Before this first experience, I had never actually met, or approached someone who is blind. I am out and about quite often, but the rarity that I actually see a blind person is stunning. When I do see them, it would be excruciatingly awkward to approach them. How would you approach a blind person in public? This is like walking up to a stranger (one who can see) and going, “Hey! You’re different. Nice to meet you.” This in my opinion is one of the worst moves you can make as a human being. Not to mention a horrible conversation starter. So, how could I get to know someone who is blind?

This may sound morbid, but I finally got to see, and hear what a normal blind person experiences during the day. Before I continue, I should explain.  I write on this blog normally from a computer lab in a college. In the lab there is a phone tech support who deal with various computer problems around the campus. As I walked in, I saw that one of the techies was helping a blind person. The lab is small so when someone is talking, you can hear it. I got to listen (I wasn’t even eavesdropping, honest) as the tech person helped her figure out something wrong with her text editor program. As I sat down at the computer, an idea came to my head. It was about the accessibility on the web for people with disabilities.

Accessibility on the web; from what I see as a small time web designer, and from what I read in articles, is about as worse as typography on the web (which is horrible). This is why I was so intrigued by a blind person being helped in the lab. It showed me that there really are blind people using computers, and the web. I thought I knew this simple fact, but I guess it takes seeing to believe. Sadly, along with it I had fallen into an old trap for past web designers. If it doesn’t bother you, forget about it. Now, after actually seeing the light (you could say), I have been motivated to push accessibilities on the web. Especially my own sites. As I mulled this over, I realized that the CSS properties, and (X)HTML tags that help screen readers (and similar things that help people with other disabilities) are completely missing in all of my sites. I could design my sites to be easily read on a screen reader, and easier to tab through if I had just informed myself better, and tried a little harder. You may think I’m trying to start a pity party, but how can I even begin to preach (and correct) the web in general on accessibilities, if my own sites are not even correct?

In the willing spirit of learning, I will venture out and come back informed.

So, I started mulling over a few options. The first that came was writing in a journal. The only thing is that writing in a journal is a cliché thing to turn to for writing and only prompts being reclusive with what I write. I would much rather write something that at least one person I do not know will see. I know what I write will not matter to most (all) people, but at least it will be out there. So I went with what everybody and their brother is doing, and started a blog (ironically a far more cliché thing to do).

Odd reader out there expect many things from this blog. Many things such as ranting, fotoblogging, a place for me to put up quick sketches, and the like. Oh the possibilities are endless. I feel almost reborn..ha.

Well we will see how this whole thing rolls out. Will it sink, or swim? Who knows.