Blindness: Is it the end of the world?
“Blind? I’m gonna be, blind?” said Mary Ingalls in the T.V. show “Little House on the Prairie” upon being told her inevitable fate. Mary’s reaction depicts the emotional stress that can suddenly be brought upon one who’s had sight their entire life, and is at risk of losing it (Little House). Yes, it is a television show, but this doesn’t degrade the fact that blindness is looked upon as a tragedy. Over time, the term “blind,” has produced a stereotypical image of those it represents, a helpless individual. During the time of “Little House” this very well could have been true, but even then there was hope for the blind to live a life of adventure, and to shed their helpless image by receiving the proper training. However, unless the blind are allowed to find their true potential, the stereotype that has followed them throughout history will continue to do so.
This negative image of the blind community, though modified as the years have gone by, has basically stayed the same. The blind, as a whole, have been depicted as incapable of doing things for themselves. In a way, the reputation of a lawyer has likewise been brought into the stereotypical realm. Now what does a lawyer have to do with blindness? That is an excellent question. Think carefully. What is the first thing that comes to mind, a man or woman shouting at the defendant in front of an audience? How about their deceitful character that is often portrayed in movies and popular media? This has become the image that pops into the American brain upon even mentioning the lawyer profession. However, this does not constitute the whole story. Terry Lovell, a lawyer currently living in Orlando, Florida, says that lawyers are often depicted in a bad light. While some may actually act as described above, there is another side to the lawyer class as a whole (Terry). This can also be said of the blind community, while their limitations should not be over looked, they are more capable than is often thought. Notice I said capable, not able. All blind individuals have the capability of achieving what some may consider impossible, that being personal independence. It will take time for this to occur, but such a thing is possible. However, some would disagree. A survey of just under sixty people was taken at Dixie College, and it was found that 1.8% of individuals believed that the blind were incapable of becoming independent. Admittedly, sixty people isn’t enough to get an accurate showing of belief for an entire nation, but having the survey conducted on college grounds gave people from multiple backgrounds a chance to let their voice be heard; and it is through voice that ideas are brought into the world. Still, what people believe isn’t always the truth. It was found that 75.4% of individuals thought the blind to be personally independent. Unfortunately, this, for the most part, is incorrect. The majority of the blind community is completely dependent on those around them (Lovell).
The reason for this is that they simply have not been taught how to live a productive non-sighted life. However, there is a way to solve this ever present matter, centers for the blind. Yes, there is such a thing as a blind training center, their existence just isn’t widely known. The blindness survey at Dixie has confirmed this disheartening fact. Nearly 70% of the persons in question had never heard of a blind center, and even fewer knew what they were for; but once they were given a brief description, 98.2% believed that the blind would benefit from the services that blind centers provide (Lovell).
But what proof is there that these centers actually work? Actually, there’s plenty. One need only to look in the right places. One place in particular lies in Chicago, Illinois where one of America’s many hospitals for veterans is located. This particular hospital has been helping returned soldiers from Iraq and Afghanistan, who have lost their sight in the line of duty, by training them in the basics of non-sighted life; and it is through this training that over sixty soldiers have been discovering what the blind can truly do (VA blind centers). However, not all blind centers are for wounded servicemen. There are many others across the country that provide similar services for other members of the blind community. One such center lies in Salt Lake city, Utah.
Utah Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired, or U.S.B.V.I., is geared towards getting blind individuals into the work force. I myself, am a beneficiary of U.S.B.V.I., but in order for me to take advantage of these services, I had to graduate from high school. Once there, I was given living quarters, and expected to take care of myself until my training was complete. Normally, an individual would attend U.S.B.V.I. for about six to twelve months, but I had to cut my stay short in order to begin my freshman year of college.
Now it’s been mentioned that blind centers train the blind how to live on their own, but what exactly do the blind get taught? The training given to the blind includes the following: Independent travel, home living, braille instruction, and using technology. I followed this basic outline myself, until my schedule was geared more towards the skills I would need for college that is; but my favorite class was the one that most of U.S.B.V.I.’s students enjoyed the most, woodworking. It comes with a blind instructor equipped with the tools one would expect to find in a regular shop class.
Now hold up a minute. A blind man is working with sharp blades, rotating sanders, not to mention all the other pointy equipment? Shouldn’t someone that can see be doing that sort of thing? Safety is a valid concern, but the instructors hired by centers for the blind are required to go through every aspect of the training their students will receive, blind or not. This ensures that the instructors will know how to best help individuals become contributing members of society. Thus none of those who enroll at in these training centers are expected to do anything that their instructors have not experienced themselves. This is done to promote the safest learning environment possible; and even though providing such surroundings won’t ensure the lack of injury, the occasional burn from cooking, or collision with a parked car, are all part of the learning process.
Now some may be asking, what does this have to do with me? I’m not blind, so why should I care? This is understandable, but understand this. Those who are of this mindset may not have been influenced personally by blind centers directly, but they have touched their lives in one way or another. Chances are there’s someone in their life that has. It can happen in a variety of ways, whether that person has a friend that is blind, or they have a family member that is enrolled in a training center, the influence is apparent. But even if neither of these scenarios are true, blind centers affect the world in another way. They produce individuals that aren’t afraid to go against the bounds that society has placed before them. In many instances, such individuals have refused to allow their blindness to interfere with their goals and dreams.
I was told of just such an individual before receiving the rank of Eagle Scout in May of 2010. I was told the story of a man who had earned the rank of Eagle many years ago. Since he was blind, the man had to perform tasks differently than those around him. There were several examples of this, but the one that stuck out most was when he bought unique bells for each of the scout leaders he worked with. This helped him to determine who he was speaking to and where they were in relation to himself. Over all, this man’s example showed me that if I put my mind to a task or goal, there was nothing that would prevent me from achieving it, even if that means participating in activities that would make others a little uneasy. But despite this, I can see where concern for the blind is warranted. Nevertheless, there comes a point where concern for their well-being deprives the blind of liberties they would have otherwise enjoyed.
A good example of this has been presented at Michigan State. The director for the blind center in Kalamazoo was fired for implementing a marksmanship class for center students at least sixteen years of age. The class was intended as a confidence booster, to show individuals that they can still participate in recreational activities. The students were given pellet guns, and taken to a location behind the training center. The class went well for several months, but that didn’t prevent it from being canceled. The National Federation of the Blind, (N.F.B), organized in protest, saying that pellet guns didn’t fulfill the criteria for firearms. Thus, the marksmanship class should’ve been allowed to continue (Director Fired). Clearly, to cancel a class where there is certified supervision of participants, in which the goal was to build self-esteem, is an act of over protection. Not allowing the blind to do activities for which they know the risks of participation is like saying they aren’t capable of following the simplest safety guidelines. Just think of the logic. Isn’t it more dangerous for the blind to be using shop equipment than a toy gun? And yet, haven’t the blind proven that they can use such equipment safely? So what’s the problem with using a pellet gun on a supervised shooting range?
Don’t take this the wrong way; I’m not saying that the sighted world is being discriminatory for wanting to make sure the blind are safe. It’s just that, if they aren’t allowed to do anything on their own, or to do things that are considered impossible, how will individuals of the blind community learn? A good example of when the blind might benefit from being left alone is when they are on independent travel lessons. I myself experienced a number of encounters where others would attempt to help me on my way. There were even times when I was gripped and physically redirected, and I was often more confused than before help had been given. Now this doesn’t mean don’t ever help a blind individual, just make sure to ask if they are in need of help before messing up their sense of orientation. As has been said before, the blind are more capable than is often thought.
However, there are ways for the sighted to help the blind on their way to personal independence. If someone is known to have gone to a training center, give them opportunities to show what they can do. On the other hand, there are other ways to help the blind and visually impaired. Universities offer degrees and information of possible career options in the blind community. If a university doesn’t have the proper information, then a local or national blind organization like the N.F.B will definitely have means of helping to obtain such information (Mogk).
Admittedly, training the blind how to survive in the world isn’t enough to make them productive members of society. What good is it to know how to use a computer, or a piece of electronics if access to such technology is nothing but a dream? Another way for the blind to become personally independent is through rehabilitation services. Unfortunately, this is an area of study that isn’t often written about academically. Thus, there are several interpretations of what rehabilitation truly is. Those who do study in this area debate between three definitions: field, profession, and division (Mogk.) In any case, services for the blind incorporate a combination of all three scenarios. It all depends on where one wishes to place themselves in relativity to the blind community. One portion of this community however, is known as Vocational Rehabilitation.
This form of service is designed to help those with disabilities to gain a more equal footing with the non-disabled community, both at school, and in the work force. In the case of the blind, they work with a rehabilitation counselor to set employment goals, as well as gain the technology needed to perform effectively. Such technology may include: screen readers, enlargement software, and so forth. Voc. Rehab will even help individuals to be able to attend independent training centers as a step to achieving their goal of employment for that particular individual.
Now such a service wasn’t always available. In the case of Mary Ingalls, her family paid for her to attend the Perkin’s School for the Blind in Burton, Iowa. Again, it is just a Television show, but it does provide a means by which one can see the progress the blind community has made over the years. For example, looking back, the blind didn’t have a cane to warn them of hidden obstacles throughout the world (Little House). But now, the blind have a variety of such tools to choose from, each type suiting a different person’s needs and personality. Another innovation that has entered into the world of blind technology is that of electronic braille writers. There are several different models to choose from, some of which are called: Braille Note, and Note Taker. Such devices are only a portion of what has been done to help bring the blind into a new age of independence; but alas, it will take more than words to bring about an end to the negative stereotype of the blind. Actions must be taken in order for this dream to become reality.
First off, blind individuals must bring themselves to attend blind training facilities. Once there, they will be given the opportunity to obtain the skills needed to gain personal independence; but even this is not enough. The training the blind receive must be combined with a strong base of support from friends and family. A study was conducted at the blind training center in Louisiana, and it was found that those who had a strong sense of support were more hopeful than those without (Goodwyn). The study also showed that individuals that had been blind longer had proven more accepting of their new window of opportunity, and their hope of a brighter future helped them to a greater level of independence. There is one flaw to the results however, and that is, numbers. Like the survey done at Dixie College, there were few participants. Part of the problem revolves around the lack of a sufficient base from which scientists can question (Goodwyn.) Regrettably, this lack of continuous information about the blind has contributed to the formation of their supposedly helpless image; but this image, like anything else in life, can be changed for the better, and it is for the goal of a brighter future, that the blind seek to destroy their helpless reputation. Their determination to reach this eventuality is a drive that refuses to be satisfied until the sighted world can come to see the true capabilities of the blind community. In a way, this drive is reminiscent of one of the greatest military minds in world history.
Julius Caesar, in one of his many campaigns, marched with his men to the Rhine. Once there, they constructed a bridge across the Rhine in the span of three days. Now he did not do this to conquer the Germanic people. Caesar crossed the Rhine to prove that he could cross the Rhine. The blind have a similar drive, only the opposite shore of the river they seek to cross is much harder to obtain. But despite this, the blind have already overcome great obstacles to their goal of personal independence, and they continue in their quest to see where their true limitations lie; but there is a profound difference between a people and the individual in discovering the limits of their potential.
For example, among the blind community, there are many who, as a whole, have obtained their goal of personal independence; but when they are separated, it becomes easy to see where each individual is in their personal quest. I myself am a relatively new-comer to the world of the blind community. I used to believe that being blind would cripple my ability to function as a member of society. Neither I nor my family knew that blind services even existed until I was about eight years old. Since that point, the feeling of utter inferiority has been replaced with the hope for a brighter future.
It is because of this that I now realize that blindness is not the end of the world, and those who make up the ranks of the blind community are not incapable of living a productive life; and though it hasn’t always been this way, the progress that the blind have made towards this goal is indisputable. The advances in technology and blind services have allowed the blind to bring themselves farther away from being, “less,” than those around them. Not only that, but if the blind are given the training and support that they require, along with opportunities to prove themselves, there’s no telling what they’ll be able to do.
Bibliography
“Director Fired From Commission Over Marksmanship Class. Supporters Up In Arms.” Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness 104.4(2010): Acaedmic Search Premier. Web. 25 March 2011.
Goodwyn, Mary. “Hope and Social Support in Adults Who Are Legally Blind at a Training Center.” Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness 103.8 (2009): 500-504. Academic Search Premier. Web.25 March 2011.
“I’ll Be Waving as You Drive Away Pt. 1-2.” Little House on the Prairie. Screenplay by Carol Raschella, and Michael Raschella. Dir. William F. Claxton. Prof. Michael Landon, Karen Grassle, Melissa Sue Anderson, Melissa Gilbert, Lindsay and Sidney Greenbush. Lionsgate, Pub. 20000. DVD.
Lovell, Terry. Personal Interview. 1 Mar. 2011.
Lovell, Tyson. Personal Blindness Survey. 4 Mar. 2011.
Mogk, Lylas, “The History and Future of Low Vision Services in the United States.” Journal of Visual Impairment and Blindness 98.10 (2004): 585-600. Academic Search Premier. Web. 25 March 2011.
“VA blind centers help wounded servicemen take back their lives.” Newspaper article. Chicago Tribune. Chicago Tribune. 30 Sept. 2010. Web. 19 March 2011.
