How to spot an expert

I’ve always felt uncomfortable about the way that some of those people who work with “the blind” actually interact with blind people ourselves.. However, it’s often very subtle and has been hard to put my finger on just what it is that produces the discomfort. Some of it is about the philosophy (at least the historical philosophy) of the charities, some of it is about the way that people in the “care industry” learn to view their service users and some can be directly related to the kind of information that people are given on so called vision awareness training courses.

Some indicators
v They often refer to us as Vis (visually impairds)
v They have an air of slightly over-confident familiarity
v They often speak just a little too loudly – possibly so that others won’t think that they’re blind too and will realise that they’re doing good work, possibly even that they’re wanting people to realise that they know a blind person (“some of my best friends are blind…”)
v They do everything just that bit too properly – they know how to ask you if you want something, how to describe things, how to guide you – but not in a way that shows real respect, care or interest
v They have a way of maintaining their act even when you don’t comply with it.
v They often fall back on poor counselling techniques when they feel a bit uncomfortable
v They have a way of asking in a very knowing and sincere voice “Are you partial or total?”