comparison essay

Blind vs Vision

Surroundings, environment, physical ability and mental ability are some of the reasons people have to adapt. This is the same for people who are blind.
Caleb and Crandall are the same in several ways. They are both male, living in the same home with the same mom and dad (which makes them brothers). They both have brown hair and blue eyes and they were both born in April. They both enjoy some of the same hobbies and activities. However, when it comes to how their hobbies and activities are performed they are very different. Crandall is an average, 13 year old with vision and he does things as most people with vision do them. Caleb is blind and has been since birth. He has overcome his disability but performs tasks differently.

Crandall and Caleb enjoy sports, the way sports are done and the kind of sports is different. Crandall plays baseball on several leagues and takes pitching lessons. Caleb does not enjoy this kind of sport and does not even like going to the games. He does, however, enjoy running the 100-yard and 200-yard dash in track with a sighted guide.

Riding four-wheelers is an activity both Crandall and Caleb enjoy. Crandall gets on and goes through the woods with no problems, he takes his time and watches for trees and bumps. Caleb has to wait on someone to ride him; he cannot just jump on and go. He likes for the person riding him to go fast, the faster the better. A car will be the same way when Crandall is old enough to drive, Caleb will not ever be able to drive a car.

Hunting is an activity they both enjoy. Crandall has shot several deer over the past few years. He also goes to see other animals in their natural habitat. When darkness comes Crandall is very ready for his dad or someone to come get him from the deer stand and walk him out of the woods. Caleb enjoys going hunting but his experience is much different. He can hear the animals before Crandall sees them. He hears the leaves rustle with the wind and the rabbits or squirrels scurry around. He has never shot a deer and when darkness falls he could care less, he could probably stay all night and not be bothered.

We all have fear of some kind and to some degree. For Crandall fear is the same as it is for most people with vision. Like most people Crandall able to see what is coming toward him or what is right in front of him about to happen, has more fear about trying new things. Fear for Crandall sets in before he ever reached the top of the bungee platform because of the height. Caleb not able to see the height, just as not knowing when darkness has fallen while in the woods, has no fear and enjoys these types of activities.
Fear of a bonfire or fireplace is just the opposite from the darkness and heights. Crandall being like most boys is curious about the fire. He likes to build the bonfires, poke sticks in the fire and roast marshmallows. Caleb cannot see the fire but he can feel the heat and hear the wood crackle. This makes him aware of what he cannot see and he stays back not approaching the fire fearing he will get too close and be burned.

Crandall uses his sight as his main sense with all other senses being secondary. Caleb’s lack of sight enhances all of his other senses. While showing the differences in a blind person vs a person with vision, senses have played the primary roll in why a lot of the differences are present. Other then just the normal differences found in most brothers, the obvious difference of one with vision and one who is blind are many. The use of their senses and the way they are used is the main difference between Caleb (blind) and Crandall (vision), who at first and on the surface seem so much alike.