The Somebody, Nobody, Anybody and Everybody Blog!

15 October, every year is White Cane Awareness Day. For blind people, the white cane is an essential tool that gives us the ability to achieve a full and independent life. It allows us to move freely and safely from place to place—whether it’s at work, at school, or around our neighborhoods. White Cane Awareness Day is our way of emphasizing the critical role that this tool plays in living the lives we want and informing the public about its true significance. I remember my first experience with the White Cane shortly after losing my sight due to Glaucoma in the year 2011. It was at the institution for the blind in my city. I was at the institute for Mobility and Orientation training ready for my journey with the White Cane. Unlike many who have lost their sight mid-life; I did not have any apprehensions or reservations about using this simple and yet crucial mobility aid. I wasn’t really thinking about what others would think of me, how I looked or what impression it would have on oth

New friends and guests at home; Eddy the Squirrel, Kalya the Crow, Tom the Cat, Jessy the Cow and Lappy the dog. All of them visit the house at different times of the day, they are served snacks, water and food when ever possible. The other day Eddy the Squirrel got his friends with him and they had a biscuit party with heated debates on how the Government is stealing their nuts, pun intended 😀 What I am doing to help these natures creatures is; keeping a bowl of pop corn; also my favorite snack; in the balcony with a bowl of water for our bird friends to snack on and drink when they need water. A bucket of water outside my gate; chained; so that Lappy the Dog and Jessy the cow can have a drink when needed. We also have a tub like tray where we throw in our left overs and vegetable scraps, bones etc.  Tom the cat comes in once a day around 10:00AM and is served milk with rice, bread, biscuits soaked in warm milk. Eddy isn’t a frequent visitor, but when ever he is in he gets to have a

I like to see the humourous side of my disability which is visual impairment; I like to call it a print disability. This way I can really create awareness over a laugh without sounding too damn seriously about it yet leaving an impression on the person I am interacting with verbally; yes, you guessed right; blind people can talk and FYI we can also hear you. Here is a list of things you shouldn't do OR say to or around a blind person; it really gets us upset and there is nothing funny about a blind person being upset: 1. Guess who? You might get a kick in the nuts if the blind person is already upset about not seeing the sun this morning. 2. Talk to the hand/ friend/ escort etc. when you are actually trying to get some information from the blind person. Like for the ignorant; by which I don't mean you, a good example is: Good, so what would your blind friend like to have tea OR coffee? Blind person does not answer because it's 5PM in the evening; he'd rather have a chil