I went blind yesterday

[underpants]

I started a new job last week working with people who are blind and vision impaired to make them more independent and, hopefully, get a vocation.
I will update this if you are interested until I am finished with my training next Friday.

From yesterday
I was "blind" today for about 6 hours.....as part of my orientation for my new job (2 weeks) I have to wear a "sleep shade" and walk with a cane. Apparently I am really good with the cane (I memorized as much of the building as possible last week). I am sitting in classes with the students. I even made coffee today. Amazing stuff I learn every day for instance, hybrid cars make no noise at intersections or backing up. This, as you can imagine, is a big safety risk. It is being worked on. I don't have to sleep over and I do get to take off the shade for lunch. 9 more days basically 8-5 being "blind".

Today
Day two of 7 hours of blindness. Another hour of Braille reading, formal Braille is pretty simple on paper - basically two sets of the 10 letters with one small notation to differentiate a-j and k-t, u- z have a dot in the 6 spot- but then there is reading with your fingers. I made a chicken and cheese quesadilla on a George Forman grill including slicing the chicken, grating the cheese, and plugging in the grill twice....oh and clean up. Three blind men in a kitchen. The instructor is fantastic. Turns out I can't walk straight. I took a 90 degree turn within 10 feet 3 times - Susan cracked up saying, "You have never walked in a straight line". Turns out there is such thing as a Braille eraser.

[MADem]

1. Please DO update--this is fascinating stuff! nt

[MuseRider]

2. Interesting.

Yes, update us on your progress.

Sounds like a great job.

[Xipe Totec]

3. Sin Luz (Without Light)

Y never was able to see,
even the birth,
of a little piece of sky
I don't know what the sun looks like
or the verdor of green grass
the moon or the stars.

Life leaves in me, the bitter taste
of not having lived it
the night that surrounds me
chokes me more and more
and I feel lost

The world and its evils
want to destroy me
and rob my calm

but try as they might
the cannot break
the immense peace in my soul

For I see at the end
of this fatal path
I will always have the comfort.

That in eternity
At last I will gaze
upon a piece of sky.

[wercal]

4. Fascinating

I deal in road design, and I've heard things...curious to know if they've been mentioned or ring true.

First, I've heard that roundabouts are very difficult for blind people, since traffic does not ever come to a stop. Essentially, if a standard intersection is converted into a roundabout, blind people can no longer use that as a route.

Second - the 'truncated domes' you see in sidewalk ramps. We used to just make the ramps red, but around ten years ago, we started putting the domes in. I was told that 1) it warned a blind person they were about to enter traffic and 2) they served as nodes along a route of travel, and a blind person would use them to help memorize the route.

Third - Right now, I've got projects that have closed the sidewalk...there is standard signage to tell people how to go around. What happens when a blind person encounters the barricade? Do they just turn around and go home?...I don't know what they could do, or how they could get places, if their route were closed for a few weeks...I suppose have somebody help them memorize a new route?

[underpants]

8. I do know (from my 4 days on the job) that roundabouts are difficult for the blind

cars come whipping out of them with little time to react - on either side.

I will say that for closed sidewalks and streets it is all about "cane skills". The blind are not tied to habit (except in their household set-ups) they expect change. The cane has three purposes 1) protection 2) information - like a barrier 3) identification - today Oct 15th is actually "White cane day". The Lions Clubs are huge supporters of the blind population ~and vision impaired ~ who make up slightly less that 1% of the population.

I used to ride the bus with an engineer with VDOT who explained the great benefits of roundabouts - keep the cars moving for both traffic flow and ecological impact. There are a few roundabouts here in Richmond mostly on Monument Ave. When this subject came up yesterday I observed that, "most drivers are terrible in them so I can understand why you are too."

[wercal]

13. Thanks for the info.

[awoke_in_2003]

5. That must be some experience.

[Scuba]

6. Good on ya. Keep us informed, very interesting.

[underpants]

9. WWII was when the study of blindness really increased

lots of returning vets needed assistance. If you were wondering - yes there has been a spike in the blind population from the wars of the last 12 years. The main increase is people living longer (no vocation training wanted - they just want to get to the mailbox and move around the house) and diabetes. Diabetes is a big factor.

[brer cat]

7. Please do keep us posted, underpants.

Your experiences can teach us all something.

[underpants]

10. "Seeing eye dogs" is actually a brandname

The first school to train the dogs was in Morristown NJ and they are the "seeing eye dogs". Like if you said "Xerox" instead of "copier" or "Kleenex" instead of "tissue".

There are 10 or 11 schools for the dogs in the country now (across the nation) and there is an application and approval process for blind people to get a dog. Specific need basically.

[xfundy]

11. Applause to you for trying to make things better for others.

Far too little of that these days. Exploring and experiencing how others understand the world is a key part of being a "damn librul."

[underpants]

12. I am getting paid--there are more volunteers than I can count

Including volunteers who are now hired.

"damn librul" --I wear proudly

[elleng]

14. Great to read, Yes we're interested,

and follow up AFTER training, please!

Sounds like a great job!

[LiberalElite]

15. yes, more updates please nt

[Fumesucker]

16. Braille Eraser = Hammer

Seriously though, nice post, I'll join the chorus for more posts about your newfound lack of vision.

[underpants]

17. Sleep shades

These are the things that people often use on airplanes. They block out almost all light. This is part of my orientation for a new job. Luckily I get to take them off. Cooking breakfast today was an experience in that I can actually see what I am doing.

[TxDemChem]

18. I'd live to hear updates

I think what you are doing is wonderful.

[tavalon]

19. That is so cool

I shall read it all tonight. Thanks.

[Kablooie]

20. My 2012 Prius makes a spacey humming sound when running on electricity only.

Toyota added that specifically at the request of the blind.