What are some things a nondisabled person could have in mind to avoid being insensitive towards a blind person like you? what are some subtle things related to everyday or social life that would help someone 'bring you into the fold' in a smoother comfortable manner, or not make you feel too odd or left behind if you're the only blind one in the group?
Most of these are super trivial but they add up if a lot happen at once. These also are more applicable to the spectrum of being visually impaired than completely blind. A lot of stuff to just be aware of instead of stuff you can do. I try to just say "me" and "I" here instead of blind people in general.
If a tv show requires subtitles it's going to be impossible, don't bother suggesting it! I've had friends insist and say they'll just read them outloud, but they can't read fast enough, forget, and it just sucks anyway. For movies with subtitles, it depends how blind someone is and how close they could sit to see it (if at all) so asking where they want to sit is helpful.
When walking somewhere, don't make the blind person walk as the leader of the group! I can't read street signs until I'm right under them, have a harder time knowing when it's safe to cross a street, and don't notice bikers until they're right in my face. When I'm out with friends I try to get behind them but they keep slowing down and I'm like please let me be a follower lol.
--Also because i am more nervous crossing a street, if a car is waiting for us point out like "they're waving for us to go" or I might be worried they didn't notice us or will start driving at the same time we start walking, car miscommunication stuff. (since I can't tell when drivers wave me, I just back wayyy up and don't cross until the car drives off)
Boardgames are huge in my friendgroup and there are a lot that rely on color or small details or quick visual processing. So just consider that when deciding what to play. I hate to be a fun killer by saying we shouldn't play something but struggling through it also sucks. (This can be true of multiplayer video games too).
--Also w/ boardgames, if everyone has a zone in front of them with cards or items for all to see, usually that means everyone can see each others necessary stuff except me, don't get weird about telling me what's there, if everyone else knows I should be allowed to know??
--Also also with boardgames, super specific example, but in Dune you and the one other person you're doing battle with have a battle board where you select a number and place cards in secret, before revealing your boards at the same time. Normally everyone else instantly knows the outcome and I'm left being like, so what happened??? So in situations like that, describing allowed the thing at the same time it's revealed visually is helpful.
**Similar to the last board game point, if something happens that everyone is like "oh wow look at that yadda yadda," or even something that warrants just a quick chuckle, describe what is going on please! that comes up a Ton. It can be something so small but I feel left out.
If we are in a crowded place try to prevent me getting separated and lost XD. I'll try to stay right on your heels (or next to you if the space allows), but if I go to the bathroom alone or go grab food alone, don't move at all from where we parted, or come with me.
Similar to that it's why I hate waterslides so much. Set up a meeting place for when we exit the waterslide since we'll be separated. It's even harder to recognize people in the water / when they're hair is soaked, so be aware of that in general at a pool or beach, and I can't wear my sunglasses while riding a waterslide in case they get knocked off. Usually I trust that afterwards the person I'm with will be able to find me though and I just wait.
--Also, if there's gross stuff on the ground I can usually notice but it doesn't hurt to point it out, save my poor bare feet.
**IMPORTANT in Grass, poop is impossible to see, please point that out.
And actually "there's a step" can be a helpful reminder when we're exiting a building, concrete often blends into concrete.
Not something you can do anything about but there's too many fastfood type places that don't have any sort of physical menu so just know I'll ask you what's on the menu, or take a picture of the board.
My art is shittier cuz I'm blind, my nail polish is messier, don't be rude about it lol. Or another example would be that my sister's makeup can be pretty messy. If she's still home, my mom will tell her how to fix it, but if she were out already with friends, there wouldn't be a point in mentioning it because she can't fix it at that point. Same with if my clothes don't match.
I can't tell when meat is cooked, so if we're all cooking something together, or each are responsible for cooking a dinner while on vacation together, don't make me cook meat alone. (and I do voice my objection to that, but you'd be surprised what people ignore!)
Obv but don't make weird comments about my glasses looking wierd or bad, or comments about me not being able to make eye contact. Don't try to "get away with stuff" cuz you think I won't see it.
It can be hard for me to see facial expressions so have patience with that if I'm missing some type of nonverbal communication or cue.
**If you see me in the wild, say "hey [my name], it's [your name]!" If you just wave, I won't see. If you just say "hey", I won't know you're talking to me, and if you just say "hey [my name]" I'll say hey back but I might not know who you are. This was more relevant back at school but if I walk past a group of friends during lunch or a free period, I would usually love to hangout and had no idea they were there! It's nice to get invited over instead of people assuming I saw and ignored them.
Do Not Throw Anything At Me I Will Not Catch It. This has happened my whole life and continues to happen even with people I've known for years. Similarly I flinch easily because I've gotten hit in the face by stuff so much, so obv don't be weird about that or try to get me to flinch??
Loooooooong ramble here! And with all disabled people, there's variation in how much people want you to ask if they need assistance and stuff, some people think it's considerate, some people think it's condescending. But if you have good intentions ppl won't think you're a jerk, just use your best judgement. If someone says they can't do something or describes the help they need, just believe them the first time instead of arguing. It's okay to forget stuff though.
(there might be other stuff I forgot)
