I chose the Retinitis Pigmentosa ones, because I had in the past taught a girl who had this condition, and wondered how it would be to walk a bit "in her shoes".
Scary was how it was. We left the room, went down some stairs and then out the door and round the block "what, you think I can walk on a footpath with only a pinhole of vision? Impossible".
(picture courtesy of Cruisin with Cricket blogspot)Initially, I had my hands held out in front of me for balance, and was quite hunched, but eventually I got some handle on it, with our tutor beside me , pointing out rough ground and obstacles.
Half way round the block, we got to swap glasses, so I was thrilled to get a pair where I had poor peripheral vision- a doddle compared to RP. I was then the "guide" for my colleague wearing the RP glasses.
My evening walk on Monday was such a joy!
I was able to scrunch these leaves quite joyfully, and look down too, not having to scan metres ahead for possible tripups.
I remembered my past student fondly, and her determination to succeed at Accounting. It must have been a nightmare trying to write numbers down from the board with only this tiny pinhole of vision, and she did it with courage, grace and a hunger for learning. I know that I was sympathetic, but until this week I didn't really know what it was like for her.
Isn't it a pity that students without a disability don't always appreciate their vision?
