Blind writer, editor, and lecturer Andrew Leland talks with Marc about technological advancements for the visually impaired, the emotional response to blindness, and conflicting agendas within the blind community.
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Quick takeaways
Adapting to vision loss involves milestones like giving up driving and using a white cane.
Open conversations and understanding between partners are crucial in navigating the challenges of vision loss.
There is a need to challenge the binary perception of blindness and promote greater understanding and acceptance.
Navigating the challenges of vision loss requires empathy, understanding, and support from others.
Deep dives
Challenges and Adaptations: Adjusting to Living with Blindness
The podcast episode discusses the personal journey of Andrew Leeland, who gradually became blind due to a degenerative disease. The episode explores how Andrew adapted to his changing vision, including milestones like giving up driving and using a white cane. Andrew also shares the emotional challenges and conversations with his wife about the future. Through his experience, he highlights the social aspects of disability and the need for understanding and support from others.
The Emotional Impact and Acceptance of Vision Loss
Andrew reflects on his emotional response to his diagnosis and the impact it had on his life and relationships. He acknowledges moments of panic and vulnerability, as well as the need to make room for his wife's reactions and practical adjustments. He shares his experience of self-identity and the struggle with feeling like a fraud when using a white cane. Andrew emphasizes the importance of open conversations and understanding between partners in navigating the challenges of vision loss.
The Spectrum of Blindness and Social Perceptions
Andrew discusses the varying degrees of blindness and the misconceptions surrounding it. He highlights the range of experiences and the way social perceptions and judgments can shape one's experience of disability. Andrew emphasizes the importance of recognizing the individuality of each person's journey and challenges the binary perception of blindness, urging greater understanding and acceptance.
Lessons Learned and Personal Growth
Through his experience of gradually losing his vision, Andrew shares his personal growth and insights. He explores the notion of vulnerability and the fluctuating emotions that come with adapting to living with blindness. Andrew explains the process of accepting his condition and finding a balance between acknowledging his limitations and remaining empowered. He emphasizes the need for empathy, understanding, and support for individuals navigating the challenges of vision loss.
The Journey of Living with Visual Impairment
The podcast episode explores the personal experience of the host, who has been legally blind for the past five to six years due to retinitis pigmentosa (RP), a genetic disorder that causes gradual vision loss. The host discusses various aspects of his life, including the adjustments he has made to navigate the world with compromised vision and the challenges he faces on a daily basis.
Changing Perspectives on Blindness
The podcast highlights the misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding blindness and the importance of changing societal perceptions. The host emphasizes that blindness does not necessarily mean complete darkness or helplessness, and that blind individuals can lead independent lives and participate fully in society. The discussion also touches on different organizations and movements within the blind community, highlighting the diverse perspectives and approaches toward disability rights.
Interdependence and Adaptation
The podcast delves into the concept of interdependence and the value of adapting to new circumstances. The host shares personal stories, including his experience of adapting to the use of assistive technologies, such as screen readers and canes, and the challenges faced by him and his family members as they negotiate new roles and responsibilities. The conversation underscores the importance of empathy, understanding, and support in the journey of living with a disability.
Andrew Leland started having trouble seeing when he was in high school. He learned about his degenerative condition that would slowly render him blind over the course of his life. Now, two decades into his career as a writer, editor and lecturer, Andrew continues to lose his vision and adapt to a world that has a very binary view of blindness. Andrew and Marc talk about technological advancements that help with loss of sight, the complicated emotional response to blindness, and the different factions within the blind community promoting conflicting agendas.
