I worked at the Library of Congress for many years, in the area that provides various services to the blind (e.g. sending audiobooks and braille books to blind patrons across the country, helping with research, reading textbooks, etc.). I worked with blind patrons on a daily basis, learned to type and read braille, learned the etiquettes of leading blind people, etc. I offer this information to quell any reader concerns that I "don't understand" for my following remarks.

This was an interesting article, I think, because it touches on the feelings and fears of not knowing where you are, not being able to discern your surroundings directly, and not receiving help. It also touches on the feelings and fears that a lot of people have, when confronted with a condition that they aren't familiar with. I think the people who ignored Dr. Patel were probably thinking, "What do I do?" rather than, "That guy can't see me, so if I'm really quiet, maybe he'll go away." People tend to fear that they're going to offend or insult, so they don't offer help. Either that, or they're not sure how to help, so they sit there panicking themselves into a paralysis. I've seen both things happen, and talking about it is a good way to overcome these types of situations.

There was one aspect of the article that I feel was a bad attitude to take on Dr. Patel's part. In the article, Patel says, "Eventually when the staff member actually came to me the first thing he said was 'sorry I didn't see you' and that really bugged me. He wouldn't say that to someone who wasn't visually impaired."

Actually, he would. That is a common phrase that people say to other people all the time. We also say, "I'm sorry, I didn't hear you," but only because we didn't. It isn't some micro-aggression against deaf people. When I worked at the Library of Congress, we dealt with this with new volunteers all the time. People wouldn't know how to respond, so they would be afraid to stick out their elbow, and let a blind person hold on for guidance. They didn't know what to do, and their uncertainty paralyzed them. These new volunteers didn't come to insult and mock the blind people they had come to help. They just found themselves in a new and uncertain situation, and acted awkwardly, like people tend to do. Once they were told what the best course of action was, they never had this problem again.

I think people are conditioned to take WAY more offense nowadays than is intended, and I think it would be in our own best interest to stop this sort of self-righteous indignation. Whether someone doesn't see you, ignores you, or blatantly gets in your face. It is ultimately your choice to be hurt and offended by it. Just choose not to be. I think that will do wonders for mutual understanding and opening dialogues.

I used to work with a blind man who would say to people, "I know you're there. I can hear you. I just need you to tell me which direction to go. I promise not to bite." Then he'd laugh, and set everyone around him at ease. He understood people's reactions, and helped them overcome their uncertainty by offering guidance. This always seemed to be a better solution for all involved, rather than getting angry and irritated. Especially when people's behaviors are being driven by uncertainty, rather than insult.

I apologize for letting my response get a bit long.