According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one in four adults or 61 million people in the United States are living with a disability. In October, Norfolk Naval Shipyard (NNSY) joined the country in celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM). The NNSY hosted two events that focused on “invisible disabilities” such as vision loss and blindness.

Guest speaker Dr. Debbie Pfeiffer, Director of Outreach Programs, for the Virginia School of the Deaf and the Blind, discussed the Courtesy Rules of Blindness published by the National Foundation of the Blind. The handbook offers tips for sighted people to reference when interacting with a person who is blind or vision impaired. Here’s an example:

“Understand – I may not recognize your voice. If I don’t know you well, please say, ‘Hi, it’s Sue.’” Another was, “Experience – I probably have years of experience using nonvisual techniques to live my life. Feel free to ask me how I do something, or how best you can assist me if help is needed.”

Please contact SDCB if you are living with vision loss or blindness. We have programs that can improve your quality of life.

“Norfolk Naval Shipyard Disability Awareness Committee ERG Shines a Light on Invisible Disabilities”