Do you know how to help a Person that is legally blind?

What do you do when diagnosed with progressive blindness?

When I was 14 my sister, who is 18 years older than me,  was diagnosed with RP - which stands for retinitis pigmentosa, a form of progressive blindness that slowly steals the field of vision from the outside, eventually leading to total blindness. It was strange, as it was a family secret. We all wondered what it meant, how to tell if it was worse - and we could not imagine life being normal ever again. My dad talked constantly about the tragedy - was sure that she would need to be cared for.  We could see her grieving which came out as being uptight and short-tempered, yet we had no clue how to help. We feared the worse in a vacuum of information. In truth, she lived independently and was an employed, gifted teacher until age 76, in spite of being totally blind for 25 years. Fast forward to now, I am 62, and still can see a little bit.  I also have RP and like her and my other sister, have Master’s degrees, live independently, and work successfully. We live full, productive lives. I have learned much through my experiences in staying independent and changing careers from a successful electrician, then teacher, and now a counselor. I know that blindness can be adapted too, and it need not be a barrier. I have had the honor of helping over a hundred people with different levels and types of legal blindness as a vocational rehabilitation counselor. I helped them gain employment and independence. 

Yet, I learned that there is an unnecessary barrier that is hard to fight. The attitudes of people who cannot imagine that this adaptability is possible - who spout their misinformation about the future as fear, doubt, and discouragement. Not believing that with hard work, specialized training, and support - anything is possible. In spite of the thousands of people who are blind, who have proved them wrong. It would seem that these uneducated-sighted people are blind too. 

Now, I am invested in preventing others from the pain of isolation and lack of knowledge about how to make the adaptations to living full and productive lives, no matter how much they can see.  To help those family members and professionals who interact with them to have hope and confidence in the possibilities. To relieve the fears about losing independence and employability. That they have the ability to pursue their dreams no matter how much they can see with their eyes. 

I do this by teaching seminars by allowing people to learn what is hard, and what can be easy if done differently. I show practical examples of easy, low-cost ways to make print accessible. I tell real-life stories to illustrate the difficult dilemmas of being legally blind that open the doors to understanding and support opportunities.  I talk about this odd phenomenon of - not being blind enough.  It goes like this. A person uses a long white cane after extensive training and vetting that they are legally blind - yet a random person accuses them of faking.  They say, hey, I saw you look at your watch or your phone or whatever. You are not -really - blind?! Which, if believed by the person who is legally blind, is the worst negative feedback a person who is trying to maintain function and safety in blindness hears. In a way, this prejudice based on ignorance steals their right to live their lives successfully. Essentially, shaming them for using the white cane that gives them freedom and safety.

I am determined to educate people about the truths about legal blindness. I do this 1:1 or through interesting- experiential seminars for groups. I write blogs and provide free resources to professionals. 

I have a company called Adaptability for Life LLC. I work with people to be able to communicate more easily and know how to provide the right support based on the different types of blindness. I also provide coaching or counseling depending on the needs of individuals, whether they are blind or have a family member or client that is struggling with loss of vision. 

For more information - or sign up for a seminar so you can help not unknowingly hurt or disconnect email deb@adaptabilityforlife.com

or go to my website https://adaptabilityforlife.com