Back in August due to roommate issues I was moved to another hall into a double which served as a single for the rate of the double in my old hall. I just got a notice from housing stating that I’ll be getting a new roommate next semester. I’m kind of disappointed because I like the privacy but I’m glad to have some company. However, I’m a little nervous because it also requested I meet with the hall director to find out more information. I just got back from the meeting and found out that my new roommate is visually impaired, as in she’s completely blind. I know she’s just a person same as me but I’m kind of freaked out because I don’t know if I should do anything special to accommodate her and I can’t find her on social media. I’m cleaning and moving all my belongings over to my side over the holidays but other than that, I don’t know what to expect. Has anybody ever lived with a visually impaired person and could you give me some advice? Is there anything I should or should not do or what to say/what not to say to her?
Wow! That’s pretty great, and what an amazing opportunity to get to know someone with a different life experience.
I have never lived with someone who’s blind but have been around people who have been confined to wheelchairs or been hearing impaired. Based on that, my advice would be to just be very factual and upfront. I would tell her point blank that she is the first visually impaired person you’ve met – you can ask if “blind” is the right word or not – and ask for her guidance in anything that she needs from you so that you can live together comfortably. You could ask if she’s ever shared a room with anyone before, and if she hasn’t, you both should brainstorm about the things that would be hard for her. Then address them! I’d guess that it’d help if you didn’t leave things on the floor or leave drawers or closet doors open, but I don’t know! I’d be upfront too that you want to be a good roommate and that you hope that if you mis-step, she’ll be understanding and let you know. I wouldn’t assume that she needs help with anything – she’s at college alone after all! – but I would ask her to let you know if you can be helpful.
I think though, that as long as you’re open, respectful, and helpful, it’ll be fine. Quite possibly, beyond fine.
If you go out together, offer to let her take your arm and ask her to tell you about “sighted guide technique” she should have an orientation and mobility instructor that is working with her to make sure she can travel to classes and the rest of campus independently.
Makes sure you keep walkways in your dorm clear.
Ask if light bothers, her some blind people are photophobic, you may want to kept the blinds closed at certain times.
Ask if she’ll have a Braille printer (embosser) in the dorm room - if so request it only be used during certain hours - They are very loud!
If she has a Braille display please keep liquid and food away from it - it’s a very expensive piece of equipment and can easily be damaged.
Ask if she will have a guide dog, most likely not but something to enquire about.
Most importantly treat her as a person and not as a disability. It’s nice to offer help but she is an independant person and you should not view her as ‘your responsibility’
I think all you need to do now is move your stuff to one side of the room. Once your roommate arrives have a talk and ask her what you can do to accommodate her. My guess is that other than some accommodations for her disability, that she will want to be treated like anyone else. Don’t stress.
This is the perfect example of why we should keep hounding and beating the drum that DIVERSITY DOES INCLUDE PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES!! If this had been brought up in the multitude of opportunities that Diversity (news, school, media. etc) has been discussed and disabilities had been included in the conversation, then this would not be a “freak out issue”.
What if you replaced the word “disability” with “Black” or “white” or “Asian” or “Christian” or “Muslim” or any other “group”? How would that be different if you had not been “exposed” to something that is different for you?
What to do? Relax. Be kind. Be respectful. Treat them as anyone else. Offer if they ever need help or if there is anything they need, let you know. Chill! They are people too- they just might not have the same vision as you but they will be wiser. Learn from them- and there is a great deal to learn from someone with a disability. Tenacity, hard work, resilience, positive attitude… Look at your life and your champagne troubles and be thankful and grateful and give back to other people.
THis is part of college- it’s no different than if the two of you were different on social, political or religious issues.
Learn and grow from this experience.
I know. My son is visually disabled and he will be at a college one day and I hope his roommate will have a much different and positive and welcoming reaction.
You need to find the balance between assuming you have to be her personal assistant and ignoring the fact that she is visually impaired. When she arrives, introduce yourself and ask her about herself (what classes is she taking, what major, where is she from) just like you would do with anyone else. THEN, after you have connected as roommates, say “I understand you are visually impaired…what can I do to make our room accommodating for you besides making sure i keep my drawers closed?”
And if she says nothing, then say “Okay! But feel free to let me know if you need anything in the future”
and just make sure you don’t leave stuff on the floor.
But don’t grab her arm and say that you will lead her around. Let her ask for any help she might need, but also realize you are not in charge of her…if any requests are too much (like can you go get me food everyday) then say “I don’t think I can do that but let’s brainstorm with the RA about other ideas.” But if it is “Can you keep things on the floor in the same place so I know to avoid” that is reasonable.
If you introduce her, don’t say “This is my blind roommate”, but “This is Sarah, my roommate. Oh, could you pick your coat up off the floor? She has some vision difficulties and I don’t want her to trip.”
@riverplace Wow - calm down. Yeah, OP is “freaking out” in terms of treating her new roomie in a respectful and appropriate way - how awful of her. I would bet that many people don’t have firsthand experience with someone visually impaired and so are uncertain about how to conduct themselves without offending the disabled person. Thanks to those who gave OP practical advice - this is what she was looking for, not chastisement.
OP posted back in December. My guess is she’s figured out how to accommodate her roommate by now. 