[Blindtlk] visually impaired married to a sighted

[Ericka J. Short]

I know we usually talk about computers, or philosophy here, but I think this is an important topic. I just wondered what kind of things people have done to make their sighted spouse understand the disability thing.  The biggest part of things for us is that we have horrible transit here in Kenosha and  so it’s difficult to independently travel alone.  My husband  just doesn’t know what to  do about this. I take rides with  friends or people from church at times, but some things I want to ride with my husband to together.  He either feels like he should be my only transportation  or not at all.  It’s driving me batty!  Another really big issue is the fact I need things organized (not necessarily good at that however) to be more independent.  If he’s going to be all male and dump everything in  piles all over the house for me to trip over every once in a while, then he can’t get mad at me for a bill not getting paid, a lost check or his the credit card.  Mine you there is no may to read a  credit card  number on a cctv.  I just can’t do it.  He seems to think he  should “know” how to  handle it and  dosent realize that  some people have vision that  doesn’t stay stable.  Being a partial it is really difficult to explain.  Some days I can see better than others for example.  

I use my cane lots of the time outside the house and sometimes at church.  Once I learn the set up of a place I don[‘t have to ask any more questions usually than the average sighted person.  I can’t read print or use a monocular for a lot of outside things or indoors either for that matter.  I do use strong reading  glasses a lot.  I am learning braille but I”ve been a print user all l my life with minimal computer skills and even less income  Help!  I feel like I’m in the twilight zone of sight as it is and can see why he’d be frustrated.  I am too!

Ericka