Category: Let's talk
Hi there everyone! What in your life is the most difficult thing about being blind?
I think for me it would have to be shopping for clothes, or having sighted people treat me like I am mentally disabled.
lol, the most difficult thing about being blind? um, isn't being blind the most difficult thing about it? omg, lmao
Yes, if you choose to have this outlook, than it is, but if you choose to not feel sorry for yourself, then you will find the good ths as well.
I think difficult is too negative a word, yes, there are certain chalenges that one can and do face, but it's all in how one looks at life.
lmao, I love being blind. Best thing that ever happened to me. Agreed with Tear Drop. Difficitul's kind of the wrong word. I just view the "difficulties" as challenges. Sighted people have challenges too, so ... No differences for blind people
isn't it trying to get away in a stolen car or finding a decent prostitute.
Yeah buster, that's pretty much it. :D
Shopping for clothes and finding work in the area where you live, to cut an immensely long and bloody frustrating story short.
Jen.
Mowing the yard, well not exactly mowing it, but mowing and making it look good!
Missplacing something and having to go all over looking for it. I misplaced my external harddrive and I looked everywhere to realize it was on the shelf.
Or, if you live with famly membes as I do, you put something down where you know where you will be able to find it, and then someone has to come and move the object without telling you. God, I hate that.
Writing in print or cursive
Maps
Graphics
Geometry
Drawing
Visual arts
Art on the computer
The most difficulty or challenging thing for me is having to go to the ER in the middle of the night and paying 40 bucks to get there just because I can't drive. Getting lost, losing things, not having easy access to certain areas because of weird street crossings, or no sidewalks. There are definitely times wehre I can't stand to be me, but then again, it all goes away after awhile.
For me, it is traveling on a train. Because some times the staff forget about me. It depends what company I am using. The one i reily don't like is Virgin Trains.
Lol I have only been on a train once and never had any problems! :d
Anyway, i'd say the most difficult thing for me would have to be trying to explain to sighted people what I am able to do without there being any misunderstandings, especially family members! Also I dont do much shopping, so that really hasn't become much of a problem for me. And yes, there are always challenges, but that is for everyone, sighted people too! However, there are more challenges for us, but like was said before, it all depends on how you look at things. As far as being blind in itself, it doesn't bother me too much. Although some of the other things I find challenging would have to be:
Not being able to drive, (big problem!)
Sometimes not being able to do certain things on the computer, (though I've always tried to find ways to do pretty much everything I am interested in doing)
Also, going to a club and being able to actually go out and dance whenever I want, without having to wait for someone to offer! This wouldn't seem to be much of a challenge, but it is, considering that I go with my aunt, (having noone else to go with), and she is not much of a clubber.
And O yeah, I forgot, being in a new relationship, 3 months as of the 25th of January 2009 and your new BF living over 216 miles, a totally inaccessible and bloody frustrating to boot, 216 miles up the road from me, in North Lincolnshire. It totally, sucks that the rail networks don't make it any easier for disabled people to get around, wherever, whenever.
Jen.
I forgot:
People speaking up for me.
the most challenging thing would be getting used to a new environment that is totally unfamiliar even if you had good cane skills.
well i consider myself as an average traveler.
i say average because i can do most things especially when on campus, but i am getting there, its just taking alittle bit longer for me to process.
the most challenging thing? people's atitudes to blind people. employment and genral access to services. we are certainly second class to those with physical disabilities in the UK, and definately third when compared to sighted people.
people asking what is the most dificult thing about being blind. hey everyone has their share of problems. ours are unique because of our disability, but hey they are no better or worse then any one else's.
there are plenty of sighted people who don't drive. my kids' day care provider never has by choice and culture. Therefore my kids never had the "you poor kids your parents don't drive bla bla bla" attitude foisted on them too often. Recently our son decided not to keep his license. Even though he has normal vision he and his wife determined that the insurance and repairs are a big financial drain and hassle.
The job market sucks for us in a big way. I don't know if that clasifies, but especially since I am the mom of a blind young adult who is out there looking, it is the main thing that disturbs and concerns me.
For me, the most difficult thing is to be independent. If you have parents that are over protective, under estimate their daughter's capabilities because of her blindness, and the employment opportunities that are available for us. It is also difficult to travel here in the Philippines because of reckless drivers and unaccessible roads. In addition, it is difficult to be a college student here. Although not all, some teachers gave higher grades those sighted people rather than to those blind like us.
I'd like to jump in here and say there are a handful of things I find extremely challenging. I think the thing I feel most despondant about more than anything else is the loss of just being able to get up and go. Whenever I need to go anywhere I have to rely on family or plan way in advance. And on top of that, if I manage to go myself, there's making sure I go super early. Then, as always happens, I wind up waiting. I think these are the two most frustrating things. Being unable to just get up and go and the time I spent sitting and waiting because I have no choice. I just want to go, do what I need to do and be on my way. The sitting and waiting kills me half the time. But, like most things, I've learned to accept it.
I would have to say that the most challenging thing about being blind is as many poster said traveling. In a new area you have to spend time and exploring it. And not to mention how many people come up to you and ask you if you need any help when you are trying to do it.
Not having a car and not being able to go where I want when I want because of not being able to drive. But I guess if I did, then I wouldn't have a guide dog and I love my dog, so I guess its not all bad.
I would like to join in the discussion along with some feedback. many of the challenges that are read from other posters seem to be experienced by everyone who is blind and who is not.
Many sighted people have trouble going to new environments as well. I hang around with sighted people all the time and I notice how they take so many things for granted.
I'm proud to be blind and enjoy knowing that I inspire people for what I do and not what I happen to be.
If you are blind, naturally, the most difficult thing for a blind person is seeing, isn't it?
rachel, are you as dim-witted as that question made you sound? Sheesh.