what's it like to live in NYC as a blind person

intro

while i still have lots to learn, i have lived in nyc as a blind person my whole life, so i do know a thing or two about how to learn the ropes of it all. in fact, i often tell people that manhattan, the heart of the city, is my second home, being that my house is in queens. this is because of how familiar i have become with the borough through youth programs, college, and work experience. but i'm not here to boast, because there is a story behind how i got here.

a deeper dive

i was born blind, so i am grateful to be able to say that i did not have to adjust to losing my vision later. because of this, i learned tools and received services to help me adapt to the sighted world.

my parents learned about ps 201, an elementary school that had other visually impaired students as well as support services, so they enrolled me there. at ps 201, i was provided a mobility instructor, someone who works one-on-one with visually impaired students a specified number of times per week to teach them techniques of how to safely travel within their community.

my mobility instructor taught me how to use constant contact, a white cane technique that involves sliding the cane from side to side. this helped me walk in a straight line and notice when obstacles were in my path so my cane could tap them and i could avoid bumping into them.

she also taught me how to cross the street when all is quiet if the street is controlled by a stop sign or has no light at all. she introduced me to the concept of parallel surge, which is when the traffic on the street parallel to you starts to move after the perpendicular traffic stops. this is important when crossing streets controlled by traffic lights.

all of these techniques built the foundation for how i travel independently today.

more on mobility

throughout middle and high school, i continued receiving mobility services. as my needs grew, my instructor introduced new tools.

the be my eyes app became very helpful, as it allowed me to speak with a live agent over the phone at any time. they could see what was in front of me through my phone’s camera, like a facetime call. this still plays a critical role in my life today, especially when i am confused or unsure about whether it’s safe to cross the street and there’s no one around to help.

another app i still use is the oko app. when the phone is held up to an automated pedestrian signal (aps), the app will beep when it is safe to cross. sometimes the aps doesn’t work or isn’t loud enough, so the app comes in handy. it even works with headphones, so you can hear the beeping clearly even on a busy street corner.

i also often rely on the envision app when i'm out in the city. it helps me read signs, find store entrances, and even double-check subway platform numbers when i'm not sure. it’s like having an extra set of eyes when i need them most.

the commission for the blind

i also got connected with the new york state commission for the blind, or nyscb. this organization helps blind and low-vision people get referrals to services that support independent living.

nyscb connected me with a mobility instructor who worked with me outside of school. she taught me the routes from home to my dorm, home to school, and dorm to school. she also helped me get familiar with local diners, pharmacies, supermarkets, and urgent care clinics.

this prepared me for college and gave me confidence that i could travel safely and handle everyday tasks while living on campus.

nyscb also helped me access vision rehabilitation training, or vrt. with vrt, an instructor comes to wherever you need support and teaches you practical skills like personal care, cleaning, cooking, and organization.

my vrt instructor came to my dorm and taught me how to make basic meals like rice, vegetables, meat, noodles, eggs, and oatmeal. she also showed me how to clean the table after eating and label similar-feeling items with raised stickers so i can tell them apart.

when i wasn’t sure what to make, or needed a little help finding a recipe based on what was in my fridge, i’d turn to ally. it’s like calling a friend who always picks up, ready with ideas and encouragement.

vrt made a huge difference for me, especially when i first started dorming. because of these skills, i felt confident that i could toast bread and enjoy a cup of tea for breakfast, or make rice and beans for lunch, or noodle soup for dinner. this was especially important since my college doesn’t offer a meal plan because it’s mostly a commuter school.

most of all, the vrt i received helped me realize that independent living is possible for blind and low-vision people like me. i am incredibly grateful to nyscb for opening these doors in my life.

closing thoughts

these are the tools that have helped me thrive outside the classroom as a blind person in new york city. they’ve helped me get to the point where i can call the heart of the city my second home.

i am forever grateful not only for the tools that support my independent living and mobility, but also for the people who stood by me along the way. from my parents and ps 201, to my mobility instructors, to vrt and nyscb, i know that without them, i wouldn’t feel as comfortable or confident being an independent blind person in nyc.

and of course, having apps like envision and ally by my side makes the everyday moments even smoother.

on a lighter note, i also probably wouldn’t be able to brag about it like i did in the intro of this blog.

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