Ask Me Help Desk - If a Person Has Been Blind Since Birth, Do They "See" Things in Their Minds?

If a Person Has Been Blind Since Birth, Do They "See" Things in Their Minds?

If so, what might they see in their minds?

Thanks!

From conversations I've had with people who've been blind, they don't think in pictures. Some think in words, or sounds, or textures, or however else works for them. It's unique the individual.

The ability to think in pictures relies on a familiarity with pictures. Can you think in a language you can't speak?

Along the same train of thought, not all sighted people think in pictures. I am incapable to 'picture' things in my mind or participate in visualization activities because there are, simply, no pictures in my head. Even my dreams are more like reading a book than watching a movie.

Thanks again, for an informed response, hheath541!

I can visualize blind people thinking in terms of words or sounds. But, I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "textures".

Would you please explain?

Thanks!

Basically it would be like thinking by touch. Instead of thinking the word 'apple' or seeing a picture of one you would think about what one feels like when you hold it.

Okay, now I understand. It's really hard to comprehend what the blind person might see. I know that certain senses are made stronger because of the one that is absent.

Thanks!

I have a good friend who has been blind since birth.We watched a basketball game on T.V. one night and I was so blown away that he got what was happening.

On further conversation he said he knows what a ball is ,he knows what a basket is.He gets it.He said he can enjoy it with his imagination.

Sighted people think imagination is limited to what you remember that you have seen,but sightless people create their own images.

I never met a cooler person than Keith.And a more independent person I will never meet.

He had no fear and that just blew my mind.

He would swim in a crazy ocean current and walk the streets (with his dog) he was so cool.

He was a D.J. at Syracuse University radio and he managed all of it even when it wasn't blind friendly.

I strayed,sorry. Maybe I could give you his email if that O.K with him and he can answer this for you.

I noticed I am referring to Keith in the past tense and that is only because he and his wife moved away from our hometown about three yrs.ago.

If you want I will ask him your question. Keith always made me feel like I never did enough because NOTHING stood in his way! Cool amazing guy!

Hi, artlady!

It would be great to see what Keith has to say about the question that I asked by your posting his response on this thread.

Thanks!

One of my college professors last semester was blind. She lived in another state and would fly in during the week to teach her classes and then fly home for the weekend to be with her husband. She handled a room full of college students, many of whom tried to take advantage of the fact that she couldn't see them, and got around campus perfectly fine. She was one of the best professors I've ever had, and I was disappointed to learn that she wouldn't be coming back after the summer.

I had a friend in elementary school who was blind. She needed a help getting around, but that was mostly because her training hadn't started until she was older. She handled being a classroom with 60-80 students (it was a combined classroom that housed 3 classes that were divided throughout the room and rotated between a set of teachers). She could understand the concepts being taught just as well as the sighted students, although sometimes special explanations and/or teaching techniques were needed to explain things. She was great to hang out with and I spent my recesses talking to her. I even taught her to weave gimp (that flat, plastic cord/string stuff that usually gets woven into a long, thin square tower).

Both of them had a unique perspective on the world. Since they'd never seen it there were some things that just made no sense to them. Telling them what color something was meant absolutely nothing, either did race. They described things in sounds and smells and textures. Something 'felt like a ball' instead of 'looking like a circle.'

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Hi, artlady!

It would be great to see what Keith has to say about the question that I asked by your posting his response on this thread.

Thanks!

I will send him an email.I think at this time he is out at school getting a new dog as his old one passed.They have to go to a place and train for a month.Even though he has had a working dog before they want to insure that you make the right match(dog,master)

I hope you are well.I will send Keith that email.

Quote:

Originally Posted by artlady

I will send him an email.I think at this time he is out at school getting a new dog as his old one passed.They have to go to a place and train for a month.Even though he has had a working dog before they want to insure that you make the right match(dog,master)

I hope you are well.I will send Keith that email.

Bless your heart, artlady! Thank you so much!

Quote:

Originally Posted by hheath541

one of my college professors last semester was blind. she lived in another state and would fly in during the week to teach her classes and then fly home for the weekend to be with her husband. she handled a room full of college students, many of whom tried to take advantage of the fact that she couldn't see them, and got around campus perfectly fine. she was one of the best professors I've ever had, and i was disappointed to learn that she wouldn't be coming back after the summer.

i had a friend in elementary school who was blind. she needed a help getting around, but that was mostly because her training hadn't started until she was older. she handled being a classroom with 60-80 students (it was a combined classroom that housed 3 classes that were divided throughout the room and rotated between a set of teachers). she could understand the concepts being taught just as well as the sighted students, although sometimes special explanations and/or teaching techniques were needed to explain things. she was great to hang out with and i spent my recesses talking to her. i even taught her to weave gimp (that flat, plastic cord/string stuff that usually gets woven into a long, thin square tower).

both of them had a unique perspective on the world. since they'd never seen it there were some things that just made no sense to them. telling them what color something was meant absolutely nothing, either did race. they described things in sounds and smells and textures. something 'felt like a ball' instead of 'looking like a circle.'

Wow! You really have a lot to offer here, hheath541! Your post is appreciated so much! You seem to have so many enriching experiences to share that will surely be a boon to this site!

Thanks!

I've met a lot of interesting people in my life.

I'm sure that you're also a very interesting person, hheath541! :)

Thanks!

hehe, I have my days ^_^

I have a DD client that thinks in feel, if that makes sense. He associates what things would look like based on how they feel. I think A lot of blind people do this. Hence braille, and feeling faces and all that other jazz...

I still want to know why drive up ATMs have braille on them... haha.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChihuahuaMomma

I have a DD client that thinks in feel, if that makes sense. He associates what things would look like based on how they feel. I think ALOT of blind people do this. Hence braille, and feeling faces and all that other jazz...

I still wanna know why drive up ATMs have braille on them....haha.

for all the blind people who just INSIST on driving, of course ^_~

I'd still drive if I was blind... I'd go by feel too... Let my car feel its way around...

I have a blind friend who can tell what amount the currency is just by feel. We've tested $1, $10, and $50 bills. She can also tell what color the paper is just by feel. Interesting huh?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChihuahuaMomma

I'd still drive if I was blind....I'd go by feel too....Let my car feel its way around...

If there's a sudden, jarring stop then it's just because your car felt something a little too hard?

Why do they put braile at drive through windows?

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

I have a blind friend who can tell what amount the currency is just by feel. We've tested $1, $10, and $50 bills. She can also tell what color the paper is just by feel. Interesting huh?

That's pretty incredible, J_9! Thanks for sharing! :)

Yeah my blind friends back in the 70's could tell money too. Their senses are heightened and can picture things by touch and texture.
They would say '' I went and saw Blazing Saddles yesterday. When I got home I turned on the light but the bulb was burned out''.

It amused me at first but I got use to it.

Quote:

Originally Posted by J_9

Why do they put braile at drive through windows?

I want to know why they're called drive through windows. You drive next to them, not through them.

And, momma, I think a new paint job should be warning enough. Now, the tough question, would you paint the nose or the boot red?