[Blindtlk] Eye Poking.

[nikki Wunderlich]

You bring up a good point about seeing a lot of blindisms at the blind
schools. I went to the Minnesota State Academy for the Blind in Faribault
Minnesota, and I saw people rock, poke their eyes, and do other things,
can't remember them all right now though. I have a bad habbit of picking at
my scabs because I don't like how they feel. So one thing I notice that
helps me with that is if I keep my hands busy by either reading Braille,
doing beeding, or going on the computer, or drawing or colloring I don't
pick as much. So maybe if you kept your hands busy you wouldn't have as much
as a problem with the eye poking thing. 

Nikki

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
Behalf Of Mary Mc Gee
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 12:06 PM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Eye Poking.

Hi, All;

            Eye poling is one of those habits that manifests itself in blind
people so frequently that it's called a blindism.  From the research I've
done regarding blindisms, they originate in very early childhood as a result
of lack of visual stimulation.  Some are outgrown, some are not, and, when
they creep out it's usually when a person is stressed, tired, or anxious.
The theory is that blindisms are a form of coping behavior.  They only look
"bad" because most of the public doesn't display them.  

            That said, my opinion is that whatever you want to do within the
limits of the law is OK at home, but not where others will notice.
Blindisms reinforce the stereotypes about blindness, so we want to keep them
private.  

            I know someone who has dry, irritated eyes quite often and she
uses something prescribed for her that she calls "artificial tears".  She
has prosthetic eyes and these drops help a lot.  I'd think the drops would
be available for people with their own eyes and they'd probably help.  

            When I was a student at the Iowa Braille School, I saw more
blindisms than I every wanted to see.  Most of the people I know from there
have outgrown them, I'd happy to say!  I have some vision, so the only
behavior that ever gave me problems was having poor posture from getting too
close to things to see them.  (That was back in the days before CCTV's and
ZoomText.)  

            I'd say to keep the eye poking for when you're at home.  If it
relieves stress, it's OK there.  Try the drops for irritated eyes.

Sincerely,

Mary L. McGee

 

 

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