[Blindtlk] Other "wrong" assumptions;Learning body language

[Dave Wright]

Good morning all,
Although I wasn't born blind, I was born in a different country where body 
language just like spoken language is a little different. I lost my sight 
gradually over a period of several years and can understand this topic of 
wanting to utilize body language to better enrich communication. Since going 
blind, I've noticed that I use body language more consciously than before 
going blind. For example, I have to make an effort to verbalize more when 
talking to blind individuals. I often find myself nodding my head or using 
hand gestures to indicate objects, or emphasize ideas.
When talking to friends who are blind from birth, I've discussed the 
importance of utilizing body language as a tool, but not to be distracted by 
ones knowledge of it. In order to learn body language a positive means of 
communication, it is important to ask questions of family and other sighted 
peers. In my opinion, a certain amount of body language is natural is 
doesn't need to be learned. Just my thoughts.


Best Regards:
Dave Wright
Work Phone: 651-636-5184 X803
Email:
dwrigh6 at gmail.com
WebPage:
http://www.knfbreader.com

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Tom Cramer" <tom.cramer1 at gmail.com>
To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, June 02, 2009 12:33 AM
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Other "wrong" assumptions;Learning body language


> Yes.
> I've often wondered very similar things.
> I would love to get some answers to this as well.
>
> Tom
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: "Gerardo Corripio" <gera1027 at prodigy.net.mx>
> To: "Blind-Talk" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Sunday, May 31, 2009 12:05 PM
> Subject: [Blindtlk] Other "wrong" assumptions;Learning body language
>
>
>> Robert's message about false assumptions in the workplace reminded me of 
>> the following incident:
>> The other day while attending a dinner with some coleagues one of them 
>> asked "Are you able to eat on your own"? comment which angered me, though 
>> I know the sighted person asked me with good intention it still made me a 
>> bit angry to the point that I know still lots of work needs to be done 
>> (especially in countries where the NFB isn't well-known or even heard 
>> of); this is why I really enjoy the list; ai always learn a lot from you 
>> guys.
>> This brings me to another question especially for those of you blind from 
>> birth: How did you guys learn to use body language? I sometimes get to 
>> thinking that aside from integrating more with the sighted world, it 
>> saves our mouths from talking, especially while eating or doing other 
>> things that at that moment doesn't permit us to speak.
>> also, when saying no (shake of the head) is it from side to side by 
>> moving the head from shoulder to shoulder or moving the head clockwise or 
>> counterclockwise?
>> also what does srugging the shoulder signify? As you see we blind from 
>> birth lose a lot of things by not being able to see. And when I first 
>> introduced myself the RP I took it to mean Retinopathy of Prematurity 
>> like in spanish, thus didn't think to clarify the concept.
>> Gerardo
>>
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>
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