Question
I have a quick question. I understand that it is possible to be blind since birth. I was wondering if you know possible causes for this. I am a 22 year old student from Sydney Australia and I am writing a story about blindness. I was also wondering if it is possible for a totally blind person to become a lawyer. Thank you for your time and help.

Answer
It is very possible to be blind from birth. Many times it's due to malformation of the retina during the time in the womb. There are many causes, but TORCH syndrome is what I have. It did not leave me totally blind, but it could have.

TORCH Syndrome refers to infection of a developing fetus or newborn by any of a group of infectious agents. "TORCH" is an acronym meaning (T)oxoplasmosis, (O)ther Agents, (R)ubella (also known as German Measles), (C)ytomegalovirus, and (H)erpes Simplex. Infection with any of these agents (i.e., Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus, herpes simplex viruses) may cause a constellation of similar symptoms in affected newborns. These may include fever; difficulties feeding; small areas of bleeding under the skin, causing the appearance of small reddish or purplish spots; enlargement of the liver and spleen (hepatosplenomegaly); yellowish discoloration of the skin, whites of the eyes, and mucous membranes (jaundice); hearing impairment; abnormalities of the eyes; and/or other symptoms and findings. Each infectious agent may also result in additional abnormalities that may be variable, depending upon a number of factors (e.g., stage of fetal development).

They thought I had Toxo, but the scaring on my eyes looks more like Rubella...they think my mom had a slight case of Rubella, while pregnant with me, and no one realized it. The result being my eyes were targeted (it seems my eyes were forming and developing at that point), and it left massive scar tissue on the retinas, and the pouch that holds the lens in the eye was unstable (this caused cataracts to develop later on).

Also check this out...http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.retinaaustralia.com.au/images/eye6.gif&imgrefurl=http://www.retinaaustralia.com.au/RP.htm&h=396&w=565&sz=16&tbnid=kY7c9mTnGlIwzM:&tbnh=94&tbnw=134&prev=/images%3Fq%3Deye+diagram%26um%3D1&start=2&sa=X&oi=images&ct=image&cd=2

RP is another cause of blindness (both my Dad and step-mom have this). It's more complicated though...and often times you are born with good sight and lose it over time.

Scarring on the retina, like I have, causes blind spots. We cannot see through scar tissue. It may help you to write your story if you give this person partial sight. Allow him to see dark shapes, and perhaps some light. Many blind people experience this. It makes it more realistic.

A blind person can become anything they desire...even president if they choose to. There are tons of services for the blind (books on tape, devices that will read pages of text to you, computer programs that read the computer screen to you, etc). This man would need the computer program...he would need to have the device that reads text to him...and he will need to either have people in his office who read Braille...or he could dictate letters, notes, etc to his secretary. Depending on what kind of lawyer, he would need a person to give details on pieces of evidence displayed in the court room, too.

Blind people are good at "seeing" a person with their ears. A lawyer may be able to sniff out a liar by watching body language and facial expressions. A blind lawyer can use his sense of hearing to note a person's inflection and so on.

It might help your story, if you gave this man a "trusty sidekick." Just a person who knows him in some way, who randomly fills him in on details. For example, a person in his office who is very perceptive...and who informs this lawyer of things even the lawyer may have missed...such as the type of clothing a person is wearing, and their appearance. These things can be helpful to a lawyer, when it is necessary for him to really understand his client or those he's trying to prosecute. For example, if he's trying to get his client a large settlement after her rich husband left her penniless...and she walks in with a $300 suit on. THAT the man would need to "see."

I could go on forever about this partially because I write, too. This kind of story sounds exciting, and can have so many possibilities.

As you are writing, if you come across areas that have you asking, "How can a blind person do this?" Just email me, and I will help you as much as I can. If I am writing about something I do not know a whole lot about, I go to others and ask what my character might do, or how they might handle a certain situation.

I hope I helped in some way.

Good luck!!

Jeannine