[blindkid] Fw: Playing by Ear

[Deborah Kent Stein]

Probably most of us on this list get it that blindness need not be 
isolating.  That unfortunate comment by the author aside, I find the article 
about these audio-mapping games to be very interesting.  It seems of a piece 
with Tim Cordes's article in the Summer 2011 Future Reflections about his 
audio system for diagramming complex molecules.  Highly sophisticated 
systems for creating audio files are available, and there may be very useful 
ways to harness this technology so that blind kids will be able to create 
and have access to more maps, diagrams, and pictures.  The need is great and 
we need to look into all of the possibilities.

Debbie


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Amanda Winkler" <awcactuscat1 at hotmail.com>
To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
<blindkid at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 2:55 PM
Subject: Re: [blindkid] Fw: Playing by Ear


> My husband and I are both totally blind and for us blindness is not 
> isolating it is more of an inconvenience.  I have the perspective of 
> becoming blind later in life but I was born low vision (20/200) and my 
> husband was blind since birth.  Our families treated us like a normal 
> child and gave us every opportunity to experience everything a normal 
> child would have.  We are so grateful to them for making such a difficult 
> decision regardless of family and other peoples looks, comments, and 
> criticism.  Like any other sighted couple, we are raising a family (one 
> child who is vi), attend family functions, visit friends, commute to work, 
> go to the grocery store, perform household chores, etc. all on our own. 
> We use our other senses (hearing, smell, and touch) to create a picture of 
> our world just as you would use your sight.  With these remaining senses 
> and a little common sense we can figure out most things.  Where a sighted 
> person looks around to see what businesses are in their neighborhood we 
> would have to physically explore the area and ask questions.  This is 
> quite fun and enjoyable.  All it comes down to is your attitude towards 
> life.  We have a positive attitude towards life and we know that there are 
> things that need to be done, so we get it done.  What has helped us and 
> the people we encounter is our openness about our blindness and the fact 
> we are not ashamed to be blind.  We enjoy taking the time to educate and 
> answer their questions about being blind.  So for us our blindness has not 
> isolated us but in fact has done the opposite.
>
> Amanda
> Ask all your questions and I will answer to the best of my knowledge.
>
> --------------------------------------------------
> From: "Richard Holloway" <rholloway at gopbc.org>
> Sent: Monday, October 03, 2011 5:55 AM
> To: "NFBnet Blind Kid Mailing List,(for parents of blind children)" 
> <blindkid at nfbnet.org>
> Subject: Re: [blindkid] Fw: Playing by Ear
>
>> Isolating? Has to be, doesn't it?
>>
>> I mean if you can't SEE what's going on around you, you must be 
>> completely out of touch with the rest of the world, right?
>>
>> (Tongue planted firmly in cheek.)
>>
>>> That is very fascinating!  And I would agree.  Blindness is so 
>>> isolating?
>>> Barbara
>>
>>
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