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Thru Our Eyes is produced by the The Northeast New Jersey Chapter of the
National Federation Of The Blind
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When you meet me, don't be ill at ease. It will help us both if you remember these simple points of courtesy:
1. I'm an ordinary person, just blind. You don't have to raise your voice or address me as if I were a child. Don't ask my spouse what I want - "cream in my coffee?" - ask me.
2. If I am walking with you, don't grab my arm; let me take yours. I'll keep a help step behind to anticipate curbs and steps.
3. I want to know who is 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 a dog. Guide my hand to a chair.
4. The door to a room, a cabinet, or a car, let 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 houseguest, 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 are 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 a a person who happens to be blind.
NFB - LBC58P
