To Table of Contents that simply was something I had to deal with in ways that let me compensate for not seeing . There are work-arounds on which I have relied throughout my life for this compensation . Listening is an enormous key . People pay very little attention to their own voices , for example , and one who pays a lot of attention to voices can acquire a lot of information about a person he or she doesn ' t even realize they are divulging . Are there cues I might have noticed had I been able to see someone , of course , but I never have seen , I always have had to make up for visual cues that may not be known to me , and I have not beat myself up over what I cannot control , might be missing , to the possible exclusion of what I can control . Reading available background information was very important , too .
( 4 ) A fourth challenge was understanding the physical layout of a space . It might have been where an important object was located and how it operated within the location . It might have been a new courtroom and how I could operate within it . Taking the time to visit the location and ask questions in advance , taking time to visit the courtroom and walk around in it before appearing for a hearing or a trial were critical to being prepared and being comfortable . Early on I realized preparation was absolutely crucial and I never wanted anyone to think I was not prepared because of being blind . Of course , this also has been true for undertakings outside law practice--music performances , theatrical appearances , presentations of any type .
I have been blind all my life , so I never really thought about approaching law practice in a manner distinctly different than I thought about doing anything else .
I identified what had to be done and then set about doing it in the best way the tools I had would allow . I have been blessed with a good memory , I had a good command of Braille , I sought to be as independent as possible in mastering what I could do without the assistance of others , I insisted on surrounding myself with the best quality support I could obtain , and I always sought to develop and cultivate good networking . Memory was key to smoothly functioning . I always have carried a lot in my head and not counted on just being able to find something or look it up when needed . Many people close a file folder , and the matter is out of sight , out of mind . I never have been able to operate that way . Lots of things come up repeatedly in the practice of law that I always wanted to have at my mental fingertips , looking up was just to make sure . Braille was how I kept notes for years , using the slate and stylus and Perkins Braillers , and even after not having to do that exclusively , I still used Braille heavily . It was necessary for taking notes in court and for setting down arguments I took with me to court , and Braille , after all , was how I learned to read and spell . Reading by ear was not so common when I was growing up as it has become . The huge decline of Braille use is something I regret .
Independence is something I always have treasured : the ability to come and go ( I use a white cane ), to do things around the house or office , to perform as many tasks as possible that my sighted counterparts perform .
The more things one can do with facility , despite some sort of ability challenge , the more likely a disability will be forgotten and that one will be regarded as just another competent contractor , teacher , staff member , home maker , salesman , stenographer , social worker , machine shop employee , vending stand operator , lawyer , etc .; and the less