Problem
At Toastmasters for the two-minute impromptu table topics at a meeting in Singapore I picked off the table the question: Would you rather be blind or deaf?
For me that's an easy question, deaf. The answer I gave was:
"I would rather be deaf. Nowadays so many clever gadgets can help you. Speaking to an audience, like I am now, at least I could see your reaction and see your faces and smile and see you smile back. Lip-reading would enable me to understand what people are saying.
"Travelling here would be easier if I were deaf. I could read the signs and maps and watch the stations announced in rolling text.
"I admit that walking along when hard of hearing is scary. Even with most of my hearing intact, sometimes I hear a bicycle bell behind me and jump out of the way.
"How would I manage if I could not hear at all? I'd need a sign on the back of a tee-shirt - 'No point ringing your bell - I'm deaf! '
"My beloved late uncle was deaf. He wore hearing aids in both ears hidden under long hair. He played in an orchestra.
"Some people, including me, did not realise he was increasingly deaf. I only found out after he died that he was lip-reading, when I found a book on lip-reading.
"Yes, I would learn to cope with being deaf by lip-reading."
I won the ribbon for the best table topic at the club.
Blind Travellers
Afterwards I spend a lot of time thinking about how different people cope. On Youtube you can see a blind man travelling all around the world visiting as many countries as he can.
Travel When Sick
My son's late schoolfriend, Adam Jacques, travelled from the UK to Australia, despite being on medication including a pill-taking regime, suffering from cystic fibrosis. He died this year, and friends he made during his year in Australia flew to the UK for his funeral in February (2018).
Painting For The Handicapped
You have probably seen videos of people painting scenery, outdoors, using their feet to paint. Others play the piano with their feet - probably invited to travel long distances to demonstrate their talents and enter talent shows.
Music For The Deaf
Beethoven composed many of his symphonies after he went deaf. On YouTube you can watch a deaf percussionist.
Music For The Blind
Piano-tuners are sometimes blind.
Sub-titles
My father used to watch travel programmes on TV, with the TV permanently set to show sub-titles (after the people in the flat upstairs complained his TV was too loud).
Blind and Deaf
To be deaf or blind is less difficult than being both. Helen Keller had a constant companion. I remember from reading Helen's biography that the first time she swam in the sea she was totally shocked at being knocked over by a wave which she did not see coming. Later she loved swimming in the sea. She also enjoyed the feeling of sand under her feet, and grass, and when she came home being enthusiastically greeted by the family dog.
Other Options: Activities and Positive Places
1 Aromatic / scented garden for the blind in Canada, the UK, Hong Kong.
2 Massage (especially Thailand, Bali and Asian countries).
3 Music Holidays.
4 Paralympic Games.
5 Toastmasters international has members
Useful Websites
https://www.traveleyes-international.com
https://www.disabledholidays.com/about/blind-and-partially-sighted-holidays.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Glennie (Blind percussionist.)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blind_musicians
https://www.disabledholidays.com/about/holidays-for-deaf-people.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traveleyes
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Keller
https://www.tripadvisor.com.sg/Attraction_Review-g304554-d7317966-Reviews-Blind_Tours-Mumbai_Maharashtra.html (Not for the blind, blindfolding you.)
https://www.britishdeafnews.co.uk/seaside-fun-deaf-50s/
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1987/02/23/Hong-Kongs-aromatic-garden-for-the-blind-NEWLNUPI-Special-Sections-Gardening-87/5611541054800/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paralympic_Games
http://www.ladyironchef.com/2018/02/wheelchair-friendly-attractions-singapore/
https://www.toastmasters.org/find-a-club
News item on blind toastmaster in USA:
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/news/2017/07/05/local/361526001/
Author
Angela Lansbury, travel writer and photographer, author and speaker.
(That was my second ribbon in a week. I won another ribbon for a travel topic which I will describe in my next post.)
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