[Blindtlk] To Desiree

Tue Feb 21 19:51:03 UTC 2012

Hi,
I appreciate your response. While I've always been wary of online
people, even to the point of making up fake names if they ask for one,
I can see why you would suggest this. The thing is, I don't want more
excuses to sit in front of my computer. I do that enough anyway. In
fact, it seems that's all I really do.

On 2/21/12, Hyde, David W. (ESC) <david.hyde at wcbvi.k12.wi.us> wrote:
> Hi Desiree. I do hope that you stay around to read the responses to your
> post. I am sorry things are going this badly for you. I wish there were
> something I could do other than just to encourage. I do not have any instant
> solutions. I hear the anger, the frustration and the loneliness. Those of us
> who can will do what we can to encourage you, but ultimately you will need
> to make any changes yourself.
>
> We all know that without training and opportunity, blindness is not a
> nuisance, but a life inhibiter. This is the side of the coin many of us
> don't like to look at. I think the first thing that you might want to try is
> finding something you like to do, and finding others who enjoy it too. Start
> a community of friends, even virtual ones, around that. Take a class like
> from Hadley in something interesting. You can do that from home. Reach out
> to people. Some of us will listen.
>
> Please let some of us know how you are doing. I hope that I am not writing
> just for the sound of the clacking of keys. I am sure you are someone who,
> with some help, can begin to achieve your goals. Just keep in mind how one
> eats an elephant. One bite at a time.
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:blindtlk-bounces at nfbnet.org] On
> Behalf Of Desiree Oudinot
> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 9:29 PM
> To: Blind Talk Mailing List
> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Encouraging Medical Students To Be Retina Doctors
>
> Hi,
> I, too, have been blind all my life, and like you, I live in a rural area as
> well. It's downright debilitating, not to mention degrading, to have to rely
> on others for transportation, any form of transportation, to accomplish the
> most basic of tasks that sighted people take for granted. I'm 22 years old,
> and still live with my parents because of this problem; I can't go apartment
> hunting, because they don't approve of me moving out. I have few friends,
> because the friends I do have, they don't approve of due to racial
> differences and the fact one was a former boyfriend, so in their eyes I
> should hate him. A young person likes to drink and party at least a little
> bit, and yet the only people I can ask to take me to a liquor store, are,
> guess who, my parents. Yet what parent wants to deal with the reality of
> their daughter being grown up? So, I don't drag them into that aspect of my
> life.
> I live by the Bible for the most part. One of the ten commandments, as you
> all well should know, is honor thy father and mother. So, as long as I live
> under their roof, I abide by their rules. I'm not going to hell for making
> waves when they obviously are paying for the gas, the car insurance, and the
> general maintence of the car.
> I honestly can't believe I just spoke out about that on an email list, and I
> would sincerely appreciate it if this is being used for a study, my name be
> left out of it. But I'm nearly at a breaking point. This isn't just about a
> lack of socialization either. Even tasks that sighted people complain about,
> like grocery shopping, I would take pride in doing on my own. I would be
> able to say I did that, and I didn't have to be a burden to anyone. I didn't
> have to be an object, yes, an object, to be pitied and belittled and spit
> upon. I would give anything to have a job, even a low-paying one such as a
> cashier, if it meant I didn't have to go to college. I abhor the idea of
> going to college, in fact. I can't see suffering at the hands of ignorant
> people who live to torment someone who's different to somehow inflate their
> already bloated egos. That's another thing about living in a rural area,
> people are ignorant. Besides, I have no idea what I would want to do, and
> drifting aimlessly through college for 4 years, being taught things the
> government deems acceptable, is beyond stupid. So, I would love the idea of
> doing a cashier's job, or something similar, but alas, a lack of sight
> prevents this. I also realize that nothing in this response falls in line at
> all with NFB philosophy, so after I send this message, I'm going to
> unsubscribe from the list, and this can be a big fuck you to all you
> radicals that say blindness is but a mere nuisance. It's been more than that
> to me. Not being able to drive a car has plummeted me into severe
> depression, has alienated me from society, and stunted my growth and
> freedom.
>
> On 2/20/12, Mark J. Cadigan <kramc11 at gmail.com> wrote:
>> Michelle
>>
>>
>>
>> I would agree that not being able to drive a car when you live in an
>> area with no public transportation is a hindrance. Have you ever
>> considered relocating to an area with public transportation? I know
>> that that is a logistical nightmare and nearly impossible in some
>> situations, but getting there, is well worth it.
>>
>>
>>
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Michelle Medina" <michellem86 at gmail.com>
>> To: "Blind Talk Mailing List" <blindtlk at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Monday, February 20, 2012 9:55 PM
>> Subject: Re: [Blindtlk] Encouraging Medical Students To Be Retina
>> Doctors
>>
>>
>>> Johanna,
>>> First off, allow me to say that I was born without eyes and therefore
>>> have never had eyesight. However, if you will accept my word for what
>>> it's worth, the story goes that you 'can't miss what you do not have'.
>>> I'd venture to say at least partially that this is a falsehood.
>>>
>>> I live in a rural area and am unable to drive a car. Most people
>>> think: "So what. You can't drive a car, big deal."
>>> What they think and sometimes say is NOT how I feel. I feel like it's
>>> a huge deal. There is no transportation *no buses and noone available
>>> to drive me somewhere to catch a bus* even that isn't the route of it
>>> though.
>>>
>>> My best friend is also legally blind though she does have some sight.
>>> We used to sit in what would have been her car on her sixteenth
>>> birthday if she would have been able to get her license and crank the
>>> stereo in the dead of summer with the windows down just to imagine
>>> the feeling of freedom, the roadtrips we would take, the growing up
>>> we would have done over the course of a spring break or a summer
>>> spent roadtripping around the country.
>>> Ovbiously, as blind individuals we can still do this, however, to me
>>> it is the 'absolute freedom' of getting up and leaving exactly when I
>>> Desire to versus waiting for someone else. It is the 'absolute
>>> freedom' of walking into my parents room and saying: "I'm going to
>>> visit Elias now, I'll be back in a couple of hours!" versus waiting
>>> for one of them to drop me off. It's getting out of the car and
>>> walking into Walmart and reading the labels on food products and
>>> picking out what I believe to be the healthiest choice versus going
>>> in with a companion whose in a hurry, or waiting at the customer
>>> service desk for an hour and 15 minutes. *Note: our Walmart doesn't
>>> have shoppers as I said I'm in a rural place, and I like alot of
>>> people live off of SSI so don't have the money to buy a label reader*
>>>
>>> Ultimately though, it isn't about money anyway, or even convenience,
>>> though I would find these things convenient, who wouldn't? Smile.
>>>
>>> It really boils down to the feeling I got the first time I tied my
>>> shoes or the first time I rode a horse by myself or the first time I
>>> Brailled up something without needing any help. It's that "I can do
>>> this!!!" feeling that I get. That feeling of as I said before,
>>> absolute freedom and excitement that I didn't rely on anyone, I did
>>> it myself!! And I'm sooooo proud of myself for doing whatever thing
>>> it might be, ON MY OWN! There's nothing like that feeling. You can't
>>> buy it or have it given to you or find it in a food or pill or even
>>> another person. You can only find it within yourself.
>>> And if I had my eyesight and could experience the glory of a
>>> sunset/rise, or of looking into someone's eyes and seeing through to
>>> the depths of their soul, or laying eyes on my baby daughter for the
>>> first time, or the person who would become my romantic partner I can
>>> only imagine the exhilaration and excitement and utter pleasure it
>>> would bring me.
>>> Michelle
>>>
>>> On 2/20/12, Johanna Baccan <24kjo at optonline.net> wrote:
>>>> To All:
>>>>
>>>> I was asked by Dr. Steven  Sang one of the top Retina Doctors at
>>>> Columbia Presbyterian  Hospital in New York City, new York  to speak
>>>> to Columbia University Medical Students.  He wants me to encourage
>>>> them to become Retina
>>>> Doctors and Retina Researchers.     I am a 54 year old woman and have a
>>>> unusual form of Stargardt's Disease and have been visually impaired
>>>> for
>>>> 34
>>>> years.  I know that we all have mastered some if not all the
>>>> Techniques of Blindness.  But my talk is going to be on what it
>>>> would mean to regain my vision and what I have missed out on for 34
>>>> years.  I would like to hear from all of you to let me know what it
>>>> would mean to you to have or regain your vision.  What struggles
>>>> have you had.  There has been a declined in Medical Students to
>>>> become Retina Doctors and Researchers in this country.
>>>> As a whole the Blind Community seems to function in a way that
>>>> people don't realize how difficult it really is.  So instead of
>>>> talking how I mastered the Techniques of Blindness I have to talk
>>>> about the reality of vision loss.
>>>> These students are exposed to other patients with diseases that are
>>>> much more visible and pronounced then our vision loss.  At times my
>>>> particular eye disease has been called a Hidden handicap.  Because
>>>> to look at me even though I use a cane I do not look visually
>>>> impaired at all.  Any suggestions or comments would be greatly
>>>> appreciated.  Thank you.
>>>>
>>>> Sincerely,
>>>>
>>>> Johanna Baccan
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>> _______________________________________________
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>>>> blindtlk:
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>>>> gmail.com
>>>>
>>>
>>>
>>> --
>>> Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your
>>> aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive
>>> is too small for you.
>>> ~ David Whyte ~ (House of Belonging)
>>>
>>> Sadie Marie Medina!
>>> Original birthdate unnone.
>>> First birthday with us: 2/15/2009
>>> Welcome home baby!
>>>
>>> _______________________________________________
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>>> .com
>>
>>
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>
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