Canadian Federation Of The Blind
Introduction To Questions And Answers
If you have more questions about blindness, please contact us at:
Email: info@cfb.ca
Phone: (250) 598-7154 or 1800-619-8789.
Braille - Q and A
What is Braille?
Braille
is a system of raised dots on paper that form letters and words we read with
our fingertips. The basic Braille "cell" consists of two columns of
three dots. The dots are numbered
How do blind people read Braille?
It
takes practice to become a good Braille reader, just as it takes practice to
become a good print reader. We learn Braille by feeling the dots in each
Braille "cell" and memorizing what the combinations of dots stand
for. It is best to learn Braille as a child, even if the child can still read
print. That way, the student has had many years of practice and experience to
develop good Braille skills by the time he or she becomes an adult. Blind
adults can learn Braille through different types of programs or classes. Good
Braille readers, like good print readers, can read much faster than they can
talk. Today blind people use Braille to take notes in high school and college,
to write letters, to read books and magazines, to keep addresses and phone
numbers, to keep recipe files, to write books and other materials, and to do
the other things sighted people do with print. There are libraries that provide
Braille and recorded books and magazines for the blind free of charge.
Who was Louis Braille?
A
Frenchman named Louis Braille developed the Braille system of reading and
writing when he was a boy. He became blind through an accident, and he discovered
that trying to read raised letters was too slow. He wanted a faster way for
blind people to read and write. He modeled Braille after a system of codes used
by the military, and then he expanded his system.
What kind of work can blind people do?
Just
about anything. Here's a list of some occupations in which blind people are
working today, but there are many more. Farmers, lawyers, secretaries, factory workers,
drill press and lathe operators, nurses, restaurant managers, child care
workers, social workers, computer programmers, insurance salespeople, chemists,
homemakers, doctors, gas station attendants, teachers, professors, telephone
operators, counselors, maintenance workers and janitors, scientists, engineers,
hardware and toy store managers, librarians, beauty operators or
cosmetologists, car mechanics and repair people, electrical engineers,
stockbrokers, accountants, journalists, communications professionals,
physiotherapists and many more. If we believe we can do the job, and if our
employer believes we can, we probably can.
It is most important for blind people to have the chance to choose
whatever job we want, and for the public to give us the opportunity.
What is the employment rate for blind people
in
At this point, no exact statistics exist for
the joblessness situation in
Technology - Q and A
How do blind people use a computer and go
online?
In
this age of technology, blind people can use computers just like sighted people
can. We use a variety of adaptive
software that make computers accessible for the blind. Some of these programs include screen-reading
technology that use a voice synthesizer to read out loud what is on the screen
and give continuous verbal feedback.
When using this speech software, we do not use a mouse. Instead we use keyboard strokes to activate
various commands. For example, instead
of clicking on an Internet link, we press enter, and instead of clicking on a
menu bar, we press the alt key to get to the same place. Blind people also use programs that provide
Braille output that we can read as we use the computer. Other programs produce large print. Some of us also have reading machines, which
are scanners that scan print material and convert the text into speech.
Not
all blind people have access to this technology because it is expensive. The
Federation is working to improve access to computers for blind people. For
example, through our Technology Share Program, we restore donated computers and
give them to blind people who need the technology. Our members will also help blind people
locate funding sources that can sometimes help to fund adaptive equipment.
How do blind parents take care of their
children?
Good
parenting is determined by competence, love for ones children, and many other
factors, not the degree of sight someone has.
Sight, by itself, does not make someone a good parent, and blindness, by
itself, does not make someone a bad parent.
Blind people learn about parenting, just as sighted parents do. Blind parents use techniques that make the
job easier, such
as:
listening carefully to our children's activities; staying close to them when
they are playing outside; using a safety harness on our toddlers when we are on
busy roads and in malls; and pulling rather than pushing a baby stroller, so we
can use our canes in front as we walk.
To learn more about blind parents, please contact the Canadian
Federation of the Blind at info@cfb.ca or 1800-619-8789
Helping
Blind People - Q and A
Should I help a blind person cross the
street?
If a
blind person asks you for help, then you may help. You can ask if we need
assistance, but understand the answer may be "no." Blind people, if
they have learned to use a cane or dog and travel independently, may not need
help. It is important not to grab someone who is blind. If a blind person wants
help, we may take your arm, or simply walk beside you. Some blind people may
have a harder time hearing the cars and traffic, especially if there is
construction or a lot of noise around the area. Then we might want help we
might not need other times.
Should I help a blind person to a chair?
The
same rules apply here. Some blind people will appreciate help in locating a
chair, but some of us can find chairs, tables, and desks on our own. Sometimes
a blind person may ask where the chairs or tables are, then go to them on his
or her own.
How It Feels To Be
Blind – Q and A
How does it feel to be blind?
When
people first become blind, they often experience frustration and fear. This is
because they have not learned how to do things for themselves as blind people. But
once they learn the skills that blind people use, you no longer feel that way.
Blind people do the same things as sighted people. We go to school, work, and
social activities, and do the things we need to do. We do this naturally,
without thinking about being blind. The blindness becomes just another part of
who we are. We don't think about being blind every day, just like sighted
people don't think every day about whether or not they have red or brown hair.
Will I learn more about blindness if I close
my eyes or wear a blindfold?
No,
it is not a good idea to pretend to be blind. You could get just the opposite
impression about what it is like to be blind. You might have a hard time
finding things, you might bump into things, you might knock something over, or
you might hurt yourself. You might feel frightened, frustrated or confused;
then you might think this is what it is like for blind people. But it is not
like that for us. Blind people (depending on how long we've been blind) have
training and experience that you do not have, and we know how to do things
(sometimes differently) that you do not. It is easier for us than it would be
for you. If you want to learn more about blindness, instead of pretending to be
blind, ask a blind friend or acquaintance to talk with you, or contact the
Canadian Federation of the Blind at info@cfb.ca or 1800-819-8789
Do blind people feel bad about being blind?
Do they like to talk about it?
Most
of us are too busy to think about blindness much. We are not ashamed of being
blind. Blindness is a respectable
characteristic. Most blind people would be glad to answer any questions you
have about blindness, just ask us. When someone first loses sight, then he or
she might be unhappy. After receiving special help to learn how to do things as
a blind person and gaining a more positive attitude about being blind, then a
person can learn to feel okay about blindness.
How do blind people identify money?
Pennies,
nickels, dimes, quarters, loonies and toonies are easy to tell apart. Most are
different sizes. Quarters and dimes have
ridges around them, while pennies and nickels are smooth. Loonies have a curved
edge and toonies do not. There are many ways that paper money -can be
identified. Some of us like to keep different bills in separate places in our
wallets, especially if it is a larger bill we don't often carry with us. The
most common way to tell paper money apart is to fold the bills in different
ways. Each person will have his or her own way of folding them. Maybe a five dollar bill is folded in half
the long way, and a ten dollar bill is folded in half the short way. Or the ten
is folded twice, or a twenty dollar bill is folded in fourths or not at all.
Everyone uses his or her own methods. When we get money back from someone else,
we ask which bill is which and then fold it.
How do blind people shop for groceries?
We
can identify many kinds of food by touch, such as fruits and vegetables, hot dogs,
chicken, and other items. But it is more difficult to identify things like soup
cans, cereal boxes and ice cream containers. Many of us like to shop with a
friend who will help to find things and can read the different brands and
types. Or a blind person might ask a store employee to help find the groceries.
Some blind people (especially if they are buying a lot of things) will make a
print list for someone else to read, and they will use a Braille list for
themselves.
How do blind people cook?
We
can use the same gas or electric ovens, microwaves, grills, mixers, food
processors, blenders, electric knives, skillets, fryers, crock pots and other
kitchen tools and appliances as the sighted use. We can put Braille labels on
the microwave touch buttons, and some of us use Braille or a special marking
glue to put dots on some of the stove or oven temperature dials. It is easier
to use things like measuring cups and spoons that stack with different sizes
rather than ones with lines drawn on them. We can tell by the smell, sound,
temperature, time of cooking, texture, and consistency how our food is cooking.
For people who are newly blind, there are special training programs that can
teach people how to cook without vision. (Go to www.nfb.org, for more information about these
training programs). Some blind people,
just like some sighted people, will enjoy cooking more than others.
How do blind people know what is in the can
or package on the shelf?
Many
different foods and packages can be identified by the size, shape, or kind of
container they come in. It is easy to tell the difference between things like
boxes of spaghetti, ketchup bottles, tuna cans, bags of rice or beans, flour,
sugar, coffee or tea, chocolate syrup, peanut butter jars and nuts. Things like cans of vegetables or fruit,
soups, sauces, cake mixes, and some spices an be labeled in Braille, or a
portion of the wrapper can be torn off to tell the tomato soup from the chicken
soup. Some blind people write Braille labels on cards and attach them to the
can or package with a rubber band; these cards can be reused. We also use smell or taste to tell things
apart. Cinnamon smells and tastes different from pepper, and grape jelly smells
and tastes different from strawberry. Some of us label our food at the store as
we buy them, and some people do this at home with someone who can read the
labels. Each blind person will have his or her own way of identifying or
labeling packages.
How do blind people tell time?
The
faces of some watches open so a blind person can feel where the hands are and
can feel Braille dots at the different hour points. Some watches talk and speak
the time. Many talking clocks have
different types of alarms that we use in our home, in our office, or when we
travel. For people who can read some
print, there are also clocks and watches with large print faces.
How do blind people identify their clothes?
Most
articles of clothing have at least one distinct way of identifying them by
feel. They have different buttons, snaps, bows, ties, or the fabrics or
textures are different. Some dresses and skirts have belts or elastic at the
waist or different kinds of pockets. We might know the red shirt is the one
with the funny-shaped buttons, or the blue pants are the ones with no pockets.
We can tell the blouse with the fuzzy collar is green and matches the green
pants with the belt that feels like rope. In this way, we tell our clothes
apart by touch, and we can tell what clothes match each other. Occasionally
more than one shirt, blouse or tie feel alike. Some blind people mark their
clothes in a special way to tell them apart. These methods
include:
using tags meant for sewing in Braille labels; a safety pin to identify a black
pare of jeans; a button sewed on the tag of a blue suit and a cut-out corner on
the tag of a gray sweater. Some people make a list of the suits, shirts, ties,
and other clothes that feel alike and match them with each other by using
Braille numbers and letters attached to each piece of clothing. When we buy
something at the store or when someone gives us clothes as a gift, we usually
ask somebody to describe the item(s).
How do blind people recognize colours?
Some
of us are able to see colours. Sometimes a blind person might have enough
vision to see all colours, or maybe he or she can only tell bright colours.
Some of us can see some colours but not all of them, or we might have a hard
time telling blue or black or brown apart, or pink from white. Some blind
people do not see any colours.
How does a blind man shave or tie a necktie?
Blind
men do these things by feel. With practice, shaving and tying ties become habit
and routine. Men can feel where they
need to shave, and if they have beards or mustaches, they can feel where to
trim them. Actual shaving techniques, such as how long to make each stroke or
what angle to use, or what types of shaving products to use, are a matter of
personal choice and are the same for men whether they are blind or sighted.
Tying ties can take practice for sighted people too. Once blind men learn the
kinds of knots and appropriate lengths, they can tie a tie easily.
How does a blind woman put on make-up and do
her hair?
With
some practice in the beginning, blind women can do their make-up and hair just
like sighted women. It is often helpful to work with someone who can show us
some techniques when we are first learning. We can feel the different ways of
drying, curling, or styling our hair. We can feel when the hair is right, or if
we have missed a spot. We can apply make-up by touch, by feeling the places
where we want the make-up to be. Some of us learn the colours that are best for
us by asking people whose opinions we trust, until we discover what we like
best. Like sighted women, some blind women like wearing make-up and styling
their hair more than others.
Where do blind children go to school?
In the
past most blind children went away from home to attend residential schools for
the blind. Now most blind children attend school in their home districts. Blind
children in public schools are in regular classrooms; they are visited
regularly by itinerant teachers of the blind who provide support in the class
if needed.
Blind children use many tools that help them
to be independent in school, such as Braille and large print materials, talking
books, talking computers and white canes.
What support is available for parents of
blind children?
it
is important for parents of blind children to get together and share common
experiences, challenges and concerns. A
sense of shared community and companionship help promote a positive parenting
experience. Getting blind children
together also helps. When blind children
meet other blind children, they get a chance to play and learn from one another
and increase their self confidence through being part of a group of other
children similar to them.
The
Canadian Federation of the Blind will assist parents of blind children to set
up support networks and contact one another.
Please contact us at: info@cfb.ca or 1800-619-8789
Other
invaluable resources include: NFB's National Organization of Parents of Blind
Children (NOPBC) and NFB Camp (a camp for blind and sighted children held
during the NFB US national conventions).
To find out more about NOPBC and NFB camp, go to nfb.org
How do you raise a blind child?
The
most important thing to remember as a parent or teacher of a blind child is
that blind children are normal children.
In our current system, intervention that occurs toward blind children
often causes parents and the blind children themselves to feel they are not
normal and that they require expert intervention to succeed. The message here is that if professionals
don't do something to intervene in the development of blind children, lack of
vision will take its devastating toll on development.
Instead,
the Canadian Federation of the Blind believes that blind children will develop
normally given suitable expectations. If
taught Braille, cane travel, and other blindness skills, and treated as normal
children in a can-do and positive environment, blind children will flourish. For more information about blind children,
please contact the Canadian Federation of the Blind at Info@cfb.ca or
1800-619-8789
Why do some blind people use dogs and others
use canes for travel?
Using
a guide dog or a cane is a matter of personal choice. Some blind people like
using canes better, and some like using dogs. The most important thing is that
we are able to go wherever we want, whenever we want, independently.
How do blind people get around?
We
go from one place to another in a variety of ways. Using a long white cane when
we walk allows us to find steps, curbs, streets, driveways, doorways, bicycles,
elevators, escalators, people, chairs, tables, desks, or any other object or
place. The cane is long enough to be about two steps ahead of our feet as we
walk, so we find things with our cane before we get to them. There are canes of
all sizes, including small ones for children and long ones for tall people. CFB
members use NFB-style canes. These canes
differ from the usual canes used by blind Canadians. Our canes are longer and all white in
colour. The extra length makes it easier
to locate objects and makes the canes more visible. As members of the Canadian Federation of the
Blind, we carry our white canes with pride.
Some of us like to use a guide dog to get
around. These dogs are especially trained to move around things, go through
doorways, and stop at curbs and stairs. When we hear it is safe to cross the
street, we will tell the dog to go ahead. And when we get to the address of the
restaurant or business, the dog will find the door. The blind person using the
dog is always in charge and must tell the dog what to do.
How do blind people know where they are?
We
use many cues to help us find addresses and places. Learning to locate specific
addresses is an important part of getting around. In addition, we can locate
places by looking for things like: the second driveway on the right, the third
set of stairs on the left, or the house with the wooden fence along the
sidewalk. We can also look for the large tree in the front, the signpost, or a
special kind of door. We keep track of where we are and where we are going by
using directions such as north, south, east, or west, and by using other cues,
such as a busy one-way street, an empty lot, or a schoolyard. These kinds of
landmarks can help blind people travel from one place to another. And if it is
a place we go to often, like home or work, we become familiar with it.
How does a blind person know when to cross
the street?
We
can tell when it's safe to cross the street by listening to the sounds of the
traffic. If there is a light at the intersection, it is easy to hear when the cars
going across in front of us begin to slow down and stop, and when the cars
along the side of us start to move. Then we know the light has changed and we
have the green light to cross. We can start to listen for this when we are a
half a block away. If there is no light, we listen for any cars coming.
What kind of transportation do blind people
use?
Blind
people use a variety of types of transportation. When the distance
is
short, we walk. We also take busses,
often counting the stops or judging by various landmarks where we are. Many of us ask the bus driver to let us know
when we have reached a particular destination.
WE also take cabs, particularly if we want to get somewhere quickly, or
if we have a lot to carry. Blind people
also get rides from friends, family members and spouses. However, it is important for blind people not
to take advantage of people's generosity in driving and offer to compensate
drivers for gas or make some other financial arrangement. Some blind people own their own cars and hire
a driver or get a volunteer to drive them around in exchange for use of the
car. Almost any arrangement is
possible. It just takes creativity.
Understanding
More About Blind People - Q and A
Do blind people want to be able to see?
The
answer to this question is as diverse as blind people are diverse. We value sight and appreciate its
benefits. But most of us don't think
about being able to see that often. We
like who we are, and are proud of what we have accomplished as blind people. Once you are used to being blind, it is just
a normal way of being, like having red hair, or long legs.
Are blind people amazing?
Sometimes
we are amazing, and sometimes we aren't, but we are no more or less amazing
than sighted people performing the same activities. The reality is that we are a diverse group of
people with as wide a range of abilities as any other group. Just like sighted
people, we learn how to do things. Whether we are skiing, swimming, going to
school, working in a profession, or reading a book, we have learned to do these
things as blind people.
Are blind people's other senses better
because they are blind?
Blind
people's senses, hearing, touch, taste and smell, are not innately or biologically
different from anyone else's. We use our other senses; thus, we become adept at
taking in information in these ways. The key word is use; the more one uses
something, the more fine-tuned it becomes.
Do blind people play games or cards?
Yes.
It is easy to put Braille on decks of cards, including cards for games like
Uno. Some cards have large numbers and letters for people who use large print.
Blind people play board games such as Scrabble, which has Braille letters and a
board with raised or tactile squares. We
also play Backgammon, chess or checkers, which contain pieces made of different
textures, shapes, and colours to tell them apart. We can put Braille on Monopoly cards and the
Monopoly board. For games with dice,
like Yahtzee, we use dice with dots we can feel and count.
Not all games have to be made especially for
the blind. We can easily play many store-bought games without any
alterations. Sometimes we just have to
be creative and think of ways to use the same games sighted people play.
How do blind people play sports and do
physical activity?
Blind
people can do most of the same sports that sighted people can do, such as
hiking, running, swimming, rowing, horseback riding, skiing and dancing.
Sometimes we do these activities with the assistance of a guide to help us with
directions. For example, blind runners
often hold onto someone's arm as they run.
Blind skiers usually ski in front of a guide as the guide calls out
directions from behind. Sometimes blind
swimmers, especially those in competitive sport, get tapped on the head when they get close to the edge of the pool,
and then they know it is time to turn around.
Blind bike riders often ride tandem bicycles; we sit in the back seat,
or stoker position and peddle, while the sighted rider, or pilot sits in front
peddling and steering.
Some
sports are especially designed for blind people. For example, Goal Ball involves a ball the
size of a basket ball, filled with bells. Players stand in positions similar to
those in soccer (defense, goalie etc). Players wear padding and dive onto the
floor to stop the ball with their bodies.
When they get the ball, they throw it back to the opposing team to try
and score a goal. The opposing team then
tries to block the on-coming ball. Some
of us play a sport called Showdown, which is a game like ping pong. The ball is plastic and filled with
beads. Players bat it back and forth on
the Showdown table with their paddles and try to score a point by getting the
ball in the hole on the other side of the table.
Blind
people do many physical activities completely independently, including walking,
weight lifting, recreational swimming, water skiing, working out at the gym,
dancing and many other sports.