October 25 - Blind Trust

I am sometimes fascinated by the various meanings and connotations of the word “blind”. I remember when we were having new drapes and blinds fitted in our home. We needed to make an appointment with the blinds person. This was all at the same time I was having issues with my sight and was expecting an appointment with a blind person in a totally different context. I have since learned to put the person before the adjective. These days, I would arrange to meet either the person who installed blinds or the person who was herself blind. It’s always an interesting distinction.

I have titled this post "Blind Trust". Somehow or other those two words fit together so well. As a person with partial sight and who is sometimes referred to as being blind, I often need to put my trust in others. It is a giving up of control. For instance, when I am walking with a guide, I trust that guide to lead me safely past any obstacles. When I pay for items at the store or wherever, I optimistically expect that I will receive the correct amount of change. When I ask for directions, I have confidence that I will be pointed in the right direction. There is a definite measure of trust involved.

During the course of a day, there are many times when I need to put my trust in others. Generally speaking, I have found that when people recognize that I am in a difficult or confusing situation because of my sight challenges, they will go out of their way to be helpful. I find life easier when I can relax and depend on the kindness of human nature. It is a matter of blind trust.

October 11 - Who Is Here?

I belong to a support group for people who have sight challenges. Each month we gather around a large table. There are often around twenty of us and apart from the person sitting directly beside me, I can’t see enough to identify the others. That is why I find it so helpful when the meeting begins and the mic is passed around for each of us to say our name. I like to know just who is there.

This practice of saying aloud the names of other people in a group is fairly common in a group of people where most don’t see well. It is part of describing our surroundings and especially helpful when we would like to interact with the other group participants. The voices also give us a clue as to the size of the group. It’s more helpful than the leader just announcing the attendance or reading a list of names. Even on a zoom meeting, the personal identification of others on the call is helpful.

I also go to a drop in chair yoga class. Last week was my first time back after my stroke. The class usually spreads out around the auditorium and although I know that I know some of the others by name, I can’t see any of them. I was so pleased last week when for the first time, someone suggested that we go around the circle and each person said their name. That way we would all know who was there.

Because I self identify as someone with limited vision, my friends know that they need to say who they are when they meet me – especially when the encounter is unexpected. I appreciate this. It is equally as helpful when I am part of a group. I like to know just “who is there”.

 

October 3 - Vision and Technology

This past week I watched and listened to a demonstration of META glasses. These glasses are absolutely amazing. Unlike regular glasses where the lenses are magnified to enhance vision, the META glasses audibly describe what the user is looking at. Lenses can be fitted to the frames if necessary – for instance tinted lenses for sun protection, but the technology works without the addition. I suppose it is a little like the Be My Eyes on a Smart Phone, except instead of carrying a phone around all the time, the user wears the technology on the nose.

When it came my turn to try out the glasses, I was surprised that they were reasonably comfortable. In spite of the intricate technology built into the frame and arms, the glasses were relatively lightweight. I asked META to describe the person sitting next to me. META described a woman, with a description of her clothing and hair colour. The description included the fact that she was sitting with her hands clasped in front of her. It was strange to hear these details when I couldn’t actually see them for myself. I think that for the first time in a long time I felt a tinge of regret that I couldn’t also “see” the details of my friend’s face.

There was much discussion around the table as to the use of the META glasses. Nicole demonstrated how META could read a menu, listing the items and the prices. Verna was excited that she might read recipes for her home cooking. Chelsea thought that she could use the glasses to look in her mirror to see if she was wearing a matching outfit. Lynn told of her sister using the glasses to listen and record music and to connect with Facebook. I must admit that this particular technology with the connection to a Smart Phone and Facebook was a bit beyond me.

Since the demonstration, I have been thinking about the many technical advances that have been made over the years. When my sight changed back in 1986, I was mostly reliant on a black and white CCTV monitor. I am now using my third CCTV with a larger screen with colour and clearer definition of the print. I rely on an audible screen reading program on my computer.  Using only my voice, I send and receive text messages on my phone. I use a talking watch and alarm clock. In the beginning I listened to books on cassette tapes. That progressed to CD’s with digital format. Now my Victor Stream reader has the capacity of down loading audible books remotely at any time of day from the library in Toronto. My how times have changed.

One more point of note – initially, META glasses were created for the use of people with sight. They were a device created for fun and enjoyment. It is only in more recent times that their capabilities were found to be so useful for people with no or little sight. Now instead of being just a device for recreational use, the META glasses are a tool. The minds that work to create these new technologies are breaking down accessibility barriers.

With Thanksgiving coming up, I am thankful. I am grateful for a world that looks forward to a place of universal access.