Real Life Heroes
I recently contacted Samuel Sandoval and his wife, Blandina Sandoval, for my interview. Samuel and Blandina are 68 years old and have been married for 45 years. They live in Phoenix and have 3 children and 5 grandchildren. Samuel is a disabled individual. This is my interview with Samuel Sandoval.
Q: What is your disability and how long have you had it?
A: Visually impaired/blindness for the last 13 years.
Q: Are you treated differently than others?
A: Yes, many times I am ignored.
Q: Do you believe that people judge and discriminate against you? Why?
A: Yes, I do. I feel I am excluded from conversations, events, and activities. People choose not to deal with someone who has a disability.
Q: What are some ways in your everyday life that you are judged and discriminated against?
A: In public places, I am seen as an imposition, people stare (according to my wife who has vision) openly as if I am a spectacle. Inadequate oral communication, lack of specific directions or instructions, like, “it’s here”. I don’t know where “here” is without specific direction.
Q: Has someone ever told you something that is judgemental or discriminated against you to your face?
A: Absolutely, on a recent trip to a theatre with my family, I heard, “why do they bring blind people to a movie theatre”. That person was totally unaware that the theatre provides audio description for blind people.
Q: Do people discriminate and judge you directly or do they silently do it? In what ways?
A: Both, repeatedly I am handed a non-braille menu at restaurants. And often people walk away and leave me talking to myself, since they did not tell me they were walking away. The courteous thing would be to excuse themselves, especially from the blind person.
Q: Do you believe that people understand about your disability? Why?
A: Some do and some don’t. Those who
Photo Credit: Bonifacio Ramirez