Myths about visual impairment

In today's post, I will share some myths that exist about visual impairment and the people who live with this situation. There are many misconceptions that have been created because of stereotypes caused by movies, books or any entertainment material where a person with blindness  is represented by misconceptions that are being imposed on our societies.

• All  people with blindness wear sunglasses:

This concept is part of the social stereotype of a  person, with blindness  this is the image with which they have always mistakenly painted blindness. There are many reasons why a person would or would not wear sunglasses. For example, for fashion, for taste, for protection or to adapt the light levels to your eyes.

On the other hand, many visually impaired people do not use them for another good couple of reasons. For example, it is not beneficial for their mobility, they do not like their image with glasses  on, they do not like to wear glasses  of any kind.

This is not to say that some do it right and some do badly. What it means is that the stereotype is false since it does not encompass the visually impaired community in its entirety, I leave the question of Do you think there is such a thing as a true stereotype?

• All people with blindness need to touch your face:

Over time it has been thought that by not seeing we need to touch people's faces to know who they are, to know how they look, to recognize them and even to feel comfortable.

This is not true, I don't need to touch your face to recognize you and know who is speaking. It is enough with your voice, your smell, your presence and if you tell me  who you are because we are not magicians to always guess correctly. To this I would add that you do not play this typical question of Who am I?

This game is not funny, it is not pleasant, it is distressing and there is a chance that it will confuse you and you will not like it. I don't need to touch your face to know what you look like. It's enough if you or someone I trust gives me a brief description of your physique.

Touching someone's face is one of the most uncomfortable situations I can experience socially. No, I do not want to touch you and less if you are not of my trust, it is useless for me to put my hands on your face to "get to know you".

Remember that, they do not do us a favor, they cause us a lot of discomfort.

• All people with blindness don't care about physical appearance:

This is an idea that has been fostered over time, but it doesn't really make sense to me. It is believed that by not seeing, I will not be interested in how I look and how others look.

Of course, it is not one of the main points that I am interested in or would I use the physical to judge you at the outset, but the interest does exist.

For example, I do like to groom myself, choose my clothes, put on makeup sometimes and create my own style.

On the other hand, when it comes to someone else, for example, the situation of being in a relationship.  I am interested in knowing how it is, facial features, complexion color, hair and eyes, how you dress and among many other details that are necessary for me to feel comfortable and have an almost complete concept of who I date.

Also, I am interested in how my friends look because if at any time I need someone to take me with one of them and does not know the person,  I can describe it and thus support me with reaching the meeting point with this person.

• Blindness is equal to seeing black:

The important point of this myth is that it is known that not all  people see absolutely nothing and that I am almost sure of it, none see deep black all the time. There are many types of visual impairment, some that have light perception, others see certain colors and shapes and so a very large spectrum until they reach those who do not see anything.

When I say they don't see anything, it's literal. It's not white, it's not black, it's not cloudy, it's nothing, just nothing. It does not exist, you do not have to fill that void more than the amazing of each brain and how it adapts to this void. I know that for those who do see, the concept of nothing is very complex to understand, but the important thing is to know that it is not black, it is nothing.