March 30 - Interesting Reactions

Because I have partial sight, I am often able to determine the reactions other people have to my white cane. Sometimes I will catch a glimpse of a parent pulling a child out of my path and I can imagine the parent then explaining to the child the purpose of the cane. I appreciate this on two counts. I am glad that I have avoided a collision with the youngster and also that I have been the subject of some first hand education from the parent to the child. It’s a good reaction.

Up front and personal reactions by adults vary. Last week I came across a very different reaction. Lyle and I were on our way back from Australia. We usually preboard and at the end of the flight wait until the other passengers have deplaned. This gives me a little more time and my cane doesn’t get caught up in the crush of people. At the end of one of our flights, I was waiting to stand and retrieve my carry on luggage from the overhead compartment. I couldn’t hear any more people coming up the aisle from behind me and so stood up. Unfortunately I had failed to notice the gentleman who had been sitting across the aisle in the row in front of me.  As you read on you will see that I am speaking with much sarcasm when I use the word, gentleman.

The instant I stood up, this passenger did likewise. Although there were no other passengers coming from behind, the man pushed out in front of me nearly knocking my cane out of my hand. He addressed me in a very rude voice saying, “You people are supposed to wait until the very end.”

What did he mean by “you people”?

Of course, I know and you will have guessed also. By you people he meant people like me who use a white cane. It was one of the more blatantly rude reactions I have come across. Perhaps it was made more so because his comment was delivered upfront and to my face.

I have chalked this all up to experience. If there is one thing I have learned it is not to take such reactions personally. Although there is no excuse for this passenger’s behaviour, I don’t think that it had anything to do with me personally. I try not to let such reactions cause me too much distress. For every one insensitive person, there are many more people who are genuinely kind and caring.

March 24 - Sydney Opera House

This post is in response to some comments I received about my March 5 post about the Sydney Harbour, including a picture of Sydney Opera House.  The Opera House is known worldwide.  In the 1950’s, an international competition was launched to select a design for the proposed performing arts centre on Sydney Harbour.  Danish born architect, Jorn Ulzon, took the prize of five thousand pounds. Although this was the agreed upon prize money, it was probably a little short considering the subsequent media coverage and popularity of this icon on Sydney Harbour.  Before the Opera House, the end of Bennelong Point housed a tram depot.  Trams no longer run in the city.

The Opera House had lots of growing pains during the construction years before it was finally officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II.   Today the Opera House thrives as a fine arts centre, with two main concert halls and several smaller theatres. 

I am attaching two more pictures of the Opera House with this post.   The first shows me standing on the steps leading to the main entrance doors.  The second picture was taken from a ferry leaving Circular Quay.  It is a side view of the Opera House, showing the shape of the shells.

Sue at the steps of the Sydney Opera House

 

Sydney Opera House

March 20 - Research and Blindness

I try to keep up with current research in the field of blindness and low vision.  For the most part this research is quite impersonal.  Not so anymore!  Several years ago I met Peter, who is a participant in some cutting edge research in Melbourne, Australia.

 

Lyle often points out other white cane users to me.  Several years ago he noticed a man walking with his white cane on the beach. Because we often come to the same area in Australia, I was able to introduce myself.  Since then, I usually make it a point to seek out Peter whenever we are in Australia.  Peter is completely without sight and we often discuss issues related to blindness and low vision.

Two years ago, Peter heard an announcement on the radio asking for participants for some experimental research about a bionic eye. There was a phone number and Peter called in to see if he qualified.  He did.

Peter had to meet certain criteria to be selected for the research.  For example, he must have had some sight at one point and some memory of seeing.  The procedure involves inserting a chip in the brain.  This chip would receive messages from a miniature camera at the front of the eye.  The chip makes contact with nerves that allow the brain to process information about the light that has been received through the camera.

So far, there has just been an exchange of paper work and consent forms, but this coming May, Peter will be travelling to Melbourne for his first MRI. One of the challenges of the research is to determine the optimum location of the chip in the brain, and the placement of the miniature camera.

It’s exciting for Peter to have this possibility of some sight ahead of him. Knowing Peter personally it is exciting for me to follow the outcome of this research. You can read more by looking at http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/healthreport/bionic-eye/4570686