Outside Looking In

Abstract

In this autoethnographic narrative, I reflect on my journey through vision loss and life with visual impairment, which comprises so much more than loss alone. “Outside Looking In” serves as a triple entendre. It signifies a reflection on the internal aspects of my lived experiences. It embodies the barriers that I often feel between me, other people, and activities as I navigate the gap between normal sight and full blindness. It is also an invitation to the reader to view, as an outsider, these reflections through my eyes. Drawing on trials encountered in personal, professional, and academic settings, I hope to evoke awareness of the challenges faced, and to inform recommendations for support and understanding while allowing individuals to maintain autonomy. The account that emerges highlights the shared experiences of another with vision loss and the areas in which they diverge while also detailing a personal journey from frustration to integration, identity reformation, and resilience.