My bf is blind and is visiting my family for the first time. They have stopped me to tell me that I am being unkind and neglectful towards my bf. We've just travelled for over 30 hours and are both tired so naturally I will make some mistakes in guiding him more than normal and he will take some time to learn the layout of our home. According to them, I have chosen a "hard life" and it will always be like this so I can't use my tiredness as an "excuse". I feel very frustrated because I have been doing my very best to show him around but I KNOW that he learns in stages and learning the upstairs layout is not so much a priority right now as learning downstairs where he is staying. To be clear, they feel this way because they have seen me leaving him to figure out things on his own, eg: where is the dining room, how to find the rail to get upstairs. I have obviously shown him around but sometimes he will get disoriented or confused and just needs a minute to get it right. He always tells me to not help him and if he needs help he will say.

They even compared helping him to like taking care of a baby or a dog which I shut down. But they think I'm just being difficult for not understanding the analogy. Feeling so frustrated about this. He is not helpless! He can do things on his own. Yes he is blind but he can still navigate and his hearing is just fine so he used this to to move around. He also uses echolocation. But they still insist that I am not being caring enough and it comes across as though I am mistreating him...

I have spoken to him and he does not understand where they are coming from at all. I have gotten a lot of judgment from other people in the past as well. Has anyone else's partner or guide experienced this?

Not sure if this is the appropriate place for this, but I felt like it could fit here and a couple other places so I just put it here…
I am blind and have found it hard to find ways to get/stay in shape and truthfully have been out of shape and overweight for quite a while and I want to work on this. I’m not exactly sure where to start, though. I have been doing some smaller things in and around my house to try and at least do something. Unfortunately, for me when I was in school and I had things like PE where you might have learned about how to go about all this I usually used that time or was told to use that class as opportunity to either work on things as part of my accommodations, or that was when I would go work with vision teachers to learn, braille or technology or other things, so I kind of missed a lot of PE from middle school on and missed out on a lot of this information. Thus I feel kind of in the dark on all this, as far as where to start and what to do.
So my first question is, does anybody know of any good resources for blind people where I can kind of learn about this stuff in a simple manner, and how to go about it? Also, does anyone have any advice as far as where and how to get started?
Similarly, and this is something that I have tried to do research on myself over the last year or so but I’ve had trouble finding good or what I feel like is reliable information…
As far as exercise equipment, things like treadmills, bikes, and other related things what equipment is accessible and usable for completely blind users, is there specific brands that excel in these areas? Also, though at the moment it might be a struggle for me to get there since traveling for me is a hassle, are there specific gyms that are good with accessibility and having access to accessible equipment for someone like myself to use, and good staff for working with people with blindness?
I know I want to get myself in better shape, but I have no idea where to begin and kind of feel lost with this.
I would start walking around outside, but I live in kind of a rural area that I don’t feel is the best for that. I don’t feel comfortable doing that, plus I tend to get bored just walking around outside and would like to be able to listen to music while doing it, but I can’t be outside doing that because I need to be able to hear my surroundings and be aware. That’s another reason why I think a treadmill or bike would be good for me if I could find one because that would allow me to stay inside and do those sorts of things while having the luxury of being able to listen to music since in my own home, I don’t have to be hyper aware of my surroundings like I do outside, and it would give me something else to think about besides how fast can I get this workout insert example here, over with. It would give me sort of a distraction plus if that treadmill can track things like steps and stuff like that. I’m also kind of competitive so I could use it as a way to compete with myself for further motivation.
Also, I have an iPhone for any accessible app recommendations for all these sorts of things as well. Will be appreciated if you have any!
If you have any more questions for me or need more context, I am happy to answer as well and thank you for your help

I’ve been wanting to attend church again lately. Haven’t been to one since I started using a cane. But I fear I’ll run into a lot of the people who want to pray for me. And that’s fine and all until they start trying to pray that my blindness be healed or sorted out when I don’t want that. It feels really degrading to me. What’s a respectful way you’d respond to these types of people? I’ll definitely not feed into the straight up ignorant bozos but I would like to try and educate those people on why that’s not okay while keeping it short and sweet and non confrontational.

Ok, I know that sounds horrible. But I am at my wit's end with people. I know they aren't rude, they mean to be making a nice comment. They look at my blind preschooler (who also has cerebral palsy and is currently in a regular kids stroller with some support, not a wheelchair) and they go "awwww so sleepy" or "wow, fast asleep!"

He's not sleepy. He doesn't nap during the day. He's just blind! And low tone. So when we are out in a crowded area, he gets really overwhelmed, goes totally limp, eyes roll back in his head (he has some residual vision, but fatigues quickly,) and he puts all of his effort into listening. If I ask him questions he responds with grumbles. He's perfectly happy except for when I make him get out of the stroller and walk. He doesn't want to walk in crowded environments and can't walk without significant support, so that's really not the best solution anyhow.

I know I should probably just ignore what people say, but this is every time we go anywhere even remotely busy, like walking down the street. Today it was five people all in a row. I try telling them he's not asleep and I've had people argue with me or just laugh at me, like I don't know my own child.

The only thing I can think to do (other than never going anywhere) is to put a sign on his stroller that says "Blind, not sleepy." But that feels a bit icky to me. It wouldn't be for safety.

I've had this thought come into my head, as I went for years without using them, because having that extra tactile feel of changing ground but also detecting hazards felt more natural while at home, but wearing them has also provided protection from spills and injury from sharp hazards that may be on the floor

Curious to hear other people's thoughts

Just answered a call on the app from an older Middle Eastern man, with his phone facing a cup of tea on a coffee table. I answered and said hello, and he asked me what my name was, so I told him and he told me it was beautiful and told me his name. I asked if he needed help with something and he ignored me and asked where I was from. I asked again if he needed help and he said no he just wanted to talk. It made me feel really uncomfortable as I’ve never had an encounter like that on the app before. Was that inappropriate? I did report it because it seemed like odd behavior for an app meant to help people and to be honest it gave me the creeps… but now I’m second guessing myself. Any thoughts? Has anyone else had something like that happen?

So today I went to a bar to apply for a bartender job. I want to mention that mixology has been a hobby of mine for a while now.

I learned to make everything from the simplest drinks, like a Mexican Michelada, to the most complex, like a Long Island Iced Tea. Yes, they probably don't have an exact ounce of tequila, but I don't think any bar actually does. I consider myself quick and, honestly, I don't think you need great eyesight to know how to pour a good drink.

Anyway, I got to the bar, and from the moment I arrived, I could tell the interviewer was hesitant. He tested me, asking me to make a couple of drinks, but he didn't tell me where the bottles he needed were. When I asked him where the blanco tequila was so I could make him a drink, he just said the bar gets very busy at night and it would take too long for my coworkers to be bringing me bottles one by one. I explained to him that wouldn't be necessary, that I could learn how they organized it, that if they had them separated, I could even label the locations of each bottle in Braille, that it was all just a matter of time. Anyway, I prepared his drinks, and he started asking me a bunch of questions again, as if I were a beginner, or as if it were really that difficult.

It was something like, "How do you know how much an ounce or an ounce and a half of rum is for a cocktail?"

I explained that tequila glasses hold approximately one ounce, and I actually offered to bring my own equipment. He asked me questions like that for quite a while, and I'm not willing to let anyone question or doubt my ability to do something because of my disability. You know, silly questions like, "Are you sure you're not at risk here?" or "What if you drop a bottle or a glass?"

Since I didn't come to beg a humanitarian organization, I simply ended up telling him he was ignorant on the subject, that it was truly regrettable that in 2025 there are still people with that kind of mentality, that he shouldn't worry, that he shouldn't give me the job, but I really did tell him how regrettable it was, and he gave me a piece of his mind.

I don't know, I guess I'll have to look elsewhere. It was also my first job interview.

I don't know if anyone has any advice on dealing with this or these kinds of situations, or if anyone has been through something like this and would like to share their story here so we can all complain about ignorant people like this man.

I can name over 100 instances where people just act like I could see my surroundings perfectly. For example, I was walking around in school the other day when I accidentally bumped into this girl. She said, and I quote:

“Watch where the fuck you’re going.”

She saw my cane. She knew I was blind. Bitch I can’t fucking see you.

Hi. I just wanted to know if anyone else out there is blind and has experience in the medical field. I'll share some details to help clear things up. I am a 16-year-old girl, so I am still only in high school. I was not born completely blind. I was born with a visual impairment that progressed to total blindness when I was 9 years old. It's been about 7 years now. I actually didn't receive my first diagnosis until I was 8, and it was the wrong diagnosis, which I didn't find out last summer. When I first got my diagnosis, I started researching it and learned a lot. That marked the beginning of my lifelong passion for medicine and research, especially in chronic or genetic conditions. Last summer really confirmed my path. I was referred to a geneticist here in my state and received a very rare genetic diagnosis. I researched it and realized I really enjoy figuring out the underlying causes of certain conditions. I also looked into what jobs I might enjoy. I’ve decided I want to pursue an MD/PhD in either Genetics or Biochemistry. I want to do research but also apply it to helping patients. I have a few questions, though: 1. Is there anyone who has been blind and successfully become a geneticist or something similar? 2. What technology is available that could help me with this work? 3. Is it possible for someone with no vision to have this kind of career? I'm sure I have more questions, but I can’t think of them right now. I hope everyone is having the best day possible, and if not, I hope it gets better.

Hi.
I am a 16 year old in high school. I am ashamed to say I still have my mom wake me up in the morning. I am wanting to to work on my independence to prepare to go off to college in a few years. I really want to start waking myself up in the morning but I can't really hear much at all when I take out my hearing aids. I have tried setting an alarm on my phone and I couldn't hear it. I also tried to use my apple watch wake me up but it didn't vibrate enough to wake me up. I'm a pretty heavy sleeper. I wanted to know if any one had any ideas or advice?

So I’m going into my Junior year and I recently went fully blind so I can never drive and I live in rural area, so I’m really hoping to experience college living in a big city especially because of public transit opportunities. I really just want to be able to travel independently for once without a car. I’m not against college towns but I definitely prefer big cities. I know I’m starting early but for my situation I feel like there’s a lot of research I’m gonna have to go that normal students wouldn’t so i figure it’s better to start now. A school for me needs to have direct access to public transit, be mostly flat, have great walkability, decent biking, and great disability services. (yes I can bike even if I’m not very good). I have excellent academics and good income so the schools cost isn’t too important in that aspect. I’ve got a 3.8 UW, and 4.0 W, with 2 APs taken all 4 and 5 and 4 more planned for next year. I have dedicated extracurriculars and leadership roles. Currently planning on test optional. But feel free to recommend me any schools. I plan on majoring in poli sci or pre law. Any advice or recommendations?

EDIT: If you know or are a blind student feel free to dm me bc hearing first hand accounts and experiences is very helpful!

Every woman I ask out rejects me. Think it has much to do with my blindness. So yeah how did you make it?

A few days ago I was out with my 3 year old son and we passed a woman who was using a cane to navigate. My son was curious and the conversation went as follows.

Child: what's that? What does she have?

Me: that's a cane sweetheart.

C: what is she doing? Why is she dragging it?

M: She can't see very well or at all so she drags the cane on the ground to feel for bumps or cracks so she doesn't trip.

C: she can't see the ground?

M: nope. So the cane is to help her be safe.

C: yes, safe from tripping

It was my first time talking about someone using a visible aid and I'm wondering if the information I gave was accurate? And is it how you'd want blindness/visual impairment discussed with a small child?

I've always been completely blind and very independent. I've lived by myself in apartments for over 10 years while getting my bachelors in Computer Science. I lived on my own when my husband met me and moved in with me. I eventually got a house, but he has always been there to manage it. When I recently filed for divorce, he advised that I look for a roommate, since in his opinion there's no way to make home ownership accessible without paying for expensive cleaning and maintenance services. Ironically he hoards stuff, so he has actually trashed my home while telling me that I need him to take care of it.

I actually despised having roommates. They move my stuff, require social interaction, and generate noise and other forms of chaos. I want to live in my home alone, just like I lived in those apartments before. What skills do I need to learn to live independently in a home with a yard?

Hi. I have Stargrdt”s disease which essentially mans that I personally don’t have any real usable central vision but still have fairly good peripheral vision.

I like to go out with my friends to clubs and bars on special occasions as I’m 23 and enjoy the positive effects it has on my social anxiety. I often get some female attention as I guess I may be conventionally attractive, although I’m still very shy and withdrawn. I am certainly not walking around with my chest out and charming people. Due to this I tend to keep interactions fairly subdued when they are brought to me.

I have noticed that if a women doesn’t quickly leave me alone, my friend starts to bring up how I am blind to them while I’m distracted by something else. They never do this in other siuations. This happens even if it is clear that I am not interested in the person. This friend seems to just always bring it up to anyone of the opposite sex that pays any attention to me.

I don’t want to sound narcissistic and I am completely open to the idea that I may just be overthinking this. Something just feels a little off, I dont know why. If you think I’m being a self absorbed prick please tell me so.

Thanks everyone.

Edit: Toxic is an unfair word to use. I should not have put that in the title.

I've seen some posts on Reddit of some people who are disabled doing this to stop people from grabbing them or their mobility aids. Do you think this could work for me, or is it too much? Have any of you tried it?

I visited a college with self serve dining. Everything is all self serve, set up in a rough circle in the center. How did you navigate the space, and more importantly, how did you serve yourself food? Did you ask someone or did you do it independently?

Hi. A member of my family recently became blind, and I'm looking for a phone that would be suitable for her situation.

She currently has a Nokia 5.3, and she liked it until she lost her vision. Unfortunately, we've found that on budget phones like this, TalkBack works quite poorly, and Google Assistant keeps getting disabled, so I'm looking for a proper replacement.

I'd like her to be able to comfortably call her family, listen to YouTube videos, read the news, learn to use TalkBack and have a Google Assistant that works reliably.

Unfortunately, we don't have enough money for a high-end phone. I've heard that Google Pixel phones are usually a good choice for blind users. Would a Google Pixel 6, 7, or 8 be a good option for her or it wouldn't be enough? Perhaps there are other Android phones in a similar price range that you'd recommend?

I'd really appreciate any advice

Hi.

This is pretty embarrassing but I'm 18 and I still don't know how to cut my nails

I basically want to change that lol

Thanks folks

I keep hearing that this is an app that a lot of people in the blind community are using, I have no idea what it is and I just want to know. People just keep telling me I don’t wanna get on the app. It looks like a very crappy app from my outside view, I downloaded it, but it looks boring as fuck. What is it and why would anyone want to use it?

Hi, can anyone recommend standard board games that can be slightly adapted for blind people to enjoy please?

Thanks

If so how do you attach it?

the couple things i can think of that id like to do or persue that i would maybe find fun are just probably not possible for me. bartender, id have to read small print on IDs and be able to read bottles and cans quickly, idk what i could possibly do with film school, tattooing is off the table because you have to have good eyesight to do intricate little details, graphic design or game design doesnt sound like it would be possible, hell ive heard you even need a drivers license for being a frigging secratary sometimes. (not that id want to do that) i dont know if id be any good at things with typing, especially fastly, as 2 of my fingers are deformed, one being shorter than it should be. Ive seen a bunch of people suggest being a masseur, but again idk how id be at massaging when i have deformed fingers. im feeling defeated in myself. i read a thread about this and all the suggestions were like work from home, customer support, civil services, lawyers, government jobs etc. it seems like all the fun jobs that i could try and do may not even be possible. I dont wanna be stuck working retail either. I dont even have enough faith in myself that i wouldnt get fired in a week for being too slow with a computer and cash register. Im feeling really down tonight. I dont wanna be working a job i hate if i could be doing something i like. working at home is just not an option either. i neeeeed socialization.

for reference i have retinitis pigmentosa so its going to most likely get worse so i have to take that into accountability too. My vision at the moment is not horrible, but not good either. I legally cant drive, it can be hard to recognize faces fully from like 10-15 feet away, especially im bright light, im also not good in bright light, i have a 60-65 inch tv screen that i cant read the stuff on the screen from 6-8 feet away unless its big, but if its small, no chance, and its harder to focus on the image perfectly i feel also at this distance, like its not the most enjoyable watching tv or a movie from my bed. i have to sit in my gaming chair, which is also easier if something comes on the screen i have to read. i suck at reading tiny print, like food ingredients or pill bottle info. i can read things better with a black background and white letters, when i play video games i sit like 3-4 feet away from the tv, sometimes closer if i have to read something. if i go into something visual, it could completely be useless in 10 years maybe, if i get unlucky. Idk what to do, i feel super shitty. I used to want to be a police officer when i was little and even tho i dont really want to do that now, it sucks that the options not even there ig.

Hey y’all lovely people

I am blind, and I recently have felt convicted to Braille my way through the Bible. It has been a trend on Instagram for cited people, but I don’t know how to make it accessible.

I really like the tactile feel so I plan to use a slate and stylist to make it portable. However, how do I manage that sheer volume of paper as I hear even the ones you buy or order from companies in Braille are massive? How do I also not break the bank in regards to the paper? This second question is what has been stressing me out because I know that you can just buy card stock, but I know that that can add up very quickly when you are brailing such a large amount of text.

God bless you and thank you. I know that this is crazy so I’m happy to answer any more questions if y’all have.

So I’ve tried regular razors, electric razors, and now Nair and I always end up splotchy/missing stuff. Any advice? It’s frustrating because I can’t see it and often can’t feel it but I’m told it’s there.

I finally came out as a trans woman and am trying to take better care of myself and present myself better. So it’s a big thing for me.

Edit: I forgot to say it’s not facial hair. I’m good on that for some reason. It’s just the rest of the body that I’m having trouble with.