Tosefta for Megillah 48:7
עד שבא מעשה לידי פעם אחת הייתי מהלך באישון לילה ואפלה וראיתי סומא שהיה מהלך בדרך ואבוקה בידו אמרתי לו בני אבוקה זו למה לך אמר לי כל זמן שאבוקה בידי בני אדם רואין אותי ומצילין אותי מן הפחתין ומן הקוצין ומן הברקנין:
And then the following incident occurred. I was once walking on a pitch black night when I saw a blind man walking in the road with a torch in his hand. I said to him, My son, why do you carry this torch? He replied: As long as I have this torch in my hand, people see me and save me from the holes and the thorns and briars.
Tosefta Megillah
A person in rags may lead the responsive reading of the Shema, and may translate [the Torah reading into Aramaic] (Meg. 4:6). Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel says, he should be careful that he does not expose himself. A blind man may lead the responsive reading of the Shema and may translate. Rabbi Yehuda says, anyone who never saw light in all his days may not lead the responsive reading of the Shema. They said to him, many [Sages] have expounded upon the Divine Chariot (Ezek. 1) even though they never saw it. A Kohen that has a [disqualifying] blemish on his face, on his hands, or on his feet, behold, he may not lift up his hands [for the Priestly Blessing] because the people will look at him. But if there was a quorum of ten (chaver ir, see Ber. 4:7), behold, it is permitted. Behold, if he had on an otef (a type of cloak), or a smock, or a traveling cloak, he has no dignity such as to read [from the Torah]] or translate or pass before the Ark, or to lift his hands [for the Priestly Blessing].
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