How we see the blind

White Cane Awareness Day, on

Oct. 15, spotlights the challenges of those who are blind and visually impaired, which are many — from making sure clothing matches to crossing the street safely. One challenge not often addressed is how sighted people interact with blind individuals, like me.

Sighted people who have little or no contact with the blind often are uncomfortable interacting with them. They worry about saying or doing something wrong, and unfortunately, sometimes they do say or do something wrong.

The first fact to realize is that blind individuals are just like everyone else.

They have hopes, dreams, abilities, skills and intelligence. A blind person simply wants to be treated as others are treated. They intuitively perceive the discomfort of sighted people, manifested in multiple ways, including these top three offenses:

■ Ignoring the blind person. Some people are so uncomfortable around individuals with no sight that they just pretend we’re not there. A blind person knows when they’re being ignored and they feel the slight.

■ Talking around them. Instead of speaking to a blind individual directly, some sighted people talk to a blind person’s companion as if he or she was an interpreter. As an example, when I go to a restaurant with my wife, the server invariably asks my wife for my order, rather than ask me, which is a little insulting. Speak directly to a person who is blind, not through another person.

■ Speaking LOUDLY and sloooowly. When we’re not being ignored or talked to via our interpreter/companion, often blind people find that a sighted person trying to make conversation with us will speak loudly or slowly as if we can’t hear or understand. Blind people can hear and are not developmentally disabled. The best way to interact with us is to speak in a normal, conversational tone.

There are many misconceptions about those who are blind as well. They’re not as high on the list of pet peeves as being ignored or spoken to as though our ears, not our eyes, are an issue. But they’re still misconceptions that should be cleared up. They include:

■ Blind people have superior hearing or other senses. We don’t. We use our other senses differently to interpret the world around us. We listen to determine which way cars are traveling and touch Braille to read. But our senses are not superior to a sighted person. Because blind people rely more on other senses, their hearing, touch, smell and taste may improve over time. But this is by no means the norm.

■ We can identify you by your voice. Not necessarily. If a blind individual knows you, he or she likely can identify your voice. But if he or she has only met you a couple times, probably not. The best option? Introduce yourself before starting to speak.

■ We can’t work. Not so. Many blind people do work and want to work. The 70% unemployment rate of blind and visually impaired persons many times is a result of an employer’s unwillingness to give blind candidates a fair chance. Blind people can succeed with the right technology and accommodations in almost any career. Those who are blind particularly appreciate the independence, productivity and socialization that come with a job.

■ Blind people can’t live independently. We can. To live independently, blind individuals tap into specialized training by professionals like Certified Vision Rehabilitation Instructors, along with adaptive daily living aids and devices. In addition to ever-evolving technology like screen reader software, a plethora of innovative vision aid products are on the market, including reading pens, smart canes, digital magnifying glasses, liquid level indicators and more. Certified Orientation and Mobility Specialists teach independent travel skills to help people with no sight navigate their environment.

While we are certainly able to live independently, there are, admittedly, some things we can’t do. For one, we can’t drive. Paratransit, buses, Uber, friends and family cover transportation needs. We also can’t navigate new environments alone without helpful tools. Guide dogs are great, but taking care of an animal isn’t for everyone. The essential tool for navigation is the white cane, enabling blind people to move freely and safely from place to place. The white cane effectively extends our hands and arms, so that we can assess the situation, and move quickly, confidently and independently. Like the white cane, the Lighthouse of Broward also inspires confidence and independence by offering free training and rehabilitation to blind and visually impaired persons of all ages in Broward County.

The bottom line is this: Despite our disability, blind people simply want to be treated with the same respect and dignity as our fully sighted peers.