Being legally blind has its advantages; like not being the designated driver, or never seeing anyone I don’t like. Playing chess outside of the IBCA, “Intentional Braille Chess Association”, is a whole other story.
While I have enough vision to see the pieces, it’s difficult, especially in the middle-game, keeping track of everything visually. This issue is easily ameliorated by touching the pieces, mine and the opponent’s. While this does help, it adds another layer of difficulty since now I need to remember not only where the pieces are, but WHAT they are. Regardless, I’ve never, and will never, blame my blindness for losing a game, even if the lose was due to me mistaking a pawn for a bishop. Yes, it’s cumbersome, but it’s my responsibility to take my time, focus, and always make sure I’m not mistaking the pieces.
Able-bodied people have a tendency giving out praise to those who are disabled for accomplishing the most mundane tasks; tasks that their disability in no way hinders them from accomplishing. In the disabled community, we call this Inspirational P$rn-when people gush and overflow us with praise for something that takes little to no effort.
I’ve dealt with so much Inspirational P$rn that if I were a PC, I’d have been dead years ago from all the viruses; that’s why I’m a Mac man! Now hold on! You might be thinking, “didn’t you literally just say earlier how difficult it is to play chess while being legally blind?” That’s true, but touching the pieces and playing with patients allows me to play chess like everyone else. Admittedly, due to their rapid nature, Blitz and Bullet chess are beyond what I can do. Luckily, I’ve always preferred Classical Chess. The shortest amount of time I feel comfortable playing is 3o, maybe 15, minutes.
With all that said, remember that Disabled people are aware of their impairments and have learned to work with them; on and off the board.
Blind Zebra 
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