I feel dating a blind person is no different then any other person. You learn about that person though trail and error. Mistakes and feelings getting hurt happen with people without physical challenges. Keep the commuication open and I'm sure it wil be fine.

Thankyou for your advice. I really do appreciate it.

I learned to tell some funny blind jokes and personal stories when I meet people and am getting to know them well. It put some folks at ease and bothers others (How dare you not take your disability seriously!). I cultivate the former and avoid the latter.

The problem is one of perception - that of your sister's. Until she sees him as a man and not a blind man, they have no chance of a loving, healthy relationship. I speak from experience. Feel free to PM me if you have more questions.

CherieBonBon couldn't be more right. I understand how tough it must be for your sister - trying to say the right thing in any relationship is tough enough, and that insecurity is only compounded when you are dealing with what can be a sensitive, personal issue like disability.

Coming from experience, it sounds like she could worry less about stepping on emotional land-mines and more about if she can see past his blindness - no pun intended. Everyone is unique and relationships in general are about learning to love a person in spite of their issues. Blindness is just one of ours. Tell her to talk to him about it - again from my own experience, it is important for him to know what page she is on about all this ...

Pass this on to your sister. I tell people, if you want to understand me and my life, blindfold yourself (no peeking!) and try to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich with needing to change clothes and redecorate the kitchen when you are through.

Then enjoy the sandwich either way. THAT is what it's like to be blind - focusing on enjoying the result, not sweating the techniques.

Cherie is SO right.

He's just a guy. So, unless he's got problems beyond blindness, she can say anything she would say to any other guy.

She can say "blind luck" or "I'll see ya later" or if he's handy, "take a look at this door hinge and tell me if you think it's bent?" (this last from personal experience! :-D)

If she wants to learn about specifics regarding traveling with him, she could take a sighted guide course - but not everything you learn in a sighted guide course is right for every blind person. If I put my fiance's hand on a doorknob, he would think i'd gone soft upstairs, because he can find the flippin' doorknob as soon as he finds the car..

I bet she doesn't need to be as worried as she is, AND I bet just asking him direct questions would go a long way towards making her feel better.

Cherie I just loved your analogy of the peanut butter sandwich, I was smiling for ages after i read that

I have been total, legally blind, my whole life, and I can tell your sister we are no different then anyone else. Some blind people just make an issue out of it because its a part of their personality, After you get to know each other, you don't even talk about it, or at least you shouldn't. Our lifestyle can be no different then anyone elses.

For instance, we do computers, I watch or listen to TV, I cook, I clean, I do laundry, I live alone, I do my own grocery shopping, I walk or take the bus pretty much everywhere.

I say there's nothing a blind or visually impaired person cannot do, except drive a car and I've even attempted that before. lol If she's feeling uncomfortable with him being blind first its part of his responsibility to show her that he can function on his own without needing your sisters assistance. I've always dated sighted people, I've never dated a blind or VI person, not that it matters either way, I just never have, most blind people I know prefer dating sighted people for the convenience, but I've always said it shouldn't matter so long as there is love.

She just has to ask herself, does she love him? rather he is blind or not does she love him? if so, then your relationship should be able to make it thru anything. If not, then don't be afraid to break up with him just because he's blind. blind people are no different then anyone else, we're all just normal everyday people, who just happen to be blind thats all. As a person who happens to be blind, I don't want to be treated like anyone else. I don't want special treatment just because I'm blind, but at the same time I don't want to be ignored either.

my opinion on all this, it depends completely on the guys personality. being blind is no excuse not to cook just as an example. For me my independance is very important to me, but for others they may be looking for someone to depend on, everybody is different and your sister has to look at him as a person who just happens to be blind. If he's making his blindness a dramatic event thats a personality flaw not how all blind people are. I don't ignore the fact I have a disability its part of who I am, but I don't make it a big topic of conversation either. I always tell people, if I need help I'll ask for it. If someone askes me for help, its best for me to say "no thank you" the thank you at the end is important, because it never hurts to ask, but you should never just assume he needs help unless he askes for it.

does he use a caine? I don't go anywhere without mine. Even if I'm not using it I fold it up in my holster so its ready if I need it. There are some tips, like for instance, when you sit him at a table of people let him know if there are people sitting at the table too, so he doesn't sit there talking to himself if there's nobody there. lol usually we can tell where the people are, but some blind people can't, but the main thing is just treat him like you would any boyfriend don't give him special treatment or the other way around, just because he happens to be blind. anyone with a disability just wants to be treated like anyone else

As a person who is visually impaired. Cherri pretty much sums it up in a nutshell. I also think & agree with blindmice. My best advice is just be yourself. & keep in mind what they can & can't do.