As a person with severe low vision, I "see" better with my fingertips. I tactile a lot and sometimes in dark areas I use tactile sign language.
Of course there's drawbacks to being Tactile. Let me share a few examples:
Doing Tactile Sign Language with other Deafblind, there's been moments where they've just finished eating, wiping their nose, or whatnot and continue to "chat" with you. That's why hand sanitizer is a big item among Deafblind folks.
Dirty Walls - I "trail" down my hallways, which is basically running the back of my fingers along the wall while I walk for guidance. So eventually there's going to be a trail of dirt about 4 feet off the ground along all the hall walls LOL!
Housecleaning - since I can't "glance" around to see if things are clean, instead I gently run my fingertips around feeling for any grease, dirt, bumps or sticky spots. So yeah, I come across old soggy cereal, greasy spots, dirt rings, etc. I follow behind with the other hand with the washcloth, sponge or towel.
No shortages of surprises! Once I tripped over something in the entryway and looked down and it looked like maybe one of the kid's shoes. So I reached down to get it and I touched fur,"What??" I pulled it up closer and stepped into the brighter lit kitchen to see what it was and I found myself staring at the lower foreleg of a deer!! *Shriek* I flung that thing back across the room! I texted Randy what had happened. "Oh, I found that out behind work, thought the dogs would like something to chew on, didn't think they'd bring it inside" Oh geez!
No shortages of Grossness! You eventually get desensitized to different textures and accidental touches, I've touched dog shit, puke, whatnot, but some stuff still give me the heebie jeebies. Just the other day I was unpacking some more boxes in the garage. I came across a crate with an orange and black "pile". "Hmm, I don't remember us owning a black and orange blanket or towel" I reached down to get it and *squish*, my fingers sink into what's left of the Halloween pumpkin. UGH! *shudder*
So yeah there's drawbacks to being Tactile but I wouldn't have it any other way. Now pass me the Sanitizer!
Tracy
One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon
Of course there's drawbacks to being Tactile. Let me share a few examples:
Doing Tactile Sign Language with other Deafblind, there's been moments where they've just finished eating, wiping their nose, or whatnot and continue to "chat" with you. That's why hand sanitizer is a big item among Deafblind folks.
Dirty Walls - I "trail" down my hallways, which is basically running the back of my fingers along the wall while I walk for guidance. So eventually there's going to be a trail of dirt about 4 feet off the ground along all the hall walls LOL!
Housecleaning - since I can't "glance" around to see if things are clean, instead I gently run my fingertips around feeling for any grease, dirt, bumps or sticky spots. So yeah, I come across old soggy cereal, greasy spots, dirt rings, etc. I follow behind with the other hand with the washcloth, sponge or towel.
No shortages of surprises! Once I tripped over something in the entryway and looked down and it looked like maybe one of the kid's shoes. So I reached down to get it and I touched fur,"What??" I pulled it up closer and stepped into the brighter lit kitchen to see what it was and I found myself staring at the lower foreleg of a deer!! *Shriek* I flung that thing back across the room! I texted Randy what had happened. "Oh, I found that out behind work, thought the dogs would like something to chew on, didn't think they'd bring it inside" Oh geez!
No shortages of Grossness! You eventually get desensitized to different textures and accidental touches, I've touched dog shit, puke, whatnot, but some stuff still give me the heebie jeebies. Just the other day I was unpacking some more boxes in the garage. I came across a crate with an orange and black "pile". "Hmm, I don't remember us owning a black and orange blanket or towel" I reached down to get it and *squish*, my fingers sink into what's left of the Halloween pumpkin. UGH! *shudder*
So yeah there's drawbacks to being Tactile but I wouldn't have it any other way. Now pass me the Sanitizer!
Tracy
One finds limits by pushing them" ~ Herbert Simon
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