Documente Academic
Documente Profesional
Documente Cultură
"I just arrived. I am with my friend at Colón response to a sort of natural reaction. After
and Patricias Streets waiting for you, guys!” all, none of us had ever spent so many
told us Yesenia –who, by the pitch of her hours with a person with a visual disability
It took us just a matter of a few minutes to us, and that she was predisposed to solve
reach the location. That night, our friend our concerns in the best possible way.
with warm hugs. Yesenia had already told independent, competent, completely
us a little bit about Gisela before, and she inspiring person, full of dreams and
had expressed her desire to introduce her to ambitions to reach, as anyone of us indeed.
1
for hours. It made us realize that we take According to the figures published by the
things that we already have for granted, but World Health Organization, it is estimated
it also helped us become more aware of the that around 285 million people suffer from
several difficulties that visually impaired some type of visual disability in the world,
and blind people have to deal with on a at least 39 million people are blind and 246
daily basis. A simple mundane task that we have low vision. Among the main causes of
do without much thought could prove to be visual impairment worldwide are:
an aggravating task to someone who is uncorrected refractive errors (myopia,
blind or visually impaired. Although we hyperopia or astigmatism), 43% non-
know of these ailments, we as a society operated cataracts, 33% and glaucoma, 2 %.
decide not to speak about it because of the
complexity or sensitivity that comes with A curious fact is that 80% of all visual
the topic. disabilities can be avoided or cured; the
problem is that around 90% of people with
According to the American Foundation for this condition live in developing countries,
the Blind, in terms of the degree of visual so access to treatments is not available to
limitation, it is usual to distinguish between everyone.
blind people and people with visual
impairment. Those belonging to the first Visual impairment can limit people in the
group are the ones who are not able to get performance of their daily tasks and affect
the information through the visual channel their quality of life, as well as their
due to the complete loss of the sense of possibilities of interaction with the world
sight. Unlike the ones in the first group, around them. For this reason, good quality
people with visual impairment are able to rehabilitation allows people with different
get partial information through this channel, degrees of visual disability to enjoy life,
because they suffer a partial loss of their achieve their goals and participate actively
sight. and productively in society.
In turn, within the group of people with Even though people with disabilities
visual impairment there are various represent a minority in our country, it is
manifestations, which are determined also true that, they are among the most
according to the type of limitation, either by vulnerable people since they tend to suffer
acuity or by visual field. This classification from social and cultural rejection. This
using just the acuity and visual field is not scenario demonstrates to us the weaknesses
exhaustive, but it broadly serves to draw a that we all, as a society have nowadays, and
distinction between the most frequent types the things we should work together to
of visual impairment. improve or to revert this situation. At least
2
by trying our best to modify our behaviour unfortunately and sadly, there are many
to make a small but significant contribution. people who tend to avoid helping people
To exemplify how they can be mistreated with visual disability when they are
by society, we will share a brief experience crossing the street, in a shop, in an
that one of our friends lived a month ago. institution or anywhere. The reasons may
One afternoon, while Hector was chatting range from indifference or lack of empathy,
with a friend outside a well-known bar in stereotypes people may have on visually
Colón Street, he saw that a blind boy sat impaired people‟s bad temper to the lack of
outside this place waiting to be seen. He education regarding the way of interacting
was alone and carrying a cane as support. with them.
Curiously, since this boy had arrived, the
waiter had been free and standing at the On the other hand, and luckily, there are
door of this pub and had seen him come and also people who show empathy and
sit. However, with no intent to serve him, tolerance towards the problems visually
he looked inside the bar or to the sides. As impaired people face in public. Every time
some minutes had passed by, and the they help them cross the street, they do this
situation remained the same, Hector as a gesture of goodwill and in their own
approached the waiter and let him know way, to extend a hand when they see them
that there was a blind man sitting waiting in complicated situations. However, in the
for someone to serve him. The employee absence of knowledge as to the correct way
pretended not to have noticed him and went to address or interact with them, sometimes
to take the customer‟s order. Distraction? It those watching the blind or visually
really is a little doubtful, since the waiter impaired people will think twice before
was not busy when this person came and sat doing so. They do not want to discomfort or
down; he was even standing outside the offend the person with visual disability.
door of the pub and had been watching him Without going any further, we recently
there for a while. Indifference or witnessed an awkward situation in the
discrimination? Or simply fear or lack of university dining hall of the “Universidad
knowledge regarding interaction with these Nacional de Cuyo”.
type of people? A mixture of all these
reasons? We honestly do not know, but
attitudes like these lead us to rethink our
values as people, actions that undoubtedly
each of us must also work on to improve as
a society. If we observe what happens
around us closely every day for just a few
A crowded midday at the university dining hall
minutes, we could realize that,
3
While queuing to buy the ticket, a blind boy regard in public and private educational
queued turning his back to the counter. In establishments. Based on this data, we
an attempt to help him, the girl behind him, conclude that the need to educate with
took him by the arms and turned him regard to this issue is real. We decided to
abruptly toward the front. A moment later, contact Gisela again, to get her opinion
one of the cashiers approached him to given that she has been blind since she was
accompany him to the line where you pick 6 months old, which was caused by an
up your tray and food and without speaking illness, called: “Leber Congenital
or asking anything, took him by the arm Amaurosis”. As she is also a psychologist,
and led him as a little child. The behaviour we considered she could help us solve our
shown by these people reflects the clear concerns and advise us on this issue. The
lack of education in terms of dealing with answer -without any hesitation- was an
people with visual disabilities. absolute "yes". Gisela expressed great
interest and willingness in being of help. "It
is something that is talked about little," she
A SOCIETAL NEED said. We arranged a second meeting, this
time for an interview in a more relaxing
This is why trough a brief survey first, we
atmosphere, which turned out to be a quiet
decided to ask people their opinions cafe in Mendoza‟s downtown. Gisela was
regarding the treatment of visually disabled waiting for us at the meeting point when we
people according to their own experiences arrived. Upon hearing our voices, she
and the need for education regarding this greeted each of us by our names, with an
issue. A total of 83 people were surveyed, excellent auditory recognition for having
ranging from 20 to 45 years old. 91.7% of met with us just once. Gisela showed the
them had dealt with blind people, of which, same charisma and receptiveness she had
a 37.7% considered they did not know how shown from our first meeting and, taken by
to interact with them properly. Of those our arm, we set off for the cafe among
people surveyed who had never interacted chatter and laughs. After having shared
with blind people, 97.7% of them expressed some delicious cups of coffee, Gisela was
their desire to do so. While many of them ready to begin with the interview.
had the opportunity to deal with people
with visual disability and others did not,
most of the groups agreed on two main
THE TERMINOLOGY
aspects. A 98.6% considered that they
should learn how to deal with them and
Would you mind correcting the terms we
surprisingly everyone considered it misuse? This was our initial question. It is
necessary to provide education in this important to know which words we should
4
use to address people who happen to be Helen Keller School, located in Godoy
blind. Therefore, in order not to sound Cruz.
offensive or violent, we should always
consider the specialized terms that exist,
since even when trying to sound inclusive
or polite, we may be failing to be
respectful. “There is certain vocabulary that
we use incorrectly”, Gisela said. Qualifying
a person by the disability they may have is Helen Keller School in Godoy Cruz
5
abilities”, because it is incorrect since they school, she had decided to study
are like any of us. psychology at university since it had been
her favourite subject. She knew from the
Jim Omvig, touches upon the topic of the very beginning that it was her vocation.
terminology that is preferred “People who However, paradoxically, a psychologist -
cannot see are blind, and the word "blind" who would later become one of her
is perfectly acceptable-in fact, it is professors at university-, in a failed attempt
absolutely essential.” Throughout the article to help her, ended up provoking a great
called “Why Use the Word „Blind‟?”, depression in Gisela. "You‟ll be able to
Omvig is opposed to the idea of using study psychology and become a
pretentious vocabulary, such as, “visually psychologist but you‟ll only be able to work
impaired", "visually limited", "visually with patients with visual disability. You
challenged", "unsighted", "sightless", will have to do this because people should
"sight-impaired", "low vision", or "hard-of- not look down upon you, which will happen
seeing”. It is clear that there is not just one if you try to work with people who are not
opinion that encompasses what every blind visually disabled. Your patients have to
person feels comfortable with, in fact, we address you with admiration, not feel sad
are sure that we could find as many for you," said the professor, when giving a
opinions as there are blind people. panorama about the career and her
However, either people who suffer from professional future. Gisela remembers sadly
this disability and professionals of this field that she came out crying and frustrated
agree on the proper use of the word blind as from the interview. She also remembers
long as it is followed by the person; as for other people who warned her that she
example: blind people, blind lady, blind would not have enough capacity to evaluate
boy, etc. They also agreed on the use of the patients since she could not see their
structure “a person who suffers from gestures or evaluate their drawings. After
blindness”. these sad facts, depression led Gisela to
look for different professions related to the
We could not avoid asking Gisela if she test and after some sessions with another
psychologist, the doctor asked her: Do you
had ever suffered any kind of
know how to speak? "Yes", Gisela replied.
discrimination. Her answer was a yes but
Do you know how to listen? "Sure, too".
with the surprising fact that it happened to
"Well, that's enough", said the psychologist.
her in the most unexpected area. She
Gisela remembers, on the verge of tears,
remembers that back when she was in high
that her reaction was immediate: she left
6
her chair, stood up and went to enrol in the ability. They learn how to interact with the
Psychology pre-entrance course. Today, world around them perfectly, despite not
besides having been the standard-bearer at having the ability to see by using the other
the University of Aconcagua, she has her human senses that they do have at their
own office where she deals with patients of disposal.
all ages, with no disabilities and with
disabilities alike, with totally adapted and Regarding treatment, we also asked Gisela
efficient methods appliable to any of the whether she felt people treated her as an
two groups for psychological evaluation. equal or with some special treatment.
"Well, sometimes people give me special
treatment that I always try to raise
awareness about. It has happened to me
several times. One of them is when
someone grabs my hand and makes me
recognize things by the touch; “This is a
plate. This is a spoon”, they say for
Gisela as the standard-bearer at the University of
Aconcagua example. And I can notice that they speak
very slowly, as though I were not able to
Unequal treatment is perhaps one of the process information quickly. Another
most common attitudes in those people who annoying behaviour is when people address
deal with people with disability; it can even you by speaking every word in a diminutive
be common –as seen before- in professional way, like: “What's the name of mommy and
and specialized people. Gisela's excellent daddy?" Gisela laughs with a resigned
and successful academic performance attitude. Another typical situation is when I
demonstrates that visual impairment is not a am accompanied by someone in the street
real obstacle. Rather, it is often a self- or at a restaurant for example, and the
imposed or externally imposed barrier. This person next to me is asked instead of me
is the idea that is generally taken by people "What is her name? Well, you can ask me
without disabilities, because in their way of what my name is, I say to myself. And I
perceiving reality with all of their senses, immediately answer outloud: My name is
they cannot conceive how something can be Gisela; ask me, no problem. There is no
done successfully with the lack of any of need at all to address a blind person through
the senses. However, Gisela like many a third party. "I know that I put them
other people with visual disabilities from somewhat in an uncomfortable situation,
birth, are not fully "aware" of their but it is also a way of raising awareness
disability, since the available senses about it."
constitute the totality of their perception
7
In these situations, it is without ill-will and offered by people, in a bad way, due to the
sometimes unavoidable that we sometimes fact that they have reached enough
end up unconsciously diminishing the autonomy to move freely around on their
person with visual disability and as a result, own. Gisela disagrees with this particular
it may even sound discriminatory towards behaviour, and in fact, every time she has
them even though that is not our intention. the chance, she tries to make some of her
Gisela is the clear example that people with friends reconsider such responses. Due to
visual disabilities can be an equal to anyone these types of answers from her peers,
without any type of disability and can Gisela understands, to a large extent, the
achieve exactly the same goals we can. The generalization people tend to make about
problem of unequal treatment maybe relies their bad temper. She also analyses this
on ourselves, –without noticing it- we from her professional perspective: “It is a
perceive a reality leaving out the rest. A myth that words do not do any real harm
small curious fact that also comes in handy and that they move along like the wind to
to better understand just how small our be forgotten. I can say that it is the exact
reality about these people is, is that besides opposite; words can make permanent
Maradona and Messi, Argentina has the imprints on our souls. That is why we have
best blind football player in the world. His to be really careful when using them.”
name is Silvio Velo. He is the captain of the Gisela told us that, most of the times she
Argentinian team, twice world champion goes anywhere by herself, and she adds
and four times runner-up. In addition, in that, luckily, there are many people who
2017 he was named the best Paralympic demonstrate their support by using many of
athlete in the world. Did you know that? A the typical questions, such as: Do you need
true star, isn‟t he? Perhaps, his little fame some help? Would you like to take a sit?
reflects in some way, that we only perceive Do you want us to help you to cross the
our reality, and that we are led to a wrong street? However, from her personal
way of thinking when we consider people experience she also adds that, of those
with disabilities to have more barriers and occasions, that she has gone alone
obstacles than we do. somewhere without the need of help, and
people without knowing this had offered
9
recommendation, Gisela reiterates that the them, because, in a sense, we are like their
best way to make a blind person know that “eyes” and we see all that it is happening at
we are talking to them is by calling them by that moment. We are never supposed to
their names, or in case we do not know touch or grab their cane since it is a
them, we can give them a light touch on the personal tool for them. We can also offer
shoulder as we talk. Finally, asking them if them some indications or warnings about
they need any help and how can we help certain things. In this case, the word “stop”
them. always turns out to be much more
convenient than the common “careful” that
What should be the proper way to proceed we all tend to tell them. The reason why I
when helping a person who is visually say this is that if we only say, “be careful”,
disabled? Mariela Farrando, explained that they actually have no idea of what we are
any time we approach a blind person, we referring to. They wonder what the obstacle
should introduce or identify ourselves, but can be. Is the obstacle that put them in
we never have to touch them before talking danger coming from above, from below, a
to them first as many people tend to do. dog, etc. We have to use accurate language
Then, we can offer them our help, which too. In fact, blind people force us to do so.
can be needed or not. She also explained Terms such as “here” or “there”, by being
that what happens is that generally the blind basically visual notions, should be replaced
people who circulate alone by themselves by others such as: “on the right, on the left
in public have gone through an important side, go forward or go backward”. Space
process of training so that they can go orientations are always the ones that they
around anywhere without the need of need the most in order to be orientated in
assistance from others. They would not be the street. Last but not least, Mariela
alone had they not gone through this suggests grinning broadly: “And obviously,
training. However, they may need the help we all should have the courage to meet
of other pedestrians if they have lost their them and to talk to them. Bring ourselves to
sense of direction or if they need help in ask them who they are, what their names
crossing the street. If they require help, we are, what they do, among other questions;
can offer them our arm or shoulder as to instead of repeating, “watch your step” all
guide them. They are the ones who have to the time.
take us by our arm or shoulder, and not the
other way around. We must go before them,
INTEGRATION
and they are facing our back because in this
way we can guide them. Our body turns out Gisela also told us that, at age 7, she was
useful to them because with how we guide
integrated into an ordinary school, called:
them they can anticipate what is in front of
10
"República Oriental del Uruguay", located
in Las Heras. "Integration is an issue that
has been dealt with for several years and is
presently being developed even more. It
requires the child with disabilities to be
inserted in an environment where there are
children without disabilities so that he or
An integrative teacher working with a blind little girl
she can get on with all kinds of people."
Then, she adds: "Had I continued at Helen
In turn, the teacher was also in charge of
Keller School, maybe today I would not
adapting the study material, for example
have friends without visual disability and I
with Eva foam, corrugated cardboard,
would tend to always get together with
fabric paint, among other materials. “I
people with my condition. And the idea is
remember that they had adapted for me the
that the blind child grows and that at the
maps, the geometric bodies and I was even
same time, the people that are involved on a
diagrammed the digestive system with all
regular basis with that child begin to
the organs in braille”, she adds smiling.
incorporate how they themselves should
“When she took a test, the specialized
interact accordingly with a person who has
teacher had to transcribe the braille into
a disability. And this is done with all kinds
print so that the ordinary teacher could
of disabilities, not just with blindness."
correct it. As the specialized teacher
When she joined this new school where she
sometimes did not have enough time
used to attend the morning shift, she went
because of the number of students,
twice a week to the integration service at
sometimes she corrected my tests and in
Helen Keller School in the afternoons. In
those cases, it was my mother, who also
those integration sessions, she had a
knew braille, who transcribed them to
specialized teacher who focused on
manuscript. Because it was against school
integrative who gave her support lessons of
rules to take a test to my house so that my
what the rest of her classmates were
mom could transcribe them, you could not
learning as the educational level progressed
do that, but she was allowed to transcribe
and at the same time, the teacher went to
the homework”. At the Helen Keller school,
her normal educational establishment to
Gisela also learned typing, a tool she
dissipate other teachers‟ doubts.
considers to have taken full advantage of
starting from the time she was in college
and up to today which she is still using as
part of her profession, and as a personal
tool as well. Smiling, Gisela adds: “I write
11
with all the fingers of my hands. My fingers without discriminating. The inclusion of
cannot be seen when I type”. people with disabilities in the common
educational areas -which is approved by
law- is great progress in providing
awareness for students as well as a great
leap in the integration of people with
disabilities.
13
promotion of awareness in the community questions that most adults are not
meant to: Promote receptive attitudes confident enough or do not dare to ask.
regarding the rights of people with
disabilities; positive relationships and
greater social awareness of people with
WHAT DID WE LEARN AND
disabilities; recognition of the abilities, WHAT CAN WE DO?
merits and abilities of people with
disabilities and their contributions in Gisela ends up by saying that to raise
relation to the workplace and the labour
awareness about this issue in society, one
market; at all levels of the education
essential part lies in the way we interact
system, including all children from an early
with those who are blind or who present
age, an attitude of respect for the rights of
visual impairment. The proper way to
people with disabilities; encourage the
connect with them must always be based on
media to disseminate an image of people
an equal treatment instead of a special one.
with disabilities that is compatible with the
“It is crucial to learn how to build bounds
purpose of this law; develop awareness
from the equality, always acting
training programs that take into account
respectfully, and recognizing that the
people with disabilities and their rights.
person who is before us is an individual as
Undoubtedly, a law proposal that denotes in
anybody else with equal rights, with
its content the scope of this problem
aspirations and goals to fulfil like any of
area.
us”, Gisela adds, touched. In the same way,
it is basic that we recognize their skills as
Surprisingly, some days after the well. It often happens that we tend to
interview with Gisela, she told us that quickly assume that blind or visual
thanks to the city hall where she works, impaired people “always” need help from
she gave her first workshop on others, but actually, this is a mistaken
disability and inclusion to a group of belief. This is the reason why, both Gisela
6th grade students from a primary and Mariela agree with the fact that before
school. “I was asked tons of questions. taking action without asking them anything,
we must be sure that they really need our
Never in my life have I seen so much
help, and then ask them how we can help
curiosity and interest in children. It was
them out. Gisela affirms that in this sense,
a lovely and enriching experience!”, she
the key is to give them our assistance only
says gladly and optimistic. No doubt
when it is necessary. This young
Gisela`s experience shows how much psychologist also encourages the fact that
curiosity this issue awakens on children the way to interact with them does not have
who, in their innocence, make essential to differ from the normal and kind
14
treatment we have with our friends or Typical but kind behaviour we have
relatives. Regarding this, she adds that in towards blind people makes them and us
order not to make mistakes, it is important feel comfortable. What may seem a normal
to have in mind some of the task for us, like crossing the street with no
recommendations we were given; they will help, writing or reading may be an
make the situation comfortable enough to awkward and sometimes difficult situation
start a chat with the other individual. for them.
Finally, Gisela also tells us that it is
When they feel somehow inferior, they may
absolutely necessary to work on our sense
feel upset. As mentioned before, dealing
of empathy, develop more our sense of
with blind or visually impaired people does
compassion for others, and to walk in the
not have to different from how we treat
other's shoes.
other people. Orientation or instruction
regarding this issue could be given in public
“Tomorrow, many of us may have
and private establishments, at least, the
difficulties to read, to see and not
basic notions on how to interact with them
necessarily because we will be blind, but
in an accurate and in a more normal way.
because we may be visually impaired. If we
Besides, given that they are part of our
could learn from this, maybe everything
society it is necessary to build a path that
would sound familiar to us, and the
lead us to their integration or inclusion in
inclusion would start from thinking about
all the aspects of society.
how we could help others.”
15