Going Blind

[Aziz]

Hi everyone.

I was wondering if there are any blind or visually impaired teachers on here. I was recently diagnosed with glaucoma and wanted to get some advice on teaching blind. I came across some YouTube videos but the videos focused on how amazing the teachers were and not on what techniques they actually used. If there's anyone here that could give me some advice, please let me know.

By the way I have started learning Braille.

-Aziz

[seastarmath]

Oh, man, Aziz! I am so sorry!

Have you started treatment for the glaucoma? My MIL has that and tried a new drug. It worked for a while. She just changed to something else and the verdict isn't in yet. Is there something out there for you?


You are AMAZING! You got a diagnosis like that, and you still march forward. I admire that!

[Aziz]

My eye doctor wants to check my intraocular pressure again next week before putting me on any medications. If I have glaucoma with regular IOP then he will re-evaluate whether I should use medications. My body is extremely sensitive to anything in it (once I took an aspirin and I slept for two days solid) so he only wants to put me on medications if I really need them.

This time will be easier around because last time I was blind (as a child) people didn't believe me. At least this time I won't have to go around trying to pass as sighted.

-Aziz

[damisa]

I'm new to the board -- found it through my Google Alerts, in fact. I am a teacher of the visually impaired. There is a book by the American Foundation for the Blind (AFB) called Teachers Who Are Blind Or Visually Impaired. I bought this book for a former student who is studying to be a teacher. There are stories of teachers, ranging from Pre-K to special education, to college, who are visually impaired. You may want to check it out.

[muinteoir]

I am so sorry.
We had a regular sub that was blind. He came to school with his dog.
Honestly after he learned the layout of the school, he didn't seem to have much trouble. We would help him with things like figuring out the keypad arrangement on the copy machine and stuff like that.

If a middle school sub can make it work, I have no doubt that an experienced teacher, especially one with your "can=do" attitude, will be able to adapt relatively easily.

Best of luck to you.

[Aziz]

Thank you so much seastarmath, damisa, and muinteoir!

I will check out the AFB and I will check out that book too. I've already been spending a lot of time on the NFB (National Federation of the Blind) website. I have no doubt I can do it! I just wonder how difficult it will be logistically speaking, e.g. finding a transcriber. I also wonder if students will sense vision loss as a point of weakness. I can see some students acting as if they would never even think of taking advantage of blindness but then secretly going on Facebook instead of taking notes in class. I can see with my ears but taking notes vs. browsing Facebook all sounds like typing.

Thanks again for your suggestions and support.

-Aziz