Many people were interested and confused about a deaf-blind couple taking a cruise to Italy or really traveling at all. Why travel if you can’t see? Now that I have a couple of weeks under my belt, let me explain.
As I have explained to many people, most deaf-blind people are not born blind. They lose their sight slowly over time. One person on this cruise is completely blind, the other has limited sight. With the limited sight individual we interpret everything said by the guides and then point things out so they can see them. With the fully blind we do tactile interpreting which means their hands are on top of our hands as we sign, we also have to include everything we see as we interpret. We describe the building and the landscape. Whenever possible we get their hands on what we see. We lead their hands to a statue, a well, a candelabra, an ice sculpture, etc. It’s a lot of work but it’s also fascinating.
Both of them did their homework. They have read and studied the history and culture of each place they planned on visiting. The fully blind person described it beautifully. They said that before they lost their sight they depended on their eyes to see, now their eyes have moved into their brain where they can still see everything. These are educated, interesting people who after retiring now have the time and money to travel, very typical don’t you think?
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4 comments:
Thank you for this post, Lisa. You've shown me how a deaf-blind person is not necessarily sensory-deprived but with shifted senses.
You have a wonderful job, Sis.
you make me smile :)
Oh my gosh, Lisa, I can't get over how much you have seen on this trip!! Sounds like you have done an awesome job (as usual,grin) and had a great experience. Can't wait to see more pictures, safe travels home :) Hugs.
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