Help Caitlin Go to Language School

Hello, my name is Caitlin and I am a blind girl trying to pursue her dream of studying Japanese in Japan. My reason for starting this campaign is simple to immerse myself in Japan, its culture and everything it has to offer and in return I will be using my skills of advocation, activism and education to lend my voice in the struggles of the lives of the disabled and LGBT communities.

 

We all have our struggles in life and my story is no different. I have lived a life stuck between gray areas. I was born premature and “legally” blind in which case I was stuck in the gray area of being sighted and blind. Society didn’t and still doesn’t understand that there are variations of blindness. I had enough eyesight to the point I was able to fake my way through the world just enough to the point where no one really knew I was blind unless I told them – I was ashamed of my blindness, ashamed because the norm was being sighted and I was far from the norm and ultimately stuck in a spot where I “wasn’t blind enough” for the majority of society.

 

This all changed one day when I was nearly struck by a forklift while walking through an industrial part at my former work place. I realized that faking it wasn’t safe and started carrying a white cane. I ultimately enrolled in a school for the blind learned proper technique on how to use my cane when traveling as well as a myriad of other valuable techniques such as  reading braille, maintaining a household and upping my game with computer skills. My vision began to decrease and years later I am now completely blind. However, that has not stopped me from the desire to obtain my dream and help those who need help as well.

 

So, if you can spare the time and money, please consider donating to my cause. Remember, if you aren’t able to donate monetarily, sharing of my campaign is also greatly appreciated.