[blindkid] can I get the other side?

[Leah]

I certainly got some meaty answers to my questions!

Joe, thank you for your story. I'm not dead set on learning Braille by  
touch, but there are two reasons I am experimenting lightly with it:
1. I have a little eye problem myself, and I wonder if I was someday  
able to read by touch, if I could save some function. I use my eyes to  
compensate for a damaged balance mechanism and it can be overly  
demanding on the eyes.
2. I am still curious at the belief of some who say Braille cannot be  
learned by those with some vision (unfortunately they are our local  
professionals). So I feel the letters just watching my learning  
process, to see if something really does come up that prevents me from  
identifying by touch. I'm going to keep doing this a little longer,  
because I can only identify some letters and no words.

But, I will try to remember what you say and will give myself  
permission to read it visually to get the job done if need be!

Carrie, thank you. I especially liked what you said about  
stigmatization affecting people's ability to deal with accommodating  
their own disability. And I thought what you said about being forceful  
was very bold! I had not thought about it in degrees. You certainly  
reclaim the word force as a positive thing!

And Steve, I really appreciate practical examples because that is how  
I best learn. In fact, I would like to ask if you would mind if I  
quoted your examples anonymously if I write an article about extremism  
on my blog. I will totally understand if you decline and I am still  
grateful for what you wrote.

Leah