I did eventually win that long-standing argument, and people stopped following me places at the start of my sophomore year. But still, how can an educator say that? For many parents these people are responsible for shaping parents’ perception of their child.
synthpopolis 6 points 1y ago
100%! I especially felt this when I had a guide dog back in the day. Just like any other working stiff, sometimes I just wanted to stumble onto the bus half asleep, throw on my headphones and not talk to anybody, but I always had to be on. I was always expected to be ambassador to all things guide dogs or all things Blind. Working from home these days I don’t experience it quite so much
Tarnagona 6 points 1y ago
Educating people about blindness is part of my job now, and something I really enjoy doing. But that doesn’t mean I want to have a detailed conversation with a stranger on a street corner as I’m waiting to cross the road.
I think it’s about being prepared mentally, and about controlling the conversation, in a sense, being in a space where I know the questions are coming, and some of them might be weird or inappropriate. I’m not prepared for this conversation when I’m out doing mundane errands, and my mind is focused on whatever I’m doing.
I also find the manner of questions makes a big difference. “What’s that!?” Vs “I’ve seen you walking with that stick and I don’t understand what it does; how does it work?” I’m more likely to answer the second question because it’s less rude and comes from a place of wanting to learn.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also lost patience with some kinds of questions and interactions that I find particularly intrusive. People grabbing my arm or cane. People asking if they can pray for me. I’m answering questions out of my own desire to be helpful (when it’s not work time), and that means I’m not obligated to do so. I get it set which questions I find offensive and inappropriate for myself, and answer accordingly.
I imagine people stare, but luckily, I can’t see well enough to tell if they are doing so, and continue in blissful ignorance. Their propensity to stare or other rude looks is their problem, not mine. Though, having said that, I’d likely feel differently if I could actually see them doing it.
I think it’s about being prepared mentally, and about controlling the conversation, in a sense, being in a space where I know the questions are coming, and some of them might be weird or inappropriate. I’m not prepared for this conversation when I’m out doing mundane errands, and my mind is focused on whatever I’m doing.
I also find the manner of questions makes a big difference. “What’s that!?” Vs “I’ve seen you walking with that stick and I don’t understand what it does; how does it work?” I’m more likely to answer the second question because it’s less rude and comes from a place of wanting to learn.
As I’ve gotten older, I’ve also lost patience with some kinds of questions and interactions that I find particularly intrusive. People grabbing my arm or cane. People asking if they can pray for me. I’m answering questions out of my own desire to be helpful (when it’s not work time), and that means I’m not obligated to do so. I get it set which questions I find offensive and inappropriate for myself, and answer accordingly.
I imagine people stare, but luckily, I can’t see well enough to tell if they are doing so, and continue in blissful ignorance. Their propensity to stare or other rude looks is their problem, not mine. Though, having said that, I’d likely feel differently if I could actually see them doing it.
QuasarchShooby [OP] 2 points 1y ago
“I think it’s about being prepared mentally, and about controlling the conversation, in a sense, being in a space where I know the questions are coming, and some of them might be weird or inappropriate. I’m not prepared for this conversation when I’m out doing mundane errands, and my mind is focused on whatever I’m doing.”
Nailed it. When I’m walking from my apartment to the library, my mind is crowded with thoughts pertaining to studying, homework, exams, how the hell I’m going to find to meal prep because I have work on a few hours and still have a fat pile of papers to write, ETC. This right here is not a good time to ask “what happened to you.” You articulated this better than I, but what you said is exactly what I meant by contextual intelligence.
Nailed it. When I’m walking from my apartment to the library, my mind is crowded with thoughts pertaining to studying, homework, exams, how the hell I’m going to find to meal prep because I have work on a few hours and still have a fat pile of papers to write, ETC. This right here is not a good time to ask “what happened to you.” You articulated this better than I, but what you said is exactly what I meant by contextual intelligence.
WEugeneSmith 5 points 1y ago
I am fairly new to this community. While it is apparent that my right eye is blind, my left eye (20/400) appears normal. I do not use a cane. I do not appear to be blind to the uninitiated. As recently as two years ago I was driving, and people who I know, but are not in my immediate circle, are unaware of the degree of my impairment.. It is awkward and sometimes exhausting to explain why I might not have recognized an acquaintance and why I might be holding up the check out line as I try to work the pin pad.
I am also an amputee (right leg above the knee), so I am used to staring and questions about that.
OP, you sound like a very smart and empathetic person. As a fellow disabled person, I completely relate to the wish to simply be ordinary and invisible.
My advice to you is to give your empathic self a rest sometimes. Decide what your boundaries are when it comes to educating the sighted world. It is not on your shoulders to educate everyone, but you can continue to make a difference within the boundaries you set.
I am also an amputee (right leg above the knee), so I am used to staring and questions about that.
OP, you sound like a very smart and empathetic person. As a fellow disabled person, I completely relate to the wish to simply be ordinary and invisible.
My advice to you is to give your empathic self a rest sometimes. Decide what your boundaries are when it comes to educating the sighted world. It is not on your shoulders to educate everyone, but you can continue to make a difference within the boundaries you set.
ke7zum 3 points 1y ago
What I do is live by example. I try my best and do stuff I love to do and pre covid I was out volunteering everywhere, now virtually, but still. I will actually be talking about a recent experience on my podcast as soon as i can edit 8 days into 1 hour. The experience was liberating in terms of how I educated as people asked nme what they could do, and what I needed. They helped me when I needed it, and didn't when I said, no thanks, but thanks so much anyway. And, I meant it.
Criptedinyourcloset 5 points 1y ago
I’ve never been one to educate anyone. The only time I will engage in a conversation is if the question the other person is asking is actually very interesting or it’s a little kid that does not know any better. But, if it’s something like “what’s in your hand. “Or “how do you do XYZ. “I just tell them to Google it. I don’t have time to deal with peoples ignorance. I have my own shit to do.
Tarnagona 4 points 1y ago
I was talking to a colleague yesterday about dealing with the public and their sometimes intrusive questions. His response: I’m going to start answering the “how did you go blind” question with “this is why you don’t juggle with knives”. 😆
Wolfocorn20 4 points 1y ago
i'm a legally blind person and i can soooooo relate to this all.
As a child parents tell you that nobody is staring so that you should just use your cane.
As a grown up quite a few friends asked if i was aware of the staring and if it bothers me..
The answer to both is yes but i ignore it most of the time.
When people are really intrested and willing to learn i give them an answer but otherwize i just tell them i'm in a hurry and that they can find it online if they really wanna know.
However these day's i'm mostly telling people the do not pet sign on my guide dog is there for a reason.
By now i think quite a lot of people want to start a global awareness campain so that we can stop explaining the basics... or is that just me?
As a child parents tell you that nobody is staring so that you should just use your cane.
As a grown up quite a few friends asked if i was aware of the staring and if it bothers me..
The answer to both is yes but i ignore it most of the time.
When people are really intrested and willing to learn i give them an answer but otherwize i just tell them i'm in a hurry and that they can find it online if they really wanna know.
However these day's i'm mostly telling people the do not pet sign on my guide dog is there for a reason.
By now i think quite a lot of people want to start a global awareness campain so that we can stop explaining the basics... or is that just me?
ke7zum 2 points 1y ago
My x best friend would get pissed off and yell at those looking at me in jr high. I didn't appreciate that at the time, Now of corse I do. And all I would do would be to sit there and eat lunch.
QuasarchShooby [OP] 1 points 1y ago
I love those friends honestly. They don’t get freaked out when you go into advocacy mode and call out someone on their BS.
ke7zum 1 points 1y ago
Yep. We broke the relationship for another reason, but yes I appreciate it now.
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
[deleted]
codeplaysleep 3 points 1y ago
Yeah, sometimes I don't mind, if I have the time and the other person is generally curious and asking intelligent questions. Other times, I'm just not in the mood. The only thing more annoying than getting stupid questions from strangers about being blind is being told how brave you are for .... existing?
QuasarchShooby [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Recently my go to after all that “you’re so brave” nonsense is to just reply with “it’s not that deep man.”
Rhymershouse 3 points 1y ago
Same. Already have to educate people on my gender. Shouldn’t have to educate them about blindness.
PungentMushrooms 3 points 1y ago
The line "Blindness bothers other people" really hits home. Sometimes you can just feel the awkwardness in the room
QuasarchShooby [OP] 3 points 1y ago
Oof. Yup. I don’t care how crazy I sound. I don’t need to see the facial expressions of discomfort and anxiety. I can feel it and hear it in their tone.
Winnmark 2 points 1y ago
Flip it on its head.
Are us sighted folk ever not in the mood to educate or help? Short answer: yes.
I just think it's important to remember that what might be mundane to us could be novel to someone else. Keeping that in mind, I think, can help us remain firm but respectful no matter what answer we choose to give.
Are us sighted folk ever not in the mood to educate or help? Short answer: yes.
I just think it's important to remember that what might be mundane to us could be novel to someone else. Keeping that in mind, I think, can help us remain firm but respectful no matter what answer we choose to give.
QuasarchShooby [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Valid! I’ll be the first to admit that the sassy response can be tempting, but rudeness is never constructive for anyone.
Where I feel a little less obligated to decorum is when the same respect isn’t paid to me. I guess where that gets complicated is people not realizing in the moment that words like “what happened to you” are quite rude when confronting a stranger. This is why my feelings on this topic are complicated.
Where I feel a little less obligated to decorum is when the same respect isn’t paid to me. I guess where that gets complicated is people not realizing in the moment that words like “what happened to you” are quite rude when confronting a stranger. This is why my feelings on this topic are complicated.
Winnmark 1 points 1y ago
Boom. Hit the nail on the head.
Typically, I'll answer their questions. However, before I give them the answer I always say something to the effect of "hey, it's cool for you to ask me this because I don't care, but you should never ask a disabled person why they're disabled". I'll point out that, in general, we don't ask people in wheelchairs why they're in wheelchairs.
Like my boss always says, "take 2 steps back".
What you've missed is that these people have an explicit need, that is, they ask you about your blindness. They need blindness education But they also have an implicit need, that is, they need education about disability in general, most of the time anyway.
Typically, I'll answer their questions. However, before I give them the answer I always say something to the effect of "hey, it's cool for you to ask me this because I don't care, but you should never ask a disabled person why they're disabled". I'll point out that, in general, we don't ask people in wheelchairs why they're in wheelchairs.
Like my boss always says, "take 2 steps back".
What you've missed is that these people have an explicit need, that is, they ask you about your blindness. They need blindness education But they also have an implicit need, that is, they need education about disability in general, most of the time anyway.
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