Blind viewpoint characters... advice? Guidance? Sensitivity reading?

[Giger_Kitty]

This is such an interesting coincidence. Here’s part of a very recent post in What is everyone’s favourite thing to have on pizza?.

@Mewtamer

Did once pour orange juice over fruit loops or fruit rings without realizing it(I think it was early after I went blind, I was the only one awake in the house, and I hadn’t yet developed the habit of smelling what’s in a milk jug before pouring), not as bad as you might think…

It sounds like exactly the sort of think that you were wanting to know, but it’s not likely to be something you can easily find out about. So bang, now you know your character should have the habit of sniffing open drink containers, and you don’t have to explain why until the end.

There is truly no substitute for finding someone to ask.

Well, there is. It’s awesome reference material. This might also be of some assistance, I guess.

@paul-donnelly

Going to be tricky to maintain subtlety when the player types LOOK.

There’s a bit of a leeway in there, I think. When “examining” stuff, people don’t really expect the result of a proper examination, just the same as “look at thing”.

But there are words which are part of one’s vocabulary and life which may not necessarily reflect their literal meaning. Easiest example, I am atheist but I still say “Oh my God” and “Jesus Christ” when shocked. It’s cultural.

This nice article specifically says,

Before getting into the experience of blindness, let’s take a moment to think about what it means to “see.” For most people, seeing involves taking in visual information through the eyes.

It’s colors, shapes, depth, and light that create our understanding of the world. But when that channel of perception is unavailable, how does someone create their version of reality?

For many blind individuals, seeing takes on a new dimension—one rooted in touch, sound, taste, smell, and intuition. Sight is just one way of interpreting the world; when that’s gone, other senses pick up the slack.

***

For those blind from birth, imagination takes center stage. Imagine a world built entirely from sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. That’s the reality for many blind people. The absence of sight doesn’t limit their ability to “picture” things—it’s just that their picture is constructed differently.

***

Use inclusive language. Say “see” if that’s what feels natural. Blind individuals often use the term themselves (e.g., “I’ll see you later”).

EDIT - Thank you for asking your original question. I find myself fascinated by these articles I’m coming up with.