In the past couple of weeks I have needed to go to three
separate medical/dental appointments. Because I knew that each appointment was
located on a main floor with no steps or stairs, I chose not to use my white
cane. Instead I chose to wear a small white identity badge. The badge was one
that I bought from Vision Australia and the wording declared that the
person who was wearing it was someone with low vision.
I have worn this same badge in the past when I have been in
a place which has been easy to negotiate in itself, but where there have been
people who hadn’t known about my vision challenges.
The badge has proved to be quite helpful and I was reminded
of this again when I went to my three appointments. For the first two times, I
wore the badge and the people who dealt with me were both considerate and
helpful. Not only that, I found that I didn’t have to go into any lengthy
explanations about my sight – or as is the case, lack of sight. For the third
appointment I forgot to put on the badge before I left home. What a contrast.
When I was called from the waiting room with a brusque “Follow me” command, I
had barely come to my feet when the technician had disappeared from my sight
down the hallway. When I called out to her to slow down so that I could see
her, she wanted to know just how much I could see. While I understand her curiosity
(there was no other real reason for the question), I still find that I get
tired of answering the same question.
This brings me to the importance of carrying a white cane or
else of using some other form of self identification. It does ease the path for
someone who is blind or visually challenged, but also provides an easier path
for the sighted people around us.
In the picture below, there is a head and shoulders shot of
me wearing my “I have low vision” badge.
 |
| Sue with badge |
No comments:
Post a Comment