Should someone with low vision get blind skills training?

[@UnsightlyOpinions]

Completely agree! I am so thankful i was able to get support and learn skills like braille and cane training before I needed them full-time. It’s always better toI have as many tools in your toolkit that you may never use then to scramble to learn things later on.

[@JuanAlcazar]

That's a really good way of putting it. Better to have a base of knowledge in an area that you might need later on than learning from scratch.

[@estherjamack7717]

Yes! The more mobility skills you have the safer and confident you will be.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Agreed.

[@ChristianSullivan]

I agree with your viewpoint! Even if people have some functioning vision on the blindness spectrum, it’s important to know. I do have a bit of functioning vision in my left eye, but I actually wanted to use a cane and learn braille! Also, now that I got approved for a guide dog is amazing! I didn’t start using a cane until, 6 years ago or braille, 8 years ago. When I was in middle school. Because We weren’t thinking about it. But after me tripping on stairs with lack of my depth- perception, We started! My parents pushed me to do this too. For my safety and independence, which I appreciate! Now, I’m in a transition program for the blind and visually impaired. For job skills training.

[@JuanAlcazar]

That's great that you've done so much already, and wishing you the best of luck with your future training and other endeavors in life as well.

[@ChristianSullivan]

@@JuanAlcazar Thank you!!

[@Dlw031510]

As someone with retinitis pigmentosa, being fully in the dark terrifies me. I use a cane, I’m learning Braille, but the dark terrifies me. Totally understand what you’re explaining. I hope to get better. Thank you for this.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Something I've been doing is to be in the dark more often and navigate around familiar places like that. It's a good way to get your bearings and learn how to navigate in familiar rooms and settings. Just remember to have your arm out in front of you diagonally about half a foot in front of your face so your arm hits whatever is in front of you first instead of your head. Trust me, half open doors can be annoying...and hurt.

[@Dlw031510]

@@JuanAlcazar I agree, half open doors are sincerely one of our enemies lol. But I do exactly what you said. Especially at night in my house, I use hardly any lightning and navigate walls etc with my arm. It’s a good way to try and get into a better mindset. Hope all is well my friend!

[@jbackes6972]

hey Juan, thanks for your words. I just got diagnosed with rp 2 months ago, already have 80-90% vision loss... Its feels very drastic and I just now realize that I have been adjusting to daily life skills for years and years....looking back. It's comforting to see that there are a lot of people all over with vision challenges, so to speak. I just learned that blindness is a spectrum myself....

[@DianaWilson]

Thank you. I am not legally blind, yet. I was feeling funny about getting training when I can still see for the most part. This advice was helpful and you made many great points. I will look into it.

[@JuanAlcazar]

I understand. It can feel pretty awkward when you feel like you have some or even enough vision and are doing training like this. Best of luck.

[@lesflower1426]

thank you that was a wonderful subject to talk about,i was one of these people that was afraid that some one would say: "she is faking being blind or may they would say she looks funny with a cane so i would only go out at night witha friend to learn how to use my cane and after hearing youtubers talk about not be shamed,i decided to get training and im not ashamed any more! i am still trying to get the hang of voice over and all that phone stuff and in time i thing i will but thank you so much i agree with everything you discussed!

[@JuanAlcazar]

That's great that you're getting the training. Take your time with it since some of it does have a high learning curve. Don't feel too frustrated with learning assistive technology like screenreders. With time and a little practice you can know the basics and also know the commands you'll need to use on a daily basis. No need to memorize everything that a screenreader does because I doubt anyone has all those commands memorized off the top of their head.

[@lesflower1426]

thank you@@JuanAlcazar

[@essatsgroup6717]

Excellent and definitely something that makes a huge difference when you reach this points. Riaz South Africa

[@JuanAlcazar]

True. It can just be tricky at times when to know when you might need the training. I think it's a bit different for everyone, but I still think training is good.

[@georgestokes5116]

ok i get what you are talking about where do you start,

[@JuanAlcazar]

I would start looking into any local organizations that provide any sort of training for blind individuals like using a cane, assistive technology, and who also provide emotional support as well. There’s also groups on social media that are also focused on topics like this. I was able to find a few communities on social media months before I ever began my first cane training lessons.

[@katelena23]

I'm going to be taking braille soon. For me it's important to acquire skills!

[@JuanAlcazar]

That's great to hear. Best of luck, and don't feel too frustrated since it does have a bit of a learning curve. I've found that having a few items labeled in Braille is good since I don't have to use my eyes and strain them to read some things, and it also keeps it fresh in my mind.

[@DannyMacDJ]

You are much better learning these skills when you have a decent amount of remaining vision as it would make it much easier than learning these skills with very little or no vision at all. Preparation is key

[@JuanAlcazar]

There's some truth to that. Although if someone is born totally blind then that learning curve would be different since they don't have to rely on sight from previous years. Still though, the novelty of learning something new is what someone with low or no vision will go through. But yeah, for someone with low vision I think that using the remaining vision as a form of supplementing or complimenting the training can be used to an advantage.

[@anaodonnell1676]

Ive also noticed before learning Braille that elevators and bathrooms have tactile lettering

[@JuanAlcazar]

I didn't really think of it much before learning Braille. Now though, I'm glad that there's the labeling on the doors.

[@DannyMacDJ]

I wonder if this is where the phrase blind panic comes from? Struggling and panicking trying to learn so many different skills at the end of your sight loss

[@JuanAlcazar]

You know. Now that I think about it. Maybe you have a point?

[@aminafzal3376]

Why not take the training like cane and technology training and even braille.

[@JuanAlcazar]

Sometimes it can be hard to know when, and at times those of us who have residual vision have adapted pretty well to where we might feel like we have better vision than we actually do.

[@danabelden4492]

I'm going threw that right now

[@JuanAlcazar]

How is the training coming along so far?

[@danabelden4492]

@@JuanAlcazar No sorry I just ment my vision changing

[@BlindRambler]

I'm not legally or completely blind yet, however I did lose vision on my "good" eye for a while. Having previously learned how to use a screen reader was so helpful. Don't let your pride get in the way of your success. Learning beforehand is something that should be considered. I learned that I could do so much that I didn't think I would have been able to do.

[@JuanAlcazar]

I think you hit the nail on the head with that comment. A lot of times it’s us who are the ones keeping us from learning those skills.