This is what I struggle with now.
Catching people when they sign in my peripheral vision and I do wear sunglasses to protect my eyes from the low branches and anything that can damage my eyes. I wear fitovers (sunglasses that fits over your glasses) to protect them from the sun as well.
It was really interesting when some Deaf people would ask me ignorant questions like "How do I know when to stop wiping my behind after number 2?"
Wow! If anyone had asked me that, I would have been dumbfounded!
That one really startled me because you just know. Others would ask me how other DBs identified themselves, we identify by tactiling our names. I do with my DB friends, we are very tight-knit with each other and meet on a weekly basis.
You're exactly right, Mrs. Bucket. The deafblind community is quite small which makes it like family in many ways. In my area, DBPs (deafblind persons) identify themselves by tactile name signs. If a person doesn't have a name sign, one is given to them and/or they fingerspell their name. The deafblind group I spend time with meets on a monthly basis.
My hubby, poor him, he does see me get irritated at really ignorant people when they ask questions like "Do you drive?" I show my cane and ask "Blind people drive with their cane?!" especially when they see me walking in the building with the cane and feeling the wall with my other hand.
I've been asked the same question. In fact, I'll never forget the time when a grocery store cashier asked me, "May I carry these bags out to your car for you?" I was like, "Ummm. I don't drive. I'm blind." :roll:
Just so many myths about blindness - back then blind people's eyes had to be covered because they were viewed to be unattractive. Just so sad how much abuse blind people put up with and now we have so much change.
I agree. So much has changed for the better. At least the general public has become more open-minded nowadays and children are introduced to people with disabilities through diversity programs in their school. That's something we didn't have when I was a child.
Beautiful, enlightening and empowering thread! Kudos!!
In fact, everything you've said above is true. In my case, people can't tell that I'm blind because my eyes look normal. The only exception to this is that I have nystagmus (where my eyes move from side to side and up and down involuntarily). As for focusing on an empty space where there is no object, I was taught at an early age to look in the direction of the person I'm speaking to. That may also be a reason why I don't look blind.
The exception to this might be people with albinism (pale skin, white hair and extreme sensitivity to light). One of my best friends is albino and although she wore thick glasses, she always closed her eyes when she was outdoors in the sun.
