International day of the blind

Hey York, my name is Clementine, and I am a part of the low vision/blind community. As you may know, Monday, November 13th, is the International Day of the Blind. In honour of this day, I have been asked to write a piece about what it’s like to have low vision, and suggest ways that allies can assist the community and be respectful.

 Firstly, blindness does not always mean total blindness. It can be partial blindness, which is how I would be defined, or deaf blindness, which is where both sight and hearing are significantly affected. Blindness can also be caused by a number of factors, including diseases and conditions that appear with age, conditions like glaucoma and retinitis pigmentosa, which can affect any age and create something called tunnel vision, where the peripheral vision is decreased if these conditions are left untreated, genetic conditions like ocular albinism, which I have, and can affect not only sight but a person’s sensitivity to light. Many people with this condition, including myself, wear prescription sunglasses to make doing things outside hurt less or not at all. When there is damage to the optic nerve, caused by a head injury or direct eye injury, that can also result in blindness. So you see, there are many ways people experience blindness, and even if they still have some vision, that doesn’t make their experiences any less valid. People with these conditions and diseases may have different experiences and ways they go through life with said conditions. Some might use a white cane, some might use guide dogs, and some might not use either. It’s important that guide dogs are let into buildings, cars, and public transport, and all other places dogs aren’t allowed inside, because these aren’t pets, they are there to keep their people safe and independent in the world. Some things to keep in mind when interacting with visually impaired people are: Speak to them directly. If you meet a blind person who is with a friend or family member, do not talk to the second person for the blind person. Blind people are capable of thinking and speaking for themselves. Do not touch or bother guide dogs when they are wearing their vest. These are not dogs that people have for pleasure, even though they are loved. They have a job and need to keep their person safe, and unlike regular dogs out on the street, these guide dogs may have somewhere they need to be with their person. Do not be offended if a blind person does not want to do certain activities. Seriously, it’s not a want, it’s a need. There are certain things that you cannot do if you can’t see, or your sight is impaired. Like play certain sports. So it’s very important to be understanding and have empathy for people in these situations. It’s hard to say "Sorry, I can’t because of vision loss". All in all, it is important to respect, understand, and appreciate the experiences of the blind/low vision community, and to try to learn more about it in honor of the International Day of the Blind. Thank you for reading and have a good week.

BY: CLEMENTINE DEMPSEY-HALL