It’s not my disability that disables me; the world does that all by itself. To make it through the day as a blind girl in a sighted world, I have spent my whole life mastering adaptive skills, but when they prove useless… Well, I’m stuck.
Braille: the tactile code that opens the world to blind individuals like myself. Even though learning to decipher the little dots was painfully boring for five-year-old me, the Delaney of today is eternally grateful that she suffered through it, even though I never get to use the skill I worked so hard for anymore.
The University of Stirling has an accessibility and inclusion department with an excellent reputation, but still, the campus features almost no braille signage, rendering me functionally illiterate here.
My Challenges at the University
Overnight, I lost the ability to locate my own classrooms and lecture theatres. I can no longer operate an elevator by myself, and got stuck inside while feeling for the braille that wasn’t there. Luckily, someone else called the lift just as I was about to take a blind guess (no pun intended) of which button might open the doors. I’ve only taken the stairs since.
On my own, I can’t identify which toilet to use. After listening, always unsuccessfully, for some sound that might clue me in, I have to guess.
All four of the schools I attended back in the states had braille signage, in keeping with the Americans with Disabilities Act. I’m ashamed to say that, in all my years of exploring my high school to interview sources for the student paper, I never recognised the privilege of independently navigating to a new place.
Those tentative steps inside whichever restroom door I settled on feel like a throwback to when elementary school Delaney would do the same. The only difference is that I can read now; there just aren’t any dots for me.
I, along with another blind student, submitted a request to the university to install accessible signage for us. We are assured the uni are working to meet our needs.
The University’s Response
A spokesperson for the University of Stirling said: “The University is committed to creating an environment and culture where our students and staff are able to achieve their full potential.
“We work closely with our students and are grateful to Delaney for participating in ongoing discussions around braille signage.
“We intend to replace some braille signage on campus and are working to identify other areas where it could be introduced.”
If I can find a positive amongst all this two-dimensional signage, it’s that the lack of braille has given the people of Stirling the perfect opportunity to demonstrate how helpful and friendly they all are. Whether it was students running late for lectures, or custodians in the middle of their work days or tutors dropping what they were doing to show me around, I received more than my fair share of assistance in the last four weeks.
Now, while my fingers itch for something to read, I just need to find a way to pay everyone back.
Featured image credit: Brig
