This world exists of 7 .6 billion people, and there are people who are having disabilities that affects their life very mischievously, I am talking about the disability of blind! People who are blind and with having visually impairment they live their everyday life with a struggle and they face a new challenge every coming day, according to WHO the (World Health Organisation) there are 40 million blind people and two 50million people who are having visually impairment.
So in this article, I am going to narrate that, how does it feel to be a blind! and this article is based on a true story
A letter to the sighted world at large
To whom it may concern,
I am a man I am a father I am a brother I am a grandfather I am a teacher. I am blind. I am many things with many faceted complications like every other human being to have ever existed. I am not just my blindness. My blindness has certainly shaped me but it does not define me. If all you see when you look at me is my blindness that is not a reflection of me. Rather, it’s a reflection of you. What does it say about you when all you can see when you look at someone is one piece of who they are? If all you are capable of comprehending is what you see? I will not let you pin that on me.
You tell me I must be so strong and brave. You tell me you could never live with blindness. You tell me you can never do the things I do. You tell me what I’m capable of moments after acknowledging I’m doing something you can’t imagine doing. Here’s what you need to understand… Living with a disability is not strength. A disability is not a choice. It is not strong to survive when there is no other choice. But, you’re absolutely right, I am strong. I am strong because true strength is choosing happiness when you have so much to be unhappy about. You’re right, I am brave, but it’s not because I continue living. I am brave, because I continue in spite of the fear caused by you. My disability is not what causes my fear. It’s you. The fear of how you will treat me, how you react to me, and how you will hold me back is what chokes me every day. It is not my blindness… It is you. When you tell me you could not live a life like mine it does not hurt me… To be honest it just makes me sad. Do you really think so little of yourself? Are you truly so insecure with your ability to rise to the challenge? Just because you can’t imagine something does not mean you’re in capable of it.
I live in a world designed for you. You acknowledge your apprehension and fear of living with blindness. Yet, you do nothing to make life easier for those of us who are living with it. You criticize. You demean. You spread ignorance. You control. I hope, for your sake, you are never forced to join us on this side. Understand, disability is not a choice. No one would choose this life. No one would wish this life on others. That does not mean we cannot find acceptance, peace, and happiness within it. However, to pretend that even the most well adjusted of us does not face struggle, anxiety, depression, and fear would be a lie. No one would choose to live with these things every day if they had another option. So, I ask you to try to be more understanding. Try to remember we did not choose this life. Try to remember that every day we are struggling. Try to remember that just because we are happy doesn’t mean things are easy. Try to remember that your limitations are not ours. Try to remember that our existence and of itself is not what makes a strong, but rather our ability to thrive is. And most importantly, try to remember that we are entitled to express our feelings and our needs. Our feelings are not a burden to be held onto by you. Our feelings matter not just yours. Our feelings and needs are not intended as an inconvenience for you. We love and appreciate you, and all we are asking is for the same in return.
I realize there are some extraordinarily amazing sighted people in the world. To those of you who help build a better world, not only for yourself, but for others as well; I thank you. I recognize that not all sighted people contribute to the problem, and I would be remiss to imply otherwise. However, the sad truth is there are far less then there should be. So, again, I ask you to take a moment and think how you would want to be treated if you suddenly found yourself in the unfortunate position to join us on this side of blindness. What world would you want to be a part of? If that World is not the one we are in then I strongly encourage you to change it. You never know what life has to bring, and if you’re going to find yourself facing blindness as well.
Sincerely,
More than my blindness.
I hope this article answered your question and I just want to say that please try to help others in anyway you can, and I wish you best of luck stay safe.
You must be logged in to post a comment.