Unique, Not Different

Unique, Not Different by The Century Times · March 8, 2016 Century College, white bear lake, MN Hannah Harriman | Staff Writer I am a student who happens to be blind. As the first of soon-to-be several blind and visually impaired students attending Century College, I want to make the student body aware of what blind people are capable of and the minor adaptations that we use. I navigate the halls using a cane, read Braille, and do homework on a laptop that has screen-reading software. I can do anything you can, with minor adaptations. That makes me unique, not different. I am totally blind, have some hearing loss, and mild Cerebral Palsy, but with minor accommodations, I can do anything you can, except perhaps drive a car. Although this campus is hard for anyone to get around, I have had much practice and training learning my way around here. Now, I can get anywhere on campus, although sometimes I will ask for assistance, mainly because my Cerebral Palsy has caused me to veer. Like you, I don’t know my way everywhere. When I need help, I’ll ask for it. Please don’t assume I don’t know. That being said, I know most people have great intentions, and I really appreciate that. I read Braille, a system of raised dots arranged to form letters and words. There are many levels of Braille: literary, contracted (shorthand), nemeth (math), computer, music, and even Braille for other languages. For this reason, Braille is considered a code, not a language. This doesn’t mean that I am fluent in all of these forms, because I certainly am not; I know literary, contracted, nemeth, music, Spanish Braille, and very little computer braille.

There is a wide debate in the blindness community—Braille verses digital technology. Although technological advances allow for documents and books to be read audibly, Braille is just as important. In my public speaking class, for example, I want to be able to read for myself what I have written and not have to translate over a screen-reading software talking to me. To solve this problem, I use a Braille Edge, a small device in which I can type things, but where the screen would be is Braille. Another form of technology I use is a standard laptop. It has a software called JAWS (Job Access with Speech) that reads anything from word documents to emails to the Internet. One final piece of technology that I use is an iPhone. I know what the obvious question is: “But that is touchscreen!” I know, but with the combination of Siri, and a program called Voiceover, I can do anything you can do: texts, email, make phone calls, and use social media. I can even use apps that identify colors of objects and denounce money currency. Sometimes, I use a combination of these technologies simultaneously. If I have to send a long email, for example, and I don’t have my laptop with me and I don’t want to manually type on my phone, I can wirelessly hook my Braille Edge up with my phone and send the email that way. I do have a social life. I write for the Century Times and am involved in campus life in other ways as well. I, like any other college student, desire to get to know those around me. Don’t let transportation be a setback. I can meet up with people outside of school, taking transportation services like Metro Mobility. Along with this, please don’t be afraid to ask questions. If you have a question or don’t understand something, don’t hold back. You’ll never know something unless you ask first. It’s better to ask and know rather than assume and never know.