Visual Impairment Simulation

This simulation was very difficult for me. As I walked around and tried to do normal tasks that are never difficult for me, I found that it took me twice as long to do them and I was extra cautious as I walked around. It was really amazing to me that even though this wasn't a permanent thing, I still was frustrated with the things I wasn't able to do.

The first mask I put on was the one that gave me blurred vision. As I walked around campus, I was very nervous that I would trip on something or run into something that I couldn't see. I learned to listen to what was going on around me so that I could avoid any mishaps while not having my full vision.

The next mask I put on was the one where you only had one tiny hole in each eye to look through. I became very frustrated with this mask because I was almost completely blind; I had such a small portion of sight available that I tried to get away with doing the least amount of tasks possible because I could hardly see. If it wasn't something I absolutely had to do, I tried to avoid doing it. One of my roommates came in as I was trying to make a sandwich, and laughed at the way I was doing it. My head was at an awkward angle and my face was super close to the food I was preparing, but I had to do it that way because that was the only way I could see. This mask was probably the hardest one to wear because it made my head hurt. I had to have things so close and focus so hard on what I was doing that my eyes and head were hurting from having to strain my eyes.

The mask that had the diamonds in the center, was probably the easiest one for me to use. It was interesting trying to always look to the side instead of straight ahead, but I felt that it was easier to see this way. The mask that had one eye completely blocked and the other one open was kind of difficult too because you only had one eye to look at everything you were doing.

This simulation was a really good experience to see what visually impaired students go through. Although I found myself getting easily frustrated it was good because now I know what it is like and it definitely taught me that I need to have patience with students who don't have good vision. Most students will start out trying but the more reading etc. that they have to do, the harder it becomes to do it and the more frustrated they will get. I am grateful that I have good vision, and will definitely keep in mind what it feels like to lose it so that in the future I can help my students instead of just frustrated them!