Feeling vulnerable and not wanting to feel conspicuous. Some participants felt very when using money or magnifiers when out ‘wary’ for fear of being seen as a A few were reluctant to use a white ‘target’. cane, because of how they felt they might be viewed by others while at the same time being worried about drivers not realising that they could not see traffic. A key issue is how people are provided with a cane and the explanation of its benefits and how to use it. What puts you off using it [cane]? “Q: R: Well I feel a bit vulnerable that people could take advantage of you fear maybe someone would come and take my handbag ….I or try, stuff like (PA, SI) that”. I had the white stick I said need a white and ”When … ‘I don’t stick’, they use it because it is not for you, it is to let them know you said’ have got a and when I said that about the buses she said problem’, is why you need the white stick because if you have got a white ‘that stick the driver gives you time to sit and I have found that down’, that (PA, SI) happens.” Being at risk of isolation. Issues curtailing social contact such as no longer being able to recognise people when they were out, or the need for intense concentration making it hard to engage with others when walking, can impact on feelings about going out and people’s social activity. These factors combined could present more challenges for some people who had recently lost their sight than for those who had developed strategies and confidence over a longer period. Some participants talked about what helped them cope. This included acceptance, though this can come gradually, learning different ways to do things, having to be patient, on with having to make themselves get out and about ‘getting it’, to avoid social isolation. have got to accept I accept it at first, you think well “You it…, wouldn’t come on there is a jolly sight worse than I have got used to it you that… see, you have (PA, SI) to.”
Feeling vulnerable and not wanting to feel conspicuous. Some participants felt very ‘wary’ when using money or magnifiers when out for fear of being seen as a ‘target’. A few were reluctant to use a white cane, because of how they felt they might be viewed by others while at the same time being worried about drivers not realising that they could not see traffic. A key issue is how people are provided with a cane and the explanation of its benefits and how to use it. “Q: What puts you off using it [cane]? R: Well I feel a bit vulnerable that people could take advantage of you ….I fear maybe someone would come and take my handbag or try, stuff like that”. (PA, SI) ”When I had the white stick … I said ‘I don’t need a white stick’, and they said’ use it because it is not for you, it is to let them know you have got a problem’, and when I said that about the buses she said ‘that is why you need the white stick because if you have got a white stick the driver gives you time to sit down’, and I have found that that happens.” (PA, SI) Being at risk of isolation. Issues curtailing social contact such as no longer being able to recognise people when they were out, or the need for intense concentration making it hard to engage with others when walking, can impact on people’s feelings about going out and social activity. These factors combined could present more challenges for some people who had recently lost their sight than for those who had developed strategies and confidence over a longer period. Some participants talked about what helped them cope. This included acceptance, though this can come gradually, learning different ways to do things, having to be patient, ‘getting on with it’, having to make themselves get out and about to avoid social isolation. “You have got to accept it…, I wouldn’t accept it at first, you think well come on there is a jolly sight worse than that… I have got used to it you see, you have to.” (PA, SI)
Experiences%20of%20Living%20with%20Visual%20Impairment%20matching%20income%20with%20needs.docx