[Blindtlk] Needing Feedback and Support

[Graves, Diane]

Hello Federationists.

First of all, let me apologize if I have posted this question here before. I have been on the list, and dealing with the same issue for a good number of years, and my memory is not what it used to be. So, I'm hoping I'm not being repetitious, but here we go.

Most of you who know me know that I am a long time federationist, and am someone who has been blind since I was a toddler. Even so, I'm afraid I still have not mastered the art of dealing with condescending comments and behavior from my sighted colleagues in an effective, graceful manner. I tend to have two modes. One is passive, the other is aggressive. Each of these modes has a negative impact, and neither is appropriate. I'm hoping I can get some good suggestions here.

The ironic thing about this as it relates to my coworkers is that I work for a local civil rights agency. Some of those who are dishing out this treatment are people who have likely experienced similar treatment themselves, or have been commissioned to eradicate this treatment.  Anyway, the list of instances is infinite and stretches back to the onset of my blindness, but, in the interest of time, I'll just give you the latest example.

The office is having a holiday pitch-in on Friday and each staff member was asked to sign up and bring a dish.  When I informed the coordinator that I would be baking bread, she asked me "Oh, are you sure you want to cook?" Duhhh? Now I would bet my life that no other staff person who signed up to bring a dish (virtually all of us) was asked this question. Even as I say it, it sounds a bit minor, but these things add up and happen all the time.

This same person is always volunteering to bring things to my desk so that I don't have to come to her and pick them up or sign a card for a staff member or whatever. She is always calling me "honey/sweetie, and using a tone that one might use when talking with a child. ." I have never heard her talk to another staff person in this way. I talked to a group of high school students who came to the office a few months ago about my job and what I do, and this same person proceeded to tell me how very amazing I was. What? I'm amazing because I can tell a group of kids what I do for a living?

I have tried to talk to others about the treatment before and have been told that people were just "trying to help," and that I was making too much out of things. I have also had major melt downs over these types of things before, and caused myself to be alienated.

I don't want to be alienated. I want to have friends. I just want to be viewed and treated as an equal, and not talked down to as if I were a child or somehow less capable. It wouldn't be appropriate on the basis of race, national origin or any other protected class, and it isn't appropriate on the basis of blindness either.

Anyway, how do the rest of you deal with things like this effectively? Any feedback would really be appreciated.

[cid:image002.gif at 01CB977C.AE939EC0]

Diane Graves
Civil Rights Specialist
Indiana Civil Rights Commission
Alternative Dispute Resolutions Unit
317-232-2647

"It is service that measures success."
George Washington Carver

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