[Blindtlk] Blindness Misperceptions from kids

Wed Apr 27 14:40:13 UTC 2011

I've found that there are two different kinds of questions. One, frequently from little children is for information. It is frequently asked of the adult with the child, as in "Why is he using that stick." I generally answer with a short response, such as (I use it because my eyes don't work. When I walk, it hits things before I do." That frequently answers their question, and they go on to other more interesting things in their environment.

The other kind of question is the "I'll show you" kind of question, and is frequently asked by older children, often in a group. It is meant to show off to his or her friends. It is frequently framed as in "So, if you can't see, how do you ..." (insert the activity of your choice.) I generally answer with either an adjective or an adverb, and some times, a one sentence response. This lets me know if the question is being asked of real curiosity, or just to ask questions. If the former, they will ask a related question. If the latter, they frequently go off to talk to someone else.

This is different when you talk to groups, or to people who you know are really interested in how you do things. I tend to give a presentation (mostly a short one) have some things to pass around, and leave most of the time for questions, assuring the group that there are no wrong ones, and that there might be a prize for a new one. If they are adults, I tell them about a question I was asked by a class of teen aged boys, and my answer to it. If they are students who are not adults, I pick something less adult. It is important to answer even the rude questions. As far as children throwing rocks and such, although I know of cases where they have done so only to disabled people, such cases are rare. The child may have been throwing them at anyone.

Take care, and keep answering questions.

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of nikki Wunderlich
Sent: Wednesday, April 27, 2011 9:20 AM
To: 'Blind Talk Mailing List'
Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Blindness Misperceptions from kids

Hello,

My name is Nikki and I encounteredsome of the same stuff you're talking about, so when I was younger, I used to do blindness presentations at the public school that I used to attend. And even as an adult I've done one or two blindness presentations to help kids learn about blindness and some of the different things we use in our daily life such as the white cane, computers with speech software, electronic note takers such as the Braille lite, ect. Then after I do my presentation I let them ask questions, and I answer them to the best of my ability. When I am in public and some one asks me about my cane, I simply tell them that my eyes do not work as well as theirs, and that my cane helps me see. I hope this helps you out. 

-----Original Message-----
From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of humberto
Sent: Tuesday, April 26, 2011 10:11 PM
To: blindTlk at nfbNet.org
Subject: [Blindtlk] Blindness Misperceptions from kids

Hi dear listers:

Some time ago, somebody in here posted a really really interesting message with an interesting question that caused threads that hit the list with high fever and great discussions.
Today I'm here to ask you another question and to share my opinions. My concerns deal with the statement written in the subject line, blindness misperceptions coming out of children.
First of all, I have found an essay that was really interesting that someone posted on the National Students Division (Nabs) mailing list, that explains that adults have these outdated negative views about blindness, and kids have better views about it than adults, especially when they were raised or growing around blind people.
This person explained that her nephews had a more positive attitude around her and that they thought she was cool and could do everything by herself. They even think that it's not such a big deal being blind.
In my personal experience, this is not true. Often kids, when I'm walking by, think I am weird and ask me a whole bunch of questions that I don't know even how to respond to. Some kids think I can not walk, and some even say my disability (blindness) is an illness, which makes me upset and wanting to advocate them and their parents. One day when I was living in California, I went to a social gathering with my family and one of their friends had two kids. I was sitting down and I had my wonderful trusty white cane folded with me at the side, and one girl asked "Why is he carrying those four sticks, and why are there for?" Of course she asked her mom but we quickly told her what it was and what it was used for. At the time I didn't know anything about NFB philosophies and my blindness philosophy was not the one that it is now, so my Mom had to explain everything.
But now, when I'm walking down the street or even doing something that other people would do regularly, kids still ask me "Why the heck you have a stick in your hand?" Some other kids will just stare at me like non-sense and run away. Some others will talk, but yes according to myself, they would talk to themselves because I don't know if they are talking to me until I tell them "Are you talking to me?" And yet, when I was little, one day one kid even tried to hit me with a small rock, because of no reason, or maybe just because of a sign of disrespect toward people with disabilities, and even more, blind people. (or that is what I think now.) The problem with kids, I suppose, from my personal experiences, is that their parents inherit those misperceptions of blindness into them and / or the kids get them from other people, or they've never been around blind people before or something. I can understand how they have never been around people who are blind before, but the parents issue is what gets me straight the most. 
Yet I don't even have the right time to advocate these kids in a diplomatic way patience being one of the factors. But the times I try to educate them about my blindness and being just a regular person, I don't know how to start engaging them, and they keep asking dumb questions.
Any opinions on how to say to them about positive attitudes of blindness, or how to diplomatically explain them? Have you had any similar experiences? Any stories you want to share? Any more concerns or issues? Any help is appreciated please.

Cheers, Humberto

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