Numerous supports and services exist for persons with Blindness or Visual Impairments. Attached are some resources I have found useful. Exploring these resources and engaging in the community can benefit you in many ways. First and foremost, isolation and stagnation are detrimental to both your body and mind, so please take steps necessary to avoid these. Engaging in on-line and in-person resources may be beneficial for your body and mind. Many opportunities are available; However, taking the first is dependent upon your willingness to move forward in academic or vocational goals. Importantly, participating in available resources will develop social skills necessary to achieve your goals. Having good social skills often makes the difference in forming relationships, succeeding in academia or in vocational training, and in securing employment. It is important to remember we are not alone, there are many others out there with similar situations to our own.

There is a vibrant and large community of persons with Blindness and Visual Impairments, and we have a rich and diverse culture. This culture is important to learn more about and to embrace as part of who you are. Learning more about this culture will show you just how relevant and prevalent you are in the world. Members of our community have and continue to advocate for inclusion and equity. These advocates make meaningful contributions in the quality of life for persons with disabilities.

We are living in a remarkable time, as stereotypes about persons with disabilities are changing. Persons with disabilities are enjoying social inclusion and cities are designing public spaces with accessibility in mind. For example, you can visit coastal Encinitas, Leucadia or Carlsbad and you will discover signaled crosswalks with truncated domes and curb cutouts on the corners and sidewalks that are becoming less cluttered. At the train, trolley, and sprinter stations there are truncated domes along the train platforms to indicate when we are getting close to the tracks. In Madrid, Spain, the main sidewalks have a cut out track down the center of the sidewalks that a long white cane tip can be dropped into, and this will act as a guide down the center of the path, these tracks lead to main transit centers. In Istanbul, Turkey, they also have these tracks. In Tokyo, Japan they have a raised hump down the center of sidewalks that can be tracked with a cane. In London, England, the Parliament complex has a scale model of the building that you can touch and there are buttons that provide descriptions of what each section is and a history of the facility. At many movie theaters, there are headsets you can use that provide audio description and some theater chains allow you to have a sighted guide that will not have to purchase a ticket. Most museums have audio descriptive tours that can be accessed with a smart phone, or they may have their own devices that will guide you independently through the museum. The Rodin Museum in Paris, France has tracks for your cane, braille guidebooks and audio tours. These changes are recent and are indicative of social inclusion.

Technology has opened the doors to independent living skills, orientation and mobility, Braille, and employment. Many previously inaccessible careers are now being filled by persons with disabilities.

Growing up in Los Angeles as a person with sight in the 1970’s-1980’s I cannot remember ever seeing persons with Blindness. If there were, the schools had them in a separate building than students without disabilities.

The media, Hollywood movies and TV shows typically portrayed persons with blindness as newspaper/magazine stand sellers, musicians, or beggars. In 2010, when I lost my functional eyesight, I did not want to sell magazines, I was not a musician, and I would not beg. I believed these were my occupational choices and was ignorant of the possibilities that were available. My DOR counselor helped me to discover a career path and then provided supports and services I used to achieve my goal.

As I learned more about the world of disabilities, I was disheartened to discover that approximately 90% of persons with blindness chose not to leave their homes. Fortunately, in the past ten years the percentage has decreased dramatically as persons with Blindness or Visual Impairments are becoming part of mainstream society. Now with technology and societal inclusion of persons with disabilities, I often encounter others with Blindness while out in public, as well as, in the workplace.

Your physical or online presence in the public, workforce or in academia is a form of advocacy for our community. Hopefully you are taking advantage of available training to gain the skills needed to navigate the world in a safe and competent manner. The supports and services available now, were fought for in the past and continue to be advocated for. Your active participation in the community will ensure persons with visual impairments or blindness will continue to be included. Please become involved in the community and remember that the Department of Rehabilitation is a resource that may assist with your achievement of vocational rehabilitation/career goals.