In the name of the Father...fuel for evolution...or both?

The following are just a few of the comments I have experienced as a “Bat Person” whilst trying to exert my independent spirit for more than a decade:

“You're beautiful but what happened to the eye?” “Have you been in the wars?” “What's with the eyepatch?” “It's so tragic!” “What a shame!” “Bless you!” “Bless her!’ (just as I was walking on to the stage) “Bless her!” (just as I was leaving a film premiere I had featured in) “Bless her!” (multiple random passers by on the street} “Is she really blind?” “That’s not a place for people like you.” “What's it like hanging around with people like that?” (random stranger to my friend whilst out) “If you don't mind me asking what happened to your eyes?” (a million times over) “I'm only effing trying to help!” (after being grabbed really hard and dragged across a road I didn't want to cross) “She's not really blind!” “You make me so nervous!” (after crossing the road whilst minding my own business, said to me by a passer by). “Does she need a chair?” (whilst out shopping with a friend). “Where is she going?” (taxi driver to a friend). “Is that a metal detector?” (about my cane). “Is that a ski pole?” (about my cane). “Is that a golf club?” “You're so pretty for someone with a disability.” “She doesn't look blind enough.” (to my agent about an acting role, plus many more). “You're not acting blind enough!” (by multiple sighted directors mid-show). “We can't make it accessible, we’re a charity and don't have the money.” “I'll make that accessible if there is time.”

"You're so brave" (whilst walking down the street minding my own business) “Are you aware how beautiful you are?” (random stranger in front of his wife) “Good idea but it will never get anywhere.” “Isn't she beautiful?” (random stranger to somebody else I was with in front of his wife) “Why have you got a stick?” “You're beautiful but shame about the eyepatch.” “Do you work?” (question asked by multiple random strangers) “Don't worry, you'll be compensated in the next life.” (by somebody I had just met). “You don't have enough social media followers for us to accommodate you.” “This card will be too expensive for you.” “This is not a place for you.” “Sorry we don’t have a system for vulnerable people.” “Why can’t you use the app?” “Can’t you get a friend to help you with it?” “We’ve never dealt with anything like this before.” “You’re not supposed to use non-white canes.” “Wait there, don’t cross until the man turns green.” (random passer by at traffic lights) “Well done, you’ve done a push-up!” (fitness instructor ignoring my comment that I’d done push- ups since the age of eleven) “Do you need help?” (random passer by as I stepped aside to let them pass) “Sorry we don’t have a department for vulnerable people who can’t do everything on line (dyslexic, elderly, blind and anyone else).” famous bank whose hold times for over a year have been up to an hour in order to make one transaction. “Can’t you just use a ‘text to speech’ phone? One of our other customers does.” (manager of an- other famous bank with the same situation in their telephone banking) “If you get a guide dog you’ll get more work.” “Could you please not touch me unless I ask for assistance.” (every other day after being uncon- sciously touched, grabbed, hauled, pushed, forced to sit down, or “busybodied”)

Image description: A pinky orange fire with all the above phrases and situations being thrown into it. There is a sign in the top right which says "Self doubt not welcome in my house."