Living with a disability requires a lot of adapting in order to do even the most ordinary things. For instance, I use my sense of touch now for things that I used to be able to see, like filling a glass with a liquid or setting the oven temperature dial with the use of bump dots (click here for Things That Don’t Go Bump In The Night).
Arriving at my gate for a flight, it was already crowded with my fellow passengers. There were several seats available marked with the easily-recognizable handicap graphic; my husband and I settled in two of those. Since I don’t look like I have the right to sit in such a location, rather than folding up my orientation and mobility cane, I kept it extended. Also, I would need it to go to the restroom shortly before we boarded the plane.
With people and their luggage crammed into the narrow rows, I didn’t know what to do with my long, straight cane. Laying it down on the floor or leaning it against my chair could cause a tripping hazard. Maybe I should fold it up after all.
Then I noticed the cup holder attached to my armrest; its hub and spoke-like bottom creating sectioned holes. Lifting my cane high, I slowly brought it down into one of the holder’s open spaces, carefully feeding it through until the one end touched the ground.
Thank goodness I had finished my coffee because there would not have been room for both. And even though no cane means no way for me to get around, no coffee means no one would want to be around me.
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