[Blindtlk] Needing Feedback and Support

Thu Dec 9 16:52:32 UTC 2010

Diane, I agree with Ray.  If the chat doesn't work, you might want to 
file a formal complaint.  As far as the names are concerned, there is 
a physician where I worked who insisted on calling me sweetie or 
honey.  I politely informed him that he must have misread my name tag 
because it did not say either of those names on it.  He apologized 
and resorted to calling me by name.

Connie
At 09:37 AM 12/9/2010, you wrote:
>Diane,
>
>First things first.  Have you tried a nice quiet chat with this 
>particular antagonist?  Seems to me it's high time you gave that a 
>try.  Sure, you don't want to go blowing up at her like an explosion 
>or something.  Now, that would be wrong for you to do.  That might 
>make you feel good for a very short time, but, frankly, I reckon 
>that in the long term, you come off as a bitch.  I suppose you 
>really do not want to do that.  Leaves a bad taste in the mouth; 
>and, frankly, on the heart as well.  The thing of it is, YOu don't 
>want to just give in either.  I'd start with a nice quiet chat.  I 
>don't mean just get her in the break room or over by the water 
>cooler for a second or so.  I mean you actually need to schedule her 
>in for an appointment and frankly say to her that you need to have a 
>serious talk with her.  You want to talk alone, if possible; but, if 
>you since that  she's being a you know what about it, you might want 
>to include the boss.  For sure, you want the boss involved anyhow, 
>especially if it may involve work matters, (as I kind of suspect 
>this might).  Seems to me you've let this fester for much too long 
>already.  You should have done this nearer the beginning of the 
>issue.  IF the nice quiet chat fails to resolve, you might resort to 
>using a formal memorandum or something.
>
>It will be interesting to see what others have to say.
>
>
>Sincerely,
>The Constantly Barefooted Ray!!!
>
>Now A Very Proud and very happy Mac user!!!
>
>Skype Name:
>barefootedray
>
>On Dec 9, 2010, at 8:01 AM, Graves, Diane wrote:
>
> >
> > 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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