What Does a Blind Man Look Like

This is me. I’m six foot four inches tall, probably about three hundred pounds and blind. I’m told everyday that I don’t look blind. I’m really not what you’d expect too see when you see a blind person.
What do you expect when you see a person of disability? What do you expect to see when you see a blind person?
Stereotypically what does a blind person look like? Sometimes I think people expect to see a person down on their luck living on the street carrying a tin can selling pencils. I wonder if people think I’ve escaped from the institution or wondered away from the person who is taking care of me. The stereotypes for blind people are unkind. Disability, and blindness has been used as a metaphor for many things unflattering. I like to think I am none of those things.
No matter what your stereotypes might describe me as. No, I haven’t escaped, I’m not a beggar, I’m not listless or shiftless, I don’t have a tin cup full of pencils. I’m a professional person who happens to be blind.
Disabled, visually impaired and blind people are everywhere in society doing everything and anything you’re doing and, no offence, often probably more than your doing.
Challenge your stereotypes the next time you see a disabled person come and say hello we disabled folk are always open for a conversation and a good connection.