If You Could See...

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S1 (Speaker 1)

This is Studio one on Vision Australia Radio.

S2

On this week's Studio One. "If you could see:": we asked people living with a vision impairment what they would do if they could get their sight back or indeed see for the first time.

S3

I think to see a sunset or a sunrise would be something that would be pretty spectacular, particularly given the fact that, you know, feeling the sun on your skin is a wonderful sensation. And if you could maybe integrate that with being able to see it, I think that might be something that would be priceless, but at the same time cost nothing.

S4

I wouldn't know what to do first. I'll probably want to invite my family all over because I haven't seen, as I say, quote unquote, seeing them like I've never seen my wife. I've never seen my kids.

S1

This is Studio One on Vision Australia Radio.

S2

Hello, I'm Matthew. And I'm Sam. And this is Studio one, your weekly look at life from a low vision and blind point of view here on Vision Australia Radio. 

S4

On this week's show...

S2

We talk to our choir of angels, our panel of experts with the way we're meant to put this is experience of living with a vision impairment. The topic up for discussion this week: If you could see - we ask what's the first thing you would do if you were gifted or regifted your sight?

S5

As we always say at this point, please do get in touch with the show. Whether you have experience of any of the issues covered in this episode of Studio One. And wouldn't it be great if you had some of those experiences or if you think there's something we should be talking about? You never know. Your story and your insight may help somebody else who's dealing with something similar.

S2

You can email Studio one Vision Australia.org, That's Studio one at Vision Australia - dot - org.  And we also accept complaints and heckling through the medium of Twitter Vision. Australia Radio can be found at at VA Radio Network and I can be found at Twitter.com slash swinging.

S1

POM This is Studio one on Vision Australia Radio.

S2

Hello there, Sam.

S5

Hello there, Matthew. I've got someone looking over my shoulder, I do believe. Hello, Lizzy, are you there as well?

S6

I am. I am.

S2

You've brought a friend, Sam.

S5

I have brought a friend. And believe it or not, yes, occasionally I find I do have friends.

S6

I was going to say, I'm probably the first friend he's had in quite some time.

S2

It was very kind of you. Are you invoicing the NDIS? That's what I would say. 

S6

Look, before we get charged 60 bucks an hour...

S5

That's pretty good. I've been trying to look for NDIS workers. I might give you a call.

S2

I've heard about you.

S6

A minute late. Don't waste my time.

S2

Look, you could stay in the background for a minute. Lizzie. We're not ready for you yet. I want to talk to Sam first. Sam, I've been abroad.

S5

Who was the broad?

S2

I've been to Budapest in Hungary. One of the great things about living in London is being able to leave London. In fact, actually, we've got Lizzie. We can do this as a test. I have a question. When I lived in Adelaide up until a couple of weeks ago, when you're in London, you know that the nearest foreign country to where you are right now is France. Lizzie, you're in Adelaide, aren't you?

S6

Yes.

S2

Do you know what the nearest foreign country to where you are right now is?

S6

I want to say New Zealand, but don't actually know if that's correct.

S2

Many people do. There are four countries between 1900 kilometres and 2100km away from Adelaide. New Zealand is one of them. Sam, I've asked you this question several times, haven't I? So you know the answer. We.. so Papua New Guinea was my first guess. I've asked over 200 people this question. Every Uber driver gets it. Lizzie you're not to blame. But the answer is actually France, because New Caledonia is the closest foreign place and it's a territory of France. So the closest foreign country to where you are right now is, in fact, France.

S6

Turns out you don't have to go to school to learn new things, do you?

05:10

S2

There you go. I'm giving all the time here, but I say that as a thing. I've asked 200 people in Adelaide and you don't think about going abroad necessarily unless to the obvious places you don't think what's close. But within 2.5 hours I was able to get to a country that looked like something or a city that looked like something out of like one of those Cold War spy films with the big five story buildings and elaborate parliament houses. And the I went to both Buda and Pest, which is the bit either side of the Danube, and they had orange trams from the 1970s and the street furniture was different, the people were different. The food was may. I ordered two totally different things on separate nights and managed to get brown food flavoured with paprika, served with soggy egg noodles, even though I thought I'd ordered two different totally different things. 

But yeah, I mean, you like to travel there. There are discussions at the moment where people are either fans of going abroad when they have a vision impairment or there's a Chris McCausland. The famous blind comedian is currently doing a program about how much he doesn't like to travel. But you land on the side of travel, don't you?

S5

Oh, yes. I mean, you don't necessarily need to see anything to experience it. There's always the smells, the experiences in general. A big fan of the food, of course, as well. What about you, Lizzie?

S6

I'd have to agree with the comedian. I'm not a massive traveller. Yeah, I mean, I like to travel every now and again, but it's not something I live for, really.

S2

Yeah, fair enough. The other thing that got me was the language. So, as you know, Sam, I've got a bit of French, a bit of German, a bit of Russian, and normally I can make my way in cities that look like that. And even though the alphabet's the same, the language was just totally and utterly different. And I felt like I'd been hit on the side of a head with a hammer and lost my ability to to to understand speech. It was yeah, it was quite remarkable experience.

S5

So you haven't done many Slavic or Mongolian languages then, because that's basically Hungarian is a combination of the two.

S2

Yeah. No, no, you'd say that. But of course Russian is a Slavic language and I just didn't have a clue. I really literally couldn't get one word - really, the Hungarian word for "Thank you" is cussing. Where the hell does that come from? I haven't got a clue. Right. Sorry I'm messing about. To business. So this week's show, the title of it, makes me feel a little uncomfortable, to be honest with you. But I think we probably need to explain how it came about. How did we end up doing a show called What Would You Do If You Could See?

S5

Well, it was one of the first ones that I came on board for. And you happen to be speaking to somebody who had actually regained a bit of his eyesight. And I thought, what a wonderful thing to ask people because everyone's got their own answer to that. And so hence I asked a whole bunch of people...

S2

Do you have an answer?

S5

Sam I've got several answers. I mean, the most obvious one, which you're going to hear I'm not even going to mention, but yeah...

S2

It comes up a lot, isn't it? Oh, Choir of Angels have been quite definite about that, I think.

S5

I mean, the main one for me really, and this has actually been a frustration as someone who likes their media is, I would go and see a foreign film. I'd go and see something in a language that I don't speak because it's impossible for me to go and see something like that with subtitles. I recently went and saw Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, and there was a lot of German in the first part of it, and that was frustrating having to get the monocular out, squint through the subtitles and then go, Uh-oh, I've missed a whole bunch of action. So yes, go and see, I don't know, an Italian farce or a French romantic comedy or even a samurai film or something like that. I think that would be the first thing I would do.

S7

Okay.

S2

See, we were allowed we're going to give you a first answer and then you can come back to it at the end. Once you've heard everything else, what would you what's your instinct? What would you first do?

09:11

S6

Right. A single bike on the road. Right. Because I normally ride on the back of a tandem, so if I could see, the first thing I would do is hop on a single bike and go for a very long ride in the hills and maybe not come back.

S2

We'll see whether we agree with that sentiment as the show goes on, Lizzie. All right. So who's up first?

S5

I think you know this one. You were there when we chatted. This is Caroline.

S8

Go out and buy a bloody car. Get behind the wheel. Get my license. And what else would I do? Yeah, no, that's probably the top of my list. I would just love to have that freedom to get behind the wheel and say, See ya and have that independence.

S2

Freedom and mobility coming up again. Lizzie, what do you think?

S6

Oh, brilliant. I like her answer. Yep. I can relate to that one totally.

10:07

S5

One of the things that I would probably do is not just that, but I mean actually go out and see Australia. So get get a car and then yes, it would be nice to do when you've got your own sense of independence. And pretty much everybody in my family has gone and done that.

S2

You've got to exercise your writers and Australian mail to go walkabout. Obviously if you did that, you would probably not tell Heidi before your wife, before you did it, would you? Oh, she can come along. Oh, there's romance for you. Romance is not dead. All right, let's see who's next.

S5

I think you know this one as well.

S2

That's Peter Greco.

S3

Well, I guess the obvious answer is, you know, drive a car. Everyone says that. So scrub that. It's interesting because I kind of hear often about people saying, oh, what a beautiful sunrise or what a beautiful sunset it is. And maybe if if I was to have a Zen moment and I think to see a sunset or a sunrise would be something that would be pretty spectacular, particularly given the fact that, you know, feeling the sun on your skin is a wonderful sensation. And if you could maybe integrate that with being able to see it, I think that might be something that would be priceless, but at the same time cost nothing.

S2

Peter of course has never had sight. Peter Greco Vision Australia Radio Senior Presenter. What a beautiful poetic answer, Sam.

S5

Indeed. I mean, he had sight for, I think it was the first five years or so of his life, but as he said, he doesn't really remember much of it. But yes, I mean, and well, if you're a five year old kid, you're not gonna be looking at the sunset. Sunset. You'll be looking at I don't know. There's my brand new car. Yeah, my red fire engine.

S2

My toy. Yeah. Lizzie, so this gives us an opportunity to ask a question that I always hate asking. What is the nature of your vision? Impairment is one way of asking it. Or how much can you see? And is it something that's new or is it something that you've always had?

S6

Well, actually, I'm totally blind and I have been since birth due to a undeveloped optic nerve, so I've never been able to see. There are occasions where if I happen to be looking in the right spot at the right time, I can see light. But I think that's only ever happened twice or three times in my life.

S7

Wow. Okay.

S2

Yep. Did you like Peter's answer?

S6

I loved it because I love.... I'm the kind of person that loves to be up early before the whole world gets up, you know, peace and quiet and whatnot. And to be out walking with my dog and being able to see the sunrise would be quite an epic thing, I think.

S2

All right. Who's next, Sam?

S5

That would be Matthew Spencer.

S7

Hello, Matt.

S4

I suppose the stock standard answer would be to go and get my driver's license, but no, no, I'll be talking like, long term. As in, like, you've got it back and it would be back forever. Or would it be back to like, a period of time? Take your pick. Okay. If it was back forever, then I don't know. I wouldn't know what to do first. I'd probably want to invite my family all over because I haven't seen, as I say, quote unquote, seeing them. Like I've never seen my wife, I've never seen my kids, or at least properly anyway. So I would love to invite go somewhere and just have it like a celebration dinner type thing or a party or something and just say, I've got my sight back. I can see you clearly now and whatever and have a big shindig type thing. If it was for a period of time, I'll probably do the same thing again, but probably like a smaller one. Like if it was like I said, okay, your sight back for a month. It'll be things like be able to see a movie properly.

S2

Seeing the faces of the people you love. That's quite a good answer and it...

S5

Sam I think that's a very clever one. It had to be edited because Matt likes to be very specific, as you can tell. So we're a "something could be answered in five minutes", he'll change to choose the ten minute answer.

S2

Next up, Belinda Wilson.

S9

Sam, I guess.

S10

It's something you don't think about because I don't think it is a possibility for me, but I would really love to go and get a small print book and sit down and read it. I used to love... I mean, now I'm an audiobook fiend, but I used to love, you know, reading books and the smell of books and the feel of books. And I think that's something I would probably... there's no reason for me to collect books now because I can't read them. But I would probably stop being, you know, a book collector. That would be something, you know, it's probably better that I don't have all my eyesight back because I'd lose all my money on that pretty quickly.

S2

Ah, the lovely Belinda Wilson. She's on next week's show, by the way. She is, of course, Vision Australia's employment guru. But we just like having her on because she is just a bundle of energy. Reading Sam, You still read, don't you?

S5

I do. Um, but yes, I've been known to actually get newsprint on my nose when I get stuck in a book because again, in reading closer and closer and closer, then the nose brushes up against the print. And even when I've got severe eyestrain, I'll keep on reading. But I like I like it, but it is a chore. So yeah, I can understand that one perfectly well. And Heidi actually came up with a similar sort of answer, but hers was to sit and read on a train.

15:26

S2

Yeah, I love that answer. It's like to not look like somebody weird. You know, I've seen a couple of photos of myself recently looking at my mobile phone and I go, You just look like, Are you an audio book fan, Lizzie?

S6

I am. I love listening to books. I love I used to love reading Braille when I was in school. Unfortunately, I've not got any Braille books to read recently, although I should get back into the habit of it, but I love reading.

S2

What's your current audiobook? What's on? What's on your phone at the moment?

S6

Oh, I'm actually revisiting the Harry Potter series.

S11

Oh, yes.

S2

Oh God, no. Please. No.

S5

No. There's a man with children.

16:04

S2

Oh, God, please. So I've got 11 year old twins, Lizzie and twin girls, Charlotte and Wizzy. And we have three Alexas in our house. And every morning when they leave for school, I have to go round to the room each room and go. Alexa, stop! Alexa, stop, Alexa, stop! As he is, Stephen Fry reads three different Harry Potter books in my house at the same time. It is so painful. I cannot even describe it. I want you know, I'm English. I'm about the right age. There were points in my life where I wanted to be Stephen Fry, but now I'm going to hunt him down and kill him. It's that simple. And the other thing is he's the only person who's allowed to read audiobooks these days. So when I wanted to Audible were offering the whole of Sherlock Holmes for one one token and Stephen Fry reading it unbearable. And then I thought, I really need to revisit 1984 by George Orwell. Oh God, no. Downloaded it. It's Stephen Fry, so I can't stand him. And I'm glad you're enjoying it, but please, please keep your headphones on.

S6

I will. All right.

S2

Let's see who's next.

S5

We have Kirsten. Kirsten Busby.

S6

To be honest.

S12

I don't know. I'd actually probably go and get my plates, to be honest.

S5

That's been a popular one.

S12

Well, I mean, there's some days as a blind person where I want to go and do something, but I have to wait for a taxi to come and get me. Or if I'm in a city, then I've got my guide dog with me. Then I think you've probably heard about this all the wonderful epic refusals you can get. So it's like factoring in time to do of that. Whereas if I can just jump in the car and take myself somewhere, that'd be great.

S5

Yeah, I used to have it when I was studying at university. I was also training as well, so I would have to actually take my books and my running shoes with me, which was not necessarily a particularly good thing. When you opened up the bag to get the books out in your head. My running shoes there.

S12

Okay. And then you have your running shoes out to get your books out. And it's like if you had a car, you could just throw it on the back seat and be done with it.

S5

Exactly.

S2

Kirsten Busby giving the answer that well, I think I would probably give if I were asked the question, which is, drive a car. Similar answer from our next punter who's coming up next.

S5

This is a trick actor extraordinaire, Lockie Wallace, who, by the way, you will get a chance to meet next month.

S2

Of course I will. Yes. I'm going to the IBSF, the International Blind Sports Association games in Birmingham to meet the Cricket team, amongst others. Do you know what I saw on their website today? They've got, there's an archery competition. I'm very much looking forward to the blind sports archery competition. That's going to be one of my highlights, I think.

S5

Stand in the right direction.

S2

Yeah. No, no. Behind. Yeah, behind the glass. I'll watch it on telly.

S13

Oh, look, I think one of the first things I do was probably very probably drive a car on the road as well. Obviously he meant to go and get your licence, but yeah, probably drive a car would be one of the first things and then maybe just go. Probably go and just I guess look at different things that I see in my everyday life and just, and try and notice the difference because I guess that's probably the hardest thing. Being vision impaired at times is not knowing. Guess what others can see. So, you know, if I'm this far away from this person, can they see what I'm doing and and things like that?

S2

Cool. So that was lucky. He said he would go and look at all the things. In his life around him, to familiarise himself with them. That's a great answer. That's the most grown-up answer we've had. 

S5

I think it is. I mean, and I think when you've had the same sight your entire life, you don't actually know what normal sight is. And it's difficult to sort of even picture it. Maybe the first thing that a lot of vision impaired people would be doing, if they did get their sight back, would be just sitting absolutely stunned going, Oh my God, I can see a spider on that wall. Oh my God, look at that. There's cracks.

20:15

S2

Trees have leaves. Yeah, that kind of thing. Look, there are three types, aren't there? There are people who like you, Lizzy, who were born without sight and constantly not had sight. There are people like you and me, Sam, who were born with little sight. And our condition has been constant. And then there are people who have lost sight. And we've asked this question of many people over the last couple of years, and every single one of them has come up with an answer. 

Now, the interesting thing is, and I did beta somewhat, we've had a contribution from I would call her a friend, a friend of a friend. Her name is Rebecca. And I sent her a message because I wanted her perspective because I knew she might have something, something different to say about this. Rebecca is hard of hearing and I may have, you know, sold this to her is I've been backed into a corner. I've been made to ask this question. I wonder what you think of it, the idea of getting your obviously for us vision back or for the first time or sense. And of course there is a different approach in the deaf community. Here is what she said: I've never had full hearing, but I'm not sure that's a helpful thing to ask about. I think people need reminding that it is society that disables someone, so it's pointless asking what you would do. Surely if society was inclusive you wouldn't miss out. I also don't like the implication that you have a less full life when you're disabled. Again, it's society slash infrastructure that disables us. We don't disable ourselves. What point are they trying to make? This could be really upsetting. I feel like they're trying to make a sob story out of your experience. Ha! When can I listen? The interesting thing, isn't it, Sam? It's nobody who we asked who has a vision impairment went down that path. Did they.

S5

No. And I mean, this will be interesting because one of the things we're asking Lizzie to do is ask the same questions to some of her circle of friends and see what we come up with. So it would be interesting to see if we get any different answers, really. But I think that the nature of our disability means that we can tell what we're missing out on the other disability groups often don't miss out on things. I mean, we're the only one that can't get a driver's license come what may, whereas it depends on your the degree of disability that you have. Then anybody, any other any other disabled person could get a driver's license. I think I can tell that that's the big thing.

S2

I think we need to throw this out: as I say, we're on Twitter at at VA Radio Network. You can email us Studio One at Vision Australia.org. I have nothing in terms of opinion to say about this one, but I will just note the fact that people we have spoken to on this show, like Rebecca, who are disabled in a in a mobility kind of way or have hearing issues, they are often quite shrill at waving their fists in the air and saying, you know, I mean, we always say our disabilities don't define us, but the idea that it's society that's got it wrong rather than actually, you know, saying the question is patronising, not a single vision impaired person has gone, Oh no, that question is patronising. I'd rather stay blind. What do you think, Lizzie?

S6

I don't think society can help our disability. I mean, being a vision impaired person, I mean, you can't just give a driver's license to a vision impaired person because it's inclusive. You know, I don't think it's society's issue.

S7

I quite agree.

S6

Ones that were born with the disability or came by the disability think it's up to us to make of life what we have, although what we can although I do agree with her statement that to imply that our lives are less full than those who are fully sighted or fully fully of hearing, that's not true. I mean, a lot of us live very full and productive and meaningful lives. So I think I agree with her on that point.

S5

I don't think it's the point of the question, though. I mean, the whole whole thing is, is that I mean, it's very... that people do regain their eyesight. It just it's extremely rare. So, I mean, it's always a nice hypothetical to think. Wouldn't it be nice if it's kind of like, what if I won $1 million? It's like, I don't think I'm going to win $1 million. But I mean, hey, you know, what would you do if you want $1 million? That's the kind of thing there. So... and I'm not hoping that I suddenly get my eyesight back because it probably won't happen. It's just an interesting thought. Exercise. Yeah.

25:08

S2

Drop of a hat. I'd take it. No messing about. Right. That's your lot for this week. Thank you to our choir of angels and of course, to Lizzie. Lizzie, you were marvelous. You can come back anytime you like.

S6

Thank you. You got 60 bucks in it all.

S14

We only.

S6

Bought it. That's the question.

S2

We cannot afford you. Oh.

S5

And of course, thank you for listening.

S2

Next week, we'll be talking about getting onto the career ladder when your vision impaired with vision. Australia's resident employment guru, who you've heard already in the last half hour, Belinda Wilson.

S5

Between now and then, please do get in touch with the show whether you have experienced any of the issues covered in this episode of Studio One or if you think there's something we should be talking about. You never know. Your story and your insight may help somebody else who is dealing with something similar.

S2

You can email Studio one at Virgin Australia called Studio One at Virgin Australia. Org and you can find us on Twitter. The radio station can be found at at Radio Network and can be found at twitter.com slash whingeing POM Vision.

26:11

S1

Australia Radio gratefully acknowledges the support of the Community Broadcasting Foundation for Studio One.