It was a beautiful sunny afternoon and I was running around the extensive grounds of my inlaws garden chasing after my toddler, who was enjoying the freedom. Aside from a playing field, it's rare to find the space just to be able to run freely and she was taking great delight in letting me chase after her without a care in the world.

I have no sight at all, but following her giggles and roaring like a wild beast was rather fun ... until I suddenly felt the lack of the ground beneath my feet. They continued to piston of course, and I just had time to wish profoundly that I'd gotten more of an idea about any obstacles as I feel myself falling through the air, wondering how many bones I'm likely to break when I land on the surround of whatever I've obviously fallen off ...

And then with an almighty splash I sink into a 6 ft deep pond of brackish, muddy, disgustingly green water. My momentum drives the soles of my feet deep into the silty, sticky bottom and my entire head is submerged with foul, acrid water.

To this day, the family can't see a pond of any shape or size without chuckling. My new iPhone 4, in one pocket that I was paying almost £50.00 per month on a contract to maintain was ruined. The cheap £30 mp3 player in the other pocket still works, nearly a decade on.

All of these so far aren’t very positive experiences, so I think I’ll add a happy one to the mix.

I’m VI, so still have some usable vision. I was walking to class a few months ago. It was oddly warm for the middle of winter, and the sun was shining, and it was overall a beautiful day. I’m in the middle of the city, and there are people everywhere, so I’m really trying to focus on not walking into anyone.
So I cross the street and I’m walking along beside the buildings when all of a sudden, a flock of pigeons launches off the roof of the building beside me, swoops down mere feet over my head, and keeps going down the street. I have never heard such a beautiful sound. Birds are just blurs to me in the wild, and I only know what they look like because of photos. The flapping of all those wings was the most rich and vibrant sound I’ve ever heard. It’s the most tangible thing I’ve ever had to attach to the idea of “bird.” People are always so excited to see hawks and eagles flying in the sky because they don’t get to see them that often where I live, so I was just so happy to finally have a special bird moment like all the sighties.

I'm VI, once slipped under a train in London whilst disembarking at one of the busiest stations. It was rush hour, and some kind green arms pulled me up, seated me on the platform, and left before I realised what had happened.

Honestly most people seem pretty shocked that I can put on a hoodie without help.

I also fell from a train platform once while losing my sight as the train arrived. One of my feet was hurting from the fall so I couldn't jump back out and therefore all I could do was to lie down next to the platform and hope for the best. The next thing I remember is people pulling me back to the platform after the train had already stopped. My head and torso were bleeding, and in addition to my foot, my back was also hurting, so I was rushed to the hospital where a CT scan revealed no broken bones or other injuries.

Up to this day I wonder what happened to me after I passed out, as I don't even remember getting hit by the train, but the blood on my body and the broken screen of the MacBook Pro that I was carrying on my back leave no doubt that it must have been violent. Quite frankly I wish I had died that day, because while my body survived, my essence died along with my sight shortly after that event.

The RNIB have a campaign to improve safety for blind people at railway stations through the use of tactile paving at the platform edge.

Warning: the following video contains a description of a fatality.

Youtube video $1

That I was assumed homeless for being a young white woman on a public bus with a full cart of groceries. Funny thing is it was an old white man who probably has similar vision problems to mine that asked! Apparently he has never met a young person who was VI.

I used to date this guy, very interested in me as an adult friend, not so interested in me as a romantic partner, if you catch my drift. We'd already been walking miles and miles to go visit his cousin, and I was mentally fried. It was hot as hell, my legs hurt, and I just wanted to sit down.

In the past, people I'd let sighted guide me had warned me about stairs. He, however, had about as much care about me as your average person has for their empty Starbucks cup. So, my foot left the ground, and didn't hit the ground when it should've. Instead, it hit a step. And the next. Like I'd chosen to run down the stairs, my feet hit each and every step perfectly, and I stepped off the last one, cool as you like, as though I'd meant that and it wasn't an accident from not using my cane properly and not being told I was about to fall down stairs.

I'm VI and have been to space camp in Huntsville. For one week it's all blind/low vision kids and we do all the cool space stuff! I got to pilot a shuttle and land it, fix a satellite and be head of mission control! We had outdoor activities too like rock climbing up a tower to Zipline. But I think the pamper pole would shock most people. A pamper pole is almost as tall as a street light and we got to climb it! There's a circle on top that I stood on and jumped off! We wear helmets and harnesses. I have been to space camp three times. That was one of the coolest things I've ever done.
P.S we also got to scuba dive!

Probably the fact that I have synesthesia. Also the fact that I use it to my advantage to mix music. Also the fact that I make music.

I was helping a sweet elderly woman with her heavy shopping bags navigating tru one of the biggest stations around here.
The sight of a blind person helping the elderly had shocked quite a few people but the real shocker came when i helped her get on to the train witch happend to be the same one i needed to take as well.
A dude shuvs the lady aside causing her to almost fall in to the gab between the train and platform
i helped her up and in to the train wile shouting to the dude to put manners on his christmas wishlist sins christmas was just 1 week away.
He turned around thinking he'd have an easy target on me and told me to take it to the parking lot. iI turned around and told him that we'd pass security on ouer way there and that i'd be happy to show him the way.

Aparently a blind person talking back to a bad manerd teen is pritty shocking to most people.

I'm very VI. Pretty much blind. Sight isn't enough to read and I can't see colors. It's just good enough for some orientation.
I used to ride bikes, go carts, etc . As a kid. Many things happened, including accidentally going too fast down the steep incline of our driveway. I couldn't stop in time and slid under my dads motorcycle. It didn't appreciate this very much and promptly flopped over onto me and the thing. Needless to say that didn't stop me and I continued to do those very things. Many a crash was had but also just as much fun.
We, me, my brother and neighbors, also used to climb trees. It was tons of fun. We also had airsoft gun matches which I was included in. I'm so glad my parents didn't try to stop me from experiencing any of that, even if at times it must have been nerve wracking. I'm pretty sure all of those things contributed greatly to my independence. If I ever have blind kids I'll make sure they get the same chances I had. These are very valuable experiences.

My friends, 2 blind people, fell down on the tracks together. Thankfully there was no train and they were pulled up by people safely. Still, as you said, that does sends shivers up my spine. Our new metros have literally no gap between platform and the train's footboard, so that scenario might go out of the picture soon. And, almost all of the stations are getting tactile markings on the platforms. Though I highly doubt how effective these markings would be in crowded situations.

That also reminds me, I was on a train station, walking towards my usual compartment. But, the station was crowded, so, I was forced to go from very edge of the platform. A train from back side was coming, and this amazing fellow on the platform just grabbed me, and brought me away from the edge, by pushing everyone else away and making space for me there. If I start wondering what might have happened without that guy, I feel very scared. I haven't told my parents this situation as they might feel even more worried about me traveling alone.

As a child, I was in habit of going/jumping out of our ground florr balcany instead of using the dorr to get out to play. Sadly, this 1 day, a dog was sleeping outside balcony, and my landing became way scary then I was use to. Yup, strait up landed on that dog, he screamed, I screamed, we both ran, thankfully he ran away from me, not towards me.

Another conveniant thing that streat dogs in my area do is they get out of the way when I am walking down the road with my cane. Without cane, they don't pay attention, but, with cane, even when I am just casually, non-threateningly holding the cane in hand, they still stand up, and walk out of the path. I have never herted any dog with my cane. It's like they have been trained to walk away when they see this white cane. Sadly, street dogs in other areas don't seem to be doing this. Yup, I have been crowned the dog king! At least for this specific area lol.

Once while walking down the road, a car's back side suddenly touched me from left, and began pushing me towards right, on the main road with all the traffic. It was not fast, so, it didn't make me fall or anything, just a very firm push. People around me were very scared and shouted at that driver though.

P.s. I am not a dog hater, neither a violent person. But when you are blind, bumps with dogs and things are bound to happen.

I am totally blind and 3 years ago now the summer of 2019 I did a bit of a patriots tour of the us as a totally blind person all alone as a single blind woman in her mid 20s I went clear across country 2000 miles or more by myself and explored and went to 6 different states on my very own, with very minimal help. I had a vi friend and he didn’t believe I did it but I did. He also didn’t think I’d do anything besides stay in my hotel room.

Sighted people have told me I don’t think I’d have done this not on my own and I wouldn’t go like that and travel across the country to 6 different states.


I went to 6 different states on my own, and had a very busy packed schedule for 2 weeks. I visited 2 or sometimes 3 places a day. I went to philly and other parts of pennsylvania, and saw the historical stuff there. And the mint. I did most of the stuff in dc. I skipped out on the kennedy center to go back to philly to visit someone. I visited with a few friends for a few days. I went to new york late at night after having a really busy day and almost got stuck in nyc at night but found the path train back to new jersey where I was staying.

I visited maryland and went to the nfb headquarters just to see it. I went to mount vernon.

That’s just a short list of what I did. It was a fun hectic week. I did this all by myself with minimal help.


I had no experiences there but could full someone I’ve either been there before or that I was a local good at finding my way around.

I almost got my iphone stolen in washington d.c. though. And screamed for help. Fortunately by the grace of God some guy came, and helped. I played the dumb blind person. The guy asked the robbers to go get the phone from the other ones these were young kids. It was brought back to my utter surprise. They wanted money and the guy was like don’t be silly she’s blind, she doesn’t have money. I did, at the time I had saved up. But I wasn’t going to tell them. The guy got my phone and then gave it to me. They kept asking me for money.

In a goofy and sing song voice I said, I am going to call the police now. So I did on my apple watch I pressed the sos command and the police was called. And when I said I was going to in that gooffy way they ran for it.

Everyone said I handled myself very well in that situation.


6 years ago now the summer of 2016 I went to hong kong by myself. And had minimal help at times. I found my way around Hong kong by myself and traveled clear across hong kong to visit another blind guy there. Again minimal help. Everyone was so amazed the blind guy was amazed and was like if I was smart and independent like you. I also didn’t spend but a few weeks in Hong kong and I was navigating also pretty flawlessly.

Thank you all for sharing your stories!