Thank you for not walking past me

When you have low vision, it is difficult to recognize acquaintances on your own.

During my student days, that was one of my biggest worries. It wasn't that I was ignoring people, but because I couldn't call out to them myself, I was often thought to be ignoring them.

If I had carried a white cane, people might have understood that I had low vision, but back then, I couldn't even imagine carrying one. Without a white cane, I probably just looked like a slightly clumsy girl.

I was slow, but I ran often, and I danced, even if I wasn't very good at it. At a glance, I didn't look like I had poor eyesight. Many people probably thought I was either shy or unfriendly.

Even so, the people who got to know me deeply gradually came to understand my visual impairment.

“Riko!!”

Even when I didn't notice and didn't call out,

those friends always called out to me.

I am still connected to those friends today.

I became a working adult, got married, and had children.

Realizing the obvious fact that people won't understand unless I say something, I started telling people about my disability when we first met after I became an adult.

Even so, it is impossible to explain it to everyone I meet. I have so many acquaintances through my children. Nursery school, child-rearing support centers, government offices, elementary school, neighbors. I have met so many people that I haven't been able to explain it to everyone. I don't know how many people understand that I can't see very well.

Therefore, whenever I have the chance to talk one-on-one, I make sure to say: “I'm sorry I can't see well and didn't notice you; I'd be happy if you could call out to me.”

“Are you [Name]'s mom? It's [Name]!” (School mom friend)

“Oh! Riko-chan! It's [Name]!” (Neighbor mom friend)

“Hey, [Name]'s mom!!” (Elementary school girl)

On the street, at the supermarket, in the neighborhood.

I feel that the number of people who call out to me has increased.

“By any chance... are you the mom of [Name] who was in the same class at [Name] Kindergarten?”

Today, a mom of my child's former classmate from three years ago called out to me.

I am invisible. You could have easily pretended not to see me, yet you chose not to ignore me and spoke to me instead.

I feel like saying thank you a million times! I want to talk to you again!

Whether I can see or not, whether I notice or not, I want to be able to greet people properly.

Even if you spend years in the same environment, you might end up knowing less about someone you don't interact with than someone who is visually impaired, never knowing their face or voice.

However, strangely enough, even if I cannot see, I sometimes come to recognize people who speak to me often from a distance just by their presence.

We can become close. We can become friends.

I am sorry that I cannot notice you first.

But if you speak to me, I will surely remember you faster. There may even come a day when I can sense your presence and be the one to greet you first.

I am saved by the kindness of those who do not pass me by and choose to speak to me.

Whether I have low vision or hearing loss—no, precisely because I have low vision and hearing loss—I do not want to give up on communicating with people.

My gratitude to everyone who always speaks to me!