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How US Justice Richard Bernstein fought to thrive while living with blindness
- The Michigan Supreme Court judge spoke to us about the harsh realities of learning to live as a blind person, and why he’s devoted himself to improving the lives of the disabled and disadvantaged
6-MIN READ6-MIN
I was born blind. The biggest challenge for people with disabilities is that there is a balance that families have to go through – are you overly protective or do you allow people to be independent? Families sometimes err on [the side of] being too mindful of safety and protection, so you lose the skill set of being able to be independent. My family erred on the independent side. I was born in 1973, in Michigan (in the United States). I have an older brother, Mark, and a younger sister, Beth. My father is a lawyer and my mother is a speech pathologist, and dedicated herself to raising us kids.
Spirit Guide
My earliest memories are of learning how to function as a person who was blind. I had to learn how to get dressed. I can’t see, so organising my clothes, and every aspect of life, is a learned behaviour. Every aspect of life has to be taught. I had orientation mobility instruction to learn how to cross the street and to live life in an independent way. Life does have some dangers and you have to learn how to work past it and through it. Because I can’t connect with people visually, I go off what their spirit and vitality is. I connect with them through the spiritual essence that they have. Everybody has a certain energy and I try to learn and appreciate that energy and let it guide me. I can feel if someone is a kind, good-natured person.
People Person
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