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ON A SUNNY day in the first lockdown, I remember going to my local Lidl to do the weekly grocery shop. As I was standing in the queue, I heard a voice shout “Get back on the mark – you are too close to me”. I thought the person must have been speaking to someone else.
They then came over and demanded to know why I could not see the mark on the floor. I tried to explain that I had a visual impairment. The woman just responded by saying that having a visual impairment was not an excuse to get out of abiding by Covid rules! Of course, I just hadn’t seen the markings.
Another time, I was in my local post office and, as I wasn’t standing exactly on the designated spot, a man physically pushed me onto it. I asked what was he doing and he said he was putting me in the circle where I needed to stand as I was too close to the person in front of me. Again, I said I had a visual impairment. I was even holding my cane. But he said he had never seen one of those before!
So, it seems for the first person, my visual impairment didn’t align with their views of disability and, for the second person, it would seem that people with a visual impairment are confined to those using a guide dog.
These experiences did leave a mark on me and I found it very hard to go shopping on my own afterwards.
Diagnosis
My story of sight loss begins at the age of 17. The red flags were raised when my older sister went to see an optician for contact lenses so that she could play badminton. She was subsequently diagnosed with retinitis pigmentosa, the name for a group of eye disorders that cause vision loss. It would mean that the entire family would need to have our sight tested.
And, so, it was that I was diagnosed with the same condition. It came as a shock, but also somewhat as a relief. I hadn’t been imagining things after all.
You see, at the time, I was having problems reading small print and looking at the board in school. I was finding it difficult to see in the dark and, if I was going doing a steep hill, or an escalator, I would feel like I was falling into a black hole.
I was told that these problems were due to short-sightedness and I was having to change my glasses frequently. However, it turns out they were all part of life with retinitis pigmentosa.
I did go on to finish my Leaving Cert and followed that up with a Degree in Social Policy and Sociology at Maynooth University. I was doing my Masters in Social Policy and Social Rights last year when Covid struck and I found out that my college campus was being shut down. I remember the anxiety I felt and that I wouldn’t be able to do my course on my own at home.
Additional challenges
Technology can be frustrating and there were many times when I wanted to throw my computer out the window. But I persevered, and thanks to great support from my department, and my disability officer, I got through it and graduated last September.
Apart from having to live differently due to Covid, in the past 18 months my sight has also deteriorated more significantly than I would have expected. Lockdown was challenging enough. Add to that my additional sight loss and it was all taking a heavy mental toll.
I used to be independent and be able to go for a walk on my own. Now, all I have left is my central vision. I have to rely on my mam to go walking with me as I find that I don’t see someone until they are right in front of me.
Sometimes people walk in threes and fours and they expect you to move into single file which is dangerous for me as I have to un-link arms with my mam and may not see if there is a slope or uneven path.
Since the reopening of society, and with outdoor dining becoming more common, that has thrown up new challenges too. I had an incident where I caught my cane in someone’s shopping bag and nearly fell over them sitting at an outdoor table. That was a shock for both of us! Another time I was walking along and two people came out of a premises, didn’t see me coming, and this time I did fall over.
I have been accused of faking my disability. People sometimes think that I can see more than I can. Maybe they think I am doing it to get more assistance.
However, there is a spectrum for vision loss. You may have some sight but need tools to be able to get around safely. I have now started the process to apply for a guide dog as, unfortunately, I don’t feel safe using the cane anymore.
Sometimes people overlook my sight loss which can be an issue. Other times people can’t see past it. It can be a lose-lose situation. But I try not to let it get me down.
Gillian Stafford lives in Trim, Co Meath and is an ambassador for Fighting Blindness’ Retina 2021 Public Engagement Day, which takes place on Saturday 6 November. Aimed at people with sight loss and their families, the conference features motivational talks and updates on the latest treatment advances. Registration is free at www.fightingblindness.ie.
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If I was going to investigate international hacking, I’d definitely get an old guy who can’t use a computer to head the team.
Can Michael O’Leary fly a plane?
O’Leary would certainly be a better choice to head the team.
You suck at analogies. He knows more than most about the aviation industry & business. I’d bet Rudy can barely use a computer, let alone lead a team of hacking investigators.
@Congress Tart: Rudi is a Yes man, put in there to dumb down the staff.
It was between rudi and a 10 year old..
” So we had to get very, very tough on cyber and cyber warfare. It is a huge problem. I have a son—he’s 10 years old. He has computers. He is so good with these computers. It’s unbelievable. The security aspect of cyber is very, very tough. And maybe, it’s hardly doable. But I will say, we are not doing the job we should be doing. But that’s true throughout our whole governmental society. We have so many things that we have to do better, Lester. And certainly cyber is one of them.”
Trump
Congress Tart. Old and not computer literate go hand in hand in your little ageist world do they?
@Bridget O’Hanlon: yes, from experience. It’s not “ageist” – it’s true. Stop being overly PC for no reason.
Your experience is very limited then. No need to throw around the pc football. It’s got nothing to do with being pc. It’s to do with you being ageist and wrong
Doesn’t he have business ties to the Russian government? And the Qataris? And the Iranians?
It’s like asking Fred Flintstone to advise on Nuclear Physics
So who better to look into these improprieties?
Hmmm I dunno…..maybe….someone with expertise in cyber crime….
I don’t know dave usually an honest person would cite evidence when making accusations like that.
We are in a post-truth world, evidence should never be allowed to get in the way of spurious allegations.
Or was that never let the truth get in the way of a good story
@Jason Fallon We could say the same thing about a lot of members of our current government.. but we don’t
@Jason, how misinformed you are, he has been dealing with cyber security issues for years through his private security firm. He has plenty of expertise in the area.
So he has a confict of interest ?
Or you could just have a memory. Remember all the reasons why he couldn’t be secretary of state? https://mobile.nytimes.com/2016/11/16/us/politics/donald-trump-cabinet-rudy-giuliani.html
“Records show Mr. Giuliani has had ties dating to at least 2004 to TriGlobal, a company that has provided image consulting to Russian oligarchs and clients with deep Kremlin ties. They have included Transneft, Russia’s state-owned oil pipeline giant”
@Siegheil Valtazar: So cute the way you jump to Papa Donald’s defence every time, bless your cotton socks! *ruffles hair*
Dave O’Keefe the journals premier Clinton propagandist now super concerned about potential conflicts of interest.
Oh the shock of it all, business people with ties to Russian business, quick run and tell the Guards. Even better just call Joe Biden, I am sure his some will be right up to speed with that sphere of influence. Or maybe Soros, he has some great long-term ties to Russia.
Run away, run away now, the Russians are coming.
Meanwhile in real news, Obama makes the Ministry of Truth a reality.
Obama Quietly Signs The “Countering Disinformation And Propaganda Act” Into Law
Late on Friday, with the US population embracing the upcoming holidays and oblivious of most news emerging from the administration, Obama quietly signed into law the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) which authorizes $611 billion for the military in 2017.
Recall that as we reported in early June, “a bill to implement the U.S.’ very own de facto Ministry of Truth had been quietly introduced in Congress. As with any legislation attempting to dodge the public spotlight the Countering Foreign Propaganda and Disinformation Act of 2016 marks a further curtailment of press freedom and another avenue to stultify avenues of accurate information. Introduced by Congressmen Adam Kinzinger and Ted Lieu, H.R. 5181 seeks a “whole-government approach without the bureaucratic restrictions” to counter “foreign disinformation and manipulation,” which they believe threaten the world’s “security and stability.”
Mikhail, interesting how you and Pádraig change tactics once I produce the article. Both before it saying nah, no way, liar. Now Pádraig has decided that every business man has links to Russia (even though he previously said I was lying about Rudy) and your new tactic is to tie me to a (unt who was in my opinion the best of a bad lot at the last election. If you haven’t noticed I have not been talking about her at all.
They say unnamed statements are like a Cinderella shoe, they only fit those that have the right feet. Others just walk on by knowing the shoe did not fit.
Funny old world
Pádraig, how on earth did that make it through a Republican house and Senate? You almost make it seem like he wrote it and signed it without approval from anywhere else. Also, it may have been news when “Tyler Durden” wrote the article 3 weeks ago.
Pádraig, it was a section of the article I posted a link to which provides the sources. Why ask for proof and then not read it when it’s provided?
@Mikhail Valtazar:
“I don’t know dave usually an honest person would cite evidence when making accusations like that.”
You wrote that did you not? One of the posters seems to have some confusion.
Maybe he left his glasses at home, not sure. Seems to mix up statements with questions to people.
Funny old fellow
Dave all you’ve done is provide an article that proves Mr Giuliani has private business interests like so many other successful people, your bias is then allowing you to draw all kinds of imaginary links.
Mikhail, the bit you’re missing is that’s also all I claimed, that he has business ties to the Russian government and the Qataris and the Iranians. There’s a real link. Where is the part that I imagined?
Pádraig, you do know people can just scroll and see what else he and you said right? You’re some man for editing after the fact.
New edit tools, I must have the wrong version of the app installed.
Scans about, nope no edit tools here.
Pádraig, for a well read individual sometimes it does look as if you can’t read.
“But Mr. Giuliani’s business ties are a major red flag. He built a lucrative consulting and speechmaking career after leaving City Hall. His firm, Giuliani Partners, has had contracts with the government of Qatar and the Canadian company that is building the Keystone XL oil pipeline, and Mr. Giuliani has given paid speeches to a shadowy Iranian opposition group that until 2012 was on the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations.”
Wonder if it is anything like Hillary that sat on the board fo directors to the company working with ISIS. Or the Sadi connection or indeed many of the other, it’s just out foundation getting the coin.
We would not be running double standards, would we?
No, never, that would be hypocritical –
http://www.mintpressnews.com/hillary-clinton-served-on-the-board-of-a-company-who-funds-is/219060/
Newsflash: Hillary didn’t win, Trump did. I don’t think you’re quite seeing the difference between the judgement of a private citizen and that of a person heading an investigation potentially into actions of his former business partners.
If it was fine during campaign time it would have been fine during office. There are ties to all kinds of weird and smelly places in the current office, the previous office, and the next office. It is all straws, writ large because some people have their nose out of joint.
You say that as if I said it was OK, I didn’t. So your stance is that it’s OK because it’s happened before? I’m saying surely there’s someone with less “sensitive” connections that can do just as good a job.
Anyone can start a company in any given field and come up with a shoddy website to boot. Doesn’t mean that they’re in any way an expert in that field.
Some might say ‘sensitive’ other might say understands the business and cultural environment better. Unless, of course, you cast aspersions on his character due to third party connections and speeches. Now that would be some underhanded sentiments.
There’s plenty of factual evidence out there about Giuliani’s character if you’d care to look. But you’re to blinkered to see it. You claim not to be a Trump supporter but you’re here every day defending his every move. Are you really saying that a guy with friends in the Kremlin is the best person to investigate hacks that his boss believes were ordered by the Kremlin and other countries?
@Dave O Keeffe:
Of course Padraig supports Trump – Padraig is the Kremlin’s man on the Journal, and Trump is the Kremlin’s man in the US.
Feel free anytime to highlight where I have supported Trump – and don’t forget that pesky content you all hate so much that again highlights how wrong you are. But sure, spurious is the player’s card of so many of the soundbite pundits.
Funny enough the narrative your ilk push some say is just giving wind to his sails.
The Deep State Goes to War with President-Elect, Using Unverified Claims, as Democrats Cheer
IN JANUARY, 1961, Dwight Eisenhower delivered his farewell address after serving two terms as U.S. president; the five-star general chose to warn Americans of this specific threat to democracy: “In the councils of government, we must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex. The potential for the disastrous rise of misplaced power exists and will persist.” That warning was issued prior to the decadelong escalation of the Vietnam War, three more decades of Cold War mania, and the post-9/11 era, all of which radically expanded that unelected faction’s power even further.
This is the faction that is now engaged in open warfare against the duly elected and already widely disliked president-elect, Donald Trump. They are using classic Cold War dirty tactics and the defining ingredients of what has until recently been denounced as “Fake News.”
Pádraig, your comments on this article are you supporting him and his choices. Even going as far as to use deception to do so. So, hey, I found you supporting Trump, scroll to see it. Yesterday you edited a quote of his so as to actually change the meaning of it so you could use it to prove he didn’t say what he did say. I’d also like to point out that “my ilk” I questioned his business ties. Then you questioned the business ties of a private citizen. So you might want to take notice of yourself being of similar ilk.
So cyber terrorism and foreign governments hacking US organisations is a thing now? I thought it was all Fake. Donald… Donald… Donald were you lying?
Strawman argument. Sad!
Mikhail: Kek! Happy!
He also hasn’t a clue whatsoever how to tackle cyber terrorism/hacking. clown
Giulianai has been dealing with cyber security issues for years through his private security firm. He has plenty of expertise in the field.
@Mikhail Valtazar: You seem to be the person that seems to know a thing or two..Can you provide exactly what his company does? Thanks in advance.
He’s spending too much time out in that field when he should be inside, learning how to use a computer.
@Francis Mc Carthy:
No mention of cyber security services on Giuliani’s website. Still, I’m sure Mikhail knows best…..
http://www.giulianisecurity.com/index.php/us/services
@Avina Laaf:
I was hoping that I could pass some great news onto this Zak guy,but alas, it looks like Mikhail vanished into the night
I’ll leave your mans details on here… just in case..
https://medium.com/@zackwhittaker/how-to-contact-me-securely-38dc5c5bc756#.m0dhzjf6i
Watch the documentary called “zero days” cyberterrorism is scary stuff
The latest on Donald’s, ahem, favourite past-times! http://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/real-life/news-life/twitter-is-drowning-in-a-goldenshower/news-story/17f297c7c86510cf986011201ab88d85
I heard Hilary likes to watch
Giuliani – LOL & OMFG – This is the same wizard that moved the emergency command center to the Twin Towers AFTER the first terror attack in ’93.
Family mob ties, first wife was his second cousin, allowed his mistress to use the nypd as a taxi service, the list goes on
Call in the geriatric swat team. Headed up by the high tech minded Rudy!…..Eh,I think not.He dosent even know how to turn on a computer
Old grey ‘mare he ain’t what he used to be
The same Rudi who claimed there wasn’t a terrorist attack on united states soil until Obama took office?
The wind industry are hacking my phone trying to find out about planning law. If I could help it I would have nothing private on the internet, but I have to do a lot of stuff there. Some fine day hackets will get into the bank accounts and then there will be mayhem
What on earth are you on about?
I posted there now, but it does not appear to have loaded for some reason.
Call, on a serious note, is everything OK?
*Val
Anyone see the add where Trump is flogging a ‘perfume’ and Gulianni is dressed as a transvestite? Trump nuzzles his/her ‘breasts’. Really weird.
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