Blind People are not Handicapped!

Roger is the closest thing I have to a friend. We've known each other 8 or 9 years.

I don't get out much, and he doesn't drive because he's blind.

Roger is also one of my "Real World Heroes."

Roger is blind, but you might not know it to see him.

Roger rarely uses a cane. He doesn't have a "seeing eye dog." He doesn't wear sunglasses.

I'd say the only two things Roger can't do is see, and drive. (Because he can't see!)

Roger goes bowling, works on his lawn, etc. In fact, Roger was out shoveling a foot of snow when I called him tonight.

Roger operates a freelance company called Seeing Hands. He helps blind people learn about the many resources they can use to make computing life easier for them.

Such resources include software like "Jaws," which reads the computer screen for the user, etc.

I met Roger when I worked for a call center that provided Technical Support for the Microsoft Networks (MSN).

Roger was known for his excellent technical abilities, and his ability to relate with people, keep them feeling calm and confident.

Roger accomplished his job using a dual-purpose headset.

One earpiece read the computer screen, and the other had the customer's voice in it.

Roger gets out a lot. I swear, everywhere we go, someone knows him, and stops to say hello.

***

My biggest regret is that I don't get out to see Roger much. He lives a few miles away, and it's harder without a car.

I just happened to think about Roger again, and felt a need to share.

Tags: blind, roger

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Comment by Ron Knights on February 2, 2009 at 12:04pm: Thanks for the positive response.

Comment by yourfindit on February 2, 2009 at 11:24am: that's awesome. i can see and i'm not half as active as he is. people like him are just blessings.
thanks for sharing man!

Comment by Ron Knights on January 30, 2009 at 6:18am: Benjamin, you totally miss the intent of this blog post. And frankly I'm offended.

I think anyone who finds fault with this blog entry totally forgets that I'm speaking very highly of a man who I admire very greatly. He's my friend.

We've talked at times on this same issue. I sometimes fumble about when trying to find the right words.

In all these years, he's never been offended by a single word I've said.

Sometimes I say that I'm not quite sure how to act around him, how to describe things.

I've heard some people describing the position of items by saying "It's at 3 o'clock, etc." I asked if that was preferable. But I said I always prefer to use a digital clock because it's easier for me to tell time.

He laughs, and makes a joke. He tells me that I do just fine, acting normally.

That's a huge point for us. The blindness is not really an issue. It's not something we think about on a regular basis.

The only time it does come up is when I'm trying to help Roger understand some computer stuff.

I use the mouse whenever I can. I have trouble remembering keyboard shortcuts, etc.

Roger, out of necessity, uses the keyboard shortcuts.

Roger has a computer consulting business. He deals with PCs.

I'm trying to slowly introduce him to the Macintosh world. I believe Macintoshes are a viable alternative.

In fact, in some ways they may actually out perform the PCs in the area of "Accessibility."

It's interesting, talking to Roger on Skype, and trying to explain the shape and configuration of an iMac Macintosh computer.

Roger finds it totally amazing that Apple can put all that stuff in a "box" that resembles an LCD monitor. This is one area where he'll literally need to get his hands on the computer to totally understand.

Comment by Juan Martinez on January 29, 2009 at 9:35pm: I would have to oppose the premise of this post. Blind people are indeed *disabled*. They have the inability to see. What makes it more so is the way that our societies are centered around our sight. With technologies that you have brought up it is becoming easier for blind people to function in a sight oriented society.

Just to explain the shuddering from one of the previous posters, handicapped is a reference to handy with a cap, ie: beggars. Thus, the preference for the term disability.

Comment by Ron Knights on January 29, 2009 at 8:43pm: Roger told me about one really handy device.

It's scanning software that you can use with a cellphone that has a built in camera.

You can use the cellphone to scan a restaurant menu and save it.

Comment by Stan Gilbertson on January 29, 2009 at 8:23pm: someone with the right skill. I have 2 friends that are blind. what they would like is a hand held face recognition machine. when they are in a room of people , they don't know who is there they know. If they would put they friends in the machine, then they could scan the room and know who there.

Comment by Ron Knights on January 29, 2009 at 7:27pm: Sometimes I envy short people.

I have a hard time bending over to get stuff that is lower to the ground.

(smiles)

Comment by Auriette on January 29, 2009 at 7:18pm: Roger has adapted to his condition much better than I think I ever could.

I'm very lucky that I haven't had to overcome a lot in life, just being short.

Comment by Ron Knights on January 29, 2009 at 11:44am: You totally misread everything I said.

My relationship with Roger is the same as with any other person.

In fact, our relationship is so "normal" that I sometimes forget he can't see.

Roger and I have worked until 1:30 AM at the same job. We've walked through the parking lot. He walked without using his cane, without holding my arm, etc.

I asked Roger about that. He said he just follows the sound of my voice. I just needed to let him know if there was a puddle, whatever.

We stopped at a local convenience store on the way home, every payday.

We chatted as I put gas into the car. Roger stood by the gas pump with me.

At least once, I walked toward the store, still chatting. I heard Roger call my name.

Roger needed to grab my arm because he needed assistance navigating a "strange" place.

I chuckled, went back and got him.

Our relationship is so natural in that way.

Roger is not my hero because he's blind. Roger is a wonderful, generous person. Roger is the biggest inspiration of my life, over almost a decade.

Outside of that fact, you cannot compare a person with red hair to a blind person.

What kind of "disability" must a red-head overcome to get out of bed, or to play sports?!

***

Now on to the subject of disabilities.

I have suffered from lifelong depression, sleep apnea, claustrophobia, agoraphobia, etc etc.

I've struggled to keep my place in "society," often losing jobs and friends.

I won't say any more than that, in this blog.

Roger is my friend. I wish I'd see him more often.

Roger has a full life, and he remains my hero.

And, yes, Roger just happens to be blind.

Comment by xnera on January 29, 2009 at 10:49am: Roger is also one of my "Real World Heroes."

*winces*

I have a friend who is a disability awareness activist. I have also spent some time in various forums and groups for people with disabilities. What I commonly hear (and what I feel, too) is that persons with disabilities do not appreciate being called heroes. That's basically putting our disabilities first, as if that's the only thing that matters about us. It's not; it's just a part of who we are. You wouldn't call someone with red hair a hero, would you? It's why you should say "people with disabilities" rather than "disabled people", because that way you are putting the person first.

Likewise, you shouldn't say that a person without a disability is "normal". I'm normal, too--normal for me!

It's like... you wouldn't say you're a hero if you get out of bed and go to work and get around town and take part in hobbies, right? Those are just everyday things you do. So it is with people with disabilities, too. We get out of bed and go to work and get around town and take part in hobbies. We might do it differently than you, but that doesn't make us heroes.

Okay, all that being said... I do think it is important to discuss those differences between how a persons with disabilities go about the world vs. persons without disabilities. There's still too much stigma and misunderstanding about disabilities, and I would very much like to see all that end.

I'll go ahead and talk about my own. I have cyclothymia (a mild form of bipolar disorder), atypical depression, and general anxiety. When my mental disabilities flare up, I find it hard to do necessary tasks such as cleaning the house. It's not because I'm lazy. What it feels like is this: when my depression isn't happening, I think to myself, "I need to do the laundry". And I get up from my chair and gather the dirty laundry and sort it and find quarters and the detergent and take it all down to the washing machine and put it in the wash. When my depression is there, I think, "I need to do the laundry". And.... that's it. There is no follow-through. No matter how I might want to do it, my brain doesn't talk to my body.

So the way I cope with this is by medication. That fixes my brain so that there is follow-through and my body responses to my thoughts. It's an inconvenience when my brain isn't working, but it doesn't make me broken, or less than a person, or even a hero for dealing with it all. It's like if your bus didn't come--you just make other arrangements to get where you need, and then continue on with what you're doing. Just another aspect of life.