Learning Without Sight Part IV: Signing Your Name

I’m sure that when you sign your name, you do it without even thinking about it. It is just a normal activity; signing forms, checks, etc. But for those without vision, such as me, it is much more difficult. Many visually impaired simply sign with an X and have a witness, but I want to be able to sign my name. I know it will take training, practice and most of all patience (something I’m a bit short on).

First of all, I have to learn the letters. For me, it is like learning a foreign language. I don’t see the letters as you do. When I see an N it is four dots, an I is two dots, a C is two dots in a different order than an I, a K is also two dots in a different order than an I or a C. Mom is using a template, a hard sheet of plastic much like the one that quilters use to make a pattern. She is tracing the cursive letters onto it and then cutting them out with a sharp crafting tool. When she has it finished, I will be able to follow the letters with a pen or pencil and learn the shapes. She is also making a template of my name so that after I learn the individual letters, I can move on to signing my full name.

After I’ve learned the letters and the right motions, I have to learn to sign on a straight line without the template. That will make my signature unique to me, and not just a duplicate of the template. I will likely use a straight edge guide, that mom will have to buy from the Printing House for the Blind. It looks a bit like a ruler but it has notches that you can use to gauge where to put your next letter so you don’t end up with all the letters on top of one another, or spaced out so far they run off the paper.

This is going to be one of those challenges in life. Especially with my CP, the movements are very difficult. Mom thinks it is very strange how your muscles can work, as I can string the tiniest seed beads onto a straight pen or string, but can’t hold my utensils correctly or hold a pencil and move it correctly. The nervous system sure is a complex design. Nevertheless, I am determined to succeed.

I’ll let you know how I’m progressing! Until next time, I wish you all the best; good health, a safe place to be, and happy days!