Blindness

We were stunned by Conrad’s cartoon (“The Vision Thing,” March 23). While we fully understand the thesis intended, the real and unspoken impression is a bias and misconception as old as time itself.

The cartoon very strongly and wrongly reinforces the public misconception that persons who are blind are totally helpless. This misconception is the worst handicap faced by all people who are blind. Being blind does not affect a person’s intelligence or ability to perform most of the same daily living skills and activities as other people. There are blind lawyers, doctors, teachers, auto mechanics and even blind politicians.

For many years, parents of children who are blind and others have become overly protective and “sheltered” their child. Employment for others has been denied simply because the employer felt there was no way a person who was blind could do the job. Many doors are closed by this bias. It should be paramount for all to be given an equal opportunity to try.

Our interest is to promote public awareness and understanding to destroy forever these old biases and misconceptions.

CLYDE SHIDELER

Chapel of the Essenes, Disabled Services

San Luis Rey