[NABS-L] Do you Disclose Vision to College Roomates?

[Sami Osborne]

Hi Nic,

I think to be honest people will notice right away, especially if you have a cane or guide dog. I'm glad that you're already in communication with your dorm mates (since they're not in the same room as you but in the same dorm, they're considered "dorm" or "suite" rather than "room" mates), which is a luxury I didn't have when I first moved into my dorm, resulting in my roommates as well as others looking down on me due to my blindness and hearing impairments. I also discovered that my two roommates (they stayed in the same room as me) I had duffing my freshman year (or rather, my parents informed me) were weed smokers, and they often stayed up past 3 AM. In the beginning of that first semester, they would also get into my personal possessions, especially when I returned home on weekends, until I finally complained to the RA about that. So I should probably just let you know first off that you're the luckiest blind college freshman ever! LOL.

As far as disclosure, like I mentioned earlier, your dorm mates are likely to notice your blindness right off. What I would suggest is letting them know about what makes you most comfortable, such as leaving the bathroom door open unless someone is using it, that way you'll know when it's safe.

Hope this helps.

Sami

On Aug 2, 2020 8:39 PM, Laura Meyer via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org> wrote:
>
> Hi, 
> I would tell them.  Sometimes its best to be up front about 
> things like vision loss, and medical issues. 
> Just my thoughts from similar experience. 
>
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: nspohn0--- via NABS-L <nabs-l at nfbnet.org 
> To: "'National Association of Blind Students mailing list'" 
> <nabs-l at nfbnet.org 
> Date sent: Sun, 2 Aug 2020 13:17:24 -0400 
> Subject: [NABS-L] Do you Disclose Vision to College Roomates? 
>
> Hi all, 
>
>
>
> I will be a college freshman this fall.  My Move in day is August 
> 22nd, so it 
> is coming up quickly! Do you disclose your visual 
> impairment/blindness to 
> your college dorm roommates? 
>
>
>
> I will be living in an apartment style.  The four of us each have 
> our own 
> room and there are two bathrooms, 2 people per bathroom.  
> Students are 
> responsible for cleaning the bathrooms among themselves.  There 
> are also 2 
> washers and dryers that the four of us will share. 
>
>
>
> I have started to text each of my roommates.  We have been 
> talking about what 
> we are majoring in, things we like to do, etc.  I would love to 
> have multiple 
> opinions on this. 
>
>
>
> Regards, 
>
> Nic 
>
>
>
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