What Do You Do All Day? Understanding Life Without Sight
Over the last few days, I’ve shared some pretty deep posts on my blog. Today, I thought it would be good to lighten things up a little. While today’s topic is still educational, it’s a bit more lighthearted compared to some of the heavier subjects I’ve tackled recently.
One of the questions I’ve been asked over the years — and one that many blind people hear — is: “What do you do with your day?” It’s often asked with a sense of genuine curiosity, though sometimes the tone people use can come across as a little incredulous. It’s almost as if they can’t imagine how a blind person could fill their time. Sometimes it can sound a little insulting, but I try to remind myself that most people simply don’t understand what living without sight is like. They aren’t trying to be rude — they’re just unfamiliar.
But here’s the thing: life still has necessities. Taking care of ourselves is a necessity. Living life is a necessity. And we find ways to do that, just like anyone else. My fiancé, Josh, and I were both born blind. From a young age, we were taught how to do things — just like any other child — although sometimes the learning process looked a little different because of our lack of vision. (That’s a topic for another day!)
The truth is, blind people live full, normal lives. We do many of the same things that sighted people do. Every person — blind or sighted — lives a life shaped by their own experiences, coping methods, and circumstances. Just like not every sighted person is the same, not every blind person’s life looks the same either.
In this post, I want to offer a glimpse into how we navigate daily life and the tools and strategies that help us along the way. It’s not about portraying all blind people the same way — it’s simply my experience and a chance to help bridge the gap in understanding. We’re just people, like everyone else — living, adapting, and finding joy in our lives.
Let’s take a look at a few areas of daily life you might not have thought about — starting with transportation!
Transportation and Mobility: Getting Around Without Driving
One of the first things that often surprises people about life without sight is transportation. Since we can’t drive, getting from place to place looks a little different for us — but that doesn’t mean we’re stuck at home! Like many blind and visually impaired people, my fiancé Josh and I have learned to navigate the world using a mix of tools, services, and determination.
Guide Dogs and Canes
Josh and I both navigate primarily with our guide dogs. My dog, Vicki Jo, is my fourth guide dog, and she comes from Leader Dogs for the Blind in Rochester, Michigan. Out of my four guide dogs, three have come from Leader Dogs, and one came from Guide Dogs Inc., formerly Southeastern Guide Dogs.
There’s sometimes a misconception that guide dogs automatically “know” where to go — but that’s not true. The handler must know the route, and the dog’s job is to follow commands, avoid obstacles, and safely guide the handler along the way. They help find doors, stairs, elevators, and curbs, but they don’t independently choose destinations. It’s a partnership built on communication, training, and trust.
Guide dogs can accompany us to almost any public place. However, there are situations where it’s not safe or appropriate to bring them — such as loud concerts, fireworks displays, certain medical areas like surgical suites or intensive care units where strict sterilization is required. In those cases, or if for some reason using a dog isn’t practical, we fall back on our long white canes for mobility, which I used extensively before I started working with guide dogs.
Using Public Transportation
In Traverse City, we primarily use the Bay Area Transportation Authority (BATA) services, especially their Link service. The Link is an on-demand, curb-to-curb transportation system available throughout Grand Traverse County. Unlike some places where you must qualify for paratransit services based on disability, anyone can use the Link here — although disabled riders, seniors, and students pay a reduced fare ($3 instead of $6).
In many cities, people who cannot use regular public buses due to disabilities rely on something called paratransit. Paratransit services are specialized transportation options that require riders to apply and qualify based on medical needs. If you’re curious about how paratransit works nationally, you can learn more from this guide by the National Aging and Disability Transportation Center.
Booking a ride with BATA Link can be done through their app or by calling dispatch. Typically, you schedule rides a day in advance, but on some occasions — if space is available — same-day bookings are possible. For example, this past Christmas, my mother was unfortunately in the hospital at Munson Medical Center here in Traverse City. I had to call to arrange a special ride because holiday schedules meant fewer buses were running, but thanks to the helpful staff, I was able to visit her on Christmas Day.
It’s important to note that while many paratransit services require a formal approval process with interviews and documentation, BATA Link only required basic proof of disability without a complicated qualification system. However, rides are shared — meaning you may travel with other passengers — and pickup windows are about 30 minutes long. If your pickup is scheduled for 10:00 AM, your ride could arrive anytime between 10:00 and 10:30.
Transportation Beyond the City
Traveling outside Traverse City brings more challenges. Options like Indian Trails or Greyhound buses exist but are expensive and not always convenient. Sometimes we rely on family members to pick us up — my mom lives in Mesick, and if we want to visit her, she often comes to get us. Technically, you can transfer from BATA to Wex Express for trips to areas like Mesick, but it’s a multi-step process that requires careful planning, especially with luggage.
Challenges with Uber and Lyft
While ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft are helpful in larger cities, they’re far less reliable here. When I lived in Tampa, Florida, getting a ride was usually fast and easy. In Traverse City, however, rides are hit-or-miss, especially outside of peak times. This is a common issue in smaller cities where the driver pool is much smaller than demand would sometimes require.
Crossing Streets and Parking Lots
Another major piece of mobility is safely crossing streets. From a young age, we’re taught to use intersections, crosswalks, and traffic signals — not to cross randomly or “jaywalk.” Mobility instructors teach us to listen carefully to traffic patterns: for example, when parallel traffic (the cars moving in the same direction we want to go) starts moving, that’s our signal that it’s usually safe to cross. We rely heavily on the sound of engines, the direction of traffic flow, and often the feel of the environment around us.
Parking lots present a special challenge. Big open parking lots can feel disorienting without visual landmarks, and cars often don’t pay close attention to pedestrians. According to the National Safety Council, parking lot crashes injure over 60,000 people a year (nsc.org). Without clear paths or crossing aids, blind individuals often have to rely on their dogs, canes, or assistance from others to navigate safely through these areas.
Public Transportation in the U.S. vs. Other Countries
It’s worth mentioning that public transportation is not as widespread in the United States as it is in many European and Asian countries. In cities like London, Paris, and Tokyo, robust public transit systems are a normal part of life for everyone, not just people who can’t drive. In the U.S., however, driving is much more central to daily life, which can make independence harder for people who don’t drive — including many blind individuals.
Different Levels of Travel Independence
It’s also important to know that there’s a wide range of independence among blind travelers. Some blind people — especially those who lost their vision later in life, or who live in cities with great public transit — are very independent travelers, navigating busy streets and complicated bus systems with ease. Others, like myself, find it more challenging, depending on factors like how busy the streets are, how familiar the environment is, personal confidence, and individual training. Just like sighted people vary in driving skills and comfort levels, blind people vary in travel confidence and strategies, too.
Real-World Experiences
Sometimes, even simple activities like entering a store or a restaurant involve extra steps. If Josh and I go shopping, we often have to request assistance finding items on the shelves. Apps like Seeing AI can help scan barcodes or read signs, but relying on them for a full grocery trip would be extremely time-consuming. We’ve learned that sometimes simply walking around a space until someone notices you need help is the most effective method.
Ultimately, adapting is a daily part of life. Whether it’s booking a ride, crossing a parking lot, or finding our way through an unfamiliar restaurant, we find ways to navigate. You just do what you have to do — plain and simple.
Technology and Staying Connected
Why Technology Matters
Technology has made it possible for Josh, me, and so many others with visual disabilities to live more independently than ever before. It helps sighted people too, of course, but for us, it’s truly life-changing.
I’ve been living on my own since 1993, and in that time, technology has evolved so much. Today, my iPhone is more than just a phone — it’s my weather radio, my way to read books, my music player (although I also use Alexa devices for that), and even my tool for scanning and reading printed materials. It’s how I find information and stay connected with the world.
When I got my first iPhone in 2013, I was nervous about learning to use a touchscreen. A friend of mine, who is older and not particularly technical, reassured me. She told me, “If I can learn it, you can learn it.” She also said something I’ll never forget: once I had an iPhone, I would wonder how I ever lived without it. She was right — and so were the others who encouraged me.
In the sections that follow, I’ll share how technology has changed my life and the lives of others, making so many things easier and opening up new possibilities we once could only imagine.
Staying Organized
Organizing daily life becomes even more important when you’re juggling appointments, trips, pets, and busy schedules! While I mentioned the Calendar app earlier, there are other tools I rely on to help me stay on top of everything.
For alarms and reminders, I’ve used my iPhone ever since I got it in 2013. I use the built-in Clock app to set alarms, especially for waking up or remembering special events. I also use Alexa devices for setting timers, simply because the iPhone’s built-in timer only allows you to set one timer at a time. (If you have an Apple Watch, like I do, you can set multiple timers more easily through the Watch.)
One of the most useful tools for me is the Reminders app. I use it constantly to set up alerts for things I need to remember, like:
- Booking my BATA trips to choir rehearsal and church each weekend.
- Changing the filters for my CPAP machine once a week — especially important with two guide dogs and a cat in the house!
- Changing the CPAP mask pillows every two weeks to keep everything clean and healthy.
As life has gotten busier here in Traverse City, having reminders pop up at the right times has been a huge help. Plus, as I jokingly tell my family — a little extra help remembering things never hurts when you’re managing a house full of schedules, choir practices, and furry friends!
Entertainment and Learning
Entertainment and learning are a big part of daily life for Josh and me — and thanks to technology, we have lots of options right at our fingertips!
We don’t currently have a TV set up. I do own a small 24-inch television that a friend kindly gave me a couple of years ago for Christmas, but because our apartment is about 600 square feet, we decided not to hook it up for now. Honestly, it’s just as easy — and often easier — to use our iPhones, especially when paired with our Alexa devices.
We are definitely an Alexa family! We have a few Echo Dots, a large Echo speaker, and an Echo Show. I often connect my iPhone to the Alexa devices via Bluetooth to play music, books, and audio content. One of our favorite sources is a website called AudioVault.net, where you can download descriptive videos in MP3 format — perfect for us, since we don’t need to see the screen to enjoy the story.
We also use Netflix, which offers a large selection of audio-described content for visually impaired users. Watching shows with audio descriptions makes a huge difference and really opens up entertainment choices.
Audible is another app I use a lot. Audible is fully accessible and offers a vast selection of audiobooks. It’s wonderful to be able to pick up my iPhone and read a book anywhere — whether I’m waiting at a doctor’s office or relaxing at home. Years ago, carrying around large braille books or heavy cassette machines from the National Library Service made it a lot harder to enjoy books on the go. Now, with a phone and a pair of Apple AirPods, it’s easy and convenient.
Spotify is another favorite. I love being able to start music or an audiobook on my iPhone and seamlessly transfer it to an Alexa device whenever I want. Spotify’s flexibility makes it a go-to choice when we’re at home or out and about.
I also use Voice Dream Reader to read documents and books, and BARD Mobile from the National Library Service, which provides free access to thousands of audiobooks for eligible users. Both apps are highly accessible and make it easy to read anytime, anywhere.
We also enjoy YouTube for entertainment and educational videos. I’ve had subscriptions to Apple TV+ and Amazon Music at different times, both of which work well with iPhones and Alexa devices. Amazon Music is especially convenient because it integrates so naturally with Alexa, but you can also use Apple Music with Alexa if you prefer.
Overall, our iPhones and Alexa devices handle most of our entertainment and learning needs. Whether it’s listening to music, catching up on favorite shows, reading books, or finding new information online, technology has truly made it easier for us to stay connected to the world and enjoy life to the fullest.
How Technology Levels the Playing Field
One thing I want to make clear is that just like sighted people, not all blind people use technology in the same way — or even use it much at all. There’s always a learning curve with any new tool. Personally, I love technology, but not everyone feels the same, and that’s okay.
In our household, I’m definitely the technology person. If Josh runs into a tech problem, sometimes he’ll ask me for help — or sometimes I’ll hear him struggling and offer to assist. Sometimes he’ll want to try it on his own, but if he gets frustrated, he’ll laugh and say, “I’m getting impatient — you do it!” We all have different strengths: Josh is the weather expert in our house, and he has an incredible memory. I happen to be the tech nerd. We balance each other out perfectly.
Technology has always come pretty naturally to me, and I enjoy learning new things. Some people only use technology when absolutely necessary because they find it frustrating or intimidating — and that’s perfectly fine. It’s the same with sighted people: some love technology, and others prefer simpler ways of doing things. We’re all just people, doing what works best for us.
For example, when I want to cook something today, I can use an app like Be My Eyes to quickly read directions — whereas years ago, I would have needed someone to physically come help me label everything. Tools like ChatGPT also help me research things more efficiently than a traditional search engine ever could. (In case you’re not familiar: ChatGPT helps narrow down information, answer specific questions, and make research much more accessible — especially for people using screen readers or other accessibility tools.)
These technologies mean I don’t have to leave my home to find someone to read something for me or answer a question. I can use Be My Eyes, Aira Explorer, or even ChatGPT’s new voice mode to explore and learn independently. And these tools keep getting better every day — I’m excited to see where the future of technology will take us.
Technology has truly revolutionized my life — and the lives of so many others. While I never push people to use it if they’re not comfortable, I do try to share how much it can empower people if they choose to give it a chance. Like everything else in life, it’s a personal journey — and we all walk it differently. But there’s no doubt in my mind that technology helps level the playing field in ways we could only have dreamed of a few decades ago.
Conclusion
Education is very empowering, and learning about one another is so important. I want to thank you — if you’ve read this far — for taking the time to learn about how visually impaired people live their lives. We are just like you; we might simply have to do some things a little bit differently. Thank you for your interest, your openness, and for being part of the journey toward greater understanding.
Notes from the edge of the system 