Speaking into the Void
When you lose sight, you lose a big part of ordinary conversation. This is hard to recognize when your loss is new. There is so much confusion and change: But there’s a void in ordinary communication. Talking seems weirdly hollowed out! Of course it’s due to our vision loss but what exactly?
The Visual Half of Speech
It takes time to realize that it’s the visual information that is missing. In the past we got a stream of visual cues from other people’s eyes, face, gestures, and body language; all the incoming visual half of speech that fills out communication. The academic term is nonverbal communication, (NVC).
So Much of “Speech” Is Sight
The loss is big! At least 50% of so-called speech is visual! And nearly 100% visual as the interaction is being set up: A receptionist or cashier indicates with NVC that she is ready for you. How will you know? How will you move to face her, and where is the darned reception desk anyway !
It’s the same or worse at a meeting or coffee hour. At least your cane tip may whack a solid desk at an office! An acquaintance may be signaling that they’d like to chat, but how would you know? Or an assistant is beckoning you to follow, but for you it’s not happening.
Dealing with People Who See Well
Nearly everyone that we meet not only sees well but has never thought about not seeing! They are clueless about what we need. We have to change how they talk to us from sighted cues “Your bag is over there”, “Tap on the red button” and much more, to speech we can use! We have to be friendly but firm, and also concise because there is probably a line behind us!
The Hole in Basic Training
How to speak up – interpersonal skills – has been left out of almost all basic training for teachers as well as their clients! People who lose vision in middle or later life, and students who grow up with sight losshave almost all missed out on elementary training in how to speak and act to get what they need. This is beginning to change, but not fast enough!
Role-playing Common Situations Is Great Practice!
It’s engaging and feels real. It’s not rote learning but trying out what to say and how to say it with a group of peers. Everyone shares the problem, so good ideas come up fast. Group members test different ways to make requests, or say something about their sight loss. They are in a safe space and there’s a feeling of confidence and support. It’s also fun!
I Am Putting Together a Book about This…
Interpersonal Skills in Blindness and Low Vision: A Manual for Teachers and Students. Is intended for individuals who want to study how to communicate successfully; for Students in vision studies programs at Colleges and universities; for teachers in the field of low vision and blindness; and for managers and leaders of adult and senior classes.
In my nex post I will share some of the role-plays I have developed which help group members manage self-advocacy in an assertive and positive way.
Award-winning Book:
When You Can’t Believe Your Eyes: Vision Loss and Personal Recovery (2019). Publisher Charles C. Thomas
is recommended by the Connect Center at VisionAware/APH. Available at
Amazon in print, and Google Play Books accessible eBook, NLS talking books (#DBC11619) and on