A new way to socialize: Social distancing

This is yet another new thing for me to get used to with the onset of Covid. And for someone who is vision impaired, this is indeed a challenge.

At all times I need to ensure that I am either standing or sitting at the prescribed distance away from someone else. I depend heavily on my senses of hearing, smell, and sometimes touch to make sure that I am safe.

My sense of hearing tells me how far I am away from someone else and this is my first safeguard. My sense of smell is my second safeguard. I use this sense to tell me how far away someone may be based on what I am sniffing: someone's perfume or after shave or smells of clothing or anything else.

My sense of touch is my third safeguard and I will sometimes use my cane to help me measure distance.

All in a day's challenge for social distancing.

I'm Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advisor, wishing you a terrific day!

If you would like to learn more about me as an author then I invite you now to visit http://www.donnajodhan.com

There you will not only learn about me as an author but you will also gain insights into my campaign against bullying and why I strongly believe that you need to consider joining me in order to insure that the future of our kids, with their wide eyed smiles and infectious laughter, is secured forever.

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Blind persons socializing

My sighted friends and family often smile whenever I tell them about how blind persons go about socializing. You just need to think of it like this: We call out to each other in order to determine where we are. We use our canes and guide dogs to help us locate chairs, tables, and other objects. We ask for sighted assistance if available to help us locate persons and things and we ask for assistance to have menus read to us and any other printed materials.

It is only natural and logical that if we are unable to see who we are looking for that we would raise our voices to call for their attention and that if we wish to be heard by someone else that we would do the same. If one is unable to find who they are looking for, would it not be logical for them to call out?

Most of us are unable to see the one sitting across from us or beside us. We would not know who is seated at our table unless they identify themselves to us. We would not be able to find the bar or washroom unless we are given directions. We are unable to spot the waiter/waitress and so we need to raise our hand in order to catch their attention.

This is what socializing as a blind person is all about and I would like for you to go out there and share my words with others. I’m Donna J. Jodhan, your friendly accessibility advocate, wishing you a terrific day. Visit www.nfb.org to learn more.

Socializing in the Workplace

Now, here's one of the most difficult challenges for me; socializing in the workplace.  At the best of times, when I worked in a mainstream workplace, I always found it a bit difficult to socialize.  As a blind person, it is often difficult at the best of times to be able to tell when and where to socialize.  It is often difficult to find where people are gathered and in many cases we have to use our sense of hearing to find the action so to speak.

 

When it comes to going out to restaurants with coworkers, we often have to depend on our sighted colleagues to lend a helping hand.  Getting to the restaurant, finding a table, knowing what's on the menu, and so on.  We even have to depend on sighted assistance to help us navigate our way to the bathroom and back to our places at the table. 

 

There are many tiny things that much of society may not think of when it comes to a blind person being able to socialize in the workplace but there you have it.  If we are in unfamiliar territory, then we would definitely need sighted assistance to help us navigate and find our way and if we need to locate friends and acquaintances then the same would apply.

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and encouraging you to go out there and educate your coworkers about how blind persons socialize in the workplace.

Visit www.acb.org to learn more.