[Blindtlk] Eye Polking.

humberto humbertoa5369 at netzero.net
Fri Apr 29 02:47:00 UTC 2011 

I would wish that the blind driver challenge car that was debuted 
at the Daytona International speedway would be readily available 
and that legislations have passed so that we are able to drive a 
car without having to become sighted and learn to be sighted. I 
wish that this could happen really soon, and that blind people 
will be able to drive a car everywhere possible, and get to work, 
shop, and just have the freedom of driving! I believe that we 
don't have to become sighted if we want to drive; just watch how 
technology is growing in an area that it is growing now. So, I 
think one day, this Blind Driver challenge car would be on sail 
and so we can purchase it just like a sighted person would buy a 
car, and drive! not only that, but test drive the car before 
purchasing it so we have an idea of what it's like to drive the 
vehicle with innovative interfaces and technologies that can 
bridge the information gap, and make us make driving decisions, 
just like sighted people make driving decisions.
Well, this is what I had to say.

> ----- Original Message -----
>From: Desiree Oudinot <turtlepower17 at gmail.com
>To: Blind Talk Mailing List <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>Date sent: Thu, 28 Apr 2011 19:51:44 -0400
>Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Eye Polking.

>I definitely agree that the best part of having sight is to be 
able to
>drive. You don't have near as many issues with reliability (i.e. 
is
>your Paratransit system going to get you there on time? How about 
a
>cab driver, and what if you can't afford that?) And if you live 
in a
>rural area, forget all that entirely. It really is an 
inconvenience,
>the only real disadvantage we face as blind people. Sighted 
people say
>"yeah, but at least you don't have to deal with traffic, the
>possibility of getting in an accident, or gas prices 
skyrocketing" to
>which I say, "try being unable to get to an important job 
interview,
>and not just one, because that could happen if your car breaks 
down,
>but watch many opurtunities pass you by." The car is a powerful 
thing,
>and unless you live within walking distance of stores, your job 
and
>your house or apartment, it does present a huge challenge.

>On 4/28/11, Sherri <flmom2006 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Basically, I agree with Mary. The most difficult part of being 
blind is
>> transportation and getting from point A to B in an efficient and
>> cost-effective manner. If I could see, I would want it just for 
the reason
>> to drive. We need to hurry up with the car that blind people can 
drive. Then
>> we need to get the legislation through so we can drive it. Not 
in my
>> lifetime, I'm afraid!

>> Sherri

>> Please check out the link below and help blind people in your 
local area
>> achieve their dreams by visiting
>> http://www.raceforindependence.org/goto/Sherri.Brun
>> Thank you.

>> Character is the side of yourself you choose to show the world. 
Integrity is
>> what you do, what you say and how you act when you think no one 
is paying
>> attention.
>> Sherri Brun
>> flmom2006 at gmail.com

>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Mary Mc Gee" <mmcatitude at gmail.com
>> To: "'Blind Talk Mailing List'" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org
>> Sent: Thursday, April 28, 2011 3:35 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Eye Polking.


>>> Hi, All;

>>>            I've read with interest all the posts about 
blindisms.  I'll
>>> hold to my opinion that they're behaviors that should be kept to 
the
>>> privacy
>>> of our own homes.  I perhaps should explain why.  And, by the 
way, there
>>> are
>>> behaviors that are acceptable among close friends that are OK 
and
>>> blindisms
>>> may be in that category.

>>>            From my experiences, we're already considered objects 
of fear,
>>> strange, weird, incompetent, etc. by the sighted world, or at 
least by a
>>> good deal of it.  Therefore, we must do whatever it takes to 
dispel those
>>> misconceptions.  It may not be just or right, but the world is 
sighted and
>>> the behaviors that constitute fidgeting in sighted people are 
accepted
>>> whereas blindisms are not acceptable.  The very fact they're 
called
>>> "blindisms" is a stereotype and it may be somewhat of an 
accurate one
>>> because I've never seen a sighted person poke their eye or spin 
around.
>>> Sighted people click pens, tap feet, twirl bits of hair, pace 
back and
>>> forth, pick fingers, cross and uncross their legs, and any 
number of other
>>> things.  The fidgets are unlimited and, believe me, I've seen a 
lot of
>>> them!


>>>            Sighted people closely scrutinize us because they 
expect less
>>> from us than they do from other sighted people.  Since we expect 
equality,
>>> we must accept equal responsibility and part of that 
responsibility is
>>> behaving is a socially acceptable manner when in public.

>>>            I've actually had people tell me they've forgotten I 
can't see
>>> much because I "don't act like a blind person".  When I've asked 
what's a
>>> blind person supposed to act like, they say things like, oh, you 
know, you
>>> can't find your way around, you have those weird habits like 
poling your
>>> eyes.  I've also had people say I'm not really blind because I 
"act too
>>> cool" to be blind.  The misconceptions are still out there, like 
it or
>>> not.
>>> And, we want to emphasize our similarities to the rest of the 
world rather
>>> than our differences.  Therefore, we must promote a positive 
image.

>>>            I may as well through this into the mix:  If I had a 
sure-fire
>>> chance to have normal vision, I'd take it in a New York minute 
because I'd
>>> like the freedom of driving!  Yes, I can function, work, and pay 
taxes,
>>> but
>>> I know I'd have a higher quality of life if I could drive.  So, 
I'd have
>>> the
>>> procedure, then head straight to IDOT and take drivers' ed!  But 
I repeat:
>>> It would have to be sure-fire cure or I'd opt to stay the way I 
am.

>>> Sincerely,

>>> Mary L. McGee





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>>> you.




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