Being a blind person among a sighted society is an adventure. I was
born sighted but at age 12 I lost sight in my right eye. Years later,
I lost the sight in my left eye. So, I do have some idea of what the
world looks like but as a result of losing my vision, I had to change
my way of living. Due to my loss, I must endure constant questions from
strangers, the enquiries into my daily life, and how I am treated by
society.
You would not believe the questions I get on a daily basis. I am asked
constantly how I am able to function without sight. I realize my
limitations but I am not willing to give up the idea of having a quote
unquote normal life. The question most asked is how did you loose your
sight? My response is genuine, I tell them I lost the sight in my
right eye when I was in grade school and I lost the sight in my left
eye when my son was seven years old. Were you born blind? No, I was
not but I have always had problems with my eyes. In fact, I remember
how the sky looks when the sun rises and sets. How were you able to
care for your son? I am put in the position of explaining my ability
to have and care for a child. Without, being too rude I tell them that
I was able to see though I had vision in one eye and I had help from my
family. How are you able to dress yourself? Easy, I simply have
someone match up my colors before I can get dressed. When I tell
people that I am going to college, the first thing they want to know or
ask is how. Sometimes it can be frustrating, but I have nothing to be
ashamed of so I answer their questions. I am able to attend school
with the help of a few people. First, located on the campus there is
an office just for the disabled students and in that office you will
find someone who can teach and show you how to use the computers,
provide an in class aide, and other necessary services. I am then
asked how I get around. I say through trial and error, or sometimes it
is with assistance. Along with these questions there are countless
others, some are given answers and some are not because they are too
personal and they are not worth answering.
My daily ritual is another area of interest for strangers. First, I
decide what to wear then I take a shower. Yes, I am able to do this
task alone in case anyone wanted to know. Second, I have breakfast and
I am able to prepare that myself; usually it is a bowl of cereal, a
piece of fruit, or nothing at all. I realize that sounded a little too
easy, but I am not really a breakfast person. After breakfast, I wash
the dishes and clean my room. Depending on my mood I would look at
television, listen to a CD or a book on tape, talk on the phone, or
begin a new yarn project. I am generally quiet when I am home because
my room is my serenity. I also like to create stories, depictions of
places that I hope to visit one day. Sometimes I spend time with my
mom downstairs watching television, or just talking. I basically enjoy
being alone because I have so many things to entertain myself.
Last, the way I have been treated by society is also an adventure. In
our society, there is no such thing as courtesy anymore. I say this
because people can be rude. For example, I sometimes feel like I am in
the store alone because when I ask for help I am usually ignored. On
so many levels, I feel lost by not being able to do the littlest things
that those with sight can do for themselves. For example, one of my
biggest pet peeves is the unavailability to read and write without
having or going through extra steps. This action is taken for granted
by those who are still able to do this task. I would love to be in a
position where I can just breeze through any task without fail, but I
realize that is not necessarily possible, so I endure. Also, I can not
stand the assumptions that are made in my regards, or in any other
blind person’s regard. For example, there are some sighted individuals
that think and believe we have no limitations. Yes, we move around and
we are able to do some things for ourselves, but it is not easy- some
are slower than others and more time is needed to complete any task.
But what I hate more than anything is when my story is told everyone
wants to feel sorry for me. They immediately want to apologize for my
loss and I do not need or want their apology. I do not feel like I
am missing anything at all because I am still able to enjoy life as a
human being.
In conclusion, being a blind person in a sighted world is a different
experience. We are constantly asked all sorts of weird questions by
strangers; whereas, no one will ever ask a sighted person about their
personal life. Conversely, the sighted take so much for granted;
whereas, everything that blind people do is a constant thought. As a
blind, I sometimes wish that a sighted person could experience life as
a blind person does for one day. In short, my life as a blind person
is an adventure.
born sighted but at age 12 I lost sight in my right eye. Years later,
I lost the sight in my left eye. So, I do have some idea of what the
world looks like but as a result of losing my vision, I had to change
my way of living. Due to my loss, I must endure constant questions from
strangers, the enquiries into my daily life, and how I am treated by
society.
You would not believe the questions I get on a daily basis. I am asked
constantly how I am able to function without sight. I realize my
limitations but I am not willing to give up the idea of having a quote
unquote normal life. The question most asked is how did you loose your
sight? My response is genuine, I tell them I lost the sight in my
right eye when I was in grade school and I lost the sight in my left
eye when my son was seven years old. Were you born blind? No, I was
not but I have always had problems with my eyes. In fact, I remember
how the sky looks when the sun rises and sets. How were you able to
care for your son? I am put in the position of explaining my ability
to have and care for a child. Without, being too rude I tell them that
I was able to see though I had vision in one eye and I had help from my
family. How are you able to dress yourself? Easy, I simply have
someone match up my colors before I can get dressed. When I tell
people that I am going to college, the first thing they want to know or
ask is how. Sometimes it can be frustrating, but I have nothing to be
ashamed of so I answer their questions. I am able to attend school
with the help of a few people. First, located on the campus there is
an office just for the disabled students and in that office you will
find someone who can teach and show you how to use the computers,
provide an in class aide, and other necessary services. I am then
asked how I get around. I say through trial and error, or sometimes it
is with assistance. Along with these questions there are countless
others, some are given answers and some are not because they are too
personal and they are not worth answering.
My daily ritual is another area of interest for strangers. First, I
decide what to wear then I take a shower. Yes, I am able to do this
task alone in case anyone wanted to know. Second, I have breakfast and
I am able to prepare that myself; usually it is a bowl of cereal, a
piece of fruit, or nothing at all. I realize that sounded a little too
easy, but I am not really a breakfast person. After breakfast, I wash
the dishes and clean my room. Depending on my mood I would look at
television, listen to a CD or a book on tape, talk on the phone, or
begin a new yarn project. I am generally quiet when I am home because
my room is my serenity. I also like to create stories, depictions of
places that I hope to visit one day. Sometimes I spend time with my
mom downstairs watching television, or just talking. I basically enjoy
being alone because I have so many things to entertain myself.
Last, the way I have been treated by society is also an adventure. In
our society, there is no such thing as courtesy anymore. I say this
because people can be rude. For example, I sometimes feel like I am in
the store alone because when I ask for help I am usually ignored. On
so many levels, I feel lost by not being able to do the littlest things
that those with sight can do for themselves. For example, one of my
biggest pet peeves is the unavailability to read and write without
having or going through extra steps. This action is taken for granted
by those who are still able to do this task. I would love to be in a
position where I can just breeze through any task without fail, but I
realize that is not necessarily possible, so I endure. Also, I can not
stand the assumptions that are made in my regards, or in any other
blind person’s regard. For example, there are some sighted individuals
that think and believe we have no limitations. Yes, we move around and
we are able to do some things for ourselves, but it is not easy- some
are slower than others and more time is needed to complete any task.
But what I hate more than anything is when my story is told everyone
wants to feel sorry for me. They immediately want to apologize for my
loss and I do not need or want their apology. I do not feel like I
am missing anything at all because I am still able to enjoy life as a
human being.
In conclusion, being a blind person in a sighted world is a different
experience. We are constantly asked all sorts of weird questions by
strangers; whereas, no one will ever ask a sighted person about their
personal life. Conversely, the sighted take so much for granted;
whereas, everything that blind people do is a constant thought. As a
blind, I sometimes wish that a sighted person could experience life as
a blind person does for one day. In short, my life as a blind person
is an adventure.