When you meet me, don’t be ill at ease
- If I am walking with you, don’t grab my arm; let me take yours. I will keep a half-step behind, to anticipate curbs and steps. 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 is a cat or a dog. Guide my hand to a chair.
- The door to a room, a cabinet, or a car, left partially open, is a hazard to me.
- At dinner I will not have trouble with ordinary table skills.
- Don’t avoid words like “see”. I use them too. I am always glad to see you.
- I do not want pity. But do not 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.
- I will discuss blindness with you if you if you would like; however, I have many interests other than blindness that I can discuss.
