Did you know October is Blindness Awareness Month? Yeah, it was started in 2009 by The Little Rock Foundation in Voorhees, New Jersey. Don’t worry, I’m not going to shame you if you didn’t know. Even though I’ve been half-blind for years, I just found out about it this week! Guess I’ve been too busy to notice an entire month dedicated to me and others on the same sight-unseeing tour.
REMINDER
Each person’s lack of vision journey is different, so this post may or may not apply to you or someone you know.
Let me say that losing any amount of vision just plain sucks! I call myself “half-blind” because I guesstimate half, or maybe less, of my sight remains between my two eyes the color of dung. What I can see has a haziness about it, like I’m seeing in a dream.
My left eye only has a sliver of peripheral sight, which has probably kept me from constantly bumping into walls, people and parked cars. Yes, I nearly walked into a parked white car and it is amusing, so feel free to chuckle.
My right eye is my semi-good one. Most of my remaining sight comes from it, but it’s far from perfect. Besides the hazy, dream-like quality, there is a grey blob slashing up to my left from just slightly above the center. This blob is why I have problems recognizing people on sight. In other words, don’t be offended if, when approaching me, I ask, “Who the hell are you?”
My Mad Scientist Glasses, which are basically intensely magnified adjustable readers, do not help me read unless the text is really large with a stark contrast. Even then the process is more akin to deciphering a foreign language than reading. What my M.S.G. does do is help me see photos, watch television, enjoy films in the theater, and click around the internet. Mind you, my awesome glasses only help to an extent. I may see the photo or film better with them on, but I still miss a lot of details.
Technology has been a tremendous help. Seriously, I couldn’t have lost a chunk of vision at a better time. Without my phone and tablet, I would be lost. They read text to me, including ebooks, but the automated voice requires an adjustment period. They translate my spoken words to text, though misunderstandings are a common occurrence. Between my tablet and my Mad Scientist Glasses, I found my way back to writing. One major test was publishing VISION BENT (half-blind poems) in 2019. I wasn’t sure I would be able to do it without help, especially using the library computers, but I succeeded. If you’re curious to learn more about my vision loss, VISION BENT is available as an ebook and a paperback at an AMAZON near you!
Now that I got my utterly shameless book plug out of the way, I need to be blunt about something. Despite what I’ve accomplished since losing a piece of myself in December 2016 and even though I’m thankful for my remaining vision, I still have bad days. The years have lessened the frequency and severity of my emotional meltdowns, but sometimes being visually impaired really does suck! I miss driving, especially living in a small town with extremely limited transportation options. I miss quickly jotting down ideas and notes for stories by hand because I never had to wait for a notebook or pen to switch on or charge up. I miss reading a book with my eyes, though I found a way to simulate the physical actions. (Click ANDY MILLIGAN for more on this remarkable sensation) There are numerous other frustrations that pop up from time to time, but this is my reality and I have to deal with it.
In conclusion, don’t let your lack of vision stop you from living your life. It may feel like your world is ending, but it is only changing. The process is a matter of learning new ways to maneuver through this sight-oriented landscape. It won’t be easy, which is why I recommend talking with your eye doctor, your primary care physician or even a librarian for information on local resources available to you. With these resources and modern technology, you will hold the tools for getting on with your new blind life.
Sorry if that made you throw-up a little.
REMINDER
A visually impaired or blind person may occasionally need help, but that does not make us helpless.
That being said, we should not feel embarrassed or apologetic when asking for help.
Thank you for reading or listening to my half-blind words.
Freak Out,
JLH
P.S. I recently published an ebook version of my second blog serial and i did it all on my tablet in the privacy of my own home, which is a first for me. HAUNTING STURGEONS is available from an AMAZON near you!
