How to help the blind |

Willow May and I are both ex-sighted. That is to say, we’re both blind. Of all disabilities to have, being blind is the worse.
There are more people, even the educated, who don’t have a clue what to do around the blind.
I speak from experience when I say, trained professionals whose job it is to help get their clients readjusted to their new circumstances; freak out as to what to do with us.
I need to qualified that statement above. There are those disable who are also dysfunctional. Willow May and I seem to be the exceptions.
I can clean my house, wash my clothes, and cook my meals. I’m actually a good cook, especially with Mexican cuisine. What I can’t do is see.
I can’t see when someone points the way, I can’t publish my manuscripts, or create a cover image. I can’t drive, so I rely on others to help and this is where the problems begin. Interacting with the sightees.
People just don’t get it. They violate personal spaces, grab the blind person, or even shout at us because we’re probably def too.
Like in writing, not only do we need to entertain, to ease the sightees’ anxieties, but to educate the ignorant. Here’s a few suggestions:
Never grab a blind person, unless, of course, if that person is about to step in front of a bus. Grabbing the blind, especially a female, can frighten or even anger. Always ask if you can help and offer an elbow to guide them.
Instead of going to great lengths to avoid running into the blind, just speak out and say,” I’m in front of you or there’s a opened manhole.”
I imagine the sightees’ antics like the Three Stooges when they try to help without knowing how. Then again, I have a very fertile imagination.
Now, let us talk about service dogs. Labradors are easily trained and are ideal for guiding the blind. So, when animals lovers try to pet the service dog, it usually distracts the dog and delays the guided. Most people just don’t understand why it is important not to feed the animal or his guide. I guess people just can’t help themselves and give the animal French fries! Not only is human food bad for them, but it could cause injury to the blind, or get the service dog in trouble when he wants to follow the girl with the French fries.
Being blind does not mean we can’t be productive citizens. There was a governor in New England somewhere, Homer was allegedly blind, right? Look at Helen Keller, who was also deaf and see all of her accomplishments.
Actually, I don’t mind being blind. For one thing, it forces me to judge people by what they say and how they say it. I can’t see if they are big and fat, or just plain ugly. When I hear an ugly person, it’s usually because they are being mean spirited or rude. That’s ugly!
The other ting, if the doctors were able to find and offer me a cure; I would have to decline.
“No, thank you. Why should I want to go back to the seeing, when I can get away with so much. For Example, Excuse me Ma’am! I thought that was a door knob.”