Month: September 2016

Light Sensitive a Understatement

On By blindmovingonIn disability, Uncategorized2 Comments

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all well and enjoying the fall season.

As many of you know I have no vision except for some light perception. So all I can see is if it is light or dark which does not bother me at all except for one thing. That light that I can see is my nemesis.

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People who do not suffer from any kind of light sensitivity or pressure issues in their eyes do not understand the pain. I have many many days where it is just too painful to keep my eyes open. It is not just the sunlight that bothers me but even lights inside, computer screens or my phone screen.

My family has had to live in the dark for a very long time, I can not have the blinds open or I will have really bad eye pain as well as a headache in no time. I also keep my phone and computer screens turned off (I don’t need them anyway). There are many days where I will wear my sunglasses in my house or simply go about my day with my eyes closed. If you add pressure issues and pain in with light sensitivity you have quite a painful day.

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Why am I telling you this you may ask, well this is why I am always wearing sunglasses. It is not because my eyes look funny or just because that is

what blind people do. That is a myth by the way. It is because I am trying to save myself from the pain of not wearing them. When I do not wear them the light feels like it is lighting my eyes on fire and the pain is just unbearable, then the headache / migraine that will ensue following is just horrific.

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There is usually more to the story that you don’t know, and this is what I want to emphasize. Don’t judge based on what you see as you never know what someone is trying to cope with behind those sunglasses !

Until Next Time !

Ashley and Rick

Blindfold Challenge Not Reality

On By blindmovingonIn disability, Lifestyle, Uncategorized1 Comment

Hello Everyone,

There has been a campaign online that gets people to blindfold friends and family members and have them do something that they would do on a regular basis as a blind person. For example going to the gym, cooking a meal, walking down the street.

I think the intentions were good with this campaign however it missed the mark for me. Here is why, it never gives a positive view of the disability. If you were to put on a blind fold and walk around you are not going to get a realistic view of my life, you are however going to pity me at the end. Since you do not have any of the skills to be a successful blind person you are going to think that it is horrible and you would never be able to do it all day every day. How is this helping to make people understand that our lives are full and amazing even with the lack of sight ? It doesn’t it is that simple !

The last thing that I want is pity, I live a full and amazing life. I am successful and independent and would not change a thing about my life. Please don’t put on a blind fold and think that you have any idea what my life is like because you do not have a clue.

Do not pity me but see me for a person who has many things to offer the world around me. I am a very capable person and that is what I want people to see, not think that everyday tasks are hard because they are not. I do them without vision which is simply different you are a visual person and are trying to things visually with a blind fold on, that will never end well !

If you are not convinced that I live an amazing life please subscribe and let me show you.

Until Next Time !

Ashley and Rick

She’s Not Completely Blind !

On By blindmovingonIn disability, Lifestyle, Uncategorized4 Comments

Hello Everyone,

I hope you are all well, I wanted to share an experience that I had today.

I went for lunch just myself and my Guide Dog Rick, I needed to get out of the house and it was a beautiful day. We had a fabulous lunch at a local cafe. In this cafe they also have a boutique for women’s clothing and things. It is a great little place for our community and I love to go every now and then.

After we had lunch I thought I would take a look around at the clothes. Yes I like to “look” around at clothes and things. I usually just feel the fabrics and the cut of the clothing and if it feels like something I like I will ask what the pattern or colour is and for more detail. As I was feeling around the store at some of the clothing a lady approached me and said how beautiful Rick was. I said thank you and we had a good conversation about Rick and how amazing service dogs are. As she was going to leave she told the other lady with her to watch her step. She then turned to me and said watch your step to dear. The other lady then says “oh she isn’t completely blind.” I said well actually I am, but thank you. She then began to tell me that she watched me while I had lunch and I ate just fine and used my phone.

These types of comments come often and they used to really make me mad. It is like they are saying that I am faking it. However, anger gets me no where. These kinds of comments now just fuel my fire and passion to make the world understand blindness more.

I am able to eat and not make a huge mess because I am an adult I am aware of how a fork and knife work and I am also aware of where my mouth is. Had she been watching carefully she would have seen me ask the waitress where things were on the table and also she would have seen me using my knife almost like a cane around my plate. She may have also noticed that after I tried to pick up my sandwich stuff fell out and I did not want to wear it so I cut it up with my fork and knife. Had she been listening closely she would have heard that my phone was talking to me.

These comments are so unnecessary, I wish people would realize that the way they perceive blind people they have learned through the media and they are not accurate depictions.

Even though these comments get under my skin, I know that the only way to change the way society sees me and other people who are blind is to live my life to it’s fullest. One day if I keep working at it people will understand blindness and the misperceptions will be gone. A pipe dream I am sure but I am also very stubborn and determined.

Have a great day !

Until Next Time !

Ashley and Rick

2 Year Guide Dog Anniversary

On By blindmovingonIn disability, Lifestyle, Uncategorized1 Comment

Hello Everyone, I hope you are all well.

September is International Guide Dog month, there is so many ways that Guide Dogs impact the lives of blind and partially sighted people all over the world.

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2 years ago today I was so grateful to be walking across the stage to graduate with my first guide dog. It was an emotional day I was so happy to have received him and what he was going to do for my life. But I was also sad, I was sad for Rick’s puppy raisers they loved him just as much as I did and they had to say good bye. I was very happy that they had made the trip to Portland, OR to meet me and be a part of Rick’s graduation. Rick’s puppy raiser gave me the best gift besides my children I will ever receive. Being able to raise a dog for a year and pour so much of your heart and soul into training and socializing the dogs and then have to say good bye. This has to be a very hard thing to do and I am beyond grateful for their huge hearts and incredible gift.

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Now that Rick and I have been a team for 2 years now we are a pretty well oiled machine. We have an amazing relationship and I could not ask for a better guide. He knows me very well and can usually predict where I am wanting to go, also his coffee finding skills are out of the park. He is happy to traipse all over the country side going to events and shopping and sitting through many hours of meetings and he is happy to cuddle and keep me company when I work from home.

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There are so many ways that Rick has changed my life he has helped me to embrace my disability and live my life my way. He has helped me to find my confidence that I have always wanted to have. Rick has also made the work of advocating and educating the public a little easier because people want to talk to you when you have an adorable yellow lab wagging his tail sitting next to you. It is like he makes people more comfortable to approach us and talk.

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So many of the things I have mentioned are not even guiding tasks, and that is what I want people to know, a Guide Dog does more than just show us the curbs and take us around obstacles. They enhance our lives so much.

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Thank you to everyone who makes it possible for people who are blind or partially sighted to have Guide Dogs in their lives you are amazing !

Until Next Time !

Ashley and Rick