Friends and Family

For the person who is challenged by a low vision condition, there are many life changes that must be made in order to recover a functional lifestyle.

For the family, friends, co-workers, etc., whose life path crosses someone with a visual impairment, there are also some critical adjustments, that if made, will result in a helpful, informed, and productive relationship.

1. In order to better understand what low vision is, you need to see the world through the eyes of someone who has a visual impairment. (To get a first hand perspective, visit the TSI Resource Guide and learn all you can about the challenges your loved one, friend, or co-worker is dealing with.

2. As you can imagine, with a view of the surroundings clouded by Glaucoma, Macular Degeneration, or Diabetic Retinopathy, this equates to a huge downturn in one's ability to function in the sighted world. When someone's vision is suddenly diminished to the point where normal activities must be curtailed, there is a very difficult transition ahead.

3. Making a home or office "low vision friendly" is a joint effort that can help everyone to work together in a solution orientation. This can do much for everyone involved to gain a new sense of management and accomp­lishment. Contact us, we'll be glad to help.

4. Empathy Vs. Sympathy - If there is one thing that will help someone to remain in hopelessness and despair, it's SYMPATHY!!! We sympathize with families if there has been a death, but when someone is affected by visual impairment, they are neither dead or blind. What they need instead, is EMPATHY, which is understanding, support, and encouragement.

When Helping Hurts

"Learned Helplessness" occurs when we do things for others that they are quite capable of doing for themselves. There is a real learning curve in this area, in which SAFETY is the dividing line. People with low vision must re-learn some very simple tasks. They are also capable of learning or re-learning some complex tasks as well. Everyone must be patient and observant during this time, and for quite sometime to come. The job itself is not the only factor to consider. When someone suddenly becomes visually impaired, while they don't actually die, but they do endure the same process of grief as does the family when a loved one is lost.

If those who have a relationship with a visually impaired person can understand where their loved one or friend is in this process of grief, they can be very helpful.

Failure to recognize what is happening can result in feelings of being attacked, ignored, or becoming defensive. In any case, if we can just remember, "an attack is really a defense", and "a complaint is really a compliment in disguise", much can be done for everyone to get through the grief cycle. Compassion and empathy can lead to victory in helping someone to overcome the limitations of a visual impairment. Their dignity, identity, and purpose in life will be restored, much to everyone's joy.