Blind Twin Sighted Twin

Yes. That's me and my twin brother Jeffrey. He was born first and he was sighted. Then eight hours later I made my appearance into this world and I was blind! Truth be told, my parents had no idea that I was on my way. They never knew that mom was having twins. So what a shocker when they were told that another baby was on its way after my brother was born, and then? Mom knew right away that I was blind!

My mom has always told me that when family and friends heard that she had given birth to twins, they all wanted to see us. But when they heard further that I was blind, well, a double reason to want to visit us and see for themselves! Growing up with a sighted twin has never been a problem for me. Both he and my elder brother Robert were always very protective of me. They let me play with their cars and trucks. I played hide and seek with them, swam with them, and did everything else with them. Playing with them was never a problem. I was never made to feel that my blindness was problem.

I can't really tell you how my parents really felt having a sighted twin and a blind twin, I can only speak for myself. What I can tell you though is that they did everything to treat us equally, but in minor instances they balanced things whenever they had to if they felt that my blindness would be a drawback.

I have met at least two other set of twins, one sighted and one blind and for the most part their stories have been similar to mine. Nothing really to it; just that one sees and the other does not.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and urging you to go out there and share my story with others.