Seeing

Today, gathering to write a poem with a group for people with visual impairment. It's a rowdy group full of humour and argument, chaired in rascalish style by Vincent and Ann at Walthew House in Stockport. Although we hopped from discussing the smell of books tthrough to the potency of Spanish gin and many other diversions, the conversation crucially turned around ideas of blindness and learning to see our own attitudes towards it. It struck me over and over as we talked that the really dangerous blindness is in areas of thinking.

To live with a visual impairment needs a huge shift in thinking if you've been sighted. As Ann said, "First you need acceptance of your situation. Then comes acceptance of help."

And then of course, to be accepted by other people often requires a shift in their attitude too. I heard stories of everyday stupid intolerance, of men being ashamed to be seen guiding another man, of collisions with people who dont notice the white cane, and of a very sad rejection of one individual whose family simply were embarrassed by the blindness. But then there were the uplifts, the little moments of kindness. As one man said, "There's not a single time I go out onto that street that I don't get offered help."

It was a curious morning; to both laugh and be angered in the company of these friendly, welcoming strangers.