Trivia Truths About Blindness
- operations7108
- 7 days ago
- 6 min read
Test your knowledge of blindness with our trivia questions!
1. True or false: If someone is legally blind, they can’t see anything.
Answer: False
85-90% of legally blind persons have some vision. What they are able to do with their remaining vision varies so its best not to presume anything.
2. Which of the following is not a myth?
a) Most persons who are blind read Braille
b) Persons who are blind have “super hearing”
c) Persons who are totally blind see only blackness
d) All people who are blind use a white cane or guide dog
Answer: (all of these statements are myths)
Between 7 and 25% of persons who are blind read Braille.
Your other senses do not get more acute biologically, but persons who are blind learn to use their other senses more effectively. Many persons who are totally blind report they see images, shapes, a haze or bright lights. Many persons who are legally blind are able to move around without a white cane or guide dog.
3. Which of the following should you not do when you see a guide dog working?
a) Pet the dog
b) Talk to the dog
c) Talk to the person working the dog
d) Make eye contact with the dog
e) Offer the dog a treat
Answer: (a,b,d,e)
It's okay to talk to the person using the dog but don’t do anything to distract the dog, even make eye contact. Pretend they aren’t there.
4. True or false: Blind persons don’t go to the movies or watch TV because they can’t see the screen.
Answer: false.
Most blind persons enjoy movies especially when there is descriptive Video service (DVS) provided.
5. Which of the following methods do persons who are blind use to acquire information?
a) The Printed word
b) Sign language
c) Braille
d) The spoken word
e) Tactile symbols
Answer: (All of the above)
Many persons who are legally blind have enough remaining vision to read print especially if it is in a larger font. Most persons who are blind rely on audio output but some read Braille.
People who are deafblind can often read American Sign Language tactilely or they use fingerspelling or the two-hand manual alphabet.
6. True or false: An intervenor performs the same function as an interpreter.
Answer: False.
An interpreter translates language while an intervenor also describes elements of a scene.
7. When offering to guide a person who is blind, should you
a) Take a hold of their arm
b) Grab their cane or guide dog handle
c) Take their hand
d) Offer your arm for them to hold
Answer: (d)
Most individuals will choose to hold your arm just above the elbow. Those who are particularly tall may ask to put their hand on your shoulder.
8. What is the employment rate of persons who are blind in Canada?
a) Under 20%
b) 20 - 30%
c) 30 – 40%
d) Over 40%
Answer: (b)
This is only about half the full time employment rate of the general public
9. Which of the following is a myth?
a) Employees who are blind will always need additional help to do their job
b) Accommodations for employees who are blind are very costly
c) Employees who are blind may do tasks differently
d) Employees who are blind will need someone to show them to the washroom
e) Employees who are blind cannot work in buildings with stairs
f) Employees who are blind may need fellow employees to modify how they communicate
Answer: (a, b, d, e)
Once an employee is oriented to their role and the workplace, they will function as independently as other employees. They may need assistive technology and some accommodations. The cost of accommodating a blind employee is typically low, with many accommodations costing nothing at all or less than $500. The average cost of all accommodations is around $1850, according to Canada.ca. A significant portion, over 88%, of employee accommodations cost less than $1000.
10. True or False: People who are blind do not participate in sports.
Answer: False.
People who are blind participate in many different individual and team sports including swimming, running, skiing, curling and more.
11. True or false: You should be careful not to use words such as see and watch when speaking with a person who is blind.
Answer: false
Persons who are blind, deafblind and partially sighted use these terms all the time.
12. Which of the following may a person who is blind use to find their way around inside a building?
a) a white cane
b) a guide dog
c) remaining vision
d) mental mapping
e) audio and olfactory cues
f) landmarks
g) Braille and tactile signage and way-finding
Answer: (All of the above)
Mental mapping is a critical skill for persons who cannot rely on visual cues. The sound of a fan, smell of coffee or a landmark such as a potted plant can alert a person who is blind to their location. Braille and tactile signage on doors is helpful as are high contrast way-finding signs that comply with accessibility standards.
13. Which of the following is the greatest factor contributing to the over 72% unemployment rate of persons who are blind?
a) Lack of awareness of employers
b) Lack of needed skills
c) Lack of credentials
d) Lack of ability to travel to the workplace
Answer: (a)
Negative attitudes and perceptions based on myths and lack of awareness result in the greatest barrier to employment for persons who are blind, deafblind or partially sighted.
14. True or false: A person who is blind can use a computer effectively.
Answer: True
With training, A person who cannot see can do virtually everything on the computer using screen reader technology, and websites that follow accessibility guidelines are easy to navigate without sight.
15. How might a person who is blind, deafblind or partially sighted use their white cane?
a) hold it in front of them
b) sweep it from side to side along the ground
c) tap it from side to side
d) lean on it for support
e) carry it in their backpack
Answer: all of the above
There are three types of white canes:
The ID white cane, which is carried to indicate seeing challenges
the mobility white cane which is used to detect obstacles
the support white cane which is a walking cane which is white, indicating that the person has mobility and seeing challenges.
Some persons who are blind may have sufficient residual vision to navigate without a white cane but may carry one in a purse or backpack in case they run into a challenging situation.
16. Which of the following is not a practical use of the white cane?
a) To indicate that the owner has difficulty seeing
b) To detect and avoid obstacles
c) to detect changes in the walking surface
d) to find doorways and stairs
e) to follow the person in front of them in a line-up
f) None of the above
Answer: (f)
All are ways the white cane can be helpful.
17. Persons who are blind can now use AI technology to do which of the following?
a) Guide them to their destination
b) Read a street sign, product label or printing/writing.
c) Describe their immediate environment
d) Identify the colour of a piece of clothing
e) Privately verify who they have voted for after marking their ballot independently.
Answer: All of the above.
AI technology is a game changer for persons who are blind; giving them independent private access to information not available previously.
18. Which of the following statements is helpful to a person who is blind
a) It's over there
b) I’m leaving the room
Answer: b.
Saying its over there while pointing, is about as helpful as a nod or a wink to a blind horse, as the saying goes. On the other hand, its extremely helpful when you let the blind person you are talking to know who you are and also that you are leaving so they don’t find themselves speaking to thin air.
19. Which of the following does a blind person use to independently determine when to cross the road?
a) Traffic patterns
b) surge of parallel traffic
c) their guide dog
d) audible signals
Answer: all of the above)
Orientation and mobility training teaches the person who is blind how to assess traffic movement, and to cross the street at the same time as parallel traffic using our hearing to keep at a safe distance from that traffic. Guide dogs are not trained to recognize traffic lights but they are trained to disobey an order to move forward if a vehicle is approaching.
Audible signals have different sounds associated with north south crossings and east west crossings.
20. Which of the following statements is true?
a) Persons who are blind can live independently
b) Persons who are blind can be independent World travellers
c) Persons who are blind can use computers as efficiently as sighted persons
d) Persons who are blind can work
e) Persons who are blind can raise a family
f) Persons who are blind can participate in the visual arts
g) Persons who are blind can play sports at a competitive level
h) Persons who are blind are just like you, they just can’t see
Answer: All of the above are true