Free Cultural Competence Podcast on supporting clients with vision loss.

Recently, Clearly Clinical did an interview with me to learn more about what it is like emotionally to be unable to see like everybody else. To be another - the odd duck. You can watch it here: https://clearlyclinical.com/podcast/ceu-social-work-clients-visually-impaired

I was struck with a few observations as I did the very kind & skillful interview.

• It really is painful to not be believed.

• The idea that if you are anxious or fearful because a lot of sudden surprises happen every day, might be interpreted as an MH issue keeps folks away from counseling.

• That progressive - chronic loss is hard to grieve. Everybody says - but you can still see some! With good coaching - skills you can learn to grieve whenever it comes up. This promotes healthy growth.

• When and if ( likely you do) you have people in your practice with progressive vision loss, it is really important for you to know what is or isn’t related to blindness. And to not say - “ Are you sure? You don’t look blind. ” In truth, totally blind folks with good blindness skills look sighted as well. Yet as you can imagine, facing and slowly encroaching threat of not being able to see is really hard to face alone.

• In truth blindness need not be a barrier to independence or employment - anything really. With training and emotional support for those very real unseen events, life can be very good.
  

• Full of purpose & functionality.