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I have normal sight, yet for many years now I have been closely associated with a number of people without sight. So I'm a first-hand witness to the problems attendant to relating to a person without sight. I'm a witness to the unnecessary confusion and uneasiness that sighted people feel when they don't have the normal EYE CONTACT that eases our day-to-day human transactions. It seems so sad for anyone to feel ill at ease and I'd like to play a part in bridging the gap between the sighted and the blind.
First of all, the reason you feel ill at ease is that you don't have Eye Contact. Just don't worry about that! Your voice and SPEAKING is the replacement for that eye contact that normally eases you into communication with another person. Just speak up and SAY ANYTHING.....let your words be the bridge.
Situation #2....ok....suppose you said something and the blind person doesn't realize you were talking to him or her. Just lightly touch the person's shoulder as you SPEAK again.
You and I can look at each other....and THEN we speak. The only difference with a blind person is that there is a step missing. You just can't make the eye contact that you normally would, but just realize that once you start talking you can communicate just as you would to any other person. Don't be ill at ease or wonder what to do......JUST SAY ANYTHING.