How To Handle The Blind

Chapter 1: Have You or A Loved One Ever Been Assaulted by a blind

(Insert Cellino & Barnes jingle here)

 The day I decide not to be lazy, is the day it happens.

As I'm walking across town from my internship to my dorm, my phone in one hand and my cane sweeping before me in the other, I marvel at what a nice day it is. The cloud cover (my eyes are light sensitive) and not quite warm weather making it ideal. In addition to the wide, surprisingly empty sidewalks. In three avenues, I'd only passed five people. One of whom was still walking beside me. I couldn't make out anything about this person as they were on my right (I can only see out of my left eye), but I didn't feel the need to turn my head to get a better view as it was only one person and I hadn't bumped into them so far.

My cane jerks. And I just barely manage to hold onto it. I stop, looking down at the fallen creature.

It sort of looks like she's making a snow angel, I think to myself. on her face.

I start to chuckle, and then force my face into submission. Though she had tried to cut in front of me, I shouldn't be laughing (where someone could see). I also move away a little, hoping that the sound I'd heard, of a plastic cup hitting the ground, would not mean unknown liquid on my favorite boots.

How, you may be wondering, did I know the grounded figure was a she? Because of the moaning and her outraged:

"She put that thing between my legs!" in response to a panicked man asking after her well-being.

"She's blind, ma'am," the man says.

"Yes, but she put that thing between my legs!"

After a few minutes of me standing there awkwardly, wondering if it would be socially acceptable to leave yet, the guy gives me a verbal "go ahead". And I continue on my walk.

***

After telling us this story our blind subject discussed with us her callous reaction to possibly injuring an old woman.

"Well," she told us. "I'd feel bad if I had been walking behind her and my cane had gotten between her legs. But in those pretty rare instances the people only stumble. The ones who hit the ground are usually walking toward me. Or cutting in front of me (like the old lady). And I take no blame for that. Instead of having your face pressed to your phone, or staring at me, look out and get out of my way.

"Sometimes, it's only a tap but the person will still freak, even though I'm long gone. Other times, my cane doesn't register them, and I don't see them and I full-on bump into them. Then they tell me I'm not using my cane properly. Well then, you weren't using your eyes properly.

"If I'm walking behind you, I feel bad. But still, don't tell me I'm not using my cane properly. It minimizes the things I walk into, it doesn't get rid of them completely."