[humanser] Disclosure about Blindness to Clients

[JD Townsend]

Hello:

I find this idea interesting.  The term disclosing seems like a confession 
or a revieling like having your loan organization having to disclose the 
extent of their averice.

I have been accused, by children, of cheeting and not really being blind 
when I tell them to stop rollling their eyes.  I have been touched by 
psychotic folks desiring to heal me.  I have been prayed over by the devote. 
But, my white cane or, in the past, my dog guide did the job of saying that 
I am blind.  Often in the first or second session I am asked "Can you see 
me" or "Can you see shadows," a most strange idea.

Most often my patients tell me that they forget about my blindness and that 
is how it should be as I am not the focus of treatment.

Rarely there may be transference issues related to blindness and these need 
to be addressed as a part of treatment.  Sometimes, if the situation calls 
for a "real person" response I may identify my blindness as an example of 
having to make adjustments when dealing with any sort of disability.






JD Townsend LCSW
Helping the light dependent to see.
Daytona Beach, Earth, Sol System