Thread: Blind travelers-

To answer your question. Maybe they know where the doors are by the indents in the walls as they touch with canes. Just a thought......

I used to care for children during the summer that both had parents that were blind. The kids went to private school that our children attended, so of course we got to know them pretty well. They are a very noteworthy couple and in the news a lot as they both work for a Foundation that strives for fair treatment for those who have sight problems. These people raised two children from birth in a particularly challenging area of the city (we lived there until we bought our home) and were in a word, amazing. They are very well traveled...I know for sure they were on the QE II with the kids, have been many places throughout the world. The father has driven a car in a cornfield out in the midwest, skied Vail, ran for public office (he is a lawyer) and other things that I just can't think of because there were just so many. They love to experience life and I don't think their blindness has EVER stood in the way. I remember they came back from Hawaii and we were relating experiences.....it was no different than how we felt when we went there.

The wife at one time had sight, but she started to lose it in her teens to a disease. She came to church and spoke to the ladies about bringing up two young children being visually challenged. I believe she had the ability to see silhouettes, but that was beginning to deteriorate the last time I spoke with her. They had no help taking care of their sighted children. Their son who was quite the prankster, used to try to pull fast ones on his parents as he got older...it never usually worked out for him.

Our relationship began through a phone call as the mother phoned me and asked if I would be willing to take their children to school for them. As we were ending the conversation, out of the blue she informed me that there were some things that we should know about them and followed that up with they were blind. It was one of those moments that you really aren't quite sure what to say, more because it just came out of the blue, not because you don't get it. They paid me for taking their children to school for them as it was some distance and I know they fold their denominations in different ways in order to distinguish the monetary amount.

My husband and the father were both scout leaders as our oldest sons were the same age and in the same class. According to the our blind friend, blind people are very concerned about fire, but he was always the first to build a campfire when our boys and he and his son went on scout trips and was very proud of this fact. My hubby Mike came home from a trip on the Appalachian Trail and had hurt himself doing the hike to the campsite....but Mike told me about our blind friend's hike. He used his cane and never even came close to slipping. Mike and he had some amazing conversations that weekend and my husband developed a deep admiration for him because they shared many views when it came to the rearing of children....oh, and BBQ. He and Mike love to BBQ and that is how he worked though his fear of fire....through a love of BBQing steak!

Blindness is not a handicap to them, but more a physical nuisance. I know that they came to my son's class and gave out some things....one of them was the courtesy rules of blindness and they used to talk about these guidelines a lot. It still surprises me that people talk loudly to someone blind....never quite got that connection there. We consider ourselves blessed to have made their acquaintance and are still in touch with them from time to time as both our families have moved to the suburbs on either side of the beltway.

The Courtesy Rules of Blindness

When you meet me don't be ill at ease. It will help both of us if you remember these simple points of courtesy:

1. I'm an ordinary person, just blind. You don't need to raise your voice or address me as if I were a child. Don't ask my spouse what I want — "Cream in the coffee?" — ask me.
2. I may use a long white cane or a guide dog to walk independently; or I may ask to take your arm. Let me decide, and please don't grab my arm; let me take yours. I'll keep a half-step behind to anticipate curbs and steps.
3. I want to know who's in the room with me. Speak when you enter. Introduce me to the others. Include children, and tell me if there's a cat or dog.
4. The door to a room or cabinet or to a car left partially open is a hazard to me.
5. At dinner I will not have trouble with ordinary table skills.
6. Don't avoid words like "see." I use them, too. I'm always glad to see you.
7. I don't want pity. But don't talk about the "wonderful compensations" of blindness. My sense of smell, touch, or hearing did not improve when I became blind. I rely on them more and, therefore, may get more information through those senses than you do — that's all.
8. If I'm your house guest, show me the bathroom, closet, dresser, window — the light switch, too. I like to know whether the lights are on.
9. I'll discuss blindness with you if you're curious, but it's an old story to me. I have as many other interests as you do.
10. Don't think of me as just a blind person. I'm just a person who happens to be blind.

I had a friend in college who was blind. I was jealous of him since he always managed to pick up the girls.