RIVIERA BEACH, Fla. (CBS12) — Social distancing is tough for everyone.
For the blind and those with visual impairments, it takes a lot of adjustment.
Erica Thomas, of Riviera Beach, is among those adjusting to limited touching under the COVID-19 restrictions and it’s extra challenging for her.
“My right eye, I see nothing. Nothing at all," she said.
The 41-year-old also lost some of her vision on her left eye 19 months ago.
A trip to the grocery store is not easy now.
Thomas, and those who are visually impaired, rely on their hands to find and get what they need.
Some even carry tools like a hand-held magnifier.
“What it does, it enhances things, it blows it up for me to see it better. For me to read it better,” Thomas said.
At this time though, Thomas cannot go to the store for herself since it puts her health at risk.
“At this time with this quarantine, I text my daughter my grocery list and she picks it up,” Thomas said.
Having groceries delivered is another option.
Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches, a nonprofit organization, suggests asking for a store manager, and a worker can do the shopping for them.
“Blind people are very tactile. If they don’t have a cane or if they don’t have a dog, they have to hold on to a human, and then they’re breaking the 6 feet rule,” said Mary Allen, director of Lighthouse for the Blind of the Palm Beaches.
The organization is a lifeline for those who need help adjusting to social distancing.
They offer lessons and even counseling because they know this is a hard time.
“Once you become visually impaired, it’s a whole different mindset. With that mindset, you have to find a way to overcome those barriers and not allow those barriers to overcome you,” Thomas said.
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