So far, things have gone well. On my first visit to the new clinic I indicated that I had vision issues and Lyle made a note of this on the required paper work. Dr. Mike was great. After evaluating just how much I could see, (or should that be just how little I could see?) he proceeded to explain verbally what needed to be done with my teeth. Instead of visually pointing out my x-rays, he explained it all verbally. If he gestured with his hands, he also explained everything with words. I was impressed.
On my next visit, I had my teeth cleaned and the dental hygienist gave similar verbal cues. Before she thrust any instrument into my mouth, Nancy alerted me as to what she was about to do. There were no sudden squirts of water or unexpected probing instruments. My initial anxiety gradually diminished.
Of course, as with most things, it wasn’t all smooth sailing. On Day 1, when the technician came to lead me to the back, the receptionist called out, “be careful...” Her voice drifted off in some confusion as to what to say next. Then she added in a stage whisper, “Sue can’t see!”
I know that she was trying to keep this information confidential but I’m sure that everyone in the waiting area heard the warning. I felt like explaining that it was no secret that I couldn’t see but my poor vision didn’t also mean that I couldn’t hear.
On my second visit, I was transferred from one room to another. I said that I could follow the person in front of me – something that I can do in a narrow hallway. However, my guide kept zig zagging from side to side and I finally called out to ask her to walk in a straight line.
“Oh,” she said. “I’m sorry, I thought I might try to walk beside you but I couldn’t decide which side to be on.”
New dentists, new doctors, new personal interactions - all of these are opportunities for new learning experiences. Both sighted and blind, we need to learn from each other.
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