Archive for Blind Blog

26 Feb 2013
Blind Blog • Days Out

Helpful advice delivered in the wrong way

Being unable to drive, I rely heavily on my feet and the aid of my GD. This means that once the kids are in bed and the other half is home I can go to the later and quieter swimming session at the local leisure centre.

 

It had been a really good session, and as I was walking home a little exhausted after my swimming, it was a clear night but a little cold, we’d almost reached home when I heard a van drive past me slowly, then the same van drive back past on the opposite side then I heard it behind me for the third time, and it stopped.

My pace quickened, but I was very aware that I was on a very quiet part of the road and it was 10.45 pm, Vicky felt my unease and quickened even further when there was a flash of lights and the sound of a siren behind me.

The van was, in fact, a police van containing 2 officers who had stopped me from making me aware of recent dog thefts in the area. I have the utmost respect for the police, but they got the brunt of my upset when they walked up to me.

I was shaking and still petrified when they reached me, I had never felt so scared. I was very aware of the recent attempts of dog thefts, so full pelt they felt my anger. They had, in fact, by trying to help put me in fear of danger. If they had not put on the siren, I don’t know what I would have done. It was a horrible feeling that haunted me for hours after. They did apologise for causing me distress, and I too apologised for my outburst, the reason they had, in fact, sounded the siren was because they had come to realise that they were causing me fear, but at a point where to just drive off would have been worse.

They offered to drive us home and told me to be aware of my surroundings and if I felt in fear to contact 101 immediately. I am grateful for their concern and information, but as I explained to them, the delivery was a little off.

Being on my own makes me very aware of my surroundings, and I’ve been known to grow anxious when passed by a jogger, but that is the female stranger danger aware in me, not the blindie.

| No comments | Tags: , , ,
15 Feb 2013
About Me • Blind Blog

Missing the Obvious

I often feel silly and clumsy as I am totally and utterly able to miss the obvious.  My condition is such that my field of vision is reduced and then what is left in the reduced bit is incredibly short-sighted.  if I’m not focused on anything I can see a lot-or rather my brain tells me that that is the case.  But as movement into the mix and I actually see very little.

This is me, there is no hiding the fact, but it does mean that when looking at a bigger view I can miss the obvious because I’m focussing on the wrong part of it.

I can often miss someone or something right in front of me, often a friend or family member waving.  I can also be blinded by too much information and not see anything even though technically I can see it all.  This is where my brain and memory comes in..

But then that’s for another blog!

| No comments | Tags: , , ,
28 Jan 2013
Blind Blog

Perspective

imageWhether you have a visual impairment or not, we perceive things very differently.

When you look at the image included with this blog-what do you see? Don’t overthink it or spend more than 2 minutes looking at it before commenting below.

| No comments | Tags: ,
14 Dec 2012
Blind Blog • Days Out

Horsing around

imageCrazy how this works. As a child and adult I had a real fear of horses. These giants could kick, bite and trample you if they felt like it.  The idea of ever sitting on one was definately out of the question.

 

I followed the rule that if I rode bike and the brakes failed, no-matter how painful I could always put my feet down, you just can’t do that with a horse.  Surprisingly though and even shocking to me, I began to question my previous opinion.

Think how silly it sounded, plus now was it dug a big deal?  I could Jo longer see the floor at that distance.  I finally felt that I could trust a horse, maybe this had come from the level of trust that I had learnt to instil in Vicky my GD.  Who knows!

One thing though, after that first time back many many months ago, where all I did was sit in the saddle while and instructor lead the horse ‘Tyson’ on a 20 minute walk, I was hooked.

Sitting up there on a horse I was Jo different, I was just another rider, no alterations, adaptions.  Just me and the same kit as everyone else!  I can now confidently ride at a trot, both rising or sitting. I can even tell the right & wrong footing of the horse by its feel when riding now.  A technique that I picked up purely by feel as I can’t actually see the horses shoulder to tell which foot is forward.

I chose to ride at HRTC -The Hampshire Riding & Therapy Centre in FairOak, as they cater for students with ‘life altering conditions’ and also because the are a charity, not a commercial stables.  I like the way they put it as a ‘life altering condition, as they were primarily started to educate young I diabetic children on looking after themselves with regular ssmaproteins and plenty of water just like the horses. At the stables everyone is equal, we are only judged on our riding ability and nothing else.

| No comments
15 Oct 2012
About Me • Blind Blog

I am a person!

I admit it, yes I have a disability…. But that is not all of me !!

As both a VIP (visually Impaired person) and GD (guide dog) owner the following scenario often happens:-

strangers stop you in the street and ask you if you know their friend/brother/daughter cousin. When you say no. You are often met with “oh, but their just like you.”

VIPs and GD owners don’t have a telepathic wave, just as wheelchair users or civil engineers or athletes don’t know everyone with the same condition or job as them.

I am me, an average height, bouncy (currently blonde) individual who also just happens to have a visual impairment.

I just try to follow this misconception when I was first registered.  I thought that as a VIP I would have the same interests as other VIPs, so I threw myself into ‘Blind clubs’ and charity work and I have to say that what I discovered shocked me a little.  The groups had helpful information, but on occasions things were not so pretty.  At times there were some very negative discussions, about how other disabilities weren’t as devastating as sight loss, yet got more recognition lot more help.

I think that this is a very short sighted (pun intended) view.  But by definition a disability Is a condition that puts person at a disadvantage physically, mentally, cognitively or sensory to others.

I’m not saying that because you have a disability you should be more understanding of others, but to fight one disability off against another is just like going back to the days of segregation where you only ‘mixed’ with your own kind.

a person is just that, they are defined by their personality, not by their disability. It is just a small the my of them, like the colour of their eyes, which hand they write with and fundamentally just like these other traits is part of a genetic makeup.  And outside their control.

| No comments | Tags: , ,
  Recent Entries »
Page Reader Press Enter to Read Page Content Out Loud Press Enter to Pause or Restart Reading Page Content Out Loud Press Enter to Stop Reading Page Content Out Loud Screen Reader Support