- [Tommy] You know what's great?
You sound just like you do on your videos.
(Tommy laughs)
- So do you.
(note swooshes)
(upbeat music)
- Today we're gonna explore the differences
of someone who's blind since birth like myself,
or somebody who's lost their sight later on in life
like Christine has.
- I lost my vision in my twenties,
but it was very gradual.
So it was over time,
like maybe seven years.
And then it's at the level it is now,
which is counting fingers in both eyes,
or I just see like,
a lot of shadows and maybe some shapes.
(upbeat jazz music)
- [Ben] How much do you visualize in your mind?
- I still visualize quite a bit.
I think that translates into the way I plate food, as well.
I think for me, it's memory.
And I visualize everything in my head,
the image of it,
and then I replicate it with my hands afterwards.
I think I still use images a lot in my brain.
- I don't know if I visualize anything.
When I see something in my mind,
I imagine what it feels like,
what it smells like,
you know, those kinds of things.
So, for example,
if you were to say like,
I don't know,
a plate of food,
like a steak and some potato and veg on the plate.
I could imagine it,
but I don't necessarily see it.
I know what it feels like.
Does that make any sense?
- It does to me.
(Tommy laughs)
(pleasant music)
- [Ben] Do you turn on the lights at home
when you're alone?
- Yes, I do.
Because I think,
I still have a little bit of vision,
so there's kind of a sweet spot.
If it's too bright,
it's very hard for me to see.
My pupils are always very dilated
because it's always trying to let in more light.
Because it's thinking like,
"Why can't your brain read this?"
So it needs more light, it needs more light.
But on the same end,
like if it's very dark,
I can't see anything and I'm not used to that.
So I will turn on a dim light,
for example,
when I'm home alone.
- I never turn the lights on when I walk in the house.
I never do!
'Cause I never think about it.
And my other problem is that,
I'll forget to turn 'em off.
(Tommy laughs)
So.
Now, if people are comin' over,
I'll forget.
And then when they walk in the house,
they'd be like,
"Hey, can we put on some lights in here?"
And I say, "Of course!"
You know,
but other than that, no,
I never use the lights when I'm alone.
- That's good,
'cause your utility bill must be not too expensive.
(Tommy laughs)
- You'd be surprised.
(energetic piano music)
- [Ben] So as someone who's visually impaired,
what would you tell people
so that they would have a better appreciation
for having sight?
- I would say,
really try to be thankful for it.
I would say try to go around like,
for a few hours,
if you can make it.
Blindfolded,
so you kind of understand what it's like
to not have vision.
And then I would say,
go to a lot of art museums.
Appreciate those things
that I'm not so able to appreciate as easily.
Support the visual arts,
watch foreign films.
That would be my advice.
You will miss it when it's gone.
- I think I would tell people to try and use
Accessibility on their phone or their computer.
For a day.
Just try and see what it's like
to not be able to look at the screen,
and to listen to everything,
and to learn how the gestures change on the phone
when Accessibility's on,
when you're using voiceover.
I think that's really powerful.
When you get to experience some of the frustrations
of a site that's not done properly
or an app that doesn't work for you.
- Mmm hmm.
- You know, I think that will really help you
to appreciate your sight.
And yet and you do,
you have a gift,
you have an incredible gift.
Don't take it for granted.
(music fades)
(playful piano music)
(clapboard snaps)
- [Ben] The one about sleeping was really weird.
- Yeah, that was-
- What was it?
- [Ben] How do you know when you're awake or asleep?
(Christine cracks up)
- [man] Really?
- Sure, 'cause my eyes-
See, you don't know Christine,
but my eyes are closed.
- Okay.
- I never open them.
- Uh huh.
- Because I don't-
- But then your brain!
What do you mean how-
Oh, like a sighted person?
Like, are they asking you, Tommy?
How do you know when you're-
- Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
(crew laughs)
- But you're conscious (indistinct).
(Christina cracks up)
'Cause my eyes are closed all the time.
But sighted people don't understand.
They think 'cause my eyes are closed at all time
that I could just fall asleep like that.
- The weirdest comment I got on YouTube,
I just got like,
I think last night.
Where someone said on one of my videos,
they were like,
"Don't tell me you're blind.
Look at the way you eat."
I'm like,
"What, blind people don't eat?"
(Christina and Tommy laugh)
I don't understand what this comment means.
"Look at how you eat your food."
I'm like, "What?
So you think I can't find my mouth 'cause I can't see?"
- [Ben] Yeah, they do think that.
- Yes, they do.
They do absolutely do think that.
- That's so crazy.
- [Ben] The coordination of the aim,
that it's off.
(Christina laughs)
- Yep.
There's a DUI test where they tell you to touch your nose,
put your hand out way far.
- Oh yeah, yeah.
- Extend your arm all the way out and then touch your nose.
- And they think we can't do it.
- Yeah!
- Yeah.