Can blindness really be a gift? American writer Andrew Leland has written a book about what it is like to go blind, and how he learnt to live without seeing.
The shocking truth about losing your eyesight
Can blindness really be a gift? American writer Andrew Leland has written a book about what it is like to go blind, and how he learnt to live without seeing.
What's happening?
Andrew Leland was in his first year of high school when he realised there was something wrong with his sight. His mother took him to see a doctor, who told him he had a rare diseaseAn illness or sickness..
As time went on, Andrew would be able to see less and less. By middle age, he would be blind.
For years, he tried to pretend that it was not going to happen. But in his thirties the problem became too big to ignore.
Find out more
Then he heard about a centre in DenverThe capital city of the US state of Colorado. where people learn to live without sight. Students wear goggles and learn to take in the world by feeling and hearing.
Warmth from the Sun, for example, can tell you which direction you are facing. Traffic noise shows where a road is.
Andrew started to find joy in new things. He learnt to hear in a different way and found that a baby's laughter "cut through the room like washes of colour".
Can blindness really be a gift?
Yes! It makes you aware of the world in a completely new way, and encouragesIf you encourage someone, you give them hope or confidence, for example by letting them know that what they are doing is good. you to use the other senses - particularly hearing and feeling.
No! It makes everyday life very difficult and ordinary activities like crossing a road dangerous. It stops you from seeing beautiful sights and wonderful pictures and films.
Keywords
Disease - An illness or sickness.
Denver - The capital city of the US state of Colorado.
Encourages - If you encourage someone, you give them hope or confidence, for example by letting them know that what they are doing is good.
The shocking truth about losing your eyesight
Glossary
Disease - An illness or sickness.
Denver - The capital city of the US state of Colorado.
Encourages - If you encourage someone, you give them hope or confidence, for example by letting them know that what they are doing is good.