Breaking Barrier: Fostering Connection for the Visually Impaired

About ten years ago, a friend of mine was injured during exercise, resulting in severe visual impairment that made it almost impossible for him to see. At the time, I couldn’t understand the pain he was going through, and often unintentionally offended him in daily life, which eventually led to our estrangement. It wasn’t until much later that I realized my lack of understanding and empathy at the time, and this has been troubling me ever since. 

This experience made me realize that the difficulties faced by visually impaired individuals go far beyond what we typically imagine or understand, and this gap in understanding is not only my personal struggle but also a common blind spot in society.

This experience became the motivation for me to delve deeper into understanding the blind community. Later, as a research assistant to Professor Rudi at NYU Shanghai, I participated in a study related to the rights of people with disabilities and got in touch with a non-profit organization focused on disability advocacy. The leader of the organization, Minki, suggested that I wear a blindfold for a few minutes to personally experience the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. This experience was eye-opening, and what was once a familiar space became strange and full of challenges, with loneliness accompanying me.

This experience made me realize deeply that the world of visually impaired individuals is not as singular as it is often perceived by the outside world. During this time, I had the privilege of meeting Zhang Liming— a blind athlete, and his experiences deeply influenced my understanding of the barriers that visually impaired individuals face. Zhang is not just a visually impaired athlete, he is a vibrant personality with a passion for sports and a love for social interaction. 

When I first met him, I witnessed his enthusiasm for engaging with others. However, behind his cheerful demeanor lies a reality that many may not see. Despite advancements in technology (such as smartphone recognition features) that have brought convenience to his life, they have not completely eliminated the issues he encounters in face-to-face communication with sighted individuals. 

For those who have completely lost their sense of sight, the awkwardness of social interactions can lead to self-isolation, as they may choose to entirely avoid social situations. Especially in unfamiliar environments, Zhang Liming finds that navigating and moving becomes significantly more difficult, impacting his daily life. This often creates a communication gap between visually impaired individuals and sighted people, with both parties feeling hesitant and uneasy. Sighted individuals may be uncertain about how to interact, fearing they might inadvertently offend, while blind people often long for connection but face barriers to effective communication.

There are many others visually impaired individuals who face the same problem just like Zhang. In China, approximately 17.3 million people face the challenges of blindness or visual impairment, encountering significant difficulties in their daily lives, particularly in social integration and physical activities. 

Although modern technologies such as smartphones and navigation aids undoubtedly provide conveniences for the visually impaired in terms of communication and navigation, a considerable number of visually impaired individuals still tend to stay at home. This inclination often stems from societal barriers, including inadequate infrastructure (such as a lack of tactile paving and accessible facilities) and societal biases and misunderstandings towards blind individuals, which hinder their mobility and social participation.

“As for the insufficient support for people with disabilities in an inclusive society, it’s not just the problem of certain individuals or the government; it’s the responsibility of the entire society,” said Li Songsong, a visually impaired employee of the nonprofit organization Blue Elf. In modern society, despite the continuous improvement of laws and policies to protect the rights and welfare of people with disabilities, they still face numerous challenges in reality. From barriers to daily travel to unequal treatment in life, and from implicit exclusion in social activities to a lack of awareness about the needs of people with disabilities and the absence of accessible services, these issues reflect the societal shortcomings in recognizing and addressing the needs of disabled individuals.

“Tactile paths are very important, but they are often obstructed, for example, by shared bicycles, which makes them quite dangerous for visually impaired people,” said Xiao Bin, a visually impaired individual who travels frequently and cannot fully rely on tactile paths for navigation.

To bridge this gap, shared interests and activities can serve as a foundation for understanding and connection. Engaging in sports has been shown to effectively promote social integration and enhance the physical health of the visually impaired community. Activities such as blind gateball and blind football utilize tactile and auditory cues to foster teamwork and physical participation. However, participation in these sports is often hindered by safety concerns, as the lack of visual information can lead to accidents. 

Additionally, many sports facilities are not designed with the needs of visually impaired individuals in mind, often lacking essential features like tactile pathways and sound markers. A lack of understanding of the needs of blind athletes further exacerbates their feelings of isolation and diminishes their enthusiasm for participation. Moreover, the scarcity of professional coaches and training programs limits the opportunities for skill development and personal growth within this community.

In my conversations with Zhang, I learned about the complexities of participating in sports and social activities. While he enjoys singing and being part of gatherings, the barriers to engaging in competitive sports for the blind are daunting. Activities such as blind bocce require high levels of physical fitness, often alienating those who might want to participate but feel discouraged by the demands. This highlights a critical gap in understanding the unique needs of blind athletes and the lack of accessible facilities or coaching.