Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Supporting blind friend (self.Blind)
submitted by krendel740
Hello. I thought, maybe people with vision impairment could give me some advice, as you understand this situation better than someone who isn't blind or vision impaired.
I have a friend who had an accident, was in a coma for a while, and got some brain damage. He lost most of his vision and doesn't remember last 3 years. His eyes are fine, but brain doesn't work properly, so everything is blurred for him, mostly he sees only colours. He doesn't remember me as a friend so much, because we became good friends only in last two years, but he doesn't reject me or anything when I come to visit him. His mom does her best to help him to train his brain to recognise objects and shapes, but often it tires him as hell. He is really depressed, and I am really sad it happened to him.
How can I support the guy? I really want to help him. He's a wonderful person with brilliant mind, and I hope he'll recover as good as he can. But right now he is devastated. What can I do? How to support someone who lost his sight and barely sees anything? Thanks.
I have a friend who had an accident, was in a coma for a while, and got some brain damage. He lost most of his vision and doesn't remember last 3 years. His eyes are fine, but brain doesn't work properly, so everything is blurred for him, mostly he sees only colours. He doesn't remember me as a friend so much, because we became good friends only in last two years, but he doesn't reject me or anything when I come to visit him. His mom does her best to help him to train his brain to recognise objects and shapes, but often it tires him as hell. He is really depressed, and I am really sad it happened to him.
How can I support the guy? I really want to help him. He's a wonderful person with brilliant mind, and I hope he'll recover as good as he can. But right now he is devastated. What can I do? How to support someone who lost his sight and barely sees anything? Thanks.
xmachinaxxx 3 points 1y ago
You seem like a great friend. Just keep being there for him.
krendel740 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thanks, I'll try, even though it's really hard to help someone who doesn't recognise you (because of amnesia). I'll do my best. The guy deserves the best life he can have and I really hope his vision will improve with time
SLJ7 1 points 1y ago
In terms of friend support, all you can really do is be there. In terms of a support system, it sounds like his mom is focusing a lot on getting him to use his eyes properly again, and not focusing on ways he can do things without them. This could lead to the internalized belief that he can't function without vision, which makes things feel a lot worse. When he spends his time alone wishing he could do the things he used to do, and the time with his mom being reminded that he can't do those things, that's not good. I assume the reason she's working with him is because of a doctor recommendation, so that doesn't need to stop necessarily. Just make sure that vision (or the lack thereof) isn't taking over everyone's life. "There's more to life than that. All of you need to know what really is and isn't possible without vision, and find people who can help him figure out how to use the senses that are working for him right now, even as he re-learns how to see. There are blindness rehabilitation resources everywhere, but I also really suggest doing your own research or asking here / in Facebook groups about specific things, because the reality is that most of the people who run these organizations are" sighted and not directly in touch with the blind community, so it can be hit or miss.
Oh, and an Amazon Echo might not be a bad purchase. There are ways a blind person can fully use a computer, as you probably guessed from this sub; but it takes some training and a voice assistant is a good way of shortcutting some very basic things. The echo can look up basic information, make phone calls, read audiobooks, play games, and probably a whole lot more I don't know about because I honestly don't love voice-first interaction. It will also provide some incentive for learning the computer when it gives infuriatingly vague answers to basic questions.
Oh, and an Amazon Echo might not be a bad purchase. There are ways a blind person can fully use a computer, as you probably guessed from this sub; but it takes some training and a voice assistant is a good way of shortcutting some very basic things. The echo can look up basic information, make phone calls, read audiobooks, play games, and probably a whole lot more I don't know about because I honestly don't love voice-first interaction. It will also provide some incentive for learning the computer when it gives infuriatingly vague answers to basic questions.
krendel740 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thank you very much, it's a great answer. I'll check what I can do for him and how can he rehabilitate and continue live even if he won't get his vision back. Amazon Echo worths a purchase, I'll inform him
[deleted] 1 points 1y ago
:'(
DariusA92 1 points 1y ago
See if his family hasn't gotten in touch with a blind organization like NFB in the US, advise him to do so. A lot of the depression comes from not being able to do much. These organizations can help him learn to use his phone/laptop/PC/tablet using a screen reader, something that alone opens a lot of doors. They also show him how to do other things while having little vision. Things like cooking, traveling, etc.
krendel740 [OP] 1 points 1y ago
Thank you, I'll talk with his parents and try to find ways to help them even if he'll stay blind forever
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