What does it feel like to be blind?

The good folks of Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic School gave us flowers. (Photo by Penny Wong-Matzelle)

I often write posts listing the questions kids ask me during school presentations, but I don’t always tell you how I answer those questions. Penny Wong-Matzelle has two daughters at Saints Cyril and Methodius Catholic School (SSCM) in Deer Park, N.Y., and this article she wrote for the Deer Park-North Babylon NY Patch about our visit to first, second and third grade classes there last Monday lets you in on how I answered one of them. “The most poignant question came a short way into the Q & A session from a small girl in her neatly pressed SSCM uniform.”Penny wrote.

The question that girl asked was, “What does it feel like to be blind?” I’ve been asked that question in other school presentations. My answer changes with my mood. When things are going well, I don’t notice my blindness much at all, and just shrug it off. That morning I’d woken up in a motel room, though, so the article said, “She went on to describe how it can be frustrating at times, because it just takes longer to do certain things and she has to remind herself to slow down and take her time to avoid fumbling…”

I love that Penny thought to mention that the girl who asked was so small, and that her uniform was “neatly-pressed.” It gives me such a great image. It wasn’t the only visual detail Penny Wong-Matzelle included in her article — here’s another one:

The enthusiastic students of SSCM each had questions burning in their minds and the only thing Mrs. Finke may have missed out on was not being able to enjoy seeing the number of hands that flew into the air when she announced it was time for some Q & A.

And then there’s this:

Mrs. Finke’s demonstration of how Whitney works to guide her to the nearest exit brings nearly every student quietly to their feet as they lean forward and crane their necks to watch the pair make their way down the hall and back, stepping easily in stride with one another.

Without being able to see the audience during our school visits, I’m left to assume/imagine/hope the kids aren’t napping. I’ve had parents and teachers tell me their kids really liked our presentation, but I’ve never had anyone spell out visual details the way Penny Wong-Matzelle did in this story. Thanks, Penny – very fun to imagine a bunch of first, second, and third graders leaning forward and craning their necks as Whitney leads me out of a classroom!