Blind challenges - abuse by the public / Pavement Parking woes - worrying times
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- čas přidán 13. 11. 2019
- As blind or visually impaired, we face daily challenges and struggles. However, once we accept our blindness, we usually quickly overcome any challenges and develop coping mechanisms.
However, sometimes the general public can undermine our confidence by their inconsiderate actions, such as pavement parking and being abusive.
Sometimes, these actions can have a lasting effect, in my case, the actions of the woman parking on the pavement to collect her child from Sandal Primary School, and an earlier similar event by a male driver has made me nervous of taking that route. As a result of this, rather than go out and about on my daily business, I end up staying indoors for possibly weeks until I can muster up the confidence to go out again.
the people involved however, won't give their actions and interactions a second thought - therefore, the only person being affected is myself. I need to work on building my confidence and resilience - im getting there :-)
What are your views on situations like this? How do you cope if you are blind or visually impaired.
my blog is www.low-vision-co.uk
my e-mail address is terry@tjreiki.co.uk
Great to see you're back. I enjoy your videos. It might be worth into the school to highlight the issue of pavement parking. Not only does it put you in danger, but wheelchair users and children walking home that drivers on the pavements might not see. It's illegal to block pavements, perhaps the school needs to send out a reminder to all parents reminding them of that and how big a safety issue it is. It's shocking the attitudes of some drivers!
Hi Evie - awww, thank you so much. Its good to be back for sure :-)
A friend of mine who was appalled at this second school incident wrote to the head teacher about it, suggesting putting a paragraph in their parents news letter, or giving the kids a chat about disabilities etc.
the response wasn't great, and they ignored the suggestions, and said they would have a think about it.
I may wear my GoPro next time, and if it happens again, I will have some video evidence and take it further.
I hope all is well with you, and that you have had a great weekend
Terry
x
Hi Terry thank you so much ,I'll get back to you if I need anymore help,many thanks
Hi I've just started to watch your videos as my husband has just been registered blind and we have learnt more off you from watching you than anybody, he's going through a bad stage with it and the support and confidence you have given him is unbelievable, please keep doing the videos as I am sure people will have taken comfort and lots of support from these thank you keep up the good work
P.s love your dog
Thank you so much Fleur, for your very kind words. I'm so sorry that your husband is having a rough time at the moment, and Im glad you have found my videos of use. I struggled to find any information when I started loosing my sight, and it was a huge struggle. If there is anything else you think I can hello with, or a particular topic, p-lease let me know. ALSO, I blog our blind adventures and life on my guide dogs Facebook page, if you want to follow us there - as the whole content is about blind life.. it is en-gb.facebook.com/gdteamspencer/ .
Please tell you husband that he WILL get there, and he will truly live his best life...Im here if you think I can help...Terry x
Fantastic video Terry. I park on the pavement all the time without really thinking about how it might affect blind people. I live in North London and there's hardly ever anywhere to park in London but I'm not going to do it again as you have made me aware of the trouble it can cause
Hey Kevin. Thank you so much for your comment, and forsaking the time to watch my video. I am so pleased it has made you think about the problems on pavement parking can cause. And that you are going to find alternative places to park. I know it sinter easy, and London must be a terrible place to be able to find anywhere to park at the best of times.
I too, didn't really think about problems parking on a pavement could cause before I lost my sight. its great that you have this response Kevin, and I am very thankful to you. It really is all about getting awareness out there - so, thank you very much
Terry
I would like to start off by saying are you and I the same person just in different countries. Lol
It's amazing how similar we can all feel despite our vision differences.
The other issue we have is the fact that we are so caught up in our everyday lives thinking about ourselves that we forget about other people's feelings. For the fact that someone cares so much for a little piece of plastic tapping their car and that make him so mad they can get in the face of a potentially blind individual means we have lost touch of reality.
We need to start thinking about others feelings before our own before we go making actions we will regret.
Sometimes I swear that sighted people are often more blind than we could ever be. And like you I agree my visual impairment has made me a far better person in many different ways. I have definitely more patience than I used to, I am definitely more caring about others and I'm not quick to make judgments in actions before thinking about the whole circumstance. You will not see me getting the face of someone else for tapping my materialistic property.
Terry, this was a very insightful video with a lot of great info. I'm proud of you for always getting up and getting out regardless. I understand completely how doing something that is difficult for us could almost be a PTSD moment when when cited just be an average walk around the neighborhood. I live in a wooded area so I often get anxiety over the thought of sounds from the trees. Squirrels often sound like bears and wolves to me. Lol people take for granted all too often their site.
I hope all is well, I hope you do not lose any more vision and I pray that your future be bright and clear. God bless you Terry and I will always be a faithful subscriber. Sometimes we just have to take time to ourselves. We like to help others with our channels and that's great at all, but we can never forget we have to help ourselves first.
Hi Vincent - thank you so much for your lovely and supportive comment. It is very much appreciated. I love it when you said " Sometimes I swear that sighted people are often more blind than we could ever be" his is so so true lol.
I often think that you and I have similar views, its uncanny. Its a very sad World when people get so angry about the most minor of things. I would much rather expend my energy on more pleasant things :-)
When you say that Squirrels often sound like bears and wolves to you - I totally get it, I often jump when I hear things, and people find it incredibly funny when they suddenly say something to me, and im not expecting them to - I even jump at that lol. he other day at the doctors surgery, the nurse came over and touched my shoulder at the same time as saying Hi Terry - I wasn't expecting it, and jumped out of my skin lol.
I am scared of losing what little vision I have left, and think about it more than I should Vincent - I wonder if I would cope - but, when I think about it sensibly, then of course I would cope, just how I learned to cope with the sightless so far. As human beings, we seem to be pretty resilient dont we?
You are right - we do need to take time for ourselves - and this is often forgotten by us. I am grateful for your blessings my friend, an send the same right back to you.
hanks for being there, and for being you Vincent - you're a great guy. Have a fabulous weekend with your lovely family
Terry
I agree contacting the school absolutely disgusting that mate I’m in WF7 well done for how you’ve handled it for mentioning it on here take care stay safe
Hey fella. Hope you're doing good?
I find that talking about this kind of stuff or blogging/vlogging gets it off my chest much quicker, and allows me to move on more easily.
Some vile people about - thankfully, they are the minority.
you take care and stay safe too matey
Terry
Hi terry, I am a sighted person but I think it’s so rude to behave like that. And in that you can see that there is not enough awareness about the white cane. And to me it doesn’t matter of people are blind of legally blind the cane is telling you that someone has vision problems. I can be so angry to this kind of people because it’s not only rude but you hurt people very deeply. And the most in their mind. Like you said your set backs, avoiding to go outside etc etc. Nobody has to cost these problem to anyone. My ex boyfriend was legally blind gives the sign to want to cross over the street and not 1 car stopped for him. So that’s not good. Somehow it isn’t clear what it means to people. And those bitches you need to give them a white cane with a blindfold and let them experience your daily struggles. I really can’t stand that kind of monsters.
Don’t let them destroy your life. I think you are doing great. Emphatize with people is very difficult and if you are able to do that your gold worthy. Their behavior tells a lot about them. And 1 day they will pay the price. Love sabrina
thank you Sabrina for taking the time to comment. this kind of thing is sadly all too common. I cannot understand what must be going on in peoples heads to do things like this, and to behave in such a way. I also worry that the children see this kind of behaviour and then of course feel that it is appropriate behaviour, because their parents act in this way - therefore, as they grow into adults themselves, these actions are ingrained into them to replicate and so it goes on.
thank you for your words or encouragement, it is appreciated. I hope you have a lovely weekend
Terry x
You're worried about using the busses, go to London and try and use the Tube, it's a whole new level. Anyway glad you're doing ok now mate you make some excellent points in this video
Haha - totally! I wouldn't tackle the London tube without a sighted guide at the moment - didn't like the tubes that much when I could see haha.
sometimes its like two steps forward and three back with my confidence. However, I keep plugging away, and some days, I just get on with it without hiccup, and then all seems well in the world again :-). Glad you enjoyed the video, and thanks for taking the time to comment mate. All the best to you
Terry firstly I’m so sorry that your sight is now beyond treatment. I know how that feels as mine is also now untreatable and is deteriorating still. It’s scary trying to work out what the future holds. Unfortunately as my sight loss is connected to my immune system any time I’m ill (currently have the cold that is going round) and my immune system goes into overdrive my sight gets worse (currently struggling to read my screen) if I’m lucky it improves once I’m well but not always back to the previous level.
I also totally understand where you are coming from when it comes to asshats. I’ve met my share (including tapping a car that was parked across the pavement as the owner already had one car in the drive and decided parking the other one so it blocked the pavement was a bright idea.) I don’t tend to meet too many I don’t know if that’s because I’m grey haired and female. However like you when I do meet an asshat that’s me not wanting to go out for a while- it shakes me to the core- I have to give myself a talking to and remind myself that I meet far more nice people (over 99% of people are nice but those less than 1% really prey on my mind- I need to charge them rent if they are going to continue living in my mind)
I hope you find the courage to continue going out independently. I need to try Moovit on the bus, I currently use Soundscape where I put a beacon on my destination and have to try to decide the correct point to get off my bus.
Hi Lynne - thank you so much for taking the time to comment - it is greatly appreciated. Gosh, you are having it hard my friend - it certainly is a journey all of this isn't it.
Our sight is just so fragile isn't it, and every tiny set back, seems like a major obstacle . We continue to modify our approach to things as our sight decreases. We are so lucky to have the technology ( and the spirit ) to enable us to carry on.
I agree with you, 99% of people are truly lovely - but that minority sure make up for that! Yes, do try moovit, its brilliant - let me know how you get on
Hope you have a great weekend
Terry x
Low-Vision UK - Terry's View from my perspective it’s not the worst thing to happen to me (that was my granddaughter being stillborn in 2010) so I just need to master voiceover and learn not to get frustrated with how clunky it feels.
@@lynnenicholson6968 Sorry to hear about your granddaughter Lynne. never easy.
Oh, im with you there re: VoiceOver lol - sometimes, I feel like chucking the phone through the window. Im getting there, slowly....VERY slowly haha
little and often with VoiceOver haha
take care
Terry
Hello Terry
Are you familiar with the Aira app? Give them a call and have them to help you through the school zone. Calls that are less than five minutes are free. If Aira is not available where you are, use Be My Eyes.
Hi Kim. hank you for your comment. Yeah, I do use Aira and Be My Eyes ( Aira not at all often, but know its there if I need it). Im. pretty confident walking around with my cane in a familiar, and also not so familiar area really. I just got really confused when this person decided to pull up onto the pavement, directly in front of me and then blasting her horn at me - this made me feel as if I must have wondered into the road.
My hesitation with the school zone, is the potential for more conflict, which I really can do without. At the moment, im avoiding pick up and drop off times - but, will get my mojo back, im sure :-)
Again, thanks for commenting, it is greatly appreciated, and I hope you have a lovely weekend
Terry
Low-Vision UK - Terry's View I hope that you will have a lovely weekend as well. I’m looking forward to future videos.
People are too worried about themselves and not about others. They don't seem to be able to grasp that there are others around them. It's not your fault you hit the car with your cane
Thanks Matt. Totally not my fault I hit the car with my cane - but asa you say, people are too wrapped up in their own World - they dont care about others.