Totally blind:research

Category: Daily Living

Post 1 by Tasneem (Newborn Zoner) on Thursday, 19-Jul-2007 18:05:35

Hey.i am doing an assignment and need to do research on the life of a totally blind person.please help me.and can you please give me some of your experience.and also how a sighted person should guide you,what frustrates you,how you travel independently.i would really appreciate it.thank you

Post 2 by SingerOfSongs (Heresy and apostasy is how progress is made.) on Friday, 20-Jul-2007 5:50:55

Like periods (.) much?

Post 3 by Lupinsgirl (I can't call it a day til I enter the zone BBS) on Thursday, 26-Jul-2007 14:35:57

Hellen Keller? She had an intristing life.
Or stevy wunder?

Post 4 by HauntedReverie (doing the bad mango) on Thursday, 26-Jul-2007 15:57:37

perhaps, you should just post up questions for us to answer. it's hard to just spout off about life. Or maybe ask for an interview over a messenger, skype, or private quicknotes.

Post 5 by jen91_09 (777) on Monday, 30-Jul-2007 15:36:16

I agree. it would be easier to answer specific questions. but heres how u sighted guide: just have the sighted person hold out there arm and grab their elbow, then be sure to try and stay behind them, thats how I was tought anyway. i know there r different ways people do it, but I think thats the safest. feel free to pm me if u want more info.

Jenna

Post 6 by Harmony (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Tuesday, 21-Aug-2007 8:06:35

When people guide me, I just hold onto their elbow most of the time, but when my mum takes me somewhere, I hold onto her arm instead. I don't know why but I do that with most of the family. It's quite annoying when people in the family get me to go in front of them instead of behind them when we're going through a narrow space, as well.

Post 7 by Reyami (I've broken five thousand! any more awards going?) on Tuesday, 21-Aug-2007 14:22:42

They should have you go behind them when walking through a narrow space. after all, they're guiding you, not the other way around, right?

Post 8 by Hilikme (Veteran Zoner) on Tuesday, 21-Aug-2007 14:45:03

I'd be fine with answering questions as well, but agree that it would be easier if you gave exact questions... giving you "my experience" could be like writing a novel.

1. Sighted guide - blind person holds onto your elbow, while following behind somewhat, and always goes behind (single file) when going through narrow spaces. DO NOT grab the sighted person, ever, do not hold them by their arms in front of you as you push them along, do not grab them by their cane or guide dog to show them where to go...
2. What frustrates me? Pity. All those people who are like "Oh I'm so sorry you're blind, that's terrible, it must be so awful, how do you even go on with life," etc. Besides that? Subtitles, inaccessible websites or computer applications in general, being denied the opportunity to do both leisure activities as well as work, for any number of reasons sighted folks can come up with ("It's not safe!" comes to mind first), etc..
3. For mobility I use a cane, but I'll be using a guide dog more and more. I don't count steps like everyone thinks I do, so that's another slightly frustrating thing, when people ask "So how many steps is it from <place> to <place>?". It's all in landmarks and sounds and all that fun stuff.

Post 9 by blbobby (Ooo you're gona like this!) on Tuesday, 21-Aug-2007 16:54:22

If you have questions, search the boards and I'll bet the topic has been talked to death ad infinidum.

Bob

Post 10 by Harmony (I've now got the silver prolific poster award! wahoo!) on Sunday, 23-Sep-2007 3:42:31

Different questions have been asked odifferent boards, yes. Joanne (Nymphadora), yes I am supposed to go behind the person guiding me, which is why it's so annoying.