In the past, when I have waited a bit to tell a new friend, I always feel so relieved if they say something like, “Wow, I never would have known.”, as if I’ve somehow gotten away with something. Yet I cringe when I hear, “Yeah, I kind of wondered why you didn’t wave at me when I waved to you in the hallway or seemed kind of lost going into that restaurant,” or worse yet, “Oh, so-and-so already told me how you can’t drive and all about your vision.” as if they’re talking about something as insignificant as not having enough change at the pop machine. This may sound contradictory– wanting RP to be a non-issue while also not wanting it to be brought up so casually. I think it’s more that I feel it is my place to first bring it up to someone– not other people’s business to share when I’m not around.
I’m not sure why I think it should only be my place to tell people. It could be that I’m afraid incorrect information will be passed on (i.e. when a person I was talking to just thought it was something viral that would go away with antibiotics!)
I’m also not sure why I feel such a sense of shame and embarrassment about it– as if it’s anything I can even control. I remember walking into a restaurant about 10 years ago to use the bathroom, and since it was very dim, I circled the room several times before tripping over a stool and finally stumbling into the bathroom. A woman working at the restaurant came up to me and asked, “Young lady, have you been drinking?” I was mortified. One would think at that point I would simply explain that I’m visually impaired, right? But I was so taken aback and embarrassed that I simply found my way out of the restaurant as quickly as possible, got into the car where my husband, Ben, was waiting and began to sob. After I told Ben the story, we actually began to laugh, and I could definitely picture how a person stumbling around would appear wasted!
I do think that I have come a long way since that incident. When I went on a mission trip to Paraguay 4 years ago, for example, I told our team of people– most of them strangers– immediately. And I find myself speaking up even in stores now. Yet it still doesn’t feel natural to say.
Sometimes it feels more natural to just stretch the truth. When checking out at Trader Joe’s a few months ago, I couldn’t see the credit card screen to click “accept” or where to sign my name because the screen was really faded and dark. Thinking quickly, I said, “Oh gosh I’m not wearing my contacts today and can’t even see this screen!” The cashier was like, “Oh, that has totally happened to me– here, I’ll just put your pen on it for you.” Even the man in line behind me started talking about how blind he is without his contacts. I felt right at home and didn’t feel an ounce of embarrassment. But it wasn’t the truth!
Should I settle for telling white lies or hope that telling the complete truth will get eaier? Just the other day I was checking my 5-year-old into the doctor’s office and was asked to sign some papers. The receptionist saw me looking around for a pen and replied, “Oh, the pens are right there,” making a large sweeping motion with her hand, and walked away to make photocopies. I turned my head from side to side, scanning the counter, looking for this obviously-placed pen, but still did not see it. I looked down to ask my daughter to help me, but she was at the drinking fountain. I felt my face getting hot and my anxiety level rising before realizing that I was making myself frantic over a pen and needed to just ask for more help.
When the woman returned to the desk, I simply said, “I’m sorry I still don’t see the pens– I’m visually impaired.” She immediately handed me a pen and said, “wow, you’re doing pretty good then!” I know she meant it as a compliment, but for some reason i felt really emotional, as if I would start crying if she said another word to me. So I quickly sat down with Lucy and began reading a book to her, but then felt paranoid that the receptionist was watching us, wondering how I could read fine but couldn’t see a large container of pens. I, of course, started thinking about how I should have been more specific and just told her I didn’t have peripheral vision. Another tip that my counselor brought up is to have a specific, rehearsed phrase to say, pointing out that the more I say it, the more natural it will feel. I am willing to give it a try but am also curious how other people with RP handle this.
So all you RP’ers out there…. I know most of the comments thus far have been from our family and friends (thanks guys!) but if there’s anyone reading this who can relate, can you please comment on how you feel about telling people, particularly strangers, about your vision. Do you have a certain “line” or phrase that you tend to say? And does it get easier the more you do it?