The other day I was in charge of running the museum that is a part of my office. I am only down there to cover lunch for the woman who is there full time. Usually, I just sit behind the desk and mind my own business until she gets back.
It’s a pretty simple job. People ask you where the bathroom is, how to work the audio tour, and if there is anything else to it. It’s quite the small museum. I’d venture to say that it is more of an exhibit than anything.
The other day wasn’t like the usual day in the museum. Keep in mind, my bosses were gone, the woman who works there was gone, and all tour guides were gone. (Gotta love the week after the holiday when nobody shows up to work!)
I received a call from security that there was a blind man that they were bringing into the museum. He told them he’d like to be shown around.
At this point, I was absolutely mortified. Not only was I only generally knowledgeable about the contents of the museum, but also I have never had to assist a blind man in any way. How was I supposed to help him?
He came strolling through the door hunched over and on the arms of two law enforcement officers. One of them said “You are now in her capable hands. If you have any questions at all, she will have the answers.”
OH, GREAT.
I took the nice man on my arm and hoped for the best. I started to lead him to the movie room which plays a video for about 15 minutes. I told him to let me know when the movie was done and I’d come grab him.
During the time of the movie, I was running around asking anyone and everyone what I should do. These people actually work there—they should know. (I’m just the intern. There has been no better time to use that excuse than now). But they didn’t know. This was the first time it has ever happened.
I decided to wing it. I am entirely capable to handle this and the man deserved to have the same experience as everyone else.
Once the film was over, he began to stand and meander his way back towards the heart of the museum. I look him by the arm and began showing him around.
I read panel after panel. The whole tour lasted over an hour. People usually are in and out in about 10 minutes.
This man had questions. He was so incredibly interested in the content that he wanted to know everything.
It turns out I know more than I thought.
As the “tour” ended, I walked him out of the museum and out to the street. I pointed him in the right direction and set him on his way.
He was ever so grateful for how courteous the entire staff had been and especially thankful to me for having taken time to show him around.
Just like that, he was off, alone, walking down the sidewalk in Downtown Denver, back to where he wanted to be.
I learned a lot that day. It’s something that will stick with me for quite some time.
Most places are not very well equipped for the blind community.
Our museum was almost entirely visual. It would take someone to individually walk them around every time. I’m sure most places are like that. They think about catering the majority of the population with little consideration of the disabled population.
The blind community is ridiculously independent.
The man came to the museum by himself. He walked 4 busy city blocks to get there and had absolutely no problem doing so. They are almost completely competent in doing things alone. I can’t even imagine how hard it would be to find my way around a big city if I couldn’t see.
They are entirely trusting.
The blind community so often has to ask for directions or for strangers to help them do things when they are out and about. They get change back at a grocery store and have to trust that they are getting the right amount of change. Sure, they have a machine that will tell them what the amount of each bill is, but before that they had to put faith in those around them.
I am so thankful for my sight.
I can’t even imagine what he has to go through day to day. I also cannot imagine having to rely on someone all of the time to do things that a seeing person can do without thinking twice. In a world that has created almost everything for seeing people, it would be so hard to get out and do something without seeing anything.
People notice when you do something great.
My bosses came back and heard about it. They treated it like I went above and beyond. Sure, I did something that wasn’t expected of me, but it had to be done. I wouldn’t even say I did something great, I did what was expected of any honest human being. I helped another when they were in need.
That blind man that I was so nervous about taught me a lot of things. I will be forever grateful for my experience with him and hope he enjoyed his time in Denver. You rock, dude.
