Not seeing on a sunny day

I met up with a bunch of other people this lunchtime. Some councillors, community policewomen and the local MP, as well as a group of partially sighted folk.

It was an informal event organised by a local RNIB group. I put these spectacles on - these are meant to replicate the effects on age related macular degeneration. Others were blindfolded (total blindness), or had specs replicating the effects of glaucoma or retina pigmentosa.

I was then instructed to take the arm of Tony - my guide, who is partially sighted - and he took me on a walk around the precinct. The aim was to demonstrate what problems people with visual impairment have to deal with in terms of street clutter, physical problems and barriers on the street, and crossing the road.

My Mum in Law has macular, and far worse than these specs provide (very little eyesight at all), so it was interesting at a personal level too. I talked to Tony about light sensitivity - the combination of nearly no sight and light sensitivity (which is why partially sighted people wear dark glasses, and in the case of my M-in-Law keep blinds and curtains closed) is one I hadn't understood until confronted by it at a personal level. 

Looking at the world through other people's very different eyes - no joke intended - always provides plenty of food for thought.