When looks elude me

This is something about which I am afraid there is nothing to be done.  The best thing for me is to simply acknowledge it and deal with it.

When people exchange looks and glances among themselves and I happen to be around, I will never know.  When people make eye contact with each other and I am around, I would never know.  When people wink or smile at each other, I will never know.

This is why it is often said that gestures and body language may be much more effective when conveying messages.  They are easier and faster to use when communicating, but for someone who is blind they are not.

We need to depend almost exclusively on one's voice: the tone, inflection, hesitations and pauses, and so on.  However, a blind person may often be able to tell when some sort of gesture is being used in communication. Just another thing for me to deal with in my daily life.

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

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Gestures That Do Not Speak

Very often, I need to keep reminding sighted acquaintances and associates that whenever they make gestures, I am unable to know what they are; gestures do not speak.  Gestures are great for those who can see them but when you are blind and are unable to see them, they become a hindrance, a barrier, and an unwanted part of our lives.  Here are just a few examples of gestures that we are unable to benefit from.

 

The nodding of the head.  Many sighted persons use it to confirm a yes or no but we are unable to see this.  So it's better to speak your yes or no confirmations.

A wave of the hand to signify a greeting.  We can't see this so it's better to call your greeting to us.

The shrugging of a shoulder.  In similar fashion to the nodding of one's head. 

 

I recognize that most of the time, it is easier to use gestures but when it is not possible to see them, then gestures need to be translated into words.  Of course, when you are blind, it is sometimes a blessing when you don't see someone's gestures; like giving one the finger!  Smile!

 

To learn more about gestures and how a sighted person could turn them into the spoken word, visit www.nfb.org. 

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and inviting you to go out there and help educate others about how to turn gestures into spoken words.

The Importance of Knowing

It is always important to know; but when it comes to someone who is unable to see, it's even more important.  Like it or not, the eyes see all and absorb all and it is what the sighted world use in order to complete any picture.  For me, I use other strategies to complete a picture but to be very sure that the picture is complete and accurate, I depend on sighted assistance.

 

I need to know when things match; like my clothes, like my décor.  I need to know what gestures are being carried out around me; especially when I am in a business meeting.  I need to know what expressions persons around me are communicating to me and to each other.  I need to know where things are in my home so that I do not bump into objects, and that I can find what I am looking for.  I need to know what information is being communicated so that I can make the correct or appropriate decision.  In short, I need to know.

 

The importance of knowing applies to all of us; sighted or not but for a blind person it is always even more important.  If you would like to know more about why blind persons need to know, then you can visit www.nfb.org, or www.rnib.org.

 

I'm Donna J. Jodhan your friendly accessibility advocate wishing you a terrific day and asking you to go out there and help educate the rest of the world about why it is important for blind persons to know; the importance of knowing.