BREAKING MISCONCEPTIONS

BREAKING MISCONCEPTIONS
'Advocating for a World Built of Everyone'
Personal Story by Lex Gillette

October is Blindness Awareness Month, a time to educate, advocate, and celebrate the capabilities of people who are blind and visually impaired.

The truth is, the world wasn’t built with us in mind, but we continue to navigate, innovate, and thrive within it. Advocacy matters because awareness leads to understanding, and understanding leads to inclusion.

Yes, blindness presents challenges, but it doesn’t define who we are. We read using braille, large print, and audio. We enjoy accessible games like braille UNO, Monopoly, and Scrabble. We compete in sports such as goalball, blind soccer, and beep baseball. In the kitchen, braille measuring cups and talking thermometers help us prepare meals independently. And with today’s technology, smartphones, computers, and screen readers, we can access information, communicate, and create just like anyone else.

The resources available to our community are incredible, but advocacy is how we ensure more people know they exist. When we amplify access, we empower independence.

Blindness Awareness Month is a reminder that we all have a role to play as allies, educators, and changemakers in building a world where everyone, regardless of sight, can live boldly and freely. ∎